Ranch Hideout

Shaking the thought from her head, she turned back to the stall in front of her and began to clean it. From time to time she and Gabriel crossed paths in the alleyway as they completed cleaning a stall and went to another. Each time their eyes met, he smiled, and she found herself responding to his friendly nature.

When they’d completed the job and put away the tools, they walked outside the barn and stared at the trail that led toward the mountains. Dean and Emmett, his foreman, rode toward them with a line of riders behind them.

“That’s the early-morning trail ride coming back,” Liz said. “They’ll be hungry. I need to go get cleaned up so I can help Gwen and Shorty with lunch. Thanks for helping with the stalls.”

She started to turn away, but he reached out and touched her arm. “It was my pleasure, Liz. I enjoyed the morning. What are you doing this afternoon?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. There are some more guests arriving. I might have to help Gwen get the rooms ready. Why?”

“I picked up a brochure in the den and saw a picture of a creek near here. I think it’s called Rattlesnake Creek. I was thinking that I might ride out there this afternoon. I wondered if you’d like to ride with me.”

Liz paused for a moment before she replied. Her earlier concerns about Gabriel’s attention to her returned, but they battled with her desire to make a friend and feel a little less lonely. “I don’t know,” she said. “Can I let you know after lunch?”

“Sure,” he replied. “I talked to Dean before he left this morning, and he told me I could have Buttermilk about two o’clock. If you decide to go, meet me at the barn.”

“I will.”

She headed off toward the house but slowed down when she heard Gabriel call after her. “I really hope you’ll decide to come.”

Liz gave a small nod and continued walking. Right now she didn’t know if she would go or not, but if she was really honest with herself, she’d admit that she wanted to. She wanted to find out more about Gabriel Decker and why he seemed interested in being with her. Maybe she’d take him up on the invitation after all.

By one o’clock the last guest had left the dining room, and Liz, Gwen and Shorty had the kitchen cleaned up. With the last pot stored away, Shorty took off the apron he wore and hung it on a peg beside the back door. “I need to pick up some things at the supermarket for the chuck wagon meal tomorrow night. Does either one of you need anything while I’m in town?”

Gwen and Liz both shook their heads.

“Be careful,” Gwen said as the cook turned and walked toward the back door. “Those hairpin curves on the way into town scare me.”

He grinned at her and nodded. “I’ll watch out, Gwen. Don’t you worry about me.”

When he’d closed the door behind him, Gwen turned back to Liz. “Shorty worked for Dean’s grandfather for years. So he’s really like a member of the family, and I tend to worry about our family.”

The concern on Gwen’s face sent a warm glow through Liz. With both her parents dead, it had been a long time since she’d known what family really was about. Then she’d come to Little Pigeon Ranch and had seen it in the way Gwen and Dean treated each other, their daughter, Maggie, and all the people who worked for them. They had opened their home to her also and given her a safe haven during a traumatic time in her life.

She swallowed the lump she felt in her throat. “You make me feel like family, too, Gwen.”

Gwen’s eyes softened, and she grasped Liz’s hand. “That’s how we want you to feel, Liz. We’re honored to have you in our home.”

Tears sprang to her eyes, and she wiped at them. “Not many people would have done what you have for me. You didn’t even know me, and yet you welcomed me with open arms, all the time knowing that you might be opening yourselves up to danger.”

Gwen stared at her for a moment before she motioned toward a chair at the kitchen table. “Sit down, Liz, and let’s have a glass of iced tea. I think you need a bit of cheering up after the busy day you’ve had.”

Liz nodded and dropped down in the chair while Gwen poured their tea. When she’d filled the glasses, she set them on the table and took a seat. “Are you sleeping any better than you were when you first came?”

Liz shrugged. “Some nights I do, but last night wasn’t very good.”

“I’m sorry, but I guess that was to be expected after what happened. Have you thought about seeing a doctor? You could probably get a prescription for something to help you sleep.”

She shook her head. “The doctor I saw in Memphis wanted to do that, but I don’t want to be induced into sleep. I want to get back to the point that my mind is relaxed and I can drift off into peaceful dreams instead of the nightmares I have.”

Gwen reached across the table and clasped her hand. “Liz, you’ll get there. It just takes time.”

Liz closed her eyes for a moment. “Every time I try to go to sleep, I remember what it was like that morning.”

She paused, and Gwen leaned closer. “You know I told you anytime you wanted to talk, I’d listen. Maybe for your peace of mind you need to take me up on it.”

“It’s been hard for me to live with it, much less talk about it. But sometimes I think I’ll scream with all the thoughts that run through my head. I think I do need to talk about it.”

“Anytime you’re ready, I’m here.”

Liz sat still for a moment, the memories of the day that changed her life pouring through her mind. She had been wearing her favorite blouse, the one she had to throw away later because of all the bloodstains. And she remembered how Kathy had looked, her hair pulled back in a ponytail and her sunglasses propped on her head. For a moment she didn’t know if she could bring herself to speak of what she’d seen. Then she inhaled, and the words tumbled out.

“It was a Friday, and I had taken the day off from work because I was leaving at lunchtime for a long weekend with my friend Kathy. We were going to a spa near Little Rock and were excited about getting away and spending a few days just being pampered. Kathy picked me up and said that she needed to stop at the mall before we left town and pick up a watch that she’d had repaired. When we got there, she pulled into the parking garage.”

A sob choked her throat, and she swallowed. Gwen squeezed her hand tighter. “Are you sure you want to share this with me?”

She looked at Gwen through the tears that blurred her vision. “I need to talk about it. I told the police, but I haven’t been able to tell anyone else. It brings back the terror that I felt that day.”

Gwen nodded. “Okay.”

Liz took a deep breath. “I told her I’d wait in the car since she would only be gone a few minutes. I wanted to check my email and texts. She laughed and said, ‘You need to put everything out of your mind but the fun we’re going to have, so I’m going to hide your phone this weekend.’ Then she jumped out of the car and ran to the elevator.”

She stopped for a moment, and Gwen said, “Go on.”

“I don’t know how long I sat there before I noticed a car pull in and stop two parking spaces down from me. A man got out. He was dressed casually and there wasn’t anything special about him, but something about him drew my attention. Maybe it was the way he glanced around like he was looking for someone. Before he could move, a car drove up behind his and blocked it. Another man, this one well-dressed and looking like some kind of businessman, got out. They began to talk, and the first man I’d seen held out his hands like he was trying to explain something. Then he began to cry like he was begging. The man who’d blocked his car pulled out a gun and motioned for him to get down on his knees. I could hear the man pleading and crying as he dropped down. Then I heard shots.”

“How horrible,” Gwen said.

Liz bit her lip. “He turned around and started to leave, so I sank down in my seat hoping he wouldn’t see me. That’s when I heard the elevator door open.”

Tears rolled down her face. “There were more gunshots, and I dropped down even lower in the seat. It seemed like an eternity before his car drove away. I sat up and looked around. That’s when I saw Kathy lying close to the elevator. I ran to her, but she was already dead. I called 911, but I was screaming, so the dispatcher had a hard time understanding me.”

Liz paused and closed her eyes. “There was blood everywhere. All over Kathy, all over me and on the floor.”

“And then the police came.” Gwen’s tone told Liz she knew how the rest of the story went.

Liz sighed. “Yes, and they took me to the police station. They told me that the man who was murdered was a member of a drug ring that had been operating in the city and he’d been on the verge of agreeing to turn over evidence about his boss, who was the head of the organization. They wanted me to look at mug shots, and I must have gone through a hundred before I saw him—the shooter.”

She shuddered remembering what it had been like when she saw the picture of the well-dressed man who’d pulled the trigger. “His name is Daniel Shaw, and he’s the head of a crime family that the FBI has been after for years. They’d never been able to pin anything on him before. Now they had an eyewitness to murder, and they wanted me to testify.”

“Which you agreed to do,” Gwen said.

Liz nodded. “I didn’t have a choice. I had to do it for Kathy. At the time, though, I didn’t realize the danger I’d be in. They kept me at a safe house in the city at first, but when they noticed some suspicious men hanging around, they decided I’d be safer out of town. That’s when the head of the Memphis office told me about Dean and how I’d be safe here until the trial. I’ve just been afraid that I was putting you and your family in danger.”

Gwen shook her head. “Don’t worry about that. Only Dean, Ben Whitman, Luke Conrad and I know your true identity. We’ll do everything we can to keep you safe.”

“Thank you, Gwen. I’ve tried to keep to myself a lot. I’m afraid I might let something slip, but it gets lonely. I miss my friends and my job in Memphis.” Tears pooled in her eyes again. “Most of all I miss Kathy.”

“Liz,” Gwen began, her voice hesitant. “Maybe you need to make some friends. I know a young woman who is a trick rider at the Wild West show. She stayed with us when she first came here. She’s married now to Ben’s deputy Luke, and she’s raising horses at their ranch. I think you’d like her a lot.”

“A trick rider, huh? She sounds like an interesting person. Maybe you can introduce us.”

“I’d be glad to.”

Liz chewed on her lower lip for a second. “Actually, Gabriel Decker seems like he’d like to be friends. He asked me to go riding with him this afternoon.”

The shadow of a frown flitted across Gwen’s face before she straightened and cleared her throat. “I didn’t think you were interested in getting to know him.”

Liz shrugged. “I’m not, but I like to ride. It’s more fun if you have someone else along.”

Gwen studied her a moment. “So you’re going to accept his invitation?”

Liz started to say no, but then she thought better of it. Maybe all he wanted was a bit of companionship, and she wanted to find out more about him. She knew it was risky to trust a stranger, but she couldn’t make herself believe he wanted to hurt her. Not after the way he’d saved her the previous day or the way he’d spent all morning helping her. She’d stay on her guard, of course, but maybe it was all right to offer him this little bit of trust. Her decision made, she smiled.

“I am. I’ll go find him now and tell him I’ve decided to go.”

She pushed back from the table and strode to the door. Before she walked through it, she glanced back over her shoulder. Gwen still sat at the table, her brow furrowed and her eyes dark. For some reason Gwen didn’t look too pleased with her decision. A flicker of apprehension stabbed at her stomach, and she swallowed. No. I will not let fear rule my life, she decided. Then she squared her shoulders and headed out the back door.

* * *

Gabriel glanced at his watch as he ambled up to the barn. It was still thirty minutes until the time he’d told Liz he’d meet her there, and he wondered if she’d come. Even though he’d made some progress in gaining her friendship this morning, she hadn’t exactly jumped at the chance to go riding with him. He usually didn’t have trouble relating to people, but then, witnessing a grisly murder could cause anyone to be wary of the people around her.

They’d had a good time this morning even if they were cleaning out stalls. He’d found he really missed the physical labor that it took to do a job like that, and he’d felt a sense of accomplishment when they’d finished. Now the horses had clean stalls and fresh shavings on the floor...until tomorrow. Then the job would have to be done again.

He walked into the barn and looked around in hopes that Liz had already gotten there, but he didn’t see her. A noise in the far end of the alleyway attracted his attention, and he moved toward it. Dean stood inside the tack room cleaning a saddle. Gabriel stopped at the door and studied him briefly before he spoke.

“Hi, Dean. Need any help?”

“No, I’m fine. Are you going for that ride you asked me about this morning?”

Gabriel glanced at his watch. “Yeah. I’m hoping that Liz will go with me, but she hasn’t shown up yet.”

Dean came toward him, and Gabriel moved back so that Dean could step into the alleyway. “Where did you say you wanted to ride to?” Dean asked.

“Rattlesnake Creek. From what I saw on your brochure, it looks like a beautiful place.”

“It is, and it’s a nice ride up there.”

A voice from behind startled Gabriel. “Do you need help saddling Buttermilk?”

He peered over his shoulder at the young man, perhaps nineteen or twenty years old, standing there. In his worn jeans, a Western shirt unbuttoned at the neck and boots, he looked like any other ranch hand Gabriel had seen since arriving. Dean turned and stared at him. “Bart, I thought you had the day off.”

“That’s right,” Bart said, his eyes never leaving Gabriel’s face. “Didn’t have nothing to do. Thought I’d hang around here.”

Dean looked back to Gabriel. “This is Bart Foster, one of our hands.”

Gabriel stuck out his hand. “Gabriel Decker, Bart. Good to meet you.

Bart gave a curt nod as he shook Gabriel’s hand, his steely gaze giving no sign of friendliness.

A strong vibe of suppressed anger radiated from the young man. His eyes held no sparkle, and the closed-off expression on his face indicated that he trusted no one. Gabriel had seen it on so many other faces of nameless prison inmates before. It was as if all hope had been sucked from their lives, to be replaced by despair. He wondered what this boy’s story was.

“So should I get Buttermilk?” the ranch hand asked.

Gabriel shook his head. “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t want to impose on you on your day off.”

The boy shrugged. “No problem. She’s in the corral. I’ll round her up and throw a saddle on her.”

As Bart turned to leave, the collar of his shirt opened farther to reveal the tattoo of a small fish on the side of his neck. Gabriel recognized it right away as a piranha, the symbol of a well-known gang that populated juvenile facilities. In places where the gang had a foothold, they thrived on putting fear in the inmates with the same fierceness that the tiny fish with razor-sharp teeth did in its victims. Even guards were afraid to stand against them.

Bart caught sight of Gabriel’s eyes on his tattoo, and he lifted his chin challengingly. When Gabriel said nothing, Bart headed out the door. Gabriel frowned as he watched him go. When Bart stepped out of the barn, Gabriel glanced at Dean. “How long has Bart been working here?”

“A few weeks,” Dean answered.

“What do you know about him?”

“Nothing really. He showed up here, a hungry kid who’d been drifting around the country. We get a lot of those through here, and I always try to help them out when I can. He’s a hard worker. Keeps to himself. I can’t help but believe he’s carrying a lot of baggage. I don’t think I’ve seen him smile since he’s been here. Reminds me of how my life was at one time.”

Gabriel hesitated for a moment before he said anything. Then he decided Dean had a right to know what he’d just discovered. “Dean, you need to keep a watch on him and make sure your family keeps their distance. That tattoo on his neck is the insignia of the Piranha Gang, who thrive in juvenile facilities. They’re vicious and ruthless. Only trusted members are allowed to have the tattoo. So that means that at the very least, Bart was heavy into the gang at one time. It’s possible he still is.”

Dean’s eyebrows arched. “Thanks for telling me, Gabriel. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

They stood there silently staring in the direction that Bart had gone. One thing Gabriel knew was that once a Piranha member was out of juvie, it didn’t take long for the larger gangs in town to approach him. That could mean that Bart had already graduated to the next level and become a member of another gang. He wondered if Bart could now be tied to Shaw’s organization. It seemed suspicious that he’d shown up right around the time of Liz’s arrival. Yet on the other hand, if he was intent on attacking Liz, he wasn’t acting very quickly. It was a puzzle.

Bart Foster could bear watching in the future, and he intended to do just that.

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