The Cowboy Target. Terri Reed
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Название: The Cowboy Target
Автор: Terri Reed
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Короткие любовные романы
Серия: Mills & Boon Love Inspired Suspense
isbn: 9781472011305
isbn:
“Hang on to Spencer.”
He reached down and grabbed the dog by the collar as she stomped on the brake and twisted the wheel, sending the big, lumbering SUV into a spin and coming to a halt facing the way they’d come. The SUV’s headlights swept over an oncoming motorcycle. The driver swerved at the last second and drove past them, barely avoiding becoming a hood ornament. The single rider wore all black. The machine he rode was also black, except for chrome exhaust pipes.
The motorcycle roared down the road toward the ranch and disappeared.
Jackie made a three-point turn then punched the gas, chasing after the motorcycle. But he was already too far ahead for the headlights to find him in the dark. The tracks glistened in the beam of light. So did the gently falling snow.
Anxiety tripped down Wyatt’s spine. What if the rider reached the house before they did? What would he do? Was the motorcyclist the one who’d killed George and framed Wyatt?
Jackie kept the gas floored, expertly controlling the speeding vehicle on the slick, snow-packed road. There was more than met the eye in this petite package. He added competent driver to his list of her attributes.
Two miles from the ranch, the cycle’s tracks went off-road and disappeared into the dark.
“What’s out there?” She slowed the vehicle to a stop.
“Cattle. That’s the heifer pasture. There’s a feed shed about two miles out. But there’s a fence about a half mile from this road. The gate’s on the other side of the pasture.”
“Have you checked that fence lately?”
Wyatt took in a sharp breath. “That was George’s job.”
She tapped a finger on the steering wheel. “Maybe it’s a squatter. Maybe George discovered him. Maybe that’s why he was killed.”
“That’s a lot of maybes,” Wyatt said, not liking the idea of someone trespassing on his land. “But if that theory were true, how’d the killer get my hunting knife, and why put George on my porch?”
“There’s the rub. Where do you keep the knife?”
“In the truck, beneath the seat.” Exactly where they’d found it. He didn’t miss the slight narrowing of her eyes.
“Lot of people know you keep it there?”
“It wasn’t a secret. And the truck’s always in plain view.”
Snow fell in earnest, a blanket of white that not even the headlights could cut through. That motorcycle rider wouldn’t be getting very far in this blizzard.
“You lock the truck up at night?” Jackie asked.
A sinking feeling hit the pit of his stomach. “No. I don’t.”
She started the vehicle moving again. The windshield wipers worked hard to push the snow from the glass. “So in the middle of the night, anyone could have sneaked onto the ranch and taken it.”
A sense of dread assailed him. “Just like they snuck onto the ranch and left George’s body on my porch.”
She slanted him a quick glance. “Exactly.”
Which meant he and Gabby weren’t safe.
THREE
“Once we get to the house and everyone is inside and buttoned down tight, I’ll come back and have a look-see,” Jackie stated.
“Not in this weather,” Wyatt countered. A greenhorn like her would get herself lost in a whiteout like this. He wouldn’t even chance it without careful preparation.
When they arrived at the house, the whole place was lit up. Carl, Penny and Gabby rushed outside onto the porch to greet them as they climbed out of the vehicle.
Relieved to know his family was okay, Wyatt let out the breath lodged beneath his ribs.
“Daddy!” his daughter squealed, barreling into his legs in a blur of fuzzy pink footsie jammies the second he stepped onto the porch.
“Hey, sweetie.” Swamped with love for his little girl, he lifted her up so she could wrap her little arms around his neck. He tugged the corners of his jacket around her tiny body. His daughter loved him unconditionally. It should be enough. But Dina’s words taunted him. Left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Carl and Penny hugged their niece.
Gabby pointed a finger at Jackie. “Who’s that?”
With her arm around Jackie’s waist, Penny said, “This is Jackie. Remember I told you we had a guest coming?”
Jackie smiled at Gabby. Wyatt liked the way Jackie’s eyes softened when she looked at his daughter.
“Hi, there,” Jackie said. Snowflakes balanced on her blond curls glistened in the glow of the porch light. “I love your freckles.”
“Hi.” Gabby returned the smile and ducked her head into Wyatt’s neck. Her cold little nose pressed against his skin.
“You want to see something neat?” Jackie asked.
Gabby lifted her head and nodded.
Jackie hurried back to the vehicle. Carl followed. While he went to the back of the SUV, Jackie opened the passenger door. She lifted Spencer off the floor and carried him to the house.
Gabby nearly jumped out of Wyatt’s arms. “Doggy.”
He let her down so she could pet the canine.
Jackie’s blue eyes twinkled as she squatted with the dog in her arms. “His name’s Spencer. He’s an English bulldog.”
Gabby squealed with delight.
Carl hefted a big black duffel bag out of the back of the SUV and carried it to the smaller house across the driveway.
“You’re both invited over for some meat loaf. It’s Jackie’s favorite,” Penny said.
“Come on, sweetie. Let’s go wash up.” Wyatt took Gabby by the hand and watched Penny lead her niece to the small house across the drive from the main house. Spencer trotted along behind them, leaving paw prints in the powdered snow.
As Wyatt led Gabby inside, she said, “I want a Spencer.”
He wasn’t surprised. He had a feeling there were many changes coming thanks to a certain blond guest.
And he wasn’t sure they were all going to be good.
He took one last glance out at the snowy night before closing the door and prayed that tomorrow would be a better day. With no dead bodies.
* * *
The next morning Jackie was up and out for a СКАЧАТЬ