Cowboy Secrets. Alice Sharpe

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      Pike Hastings looked at her. “Sorry. I tried to rouse you when we hit Falls Bluff, but you were out like a light. I figured nobody could sleep through the cattle guard. It can be a little rough if you’re not used to it, though.”

      She turned to look behind her, but there wasn’t much to see. In fact, there wasn’t a whole lot to see no matter which way she looked. Just mountains, fences, trees, a long line of power poles straight ahead and an endless stretch of rolling pastures. For a woman used to towering skyscrapers and hordes of people, it was disconcerting to see so much...nothing.

      “Is this it?” she said. “Is this your ranch?”

      “You sound disappointed.”

      “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “It all looks very...peaceful.”

      “It can be,” he agreed.

      She studied him again. He’d taken off the cowboy hat when he got behind the wheel, so she could see his profile clearly and there was nothing about it anyone could fault. The occasional flash of his dark blue eyes as he addressed her was pretty darn galvanizing as well, as was the clarity of his expression. He did not look like the kind of guy who lied or cheated or bamboozled, and she should know—she’d met her fair share of all of the above.

      Of course, that could just mean he was really good at dissembling, but she kind of doubted it. Wearing jeans and a leather jacket, he looked decidedly casual and yet also as though he could fit in almost anywhere. This was a trait she valued as a detective. It was fine to stand out when you needed or wanted to, but you also had to be something of a chameleon to get the job done.

      The drive down the more-or-less straight road seemed to stretch on forever. Here and there crossroads led toward the mountains and she caught glimpses of buildings, perhaps houses. “Is this all Hastings land?”

      “It is.”

      “Do you live in one of those buildings they have in old Westerns?”

      “What kind of building do you mean?” he asked with a sidelong glance.

      “You know, a bunkhouse.”

      “No, I live in a barn,” he said.

      “In a barn!” She sounded incredulous and he smiled.

      “Yeah, a barn.”

      “With animals and everything?”

      “Yeah,” he said, with another quick glance. “This your first ranch?”

      “You can tell?”

      “I just guessed.” He drove up a hill and suddenly the view changed as a small valley spread below them. Bisected by a shimmering gray river, the acreage on the peninsula that the U-shaped bend in the river created looked stark and icy and terribly remote. A big, old, wood house sat in a protected alcove. Surrounded with covered decks, the house appeared well cared for. What looked like work buildings sat off at a distance. Pale winter light glinted off the frosty shore of the river.

      “My father’s place,” Pike said.

      “Is this where Tess is?”

      “That’s right. She’s afraid to be alone.”

      Sierra gestured at the half-dozen vehicles gathered in the back. “All family,” Pike said. “And I’ll be damned, Frankie must be here. That’s his truck. Haven’t heard from him in a couple of weeks, which in and of itself isn’t unusual. Of course, him being here probably means he’s brought some kind of trouble.”

      “Frankie is one of your brothers?”

      “The youngest. Gerard is the oldest, then Chance and me and Frankie.”

      “It’s hard to watch someone you love struggle with life, isn’t it?”

      Pike didn’t answer right away and then finally he allowed himself a sigh. “I guess that’s one way to put it. Of course, he wouldn’t think of himself like that. He’s just a little more...creative...than your usual cowboy. And lord knows he doesn’t back down for anyone.” He shook his head and added, “I shouldn’t be talking about him.”

      She looked past his long lashes and the intensity of his gaze, peering deep into him. “I didn’t mean to prod,” she said after a moment. “Tess is my only relative and I rarely see her. Apparently I’m rusty when it comes to concepts like family loyalty.”

      “I don’t know. You dropped everything and flew here with very little warning,” he said. “Sounds to me like you know exactly what loyalty is about.”

      “This might be my last chance to make it all up to Tess,” she said quietly with a quick sweep of her eyes. “Ever since she disappeared, I’ve been thinking I should have tried harder.”

      “Well, you’re here now,” Pike said. “And that’s what counts.”

      As they pulled in beside the other vehicles, the back door opened. Another tall man, who looked enough like Pike to identify him as one of the brothers, waved from the opening and strode across the yard to meet them, joined by three dogs. One looked like the Lab her father had had for years, and the other two looked like border collies. Sierra didn’t consider herself to be much of an animal person, though she could enjoy the simple adoration that shone in a dog’s eyes. And you had to admire their perpetual good moods.

      One of the dogs jumped on her as she got out of the vehicle, planting muddy paws eight inches above her waist, and she winced as her dry cleaner’s disapproving face popped into her head.

      “Get down,” Pike admonished. He produced a clean cloth from one of his pockets and held it in front of her, staring at the mud, obviously flummoxed by how to help her without invading her privacy as the smear was right across her breast area. She took the cloth from him and wiped off as much as she could.

      “Sorry,” he said.

      “No problem.” It had been stupid to wear suede. She’d just figured there’d be more concrete and less dirt.

      “Silly dog,” the approaching man said as he rubbed the mutt’s ears with his left hand and offered Tess his right. “You must be Sierra. I’m Gerard. We’re real glad to have you here. I know Pike has been worried about your sister.”

      “I think everyone has,” Sierra said. “Where is she?”

      “Upstairs, finally getting some sleep,” he said.

      Pike hit the side of the blue truck. “When did Frankie arrive?”

      “Dad said he sailed in about forty-five minutes ago. He’s been waiting for you to get back. He wants to talk to everyone at once.”

      “Just like my sister wants a family confab,” Sierra said. “Must be something in the air around here.”

      “Is everything okay with Frankie?” Pike asked as he opened the tail of the SUV and took out Sierra’s suitcase.

      “I’m not sure,” Gerard said. “Let’s go find out.”

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