Revenge on the Ranch, page 7
“You think I shot your daddy?” Peter laughed again, and all the men at the table joined in. “You’re barking up the wrong tree, King. But if I wanted to make that shot, it would have been a piece of cake for me.”
Carrie felt Luke’s tension wafting off him as the two men glared at each other. She held her breath as the stares continued. “You’re some piece of work, Jeffries,” Luke finally said.
“I’ll drink to that,” Peter said and downed his bottle of beer.
As the men at the other table returned to their own conversation, Carrie placed a hand on Luke’s forearm. “Are you okay?” she asked softly.
“Yeah.” He drew in a deep breath and released it slowly.
An hour later, they were back in his truck and headed back to his place. Peter and his band of creeps had left the bar fifteen minutes before.
“I thought it was going to happen tonight,” he said. His voice betrayed his bitter disappointment.
“I did, too,” she replied. “But I don’t think Peter was really drunk enough to make a careless confession. I’ve seen him drunker.”
“He said I was looking at the wrong person, but I still believe he did it.”
“Then we continue to do what we’ve been doing and hope one night he gets completely smashed and accidentally confesses,” she said.
“From your lips to God’s ear.” He turned onto the long lane that would take them to his house. “You want to come in?” he asked as he parked in front of his place.
She would have loved to spend more time with him alone, but it had been a long day, and it was late. “No, thanks. I think I’ll just head on home.”
He parked, and they got out and then he walked her to her car. “As always, despite what we’re doing, I enjoy spending time with you,” he said.
His words shot warmth straight through to her heart, and suddenly she was thinking about the kiss they had shared earlier in the day.
“I always enjoy spending time with you, too,” she said. She stopped by her driver door and hoped he would kiss her again.
“Why don’t I pick you up about six thirty tomorrow and we can hang out here for a while before heading back to the Red Barn?”
“Oh, Luke, there’s no reason for you to drive all the way into town to pick me up when I can just meet you out here,” she replied.
His features were barely discernible in the glow from his porch light. He smiled at her. “Okay, then you meet me here and we’ll go from there.”
“Then I guess I’ll just say good night.” She hesitated another long moment, hoping for a second kiss.
“Good night, Carrie,” he replied and took a step back from her so she could open her door. She got into the car and released a deep sigh.
The kiss had changed everything for her. It had given her hope that he might see her as something other than a partner—that he might be seeing her as a desirable woman.
On a scale of one to ten, his kiss had been off the charts. His lips had been so soft, yet they’d had a mastery that had been thrilling. It had made her want him more than ever.
She turned onto the long, dark road that would take her back to town. Like Luke, there had been a moment tonight when she’d thought Peter was going to confess that he’d shot Big John. As he’d talked about his shooting prowess, she was certain it was going to happen. It had been a big letdown that it hadn’t happened.
Maybe even drunk, Peter knew if he said anything about shooting Big John, he’d wind up in jail. Maybe he would never get drunk enough to confess to the crime. She wasn’t even sure if he was really the guilty one.
She understood why he was on Luke’s radar. Wayne had had a motive to want Big John out of the way, and Peter had the skill set to make that happen. But that didn’t mean that either of them was good for the murder.
She was reminded of the conversation about the crime drama they both watched. Luke was convinced the obvious person was guilty, while she wasn’t so sure. Peter was the obvious person, but time would tell if that made him guilty.
“Darn,” she said aloud as she suddenly remembered she’d left her clothes and cosmetic bag at Luke’s place. Oh well, she’d just get them tomorrow night when she was out at his place again.
She shoved all these thoughts out of her head as she saw a vehicle approaching quickly behind her. It appeared to be a truck, and it was coming on very fast. She moved over as far as she could in the lane so the driver could easily go around her.
It continued to race up directly behind her, and she gasped as the vehicle bumped into the back of her car. The steering wheel momentarily twisted out of her hands. She quickly grabbed hold of it, corrected and sped ahead.
What on earth was wrong with the driver of the truck? Was he drunk? Had he just mistakenly gotten too close to her? She stepped on the gas, wanting to get some distance from him. Before another thought could enter her mind, the truck hit her again, this time with enough force to snap her head back and then forward.
She cried out and reoriented herself just in time to see the ditch as it appeared directly in front of her. And then she slammed into it. Her body jerked around despite the seat belt, and her brain went blank.
Chapter Five
Slowly Carrie came to her senses. A hissing noise came from someplace in the front of her car. She assumed it was her radiator, but she wasn’t sure. The darkness of the night fell around her, deep and profound and further disorienting her.
Her car had stopped running, and even the headlights had doused. Her seat belt had pulled agonizingly tight around her, squeezing her chest painfully. She quickly took it off, drawing several long, deep breaths in an effort to calm herself.
The airbags should have deployed, but they hadn’t, and she was grateful that they hadn’t. She’d always heard that airbags could hurt when they hit your face and chest.
Thankfully, she felt no real pain anywhere, so she didn’t believe she was seriously hurt. She looked around for her purse, which had her phone inside, but she had no idea where her purse might be. It had been on the passenger seat before the wreck but was no longer there, and it was too dark to hunt around for it.
What she needed to do was get out of the car and get to the road so she could flag down some help. At this time of the night, on this particular road, she realized, it might be some time before another vehicle came along.
Her eyes slowly began to adjust to the dark, letting her see a little better despite the darkness. Her door was crunched, but she pushed and shoved against it with all her might and somehow managed to get it open.
She half rolled out of the car, and as she straightened up to inspect the damage, she saw the black pickup truck that had hit her parked along the side of the road. The lights were off, and the truck was idling.
Why was it just sitting there like that? Something about it seemed strangely ominous, and the air suddenly smelled not only of hot steam and oil, but also of an unknown danger.
If the driver had stopped because he’d caused the accident, then why wasn’t he getting out of his truck to check on her condition? Surely that’s what a normal person would do. Why was he just sitting there?
Was the driver waiting to see if he saw her and knew she was okay? Was he then going to drive off? Was it a hit-and-run and he or she just wasn’t running yet?
She crouched back down and moved to the back of her car to peer around the edge of the fender. Her heart had already been beating too quickly given the wreck, but now it beat even faster.
Things just didn’t feel right. For several long minutes, she remained hidden behind her car, watching and waiting to see if the truck drove away or not. She sensed something about to happen, but she couldn’t anticipate what it might be. All she knew was this whole situation didn’t feel right.
The driver door of the pickup suddenly flew open, and a man got out of the vehicle. In the darkness she could only see a vague silhouette, but she saw enough to be afraid. Whoever the man was, he walked with slow, heavy steps across the asphalt road, and he was carrying a rifle. Why carry a rifle to check on the victim of a car accident?
“Carrie, Carrie. Gonna shoot you deady,” a deep, singsong voice said.
She froze. Wha...what was happening? Her brain tried to make sense of things, but it couldn’t. He knew her name, and from his words he intended to kill her. He knew her name! Dear God, what was happening? Why was this happening? Who was this man?
She shoved a hand in her mouth to stanch the scream that begged to be released. That voice...it was eerily familiar. But she couldn’t think about that right now.
The footsteps came closer. Escape...she needed to escape. She desperately looked around for a place to hide. Would the darkness shield her if she ran away? If he did see her, a bullet from a rifle could travel a very long way far faster than she could run.
She had to do something, because he was nearly on top of her. She looked around frantically. Could she stay hidden in the deepest darkness of the ditch? Could she crawl away without him hearing her now?
She heard a faint click, and then a spear of light appeared. He had a flashlight. The words screamed through her head. Oh God, he has a flashlight! She now had no time to run. With the flashlight he’d find her if she hid in the ditch. He’d see her if she ran. He’d find her no matter what she did, and he apparently intended to kill her. Why? Why was this happening?
“Carrie, I’m coming for you,” the deep voice said, and then he laughed. The deep burst of laughter was filled with glee.
Terror shot through her. Her chest tightened, and her throat squeezed so tight she could scarcely draw a breath. Closer...he was coming closer.
She moved as silently as possible and, not knowing what else to do, she slid beneath the car. She lay flat, a hand once again fisted against her mouth. Quiet. She had to stay completely quiet. She watched in horror as the booted feet walked slowly around her car.
Like a child, she wanted to squeeze her eyes tightly closed and become invisible. Yet at the same time, she wanted—needed—to see where he was going and what he was doing.
Could he hear her heartbeat? It pounded so frantically in her head. Surely he could hear it, too. He was now on the driver’s side of the car. The flashlight shot all around, illuminating the ditch and nearby brush.
“Carrie.” Her name was a soft hiss. “Carrie, I’m going to find you, and then I’m going to kill you.”
Sobs of terror blurred her vision and rose up in the back of her throat. She held them in, knowing if he heard a single sound from her, he’d find her and it would all be over.
How long before he bent down and looked beneath the car? How many minutes did she have left of her life? Sooner or later, he’d look. When he couldn’t find her around the car, he’d look under it and find her.
She was now a sitting duck. How easy she’d made it for him to just point his rifle beneath the car and shoot her. Maybe she should have taken her chances running. But it was too late now.
“Carrie, I know you didn’t go far. You might as well show yourself and take your medicine,” the deep voice said.
Another deep sob welled up inside her, and she shoved her fisted hand more tightly against her mouth. Why was this happening? Why? Who was this man and why did he want to kill her?
She was in a nightmare, a horrible nightmare, only she couldn’t wake up. She was going to die, and she would never know why.
In the distance she heard the approach of another vehicle. The flashlight clicked off, and her attacker took off running. She heard his boots back on the asphalt road and then the slam of his truck door. He took off with a squeal of tires.
At the same time, she heard the second vehicle pull to a stop. She didn’t move. Fear kept her in place even as a sob finally escaped her.
“Hello? Is somebody there? Does anyone need help? Carrie, is that you?”
She recognized that deep voice. It was Luke’s brother Johnny. She scooted out from beneath the car and got to her feet, sobs now ripping from her throat. “Johnny,” she managed to cry. “Johnny, I’m here.”
“Carrie...are you okay?” Johnny hurriedly stepped down into the ditch to meet her.
“Ye-yes...no. He was go-going to ki-kill me. Johnny, he...he wanted to ki-kill me.” The words jerked out of her amid her cries.
“Who? Carrie, what’s going on? Who was going to kill you?”
“I don’t kn-know. The man who w-was here before you,” she replied. “Can you c-call Luke for me?” She leaned weakly against the back fender of her car.
She wanted Luke here to hold her. She needed him to wrap her in his arms and make her feel safe. Her terror still radiated through her, making it difficult for her to draw a full breath.
“The first person I need to call is Lane,” Johnny replied. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called the lawman. After telling Lane where they were on the road and that they needed a tow truck, he added that somebody had apparently tried to kill her. He hung up and then called his brother.
Carrie tried to pull herself together. Despite the heat of the night, shiver after shiver of cold chills shot through her. “Somebody should be here in just a few minutes,” Johnny said. “Are you sure you aren’t hurt?”
“Not physically, but I’m... I was...am...terrified.”
“You’re safe now.” He awkwardly threw an arm around her shoulder and pulled her against his warm, strong body. “I’m not going to ask you any of the details of what happened. Lane will be here soon enough, and you can tell him everything.”
She wanted to cuddle into his warmth in an effort to stanch the icy chills that continued to grip her. She needed somebody to tell her what was going on, who that man was and why he wanted to kill her.
Headlights appeared in the distance, and she tensed with a new horror. Was the man coming back? Oh God, was he coming back to kill her?
“Johnny...he’s coming back,” she said frantically. “He’s going to kill me, and now he’ll kill you, too.” She gripped his arm in renewed terror.
“Nobody is going to kill you while I’m here,” Johnny replied firmly. “Besides, that’s Luke.”
Sure enough, it was Luke’s truck that pulled to a halt on the shoulder of the road. His lights illuminated the area with a welcomed brightness, and he kept them on even after he cut the engine. As he got out of the vehicle, Carrie ran toward him. She slammed into him and began to sob all over again.
He instantly wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. She buried her face in the crook of his neck as tremors shook through her body. She finally released all the deep sobs that had been trapped inside her for so long.
“Carrie, don’t cry. Baby, you’re okay. I’ve got you,” he said. He rubbed his hands up and down her back in an obvious effort to comfort her.
With his arms holding her and his familiar scent surrounding her, she felt safe for the first time since she’d careened into the ditch.
In the distance a siren wailed, letting them know Lane would be here within moments. Still, she clung to Luke as he attempted to calm her by murmuring assurances in her ear, assurances that she was safe now and he wasn’t going to let anyone hurt her.
Lane pulled up, cut the screaming siren and flashing lights, and then got out of his car. “Carrie, are you okay?” he called out as he approached them.
She finally stepped out of Luke’s arms. “I’m okay.” She drew several deep breaths to steady herself. “A pickup truck rammed into me and I... I wound up in the ditch.” Despite her best effort to stay calm and relay important information, new tears burned at her eyes as raw emotion once again surfaced.
“Then the driver...he...he got out of the truck and he had a rifle and he said he was going to kill me. And then I hid underneath the car and he had a flashlight and was looking for me. He wanted to kill me.” The words tumbled out of her in a rush. “And then...then Johnny came along and the man ran back to his truck and sped away.”
“Whoa, slow down,” Lane replied. “Let’s start at the very beginning. So, you believe this truck intentionally rammed into you to make you wreck?”
“Yes, it was absolutely intentional,” she replied. “He hit me twice, and the last time I flew off the road and into the ditch.” She wrapped her arms around herself as a new chill swept through her.
“Do you know the color of the pickup truck that hit you?”
“No, it was too dark to be sure, but I think it was black,” she replied.
Lane looked at Johnny. “Did you see the color or recognize the vehicle?”
“No and no,” he said. “The truck squealed away before I got close enough to see anything about it. I was just on my way home after playing some cards out at Sam Kaiser’s place when I came upon the accident.”
Lane returned his gaze to Carrie. “So, you hit the ditch, and then what happened?”
Slowly, she told him everything that had happened. As she got to the part where the man had told her he was going to kill her, Luke wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close against him once again.
“Are you sure he said your name?” Lane asked.
She nodded. “Positive. He said it several times. There was no mistaking it.”
“Did you recognize the voice at all?”
She frowned thoughtfully. “I thought it sounded vaguely familiar, but I’m not so sure now. I’m not sure about anything except somebody wanted to kill me tonight.” Tears once again stung her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks. She brushed them away. “I don’t know who it was or why he’s after me.”
“Did you see anything about him?” Lane asked.
“I saw his feet. He was wearing either tan work boots or cowboy boots. That’s all I saw. It was too dark to see anything else, and I was hiding under the car,” she replied.
