It would have to look like an accident—one that couldn’t be traced back to her. And it would have to be devastating, something that would strike at the very heart of the Tylers’ ranch.
Stella lit a cigarette, inhaled, and blew a smoke ring up into the darkness. Whatever her plan turned out to be, she’d enjoy thinking about it for the rest of the night.
* * *
Tori drove up to the house, parked, and stepped out of the station wagon with her briefcase. Looking across the yard, she could see Will and Erin standing by the paddock fence, watching the spring-born foals romp in the late-November sunshine.
Something tightened around Tori’s heart as her gaze took in the two of them. Erin was pointing toward her young palomino, exclaiming about something. Will was nodding, listening to every word, as if memorizing the sound of her voice.
With Thanksgiving three days away, and the trial scheduled for the following Wednesday, these precious days were all about family. No one at the ranch had expressed any doubt that Will would be acquitted; but everyone, including Will, seemed to be quietly preparing for the worst.
Days ago Tori had notarized a docu
ment giving Beau power of attorney to sell Rimrock land without the need for Will’s signature. Either way the trial went, with the hundred-thousand-dollar bank loan due with interest by January 1, they’d have to find a buyer for the land or lose it to the bank. There was no other way to pay the money off. These were dark days for the Rimrock. But at least this year, the ranch family could celebrate Thanksgiving Day together.
Tori was crossing the yard to join Will and Erin at the fence when her cell phone rang. It was Drew. She stopped to take the call.
“Hi,” he said. “I was hoping I could catch you before I left for my sister’s.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be in school today?” she asked.
“No, I decided to play hooky. Since I’ll be driving to Omaha and back for the big day, I thought I’d take the whole week off. The assistant principal can ride herd on the students for a few days.”
“Well, here’s wishing you a great trip.” Tori had neglected Drew for the past week. She hadn’t meant to do that. But the coming trial and Will’s other problems had drained her time and energy until there was nothing left for her so-called social life. “Sorry I’ve been so unavailable,” she said. “I hope you’ll let me make it up to you later.”
“I plan to give you plenty of chances,” he said. “But I want to leave you with one thought. I’ve stood back and been patient while you’ve dealt with the trial and the issues related to it. But once that trial is over, no matter how it turns out, you’ll need to decide between me and Will. I’m falling in love with you, Tori, but I won’t play second fiddle to another man. If you and I are going to make this work, you’ll need to be on board with me a hundred percent. Understand?”
“I understand, Drew,” Tori said. “You’ve been a saint through all this, and I promise I won’t keep you waiting much longer.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear,” he said. “I’ll call you when I’m back, and I’ll see you again after the trial.”
“Be safe,” Tori said, and ended the call. Drew was the perfect gentleman. She really did care for him and wanted to see where their relationship might go. But why did he have to add to the pressure on her now, at a time when she was already a bundle of anxiety?
Slipping her phone back into her purse, she reached the fence and took her place next to her daughter. Will acknowledged her presence with a nod and a flicker of a smile. He was putting on a brave face, but Tori knew the thought of what lay ahead was tearing at his heart.
The foals, all legs at this stage, were romping in the paddock, pushing, rearing, nipping, and galloping. It was serious play, strengthening their young bodies and building their survival skills, as well as their social skills with other horses. It was possible to see which animals, even at this young age, would be dominant later on.
“Look, Mom! Look at Tesoro!” Erin pointed to her golden foal, racing ahead of the others. “See how fast he is! And you can already tell he’s the one in charge.”
Tori took a moment to admire the beautiful young colt. His palomino coat gleamed in the sunlight. His creamy mane and tail fluttered in the breeze as he ran. Tesoro was going to be a magnificent stallion. But Tori still worried about her daughter owning and raising such an animal. She’d urged Will to have Tesoro gelded for Erin’s safety, but it was a lost argument. Not to breed such a valuable creature would be unthinkable, and Erin, who’d been promised the foal before he was born, would have no other.
“Maybe I didn’t find the Spanish gold,” Erin said, “but we have a golden treasure right here, don’t we, Daddy?”
“We certainly do.” Will squeezed her shoulders. Lauren had told Tori about Erin’s wanting the Spanish gold to help save the ranch. Tori had resolved to wait and tell Will about that later. Right now, his emotions were raw enough.
Will glanced down at the briefcase in Tori’s hand. “I see you’ve come on business,” he said.
“I’m afraid so. I was hoping to go over some trial notes. If you’re busy with Erin, it can wait.”
“No, it’s fine.” Tori could tell he was weary of the whole business. “Let’s get it over with. Erin, don’t you have schoolwork to do?”
“A little. If I finish in time, can I go with you to check the herd?”
“We’ll see.”
They crossed the yard to the house, the three of them walking together with Erin in the middle. Once inside, Erin went to her room. Tori and Will settled themselves in the den with the paperwork on the coffee table between them. From the open ranch office across the hall, they could hear the sound of a ringing phone and Beau’s muffled voice as he picked up the call. The closing door cut off whatever they might have heard of his conversation.
Tori found her reading glasses in her purse and slipped them on. She looked up to find Will watching her from his chair. His impossibly blue eyes were ringed in shadow. In all the years she’d known him, she’d never seen him look so tired.