“It is good land.” Automatically she let her glance sweep over the vast expanse of grass that stretched away from the river. Her expression softened with a mixture of pride and deep affection.
“You love this land, don’t you,” Laredo observed.
“It’s been my home my whole life. There isn’t an inch of it I haven’t ridden.”
He found himself admiring this woman with her unusual combination of strength and easy calm. “I understand you are in charge of the Triple C now. A place this size, that has to be a bit daunting.”
She looked him in the eye with a man’s directness. “You simply take each day as it comes and keep an eye on tomorrow. As long as you take care of the land, it will take care of you.”
The statement had a profound ring to it. “Did Chase teach you that?” Laredo wondered.
“That has always been the Calder way of doing things,” she replied, her gaze turning to a quiet probing. “Where did you meet Chase?”
“In Texas.”
“I don’t recall him ever mentioning your name,” she replied.
Laredo smiled easily. “I don’t imagine there was ever a reason why he should.” Something in her body language warned him that she was about to bring the conversation to an end. With every instinct telling him to trust her, he took a calculated risk. “Are you absolutely certain Chase is dead?”
“Why would you ask that?” she said, clearly surprised by his question.
“What if I told you he wants to talk to you?”
A cold anger flared in her eyes. Abruptly she swung away from him and struck out for the barn. In two strides, Laredo caught her arm and turned her back to face him.
“Hear me out.”
“Why should I?” she challenged hotly, showing a temper held under tight control. “If Chase Calder was alive, he would be here himself.”
“Believe me, he has his reasons for staying away.”
“I don’t believe you.” The muscles in her arm tensed as she made to pull away from him.
“Did you see his body? Did anybody?” Laredo demanded.
“No, it was . . .” She hesitated, the first flicker of doubt showing in her expression.
“Burned beyond recognition,” he completed the sentence for her. “You, the police, everybody assumed the dead man was Chase.”
“Why are you doing this?” Her gaze narrowed on him, turning hard and cold. “What’s your game?”
“It’s no game. Chase needs to talk to you. Alone. You pick the time and location, but it can’t be a place where he might be seen.”
A corner of her mouth quirked in cold contempt. “You are a total stranger. You don’t really believe I would be foolish enough to meet you—alone—in some out-of-the-way spot, do you?”
Laredo smiled in approval and let his hand fall away from her arm. “You’re wise to be cautious. Which tells me you’ll also be wise enough to pick a place that will be secure for both you and Chase.”
“Is this a setup for a ransom demand? Have you kidnapped Chase?” Jessy demanded.
“At least you are willing to concede Chase is alive.” His eyes crinkled at the corners.
“Not yet, I haven’t,” she stated firmly. “I’m just trying to figure out your game.”
“It’s no game. And to answer your question, if I had kidnapped Chase, I would have sent a ransom note or called. I wouldn’t show my face around here.”
“Maybe not, but people have done stupid things before, Mr. Smith—if that’s really your name.”
“It’s a little too common to be believable, isn’t it,” he agreed.