Enticed (Two Marks 3)

“In a single-wide trailer in the middle of our ranch? There can’t even be running water.”

He shook his head, turned on his heel, and headed toward the house. “Let it go, Alison. You don’t need to be involved in everything.”

I stared at him as he went. What the hell? I didn’t need to be involved in everything? This was my ranch.

Something was wrong here. I could feel it. There was a trailer on our property with barely any access. Those trucks I’d seen had to have roughed it. It made no sense. My father was making no sense. Was that place part of the meth thing the guys had mentioned? Was the trailer being used to make it? I’d thought maybe it was for ranchers to stay in if they were working out this way. But now my father was claiming it belonged to Tim Hollaroy, of all people? Something didn’t add up.

The only answer I could come up with was that he didn’t want me to know.

Which meant I needed to learn everything, because I was doubting my father. Questioning what I’d thought was accurate about him. I was also questioning Theo and Holt, because all three men couldn’t be right. Someone was lying. How could I believe my dad and be in bed with the other two? How could I trust Theo and Holt enough for them to tie me up but not enough with anything else?

Later. I’d go back to that trailer tonight and see if Tim Hollaroy was really sleeping in it. I’d find out the truth. Not what Theo and Holt said, or what my father shared with me.

I’d learn it all on my own.

Five hours later, the last bits of daylight were fading to black over the western mountains. I’d driven on the service road as close as I could get to the single-wide trailer as I could and parked, then hiked in the rest of the way. In the winter, my father would bring us out to the remote pond to ice skate. To make the journey faster, he’d drive instead of ride horseback, so I knew just where to leave my pickup.

Fortunately, the moon was out and it was clear. Seeing without a flashlight was doable. I didn’t want to alert anyone to my presence, especially my father. He didn’t like me snooping as it was, and I felt like we were on shaky ground.

Did he want me to work the family ranch, or not? And what the hell was going on with him? If he wasn’t going to tell me, then I’d find out. That meant sneaking across my own land in the dark to figure shit out. I cut through the tall grass and made my way to the row of cottonwoods by the creek. If anyone was out, I had the protection of the tall trees and also the water softly tumbling over the rocks to cut the sound of my footsteps. That I felt the need to be secretive only made me nervous and a little freaked. I wanted Holt and Theo here with me. They made me feel safe. I craved the super-sized protection they’d provide. I was sure they’d want to know about the new single-wide since they’d checked out the burned out homestead cabin.

But I didn’t want to stir them up over something that might actually be a rancher and his wife having a marital spat. It would only make things worse between the lawmen and not just my father, but Mr. Hollaroy as well.

No, I’d do this on my own, then if something was worth sharing, I’d tell them tomorrow.

They’d each texted me earlier, wanting to see me again. Tonight. While I’d wanted to be with them and I knew exactly how we’d spend the evening, I had to look into the trailer, and it had to be after dark. So I’d pushed them off until tomorrow, which they’d been fine with, since they both had the day off.

I heard men’s voices when I neared the trailer. Nothing distinguishable, only that there was more than one person out here. There were lights on inside, but the windows were covered, as if drapes or blinds had been drawn.

I moved away from the edge of the creek, cutting through the grass to the back side of the trailer. It was set up on cinder blocks, a sign this wasn’t a permanent arrangement. The structure was new, no signs of dents or rust that I could see.

“We have to double the output here. That fire set us back a week.” At the voice, I dropped to a crouch beneath a partially opened window, and stared out into the darkness. My heart was pounding because someone—two someones—were right inside.

While the voice was deep and clear, it wasn’t one I recognized.