Under Threat

away from the creek.
“You coming?” Dillon asked, sounding irritated.
She sighed and started up the slope away from the creek. As they topped the hill, she saw Chase had gone to the house and was now visiting with her mother on the front porch. She could hear laughter and felt Dillon’s angry reaction to Chase and her mother appearing so friendly.
He seemed to be gritting his teeth as he asked, “What’s his story, anyway? He’s obviously more than a friend,” Dillon said as he opened the passenger-side door of his pickup and glared in Chase and Dana’s direction.
“I told you, we grew up together,” she said as she slid in and he slammed the door.
Dillon joined her. He seemed out of breath. For a moment he just sat there before he turned toward her. “You were lovers.” It wasn’t a question.
“We were high school and college sweethearts,” she said.
“He’s still in love with you.” He was looking at Chase and her mother on the porch.
She groaned inwardly and said nothing. Of course with Chase showing up it was only a matter of time before he and Dillon crossed paths in a place as small as Big Sky. But why today of all days?
“He acts like he owns you.” Dillon still hadn’t reached to start the truck. Nor did he look at her. “Did he think he could come back and take up where the two of you left off?”
She’d thought the same thing, but she found herself wanting to defend Chase. “We have a history—”
He swung his head toward her, his eyes narrow and hard. “Are you getting back together?”
For a moment she was too taken aback to speak. “I didn’t even know he was back in town until a few minutes ago. I was as surprised as you were, but I don’t like your tone. What I decide to do is really none of your business.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chase hug her mother, then head for his pickup.
“Is that right?” Dillon demanded. “Good to know where I stand.”
“You know, I’m no longer in the mood for a hike or lunch,” she said, and reached for the door handle as Chase headed out of the ranch.
Dillon grabbed her arm, his fingers biting into her tender flesh. “He comes back and you dump me?”
“Let go of me.” She said it quietly, but firmly.
He quickly released her. “Sorry. I hope I didn’t—It’s just that I thought you and I... And then seeing him and hearing him tell you that he was still in love with you.” He shook his head, the look on his face making her weaken.
“Look, I told you. It came as a shock for me too,” she said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m sorry if you feel—”
“Like I was just a stand-in until your old boyfriend got back?”
“That isn’t what you were.”
“No?” His voice softened. “Good, because I’m not ready to turn you over to him.” As he said the words, he trailed his fingers from her bare shoulder slowly down to her wrist. Her skin rippled with goose bumps and she shivered. “I still want to see that penthouse view. Can I call you later?”
She felt confused. But she knew that she wasn’t in any frame of mind to make a decision about Dillon right now. She felt herself nod. “We’ll talk then,” she said, and climbed out of the pickup, closing the door behind her. Still rattled by everything that had happened, she stood watching him drive away, as tears burned her eyes. Chase had come back. Chase still loved her.
But there was the threatening woman who’d called her saying she was his fiancée. Fiona. And no doubt others. And there was Dillon. Chase had no right to come back here and make any demands on her. He’d let her go for weeks without a word after he’d gotten the letter.
Chase and Dillon had immediately disliked each other, which Mary knew shouldn’t have surprised her. Dillon’s reaction threw her the most. Did he really have feelings for her? She felt as if it was too early. They barely knew each other. Was it just a male thing?
Still, it worried her. The two men were bound to run into each other again. Next time she might not be around to keep them from trying to kill each other.
Chase mentally kicked himself. He should have called, should have written. But even as he thought it, he knew he’d had to do this in person. If it hadn’t been for Fiona and her dirty tricks... He shook his head. He was to blame for that too and he knew it.
Well, he was here now and damned if he was going to let some deputy steal the woman he loved, had always loved.
He let out a long breath as he drove toward the ranch where he would be working until he started his carpenter job. All the way to Montana he’d been so sure that by now he’d be holding Mary in his arms.
He should have known better. He’d hurt her. Had he really thought she’d still be waiting around for him? He thought of all the things he’d planned to tell her—before that deputy had interrupted them.
Assuring himself that he’d get another chance and soon, he smiled to himself. Mary was even more beautiful than she’d been when he left. But now there was a confidence about her. She’d come into her own. He felt a swell of pride. He’d never doubted that the woman could do anything she set her mind to.
Now all he had to do was convince her that this cowboy was worth giving a second chance.
Hud read through the coroner’s report a second time, then set it aside. Prints were still being lifted from Christy Shore’s car, but the area around the battery where someone had disabled the engine had been wiped clean. Fibers had been found from what appeared to be a paper towel