Wagonload Of Trouble Read online

  “It’s dangerous to be out here alone, especially after dark, and this is a family camp. Liquor isn’t allowed.”

  Donny hooked his thumbs in his front pockets and swaggered toward her like a cowpoke. If she hadn’t been angered by the tomfoolery, she might have laughed. Did the youth actually think she’d be impressed?

  “Put out that fire, and let’s get back to camp. You two are in a world of trouble.”

  The shorter boy kicked a little dirt onto the fire but not enough to snuff out the flame. Donny smiled, reminding her of the serpent that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. “Why don’t you just sit down and have a drink with us? Nobody would have to know.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Kill the fire, and let’s go.” Bethany’s heartbeat galloped. This kid didn’t look as if he’d go easy. She heard a twig snap to her right and glanced into the inky blackness.

  Donny yanked the rifle from her hand, jerking her gaze back to him. “C’mere, Fred.”

  The boy by the fire hesitated. Donny glared over his shoulder, putting Fred’s feet into action. Bethany swallowed the lump in her throat and took a step backward.

  “Oh no you don’t.” Donny grabbed her wrist.

  A shiver charged down her spine. She could get away easily if she ran into the darkness, but she wouldn’t leave her rifle with this delinquent and possibly put others in harm’s way. Fred, almost as wide as he was tall, with pimples all over his face, stopped beside his friend. Donny held out the rifle, and Fred looked at it as if it were poison.

  “Hold this for a minute.”

  When Fred didn’t respond, Donny shoved the rifle at the boy. If she could distract Donny, maybe she could snatch the Winchester from Fred and run for help. Big Jim would come looking anyway if she didn’t return soon—unless he was too busy working to notice. Or maybe she could fire the rifle into the air. That would bring Jim fast.

  She tried to wrench her arm free, but Donny was stronger than he looked. A good five inches taller than she, he was lean and solid where Fred was wide and dumpy. He tightened his grip and forced her closer then grabbed her other arm.

  Her pulse skyrocketed. “Let me go, boy. So far you’ve just broken the rules, but now you’re bordering on assault.”

  “Aw, don’t you want to have some fun?” He pulled her against his chest, and the stench of the liquor on his breath forced her to turn her head.

  She shoved against his torso. “Let me go.”

  “Yeah, Donny. Turn her loose.”

  “Shut up, Fred.” He lowered his face to hers. “You’re a hottie with all that golden hair sparkling in the firelight.”

  She spun her face away, and his moist lips slid across her cheek. One hand raced around her back, anchoring her body against his, and he used his other hand to force her face back toward his.

  She wasn’t about to give him what he wanted. She lifted her foot behind her and slammed it into his shin. He cursed and hopped on one foot but didn’t release her. He called her a foul name and grabbed her hair. “You’ll pay for that.”

  She heard the scrabble of hurrying footsteps and saw a man step into the light of the campfire. Hope emboldened her. Donny was still hissing from pain and didn’t notice the man.

  “Turn me loose, kid, or you’re going to be sorry.”

  “Ooh, you’re scaring me.” He chuckled and angled his face downward again. “Like you said, it’s dangerous to be out here all alone.”

  “She’s not alone.”

  Donny froze. Slowly he lifted his head and released her. Bethany scrambled away and looked for Fred. He sat by the fire with his head in his hands. Suddenly, Donny spun around, his fist colliding with Evan Parker’s jaw. Evan stumbled backward but regained his balance and held up the rifle he’d somehow taken from Fred. Donny halted and glared at the man. The boy’s hands lifted slowly into the air.

  “You okay?” Evan glanced at her.

  “Yeah.” She tried to calm her trembling hands. “But let me have the rifle. How about you?”

  His smile warmed her insides and calmed the jagged edges of her nerves. “I’m fine.”

  She reclaimed her Winchester. That had been a close call. She didn’t want to think how far Donny might have gone. Evan grabbed Donny by the arm. The fight must have gone out of the boy, because he just stood there looking at the ground.

  She glanced at the campfire. “Let’s take them to base camp; then I’ll come back and deal with this fire. It looks contained for the moment.”

  “Come on, we’re heading back.” Evan looked at Fred.

  The boy lumbered to his feet, looking repentant. He shuffled toward them. “Nobody was s’posed to get hurt. We just wanted to have some fun.”

  Bethany thought of the archery lessons, swimming, and horseback riding that had been offered that day. She knew they couldn’t please everyone who came to the ranch, but they tried hard, and it bothered her that this boy had been dissatisfied.

  They escorted the boys back to camp and found two relieved fathers.

  “I was just heading out to search for them—and you.” Jim gave her a scolding glare.

  “I’d have been back sooner, but I ran into trouble.” She told them what happened, getting stern looks from Donny’s father. “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to leave the tour. The boys knew the rules and willingly broke them our second day out. If Mr. Parker hadn’t happened along when he did, these boys could be facing charges for something worse than assaulting him and me. Jim can drive you back to the ranch in the morning, and my father will have our attorney contact you.”

  Four sets of worried eyes stared back. “Surely we could work out something without getting the authorities involved,” Donny’s father said.

  Bethany shrugged. “You need to realize the seriousness of what your son did. I’ll let my father decide what to do, but you’ll be leaving come morning.”

  As everyone drifted away, Evan gently rested his hand on her shoulder. She flinched but didn’t move. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  She looked up, surprised to see one side of his jaw swelling. “We need to get some ice on that.”

  He wriggled his jaw then grimaced. “Guess he got me better than I realized.”

  In the cookhouse, she flipped on the light. The flickering bulb that normally didn’t throw out enough light looked bright after the darkness of the night. The generator hummed just outside, but the cookhouse seemed unusually quiet without Jenny bustling about. Bethany opened the freezer and grabbed two ice cubes then put them in a plastic sandwich bag and sealed it shut. She placed the ice inside a dishrag and handed it to Evan.

  “You’ll probably be a little sore in the morning. Does it hurt much?”

  He shrugged one shoulder and held the pack against his cheek. “My jaw’s a little sore and my head aches, but it’s nothing I can’t live with.” In spite of everything that had happened, a smile lingered in his azure eyes.

  Bethany pulled out a chair. “Have a seat. I’ll get you some aspirin. Would you like some coffee? I could make some.”

  He glanced at the refrigerator. “I could really use a pop. I prefer my caffeine cold.”

  “Pop it is.” She snagged two cans, got a couple of aspirin from the medicine box, and sat down across the table from him. She popped the lid of one can and slid it and the pills toward him.

  “Thanks.” He threw the pills into his mouth and swigged down half the can of pop. “Mmm, that tastes good. I have to admit, I’ve been having caffeine withdrawal.”

  She smirked. “I don’t see how. I’ve noticed that you’re usually first in line when the snack bar opens.”

  His shy smile sent pleasing tingles racing through her.

  “Don’t let those two bad apples spoil your trip, okay?”

  Bethany blinked and opened her mouth, but nothing came out. He took a hit for her and had the bruises to prove it, yet he was concerned for her? She stared into his eyes, unable to look away. “How can you be so upbeat after what just happened?”
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  He cautiously opened his mouth, worked his jaw sideways, and pressed the ice pack against it again. “Just a God thing, I guess. God’s grace is sufficient for any situation.”

  “If you hadn’t wanted to use your phone so badly, you wouldn’t have been out there to help me.”

  “Bingo! God put me there because He was watching out for you and knew you’d need help. He sees our needs even before we’re aware of them.”

  He stared into her eyes, as if begging her to believe him. Her mouth suddenly dry, she broke her gaze and downed a third of her pop, then set the can down. “I’d better call my dad and let him know what happened.”

  She walked over to the satellite phone that was plugged into the charger right beside Evan’s computer battery. Behind her, his chair scooted across the floor.

  “You have a sat phone?”

  She couldn’t help smiling at the reverence in his voice.

  “Yeah, it’s necessary in case of an emergency.” She lifted it from the charger and turned to face him. “Would you like to use it when I’m done?”

  A wide grin tugged at his lips, and he nodded. His stunning smile made her legs go weak. If she didn’t watch herself, she was going to be in for a world of hurt when Evan Parker returned home.

  Six

  Bethany sat down on a log bench that overlooked a scenic view of the mountains. She sipped her coffee and watched the drifting clouds. One looked like a dolphin and another like a long-faced man with a hooked nose and open mouth. Her mother had played the game with her when she was young. Bethany sighed.

  How many weeks had passed since she’d thought of her mama? She no longer endured the stabbing pain she’d once felt but could now cherish the memories. Most girls seemed closer to their dads, but she had always had a special bond with her mother.

  Maybe it had something to do with the fact that her mom homeschooled her. Or maybe because they went to church together. She’d never considered that before.

  Evan Parker’s words once again lingered in her mind. “God put me there because He was watching out for you and knew you’d need help. He sees our needs even before we’re aware of them.”

  Could that really be true?

  But how? If God saw their needs, then why were they in such a financial bind? Why did He take her mother away when Bethany loved and needed her so much?

  Bethany wanted to believe—to grasp the peace she’d had as a child, but it was so hard. Still, there was something awesomely appealing about the almighty God seeing and anticipating her desires. Is that why Evan was on this tour? Because she needed him?

  She snorted a laugh and shook her head. The last thing she needed was a geeky city boy who couldn’t leave his toys behind long enough to take a vacation with his niece.

  An eagle screeched and drifted high above her, pulling her gaze upward. She watched as it lowered, wings spread wide, and glided to a stop. From this distance she couldn’t tell if it had a nest on the craggy mountain ridge, but eagles had always fascinated her.

  Girlish squeals sounded behind her, and she stood. Time to get to work. With Jim gone to take the two boys and their dads back to the lodge, she had extra chores. They’d have to spend another day at this camp since they couldn’t leave until Jim returned. Trail rides were scheduled next, and horses needed to be saddled.

  She returned her cup to the kitchen and made sure Jenny had the breakfast cleanup under control, then headed toward the corral. Evan’s words returned to taunt her mind. If God was watching out for her, that meant He still cared about her. Her stomach twisted. He’d never left. She was the one who’d gotten angry after her mother’s death. She was the one who’d walked away from Him. But how could she find her way back after so long?

  She shook her head and smiled at some teens singing and doing a silly dance around the campfire. Most of the kids who visited Moose Valley were great kids just out for an adventure. From time to time, they’d get the troublemakers like the pair who’d been drinking.

  Glancing at her watch, she noted the time. Almost nine o’clock. She’d take the riders on a different trail that would make the rides longer and kill more time today. Since they weren’t supposed to be in this camp again today, she hadn’t planned activities, but she could always wing it.

  Footsteps sounded behind her, and she turned. Evan jogged toward her, the sun gleaming off his brown hair. Her heart flip-flopped and her limbs suddenly felt weak. His megawatt smile revealed straight, white teeth, and his injured jaw looked puffy and purple in the daylight. He was looking less and less like a nerd to her and more and more like a man she’d like to get to know. But what for? He’d be leaving soon.

  Her smile slipped, and he slid to a halt. His grin dimmed in response to hers. “Hey, I uh. . .just wanted to say thanks again for letting me use the sat phone. I let my boss know that I’m out in the boonies and can’t get reception on my cell. He said not to worry about checking in until I get back to civilization.”

  For some odd reason, her heart sank. She didn’t like how he referred to her home. His attitude just proved that there was no reason to lower her guard.

  “No problem. Are you going riding today?”

  He walked beside her and stared ahead at the corral. She glanced at him, and he looked as if his jaw was set. Must not hurt him too badly if he could clench it.

  “You’re not afraid of horses, are you?”

  His gaze darted sideways, and she grinned.

  “You are!”

  “No, not exactly scared of them. But they are the biggest animals I’ve ever encountered.”

  Bethany shook her head. “Most of these trail horses are just big babies. They want snacks and to be cared for like any other pet. Not that they are pets.”

  “I don’t even have a dog.”

  “Do you have a roommate?” Bethany opened the door to the tack shed that held all the riding equipment.

  “No, I live by myself.”

  She looped three bridles over one arm and handed another three to him. “You’ve been drafted to be my assistant since Jim’s still gone.”

  His vivid eyes widened, but he reached out and took the bridles. “I have no idea what to do with this—other than to use it to steer the horse.”

  “Well, city boy, looks like you’re going to learn.”

  She opened the corral gate and whistled. Evan came in behind her and closed the gate. Bethany suddenly stopped. Her heart jolted, and she counted the horses. “What in the world?”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Half of the horses are gone.” She paced the wide corral, checking the railing for breaks, with Evan close on her heels.

  He glanced back toward the cookhouse. “Could some of the teens have taken them?”

  “I hadn’t thought of that.” She marched toward the tack shed and looked inside. Enough light shone through the door to illuminate the small room. “All of the saddles and bridles are still here, so it’s not likely any kids are out riding.”

  She closed the door, thankful that at least none of their equipment had been stolen, but then saddles and bridles were cheap compared to horses.

  “So, what do you think happened?” Evan asked. “How could they have gotten out if the gate was shut?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. The rails look fine.” She stopped and faced him. He was a guest and shouldn’t even know about their problems, but she needed an ally. “They couldn’t have gotten out unless someone released them on purpose.”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets. His saddle-brown hair jutted up in cute spikes, reminding her of a porcupine. “Why would anyone release some of the horses and not all of them?”

  She pressed her lips together and considered how much to tell him. Normally, she never got this friendly with a guest, but he’d come to her rescue, and for some reason, she wanted to tell him. “I think someone has been sabotaging this trip. First, the food was tampered with, then someone let air out of several tires on the wagons and Jeep the fi
rst night we were here. Now the missing horses. Too many problems to be a coincidence.”

  “Hmm.” He placed his index finger over his lips and tapped them. Then he ran his hand over his swollen, purple jaw and winced. His hand dropped to his side. “You may be right, but why would someone want to cause you problems? Do you have any enemies?”

  “No. None that I know of. I can’t imagine who could be doing this.” Bethany lifted a bridle off her arm and trapped a black gelding against the rails. She slipped the bit into his mouth and slid the headpiece over his ears, then hooked the throat latch. “I’ll take this horse and see if I can find the others. I don’t want the other guests to get wind that there are problems.” She looked down at the ground. “I shouldn’t even have told you.”

  He stood there for a moment with his face pointed at the sky. Had she offended him? Was he praying?

  He rubbed the back of his neck and looked deep in thought. Bethany remembered what his niece had said about him needing time to process his thoughts. She led the gelding over near the gate and tied the reins to the railing. If she were lucky, she could find the horses and bring them back quickly. She’d have to get Steve to start another archery session to distract the guests—or maybe a fishing contest, and by the time they were finished, she should have all the horses back and saddled.

  A sudden thought buzzed in her mind. “You know, the horses must have been released in the past few hours, or else Jim would have noticed them missing when he fed them earlier.”

  “We could question the campers and see if anyone would confess.”

  Bethany shook her head. “Teens aren’t the best at admitting their faults. I doubt that would work unless someone saw the horses being released.”

  “You want me to ask around?”

  “No. Let me go see if I can find them first.” Patting the gelding, she stared at the camp. She had hoped her problems would disappear with the two troublemaking boys Jim took back first thing this morning. These guests would never want to return if they knew all that had happened.