broad shoulders, a perfect butt and long legs fitted into faded blue jeans. Macy walked into the house just as Mara was coming out of the great room. She was holding the manila envelope Carter had shown her yesterday.
“Oh hi, Mara.”
“Good afternoon.” Mara’s gaze went to the overnight bag in her hand. Never one to pry, she didn’t say a word, but the inquisitive look on her face said it all.
Mara had always been kind and nonjudgmental, and Macy missed having female companionship while at the ranch. She shrugged and smiled at the older woman. “We went on a…a shopping date,” she explained. “We bought some beautiful antique pieces for the inn.”
Mara’s free hand went to her hip. She spoke with a charming Texas drawl. “I’m glad Carter’s finally come around to renovating that place. If you influenced him in any way,
“When I’m through with it, I hope it’ll measure up to your memories.”
“Well, I bet you make it even better.”
It was a kind thing to say.
“You said Carter took you shopping?” Mara asked.
“Well…it was more like I took him. I think he really enjoyed it though.”
Mara looked at her with newfound admiration, her gaze drifting over her in a pleasant sweep. “Any woman who can get Carter to furniture shop has my vote.”
Macy chuckled, and a part of her was glad she had Mara’s approval. From the few conversations she’d had with her, Macy picked up on the faintest innuendos about Jocelyn Grayson that didn’t paint her in a good light. But then, after the way she’d hurt Carter, Macy figured not too many people at Wild River Ranch held Jocelyn in high regard. Macy did a mock curtsy. “Well, thank you for that.”
Mara smiled and handed over the envelope. “I saw this on the table. It’s addressed to you. I thought it might be important since you don’t usually get mail here.”
“Yes, it’s probably important,” she said. “Thanks.”
Macy tucked it under her arm. She didn’t want to spoil her good mood by opening the envelope right now. She’d seen enough legal paperwork in the past few months to cover the entire square footage of the ranch house. For just a little while longer, she wanted no reminders of her life back in Hollywood.
“I have lunch waiting in the refrigerator. Chicken casserole. I can heat it up.”
“Oh, I’m not hungry right now, but I appreciate the thought. I think I’ll head over to the inn in a little while. I’m kind of excited about the new purchases. I want to make sure everything is ready.”
“I’ll give it a look when it’s done. I know it’ll be a big improvement,” Mara said before she walked away.
Macy dropped her overnight case in her room and set the attorney’s papers down on her dresser. She moved to the window and looked out over Wild River Ranch. The land lay flat and stretched wide for acres and acres. Cattle grazed and she heard horses whinny from the corral. Off to one side, she noticed Carter McCay talking to a few men. He was easy to spot. She could pick him out of a crowd. She was that attuned to him now.
With a sigh, her shoulders slumped and she allowed the mad rush of emotion to overtake her. For a little while longer, her life would be pure bliss.
“Have you seen Rocky?” Macy asked Bill Fargo as they sat down on the steps of the gazebo together. She handed him a cup of iced tea. “Usually, he’s practically tripping over my boots keeping me company on the walk over here. I miss him today.”
Bill thought about it a few seconds. “Come to think about it, I haven’t seen him today, either. That’s strange.” He had a quizzical look on his face.
“That Rocky’s not here?”
“Yeah. It’s probably nothing, but I ran into Mr. McCay at the diner in town this morning. He was spouting off to the waitress and he-”
“Mr. McCay? But I was with Carter… Oh,” Macy said, when it dawned on her, “you’re talking about Carter’s father, Riley.”
“Yeah, it was Riley McCay, all right. Everyone in the diner seemed to know him, though they were trying their best to ignore him. He was complaining about his son and his high and mighty ways, spouting off that he wasn’t allowed to step foot on Wild River Ranch or see his dog anymore. I remember hearing him mutter something about getting his dog back.”
Macy swallowed, fighting off the impending dread creeping up her spine. “Does Carter know?”
Bill sipped his tea and then shook his head. “Not yet. At the time, I didn’t think anything of it. The old guy just seemed to be letting off steam, but now it appears Rocky might actually be missing.”
Macy rose from the steps, worried. “You don’t really think he took him, do you?”
“I haven’t seen the dog anywhere on the grounds this afternoon.”
“But, you didn’t see any intruders on the property last night, right? And you start work later in the day, so maybe Rocky is just taking an extra long nap somewhere in the shade.” Macy tried to convince herself that was the case. The alternative, that Riley had taken Rocky, would cause only a bigger rift between Carter and his father.
Bill gave her a slow nod. “Maybe. Of course, if the old guy did snatch the dog, your boyfriend will have him arrested.”
“He’s not my…
Fargo rolled his eyes and then sent her a wise, knowing smile. “If he’s not, then what’s the holdup?”
Macy shook her head, unable to answer him. The lines that had once been so clearly defined were beginning to blur in her mind. She didn’t have an answer for Bill because she didn’t know where she stood with Carter. Their relationship was fragile and new right now. “I don’t…know.”
“You didn’t see the look on his face when McCay thought you were in danger the other night,” Bill said. “Believe me, that man wasn’t concerned about anything but getting to you.”
“Really?”
“I think you know that, Macy.”
Macy’s heart warmed. Was that really true, or was Carter just being Carter? He had a protective streak a mile long. He was protective about the dog, too. If Riley McCay had come onto the property and taken Rocky, Carter’s blood pressure would explode. And he’d have his father arrested.
“What I know is that I have to find Rocky.” Macy closed her eyes briefly. An idea bounced around in her head. It was risky, but Macy never let that stop her before when right was on her side.
Bill pursed his lips and spoke with fatherly concern. “Macy, whatever you’re thinking about doing, please consider the consequences. You know I have to tell Carter what I heard this morning.”
“I understand. But I have to do what I feel is right, too.” She reassured him with a smile and then kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry about me. We’re not even sure Rocky is missing.”
But Macy had a strong suspicion that he was, and finding the dog would serve two purposes. Even if it meant facing Carter’s wrath, she had to try to bring the dog home.
Ten
Macy sat in Riley McCay’s small, tidy kitchen, the only room in the tiny house that looked kept and clean. Two rooms off the parlor were boarded up from the recent fire, and every so often a draft of hot air would bring the scent of charred wood into the room.
“I apologize again, miss, for scaring you the other night. I swear to the almighty, I didn’t know anyone was staying at the place. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
The man looked sincerely contrite, and Macy saw Carter’s younger image on Riley’s weathered and beat-up-by- life face. He was graying at the temples and wrinkled from excessive abuse to his body, but Macy held hope for him.
