Wishing for the Rancher’s Love (High Country Ranch #5)

Chapter 9

9

Someone was following her.

Clementine picked up her pace as she hurried down the side street, away from the Vance Hotel. She’d wanted to do something to apologize to Willa after the horrible end to the dance last night, so she’d put together a package with Willa’s favorite candies and rushed over to deliver it to her friend first thing this morning.

Willa had been busy helping serve breakfast to the hotel’s patrons, her hands full of platters and bowls as she rushed in and out of the kitchen. She’d barely stopped to acknowledge Clementine’s presence, much less look inside the basket at the peace offering.

The visit hadn’t restored her to Willa’s good graces. Maybe nothing ever would. And maybe she’d lost a friend. The very thought brought a sting of tears to her eyes.

At the scuff of nearby footsteps, she blinked back the tears and glanced behind herself at the row of newly built businesses, including the one belonging to the newspaper, where Milton Fogg worked. What if he’d spotted her passing by a short while ago and decided to come out and talk to her?

Her mind had been sorting through all the options for who had left the rose and note inside her coat pocket last night. Milton had been at the dance. It could have been him. He’d been watching her at one point. Had he been jealous?

Whether Milton or another man, she suspected that the fellow was out this morning and trailing her.

Clementine paused. So did the slap of footsteps. As she resumed, so did the steps.

Yes, someone was definitely following her. But in the bright morning sunshine, what did she have to fear? He wouldn’t try anything in the daylight, would he? Especially on a busy Saturday morning.

When she’d awoken at dawn to Grady already dressed and leaving his room across the hallway, she’d tried to ignore him—especially after his comments of the night before.

It was probably a good thing he’d been rude to her so that she’d gone running back to her bed and away from him as quickly as possible, because she couldn’t deny that she had been thinking about his kiss. She’d been strangely charged, wanting to be with him in a way she couldn’t explain. Kissing him again wouldn’t have been a good idea, especially since they’d been alone upstairs in the dark.

Not that she’d ever let anything happen with Grady. But the sleeping arrangements weren’t necessarily appropriate for two single people. Of course, Mr. Worth had suggested it so Grady could protect her. The dear man probably thought he had nothing to worry about—not with the way she and Grady always fought.

Regardless, on his way to work this morning, Grady had stepped into her bedroom doorway, giving her no choice but to acknowledge his presence.

He’d warned her against going anywhere without him, had indicated she’d be safer for the time being if she had an escort. But she hadn’t liked his bossiness or the way he’d assumed she would do whatever he commanded, as if he were the president of the United States of America. When he’d sauntered off without even waiting for her to respond, she’d jumped out of bed and hurried after him.

He’d already been halfway down the stairs and hadn’t bothered to look back at her when she’d told him she planned to do her usual visiting and would like to see him try to stop her.

It had been childish of her, she knew. But he always seemed to draw out her worst. Now, as she hurried back in the direction of the store, she wished she had waited for someone to go with her. She could have gone later today, maybe even tonight.

She drew in a breath of cold morning air. Frost coated the rooftops of the homes and businesses on both sides of the wide street. It also covered the patches of sparse grass in a sheen of white crystals.

The western mountains of the valley, which rose up behind the town, were bathed in sunlight from the rays peeking over the eastern range. Even though the sun was making an appearance, it wouldn’t be able to warm the air today. And it certainly wouldn’t be able to take away the chill pulsing through her with increasing force.

If someone was after her, should she stop and confront them? That really would be the best way to find out who was behind it.

She slowed her steps, and the footsteps also slowed.

Closing her eyes briefly, she took a fortifying breath before she halted abruptly and spun. As she did so, she scanned the street, first up one side and then down the other. Several men and a few women lingered about, some chatting on the street, others walking along just as she was.

No one looked suspicious. And no one was close enough to be following her—at least, not that she could tell.

With an exasperated sigh, she turned and began to plod along again. The footsteps started up almost immediately. When she glanced over her shoulder, this time she caught a glimpse of a fellow who seemed to be trailing her, his coat collar pulled up and the brim of his derby hat tugged low to hide his face.

Although she couldn’t distinguish him in one glance, there was something about his stout frame that looked familiar. And something that seemed menacing, as if he intended to grab hold of her and never let her go.

Her heart began thudding a warning to flee so that he couldn’t reach her, but another part of her urged her to be brave and confront the man. If she did so, she’d know once and for all who the man was and could talk to him and make him see reason.

Bracing her shoulders, she halted and spun again. “Stop following me. And stop giving me notes. I’m not interested! Do you hear?”

But the man was already veering off the road, lunging to the side of the nearest business and disappearing from sight.

She waited for a long second for him to poke his head out and check her progress, but he didn’t emerge. Was he walking down an alley? Maybe he’d be waiting at the end of the street as she passed by.

With a fresh sense of dread, she started forward, her gaze darting around as she searched for the man and prayed she would stay clear of him. As she turned onto Main Street, the open double doors of the livery seemed to beckon to her.

She picked up her skirt and started to run toward open doorway, not caring that she was drawing stares or making other pedestrians have to step out of her way. Suddenly, all that mattered was finding Grady. He’d know what to do about the person following her. Maybe they could go out together and track him down.

Her heart was thudding as hard as her footsteps as she reached the livery. A barn-like structure, the building was crowded with several wagons, a carriage, and another rig. Horse stalls lined the back part of the livery, where Grady kept fine mounts for lease and also boarded horses for those in town who didn’t have a stable or barn of their own.

In the shadows near the horse stalls, Grady’s ruddy-faced assistant halted his work, his eyes widening upon her. He’d been at the lodge last night, joking and laughing with Jeremy. She hadn’t danced with him, but he’d always been nice to her. No doubt he’d heard what had happened with the kiss and that she’d left the dance with Grady instead of Jeremy.

As she stepped further inside, the waft of horseflesh and hay greeted her, as did the warmth radiating from the livestock. The light pouring in from the open doors revealed Grady standing next to a stranger, and they were looking at Grady’s buggy. Probably a customer who wanted to rent it.

At the sight of her, Grady’s conversation with the man came to an abrupt halt. Without excusing himself, Grady strode toward her across the puncheon floor strewn with straw, his expression lined with concern as he scanned her from her hat down to her boots.

“What happened?” His tone was as demanding as always.

But in that moment, she didn’t care. Instead, she loved that he was dropping everything for her and that his dark eyes were radiating concern.

As Grady neared her, he reached for her arm, as though he intended to draw her even closer, but he visibly stopped himself, sticking his hands into his pockets. “Are you all right?”

She was breathing hard from racing the last of the distance to the livery, and now that she was here, she glanced outside to the street behind her, half expecting to see her pursuer standing there. “Someone was following me.”

With furrowing brows, he peered out the doors. “Around the store?”

She hesitated.

“Don’t tell me you went out this morning by yourself.” Grady’s voice dropped.

“I realize now that I shouldn’t have—”

“Blast it, Clementine.” His exasperated tone drew the attention of his customer and his assistant.

“I’m sorry.” She hung her head. “I didn’t think I would be in danger walking around town.”

Grady was silent a beat. Then he nodded at his customer. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. My assistant will help you until I return.”

With that, Grady walked with her out of the livery. Beneath the brim of his hat, his keen gaze took in everything around them—the wagon rattling past, a young mother and children entering the store, a shopkeeper washing his front window.

She searched around too, but the man who’d been following her was nowhere in sight. “I don’t see him anymore.”

“Of course not. But he’s still there.” Grady’s tone was terse as they crossed the street to the store. Once she was back inside, he leveled a stern look at her. “Next time you want to go out, you’ll make sure to have someone with you?”

Her heart rate was finally beginning to slow to a normal pace. She nodded as she unwound the scarf from her neck. “I’ll be more careful from now on.”

“Good.” With that, he began to clomp away, heading to the back, where Mr. Worth was sipping a mug of coffee and having a lively discussion with one of his friends.

As she tugged off her mittens, her attention snagged upon a silk rose on the counter behind one of her candy jars.

“Grady,” she hissed as dread rushed in to crowd out her last vestiges of confidence.

He paused and tossed her a questioning glance.

She nodded at the rose.

He followed her gaze. Then with a scowl, he retraced his steps and picked up the flower. Another note dangled from it.

She hugged her arms across her chest, feeling suddenly cold even though she hadn’t yet shed her coat. The rose hadn’t been there when she’d left for the hotel to talk to Willa. So had the person delivered it while she’d been gone?

Maybe the person was in the store even now.

She scanned the customers for anyone who looked suspicious. Most were either women or older men, none of whom appeared particularly threatening.

Grady was already reading the note. When he finished, he held it out so she could see the message.

Hesitantly, she scanned the words. “You’re the only woman for me, and I want to marry you.”

“Oh dear.” Her secret admirer was obviously very serious about her. But who was he? And why wouldn’t he make himself known? What was the point of being so secretive?

“What should I do, Grady?” she whispered, this time glancing out the front window to the street, wishing she could catch someone staring inside at her. “How does he keep getting in and out of here without anyone spotting him?”

“Good question.” With a firm set to his lips, he started toward his dad.

At Grady’s approach, Mr. Worth’s smile dimmed, and he lowered his coffee.

“I need a word with you.” Grady barked the demand before disappearing past the curtain into the back of the store.

Mr. Worth raised his brow at Clementine as if to ask what he’d done to irritate Grady.

She didn’t know and lifted her shoulders in apology.

Grady was a hard man to understand. Given the many years she’d known him, she should have figured him out by now. But he never failed to keep her guessing, and she supposed that was one thing she liked about him. He wasn’t shallow. Instead, he was made up of deep layers with deep feelings and deep passions.

He would make some lucky woman a great husband because he would be serious and intentional and determined to make his marriage work. She wouldn’t be that lucky woman, and surprisingly, she felt a twinge of jealousy toward the woman who would be.