DESTINY
Ipaced the front room, stopping every few passes to stare out the broken window. Thorne was rummaging through my dad’s maintenance shed in search of something he could use to cover it until I could get it properly fixed. I was supposed to be getting ready for day two of the festival, but all I wanted to do was climb back into bed, pull the covers over my head, and cry.
I was tempted to call Mike, but he wouldn’t be able to do anything from so far away. Even if he hopped on a plane, he wouldn’t arrive until after the midnight deadline passed. No, it was up to me to figure out a solution that would save my dog and the land.
Even though I’d lived in Hartsville my entire life, I had to be careful about who to trust. Thorne said everyone could be a suspect. He also told me my place might be bugged and whoever was behind taking Gonzo might be listening in on my calls and watching any incoming emails or texts. I’d never felt so isolated.
At least I wasn’t alone. He didn’t have any stakes in the outcome of the war over my land, but he’d promised to be by my side through it all. Even called in a favor and had his brother coming over to manage the petting zoo today so he could replace Gonzo as my shadow.
Tires crunched on the gravel outside. The food trucks had started to arrive. I dragged myself off the couch and into the bathroom to try to make myself look somewhat presentable. Thorne thought we should go about our business like nothing had changed. If anyone asked about Gonzo, I was supposed to say he’d gotten into something bad in the trash last night and I was keeping him inside for the day.
“The window’s patched up enough for now. How are you holding up?” Thorne came up behind me and moved my hair out of the way to press a kiss to my neck.
My red-rimmed gaze met his in the bathroom mirror. “I don’t know if I can do this. What if they hurt him?”
He spun me around and put his hand under my chin. “He’s going to be fine. I’m on this, Destiny. I won’t let anything happen to you or your dog. You’ve got my word.”
Unlike other men I’d met who made promises they had no intention of keeping, I believed him. “What do you want me to do?”
“I’m waiting to hear back from a guy I know out east. He’s trying to figure out who’s behind the shell company Dartman represents. If we can figure that out, we might be able to tell who’s got Gonzo.”
“And if we don’t figure that out?”
A dark look passed over his eyes. “Then I’ll initiate Plan B.”
A sense of apprehension seeped through my veins. “What’s Plan B?”
“Hopefully it won’t come to that.” He stared into my eyes. “You’ve got this, minx. You’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever met—my current team included—and you’re going to do just fine. If Dartman calls, let it go to voicemail. Once I hear back from my contact, you can call him back and depending on what we find out, we’ve got a couple of ways we can force this to go down.”
“If anything happens to him…” my voice trailed off as a wave of fresh tears threatened.
“Do you trust me?” He nudged my chin higher, forcing me to meet his gaze.
“Yes.” I answered without hesitation. I’d barely known him for twenty-four hours, yet I felt closer to him that I’d ever felt to anyone before.
His warm fingers shifted down to gently wrap around my throat. “Good. I’ve got you, baby. Just do what I say, and we’ll have Gonzo back here before you know it.”
He leaned over and swept my mouth up in a kiss. I could taste the promise on his lips. He was with me.
I triedto hold myself together while I sat on the back patio and waited for Thorne. A few professional photographers were already holding sessions in the fields. The early morning photos I captured of the bluebonnets each spring were some of my favorites. The way the light played over the blooms made them look like they were from another world. The thought that I might not get to see them next spring brought another round of tears. I couldn’t lose this place.
It didn’t take Thorne long to take a quick shower. He joined me on the patio with two thermal mugs of coffee in his hands.
“Thank you. I completely spaced making coffee this morning with everything going on.” For a moment, my thoughts focused on Gonzo.
“You’re welcome.” Thorne clanked his mug into mine. “We got good news. My guy traced the shell company to an offshore account that’s tied to a company in Delaware. There weren’t many details, but he hacked into—” Thorne scrubbed his hand over his chin. “Never mind. The less you know, the better off you’ll be. Bottom line is, I know who you’re up against.”
“Who?” I gripped his arm. Heat danced across my cheeks. “Tell me who it is.”
Thorne lowered his voice. “It’s Mr. Oliver.”
“No.” The blood drained from my face. “My neighbor?”
Thorne tilted his head while his lips screwed into a tight frown. “How well do you know him? Is there some reason he might want to run your family off?”
“The Oliver family’s been here as long as mine. They own the land on the east side of town, and we own most of the land on the northwest side. Our properties butt up against each other past the creek that runs through a pasture over on that side.” It didn’t make sense. He and my dad had worked this land together since they both inherited it from their own fathers. Then it came to me. “The bluebonnet festival. Ever since my parents started the festival, he’s been different.”
“Different how?” Thorne asked. “Tell me everything you can think of. You never know what inconsequential detail might be the one piece of information that will tie everything together.”
