Betsy wouldn’t mind popping in to feed the pets. Maybe Evan could help take care of the other animals. It wasn’t impossible if Marshall gave it a little thought. Even Chip would love the added responsibility. Everyone would pitch in.
Maybe Lachlan was driving to the city for the event, too.
A thrill of excitement ran through him at the thought of seeing Colette again. Yes, it had only been a day. But it had been a really long day. Buoyed by the excitement of a night out with Colette, he looked up Agnes’s number in the employee files. Maybe he could have some good news to share with Colette when he saw her. Picking up the phone, he dialed Agnes’s number.
Her local number from the files was disconnected, which made sense. Maybe she had new contact information, living in Mexico or wherever she had ended up. Her letter of resignation had been a quick email with few details. Marshall had no way of confirming where she had ended up in her travels. He searched in his files for Agnes’s daughter’s number, her emergency contact on file. Marshall kept the information easily accessible, in case the need ever arose.
And this was an emergency.
Pressing on the contact, he waited as the phone rang.
This number was promising. At least he had a ringtone. The phone went straight to voicemail. Disappointing, but not unexpected. His number was unfamiliar. No problem, he might be able to pay her a visit if her found out where she lived.
Marshall left a message, letting her know who he was and asking how to get in touch with Agnes. His chest felt lighter. It was empowering to have done something. Hopefully, this would be a promising lead. If he discovered anything, he would share it with the police.
Determined, Marshall stood up and walked back into the kitchen to refill his glass. After taking a swig, he picked up his phone again. He wasn’t going to take Jack’s death lying down. He would do everything in his power to learn the truth that was behind his murder. Even if it meant uncovering some truths that frightened him.
Someone was hiding a deadly secret.
No one at Rosebud Ranch was safe until they unmasked the murderer.
CHAPTER 44
Silence draped the room as Colette entered the living area in her ball gown.
“Well, fuck,” Cameron said with a gasp as she walked out of her bedroom into the small living room. “He’s not going to know what hit him.”
“Yeah, he will. It’s a brick called love, and it’s going straight into his stupid head,” Simone snarked, sipping her bubbles with a waggle of her eyebrows. Cameron gasped, covering his mouth with his hand.
Colette giggled. “Thanks for helping me pick a dress out on such short notice. You always know the best places to go.” The dusty blue maxi-length gown had a V-neck bodice with sheer covering over her cleavage to keep it classy and conservative. Her eyes looked amazing with this color of dress. It had a stunning mesh overlay embroidered with glittering flowers throughout that gradually increased at the bottom of the dress. Her curls were defined and voluminous, with a deep part and one side held in place with a crystal flower hairpin.
“That dress is stunning.” Simone sighed, her eyes scanning Colette’s entire look. “Put some lipstick on those pouty lips and he’s gonna be on his knees.”
A blush crept up her cheeks as Colette remembered another time when Marshall was on his knees for her.
“Oh my God, she’s picturing it. Look at her face!” Cameron said with a chuckle. “You’re having dirty thoughts, and I love it!” Her friend flipped his wrist to check his new designer gold watch he had been showing off earlier. “Is Marshall going to be here soon?”
“Oh no, we’re meeting the guys at the gala. I wanted to knock their socks off. You know, make a dramatic entrance,” Simone said with a smirk, standing. She took a final sip of her champagne and placed the glass on the counter in the small galley kitchen. “Let’s put our bad bitch heels on and go.”
Colette laughed as she pulled out her silver patent flats with floral embroidery detail and slipped them on. Even though this was a glamorous event, she was wearing flats. Heels were her nemesis. She was already going to have scratches under her arms from the sequins along the side of her dress and on the delicate flutter sleeves. There was no way she would subject herself to any more pain for beauty. The silver clutch she had chosen for the night waited on the counter, and she dropped her light pink gloss and cell in it before putting on her coat. Spring nights in Calgary could get chilly.
Behind her, Cameron was dapper in his suit and colorful paisley ascot that contained a flurry of spring colors. Simone was killing it in her strapless cocktail gown with a sweetheart neckline and embroidered flowers cascading down the front and back against the light green tulle. Her long blonde hair was swept to one side, tumbling down one shoulder in thick waves.
Butterflies swirled in Colette’s stomach in anticipation of seeing Marshall again. It had only been a week, but she missed his face. He always managed to make her feel special. Wanted. She hoped that time apart hadn’t dulled the feelings that were budding between them. The longing had been downright painfulon her part, to the point that she was ready to risk everything just to return.
How much danger could she be in any way? She had arrived at the ranch as a stranger and there was no way anyone had time enough to build up any animosity toward her. If someone was sabotaging the ranch, Marshall was in danger. The other ranch hands and possibly some members of the King family were at risk as well. Maybe if she and Marshall had a chance to talk tonight, she could convince him to let her finish what she had started at the ranch…with the finances and, of course, with her handsome rancher.
A limo waited for them downstairs, a comfortable luxury sedan that would take them to the gala in downtown Calgary. Simone hadn’t given her many details about the event, only told her to get a beautiful dress and get ready for some hot cowboy action. Her friend was rooting so hard for her and Marshall. Nerves fluttered in her chest as she remembered that the entire King family would be there. They would most likely have to maintain a professional distance, which should be easy enough.
Colette released a slow breath as they pulled up to the Fairmont Palliser. The historic hotel was one that she had only glimpsed from the outside, never having had the courage to explore the interior before. The gorgeous sandstone façade was brightly lit and decorated with large, vibrantly colored flower arches for the gala. She feared they had a way of knowing you weren’t rich at the door. Maybe they scanned your credit score or something. If she had felt like a fish out of water at the ranch, this gala gave her a similar sensation in her gut. This level of glamour and excess was out of her comfort zone.
The red carpet was draped over the entrance stairs in anticipation of gala guests, and Simone took her arm as they walked up the steps into the opulent lobby. Colette’s mouth dropped open as she took in the enormous chandeliersparkling in the Renaissance Revival-style room and the swathes of luxurious fabrics. The floor-to-ceiling antique mirrors that covered the back wall reflected the crème de la crème of the Calgary wealthy milling about and spilling out of the ballroom. Her heart raced in her chest, and she swallowed nervously. This was happening.
A delicious shiver danced over her skin as she became aware of eyes on her. Her entire body awakened to Marshall’s presence, and her eyes found his darkened gaze locked on hers from across the lobby. Simone stilled and turned to Colette.
“Are you okay? Did you see him?”
All Colette could do was give a slight nod and turn them toward Marshall. She assumed his brother would be there too, but to be honest, she didn’t care. An ache slashed through her, the craving to be near him so strong. Nothing else mattered. It was as though the crowd parted immediately to allow her to get closer. His chest rose and fell in what she could only guess was a sigh of relief. The same delicious lightness filled her chest as she approached him. It was agony to not race into his arms. Where she found the strength to stand across from him in the group, next to the members of the family that surrounded him, she knew not. It was torture.
