Page 37 of Setup In Montana

Clancy hesitated for only a moment, before giving the directions to the ranch guesthouse. After she disconnected, she realized that she should have suggested Sarah have breakfast with her here. There was plenty of food and they could eat out on the deck in the sunshine. She promised herself that she would pay back the ranch owner who was so nice to let them stay here.

Also, she felt funny about leaving here in case Dub came back. She knew she could leave him a note—just in case. But more than anything, she wanted to see him again. She kept thinking about last night on the deck and couldn’t shake a growing, nagging feeling that something had happened and that was why he hadn’t left a note or called.

As Sarah pulled up next to the guesthouse, Clancy went to the door to let her in, anxious to see her. She hadn’t known the woman long, but they’d become good friends. When she’d gone to work at the rest home, Sarah had befriended her right away. They’d agreed to cover for each other since they both needed the job and the money. Clancy just hoped that she hadn’t gotten Sarah in trouble at Shady Rest.

* * *

DUB OPENED HIS eyes to bright sunshine and quickly closed them again. His head felt as if someone was beating bass drums inside it. He pried his eyes open just a little. What was he doing back at the ranch? And where was Clancy?

His eyes flew open even though it made his head pound harder. He tried to sit up too quickly but felt so woozy he fell back down.

“Just take it easy,” his father said as he rose from the chair where he’d been sitting to close the blinds. “Can you tell me how many fingers I’m holding up?”

“Four,” Dub said, frowning as he looked around, surprised and alarmed to find himself in his own bedroom on the ranch—and no Clancy. “What am I doing here? How did I get here?”

“What’s the last thing you remember?”

He touched the back of his head gingerly, feeling a goose-egg-sized bump. “Being with Clancy, then… Two men. They dropped me on the deck. I hit my head.” He forced himself to sit up, but had to lean forward to keep from passing out. “They kidnapped me.” He glanced up. “But why would they bring me here?”

His father cleared his throat. “It was an incredibly stupid thing to do. They could have killed you. I’ve reprimanded your brother and—

“My brother?” He was incredulous. “I’m going to kick his—”

“You’re in no shape to do any butt kicking.”

“Why the hell would he do this?” he demanded, even as he had a feeling he already knew. He thought about their argument yesterday after Tanner had found out Clancy was wanted for questioning in a murder investigation.

“Tanner had this asinine notion that he was saving you from making a mistake with Clancy. He got it into his fool head that she was going to trap you into marriage and the two of you would steal the ranch out from under him.”

“I have to get to Clancy.” He shoved to his feet. “She’s all alone and there’s a killer out there after her. If anything happens to her… Where’s my truck?”

“Easy. They brought your truck back here to the ranch, but you’re in no shape to be driving. I’ll take you to her, but I’m sure she’s fine. I spoke with the sheriff. From what he said, he’ll be arresting the killer this morning. He said he spoke with Clancy earlier and she is safe.”

“She’d better be,” Dub said as he reached for his Stetson and headed for the door. “When you see Tanner, tell him—”

“I won’t be seeing him for a while.”

Dub stopped at the doorway and turned to look back. “What does that mean?”

“I had him arrested. He’s cooling his heels in jail.”

* * *

“WOW,” SARAH SAID AS she took in the guesthouse. That was one thing Clancy and her friend had in common. They’d grown up hand-to-mouth and had gotten through life supporting themselves the best they could because of their backgrounds and the poor decisions they’d made.

“Must be nice,” Sarah said in awe as she stepped inside the place. “And this is just the guesthouse. You know these people?”

“No, we just borrowed the place for a night.”

“We?” Sarah lifted a brow as she glanced around for the other part of we. “You didn’t mention that you weren’t alone.”

“Dub Crawford, that cowboy who I told you about? He knows the owner.”

“The cowboy who was always asking you out at the convenience store? I thought you didn’t want anything to do with him?”

Grinning, Clancy said, “He kind of changed my mind.”

“Is he going to have breakfast with us?” Sarah moved to the glass doors that looked out to the deck.