Charlene Sands - Exquisite Acquisitions

“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…boyfriend.”

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.

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. And suddenly she understood Carter’s frustration and anger with his father. His dad was the one person Carter couldn’t save.

“Mr. McCay, I’ve accepted your apology. But you should have spoken with Carter and tried to reason with him instead of breaking into the inn.”

He gestured with a wave of his hand. “I wasn’t planning on breaking in. I know a secret way onto the property, and I take me a visit every so often. Then it started storming real hard. I got mad as hell being locked out of that place and all. It should have been mine in the first place, but my son decided to get bullheaded. Damn it.”

He worked himself up in anger, and Macy sat back in her chair, uneasy. Rocky sat at attention by her side, and she laid her hand on his back, stroking him gently.

“I’d like to help you, Mr. McCay, but you can’t go sneaking onto Carter’s property anymore. And you can’t take Rocky again, either.”

“I didn’t take him. He followed me home.”

“Mr. McCay,” Macy said with a stern but soft voice. “I told you about my father’s drinking problem. I’ve heard all the excuses and all the lies. You can’t fool me. You took Rocky. You have to promise me you won’t do that again.”

Head down, he shrugged his shoulders. “I miss the ole boy.”

“You miss Carter.”

His eyes flashed. He began to shake his head in denial, but Macy looked straight at him, refusing to let him get away with anything but the truth.

Riley backed down and sat in silence.

Macy reached across the table and laid her hand gently on his arm. “If you want to see Rocky or your son, all you have to do is call Carter.”

“That boy doesn’t want to see me.”

“He would, if you started acting like his father. Maybe you could-”

A car pulled up and Macy lifted her head to peer out the window. It wasn’t Henry or Bill Fargo. Darn. It was Carter, and he wasn’t out for an afternoon stroll. He bounded out of the car and barged straight into the house through the unlocked door. His eyes blazed hot fury when he saw her sitting at the kitchen table with his father. His voice tight, he spoke through gritted teeth. “Macy, damn it. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Riley rose from his seat, unbending his body to stand as tall as Carter. “Now, boy. Don’t you go talking to Macy that way.”

Carter ignored his father. He glanced at Rocky by Macy’s side and his jaw twitched. Normally, the dog would have raced over to him, tail wagging, sniffing at his boots. But Carter’s sharp tone kept the dog frozen in place. “I’m asking you, Macy. What are you doing here?”

“I’m having a glass of tea with your father.” She tipped her chin.

Carter glanced at the empty table and arched a brow. “Really? Are you acting it out? Because I don’t see any tea.”

“I was just about to get the pitcher out,” Riley said. “Why don’t you sit down a spell?”

Carter looked at his father as if he’d sprouted wings. “For tea?” He kept his anger in check long enough to say, “I don’t think so.”

Riley frowned and took his seat, folding his arms. “Fine with me,” he said stubbornly.

Carter focused on Macy again. “How’d you get here?”

Mara had driven her across town under slight protest until Macy had explained it was all in her plan to get Carter and Riley speaking again. It turned out that Mara was an old softy at heart, so she’d agreed for both the men’s sakes. “It doesn’t matter.”

“You’re not going to tell me?” His face burned with recrimination.

Macy sucked in a breath. She wouldn’t let him bully her, though she had a sinking feeling her idea was going down faster than a pinpricked balloon. She looked straight at him and shook her head.

Carter stared at her a long time. Then he blinked once as if banking his anger. “Let’s go.”

Macy rose from her seat, fearful she’d gotten in over her head. She’d never seen Carter behave so hurtfully. She braced her hands on the edge of the table and leaned forward to make her point. “Maybe you didn’t hear me, Carter. I’m staying to have iced tea with Riley.”

Something flashed in his eyes. “Fine. You stay if that’s what you want. Rocky comes home with me.”