Deadly Secrets Page 13

  ‘I guess that explains why Sean needed an AVO on Joel Tanner. I can’t imagine him taking too kindly to watching his daughter take that sort of abuse. Wait…Sean Tanner was hooked on meth. The same drugs as Hal’s men are now?’

  ‘Yeah. Now there’s a lead, and I hate to say this, but what are the chances that the day Madi leaves her drug addict fiancé, your girlfriend randomly crashes a truck into him and is found carrying the same drugs he was hooked on?’

  ‘You need to quit with the girlfriend crap, Brett.’

  ‘Whatever. What do you think this means?’

  ‘I have no idea. But I’ll figure it out.’ Reid ended the call and put his head in his hands. Just what the hell was going on?

  CHAPTER

  11

  Jordan finished saddling up Prima just as the Jeep Grand Cherokee pulled up outside the stables. Hal Carter, she realised with a grimace. What the hell did he want?

  Deliberately, she let Mack out of the stables before leading the mare over to his car. She watched him look around — she always got the impression he was scoping the place as if he owned it, and if her back wasn’t already up enough, that made it all the worse.

  ‘Afternoon, Jordan.’

  Snake, she thought. As though sensing her mood, Mack stuck like glue to her side. She was getting to like it. ‘What do you want, Carter? I’m busy.’

  ‘Well, no need to be unneighbourly. Just dropped by to see how you were coming along with the cattle for the sale.’

  ‘Well enough.’ She stood defensively in front of the gate as he took a good look over the steers.

  ‘I heard you’ve put your good bull in the sale.’

  ‘Did you?’

  ‘Daddy would be against selling your best assets, of course.’

  Jordan bit her tongue. He was right, but he’d be much more against losing the farm. ‘Thanks for the concern, Carter. But Dad’s not here. You are, so why don’t you tell me why and piss off?

  He smirked. ‘Just…keeping an eye on things. You know, if you’re desperate enough to auction off your best bull, you may as well just sell up. I’ll get it anyway, once you go bankrupt.’

  Jordan scowled and shook her head. ‘I’d nuke the place before I saw you get hold of it.’ She stood her ground as he crossed the space between them, eyes small slits in a cruel face.

  ‘You’re all alone out here…miles from anywhere. Could be dangerous for a young woman like yourself. Anything could happen. You’d do better to mind your manners, Jordan.’

  ‘So what? We can pretend to be friendly while you stab me in the back instead of threatening me to my face?’

  ‘What are you going to do about it, run into me with a truck?’

  ‘First. Opportunity.’

  He got in her face, and a low growl erupted from beside her. Hal eyed the dog warily. ‘Watch your mouth or you might just need the protection.’

  ‘You don’t step back right now, you’re going to need an ambulance.’ Jordan put a hand on Mack’s head. ‘Stay away from here, Carter. You’re not welcome.’

  He glared at her again, then turned when they heard the car approach.

  Reid stepped out of the car and assessed the situation suspiciously. He’d seen Carter standing over Jordan — had given her points for not backing down — then witnessed the sudden turn around as his presence was noted.

  ‘Jordan, Hal.’ He slammed the car door and wandered over to the yards. ‘Everything okay here?’

  ‘Fine, just being neighbourly,’ Hal replied. ‘Best be off now. Remember, Jordan, I’m not far away.’

  She caught the implied threat, and snarled as she watched him wave and drive away. ‘Sneaky, pathetic waste of oxygen.’

  ‘What did he want?’

  ‘Nothing worth worrying about. You’re early. I was about to ride.’

  Reid recognised the horse immediately. ‘You’re going to risk your life getting back on that tin of dog food?’

  ‘Mind your manners!’ Jordan playfully covered the mare’s ears.

  ‘Okay, I’d like to see this. But then I want you to tell me about that run-in with Hal.’

  ‘I just have to lock Mack up again.’

  He watched on while Jordan went through some exercises with the horse, making the mare move around and follow directions from the ground before she gently mounted. To Reid’s astonishment, the horse stood stock still before moving off quietly on command.

  ‘That’s incredible,’ he said as she passed him on the circle.

  ‘Just training — and she sure as hell hadn’t had much before she got here.’

  Another car approaching brought both heads around as Joel parked and saluted a wave.

  ‘Reid,’ he greeted, climbing the fence to sit nearby. ‘Learning a bit about training horses?’

  ‘I can’t believe that’s the same horse that wanted to kill her.’

  ‘Jordy’s a natural with the horses — always has been.’

  Jordan guided the horse into a canter, changed direction and halted on command, backed up. After a moment, Reid continued to Joel, ‘Carter was here when I arrived.’

  ‘Hal Carter was here?’ Joel gave Reid his full attention. ‘Why?’

  ‘Said he was just being neighbourly.’

  ‘Hal’s never been neighbourly in his life.’

  ‘Jordan won’t say what happened.’

  There was a pause, then, ‘She likes to handle her own problems.’

  ‘Yeah, about that…I’ve got a few things I’d like to discuss with you. Not here.’

  Joel studied him, nodded. ‘Alright. Monday after work at Mary’s. ’Round five?’

  ‘Great.’

  Jordan could hear snatches of the conversation, didn’t like the sound of it and pulled the mare up before slipping lightly from her back. ‘Well?’

  ‘I’m impressed,’ Reid smiled, deliberately misunderstanding.

  ‘That genuinely means the world to me,’ she replied sweetly. ‘But that’s not what I meant. What are you two nattering about?’

  ‘You…why?’

  ‘Because I…’ Because what? She looked at Joel. His face gave nothing away. ‘Forget it. I’ll sort her out then we can get this over and done with.’

  She put the mare into her yard and then went into the stables to get Mack. From behind her she heard the men approaching and grabbed hold of him as he flew between her legs. Balance regained after a few seconds of struggle, Jordan clipped on a lead rope.

  ‘I thought Madi said you got a dog, not a butt-ugly pony.’ Joel grimaced as the dog growled. ‘Nice disposition.’

  ‘Try calling me butt-ugly and get a load of my disposition,’ Jordan laughed. ‘Mack, behave.’ Mack skulked along behind her, eyeing Joel warily.

  ‘Speaking of friendly animals…’ Reid commented over the sudden blaring of noisy geese.

  ‘Mack’s set them off, that’s all,’ Jordan explained.

  The three of them watched and waited as the dozen or so geese in various patterns of grey and white flapped past them and headed through a fence towards the dam. In the rear, Reid noticed a particularly noisy goose being followed along by five fluffy yellow babies.

  ‘That would be your other guard dog?’

  ‘Yeah. The steps are safe again.’

  ‘Cute enough at that age.’

  ‘They are, aren’t they? So who’s having coffee?’ she asked amicably enough as they walked toward the house.

  ‘None for me thanks, love,’ Joel replied. ‘I was going to chat to you about the sales, but we can do that another time. I’ll leave you with the schedule and let you get on with your meeting. Madi’ll be over shortly. Something about helping with the stud cattle.’

  They stopped by Joel’s car, chatted for a few minutes and said their goodbyes. Reid watched on from a distance and wondered whether he should broach the subject of Madi and Sean with Jordan or wait until he had that discussion with Joel.

  ‘Let’s go on up,’ she suggested, and she strode with a purpos
e to the veranda. ‘I’ll get us a drink.’ She entered the kitchen, the ever-present Mack still following her closely and sitting at her feet while she poured two Cokes.

  ‘Here.’ She offered him a glass then gestured to the table. ‘Go,’ she offered, making herself comfortable.

  ‘What was the problem with Carter?’

  Jordan frowned. ‘I told you it was nothing. He just likes to throw his weight around.’

  ‘Guess he’s never forgiven you for killing Sean.’

  ‘Guess not.’

  ‘Madi has though.’

  Jordan’s hand tightened around her glass, but she shrugged. ‘Madi and Sean were over before the accident.’

  ‘Only just.’

  ‘How do you —’

  ‘You two are obviously very close, very loyal to each other.’

  Jordan’s face closed up. She scowled. ‘Madi and I are good friends. About as good as it gets. Would I deliberately murder someone for her? Would she ask me to? You’re obviously used to dealing with some pretty ordinary types of people, but honestly, Reid, if you could think that about me…nothing I can tell you is going to make any difference.’

  ‘I already told you I didn’t think you…that’s not what I was getting at.’ He waved the folder at her, dropped it on the table. ‘But there’s something missing. Something that makes you determined to handle Hal on your own.’

  She shrugged. ‘I like to handle things my way.’

  ‘You mean by keeping secrets.’

  ‘You back to that?’

  ‘Never got past it.’

  ‘Maybe you should.’

  ‘Damn it, Jordan, I’m on your side!’ he erupted in frustration.

  ‘Seriously? Because every time I think something that stupid, you throw another accusation at me!’

  ‘I’m just trying to get to the truth.’

  ‘That’s not your job! All you’re supposed to be doing is making sure I obey my probation.’

  ‘And look how that’s turning out! And as for the rest…something’s not right.’

  ‘And the world’s next superhero just can’t let it go!’

  Reid’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. A muscle moved in his jaw. ‘If you’re trying to provoke me, be very careful.’

  ‘Or what? Are you going to handcuff me again? Pin me up against another wall until I do what I’m told? Or are you going to just keep almost kissing me and playing the pretend-to-care card, before slapping me down with comments about simply being one of your probationers? What’s next, Reid? Because I’ve had just about enough!’

  ‘So have I.’ He pulled her roughly to him and took what they both wanted.

  Jordan’s heart simply stopped, then kicked back into gear with a vengeance. Reid’s mouth was hungry, demanding, fierce. His hands were everywhere, moulding, stroking, igniting. He changed the angle of his kiss, nipped at her bottom lip, dove in again. Jordan gasped and her body began to tremble. Every inch of her felt alive, caught up in a million searing sensations she couldn’t name or control. Somewhere in the back of her mind she acknowledged that she had known it would feel like this, then stopped thinking at all when his hands twisted in her hair to bring her impossibly closer. She melted against him, her hands gripping his arms, helpless, mindless, wanting.

  Reid recognised the burning need to take, yet the more he took, the more he needed. She was like holding fire and water at the same time; her body yielded, moulded, even as it demanded, seduced. Her fingers played over the muscles of his back, her hips were plastered against his. When her hands moved under his shirt and skimmed along the hard planes of his back, he had to fight the temptation to drag her down and take her then and there on the kitchen floor.

  And then, damn it, Madi’s car pulled up out the front. On a curse, he eased back, took a couple of very long, very deep breaths and saw Jordan follow his gaze out the window.

  Immediately, she stepped back, stunned at what had just happened. Her brain started firing and went into overload. How had things got that far, that quickly? God, another few seconds and they would have been…a hot flush worked its way over her skin as she thought about exactly what they would have been. Her body was wholeheartedly complaining that they weren’t.

  She looked at Reid, waiting for some sort — any sort — of reaction, but he just returned her gaze steadily, gauging her reaction much as she was trying to gauge his. And she had no idea what to say. None. She couldn’t think.

  ‘Um…’

  ‘Hi guys,’ Madi greeted, letting herself in. She looked from Jordan to Reid, hesitated. ‘Bad timing?’

  ‘Hi Madi…no…we were just finishing up.’ Jordan managed.

  Reid nodded, but as he watched Jordan attempt to pull herself together, he smiled warmly. ‘I’ll see you later.’

  A nod was all she could manage.

  There was silence as he got into his car and drove down the driveway. Ominous silence. Silence that told Jordan Madi knew exactly what was going on and was about to explode at any moment with demands for details. She didn’t disappoint.

  ‘Just what the…?’ Madi exclaimed in what Jordan could only deem her best impersonation of a strangled cat.

  ‘Tone it down, Madi. Only dogs can hear at that pitch.’

  ‘Jordan…you have to tell me. We’re best friends, it’s the law.’

  ‘It was nothing, it was stupid. I was hassling him.’

  ‘Ah-ha!’ she cried, as though she’d just solved the mystery of the universe. ‘You provoked the hottie one too many times.’

  ‘I really wish you wouldn’t call him that.’

  ‘I want details.’

  ‘You want details you’re going to have to work for them — I’ve got cattle to train.’

  A few minutes later, Madi puffed as she lugged a heavily pulling heifer toward the tie rail. ‘It’s about time someone got the better of you. It seriously gets sickening to watch the masses fall bleeding at your feet.’

  ‘There’s no “better of”, thank you. Put her on the end there.’

  ‘It’s exactly what you wanted.’

  ‘And if it was?’

  ‘You’ve fallen for him.’

  ‘And let’s not go jumping to conclusions.’

  ‘Jordy, I jumped to that particular conclusion weeks ago. This love-hate relationship of yours is like a soap-opera in fast-forward.’

  ‘You should know.’

  ‘I do not watch — okay, but rarely. Point is, I think it’s great.’

  ‘Hmm.’

  ‘Okay, I got that tone. What?’

  ‘I’m not so sure. He’s my probation officer.’

  ‘Only for another two weeks.’

  ‘And if he finds out about the accident…wouldn’t he be legally obliged to say something?’

  ‘What, you mean like mandatory reporting? You think he’d do that?’

  ‘I don’t know. He’s already figured out there’s more to it than what’s in the report and if I start something with him I just…I don’t know. Besides, this is just a…thing. I’ll get over it.’

  ‘You could, sure. Or you could say screw it and just have some really good sex for a while.’

  ‘I need to think about it.’

  Madi pulled a face. ‘Ugh. Not sensible, Jordan. Please don’t take the responsible, thoughtful, over-analytical and anal side of you that’s, yes, so good at somehow keeping your head above water, and turn it on the hottie. That’s just a waste of a perfectly good opportunity. Do you remember the last time you were rendered speechless over a kiss?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Exactly!’

  Jordan sighed. Madi and her ever-optimistic attitude made argument pointless. ‘You finished with that heifer? We’ve got six more to bring in.’

  At four that afternoon, Michael turned up as expected. Jordan grinned. She was looking forward to this.

  ‘Hi Jordy!’ he called happily and dumped his schoolbag in the shed.

  ‘Hi Mike. Good day?’

  He shrugged ca
relessly. ‘Just school.’

  ‘Yeah but…’ she walked into the shed, came out with a package and a card. ‘Happy birthday!’

  Michael’s eyes lit up. ‘You got me a present? Wow…thanks Jordy!’ He tore enthusiastically at the paper. ‘A stockwhip! Cool.’

  ‘Your Dad mentioned you wanted to do Jackaroo School. I thought it might come in handy.’

  She might have missed the stricken look that passed over his features — he hid it quickly — but she caught it. ‘Yeah, I do. But, I kind of need a horse.’

  ‘Oh. Hey, is that your Dad?’

  Michael frowned. ‘He’s not supposed to be here ’til five-thirty.’

  Jordan shrugged and walked toward Merv’s car. ‘Hi Merv.’

  ‘Jordy. Mike.’

  ‘What are you doing here, Dad? I haven’t had a chance to do anything yet.’

  ‘I came to give you your birthday present.’

  Michael looked puzzled. ‘Okay, but…it could have waited. I thought you forgot when you didn’t say nothin’ this morning.’

  This time it was Merv’s face Jordan saw tighten. ‘Wasn’t the right time, that’s all.’

  ‘Okay.’ Both men looked uncomfortable. ‘Well, where is it?’ Michael finally asked.

  Merv looked at Jordan, who smiled. ‘I guess he’s in the stable, waiting for you.’

  Michael froze, as though not daring to believe what he was hearing.

  ‘He?’ Michael looked from his father to Jordan, the look on her face telling him all he needed to know. ‘Buster?’ When Jordan nodded, she saw him swallow hard. ‘Buster’s mine?’

  The tone of awe in his voice, the pure disbelief and hope, had Jordan’s eyes welling.

  ‘Guess you’ll need that stockwhip after all.’

  ‘Dad…really? You bought me Buster?’

  ‘Happy birthday, Mike.’

  Okay, that was it: she was going to cry. She walked away, headed into the stables. She walked up to Buster and stroked his head. ‘You’ve got a really important job now, mate. You got a second chance. Now you’re going to give Michael one.’

  ‘Jordy?’

  Jordan smiled at Michael and handed him Buster’s halter. ‘Why don’t you introduce him to your Dad while I hook up the float?’