“Her parents flew in and took her home to Dallas this morning,” Sam said. “They’ll have a funeral to plan, butthat’s not our problem. What happened to that red stallion? I saw that his stall was empty. I hope he wasn’t put down.”
“Buck Tolson had Fire Dance shipped to his ranch in Wyoming. He’s going to try and work with him. I get the impression he’s doing it as a favor to Cheyenne.”
“That sounds like a big favor. That horse is going to be a handful. I wish him luck. And you, too. One in a Million deserves to win tomorrow night.”
Sam took his leave and walked back through the barn to the hotel. He could hear the cheers and whoops from the nearby arena as the Shootout continued. He was tempted to go and watch. But he had a report to prepare for Nick, and avoidance wasn’t on his agenda today. He could feel the pressure of time running out.
Unless she’d found a flight, Jasmine should still be in town. Sam checked the urge to call her, just to hear her voice. She’d been right to break off with him while he was working this accursed case. She deserved better than the time he’d given her. When the Culhane murder case was put to rest, he would do everything in his power to make up for lost time. Jasmine was the love of his life. He could no longer imagine that life without her.
For Cheyenne, the afternoon had dragged on like a prison sentence. She’d tried to talk her mother into going downstairs to explore the shops, enjoy some ice cream, or watch the Shootout in the arena. Rachel had responded as if she’d been invited to visit the fleshpots of hell. “When I walked through the lobby, I could smell the stink of greed and lust,” she said. “I came here to watch my son ride. The devil can keep the rest.”
They’d ordered lunch, then later a light dinner, from room service. The food had been all right, but Rachel had beenaghast at the prices. “For the cost of a sandwich here, I could feed a family for a week,” she’d complained.
Cheyenne had done her best to remain calm and respectful. Her mother was a good woman, a strong woman, who believed in living a life unsullied by worldly sins. That her children hadn’t followed her belief was source of deep pain.
As the youngest child and only daughter, Cheyenne had grown up with Rachel’s faith. She had watched it work small miracles in the circle of her family—survival in the hardest of times, a sick child healed, a lost animal found, a brushfire stopped practically at their doorstep. Cheyenne admired her mother’s steadfastness, but she’d never wanted it for herself. Like her brothers, she had long since embraced the ways of the world.
Now, after a long and dreary afternoon, it was night. While Rachel studied her Bible, Cheyenne had watched a string of old-time films on the hotel’s Family Movie Channel. Through the wall, she could hear the faint sounds of Buck coming and going. She was grateful he’d decided to stay another night. His presence in the next room was strangely comforting. But with her family here, she probably wouldn’t get more time with him.
She’d checked her phone for messages, but so far, there’d been no word from him. His friend must still be on the road with Fire Dance, or he would have let her know.
Her family would be leaving after the competition tomorrow night, with Cheyenne and Rachel in the pickup and Stetson staying behind to help Roper load the stallion into the new trailer. After an all-night drive, they planned to reach home sometime in the morning.
There was always the chance that Roper wouldn’t be with them. Cheyenne had tried not to think about that. But the worries were seeping in like a murky fog through the cracks of her mind.
What was going to happen to the family now, with Roper facing arrest, the younger siblings itching to strike out on their own, and their father’s issues getting harder to manage? For as long as Cheyenne could remember, Rachel had been the strong link that held them all together. Was that link about to be broken?
“You look troubled, child.” Rachel had closed her Bible and taken up the baby blanket she was knitting for a woman at her church. The soft, blue yarn passed back and forth between her flying needles as she spoke. “I’ve been watching you all day. I can tell that something’s bothering you. Do you want to tell me about it?”
Cheyenne had been expecting this. “I’m not a child, Mother. I have worries like anybody else, mostly about Roper.”
“Well, you can stop worrying,” Rachel said. “Your brother is innocent, and I believe in the Lord’s justice. Everything will come right in the end. You’ll see.”
“I wish I had your faith,” Cheyenne said. “But justice isn’t always served. There are plenty of wrongly convicted people behind bars. The fact that Roper is innocent might not be enough to save him.”
Rachel put her knitting aside and fixed Jasmine with a riveting gaze. “Answer me this. Do you believe that God wanted Frank Culhane to pay for what he did to you—and for whatever he might have done to other women?”
Something clenched and hardened below Cheyenne’s rib cage. A bitter taste crept upward into her throat. “I’m not in a position to judge,” she said. “And it’s certainly not my place to know what God would want.”
“Are you saying that Frank didn’t deserve to die? What if the real killer was doing God’s will? Mayhe he’ll never be found.”
Cheyenne stood, fighting to control her temper. “How many times have we had this discussion? I’m done with it.It only stirs up ugly memories. I wish I’d never mentioned it to you. Please, just let it go!”
“I’ll let it go when your innocent brother is cleared of all wrongdoing. Meanwhile, at least we can pray.”
“Mother, I … Never mind.” Cheyenne exhaled and turned away. What was the use? Her mother would never change. “I need a break,” she said. “Why don’t I go down to the lobby and buy a paperback to read later? I won’t be gone long. Maybe I could bring us some snacks. How about some popcorn? We could eat it while we watch a movie—a good one. And some chocolate-chip cookies—oh, I know they won’t be as good as yours. And I know you don’t like sodas, but they have those little cartons of milk—”
“Oh, don’t bother, dear. I’ve had plenty to eat. Maybe we could call Roper and invite him for a visit.”
“Roper’s going to be busy. I don’t want to disturb him,” Cheyenne said, dismissing the idea. This would be Roper’s last night before the Run for a Million, and possibly his last night of freedom. If he chose to be anywhere, it would be with Lila. Now that the threat of Darrin was gone, if she was feeling strong enough, they might even choose to go out.
“Anyway, dear, I’d rather you didn’t leave me alone,” Rachel said. “This place makes me nervous—all the creepy people and the spooky noises. Anybody could force that door and come in.”
“That isn’t going to happen.” It was hard for Cheyenne to believe that her mother, who’d faced charging cattle, wildfires, and raging blizzards, shot coyotes, set broken bones, nursed fevers, and delivered babies, would feel spooked in a Las Vegas hotel room.
“Will you be all right going to the Run for a Million tomorrow night?” she asked. “There’ll be a huge, noisy crowd. The stands will be packed.”
“Oh, I won’t mind the crowds. Nothing could stop me from watching Roper ride. It’s just this room, this place, so high up and strange with the ground so far away. I know it’s perfectly safe, but it doesn’t feel that way.”