Page 34 of Christmas Ransom

Jud told him it had been one in Missoula, where he let Wes believe his grandmother lived. Had she been alive. “Then I bought a few groceries, paid for gas, went home and gave you what I had left. So whoever pulled the heist could have already shopped at one of those places.”

Wes eyed him suspiciously. “That’s quite a story.”

“Would I still be delivering packages if I had that kind of money?” Jud could see that the man wasn’t so sure now. He was glad that Jesse had reminded him to use as many old bills as he could find in the bags. So Wes wouldn’t have gotten all marked bills, which would help sell his story.

“If you’re lying...” Wes said and let him go. “I’ll be back for another installment.”

Jud groaned. “I’ll have to visit my grandmother again because I don’t have it.” He could feel Wes studying him. “It’s Christmas. Can’t you give me until after the holidays? My grandmother’s in poor health. Once she crosses over, I’ll get everything and can settle my bill in full.”

“The boss won’t wait that long. I’ll be back.” With that, the man left.

Jud let himself breathe for a few minutes after Wes drove away. He’d just dodged a bullet. But it didn’t leave him much time. They couldn’t chance giving Fletch or Wes any more marked money from the robbery. He had to talk to Jesse.

“We need to leave town,” he told her when she came home from work. He related his encounter with Wes. “We have all this money. Enough time has gone by. Let’s get out of here before another bill turns up from the robbery or Leon comes himself to collect.”

“Not until you finish things,” she said without looking at him.

“Jesse—”

She spun on him. “If you can’t do it, I will. I warned her not to talk and she talked. I can’t let that stand.”

“Technically, she didn’t even know it was you warning her.”

“Are you serious right now?” Jesse demanded. “Tell me you aren’t taking up for her.”

He raised both hands. “I’m not. We’re free and rich. Why take a chance getting caught because some dumb fool didn’t do what you said?”

“It’s about betrayal, standing up for yourself, not letting people disrespect you.”

“But no one even knows that she disrespected you.”

“I know,”Jesse said, giving him a look that seemed to nail him to the floor. “I know and that’s all that matters.” With that, she turned and stormed into the bedroom.

Jud flinched as she slammed the door. His instincts told him to leave, to go get the money and keep going. Why did he always get involved with domineering women? Before he could move, she came out of the bedroom dressed in all black. He watched her walk into the kitchen and come back out with a butcher’s knife.

“Jesse?” His voice cracked.

She stopped to hold the knife up. The blade caught the light. “I’m going to take care of this myself. Be ready to leave when I get back.” With that she headed for the door, but stopped with her hand on the knob. “And, Jud, don’t even think about leaving me behind. I moved the money.” With that, she left.

THATMAGICALMOMENTstanding outside in the falling snow was lost. All Carla had, along with the ache in her heart, was the memory of what she’d seen in Davy’s expression. He’d remembered their kiss that Christmas together—just as she had. The cold, the snow falling around them. Davy had pulled her close for their winter kiss. Wasn’t that when they’d both known that they were truly in love—the forever kind?

She closed her eyes now. Carla knew she wasn’t wrong. He’d come close to kissing her. Her heart had started to pound, and she’d felt such a yearning... She hadn’t realized how badly she’d wanted that kiss until it hadn’t happened.

The drive to Worthington Ranch didn’t take long. Neither of them spoke. What was there to say? Earlier she had almost brought up the subject ofthem, but Davy had stopped her. Because there was no them. She’d made her choice all those years ago. And he’d made his.

If I’d had my way, we would be married right now.

She’d heard the hurt and pain in his voice. If he’d had his way. She’d tried to imagine what their life would have been like with him on the road all the time, following the rodeo circuit. It wasn’t what she’d wanted. It wasn’t her idea of marriage and happy-ever-after.

And this is?the little voice at the back of her mind demanded. She hadn’t met anyone else she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Because she’d never gotten over Davy, she admitted to herself now. Being with him and yet not being with him...

She glanced over at him. He looked so handsome in his Western dress suit. She wanted to reach out and touch his arm and tell him—

“We’re here,” he said, and she looked up to see that he was pulling in front of the Worthington Ranch lodge.

SHEMOVEDTHEMONEY?Jud stared after Jesse for several moments, too stunned to move. He didn’t have to guess where she was going—or what she planned to do. She was going to get them both arrested. He had to stop her, make her see that she wasn’t being rational. How had this become about her and Carla Richmond?

He charged out into the darkness and falling snow in time to see her speeding away. He told himself that she’d come to her senses before she did anything, but he wasn’t sure he believed that. He didn’t know what to do. Maybe she was lying about moving the money, but somehow he didn’t believe that either. Maybe he could find where she hid the money, take it and run. Not unless he wanted that crazed woman with the knife to come after him. Go try to stop her?

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