Page 76 of River Wild

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

STUARTFOUNDHIMSELFlooking at the ranchers’ boots as he and Bailey headed for the bar. If she was right, the man was arrogant enough to think he could get away with it again and might not even change the way he’d been dressed before.

But would the man really wear the same boots and would Stuart be able to tell if they were black crocodile buckaroo boots, tall, with the cut heel. All he could do was look for expensive black ones, in case the man was as cocky as Bailey thought. Most of the ranchers had worn their dress boots, so looking for expensive ones in this crowd was like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack.

The crowd undulated along with the low rumble of voices. The sheriff saw AJ Plummer with a drink in his hand, talking to Holden. Next to him was his wife, Faith. She looked uncomfortable. Probably because everyone knew that she and AJ had been separated. Were they back together? She had a drink and seemed to be searching the crowd for someone.

A burst of laughter close by startled Stuart. He turned swiftly to see Jay Erickson’s wife, Angie, entertaining a small group of men with a bawdy story. From the way she was speaking, she’d already had a few drinks before she got to the barbecue. Jay stood nearby, looking bored.

Stuart got a bottled water from the bar for Bailey, but when he looked back, she was gone. For a moment, he panicked, afraid someone in the crowd had grabbed her. With relief, he spotted her. Annette Cline had hold of Bailey’s arm and was leaning toward her as she spoke intently.

He began to make his way toward the two, curious what Annette was telling her and why she seemed to be drawing Bailey away toward the trees.

“IBROUGHTYOUsome bridal magazines I kept from when Dickie and I got married,” Annette was saying. “I thought of you right away when I heard about your engagement to the sheriff. I have them in the truck if you want to escape this madhouse for a minute. We can go get them.” She chuckled. “I almost didn’t come, figured everyone would be talking about me. I was surprised when Dickie insisted. These things give me a headache.”

Bailey smiled as she thought of a line from a line from some old movie.“The one who comes to you with a deal is the traitor.”But bridal magazines? “Where’s your truck parked?” she asked, curious.

“Since we were some of the last to arrive—my fault, it takes me forever to get ready, Dickie says—we’re parked almost to the county road. But we can cut through the trees. It’s such a beautiful day, I wouldn’t mind following the river.”

“You know, Annette, I really appreciate—”

“Here’s your water,” Stuart said, joining them. “Talking wedding plans?”

“Don’t you know it,” Bailey said. “Annette brought me some bridal magazines from when she and Dickie got married. We were just discussing going to her pickup to get them.”

“That’ll have to wait,” the sheriff said. “Your father’s about to make an announcement. He wants us front and center.”

“Well, maybe later,” Annette said. “It was just a thought. I better find Dickie. He’s lost without me.”

“Maybe I should have gone with her,” Bailey whispered as Stuart led her toward the house. “She wanted to go through the trees along the river.”

He swore. “I’m surprised after what happened with her boyfriend that she and Dickie even showed up today. I’d heard he’d been released on bail. I’d like to think both of them are harmless, but I’ve been in this business too long to believe that.”

“If this was about him, then she’ll try again, maybe more forcefully next time,” Bailey said.

“Pleasant thought,” Stuart said, shaking his head. “How did I ever let you talk me into this?” He realized Bailey had stopped walking and was looking back at the crowd.

“It’s probably nothing, but Annette said she was going looking for her husband. Instead, she went straight to AJ Plummer.”

The sheriff glanced back. Annette and AJ seemed to be having a serious talk before he walked away from her and joined his estranged wife, Faith, at the bar.

HOLDENFINALLYGOTeveryone’s attention as Bailey and Stuart joined him. He had tried to write up something last night but couldn’t make himself. This wasn’t a real engagement party. What did you say when the happy couple believed the killer was out there in that crowd, drinking McKenna Ranch booze, and would soon to be eating his food? The thought made him sick to his stomach.

But he’d known once he’d heard what the man had done to his daughter that he would do whatever it took to catch the bastard. He just wasn’t sure this was the best way. It was definitely the most dangerous, though.

He cleared his throat as everyone began to settle down. “Thank you all for coming here today to celebrate with us.” He told stories about Bailey growing up, her love for horses and the ranch, how glad he was that she’d come back, and how he hoped she would always stay here. “I know she and Stuart will be happy. I’ve seen how much they care about each other. Everyone needs the love of their life to complete them. Bailey,” he said, his voice breaking, “I’m glad you’ve found yours. Here’s wishing you many, many years together.”

The crowd clapped and cheered, and the day dragged on. Holden knew his words probably wouldn’t have any effect on a killer, but he could hope, couldn’t he? He’d wanted to say out loud,Please don’t take my little girl from me, you monster!even as his heart cried out those words.

He saw Bailey on the edge of the crowd with Stuart and prayed the sheriff could keep her safe, because her father had failed her twelve years ago and feared he’d fail her again today.

STUARTFOUNDHIMSELFwatching four of the men at the barbecue—the four that Bailey had narrowed down on her list. He hadn’t been able to prove that one of them had assaulted Bailey and killed Willow. But he also hadn’t been able to disprove it.

Earl Hall still looked uncomfortable, his wife Iris dutifully staying right by his side. Jay Erickson stood in a group of men drinking silently as his wife, Angie, had become more vocal and argumentative the drunker she became.

Annette had danced with AJ Plummer and anyone else she could get onto the dance floor, while her husband Dickie stood morosely on the sidelines. Stuart figured that marriage had been doomed from the beginning when Dickie had married a woman so much younger than him.

He thought about Annette attempting to get Bailey to walk with her out to their pickup to get the bride magazines. Maybe she was just trying to be friendly. Maybe her husband had killed her lover, had assaulted and tried to kill Bailey, and had killed Willow. Would a man out on bail come to a barbecue planning to kill again? Anything was possible, and that’s what worried Stuart the most.

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