Page 110 of Samuel

“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong, Sam. It pays to be as connected as I am. You know how easy it was to pay off a notary and a county judge to make sure this was a rock solid plan? It did involve a little extra blackmail on my part, but it was well worth it.” He slid the papers and a pen over to Sam. “It looks like it’s getting awfully hot out there, Sam. I think it’s probably in Evie’s best interest if you start signing those documents.”

He didn’t care how many people Garrett paid off, Samtrusted Hank. So he signed those papers without a single glance at the words.

“Done. Where is she?” He threw the papers back at Garrett.

“You did the right thing, son. The ranch was always meant to move into my hands. The mineral rights to the land were always meant to be mine.”

Sam’s eyes snapped back from the window he was looking out. “What mineral rights?”

“Ah, I see Evie didn’t get a chance to tell you what she found. I’m so pleased I get to be the one to tell you what you just lost. Makes this evil rich uncle act even more dramatic than it already is.”

“You’re insane.”

“Maybe. But it is really rather enjoyable to see years of hard work finally pay off. Would you be interested in hearing how I knew that little friend of yours who tried to kill the sheriff’s wife?”

His jaw dropped thinking back to how close Daisy had come to dying thanks to someone they once considered a friend. “You were working with him?”

“Working together? Hardly. That little prick was digging into some records and came here trying to blackmail me. I had to take the sniveling weasel under my wing to keep him quiet about my attempts to bankrupt the ranch, but the idiot went rogue. Have to give it to the kid. I was gone for two years, staying as far away from Clarence County as I possibly could, and by the time I got back he’d tried to kill your friend and got himself put in jail. Takes some real big balls to do something like that. I, of course, continued to stay away. Who knew what the sheriff would dig up in connection to that case.” He laughed. “The love-sick fool was just happy to have his girlfriend back. Sheriff Porter closed the case thinking all that asshole wanted the land for was farming. Who tries to killsomeone over a little farm land? Now oil? Plenty of people have been killed over oil.”

“He fucking murdered her grandparents!”

“Exactly my point.” He checked his watch. Sam’s hands clenched into fists, which clearly didn’t escape Garrett. “I thought you’d appreciate all this information, Sam, seeing as how you always wanted to be a Ranger. Too bad nothing I’ve said here today will make it into a case file.”

“I’m begging you, just fucking tell me how to get to Evie. It’s too hot for her to be out there for this long!”

“I know it. Poor thing was already sweating up a storm when I left her.”

Sam’s chest felt so fucking tight, he couldn’t breathe.

“I’ll be going now, Sam. But my lawyers will send along information about when you’ll need to be moved off of my property. I think a week should be enough time, don’t you?”

“Where is she?” The words ground out between his clenched teeth.

“West pasture. That’s the herd's favorite. Shouldn’t take you more than, oh, thirty minutes to make it out there on horseback. Of course, she can’t ride back that way, can she? Better hop in your truck. The roads on the ranch are old. Might take you more like an hour to get to her from here. Oh, and Sam?” He grabbed a water bottle from the edge of his desk and threw it at Sam. “You’ll probably want to bring this with you. I’m sure she’s feeling more than a bit parched by now.”

There were a thousand things Sam wanted to say to Garrett, but he didn’t bother. He took off running out of the main house, his feet carrying him back to the barn.

Sam had a horse saddled and out on the way to get to Evie in under five minutes.

“She’s in the West field, Hank. With hisherd.”

“I got that loud and clear, Sam. I’m heading out that way in my truck now.”

He’d been riding for what felt like forever when a crumpled form caught his eye under a tall tree. Fuck! She wasn’t moving. He couldn’t see far enough to tell if she was still breathing.

“Evie!” Sam jumped off the horse’s back, going up over the fence as he ignored the building pain in his chest.

He didn’t know if she’d been left there, or if she knew enough to get herself close to the fence where the cattle were less likely to go, but Christ he was thankful for it.

Sam ran to her side, slamming his knees into the dirt as he worked to untie the knotted rope around her wrists.

“Evie, you have to open your eyes. Fuck, baby. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. Open those beautiful eyes for me. Come on, Evie. Come back to me.”

“Sam.” His name came out as a choked sob as her eyes opened and focused on him. There was such an intense rush of relief as her voice reached his ears that he fought the urge to lean over and spill his guts onto the ground next to her. His heart pounded in his chest, an ache warning him to get a grip.

“Are you hurt? Are you in pain?”

“Sam.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I tried… I think I fell asleep.”

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