Page 70 of Eyes Like a Hurricane

“Calm down, you two,” I say, trying to soothe them. They are leaping and jumping, running in circles to get my attention with their yips. “You guys hungry? Come on, let’s go find Aislinn and get some breakfast.”

Chloe takes off toward the trailhead, and I let out a sharp whistle to stop her in her tracks. She looks over her shoulder and releases an anguished whine. I run back into the barn and find Hurricane still in her stall. Sprinting down the row, I check, and all the horses are accounted for and present in their individual stalls. Nothing looks out of place.

Running out the back of the barn, I look around to make sure Aislinn didn’t fall or trip. Our John Deere Gator is haphazardly pulled off to the side and not parked in the usual place.

“Noah,” I yell, “Did you take the Gator out this morning for any reason?”

He comes racing down the hall from the office. “No. Now that you mention it, the Gator wasn’t here this morning. I’ve been in the office for the last forty-five minutes working on paperwork. I assumed Carl or Axel had it over in their shed doing maintenance on it, but neither of them is in yet today. I just spoke to Axel, and he said he’d be here in ten minutes. He was just heading out the door when I called. Carl was down at the diner having breakfast with Mama Marge but is on his way.”

I scrub my hands down my face. What is going on? The dogs are panting at my side, and their lower legs are covered in mud. The Gator was gone for at least an hour today. I look around for more clues, but nothing is coming to mind.

We walk back into the barn and hear the crunch of gravel out front. As we step through the barn door, I expect to see one of my employees. Instead, I see Edwin unfolding himself from his cruiser with a grim expression on his face. He glances behind him. That's when I see the black Mercedes. Climbing out of the sedan is none other than Cody O’Connell.

Before I can offer a greeting, Finn and Chloe lay their ears back and release the harshest growls I’ve heard from them. Their teeth are fully exposed as they stare down Cody.

“What did you do with her, asshole? Tell be where you took her!” I shout in the deepest voice I can muster, adding a growl at the end to get my point across.

Edwin looks between the two of us before stepping toward me. I advance past him and grab Cody by the lapels of his ridiculous suit. “Where is she? Don’t make me ask you again. I want to know where she is, then I want you off my property.”

I am consumed with rage. If he hurt her in any way, I will see red.

His smile is cruel as he looks up at me. With my cowboy boots on, I tower over his frame. But he isn’t trembling.

Shaking his head, he says, “Officer, can you please escort this man off my property?”

I shove Cody away, causing him to stumble back against his car. I stride toward Edwin.

“What’s he talking about? This is my land. It’s been in my family for decades,” I protest.

Edwin clears his throat and palms the back of his neck with his hand. “Well, it seems Mr. O’Connell actually has in his possession the Deed of Trust for this property, with his name on it. Signed by your grandfather to his LLC.”

I growl, “How is that possible? My grandfather passed away over a decade ago.”

He shakes his head. “I’m honestly not sure, but I called Deb down at the county building on my way over here. She hadn't been in the office the last few days. When she went to your file, she said the Deed of Trust with your name from your grandfather’s estate didn’t exist, but one with Cody’s signature was in the file.”

My world begins to spin. How is this possible.

“This has to be fake or fraud. Can’t we check this out?” I ask, panicking.

Edwin nods. “Trust me, I have one of my deputies down at the County office right now looking through the notes. His Deed of Trust is notarized. My deputy says the dates and signatures look off, but without your recorded Deed of Trust, my hands are tied. Do you have your copy of the original?”

I shake my head, placing my hands on top of my head.

“I don’t know. I mean, I think.” I fight the scream threatening to escape my lungs. “Edwin, I don’t know? I’ll call Ingrid and my mom to see if they remember what we did with it. But, Edwin, Aislinn is missing. Cody was out here threatening us yesterday. We even went and saw Becca about a restraining order. Our Gator was gone for about an hour this morning. All the horses and tackle are accounted for, but something isn’t right. I feel it here,” I say, touching my chest.

He nods and lowers his voice so only I can hear, “Get a hold of your mom and sister and find that original Deed of Trust. If you can, get a copy of your grandfather's will or Power of Attorney so we can compare signatures to the copy at the Recorder’s Office. Meanwhile, I will call another deputy out here and we'll search the property and town.”

A grating voice comes from behind us. “Let me take Aislinn back to Washington, and I will turn the Deed of Trust over to you at no cost. You don’t even have to buy back the land.”

My shoulders bunch, and I flex my hands at my sides.

Taking a deep breath, I whirl around and get right in his face, “Where the hell is she? If you so much as harmed a hair on her head, her kick to your nuts will feel like child’s play with what I have in store. Welcome to Montana, jackass. Here whensomeone screws up, we tie their ankles to the back of a horse and let it run.”

His face contorts at the visual. “I just want what’s rightfully mine. I had Aislinn first.”

Thumping my palm against the hood of his car, I glare at him. My patience is waning as my fear increases.

“Aislinn is not some commodity. She is a beautiful mind and soul. You didn’t deserve her, and I plan to spend the rest of my life earning my place by her side. I will remind her each day how special she is to me. My goal is to support her back, not hold her back. Unlike you.”

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