Fear that the person from last night had tracked her here and came to spy on her was all-consuming. Could it be James? Would he have followed her here to the ranch? Knowing him, he would say that he was trying to protect her since she’d gone out into the storm, that he was following her just in case she needed him. Wasn’t that a line he’d used before?
Her skin felt like dozens of fire ants had been let loose on it as she neared the object, realized it was a grill fork. It had a long handle and two sharp, sturdy prongs.
The image of her or Blaize being stabbed with it stamped her thoughts, causing icy fingers to grip her spine.
Blaize glanced over at the barbecue pit and back.
“This could do a lot of damage to someone if they were stabbed with it,” she said to him. She searched her memory bank to remember when the kiss had happened versus the crashing sound outside. The kiss came first. She was certain. The thought that James, or some other creep, could have been watchingthrough a window was enough to add a dozen more fire ants biting her skin.
“It sure could,” Blaize said. “The raccoon theory is losing its appeal.”
She picked up a stick and then used it to scoop up the grill fork by the small leather strap. “I seriously doubt the sheriff will be able to lift any usable DNA or prints after the storm we had. Still, I’d like to hold on to this.”
“We can’t be sure anyone was even here,” Blaize said. He was right. She glanced around. The ranch was in need of serious TLC. “But we can try.”
Carys nodded. And then something dawned on her. “Isn’t this a cattle ranch?”
“Yes.”
“Where’s the cattle?” She looked around, surveying the land.
“They aren’t here,” he said. “But you figured that out already. A neighbor came over and took all of them so we could sort out Cormac’s affairs and get Kit settled.”
“That’s nice of them.”
“It’s the way ranchers work. It’s ingrained to help each other out. I still don’t know how all this skipped a generation with Cormac. But my grandfather was a good person and never hesitated to lend a helping hand if someone needed him. People love Kit.”
“I can see why,” she said. “Where I used to live, the big push was to keep the place weird. But no one showed up in your time of need, if you know what I mean.”
“Austin can be fun,” he said with a laugh. She liked his smile and the way his eyes lit up and how the change in conversation broke some of the tension tightening her chest. “Do they still sell thoseKeep Austin WeirdT-shirts?”
“Yes. Everywhere. If anything, people have doubled down.” They were sold at coffee shops, gas stations, and street corners.
“Sounds about right for Austin. It’s more of a vibe than a city. Good music. After Lynn died, I would drive in and hit up a few places on the regular.”
Carys made a mental note to check with bartenders once they got a positive ID on Stephanie Cross. There had to be a picture of her somewhere they could take around to find out how she might have come into contact with Blaize.
“Speaking of weird, it’s strange that someone I can’t remember and am certain I don’t know would put my name on her child’s birth certificate.” His tone was serious, matching the intensity of his gaze. “But these are strange times.”
“I can think of a few reasons.” None that she wanted to say out loud. He was kind, if rough around the edges. He would make a great dad. Was someone banking on the fact he wouldn’t remember if they’d slept together or not? Hedging a bet that he would treat her child like a princess if he believed the girl was also his? Or that because of his kindness, her daughter would be safer with him if something happened to her?
Questions and speculation swirled with no easy answers.
“Are you going to explain that comment, or do I have to guess?” he asked, his tone lighter.
“I saw you with Rue earlier. Speaking of which, we should probably go inside,” she said, needing time to let those thoughts seed. “And my brain won’t work much longer without caffeine. Or breakfast, for that matter. And a glass of water sounds good, too.” Using the stick, she set the grill fork down. “This is useless, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” He confirmed what she already suspected. The heavy rains would have washed away any evidence. If, in fact, anyone had been out there. The racoon really was the most likely culprit. Her imagination was running wild after the incident with her vehicle. “Oh, and I need to get to my car soon so I can survey the damage in the daylight.”
Blaize’s smile faded. And she hated being the one to put the frown on his face.
Chapter Nine
Blaize called the sheriff for the second time in two days. Standing at Carys’s vehicle, he couldn’t help but wonder if someone was listening in on her conversations or tracking her by phone. “Did you talk to anyone and tell them about your plans to come here before you came out to see me with Rue yesterday?”
“Um, no. Why?” She walked around her four-door sedan, assessing the damage.
She gasped and caught his stare before he could respond.
