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Dallas shook his head. “I’m never letting you go. Trust me.”
“I’m getting there. Why don’t we head into the mine now? I’m a mining engineer for heaven’s sakes.”
“Okay. Pappy Jack won’t like it, but—”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dallas pulled Jessie to the ground as the dust from the explosion poured out of the entrance of the cave.
“Pappy Jack!” Jessie screamed.
* * * *
Two people crouched behind a large boulder on a nearby hill, watching the duo at the mouth of the Old Mine.
“Fuck,” the person looking through binoculars said.
The other one asked, “What happened? Let me see.”
“You fucked it up, sweetheart.”
“Not possible. You heard the explosion.”
“Yes. But Ms. Greene wasn’t in the mine.”
“She got out? I don’t understand. I placed the dynamite like you said I should. The trip wires were undetectable.”
“Pappy Jack went in without her. Probably best that it didn’t happen. Dallas might’ve gone in with her, even though he hates mines. I think he’s got a touch of claustrophobia, but he’s too proud to admit it.”
“So, what now?”
“Don’t worry about it, kid. Apparently, I’ve got to ste
p up my game when it comes to Jessica Greene.”
Chapter Eight
“That’s about it.” Jessie sat in the waiting room in the hospital in Elko. She, Dallas, and Wilde’s sheriff were the only ones there. Her eyes were nearly swollen shut from crying.
She and Dallas had recovered a very battered and broken Pappy Jack from the mine. He was conscious, but just barely. They’d gotten him on his horse, and Dallas hopped up on the animal behind his granddad, keeping him from falling off the saddle. It took them four hours to get back to Wilde. Luckily, the mine’s physician was eating his lunch at the Horseshoe and was able to stabilize Pappy Jack until the Elko ambulance arrived. She and Dallas had followed the emergency vehicle back to the hospital in his truck.
“Thanks, Ms. Greene. If you think of anything else, just call me.” Though Sheriff Aubrey Lewis looked to be at least seventy, Jessie thought few men would be brave enough to mess with him.
“I will.”
“Have you thought about going back to DC until we solve this? I’m sure you have friends and family there that might want to make sure you’re okay.”
On the way to the hospital, Michael had called from the airport in Vegas to check on her and say goodbye. When she’d told him what had happened, he’d offered to come back. She’d thanked him but told him she was in good hands.
“Sheriff, if I leave, whoever did this wins. I’m staying put. Besides, I’ve got a job to do.” Jessie knew her investigation had been more at the back of her mind lately. She needed to change that even though she’d rather be spending more time with the Wilde brothers. Well, all but one of them anyway.
“I suppose so, but this isn’t just safety violations, Ms. Greene. We’ve just moved past your scope and into my jurisdiction. You understand that?”
“I do. If I find anything out while I’m working my investigation, I’ll let you know.”
“Make sure you do that. Please be careful and stick with this one.” He pointed at Dallas. “Or one of his brothers.”
“Like we’d let her out of our sight, Sheriff.”
