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“Well. After we searched the most obvious places around the property, your friend determined he must have dropped the watch while you were out on the trail. Unfortunately, your friend is unfamiliar with the route you took, and he was afraid of getting as lost as the watch.” Mrs. Lockhart tuts. “We couldn’t very well send the man off with one of the children to help him look for his watch. Especially if it were to grow dark during the search.”
“So Tess went with him.”
Mrs. Lockhart frowns. “Is there a problem?”
“He’d better hope not,” I snarl. “And Troy is not my friend.”
Charging out the door, I head straight for the trailheads, cursing my work shoes as I go. Leather loafers—even a good pair—are hardly suitable for running. Still, the blisters bubbling up where my heels are rubbed raw will be a small price to pay for Tess’s safety.
He’d better not lay a hand on her.
The ranch has several trails, but I only showed my former roommates one of them—the path farthest from the center of camp. I was trying to keep Troy away from Tess that day too. Brambly bushes and tall thickets border one side of the trail. The other is a slope of mountainside dotted with tall trees. Sunlight streaks through the branches above me. They can’t be too far ahead.
I almost stumble a couple of times. Almost kick off my shoes. But the rocks could slice my feet. And if I’m hobbled, I’ll be no good to her.
“Tess!” I call out, pausing to listen for an answer. All I hear is the sound of my own breathing.
Then this: “Spencer?”
Yes!She’s just past the next bend. So I push forward, jogging around the corner. “Tess,” I gasp, when I see her standing there in her camp T-shirt and cutoffs.
“Hi?” Her head is cocked, and she’s got both hands on her hips. Troy bends over to poke around in the bushes like he’s looking for an “heirloom.”
Nice try, buddy.
Tess drops her arms and moves toward me, her eyes wide with concern. “Are you all right?”
Troy straightens, acting like he’s surprised to see me. “Hey, there.” He splays his hands, as if to prove his innocence. “What’s up, man?”
“Good news,” I tell him. “The kids found it.” My voice sounds as gritted as my teeth
“Found what?”
“Your great grandpa’s watch.”
His brows shoot up high—almost off his skull—which tells me everything I need to know. There is no watch. Probably no great grandfather. He made the whole thing up to get Tess alone.
My hands are fists at my side, and I fight every instinct to rip him apart. No matter how much I want to, I can’t murder a guy for lying. Or for being a slime ball.
Pity.
I meet his gaze and narrow my eyes, so he knowsexactlywhat I’ve figured out. Then I nod toward the trail in the opposite direction. “If you head straight back the way you came, there’s no chance you’ll get lost. The watch is in the office.” I look down at mine. “You’d better hurry. Traffic out of town can get nasty this time of day.”
Troy bobs his head. “Copy that.”
“Good thing your watch isn’t gone.” I clench my jaw. “No need to come back through here looking for it. Ever again.”
Another bob of Troy’s head. “Roger.”
I run a hand through my hair. It’s damp from running. From adrenaline. “I’d walk back with you,” I say, “but I need to have a word with Tess first.” I lift a shoe. “Besides. I worked up some pretty wicked blisters. Wouldn’t want to slow you up.”
“No worries,” Troy says with a half-baked salute. “See you around, Spence.”
By way of answer, I tip my chin. No need to pretend I want to see him again. I glance at Tess, who’s shifting her weight now, probably confused. But she’s definitely smart enough to realize this is no friendly goodbye.
“Bye, Troy,” she says, as he turns to trudge back down the trail. She practically swallows the words, like saying them is foolish, which is the last thing I want her to feel.
Tess McCoy is no fool. She’s a woman with good intentions and an even better heart. She doesn’t waste time worrying about being played. She trusts because she’s trustworthy. It’s one of the things I love most about her. And I love most things about her.
