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Luke watched Quinn lower the ice pack and look at her parents. He wondered what it would have been like to grow up with two people who loved you. He’d watched kids be picked up from school and around town, interacting with parents, and felt the sting of jealousy and frustration that he and his brothers had been dealt the hand they had. That they had lived with an asshole father and no love.
Would he be a good parent like his brothers were? His eyes settled on Quinn again, and when he realized where his mind was going, he shut it down.
What the hell was he doing, still being here? He looked at her again. Quinn Harper had gotten under his skin. Something about her tugged at him. Seeing those bruised eyes made him burn with anger and a need to protect her. He hated that she was hurting. He either did something about that or he backed away. Luke was good at backing away. Commitment with the risk of being hurt was something he avoided at all costs.
Quinn’s face was composed, and something hard lodged in his chest. He knew in that big brain of hers she was worried. Thoughts churning about what was happening to her family. He was worried now too. Worried that Quinn could get caught in whatever the hell this was.
“I mean, I don’t remember any sparks when I was working in the barn, Chief. I was surprised,” Ivan Harper said. “I’m usually real careful about that kind of thing.”
“Did that man who offered to buy the property say why he wanted to purchase your land, Ivan?”
“He said he’d always wanted to buy here.”
“He told me he really wanted the land several times,” Quinn added. “Said it was perfect for his needs and he was willing to pay a good price. He was really insistent. He even said that he was sure Dad would retire soon.”
“What did you think of him?” Chief Blake looked at Quinn. “I think someone like you would have a good read on people.”
“I didn’t feel comfortable around him,” she said slowly.
“It’s a smoky business when you team it with the incidents, to my mind,” Chief Blake said. “Now I want to ask about the land. Is there anything on your acres that anyone could want?”
“As in?” Quinn asked.
“Precious metals. Gold?”
Luke locked eyes with Quinn. There had been gold found around here over the years, but he’d not heard of anyone going after it in a while.
“How would anyone know if there was anything here? This land has been in my family for years,” Ivan said.
“There are a load of reasons someone would know there may be gold here,” Luke said. “Rocks looking lighter in color and different formations. Similarities to other areas that have yielded gold.”
Chief Blake nodded. “What he said. When was the last time you had a good look around your land, Ivan?”
“Been a while. I used to fly over it a lot, but I haven’t been doing that lately.”
“We saw someone driving on it the day we flew out to Lyntacky,” Luke said.
“Did you now? Well, that tells me we need to have a drive over it,” Chief Blake said. “I’m going to head in now, as the festivities are starting and someone has to ensure no fool maims himself in the pumpkin rolling. But I’ll be contacting these people and will get back to you.”
“I’m grateful, Chief Blake,” Ivan said, rising too.
Luke noted that Shelly Harper was looking a bit pale now. Clearly the facts had started to sink in.
“Now you need to listen to me. If someone is after you, then you have to be on alert. I’m including you in a drive-by with my boys at least twice a day. Won’t hurt people to know we’re watching. Also put up that plane, Quinn. Fly over the land and have a look from the air.”
“Will do.”
“Security,” Luke said. “You need to get someone here to watch things at night.”
“I can do some of that,” Quinn said.
“No, you can’t,” Luke gritted out.
“Bas said he needs some extra work now they’re having another baby. He’d probably do a few nights for you,” Chief Blake said.
“Oh now, I don’t think we need that,” Ivan said.
“You and your daughter could both be dead now, Ivan,” Luke growled. “You need to take precautions.”
