Page 33 of All We Carry Home

He was referencing the winter of ’44 when I’d snuck into an SS camp and hadn’t told the rest of my men. I had decided to play the odds without putting my men at risk. In that case, it had paid off, but nearly at the cost of my life. Eddie had been furious and watched me like a hawk afterward.

“This is different, Eddie.”

“Is it?”

These moments had always been the times my mind was most clear. Everything else faded away, and I knew my purpose. I had a clear mission. The danger was all around, but I knew how to face it.

“I’ll be back soon.” I set out for my truck.

As I closed the truck door and fired up the engine, Eva ran up and knocked on the window. I rolled it down.

“He’s got the entire county in his favor and the local sheriff in his pocket.” Her ice-blue eyes were intense. “Be careful.”

“I will.” I shifted into reverse. As I left the driveway, I felt her gaze follow me.

I turned east, where the Merrick farm sat over sprawling green hills dotted with dozens of horses of every shade. Four long, narrow barns were painted white and gleaming in the sunshine. A lavish mansion sat beyond the row of barns. I recognized the feel of this place, antiseptic and cold. Not unlike the sprawling manors and high-society life I’d grown up around. I hadn’t favored such opulence then, and especially now, I preferred the hand-carved, humble atmosphere of Birkstrom.

Keith approached me before I’d even parked the truck. He wore riding breeches and a black shirt, and his hair covered only half the look of contempt in his eyes. His boots and gloves were covered in dirt, confirming the fact that he at least seemed to ride and train his own horses.

“What do you want?” he asked.

I stepped out of the truck and closed the door. “I came to see your father.”

“He’s not here.”

That took the wind out of my sails just a bit. “When will he be back?” I asked.

“You can discuss anything you need to with me.” Keith darted a glance in the direction of Birkstrom. “Is Eva all right?”

My blood ran cold. Why would he ask that?

“You wouldn’t put it past your father to hurt her.”

The flinch in Keith’s expression told me all I needed to know. My earlier assessment of Victor had been accurate. Eva was in danger. Not just her reputation or her membership in the horse association but physical danger.

Victor wanted her grandfather’s ranch, and even Keith understood he’d sink to any depth to get it.

“Where is your father?” I asked.

Keith studied me for a long moment before he finally admitted, “He had a meeting in town. That’s all I know.”

I looked around the ranch, assessing. A handful of staff members, what seemed like hundreds of stalls, and an army of trucks and trailers parked along the rows of stalls. This was a large operation. What did they need Birkstrom Ranch for?

I reached for the door handle on my Ford. “If Eva matters to you in the slightest, you won’t tell him that I came by.”

Keith nodded hesitantly.

I reached the pavement of the main highway as my mind raced, and I turned toward the town of Baker.

I stopped at the most popular diners, the courthouse, and the barber. No sign or whisper of Victor Merrick. I didn’t take him for the type who bought his own groceries or farm supplies, so I decided to head back to the Geiser Grand to ask Betty. She could be trusted not to spread the word that I’d been looking for Victor since she was firmly on the side of Birkstrom and Eva.

As I entered the lobby, I caught sight of Victor in the restaurant with two men in fine suits. His back was turned to me, his shoulders tense.

My father had done enough business with unscrupulous characters for me to know these were either mob enforcers or loan sharks. Instead of confronting Victor, I needed to know more.

They spoke in hushed tones, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to catch anything. I slipped past the restaurant and up the spiral staircase to the second floor, where there was an overhanging balcony. As I situated myself right above them, I stood as still as I could to overhear pieces.

“. . . getting impatient. If we don’t start construction soon, we’ll lose the fair weather.”