Page 43 of Setup In Montana

“I had planned to,” Clancy admitted. “Tell me the truth, did you do something to Dub?” Her heart broke at the thought. She’d gotten Dub involved in all this. She’d never forgive herself if she’d caused him pain—let alone gotten him killed.

“Why would I do something to Dub?” Sarah demanded. “Boy, once you turn against someone…” She sighed again. “Clancy, I’m trying to save your life and mine. I didn’t kill anyone. Yes, I have to get to the safety deposit box before some of my more distasteful relatives try to stop me. After that…” She shook her head. “I’m not going to waste my breath trying to convince you that I’m one of the good guys.”

Chapter Nineteen

The road became narrower as it climbed up into the foothills, the trees growing denser and darker. Clancy gripped the steering wheel tighter, fear making her movements stiff and jerky.

“Shift down,” Sarah ordered as the car lurched. “Take it easy. We’re almost there.”

That was what had her so terrified. That and the fact that she wanted to believe her so-called friend hadn’t brought her here to kill her and bury her in the woods.

“What is your blood type?” Clancy asked as she shifted down. When Sarah didn’t answer, she glanced over at her and saw her expression. Tears burned her eyes at what a fool she’d been. She’d been ready to believe Sarah hadn’t killed anyone, that the real killer was after them both and her friend was just trying to save her and that Sarah was one of the good guys.

“O negative,” Sarah said. She sounded sad because she knew what Clancy’s reaction was going to be, but not half as sad as Clancy felt.

From out of the pines, a small rustic cabin appeared. It sat tucked back in the trees. She hadn’t seen a soul even before they turned off on the narrow dirt road. She tried to breathe around the weight sitting on her chest. This cabin looked like the perfect place to kill someone and bury them in the woods, knowing their body would never be found.

Clancy cursed her bad luck. She had waited for her life to begin, always planning to go find it. She’d thought she had found at least someone she might want to get to know better in Dub. She hoped she wasn’t wrong about him as well. But if not, where was he?

He was the first man she’d met who’d made her feel alive. It was as if she’d been asleep for years. From the first time she’d laid eyes on him, he’d lit something inside of her, waking her up to possibilities that had scared her, so she’d spurned him and them.

And now wide awake, she wanted what Dub had been offering. But unfortunately, she wouldn’t live long enough to find out if he was what she’d needed all along. She’d never know what her life could have been. Dub had promised a possible future that scared her at the same time she ached for just a glimpse. He’d understood her restlessness, her determination to break free and see what was down the road.

And look where that had gotten her.

As she drove closer, she saw the old pickup parked partially hidden behind the cabin. She shot a look at Sarah as the front door of the cabin opened and two men stepped out.

“Don’t panic,” Sarah said. “It’s just my cousins. I couldn’t leave you here alone while I’m gone. Park here and leave the keys in it.” She waved the gun. “Come on,” she said as Clancy parked and killed the engine. “Please don’t waste my time trying to make a run for it. That’s right, I know you, Clancy Roberts.”

Sarah did know her, because she’d been planning to take off at a sprint the moment her feet touched the ground—with the car keys. But as she started to open her door, Sarah reached over and took the keys from the ignition and pocketed them, giving her a disappointed look. “You couldn’t outrun me anyway,” Sarah said.

Clancy had been willing to bet on that with Sarah. Maybe she could have even outrun a bullet, but now there were three of them. The two men had come out to stand in front of the car.

“If you’re still trying to convince me that you didn’t kill anyone and I have nothing to fear, it isn’t working,” Clancy said.

“Yeah, I can see that,” Sarah said as she opened her car door. “Don’t make this any harder than it is.”

Sarah climbed out and Clancy had no choice but to do the same.

“These are my cousins Luther and Abel,” Sarah said, holding the gun at her side. The two men were tall and looked stringy as jerky. Both had beards that hid a lot of their faces. They both had Sarah’s eyes. “This is Clancy. Abel, take her into the cabin, and don’t let her out of your sight and don’t let her give you a hard time. I need to talk to Luther.”

Abel took hold of her arm. Clancy snatched it back and started toward the cabin, Abel dogging her steps. The cabin didn’t appear to be in great shape. Once on the porch, she turned to look back and, while she couldn’t hear what was being said, she could tell Sarah and Luther were arguing. Whatever she was saying to him, he didn’t seem to like it. As he started to walk away, she grabbed his arm and pulled him back. She was definitely giving him orders he didn’t want to hear.

What was she telling him to do with her?

She feared she already knew, especially when she handed him the gun.

* * *

DUB SWORE UNDER his breath as he reached the guesthouse, and he saw the tire tracks. Someone had been here. Head still aching, he leaped out of the pickup and rushed toward the door. He desperately wanted to be wrong. He told himself he would give anything for Clancy to be inside and safe.

Rounding the corner, the first thing he saw was the front door standing open. His heart dropped. Even before he rushed inside, he already knew Clancy was gone. His head began to ache worse, a reminder of what his brother had done. “I’m going to kill him,” he muttered under his breath. If he could have gotten his hands on Tanner at that moment, he would have gone for his throat even though his brother was taller and a good thirty pounds heavier.

Shoving away his anger, he tried to concentrate on what was urgent. Finding Clancy. He moved quickly through the dwelling, afraid that he might find her injured or worse. When he didn’t find her body, he felt weak with relief. He quickly looked around for clues as to who had taken her and where.

All of her belongings had been packed up as if she’d planned to leave. She must have been confused to wake up and find him gone with no explanation. He growled under his breath as he thought again of his brother. Other than that, the only thing he found was the pile of cheap jewelry still on the table.

Clancy had said she was going to call the sheriff first thing this morning. He felt a bubble of hope rise in him. Maybe it was Max’s tracks outside. But that bubble burst. If the sheriff had come here, he would have taken the jewelry as evidence.