Page 44 of Honoring Freedom
“Let’s stop pretending. You poisoned my horses.” The scent of his raw steak mingled with the scent of the fresh flowers sitting in the center of the table causing her stomach to roil.
“Freedom, you can’t waltz in here like a rampaging spitfire and accuse a man of such terrible indictments.”
“I’m only speaking the truth.”
“Do you have proof of these accusations yet?”
She grabbed the plastic bag from the pocket of her dress and threw it at him.
“Please, don’t throw your panties again.” He narrowed his gaze. “What’s this?”
“Yew.”
He chucked the plastic bag onto the table. “And? Is that supposed to mean something to me?”
She stood upright with her arms crossed, prepared to confront the man she could hardly tolerate being near. “That plant killed my horse and made Requiem ill. You've always resented that I got the horses instead of you.”
“Still, I fail to see the connection.”
“How odd it is that you have an entire row of these plants along your fence. And how interesting it is that one plant has no berries left, as if someone came along and picked every single one. Someone who wasn’t knowledgeable enough to realize that an entire sprig of berries isn’t needed to kill a horse, or even two horses.”
Something flashed across his features, surprise maybe. “What is this supposed to indicate? That I hired a landscaper who planted a poisonous plant or two?”
“It might not be solid evidence, but I think it would make a whole lot of people sit up and pay attention. I wonder if the Sheriff could look back on the footage of that camera that faces the front of your lawn and see who it was that picked the berries?”
“How do I know you didn’t pick all the berries off the plant yourself?”
“And what did I do with them? Eat them?” She snorted. “Have your sidekick go out and investigate. Better yet, look at your camera footage. If Tribe, that is his name, right? If Tribe hadn’t been a bit preoccupied with your cook, he might have been aware that I was on your property taking pictures and retrieving a few berries for my own personal use.” She grabbed the bag and put it back into her pocket.
“Shall I make a plate of food for Sheriff Dussan? Since he and I are good friends we can review the camera footage together.”
She snorted. “I already knew that you and the Sheriff are buddies. That’s why on my way here I called the mayor. She and I are buddies. She’s extremely interested in what I told her.”
He wiped his mouth on a cloth napkin and dropped it onto the table, then stood, walking toward her. “Can I get you something to drink? A woman wearing a dress like that should have a drink in her hand.” Something changed in him. He wasn’t as cocky as her words sank in.
“Take your words and shove them up your—”
"There's no need to be rude," he said calmly.
“You’ll never get your greasy hands on Sagebrush Rose. This stunt of yours has failed so whomever you have on your payroll on our crew, you should warn him that his days are numbered.”
“Nostalgia won’t pay the bills, my dear. Ranching is a dying profession. Imagine the tourists a golf course, casino, or a spa would bring to the area? People need entertainment. Imagine a condominium with the mountains as a backdrop. Your wistfulness won’t stop progress. Eventually Sagebrush Rose, and all other surrounding land, will be paved and full of people.” He almost drooled over his own words.
“Do you not have any sense of ethics at all? Any care for the beauty of untouched land? All you see is dollar signs instead of trees.”
“Come now,” he popped the lid off a decanter and poured scotch into a glass. “I’m not wanting the entire Rose ranch. Your father could sell me a hundred acres and still have many more to cultivate.”
“Again, you’re not hearing what I’m putting down. The land isn’t for sale.”
Their eyes locked. A battle of wills taking place across the elegant dining room.
“Everything is for sale, eventually.” He rubbed his jaw. “Your boyfriend has a strong fist, Freedom. I admire your spunk too. How many women would be brave enough to come into a man’s home, not once, but twice, and accuse him of being an accomplice to a hideous crime.”
“Is that what this is about? A blow to your ego.”
“You must take me as a prideful man.” He laughed. “I assure you, pride doesn’t get a man very far. Not like logic. So logically speaking, why would I bother with poisoning a horse?”
“Stay away from me. Stay away from my family. And stay away from Sagebrush Rose. By the time I’m done with you you’ll be on a train heading out of town.”