At the Crossroads (Buckhorn, Montana #3)(25)

She couldn’t wait, anxious to get on with her life. She’d been stuck here too long. Later she would walk down to the motel, pack up her few belongings and let the owner know she’d quit. She realized as she waited that she’d never seen herself leaving this town with Lars. In her mind, she’d always been alone, driving out of Buckhorn, glancing back only briefly before looking ahead at the horizon.

She felt lighter suddenly. In her mind she could already smell the salty air of the Pacific, hear the waves crashing on the beach, feel the sand between her toes—just like in the movies. She’d always thought everyone should see the ocean before they died. She smiled as in her mind’s eye she saw herself driving out of Montana. Only this time, she didn’t look back.



CHAPTER TEN


THE TRUCK WAS right where Earl Ray had said it would be. As Culhane slid behind the wheel, Alexis climbed in the passenger side and tossed her bag into the crew cab back.

Culhane hadn’t said a word since they’d left the café. She’d seen the look he’d darted at her when she’d said she was going with him. He had to know that he couldn’t talk her out of it. But whether or not he had accepted it was yet to be discovered.

That had been so close back there. She was still shaking inside. Not that she would have let Eric take her without a fight, but things could have been so much worse if Gene hadn’t been wounded and not in any kind of shape to come back into the café, gun blasting.

Culhane started the engine, and she glanced around the truck, trying to assure herself that they were both fine. “Does this seem too easy to you?” she asked. It was almost too clean. She looked behind the seat and saw neatly stacked blankets and what appeared to be survival gear.

He gunned the engine, backing out and onto the narrow strip of highway, headed east in the direction the van had gone.

Opening the glove box, she blinked. “There’s a gun in there and a lot of ammunition. It’s as if this truck is equipped for Armageddon.” She looked over at Culhane. “Who is this man, anyway, and what is he doing in Buckhorn? As my mother would say, why is he hiding his bushel under a basket?”

Culhane gave her a confused look, shook his head as if to clear it and said, “Ex-military is my guess.”

“It doesn’t seem odd to you that he helped us like this?”

“Not really. I suspect there is a whole lot more to his story.”

“He knew who you were. He knew I was wanted by the cops too now.”

Culhane rolled his eyes at her. “He probably has a scanner. After all, there isn’t even a deputy living in Buckhorn. He probably watches over the town.”

She had seen how the locals had seemed to relax a little when Earl Ray had taken charge. She closed the glove box and looked to the two-lane highway ahead. It was empty all the way to the horizon.

“They do have a pretty good head start. You should be able to catch up with that rattletrap van they’re driving.” She eyed him. “Unless you’re just going to run. After all, now there is even more reason for the law to be after you.”

He looked shocked and clearly disappointed in her when he turned to look at her. “You know me better than that! I’m going after Tina. Just like I said.” He pressed down even harder on the gas. She saw the speedometer jump from eighty to ninety.

“I thought I knew you,” she said looking away. “Until I woke up this morning to find you gone and wanted for murdering your wife.”

“There’s more to the story.”

“I’m sure there is,” she said. “I can’t wait to hear that story.”

The speedometer needle vibrated as it topped one hundred. “Look, you’re the one who was determined to come along even if it gets us both killed.”

“I’m determined to take you in before some trigger-happy cop shoots you,” she snapped. “The BOLO on you says you’re armed and dangerous.”

He glanced at her. “I thought that’s what attracted you to me.”

It was so Culhane to try to lighten the mood, especially immediately after being upset with her.

“Being wanted for murder isn’t a laughing matter,” she said, hating how superior she sounded.

“I don’t believe Jana is dead. I think someone put her up to this.”

She shook her head. Was this wishful thinking on his part? “But I heard there was so much blood—”

“According to the sheriff.”

Alexis stared at him. “You think Garwood is behind this?”

“He told me that if I didn’t drop my wrongful-firing lawsuit I would regret it. He doesn’t want what I know about the department and him to come out.”

“Still, this is even beyond Garwood. Framing you for murder? Once Jana is found alive—”

“That’s just it. I don’t think he’s going to let that happen.”

She couldn’t help her shock. “I know Garwood is a lousy sheriff, but I don’t think he’s involved in murdering people.”

“It could be out of his hands if he’s in as deep as I suspect he is. I don’t think he’s realized what he’s set in motion. I have a feeling this is bigger than Jana, that she’s only a pawn in a much larger game. If I’m right, she’s become a liability, one Garwood can’t afford.”