At the Crossroads (Buckhorn, Montana #3)(82)

“He was either covering his behind or—”

“Or planning to take Garwood down from the first. I thought at first he might have been working with the FBI all along.”

Culhane had let out a low whistle. “What about Garwood’s rich friends?”

“Dropping him like a hot potato,” Al said with a laugh. “Rumor is that Garwood has had to sell everything he has just to pay his criminal-defense lawyer. I heard that a lot of lawyers wouldn’t take his case.”

Culhane felt such an overwhelming sense of relief. Maybe he did still believe in justice. “Now I can drop my lawsuit.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to come back? I wouldn’t make any hasty decisions.”

“I’m going to raise horses out here on the ranch. I’ll tell you all about it when I see you. By the way, there wasn’t time to send out proper wedding invitations. Alexis and I are getting married tomorrow in the afternoon. I hope you can come.”

“That quickly?”

“I couldn’t wait,” he said and laughed. “I’m not letting that woman get away. After I almost lost her...” He had to swallow down the lump that rose in his throat. “I’m just not taking any chances.”

“I think it’s wonderful. Just tell me when to be there.”

“One more thing. Still nothing on Cline?”

“Sorry, he hasn’t turned up, but I’m sure he will.”

That’s what I’m worried about, he thought as he looked out the window at the dark pines along the creek. The ranch was isolated with lots of places to hide. Culhane told himself that by tomorrow, this house would be teeming with people who’d come to wish him and Alexis well.

He tried to shake off the bad feeling he’d been carrying around with him since Al’s call about Cline escaping the hospital. As he disconnected, he checked to see if he’d gotten a text from Alexis yet and had just missed it. Maybe the fitting was taking more time than she’d thought it would.

He checked his watch, surprised that she hadn’t been gone that long. When was he going to stop worrying about her? When Cline was caught. But then, he told himself, he would probably never stop worrying about her, and soon there would be a baby to worry about as well.

FOR A MOMENT, Alexis was afraid the bridal shop was closed. She felt a wave of panic. Her heart began to pound at the thought of not getting her dress today—especially with Culhane working so hard to make this happen.

But when she reached the front door, she pushed, and the door swung open. Her pulse began to slow a little. Still, the main lights in the front weren’t on.

As she started toward the back, she heard the door lock behind her and felt a moment of alarm until she realized they must have stayed open only for her. “Hello,” she called as she walked toward the rear.

“Back here.”

She followed the voice, thinking about her dress. She couldn’t wait to see Culhane’s expression when he saw it on her. She came around a rack of dresses and saw the seamstress and owner of the small shop, Helen, look up. She was in her late fifties, an elegant woman with a gray bob that framed a classically beautiful face and bright blue eyes.

“I hope you didn’t stay open on my account,” Alexis said.

Helen waved that off. “You’re my last fitting today, so I’ve locked up for the day. Not to worry. I still have things to do before I go home. Want to see your dress?”

Alexis clapped her hands together. “I can’t wait.” The last time she was here, they’d made some changes that they both were excited about.

“Step in the dressing room. I’ll bring it to you,” Helen said.

Alexis took off her coat and hung it on the hook by the door before stepping in the dressing room. Once inside, she took off her shoulder holster and laid it down on the upholstered bench before she began to shed her sweater, jeans and boots.

“Here you go,” Helen said and reached through the curtain to hand her the wedding dress. “You need help?”

“No, I’m good,” she said as she held it up to her and looked into the mirror. She broke into a huge smile and hurried to put it on. It wasn’t until she stepped out to show Helen how perfectly it fit that she saw him reflected in the triple mirror.

Cline had his arm locked around Helen’s throat and a pair of scissors in his other hand pointed at her face.



CHAPTER THIRTY


CULHANE HAD BEEN pacing the floor. He’d tried to call Alexis, but his calls went straight to voice mail. He’d told himself that she was probably still at her fitting and had turned off her phone.

He started to call her again, but instead called his father’s lawyer. Thomas Quinn answered on the second ring. “I need your help.”

A low chuckle. “That’s what I’m here for. Tell me what you need.”

He did. Ten minutes later, Thomas drove up at the ranch and Culhane left him to sign for the deliveries while he drove into town. He told himself he was on a fool’s errand, but he didn’t care. He’d been waiting for the other shoe to drop. He feared it had.

Driving too fast, he was afraid he’d get pulled over, which he decided might be all right, too. If his fears were warranted, he could use some backup from the law. He parked behind Alexis’s car and ran down the sidewalk through the dwindling shoppers to the bridal shop.