The Influence(40)

“I just came to see—”

“I know what you came to see.” He stopped on the other side of the chain. Cradled in his arm was a shotgun. “Get off my land.”

“Technically, this isn’t your land.”

“Technically, my property line is a good twelve yards back from where you’re standing. This cattle guard does not mark my property boundary.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Holt. I didn’t come to fight.”

“I know what you came for.” He shifted the shotgun in his hand.

Father Ramos took a deep breath. “I think we are being punished.” That seemed to strike a chord, and he pressed on. “Maybe we should bury—” He wasn’t sure how to refer to what was in the smokehouse. “—him…her.”

“It,” Holt said firmly, “and I intend to do no such thing.”

“Why not?”

He could tell that the rancher had no answer, no real reason for his actions, but the determination was nevertheless set in stone. “Stay off my property, Father.”

For the first time, it occurred to him that maybe the consequences they were suffering were not God’s doing. “Just let me look,” he said. “That’s all I ask. I won’t touch. I won’t do anything. You’ll be right there with me.”

“No.”

“It might have happened on your property, but it happened to all of us. You have no right to—”

Holt raised his weapon. “Leave. Now.”

The threat was not idle. Father Ramos had no doubt that Holt would use his shotgun and feel no remorse afterward. He would have liked to believe that this was a result of what had happened on New Year’s Eve, part of the ripple effect, but he was pretty sure that it was all Cameron Holt, that the rancher would have behaved this way regardless.

Reluctantly, he withdrew, walking back to his car. He would try again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day…

But for the moment, all he could do was pray.

Which he did, silently, with his hands on the steering wheel, all the way back to the church.





THIRTEEN




Ross answered his phone on the second ring.

“Mr. Lowry?” It was Jamie Wong, his realtor from Phoenix, and she was calling with impossibly good news. Not only had she found someone who wanted to rent his condo, but another prospect was interested in buying it. At the full asking price.

Ross’ head was spinning. Full price was $175,000. He could live off that amount for two years, easily. Three or four if he was extremely frugal. He could even get an apartment back in Phoenix if he wanted.

But he didn’t want, he realized. Not only was he getting used to life in Magdalena—he was starting to like it. Sure, it was only temporary and eventually he would have to move on. And he did not want to be a third wheel to Lita and Dave. But he’d gotten into a groove here, and it was fun working on the ranch.

There was also Jill.

That was most of it. He liked her, and he wanted to see where this might go. It had been awhile since he’d been involved in a relationship, and while this wasn’t a relationship yet, it had the potential to be, and he needed to give it a chance.

Lita and Dave had gone to Willcox for their monthly supply run, but he was too excited to keep the news to himself, so he tried to call his parents to tell them he had a buyer. Once again something was wrong with his cell phone reception, despite all of the bars showing on his screen, and though he attempted to call four times, even going so far as to wander around the yard facing different directions, he was unable to hear anything but silence.

Vowing to pay back Lita and Dave for all of the calls he’d made in the past week, he used the land line in the shack. He spoke to his mom, who seemed to think that this meant he was returning to Phoenix. There was relief in her voice, as though he’d been doing something wrong or shameful by living out here in Magdalena, and he sensed disapproval in the mention she made of his cousin.

Ross said goodbye and hung up the phone, his enthusiasm dissipated. Count on his parents to throw a wet blanket over any good news that might come his way.

He considered calling Jill to tell her the good news, but thought that might be a little too much too soon. Since he’d been planning to call her tonight anyway, he decided to tell her then.

He let Lita and Dave know what the real estate agent had said as soon as they arrived back.

“Does this mean you’ll be leaving us?” Lita sounded dismayed.

Dave clapped a hand around his shoulder. “We need you around here, buddy. Don’t bail on us now.”

“Actually, I was hoping I could stay awhile longer.” He felt embarrassed. “Not forever. Just until I find a job…”