“Tell him you changed your mind.”

Ellie stared at Richard in shock. “You want me to lie?”

“Well, not lie...exactly. Just let him assume you followed his advice. Understand?”

“A lie by omission is still a lie.”

“Whatever. Just do it.” He held up the blindfold.

“I’m not wearing that.”

“Then I’m not taking you to Bitter End.” The way he said it made her realize he wasn’t kidding. The facade vanished, and she viewed a side of Richard she’d never seen before. A side that wasn’t cordial or friendly but, rather, dark and menacing.

“I have to wear the blindfold?”

He nodded, then his face relaxed into a boyish grin. “Think of it as a game.”

“All right.” But she didn’t like it, and her dislike intensified when he placed the handkerchief around her eyes, tying it securely at the back of her head.

“Can you see anything?”

“No.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.” His repeated questions irritated her.

He started the truck again and pulled back onto the highway. He seemed to be driving around in circles. When he finally did leave the road, she was completely confused and had no idea what direction he’d taken. On the rough off-road terrain, the truck bounced and heaved in every direction.

Ellie lost track of time. It might have been fifteen minutes or an hour, she didn’t know. All she knew was that they’d stopped.

“Richard?”

He didn’t answer. But she knew immediately that they were close to Bitter End. She felt it. A heavy uncomfortable sensation descended on her, a feeling that was completely at odds with the sun’s warmth pouring through the windows.

“We’re here, aren’t we?” she asked.

Silence.

“Richard?”

Silence again.

She heard a soft eerie sound, a creaking that could have been the truck door opening. Or was it something else? Something sinister.

“This is ridiculous,” she said, and lifted the blindfold from her eyes. Richard wasn’t beside her, nor was he visible from where she sat. Squinting into the sunlight, she climbed out of the truck.

The first thing she saw was a faint footpath leading away from the truck. Not knowing what else to do, she followed it, clambering over rocks and forcing her way through the undergrowth. Soon the town came into sight; she could see it clearly from a limestone outcropping just above. She stopped and stared.

Bitter End was surprisingly intact. A number of buildings, some of them stone, some wood, stood along a main street, which was bordered by a plank walk. A church steeple showed in the distance, charred by fire. She saw a hotel and livery stable with a small corral. Even a building that had apparently been a saloon.

She still couldn’t see Richard anywhere.

“Richard!” she called again. “Where are you? If this is a joke I’m not laughing.”

She half-slid, half-ran down the incline to the town.

She felt a sudden chill on her bare arms. Although the day was warm and windless, the town was decidedly cold.

“Richard!” she shouted again.

Nothing.

Cautiously she ventured onto the street, but her companion was nowhere to be seen. Panic clawed at her stomach as she spun around. “Richard! For the love of God, where are you?”

Four

Caroline was busy sorting mail when she heard a customer at the front counter. Because the post office was open only two hours on Saturdays, she often did a brisk business then.

Setting aside the stack of letters, she stepped out to the customer-service area. When she recognized Grady Weston, her posture immediately became defensive; she could feel it. Generally Savannah—and now occasionally Richard—collected the mail for the Yellow Rose Ranch. Grady hadn’t been into the post office since last May and he’d come only because he was seeking her help. But then, he’d been worried about Savannah’s relationship with Laredo Smith. A relationship he’d tried to destroy. He hadn’t trusted Laredo, and he hadn’t understood Savannah. In fact, Grady had seriously underestimated both of them.

“Morning, Grady,” she said warily. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been laughing hysterically at the prospect of attending Ruth’s birthday party with her.

“Caroline.” He nodded, looking about uncomfortably. He removed his Stetson and held the brim with both hands.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

He blinked as though someone had lifted him off his horse and hurled him straight into the middle of town. He shook his head in a puzzled way, apparently wondering how he happened to be there in the post office, talking to her.

“Do you need stamps?” she asked.

“No.” He shifted his weight from left to right. “I, uh, came for another reason.”

She waited impatiently for him to continue. Grady had never been a smooth talker like his brother, but Caroline suspected his hesitation had something to do with their last unfortunate meeting.

“It’s about what I said the other day—or what I said that you heard. What I mean to say...” He snapped his jaw closed and she noticed the color creeping up his neck. “Savannah said you weren’t really offended, but I can’t help feeling that—”

“Don’t worry about it,” she said, rather than have him endure this embarrassment any longer. “Let’s put it behind us.”

He relaxed visibly. “That’s kind of you. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“I know. Savannah shouldn’t play matchmaker—she has no talent for it.” Caroline was all too aware that her best friend was in love with love. Savannah wanted Caroline to know the same happiness herself but unfortunately was convinced Grady was the man she’d find it with.

Caroline knew she was at fault, too. She should have discouraged Savannah from the first, but deep down part of her had wanted Grady to notice her. She liked Grady, perhaps more than she should, seeing that they couldn’t even carry on a conversation without arguing about something.

“I wouldn’t have minded going to Ruth’s party with you. I realize I must have sounded like I’d rather pluck chickens, but that isn’t so.”

Despite his apology, his attitude tweaked her pride.

“You have to admit it was a crazy idea,” he said, holding her gaze. “You and me going out together.” He seemed to expect some response from her.

“Let’s drop it, all right?” She slapped the mail down on the counter and glared at him, not completely understanding her own anger.

He flinched at the sound. “Now what’d I say?” he demanded.

“Nothing.”

“Then why are you looking at me like you’re madder than hops?”

Caroline shook her head. “You’re the only man I know who can apologize with an insult.”

“I insulted you?” His jaw went slack with astonishment.

Caroline drew a deep calming breath and held up her right hand. “Let’s just say we’ll agree to disagree.”

He frowned and twisted the rim of his Stetson. “I need to know what we’re agreeing to disagree about.”

She gave an impatient sigh. The man was completely and utterly obtuse. “You and I both love Savannah,” she said with exaggerated slowness. “But when it comes to each other, we don’t see eye to eye, which is fine. We don’t really need to. I have my life and you have yours. You don’t want to go out with me and that’s fine, too. Because frankly I’m not all that interested in you, either.”

His eyes narrowed. “In other words you’re turning me down before I even get a chance to ask you to the Cattlemen’s Association dance.”

He was asking her to the dance? So that was what this was all about.

Now he was the one who was agitated. He gestured with his hand as if he wasn’t sure how to continue. “I take the better part of the morning driving into town,” he finally managed. “I’ve got an entire herd of cattle that need tending, but instead, I waste a good part of my day just so I can invite you to a stupid dance. Then before I can even get the words out, you’re telling me you’d rather go out with a polecat than with me. Well, if that doesn’t beat all.” He slammed his hat back on his head with enough force to make her recoil.