And that was that?
Sage brushed her hands together. That was that. I never heard from him again.
Dugan contemplated her story. Do you think that he might have changed his mind and decided he wanted to see Benji?
Sage shook her head. No. I think hes doing pretty well in the rodeo circuit now. Making a name bronco riding. That brings the rodeo groupies. The last thing hed want is to have a child get in the way of that.
Dugan had never met the bastard, but he didnt like him.
Still, hed verify that information. Perhaps Laniers manager had suggested that having a little boy could improve his popularity. It was a long shot, but Dugan didnt intend to ignore any possibility.
SAGE HATED ADMITTING that she had fallen for Trace Laniers sexy rodeo looks, but she had. Even worse, shed believed Ron Lewis was different.
Could he have simply been taking Benji Christmas shopping and gotten killed before he could bring her son back?
And why would someone kill Ron?
Or had Ron taken Benji for another reason?
But why? She didnt have money to pay a ransom....
Do
you want coffee? Sage asked.
Dugan nodded, and she poured them both a mug, then placed a slice of homemade pound cake on a plate in front of him. Its fresh. I baked it last night.
A small smile curved his mouth. Ive heard youre a good cook.
Really? Sage blushed. What else had he heard?
Yes, Im sure it helps with your business.
I suppose so, Sage said. I used to stay with my grandma when I was little, and she taught me everything she knew.
He sipped his coffee. Tell me about Ron Lewis. How did you two meet?
Actually he stayed here when he came to town on business, Sage said. He was a real estate developer. He wanted to convince the town council to go forward on a new development that would enrich the town, create jobs and tourism and bring us out of the Dark Ages.
I remember hearing something about that project, Dugan said, although he hadnt exactly been for the development. The group handling it wanted to buy up ranches and farms in the neighboring area, and turn Cobra Creek into a tourist trap with outlet malls, fast-food chains and a dude ranch.
So you struck up a friendship?
Sage nodded. I was reluctant at first, but he was persistent. And he took an interest in Benji.
Benji liked him?
Yes.
He would have gone with him, without being afraid?
Yes, Sage said, her voice cracking. Ron stayed in Cobra Creek most of that summer, so we went on several family outings together. Shed thought shed finally found a man who loved her and her son.
Fool.
Dugan broke off a chunk of cake and put it in his mouth. Sage watched a smile flicker in his eyes, one that pleased her more than it should.
Did the town council approve his plans?
Sage gave a noncommittal shrug. They were going back and forth on things, discussing it. She frowned at Dugan. Do you think his murder had something to do with the development?
I dont know, Dugan said. But its worth looking into.
Sage contemplated his suggestion. She should have asked more questions about Rons business, about the investors he said he had lined up, about him.
And now it was too late. If something had gone wrong with his business, something that had gotten him killed, he might have taken that secret with him to the grave.
* * *
DUGAN NEEDED TO ask around, find out more about how the locals felt about Lewiss proposal. What had happened to the development after his death? Had anyone profited?
But Sages comment about Rons interest in Benji made him pause. You said he showed an interest in Benji?
Sage stirred sweetener in her coffee. Yes, some men dont like kids. Others dont know how to talk to them, but Ron seemed...comfortable with Benji.
Hmm, Dugan mumbled. Did he come from a big family?
Sage frowned. No, I asked him that. And he actually looked kind of sad. He said he was an only child and lost his parents when he was young.
Was he married before? Maybe he had a child.
No, at least he said hed never married, Sage said. But at this point, I dont know what to believe. Everything he told me could have been a lie.
True. In fact, he could have planned to kidnap Benji all along. Hed warmed up to the boy so hed go with him willingly.
But why?
For money? Maybe someone had paid him to take Benji, then killed Ron Lewis to get rid of any witnesses.
But why would anyone want to kidnap Benji?
Sage wasnt wealthy, and she had no family that could offer a big reward. Kidnappers had been known to abduct a child to force a parent into doing something for them, but if swaying the town council to vote for the development had been the issue, it wouldnt have worked. Sage had no power or influence in the town.
Then again, Dugan had no proof that Ron Lewis had done anything wrong. That the man hadnt been sincerely in love with Sage, that he hadnt come to the town to help it prosper, that he was an innocent who had been shot to death for some reason.
And that he might have died trying to save Sages son.
* * *
DID LEWIS LEAVE anything of his here at the inn? A calendar? Computer?