To the fading sound of the snowmobile, he walked back to his rental SUV. Placing the painting in the backseat, he called his cousins husband, the marshal.
* * *
THAT HAD BEEN too close. As Obsidian Sid Forester pulled the snowmobile around to the back of the cabin, she glanced over her shoulder. No headlights. No lights at all. She hadnt been followed.
Shed taken a longer route through the trees. At first shed thought the man whod tackled her was the owner of the house. But shed done her research on him and knew he was much older than the man shed just encountered.
So who was that cowboy with the Southern drawl? Moonlight on snow did strange things to ones vision. But she had gotten a good look at hima better look than hed gotten of her, she assured herself. Thick dark hair. Ice-cold blue eyes. Handsome, if you liked that clean-cut, all-business kind of man. She did not.
The only thing that had thrown her was his accent. Definitely from down South. Definitely not the New Yorker who owned the house.
That wasnt all that had thrown her, she had to admit. The kiss. It had worked just as shed planned and yet... She touched her tongue to her upper lip, remembering the electrical shock shed felt when they kissed. Worse was the tingling shed felt in her belly. True, she hadnt kissed a man in... She couldnt even remember when, but shed never had that kind of reaction. She certainly hadnt expected to feel...anything.
Her pulse was back to normal by the time she entered the cabin. The air smelled of oil paint, turpentine and linseed oil. She shrugged out of her boots and coat at the back door, hung up her coat and kicked her boots aside as she moved to the painting shed been working on earlier that day.
She gave it a critical perusal before moving into the small kitchen. Unfortunately she hadnt been to the grocery store in several days. She was always starved after one of what she called her night jobs. With a bottle of beerher lasta chunk of cheese and some stale bread, she stepped into the living area where a half dozen paintings were drying.
The cabin was small with only a living room, kitchen, bedroom, small bath and a storage room off to one side at the back. The moment the owner had shown it to herand told her about all its peculiaritiesshed had to have it and had quickly signed the papers.
Sitting down now, she considered each of her paintings as she ate her snack and sipped her beer. It was hard to concentrate after what had happened earlier, though. Shed come close to getting caught before, but nothing like tonight. What would the man do?
Go to the marshal.
She considered that and decided she wasnt worried about the law catching up with her.
What did worry her was that he had the painting.
Taking another bite of cheese and bread, she chewed for a moment before washing it down with the last of the beer. She really did have to go to the store tomorrow.
Just the thought of going out in public made her wonder if she would run into him. That was the other thing about her cabin. It was nestled in the woods, far from urban Big Sky.
What if she did see him again? She had no doubt that she would recognize him. Shed gotten a good look at him. He had high cheekbones, a patrician nose and generous mouth. She felt that ridiculous stirring again over that one stupid kiss.
She assured herself that there wasnt any way he could recognize her since shed had the black ski mask on the whole time. Nor could he recognize her voice since she hadnt spoken above a whisper.
Shaking her head, she tried to put him out of her mind. There was more than a good chance that she would never see him again. Obviously he was a tourist, probably only here for the holidays. Once the holidays were over, hed be on a jet back to wherever hed picked up that Southern drawl.
Still, she wondered who he was and why hed driven up to the house tonight. Probably lost. Just her luck. What other reason could he have had to be there?
But while shed gotten away, it hadnt been clean, which upset her more than she wanted to admit. She prided herself on her larceny skills. Worse, shed failed. She didnt have the painting.
Losing her appetite, she tossed the crust of stale bread in the trash and put the cheese back into the fridge before she returned to her work in progress. She always did her best thinking while she painted.
* * *
SO, YOU DIDNT see her face? Marshal Hud Savage asked as he looked up from his report at the marshals office later that night.
She was wearing a ski mask with only the eyes and mouth part open. Her eyes were this amazing...bluish-silvery color. Laramie frowned. Maybe it was the starlight but they seemed to change color. He realized the marshal was staring at him. Just put down blue. If I ever see those eyes again, Ill recognize her. Or those lips, he thought, but he wasnt about to tell Hud about the kiss.
It had taken him by surprisejust as shed planned. But for a moment, his mouth had been on hers. Hed looked into her eyes, felt something quicken inside him, then her warm breath on his cheek and...
He shook his head, reminding himself that it had only been a ploy and hed fallen for it, hook, line and sinker. Hed kissed a thief! What annoyed him was that he had felt anything but disgust for what shed done.
How about height and weight? Hud asked after writing down blue.
Laramie shrugged. Small. Maybe five-five or -six. I have no idea on weight. Slim. Im sorry I dont have a better description. It all happened too fast. But I have the painting. Maybe you can get her fingerprints
Was she wearing gloves?
He groaned.
And you say she got away on a snowmobile?
All he could do was nod.
Did you get a make or model?
Another shake of his head.
And she overpowered you? Was she armed?
Laramie groaned inwardly. Not armed exactly. She was much stronger than I expected and she moved so fast... She caught me off guard.
Hud nodded, but he appeared to be trying hard not to laugh.
You wait until you find her. Shes...wily.
Hud did chuckle then. Im sure she is. Here. Sign this.
So what are the chances youll catch her? Laramie asked as he signed the report.
With a description like the one you just gave me... Hud shook his head. His phone rang and he reached for it. Marshal Savage. He listened, his gaze going to Laramie. Okay. Yep, thatll do it. Hanging up, he picked up the signed report and ripped it in half before tossing it into the trash.
What? Laramie demanded.
I just spoke with the owner of the house. He hadnt planned to come up this holiday, but apparently McKenzie called him yesterday and told him you would be looking at the house. Seems hes anxious to sell, so he flew in tonight. Hud met his gaze. When I called the maintenance service and asked them to check the house, they found him there. He looked around to see what was missing and found nothing out of order.
There wasnt anything missing? Was he sure?
It seems he has a painting, just like that one... He pointed to the one leaning against the wall on the floor near Laramie, the painting the cat burglar had dropped. It isnt missing.
Thats not possible.
Hud shrugged. The owner says he has the originalthe only one of its kind. Also, he said his house hasnt been broken into.
Thats not possible.
Hud shrugged. The owner says he has the originalthe only one of its kind. Also, he said his house hasnt been broken into.
That cant be right. I saw her coming out of the house.
Or did you just see her on the ridge of the garage roofline? the marshal asked.
Laramie thought back. Maybe I didnt see her come out of the house.
Since the first report we received about a cat burglar, weve had several sightings. But in all three cases, nothing was taken, the house showed no sign of forced entry...
Laramie could see where this was going. So it was a...hoax?
Hud studied him openly for a moment. You didnt happen to mention to your brothers that you were going up to that house tonight, did you? They also didnt happen to tell you beforehand about a cat burglar in the area, did they?
He would kill his brothers. You think it was a setup?
Hud shrugged. You know your brothers better than I do, but Id say youve been had.
Had in more ways than the marshal could even imagine. He got to his feet. Im sorry to bother you with this, then. I just hope they havent planted counterfeit money on me, as well. His brothers had told him that Hud was investigating a counterfeit operation that had been passing fraudulent money in the canyon.
Lets hope not, Hud said with a groan. I get a call a day about a bad twenty. Someones churning them out, he said getting to his feet. In the old days it took a lot of expensive equipment and space along with some talent. Now, all you need is a good copy machine. A video online will walk you through the entire process. The good news is that these operations are often small. We arent talking millions of dollars. Just someone needing some instant spending money.
Well, good luck finding your counterfeiter and, again, Im sorry about this. You have enough going on. But as he turned to the door, he said, What about the painting?
The owner swears he has the authenticated original with paperwork on the back. Hud shrugged. I would imagine this is nothing more than a cheap prop.
Then you dont mind if I keep it? Laramie asked.
The marshal chuckled. Its all yours.
Laramie considered the painting on the floor. It was what he would have called Old West art, a rancher on horseback surveying his herd. It was titled On The Ranch and signed by an artist named Taylor West. The painting looked expensive to him, but what did he know?
If someone comes looking for it, Ill let you know. But I have my doubts. Hud grinned. If you ever see that woman again, though... Id be curious just what color her eyes are since they seem to have made a real impression on you.
* * *
REALLY? LARAMIE DEMANDED when he saw his brother Tanner Hayes Cardwell at his house the next morning. That wasnt funny what you and the others pulled last night. He couldnt help but wonder if the kiss had been planned, as well. It was a nice touch, something that would have had his brothers rolling on the floor laughing. Hud got a real kick out of it since he has nothing to do but take bogus crime reports. I hope he arrests the whole bunch of you.
I dont know what youre talking about, Hayes said as he poured coffee for them.
Laramie looked to his sister-in-law and real-estate agent McKenzie. Hed been staying with them this holiday and, while he enjoyed being with them, he was anxious to get his own place. McKenzie had been helping him find a house.
Tell me you werent in on it, too, he said to her.
I abhor practical jokes. McKenzie shot a disapproving glance at her husband. What did you and your brothers do?
Nothing. Honest. I have no idea what hes talking about, Hayes said holding up his hands. He looked genuinely innocent.
But Laramie wasnt buying it. He knew his brothers too well. Theyd all treated him as if he was the bookworm who ran their family business, Texas Boys Barbecue. They would all have said he was the brother who never had enough adventure in his life.
So it would be just like them to set this up to add some spice to his life, as they would call it.
Who was the woman? Laramie demanded.
There was a woman? Hayes asked and grinned.
McKenzie shook her head. Youll have to tell me about it on the way to the house, Laramie. I promised the owner wed be there by nine. You can deal with your brothers later.
On the way up the mountain, he told McKenzie about what had happened last night.
That doesnt sound like something Hayes would do, she said. Are you sure your brothers were behind it?
Its the only thing that makes any sense. I saw her leaving with a painting. So, of course, I thought shed stolen it. I guess thats what I was supposed to think.
Are you sure the painting you have is a fake?
It doesnt look like it to me, but Im no expert by any means. The owner says he still has the original. So maybe I stopped the woman before she could make the switch, but I could have sworn she was coming from the house.
McKenzie seemed to give it some thought. Maybe she saw your headlights coming up the road and took off before she could make the switch.
I suppose. If she really was a cat burglar. Or it could be just what the marshal thinks it ismy brothers idea of a joke.
I know an art expert if youre interested in finding out about the painting. Or, if it is by a local Western artist, you could take it right to the source, she said.
Have you ever heard of Taylor West?
McKenzie looked over at him in surprise. Hes a well-known artist in these parts. He lives farther up the canyon near Taylor Fork. Im sure if you took the painting to him, hed be able to tell you if it was his or not.
I just might do that. He looked up the mountain road ahead and thought about what hed seen last night as hed come over the last rise. He couldnt help thinking about the woman. Shed certainly played her part well. If his brothers had been in on it.
He thought about what hed seen in her eyes just before he started to call the marshal. Shed looked scared. But that could have been an act, too.
First thing I want to do is see the original, he said to McKenzie.
You think the owner lied about having it? Why would he do that? she asked as the house came into view.
I dont know. To collect on the insurance, maybe. He could be in on some scam involving the artwork if this artist is that well-known.
McKenzie raised a brow as she parked next to a white SUV next to the house. Cowboy art doesnt go for that much. A Taylor West might sell for near a hundred grand to the right market. But we arent talking the Mona Lisa.
He didnt know what the original was worth, but he was anxious to see it. I looked up the artists website last night. Most of Taylor Wests original work sells for twenty-five to seventy-five thousand depending on the size. Some of his older works are worth more.
Did you see this particular painting on the artists website?
No.
The owner, Theo Nelson, turned out to be an older distinguished man whod apparently made his money in real estate back East. If you have any questions, just let me know. Ill be in my study. Nelson disappeared up the stairs, leaving them alone.