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Authors: B.J. Daniels
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basement had never been finished and had ended up being used for storage. She saw boxes of Christmas ornaments and realized with a start that she wasnât the only one ignoring the holiday.
She hadnât even noticed that Anne and Janie hadnât put up a tree and apparently had no plans to. That seemed sad, even though Lizzy herself doubted she would be home in time for Christmasâlet alone have a tree this year.
Past the ornaments, she found the framed photographs and, pulling up an old rocker, sat down and began to go through them even though the light was almost too dim. She didnât dare take them all upstairs to the livingroom and no way was she toting them all the way up to her room to go through them.
There were so many more than sheâd remembered. She realized that if she had her choice, she wouldnât get rid of any of them. These were records of the ranchâs history.
She heard a thud. It sounded as if it had come from the top of the stairs. Maybe Anne had come down for some reason. Or Janie had returned. She listened, feeling a little spooked after her run-ins with Waters, then Anne.
When she didnât hear anything, she quickly sorted through the photographs, taking any showing her or her father.
Taking the tall stack of framed photographs, she started back upstairs and stumbled, almost falling as the lights suddenly went out.
âHey!â she called from the pitch blackness. âHey! Iâm down here!â
No answer, but she heard someone close the door with a slight click.
Carefully she set the stack of framed photos down on a step, then felt her way up to the top of the stairs and turned on the light, her heart pounding.
Sheâd never liked the dark, hadnât even as a child although she couldnât remember when sheâd first realized how terrified she was of total darkness.
Going back down the stairs, she picked up the stack of photos and was almost to the top again when she heard the door open again.
Janie was framed against the faint light. âOh, is someone down there?â
She knew perfectly well someone was down there. Lizzy looked into Janieâs face, saw the smirk, felt the hard gaze, but said nothing as she climbed the rest of the way up from the basement.
âWhat were you doing down there?â Janie asked, sounding not particularly interested.
âAnne said I could have any photographs I wanted.â
âI guess she told you then that weâre selling the ranch.â
âWhat will you do?â She knew that neither Janie or Anne had started their careers. Both had attended college, but as far as she knew neither had ever worked.
Hunt had made his fortune years ago. The ranch must have made money, as well. Someone had definitely been supporting the two sisters.
âYou mean like work?â Janie quirked a brow, that smirk back on her lips. âIâm not too worried about that. Iâve managed thus far and the ranch should bring a pretty good price. Too bad I have to split it with my sister.â
Lizzy felt cold inside at Janieâs words, and angry. âSince you obviously donât care what happens to the ranch and just want the money, I would think the Winchesters would be interested in buying it,â she said, then chastised herself for stooping to the other womanâs level.
To her surprise Janie laughed. âThe Winchesters will never have this land. I promise you that. If I have my way, there wonât be any Winchesters around to buy it. That goes for anyone else who gets in my way.â
With that she turned and disappeared back up the stairs, leaving Lizzy with the unmistakable feeling that TD Waters wasnât the only dangerous person she had to worry about.
Â
W HEN TD RETURNED FROM his ride, he quickly showered, changed and hurried over to the kitchen. Heâd been gone longer than heâd planned.
Enid gave him a sour look, but no more sour than usual. âDid
She hadnât even noticed that Anne and Janie hadnât put up a tree and apparently had no plans to. That seemed sad, even though Lizzy herself doubted she would be home in time for Christmasâlet alone have a tree this year.
Past the ornaments, she found the framed photographs and, pulling up an old rocker, sat down and began to go through them even though the light was almost too dim. She didnât dare take them all upstairs to the livingroom and no way was she toting them all the way up to her room to go through them.
There were so many more than sheâd remembered. She realized that if she had her choice, she wouldnât get rid of any of them. These were records of the ranchâs history.
She heard a thud. It sounded as if it had come from the top of the stairs. Maybe Anne had come down for some reason. Or Janie had returned. She listened, feeling a little spooked after her run-ins with Waters, then Anne.
When she didnât hear anything, she quickly sorted through the photographs, taking any showing her or her father.
Taking the tall stack of framed photographs, she started back upstairs and stumbled, almost falling as the lights suddenly went out.
âHey!â she called from the pitch blackness. âHey! Iâm down here!â
No answer, but she heard someone close the door with a slight click.
Carefully she set the stack of framed photos down on a step, then felt her way up to the top of the stairs and turned on the light, her heart pounding.
Sheâd never liked the dark, hadnât even as a child although she couldnât remember when sheâd first realized how terrified she was of total darkness.
Going back down the stairs, she picked up the stack of photos and was almost to the top again when she heard the door open again.
Janie was framed against the faint light. âOh, is someone down there?â
She knew perfectly well someone was down there. Lizzy looked into Janieâs face, saw the smirk, felt the hard gaze, but said nothing as she climbed the rest of the way up from the basement.
âWhat were you doing down there?â Janie asked, sounding not particularly interested.
âAnne said I could have any photographs I wanted.â
âI guess she told you then that weâre selling the ranch.â
âWhat will you do?â She knew that neither Janie or Anne had started their careers. Both had attended college, but as far as she knew neither had ever worked.
Hunt had made his fortune years ago. The ranch must have made money, as well. Someone had definitely been supporting the two sisters.
âYou mean like work?â Janie quirked a brow, that smirk back on her lips. âIâm not too worried about that. Iâve managed thus far and the ranch should bring a pretty good price. Too bad I have to split it with my sister.â
Lizzy felt cold inside at Janieâs words, and angry. âSince you obviously donât care what happens to the ranch and just want the money, I would think the Winchesters would be interested in buying it,â she said, then chastised herself for stooping to the other womanâs level.
To her surprise Janie laughed. âThe Winchesters will never have this land. I promise you that. If I have my way, there wonât be any Winchesters around to buy it. That goes for anyone else who gets in my way.â
With that she turned and disappeared back up the stairs, leaving Lizzy with the unmistakable feeling that TD Waters wasnât the only dangerous person she had to worry about.
Â
W HEN TD RETURNED FROM his ride, he quickly showered, changed and hurried over to the kitchen. Heâd been gone longer than heâd planned.
Enid gave him a sour look, but no more sour than usual. âDid
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