by Sable Hunter
“Two sugars and two creams and no, thank you, it’s a constant battle to watch my figure,” she answered.
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure Heath is watching it for you,” Libby said nonchalantly as she picked Colt up from his swing. “Cato, I wish you could hear him. I swear to goodness that this baby is trying to sing. He swings and coos and makes the cutest little noise. Aron laughs at me, but I think we have a country singer in the making.”
“I wish I could hear them too.” She knelt down in front of Jordan and wiggled his toes, making him smile, she thought, till he spit up. “Hey!”
Cady was right there with a rag. She always seemed to be on top of things. While they were together with the baby, she took Cato’s hand. “I was going to call you. Maybe it’s because my due date is looming,” she rubbed her very pregnant belly, “but I’ve been having dreams.” She looked disturbed. “Some of them are bad.”
“What?” Cato leaned closer. “You can tell me.”
“I know, I feel I can.” She looked at the other girls, all three of them had moved to the dining table where the men had indeed returned. Libby was pouring them coffee. “You need to be careful. I feel like you’re in danger.” She put her hand on Cato’s arm. “I think you’ll be successful in what you’re trying to do and I see happiness for you and Heath…if…”
“If?” Cato prompted.
“There’s a dark time you’re going to have to go through.”
Cato shivered. “Tell me more.”
Cady look frustrated. “I wish I could. It’s like I have a short circuit in my own life and future. I’m a little frightened and I can’t tell the others or Joseph, not yet. But something’s wrong or something will be wrong.”
“With one of your babies? Have you been to the doctor?”
“Yes, I have and they want to do some tests.” She shook her head, a tear running down her cheek. “They’re talking about taking the babies early, maybe next week. I’m scared.”
“I’m so sorry. Do you need me to go with you?”
“No.” Cady wiped her face. “I have to tell Joseph, it’s not fair for me not to and I need him. But thank you.” Cato nodded. “I don’t know why I’m spilling my guts like this, I just needed to say it to somebody and I haven’t been able to yet. The girls…” She smiled toward the kitchen. “We’re just too close for them not to react and I have to work up the courage to tell him first.”
“He won’t be upset.” Cato didn’t know Joseph well, but he was cut from the same cloth as the rest of the McCoys and all were good as gold to their women.
“I don’t know if you know what an empath is, but I’m one, or I used to be—hopefully I will be again someday. But I can take another person’s illness into my body and deal with it and relieve them of the pain and suffering. I’m sick for a while but I heal quickly. Don’t think I’m strange, but my family and I were able to take away Joseph’s paralysis when he was hurt in a dirt bike wreck.”
“I’m from Louisiana, Cady. I know the Fontenots and the Beaureguardes and all of the legends of your powers.”
Cady smiled. “Well, they’re not legends.” She took a deep breath and continued. “Anyway, we cured him with a combination of magick and therapy but Joseph was able to walk again, although he was still left with a limp.”
“I’ve never noticed a limp.”
“No.” Cady sighed. “I took it. One night while he was asleep, I took the nerve damage and pain into my body. The only problem was, I didn’t know I was pregnant. And now…even though I’m okay, I’m afraid that I hurt one of my babies.” Cady choked back a sob. “Before I did it, Joseph warned me not to. He was so afraid I’d do permanent damage to myself, but I love him so much. I had to do it. And now…”
Cato hugged her fiercely. “I’m so sorry.” She just couldn’t imagine what Cady was going through. “If I could take your pain I would.”
“Oh, that’s sweet.” Cady hastily wiped her face when she saw Joseph watching her closely. “Oh, I’ve got to smile. The Stallion is watching me.” She laughed.
“He loves you.”
“Yes, he does. I’m a lucky woman.” She sat up straighter. “Now, I said all of that to say this…I dreamed that you found something important on that thumb drive.”
“Well, you’re right, I did.” Cato went on to explain about the email and Dalton Smith using Philip’s name in order to get information about surveyor and mine reports of Highland property.
“Yes,” Cady nodded, “but I think you will find more. My dream was disjointed, but I saw oil shooting in the sky and the family gathered around a table celebrating and you were there.”
Cato got lost in the vision of her sitting around the family table with Heath. Shaking her head, she brought herself back to the here and now. “Even though I’ve been through most of it, I wasn’t going to stop looking. There’s a lot to examine, but I plan on doing that as much as possible in the next few days.”
Cato saw Cady jump and she looked up to see Joseph standing over her. “Hey, what are you two girls gabbing about?”
Being heavy with child, Cady didn’t just spring up but Joseph tenderly helped her rise. “I was talking to her about our babies and some dreams I’ve been having.”
She noticed Cady told Joseph the truth, even if she was still trying to protect him. “She knows I’m trying to go through some documents to help Philip,” Cato said, adding her own explanation.
Moving to the table with the others, Cato sat down in a chair Heath was holding out to her. “Jacob and Aron tell me they’re going to ask Kyle Chancellor and his Equalizers to put out some feelers on Noah’s mother.”
“Kyle Chancellor, you don’t mean the man running for Governor?” Cato asked.
“Yes, he’s a friend of the family.” Aron slapped Heath on the back. “And he’s gonna win too.”
A friend of the family. There were days when Cato forgot how wealthy, powerful and connected Heath’s family was—and how she wasn’t. Suddenly, she felt uncomfortable.
As if Heath picked up on her discomfiture, he touched her arm. “I guess we should leave. We just drove in from San Antonio. I met with Judge Gomez and got an injunction to stop Arness from shutting down my wells.”
They stayed another minute or two while Heath caught them up on the worries the family was going through. Watching them speak, she realized they were close. Glancing at the wall behind the dining table proved it, scattered among the candid framed family photos were shots of Heath and his father and siblings.
As they were walking out, she took Cady to one side. “I work in Austin. If you’re ever at the doctor or the hospital and you need me, don’t hesitate to call. If I’m on the road, I’ll come right back.” Cato gave Cady her contact information.
“Call us when Philip’s trial starts, we want to be there.” Aron assured Heath.
“Absolutely, we covet your support.”
When they got out to the car, Cato saw Nathan driving up with his girlfriend. “Nathan has a driver’s license?”
Jacob leaned in the car window. “Rancher’s kids learn how to drive early. He has a hardship license, which is aptly named because since he got it, he’s been a hardship to live with.”
“Y’all take care.” Heath waved them goodbye as they left. “Whew! Babies, babies, babies—sorta feels like that condition could be contagious.”
Cato cupped his package, gently squeezing the sizeable bulge. “All depends on what you’re exposed to, I reckon.”
“You reckon?” Heath snorted, taking her hand and weaving his fingers through hers. “I like your Texas-speak.”
Cato wanted to tell him about Cady, but decided against it. Joseph had to come first. “Do you want children?”
Whoops.
Heath gripped her hand tightly. “Hell, honey, I don’t know. I’m not ready for them any time soon, I know that much.”
Okay, good to know. “I can understand that. Kids are a big responsibility.” She started to add that she didn�
��t think they’d be a wise choice for her, being deaf, but she didn’t. Right now, between them, it wasn’t relevant. So, she changed the subject. They were nearing her house and she wanted to get their conversation back on safe ground. “I’ll get back to reviewing the information you sent, if you want me to and I guess—”
“Of course.” He seemed relieved she’d changed the subject. “Thank you for doing that, you’ve already helped. And I promised you a surprise date and you’re going to get it. The San Antonio trip doesn’t count. It was more opportune than romantic.”
Cato smiled. “I enjoyed it, especially our alone time.” She slapped his leg, wanting to lighten the mood. “I forgot to tell you that I saw a ghost last night!”
“Yea, I know you did.” He smirked. “He was glad to see you too.”
“No, no.” She laughed, shaking her head. “During the night, I felt something sit on the bed and when I looked up, it was a young girl. I froze and just watched her and soon she faded away.”
“Awww, you were dreaming,” he said mildly.
“Maybe, but my dreams are usually racier.” She teased back.
They bantered back and forth until he drove up to her driveway. Heath helped her out, walked Cato to the door and she didn’t wait. Cato stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Back and forth she rubbed their lips together, tasting him in small licks and bites. He let her lead and she was beginning to wonder if he wasn’t as into it as she was, when he suddenly took control, sweeping his tongue in her mouth, claiming every corner. When his hands went down to cup her bottom, she moaned into his mouth, her fingers tunneling through his hair. Every way she knew how, Cato surrendered to him. Then Heath did what Heath does best—he melted every bone in her body. They kissed until their air ran out and Cato laid her head on his shoulder. “Thank you for today.” One more kiss on his cheek. “I enjoyed myself so much.”
How polite was this crazy girl he couldn’t seem to get enough of. “Mission accomplished. Can I call you later?”
“Sure, I’ll talk dirty to you if you do.”
“Damn, leaving you is hard.”
She lightly pinched his side, playing. “I can tell.”
Tearing himself away before he couldn’t, he kissed her once more on the forehead. “Later, baby.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
When Cato returned to work the next day, she couldn’t help but examine every person she passed. Looking around furtively, she examined their expressions, their body language. The email she’d found proved someone here knew something about Dalton Smith’s murder. Could she be in danger?
Everyone appeared to be normal, going about their job—some bored, some amused, others just getting through the day as best they could. Until she entered their office suite and she saw Bernice, Mr. Redford’s receptionist. The woman had a look of horror on her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Can’t you hear?” Then, she looked exasperated. “Of course you can’t. It’s Floyd, he’s screaming bloody murder!”
Cato followed Bernice as she ran down the hall to Mr. Redford’s office. They could see him through the plate glass window as they threw the door open. He was standing on his chair. “What’s wrong?” she screamed.
“It’s a spider!”
Cato and Bernice just stared at him, flabbergasted.
“There’s a spider under my chair!”
“Oh, for God’s sake.” Cato grabbed a piece of paper off the desk, knelt down, caught the little creature and took it outside. Clearly, Mr. Redford was not the murderer. Anyone who was afraid of a spider certainly hadn’t pulled the trigger to kill Dalton Smith.
When she returned, he was down and wiping the sweat from his face. But Cato soon discovered he might have anophobia, but that didn’t make him any less of an asshole.
“Miss Vincent, I expected the report for the fall events on my desk this morning. Where were you yesterday? And why are you here today?”
Cato crossed her arms over her breasts, confused. Was he angry because she was out of the office yesterday or because she was in the office today. “The report isn’t due till Friday. And I went to San Antonio to pick rosemary and freestone peaches. Since I’ve been relegated to the farm and garden section, I’m planning a fall article on the website for pumpkin patches, local honey and a scarecrow contest that some of the smaller area communities host, every shop owner makes one and displays them outside their shop…”
He interrupted, waving his hand in dismissal. “That’s not what I’m worried about. I have two projects for you and I want headway made this week. First is a major write-up on the area music festivals—everything from Kerrville to Luckenbach—and second, I want a study done on folklore of the area. We can use that at Halloween. It may be a kid’s holiday, but everybody takes advantage of it.”
“Okay…” Cato agreed with all of that. She didn’t really understand why he was yelling. “Those are good ideas, but I have to ask you something.”
“What?” He bit the word out at her. Cato wondered what had happened, he certainly wasn’t the friendly guy who had interviewed her.
“Why have I been taken off the interesting, serious projects like Dead Man’s Hole and sent off chasing herbs, picking peaches and attending festivals?”
Floyd Redford sat down in his chair gingerly, looking under it carefully before doing so. “Well, to put it bluntly. You haven’t been forthcoming with your research.”
“But that was my private research!” She shot back.
“And we don’t feel like you’re the best communicator we have. Some jobs and projects require more finesse.”
“Finesse?” She couldn’t believe it. “What are you talking about?” Did he mean written skill, verbal skill? A thought hit her. Was it her speaking voice?
“I don’t have time to discuss it with you now. I’ll bring it up in your evaluation.”
Cato just stood there, debating what to say or do.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Get your stuff and get on the road, but make damn sure you send that report in by Friday.”
Cato looked at Bernice, who just shrugged. Apparently, he wanted her out of the office. Now why could that be? She started to walk away, but Mr. Redford stopped her, getting right in her face.
“And if I ever find out you’re the one who hacked the company email, you’ll be in more trouble than you ever thought about being.”
Cato didn’t answer. That settled it for her. Mr. Redford was involved, she could feel it. He might not have pulled the trigger, but she would bet bottom dollar he knew who had.
* * *
“I’m dog tired, I need a cat nap.” Cato collapsed on the bed of her motel room in Houston, holding the phone over her head so she could see Heath.
“Where are you?”
“In bed.” She smirked.
“I got that honey, what’s your twenty?”
“Houston.”
“Damn, too far away for a quickie. What are you doing in Houston?”
“Talking to the organizers of the Something Wicked music festival.” She’d gone all warm at his mention of sex. “I might get fired.” Cato voiced the concern she’d been having.
“Why?” From the frown on his face, she read his displeasure at her comment.
“Mr. Redford demanded that I turn over my research on the mine. I really feel like he knows something about Philip’s situation, something more than just common knowledge.”
“Do you think he killed Dalton Smith?”
Cato laughed. “No, he’s too chicken shit. I had to catch a spider in his office. It had him treed like Jaxson’s bull treed me.”
“I would’ve liked to see that.” Heath looked her straight in the eye. “How many people are in that office of yours?”
She didn’t understand. “Fourteen when everybody’s there, but we’re all on the road a great deal.”
“I don’t want you to be alone with him, not till we know what’s going on.”
Cato felt her heart hurt. He cared. “O
kay, I’ll be careful.”
“Today’s Thursday, pack a bag and I’ll pick you up at six Friday evening.”
“Where are we going?” She sat up straight.
“San Francisco, so dress up. We’re taking Jimmy’s jet. I have reservations at The French Laundry.”
Cato gave him a blank look. “I don’t know what that is, but being with you is all that matters.”
“Damn.” She always said the right things. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Fuck me silly?”
“Friday night, you’ll join the mile high club. I promise.”
“I can’t wait,” she murmured with a dreamy look on her face.
“Me neither,” he agreed, then he realized she was moving on the bed. “What are you doing?”
“Getting a head start. Wanna see?” She held the phone down and Heath groaned.
When she moved the cell back to her face, he was adamant. “Pull your panties off and let me see your pussy.” Even though they’d made love several times, he’d never taken the time to really look, and now was the perfect opportunity. The only problem was, he couldn’t touch. But he’d take what he could get.
“Really?” She was a little surprised.
“Spread your legs and hold the camera down there, but you keep your eyes on my face.”
Cato laughed and wiggled around. “My arm isn’t long enough.”
“Prop your bottom up on a pillow or something.”
“I feel exposed,” she grumbled.
Heath laughed at her sweet face and pouty voice until she followed his directions and spread her legs wide, holding the camera for him to see.
“Sweet Je…” Heath breathed, licking his lips. “I wish you could see what I see.”
Cato rose and leaned over. “I can see.” She gasped, she couldn’t breathe but she could see. “What are we looking at? Do I have a smudge?”
