by Joanna Wayne
“Time to check it out,” Leif said.
“Then follow me.”
He left his comfortable seat. The old pine-plank floor creaked as they walked to the kitchen.
Leif trailed his fingers along the edge of her dark harvest table. “This does not qualify as junk in anyone’s book.”
“You’re right. It’s a genuine antique and one of my best finds. I picked it up at an estate sale.” Joni set the bottle of whiskey on the table and went back to the cupboard for a glass.
Leif picked up the bottle and studied the label. “This is good stuff. Your rancher buddy must have been quite impressed with you.”
“I do good work.” Now she was flirting—and enjoying it. Leif made that far too easy.
“Are you going to make me drink alone?” Leif asked.
“That depends on how big a hurry you’re in to get back to the Dry Gulch.”
“We can surely make time for a drink and a tour of the house.”
“Okay.” She got a second glass. “But don’t expect much with the rest of the rooms. Most are empty except for cinderblock and four-by-four shelving laden with books of every description. And unpacked boxes of clothes I should have thrown away after undergrad school.”
“So you’re not only a bargain hunter. You’re a hoarder, too.”
“The preferred phrase is collector.”
Leif poured two fingers of the amber liquid into each glass and handed one to her. He held up his glass for a toast. “To friendship, prize steers and truck repairs,” he said.
Their eyes met as the glasses clinked. Her pulse quickened and a warm flush coated her insides like sweet honey. Time to get the tour on the road.
“We can start the tour with my office,” she said. “I spend a lot more time there than I do in my kitchen.”
“You mean you have to work at night after putting in a full day in the field?”
“Paperwork. Everything has to be documented. I only make brief notes on-site and then fill in the particulars later. And I’m constantly reading the latest research. Veterinary medicine is ever changing.”
“Unlike my work. Criminals keep repeating the same dumb crimes over and over for the same reasons. Greed, revenge and jealousy. Or some like The Hunter just kill for the thrill of it.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d just as soon not talk about crimes anymore tonight.”
“Me and my big mouth. I promise to say nothing upsetting for the rest of the tour. Lead on.”
Good. She definitely couldn’t chance ending up in his arms again. After the office, she showed him the screened back porch that she’d made into a cozy outdoor living area and a hall bathroom that she’d redone from the floor up.
“I haven’t seen one of those old claw-foot tubs in years—except in old movies. Is that a stray you rescued?”
“Yes, and I love it now. But there were days of tons of elbow grease and flesh-eating cleanser that I considered using the shotgun on it.”
“And then the stains disappeared, you sank into a tub filled with bubbles, lit a few candles, put on some soft music....” He closed his eyes. “Ah, I can see it now.”
And the thought of him visualizing that made her insides go mushy. She stepped away, chiding herself for reacting to him that way.
He was designer condos, big city, bright lights, Dallas. She was horses, jeans, scuffed boots, Oak Grove. He was a heartbreak waiting to happen. She liked her heart intact.
“End of tour,” she said. “Help yourself to the whiskey and find a comfortable chair. I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
“If you are, you’ll break every record I’ve ever known for a woman getting dressed.”
“I could make it in five.” She rushed off without looking back.
* * *
LEIF DULY NOTED that the bedroom had been left off the tour. He had no idea if it was because Joni thought he was coming on too strong or if she just didn’t consider it smart to share her personal space. Or maybe she’d left unmentionables lying around.
Whatever, it was for the best. So was getting out of earshot of the shower. No use encouraging stimulating visualizations.
He walked outside and settled in an inviting porch swing he hadn’t noticed before. It didn’t get much homier than this. Not that he knew about real homes. Another thing he could thank R.J. for. Even that didn’t matter so much to Leif. It was Travis’s heartbreak he’d never forgive the man for.
Leif had never given living outside the city a thought. When he was involved in a trial, the late hours at work would have meant staying in a hotel half the time.
But he had to admit it was peaceful out here. Chirping birds preparing to nest for the night. The autumn breeze whistling through the trees. A squirrel scurrying up the trunk of a gnarled oak.
This was probably the same peaceful feeling Evie Monsant had experienced before her world had turned deadly. The random victim of a serial killer? A carefully chosen victim of a copycat killer? Or had Evie Monsant’s past just caught up with her?
He didn’t know the local sheriff well enough to fish any information out of him. Most of the Dallas homicide department weren’t too eager to answer his questions, either, considering he sat on the opposite side of the courtroom when a case went to trial.
But there was one homicide detective he could always depend on for an honest opinion, even though he was vacationing at Hilton Head this week. Leif punched in the number on his cell phone and waited for his brother to answer.
“Travis Dalton.”
“Good. Glad I caught you.”
“By the hair of your chinny, chin chin. I was just about to head out.”
“Got a hot date?”
“Yes, I do. Eyes of blue, lips like cherry wine. And legs a mile long. Met her on the beach this morning. So what can I do for you in the next two minutes?”
“I was just wondering if you’d heard anything about the woman who was murdered in Oak Grove Monday morning. I figured the local sheriff department might have recruited some expertise from the Big D.”
“Reluctantly. Sheriff Garcia likes to run his own show, but with The Hunter tag coming into play, the investigation outgrew him.”
“So you have heard about it.”
“Nothing official. I talked to one of my homicide buddies earlier and he mentioned it.”
“Is he the lead detective on the case?”
“No, that honor has fallen to Josh Morgan, but that could change.”
“Morgan. I don’t think I’ve met him.”
“You haven’t. He’s not a drinking buddy.”
“Why is that?”
“He and I got off to a bad start when he got promoted to Homicide last year and we had to work a case together. Nothing serious, just different ways of getting the same job done. He’s a strict by-the-book operator.”
“So what did your buddy say when he called. Does he think this is the work of The Hunter?”
“Could be. It’s his signature style, more or less. Certainly brutal enough. But each of the murders attributed to him have had small differences in execution.”
“So it could be The Hunter’s doing?”
“It could be. I haven’t jumped on that theory yet.”
“Why not?”
“Too much points to this not being a random killing.”
“Like what?”
“Evie Monsant had a fake social security number and a fake name. No one’s shown up to identify the body except for the local sheriff, who’s only known her a few months.”
“So you think she was hiding something or running from someone?”
“That would be my guess. So why your sudden interest in the case? Shouldn’t you still be celebrating your big win in court yesterday?”
“N
ot sure that was a celebratory moment. And I passed by the scene of the crime a few minutes ago.”
“What? You’re in Oak Grove. Tell me you have a good reason for venturing into the realm of R.J.”
“I do. Effie. She’s in town to meet her grandfather.”
Travis groaned repeatedly while Leif filled him in.
“So you’ve been at the Dry Gulch Ranch all day riding horses and getting chummy with R.J.?”
“Not exactly, but Effie has and I’m joining the family circus for dinner.”
“Better you than me, but I understand your desire to keep Effie happy. I’ll be home Thursday morning. Is she staying through Thanksgiving?”
“Yes. Care to join us for turkey?”
“Sure, if my plane’s not delayed—unless lunch includes Serena.”
“Nope. She’s a thing of the past, or she will be once I get my condo key from her.”
“Her decision or yours?”
“Hers,” Leif admitted, “but it was inevitable. We’re too different and she wanted more than I could give.”
“More than anyone could give. About time you realized she’s spoiled rotten and likes it that way.”
“And she spoke so highly of you.”
“Sure she did. Me, the lowly detective who didn’t fit into her social circles. But what are your plans?”
“Thanksgiving at the Dry Gulch, unless I’m granted a last-minute reprieve.”
“In that case, count me out, but I would like to see Effie while she’s here.”
“Then better buy a horse. That’s the only thing that interests her these days.”
They talked a few minutes more, and then Leif said goodbye without mentioning Joni. It seemed less complicated that way.
Not that he wouldn’t love to see more of Joni. She not only got to him physically but she was fun to be with. They could have some good times. Maybe too good.
He might even start to think he could make it work with her. But then he’d become consumed in his work and end up disappointing her. She’d get hurt. They both would.
Besides, she was R.J.’s friend. She’d push a relationship between them and Leif had no intention of playing R.J.’s happy-family-game.
Better for everyone if he didn’t get anything started with Joni. Now all he had to do was make sure he heeded that advice.
* * *
THE DINNER AT Dry Gulch Ranch was lively, lots of talk and laughter, much of the entertainment provided by two of the most adorable redheaded toddlers Leif had ever seen. Their mother, Hadley, was also a live wire and she and Adam looked and sounded like the perfect couple.
R.J. was quieter than he’d been that morning and he staggered once when got up from the table to get the second pie from the kitchen. The brain tumor was evidently taking its toll.
But that didn’t stop R.J. from lavishing his attention on Effie. There was no consolidating the elderly man at the table with the father who’d let his sons grow up as orphans.
The others, especially Hadley and Adam, tried to include Leif in the night’s conversation. Admittedly, he didn’t make much of an effort. Even if he had, he would always be an outsider in the Dalton family.
But judging by the way Effie recounted the day’s adventure in detail, there was no denying that she thought the visit to the Dry Gulch Ranch was a splendid success.
They were having pecan pie, ice cream and coffee when Effie hit him with her latest bombshell of an idea.
She turned to Hadley. “Tell Dad about the plans for tomorrow.”
Hadley wiped her mouth with the floral-printed cotton napkin. “I teach a Sunday school class for eighth-grade girls. Since they’re out of school this week for the holiday, I’m having them out to the ranch for a trail ride.”
“Like a real cowboy trail ride,” Effie broke in. “Uncle Adam is going to cook egg and chorizo tacos in a cast-iron skillet over an open fire.”
Leif didn’t have to wait to hear the rest. It was already settled in Effie’s mind. He’d never have the heart to disappoint her.
“We’d love to have Effie join us,” Hadley said. “Unless you have other plans.”
“We don’t have any plans,” Effie said. “I don’t have to go back to California until Sunday.”
Irritation burned in Leif’s chest. R.J. and even Adam and Hadley were teaming up against him. What chance did he have of connecting with Effie when they were pitting horses against him?
If Effie were the size of Lila and Lacy, he could just pick her up and go home. But she wasn’t and he was already walking a thin line with her. He struggled to keep the irritation out of his voice.
“That would mean getting up long before daylight.”
“Not if I spent the night here. Aunt Hadley says they have a guest room that’s never been used.”
Good old Aunt Hadley. “You didn’t bring any extra clothes with you.”
“I have something she can sleep in and an extra toothbrush,” Hadley offered. “But of course the decision is up to you.”
If it were up to him they wouldn’t even be here. Old memories surfaced. He and Travis had both been years younger than Effie when their mother had died. There had been no invitation to stay at the Dry Gulch then. There hadn’t been so much as a phone call to see if they were okay. No thought at all for what would happen to them.
But R.J. hadn’t been a dying man then with all his sins hanging over him like a death cloak.
“You can stay, too,” R.J. said. “Help Adam with the breakfast chores. Mattie Mae and me can drive over to the cabin and stay with Lacy and Lila.”
“I go help Daddy, too,” Lila said.
Lacy slid off her chair and went over to stand by Adam. “Me, too, Daddy. I’m a big girl.”
Adam pulled her into his lap. “You are a big girl, but you’d have to get up as early as cowboys do. You wouldn’t like that.”
“Then Effie can stay with us.”
“I can play with you when I get back from the trail ride,” Effie said.
As if it were all decided. The food had been delicious going down. Now it was churning in Leif’s stomach. He pushed back from the table. If he didn’t get out of there soon, things were sure to come to a head.
And once he started telling R.J. how he felt, there would be no stopping until it was all out on the table. He couldn’t put Effie or Joni through that.
“It’s getting late,” he said. “I still have a long drive in front of me.”
“Then I can stay?” Effie asked.
“Why not?”
It hurt that she was as eager to escape him as he was to put distance between himself and R.J. He loved Effie more that he’d ever loved another human being in all his life. But he’d failed her. And if he didn’t find a way to reach her soon, he’d lose her forever.
“I’ll be back in the morning with your luggage, Effie. We’ll talk more about the week’s plans then.”
“Sure. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She stacked some of the empty plates and carried them to the kitchen.
That was it. No hug. No thank-you for driving her out to the ranch. Being a stranger to his own daughter hurt most of all.
R.J. stood as the women and Adam cleared the rest of the table. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you want, Leif. No strings. No demands.”
“I think I’ve stayed long enough.”
“If that’s how you feel, but go easy on Effie. She’s got a lot going on in her mind.”
“You mean more than the Dry Gulch Ranch and horses?”
“Yeah. Hadley says she opened up to her a little when they were out this afternoon. She’s worried about something but didn’t want to talk about it. I’d say she needs her father.”
Now R.J. was giving parenting advice. What a joke. Leif went
through the motions of politely thanking all of them for a great dinner and for making Effie feel so welcome.
“Can you give me a ride home?” Joni asked.
“That’s the plan.”
“If you’d rather not—”
“I want to take you home.” That time when he said it he made sure it sounded sincere.
“Okay. I’ll be with you in a minute.”
The truth was he wanted to be alone with her more than he cared to admit. His time with her was the one thing that had gone right today.
Leif walked onto the porch to wait for her. Adam followed him. A new wave of tension clenched his muscles.
“I can imagine this was a tough night for you,” Adam said. “You handled it well.”
“I didn’t have a lot of choice without upsetting Effie and making a scene in front of Joni.”
“Effie’s quite a kid. Hadley took to her immediately. Of course, they have this love of horses to build on.”
“I noticed.”
“I’m not an expert on horses or daughters, but it seems to me that you’re pushing mighty hard to find some common ground with Effie.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Yeah. I know you’ve got no use for R.J. That’s obvious, too.”
“I have my reasons.”
“Don’t we all? R.J. wasn’t the father any of us needed. But you can’t undo the past.”
“What’s your point?”
“Maybe you should forget R.J. and concentrate on Effie this week. Go horseback riding with her. Show an interest in the animals. Just hang out together without trying to force her to see R.J. through your eyes. And if I’m out of line saying this, just tell me it’s none of my damn business.”
“I’ll give your advice some thought,” Leif said. “It can’t get any more frustrating than the way things are now.”
“If I can help with anything, let me know.”
“Thanks. I will.”
Leif decided it would be hard not to like Adam.
Joni joined him on the porch a few minutes later. Neither of them said anything until they were backing out of the driveway.
