Unrepentant Cowboy

by Joanna Wayne

“No,” R.J. said, surprised at the offer. “They don’t rely on me for any chores these days. Health is as undependable as Texas weather.”

  Leif stopped at Kenda’s stall. “You seem to be getting around pretty good now.”

  “I’m having a good week. I suspect having Effie around is contributing to that. She’s a very special young lady, Leif. Lots of heart.”

  “I know.”

  “So what’s going on between you two? That angst runs too deep for me to be causing it.”

  “You’re not helping,” Leif said. “But you’re right. Apparently the anger and resentment go back to the divorce and my moving to Dallas. She thinks I abandoned her.”

  “Did you?”

  “Hell, no. Abandonment is when you don’t even know where your kids are and couldn’t care less. Abandonment is when you let your sons be raised as orphans after their mother dies. It’s when you live your life with no worries about the price your children pay for your neglect.”

  Bitterness spewed from his mouth with the accusations. Only this had nothing to do with Effie and everything to do with R.J.

  “I know I was a rotten father, Leif. I was a lousy husband, as well. I let my demons control my life. I failed everyone who ever meant anything to me. If I could change that, I would. But the past can’t be undone.”

  “So you just decided to manipulate your children and grandchildren instead. You call the shots. We dance or get dropped from the will the way you dropped us from your life.”

  “I put out the olive branch. You gotta decide for yourself whether you want to take it or not.”

  “That’s mighty big of you. But I don’t need your money. I don’t need anything from you and neither does Effie.”

  “You can spout your anger all you want, Leif. It’s probably long past time you did. But I’m not your biggest worry. Effie is.”

  “Leave Effie out of this.”

  “All I’m saying is don’t mess up your life the way I did. When you lose family and the people you love, you lose everything.”

  R.J. stepped back from the stall. He’d said enough. The rest was up to Leif. “We should get up to Adam’s. Dinner should be ready about now.”

  He took a few steps toward the door. The barn began to spin, the animals’ faces blurring so that he couldn’t recognize them. He stumbled and fell to his knees.

  Leif knelt beside him and steadied him with an arm around his shoulders. “Are you all right? Should I call for an ambulance?”

  “No. This is how it is. The dizzy spells will get worse as time goes on, but for now I’m just lucky they come as seldom as they do.”

  Leif’s gaze locked with his. The anger had turned to concern. It was progress, but R.J. knew it would be a long time before Leif could forgive him—if ever.

  “Hate me if you want to, Leif. But do everything in your power to save your relationship with Effie. In the end, love and family are all that really matters.”

  * * *

  IT WAS AFTER nine when Leif and Joni arrived back at her house. True to their word, there was no sign of law enforcement officers watching the house.

  But they were there. The solar spotlights that Leif had installed earlier in the day had been removed, leaving the outside of the house illuminated only by filtered moonlight.

  “Still time to change your mind about staying here tonight,” Leif said as she unlocked the front door.

  “No. I just want the suspect apprehended so that I and the rest of Oak Grove can go back to our safe, comfortable lives. And if it does turn out that he’s The Hunter, all of Texas will rest easier.”

  “Don’t count on too much,” Leif warned. “If The Hunter killed Jill and is still hanging around Oak Grove looking for victims, he’s made a major change to his modus operandi.”

  “It could happen.”

  “It could, but I’m not convinced.”

  “You’ve seen me home safely,” Joni said. “You don’t have to stay. Really, I’m not afraid. I’m sure the stakeout officers have everything under control.”

  “You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”

  She kicked out of her shoes. “Then we may as well get comfortable, roomie.”

  She was giving nonchalance a good shot, but Leif could tell by the way she’d been so quiet at dinner and driving home that she was anxious.

  “Did you tell Hadley that you were being used as bait by the police?”

  “No. I didn’t mention the stakeout at all. Hadley would have spent the rest of the evening trying to talk me into staying at her place tonight.”

  “Hadley is a smart woman.”

  “So am I,” Joni said. “And cautious. But Detective Morgan assured us both that I’m perfectly safe. I was surprised when he didn’t hassle you about staying here tonight, though.”

  “He would have if he thought I was a hindrance.”

  Joni stopped at the kitchen door. “I’m not following you.”

  “The note made it clear what your stalker thinks of me. Morgan thinks I may be an added inducement to drawing him out in the open. That’s the reason he told me to park my car in clear sight of anyone approaching the house.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “It doesn’t change anything,” Leif assured her.

  “Except that you’ve become part of the bait, too. As you know, my kitchen is embarrassingly bare, but if you see anything you want, help yourself. We probably should have bought more whiskey.”

  “Better I keep my head clear tonight,” Leif said.

  “In that case, I’m going to excuse myself and take another shower and hope that will help me relax.”

  And he’d be left to listen to the water running and imagining her naked body beneath the spray. This was going to be a long night on every front.

  Leif started a pot of coffee and then took out his trial notes from the Trotter case.

  He was barely through the account of his first meeting with Jill when his phone rang.

  Travis’s name came up on the caller ID. Hopefully he was calling with good news—like maybe the suspect had already been apprehended.

  “What’s up?”

  “Just calling to fill you in on the latest,” Travis said.

  “Hopefully, it’s good news.”

  “It could be,” Travis said. “I got a call from Morgan. He told me to hold up on the investigation of stalker suspects. They think they have their man. Now all they have to do is apprehend him.”

  “Did he insinuate that the suspect might be The Hunter?”

  “As a matter of fact, he did, but that is off the record. He also mentioned that he ran into you again this afternoon while questioning Joni Griffin.”

  “Really? I didn’t even think he knew you were my brother.”

  “Nothing much gets past Josh Morgan. He wouldn’t have mentioned it to you during questioning. I told you he’s a by-the-book guy.”

  “Just so he’s good.”

  “I don’t think you have any worries there. I did pick up some information about one of the names Joni had given the police that you might want to make her aware of.”

  “Which one?”

  “Joey Markham, the mechanic.”

  “What about him?”

  “He has a colorful rap sheet. Arrested on two different occasions for domestic violence.”

  “Is he married?”

  “No. These were girlfriends. In both cases, he battered them so badly that they required hospital care.”

  “Did he do jail time?”

  “The first honey dropped charges, but the second one testified against him. Joey did seven months for that crime.”

  “When was that?”

  “Three years ago. The next arrest was for a case of road rage
. He pulled a gun and actually shot it at a pregnant woman who’d almost sideswiped his car. She said she was just avoiding getting hit by an eighteen wheeler in another lane. Fortunately, the bullet missed its mark.”

  “What happened with that case?”

  “He was sentenced to ten years. After a year, another judge cut his sentence and let him out of prison under the condition he see a psychiatrist for anger management on a regular basis.”

  “I can imagine how long that lasted.”

  “You got it. The psychiatrist told me that Joey came to three sessions and then just stopped going. He reported that to Joey’s parole officer. He hasn’t seen Joey or the parole officer since. The guy sounds like a powder keg about to explode.”

  “I guess the police will arrest him for parole violation?”

  “Right, but that’s no guarantee he’ll stay in jail any longer than before. You should let Joni know in case he makes any more advances toward her before he’s arrested.”

  The thought of Joni dating a lunatic like Joey Markham was sickening. The thought of her dating anyone was disturbing. Not that he had any say over who she dated. It wasn’t as if they were lovers.

  Not yet, anyway. When this was over...

  He shook his head to clear the confusion. Once Joni was safe, he might have to rethink a lot of things about his life. Leif filled Travis in on the details concerning the sketch and the stakeout.

  “Where is Effie staying tonight?” Travis asked.

  “At the Dry Gulch Ranch.”

  “Are you there, too?”

  “No, I’m with Joni at her place.”

  “I know the cops have you covered,” Travis said. “The DPD is as good as it gets, but, still, be careful. A murderer who’s cornered doesn’t have a lot to lose and this one already hates you for some reason no one fully understands.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m not crazy enough to do anything foolish.” Not where Joni’s safety was concerned.

  Once the connection was broken, he went back to the trial notes.

  “Is that fresh coffee I smell?”

  “It is.” Leif looked up as Joni joined him. One glimpse of her and every part of his body jumped to attention.

  The shimmery silk nightshirt she was wearing skimmed her perky breasts and shapely hips and fell inches short of her knees. It was the color of a sparkling amethyst.

  Her flawless complexion glowed. Her long-lashed dark eyes were like velvet. Locks of her ebony hair, still damp from the shower, danced about her face.

  She smiled and he knew she must realize the effect she was having on him. He ached to take her in his arms and taste the luscious lips that had driven him wild earlier.

  He didn’t dare. Even with cops nearby on high alert, he and Joni were alone. He’d never be able to stop with a kiss. Not with every cell in his body hungering to make love to her.

  But this was not the time or place. She was too vulnerable, and he didn’t want to come on to her when her emotions were overwrought and her mind was on a serial killer.

  When they made love for the first time, he wanted everything to be right. He wanted her to have no regrets. It had to be that way if they were to have any chance of building a real relationship.

  And he did want that, more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. It felt strange and a bit frightening to admit that even to himself, but he knew it was true.

  She slid into a chair catty-corner from his and glanced at the file that lay open in front of him. “Are those the notes from Jill Trotter’s trial?”

  “They are.”

  “Why bother with them now? The DPD seems convinced they have their suspect.”

  “A good trial attorney never takes anything for granted.”

  “Which means you think the police may not be focusing their efforts on the right man.”

  “No one’s in custody yet.”

  “I thought I heard you talking when I was getting ready for my shower. Did Detective Morgan call with any last-minute instructions?”

  “No. I was talking to Travis. He had some interesting facts about your mechanic.”

  “Abe?”

  “Joey Markham. He may be good at truck repairs, but he’s tough on women.”

  “In what way?”

  “He’s been arrested at least twice for sending a girlfriend to the hospital and arrested once for shooting at a pregnant woman whose driving he didn’t like.”

  “Geez, Louise. I would have never guessed he had such a violent streak. He’s always so friendly when I take my truck to Abe’s. Has he been in prison?”

  “Twice, and he’s likely going back.”

  “You don’t think he’s the man the police are expecting to appear tonight, do you?”

  “Apparently not. Travis said they’d called off his investigation into the names you gave him even before he’d told them about Joey.”

  Leif filled Joni in on all the details he’d gotten from Travis.

  “We have to tell Abe,” she said. “He wouldn’t want anyone like that working in his shop, not even for another day.”

  “I’ll let Abe know first thing Friday morning unless the police tell him first. But I don’t want you involved. You never know how a man like Joey will react.”

  “Then you shouldn’t get involved, either, Leif Dalton. You’re an attorney, not a cop. You shouldn’t even be here tonight.”

  “Are you worried about me or just trying to get rid of me?”

  Her cheeks turned red. The blush upped his arousal level. He was going to have one hell of a time making it through the night.

  “I don’t want you getting beat up. I may need a good attorney someday.”

  “Hopefully not a criminal defense attorney.”

  “Did you ever think of changing to some other type of practice?”

  “Yes and no. But the truth is, I like what I do. If I could change anything, it would be to work for myself instead of a major firm.”

  “Then why don’t you?”

  “I wouldn’t have nearly the perks or the salary I have now.”

  “Or your choice of supermodels,” Joni added.

  “No, I’d probably have to settle for a country vet.”

  She punched him playfully, picked up his empty mug and walked over to the coffeepot. “If you’re pulling an all-nighter, I may as well join the party.”

  She rejoined him at the table. “So what are you looking for in that shaft of papers? Anything I can help you locate?”

  “You can give it a shot,” Leif said. “Problem is I don’t have anything specific in mind. I’m hoping something might jump out at me.”

  “You mean like a reason for someone to come after Jill Trotter at this late date?”

  “Something like that.”

  “You really aren’t buying into The Hunter theory, are you?”

  “I haven’t ruled it out.”

  Leif would like to believe that the DPD was about to wrap everything up in a nice little package and deliver The Hunter to a jury that would put him away for life. But it just didn’t make sense that a man who killed randomly would have had the picture of Leif and Jill Trotter that he’d left with the warning note. It made the crime seem much too personal.

  “Start with these,” he said, pushing a file of notes he’d taken in interviews with Jill Trotter in front of Joni.

  “You got it, counselor.”

  Leif scanned a half-dozen pages before becoming so restless he couldn’t sit any longer. He stood and paced the room, wondering what might be going on in the dark wooded area outside the house.

  “Suzanne Markham,” Joni announced like she was calling roll. “Does that name constitute a red flag?”

  “Suzanne. Phillip’s office manager for years before J
ill insisted he fire her.”

  Leif had forgotten the fired office manager’s last name was Markham until Joni triggered the memory. There had been so many names of people and places seared into his mind in the years since Jill’s trial.

  He scooted a chair next to Joni’s and straddled it. “Exactly the kind of red flag I was looking for,” he said.

  “Do you think there could be a link between her and Joey the mechanic?”

  “I think it’s worth checking out.”

  “What’s the rest of the story on Suzanne?” Joni asked.

  “There’s not much of one. She wasn’t a major player in the trial since she died a year before Phillip was killed. When Phillip and Jill married, she decided he and Suzanne were having an affair. She hired a private eye to follow Phillip.”

  “What did the P.I. discover?”

  “Nothing to support the idea of an affair, but Jill insisted Phillip fire her anyway. When I took over the case, I did my own investigation of Phillip’s infidelity with the same results as her P.I., just to make certain the prosecutor didn’t surprise me in the courtroom.

  “I guess if there had been anything there, the prosecutor would have used it as motive for Jill to kill Phillip,” Joni said.

  “For a vet, you’re certainly up-to-date on trial procedures.”

  “I got my education at the altar of Law & Order.”

  “And to think I went to law school and had to pass the bar.”

  “Was Suzanne married when she died?” Joni asked.

  “Divorced and had been for years.”

  “Did she have a son?”

  “Not that I’m aware of, but I suppose she could have.”

  “Shall I keep looking and see if I can find that info in the files?”

  “Let me check with Travis first,” Leif said. “He might have the name of Joey’s mother.”

  Leif made the call. Travis answered on the first ring.

  “Has there been an arrest?” Travis asked.

  “If there has, no one’s informed us. I called with a question.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Do you have the name of Joey Markham’s mother?”

  “I have it somewhere in the report. It’s Suzy. Susan.”

  “Suzanne,” Leif offered.