Promise Them (The Callahan Series Book 6)

by Bridges, Mitzi Pool

  “They seem to be concentrating on my ranch. Except for the six taken from Donovan, no one else has been touched.”

  That rankled. Beau didn’t know how or when he could have ticked off someone enough to cause such trouble. Still, he had a bad feeling that he was the central character in the rustlers’ plans. Were they after him to get even or over some perceived hurt? He racked his brain trying to think of who it might be.

  “There’s a possibility they might leave you alone now that they’ve seen first-hand how you patrol every night,” Murdock said. “Or they could hit someone else. Every ranch in the area is still at risk.”

  “We can’t keep this nightly routine up much longer. We’re all tired. Added to everything else, we have to worry about losing our help because they’re working day and night.”

  “That’s understandable,” Dugan spoke up. “I’ll take a turn. Maybe even get my deputies to do the same.”

  “The only problem being that we don’t know who they’ll hit next,” Murdock reminded them.

  “Rey made an interesting observation,” Beau said. “No one other than Donovan knew my place wouldn’t be patrolled. So how did the rustlers find out?”

  Dugan leaned close, his mouth grim. “Are you insinuating that Donovan had something to do with this?”

  “Not at all,” Beau rushed to assure him. “But we don’t know who he told or if Jimmy mentioned it to someone. Maybe in town, or at the diner, an innocent remark could have been made and the wrong person overheard.”

  Dugan visibly relaxed. “You’re right. There could be a dozen people who knew your place was easy pickings last night. By the way, did you know Gordon is bad-mouthing you all over town?”

  “Not surprised,” Beau grunted. “I made a bad call when I hired him.ˮ He turned to Murdock. “Are you keeping an eye on him?”

  “As best I can.”

  “I have my deputies keeping an eye on him as well,” Dugan said. “We don’t have him under constant surveillance, but we’re watching him. It’s the best we can do.”

  “How about more help?” Beau asked Murdock.

  “Impossible. Our division is spread too thin now. If you saw the headlines a few days ago, you know rustlers are hitting more and more ranches all across Texas.”

  “But,” Beau insisted, “around here, I’m the only one being hit.”

  “Except for Donovan’s six, it seems that way,” Murdock agreed.

  “So, we go out on patrol every night and hope they’ve moved out of the area? There has to be more we can do. Or you can do.” Anger made Beau’s voice sharp. He liked both Dugan and this Special Ranger, but right now, he wanted to see the rustlers behind bars and get back to normal. And he didn’t want to wait a week, a month, or longer to do it.

  “I’ve got more bad news,” Murdock said. “Since cattle thieves are plaguing the entire state, it means I won’t be around every day.”

  “You can’t bail on us,” Beau said. “We don’t know who we’re looking for. If, by some chance, it is Gordon, wouldn’t we have to catch him in the act?”

  “Something like that. Or get some indisputable evidence. Our best bet is to find the trailer. We’ve checked every rancher in the area by phone, and their trailers are accounted for. If this one came in from out of the county, where is it? And why hasn’t anyone seen it?”

  “Good questions,” Dugan agreed. “But you can bet my deputies will stop every trailer they see and ask for identification. If they don’t live in the area, we’ll bring them in for questioning.”

  “That’s an idea,” Beau said. “Maybe we could set a trap.”

  “It’s been done before,” Murdock agreed. “Why don’t I think about it and get back with you?”

  Beau stood and put on his Stetson. “You do that. Right now, I have work to do, and sometime today I need to get a little shuteye. But first, I’m going to Molly’s and grab a cup of coffee and one of those rolls. Found they make me feel a little better. Right now I could use a dose of feel good.”

  “I hear you,” Nolan said. “Mind if I join you? I didn’t have time to eat this morning.”

  “I’d go with you guys, but I’ve got work to do,” Dugan said.

  “Catch you later.”

  They walked to Molly’s instead of driving. It was a balmy summer day; perfect for a stroll. The sky was clear, the sun bright. Later, when he was working cattle, it would be hotter than hell. But right now, Beau took a deep breath, glad to have this short break from the ranch and all its problems.

  “Nice town,” Murdock said.

  “So far everyone has been real neighborly.” His thoughts flew to Nell. They had a date tonight. Just the thought made his heartbeat kick up. “When the neighboring ranchers found out I’d been hit by rustlers they sent food to the house. I was impressed.”

  “I hope we catch the bad guys,” Murdock said as he opened the door to Molly’s. “But don’t be surprised if they don’t just move to another area.”

  “I’d rather see them in jail.”

  They took a booth. The breakfast crowd had thinned, leaving only a few booths occupied. Molly limped over with a pot of coffee. “Figured you were ready for this.”

  “Great,” Beau said. “Bring me one of your rolls.”

  “I’ll take the special,” Murdock said as she filled their mugs.

  “Are you feeling any better?” Beau asked.

  Molly turned dark brown eyes his way. “Nope.”

  “I’m sorry. Why don’t you hire more help so you can get off your feet?”

  “Amy was here earlier, and she’ll be here for the lunch crowd, but I don’t make much profit now. If I put another person on the payroll, I might as well quit.”

  Beau shook his head as Molly went to give their order to the kitchen.

  “You’ll miss those rolls if she shuts down the diner,” Murdock said a little later when they were chowing down.

  Beau looked up when the door opened. “There’s Dani. And Emma.” They didn’t see him. He frowned as Dani shook her head, pointed to a booth.

  “You’re going to be the death of me. We could have taken the car,” Emma complained.

  “You need to walk. Do you good,” Dani responded without a trace of remorse for making the older woman walk at least a half-mile.

  “As long as I get back for my soaps.”

  “They’ll be there. I programmed the DVR.”

  “Never could figure that thing out,” Emma mumbled.

  Smiling, Beau stood and went to stand by their booth. “Thought I saw two of the prettiest women in town come in.” He bent over, kissed the top of Dani’s head, then turned to Emma. “I see you’re in fine form this morning.”

  “Humph!” Emma groused.

  “I didn’t see you,” Dani said, ignoring Emma.

  “I’m here with Nolan Murdock. But I have to get back to the ranch. Lots to do. Why don’t the two of you come to dinner one night this week?” When he saw the hesitation in Dani’s eyes, he hurried to add, “You can visit with Lela, and we can catch up.”

  Dani shook her head. Emma grinned. “What night?”

  Dani poked Emma lightly on the arm. “We’re busy.”

  “Doing what? Watching TV? We can use a break.”

  “Like you’ve been working so hard,” Dani mumbled at Emma’s remark.

  “I heard that, young lady,” Emma said, her voice stern. “Since I sign your paycheck, we’ll do as I say.”

  Dani glowered. Emma smiled.

  Beau shook his head. “How about day after tomorrow around six. I don’t know what Helen will fix, but she’s pretty good in the kitchen.” He looked at Dani. “Nothing in your league, of course, but good.”

  “You have a date,” Emma said, barely containing her glee.

  Murdock looked to be almost finished with his meal, so Beau excused himself and went back to their booth. “Looks like I’m having a small dinner party Wednesday night. Think you can make it?”

  Murdock glanced at the booth w
here Dani sat before answering. “I’m headed for San Antonio when I leave here, probably be there a couple of days. But yeah, I’ll make it back. What time?”

  So it was set. Beau couldn’t wait until tonight. At the right time, he’d give Nell an invitation. After all, he was just being neighborly.

  Molly limped over to Emma and Dani’s booth, slid in beside Dani. Since most everyone had left by now, Beau could hear every word.

  “I need to talk to you, Emma. Would this afternoon be all right?”

  Emma’s brow wrinkled. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “Neither do I,” Molly admitted. “But I can’t wait any longer.”

  “If you can’t make the rent, I’ll give you an extension,” Emma offered.

  Molly shook her head. “It’s not that. I’ll explain when I see you.” She scooted out of the booth, limped to the cash register where a customer waited.

  “Good grief! Do you own the whole town?” Dani asked Emma.

  Emma said nothing.

  “I’m not stupid. I see the checks come in every month. You have me make the deposits. Remember?”

  Emma didn’t answer.

  “So? Do you?”

  “Do I what?” Emma snapped.

  “Own everything in sight?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Maybe not everything, but close to it. How did that happen?”

  Emma sighed. “You are the most persistent individual I’ve ever met.”

  “Then you haven’t met a whole lot of people,” Dani bit back.

  Beau chuckled.

  “You’re listening in on their conversation,” Murdock accused.

  “You bet. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

  “My late husband made a lot of money when he was young. When he was fifty we moved here. As properties came on the market he’d buy. Said there was no better investment in the world. Guess he was right because it kept us comfortable. Now I have all these properties. With the economy going downhill, when a space goes vacant, it tends to stay that way.”

  “You don’t think Molly wants to shut down, do you?”

  Emma shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first. You’ve seen the for lease sign on Jane’s gift shop. She shut down over six months ago. It’s not only vacant; she left boxes of stuff in the back room. Said she’d come and get them when I rented the space. Only it hasn’t happened.”

  “That’s terrible.”

  “Worse than that. Leased or not, I have to pay the taxes and insurance. I hope I’m wrong about Molly, but she hasn’t been well for a while now.”

  “So do I. What would we do without these rolls?”

  “All you need is the recipe.”

  “As if.”

  “I could get it, you know,” Emma offered in a conspiratorial voice.

  “No. You. Won’t. That recipe belongs to Molly.” “Let’s go. Time to get your exercises in before your soaps start.”

  “Slave-driver.”

  “I’m trying to get you well. Think how satisfied you’re going to feel when you fire me.”

  “Now that’s something to look forward to.”

  “Time to go,” Beau said, unable to keep the smile off his face. He was proud of his daughter. She was able to hold her own with Emma and seemed to enjoy doing it.

  Before he left, he bent down and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

  Murdock shook hands with both her and Emma. “Dani, Emma. Good to see you again.”

  His smile put Dani into a full flush. Was Murdock holding on to her hand a little longer than necessary?

  “Saddle up, Murdock,” Beau growled. “We’ve got some rustlers to catch.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Nellie swore she’d have a heart attack before five o’clock ever arrived. How in the world had she allowed herself to get in this position? She fretted the morning away before making the call.

  As she pulled up in front of St. Cecelia’s church, she looked at her watch. Her heart fluttered an unhealthy rhythm, but she had to talk to someone, and Father Mike was the only one she could think of.

  When she rang the doorbell, Father Mike opened the rectory door. He wasn’t very tall, and though he was only in his fifties, his hair was thinning. His nicest feature was his smile, which spread wide when he saw her. “Nellie, come in. It’s always a pleasure to see you.”

  “You, too.” Like everyone else, Father Mike only saw what she wanted him to see. A nice woman, with a nice family who came to church regularly, and worked with the other ladies of the church to keep the altar just the way he liked it—with lots of flowers and tall candles. Someone who could be called on when a parishioner was sick or they needed a hand at the cake booth at the bazaar.

  “Would you like a glass of tea? Cup of coffee?”

  “A glass of water would be nice.”

  “Take a seat in my office, I’ll be right back,” he said, going to the kitchen.

  The house they called a rectory was fairly small: two bedrooms, one turned into an office, and a living room that opened into a kitchen. It was large enough for the one priest the parish was allowed. They were lucky to have a priest at all, the way seminary enrollment was down.

  He came in, put an unopened bottle of water on the desk. “I’m not much of a host. But I can offer cookies.”

  Nellie tried to smile, but wasn’t sure she succeeded. “Nothing. This is fine.” Water would help ease her parched throat.

  “Now.” He leaned back in his worn chair. “What can I do for you?”

  Where would she start? How could she?

  He watched her for a minute. “Take your time. You’re safe here.”

  “I know. It’s just that…I’ve never told anyone about my life before I married Duncan.”

  “Then why don’t we start there? Tell me about your childhood, where you lived, tell me about your parents.”

  Nellie opened the bottle of water, took a sip. “My parents died when my brother and I were very young; he was six, I was eight. We went to separate foster homes. I think it was the third couple who took me and they really wanted a boy.”

  “What was their name?”

  “Frazier.”

  “How was your time with them?”

  How could she describe her life at that time? “They wanted the children they fostered to work on the ranch. I liked the animals and didn’t mind the work. But other than school, that was all we did. There were no school activities, no friends.”

  “Were they good to you?”

  Nellie shook her head. “We had food and clothes. Otherwise, the state would have taken us away.”

  “But?”

  “I was bad. So I was punished.”

  Father Mike’s brow wrinkled. “How could an eight-year-old be bad?”

  “I was ten then. Every day I did something wrong. Either I spilled milk at the table, or I forgot to pick up everyone’s clothes and put them in the washer, or I made some other mistake.”

  “Wouldn’t that be normal? You were just a child.”

  “They told me I was stupid. Too dumb to even feed the chickens and pick up the eggs the right way. I made mistakes all the time so they corrected me.”

  “How did that make you feel?”

  Father Mike sounded like a counselor. Which of course was why she was here. But she didn’t know if she wanted to dredge up those old feelings. She shrugged.

  “It’s okay, Nellie,” he said softly.

  She didn’t want to go there. “I tried hard to please them.” Her voice choked. “But I couldn’t.” Reliving that time was painful. Every so often, she took a sip of water to keep her throat from closing.

  “How about school?”

  “I loved it. I wished for school to last the year round.”

  “What kind of grades did you make?”

  “I didn’t have time to study because I had to work from the time I got home from school until lights out. But I made good grades and worked hard in class.”

  “What
did the Fraziers say about that?”

  “They said I had the teachers fooled, that they didn’t know the real Nellie. No one knew me except them.”

  At this, Father Mike frowned darkly. “Did they physically hurt you?”

  “No, but once Mr. Frazier came close.”

  “Do you want to tell me about it?”

  She took a deep breath. Sharing her story was harder than she expected. “I was sixteen. They’d hired an older boy, maybe eighteen, to help with the baling and such for the summer. One day he kissed me in the barn. A sweet, innocent kiss, nothing bad about it. It was my first kiss, actually, and I never saw it coming. Mr. Frazier walked in on us, fired Buck on the spot, then called me all sorts of names, and said as long as I lived under his roof, I had to do as they said, which meant I wasn’t allowed to have anything to do with boys, period. He said I’d just get pregnant and humiliate them, make sure they’d never get another foster child.”

  “So you didn’t date.”

  “No.”

  Father Mike took a deep breath. “Do you realize now that what they did to you was child abuse?”

  Nellie shuddered. “Of course I do. But…well, they were right about some things. I was awkward and clumsy. I didn’t do anything right, and I didn’t know how to act around people.”

  “How could you with the two of them brainwashing you every day?”

  Her brow wrinkled. “Brainwash?”

  “Didn’t you meet Duncan in college? How did you manage to go to college with so much baggage?”

  “After my parents died, there was a class action lawsuit filed against the manufacturer of the faulty pop-up camper propane heater that killed my parents, and a few hundred other people. It was all in the news, but we didn’t have TV at the ranch, so I didn’t know anything about it. The money was put in a trust with the rest of their estate. I didn’t know about any of it until after I turned eighteen. The money saved my life. I was able to start college without worry. It gave me time to get a job and get on my feet.”

  “What about your brother?”

  “I tried to find him, but he’d run away from his foster home. I later learned he’d joined the Air Force the minute he turned eighteen. That was right about the time I met Duncan.”

  “How did that go?”