Ella laughed, but it was bitter sounding and raspy, as if she’d smoked one too many cigarettes. “Hell, everybody knows that. What do you want?”
“I made the call. I saw Annie buying drugs in the mall parking lot.”
Ella scowled and shifted forward. “My daughter could go to jail because of you.”
She wouldn’t let Ella intimidate her. “Yes, she could, but I’m hoping it was an intervention. If it was her first offense, she’ll most likely get off with a fine and probation. And if she’s lucky, it will turn her life around.”
“So, you think because you were a runaway and ended up in Vegas, you’re an expert.”
She took a deep breath. It would be so easy to let this all go, to turn away and never think about Annie Greenberg again. Her past would remain where it needed to be–in the past. But she couldn’t let Annie continue down the path she was on. She had to do everything she could to stop Annie from making the same horrible mistakes she had made. She’d promised herself when she got out of prison she’d do everything possible to make sure another misunderstood teenage girl never lived the horrors she had.
“Yes, I lived on the streets of Las Vegas.” A lump lodged in her throat, but she forced it down and the quiet words out. “I’ve seen what addiction can do to a person, Ella. I had friends who died there. Most times no one even knew their real names. Their families never knew what happened to them.”
Although trepidation replaced Ella’s scowl, her voice remained indignant. “Who the hell do you think you are? You think you know what my daughter’s going through. You have no idea.”
As Ella got out of the booth, Charli fisted her hand under the table. “Has she been in any kind of treatment at least? Is she talking to someone? I heard the rumors about your husband. Does she know why her father doesn’t want anything to do with her?”
Ella looked back at her. “How do you know about that?” Her eyes narrowed again. “You’re seeing Leon Ferguson, aren’t you?”
What did Leon have to do with anything? “He’s my neighbor, that’s all. Ms. Larson, I understand Annie better than you can ever imagine.” She paused and her heart raced. “I–I never knew my father, and I hated him because I thought he abandoned me. My mother raised me until she died when I was fifteen. When I came home after running away, my grandfather found me help, and I was able to sort through the pain, grief and anger. Annie needs that–she’s hurting.”
A resigned frown pulled at one side of Ella’s too-red lips. “Look, I don’t know what you think can be gained by this, but Annie is on a runaway train straight to trouble, and there’s not a damned thing anyone can do but pick up the pieces after the crash.”
“What if you could prevent the crash?” She had to make her see her point. “Has she ever run away?”
Ella scowled her for a long moment. Then she slid back into the booth and slumped over her arms on the faux marble tabletop. “She’s run away twice now. One of these days I’m so afraid she’ll...get hurt.” She looked away and muttered, “Especially if he gets hold of her.”
What did that mean? “Annie needs help.”
Ella met her eyes again. “I know. She refuses to talk to a shrink. Aren’t you some kind of doctor?”
“Goodness no. I’m majoring in social work at the college and would like to help girls like Annie eventually.” She pressed her hands onto the table to keep them from shaking. “And, although it’s a long way off in the future, I can’t stop thinking I can help Annie somehow. Where does she stay while you’re at the Longhorn?”
Ella squared her shoulders. “She’s at home.”
“Alone? Or is she on the streets?”
Ella averted her eyes again. “Yeah.”
She didn’t have to ask her to clarify the breathy answer.
Her temper flaring again, Ella leaned back against the seat and fisted both hands where they rested on the edge of the table. “I’ll deal with Annie any way I see fit. Why do you care what happens to her?”
“I care because I know what’s out there, Ms. Larson.” She gathered her courage. She’d already told Ella more than she ever wanted anyone to know about her past, but Annie’s life could hang in the balance. “I’d like to talk to Annie, that’s all.” She handed the woman a business card. “Please, think about it and call me. I’d hate for Annie to get into trouble. I called the cops so she could get help. Find a good therapist and get her to talk. I think we both know Annie’s problems are deeper than just drugs.”
Ella looked at the card, and after a while, nodded. “Okay, I’ll think about letting you talk to her.”
* * * *
Charli walked Leon down the steps of the porch to his car. “Thanks again for dinner.”
He turned and smiled at her. “Since you won’t agree to go out to dinner with me, I have to bring dinner here.”
Heat infused her cheeks and she sighed. “I really do appreciate it. It’s been a long week and a half. You’ve been wonderful through it all. Thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me, Charli.” He took her hand, and she squeezed. He’d been here for her since the poisoning.
He gently pulled her to him and wrapped her up in his arms. Before she could hug him back, she felt the distinct bulge of an erection and tried to pull away. “Leon, I can’t.”
“Please, let me hold you. I would never force you to do anything against your will.” The gruffness of his voice rang all sorts of warning bells in her head. “But I...”
She should have known this was coming. “Leon?”
He cleared his throat. “Charli, I’m falling in love with you.”
She sucked in a breath and stared up at him. Holy shit! Now what was she supposed to do?
His chuckle seemed forced as he ran the back of his fingers down her cheek and cupped the side of her face. “I know you don’t feel the same, but I hope someday you will. We could be so good together. Our combined ranches would be the most profitable in all of Central Texas. Our wealth unmatched. You could staff this place and open that home you told me about. You’d be the mistress of Oak Springs, a member of the Junior League, if you wish. With me, you’d be a lady of society and no one would ever think of speaking against you. I’d take care of you.”
Oh, God. When she opened her lips to speak, he touched his thumb to her mouth. “I don’t want any answers tonight.” Leon paused and swallowed. “I have to go to Denver for a little while.”
“The land deal?” She sucked in a breath of relief, so not ready for any of this, but she didn’t want to hurt him either.
He nodded. “The negotiations have hit a major snag over the mineral rights of the tract of land I want. My lawyer thinks I should show up and explain to the sellers what my plans are. I hope to pound out a deal that’s agreeable to all concerned parties in a few days.”
“I’ll miss you. You’ll be careful?” She wanted to wrap her arms around him, but she couldn’t make her arms respond.
He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “Of course I will. I have the most beautiful woman in the world to come home to. I love you, Charli.” Before she could respond to him, he kissed her long, hard and with passion enough for them both.
* * * *
“...love you, Charli.” Like the whisper from the devil, the raspy words floated to Dylan.
The kiss that followed went on for an eternity and glued him in the dusky place between the barn and stable watching it.
So, she’d made her choice.
Maybe he needed to make one, too.
* * * *
Dylan reread the faxed report and tossed it onto his desk. After glancing at the letter to Charli he’d written earlier, he turned the chair around to look out the window at the pasture. He shouldn’t care what the report said, but he did. If he truly planned to resign, as he declared in the handwritten letter, he wouldn’t struggle to make sense of the fax, would he?
As her herd nibbled the rich, green grass in the field, his mind continued to clear from the alcohol
he’d tried to drown in last night.
Hadn’t Brenda taught him women couldn’t be trusted? He’d been a fool to let himself get involved with Charli emotionally. Yet, he couldn’t let go.
He focused his thoughts on the report. The toxicity of the calves’ blood showed the amount of poison only found in green jimsonweed, and a great deal of it at that. However, the only place they could have gotten the weed was in the hay, which made no sense. If they had ingested more, they would’ve died from it.
Someone had fed the animals the fresh jimsonweed and made it look like it came from the hay. He turned his chair around and dialed the sheriff’s department.
After explaining to the answering officer he needed to speak to the sheriff, he was transferred. The younger man answered on the second ring.
“Zack, it’s Dylan.”
“Captain, to what do I owe this pleasure?” He heard the smile in Zack’s voice. “Is someone else using you for target practice? Or have you reconsidered my invite to the banquet on Monday?”
“No, and I won’t.” The man never gave up. “And no, no one is shooting at me.” Despite the teasing tone, the sheriff had taken the threat seriously, and neither of them thought it was a poacher. Someone had aimed to kill, but left no evidence behind to track. “I got the report back from Doc Evan’s lab. I’m convinced Charli’s cattle and horses were intentionally poisoned.”
“Do you have any of the hay left that was fed to the animals?”
“Affirmative.” He glanced at the sacks of hay leaning against the corner of his office and told Zack his suspicions.
“Bring it in to the department. I’ll send it to the Rangers’ lab ASAP. It would take a helluva lot of jimson to make that many calves and two horses sick, so if it did come from the hay, there has to be more of the stuff in it.”
“I’ll get it to you by noon with a copy of the report.”
“Do you know if Miss Monroe has any enemies?”
The same question had plagued him. He didn’t know much about her. For all he knew, she could have been part of a gang or even the mob in Vegas, but he did know of one enemy who was a lot closer to home.
The memory of the kiss he’d witnessed churned the acid in his belly. Unlike when Brenda had slept with her fellow teacher, getting herself pregnant in the bargain, he knew Charli was being tricked. Leon didn’t love her, he’d bet his life on it. Somehow, he had to get her to see it.
“I don’t know if she has any enemies or not. But I think it would be best to keep this between us until we know what isn’t in the hay.”
Zack hesitated only a moment. “Roger, Captain. I’ll do it your way for now. If you find out anything, let me know.”
“I will.” He hung up the phone.
He picked up the letter of resignation and looked at the short handwritten note. When had he become such a coward? He’d been avoiding her, knowing they needed to talk about what had happened, and just as importantly, what it meant.
By avoiding her, he’d left the door open for Leon. She could still choose Leon, but before that happened, he intended to prove to her Leon wasn’t all he pretended to be.
He was more determined than ever to make sure he atoned for all the bad decisions he’d made over the past couple of weeks. Even if it meant sticking around and discovering Charli felt nothing for him despite the child they may have created together.
He stood and tossed the scrap of paper in the general direction of the trashcan under his desk. After he made a copy of the fax, he grabbed the sacks of hay gathered from the feeders and headed out. The sooner he got the answer back from the Texas Ranger forensics lab in Austin, the sooner he could set a trap to catch the two-legged snake in the garden.
Chapter 12
Dear Charli,
By the time you read this, I’ll be heading for Denver and thinking about you. I wish I could be there right now. I already miss you. Call me.
Love, Leon
Charli lowered the embossed card and stared at the large bouquet of deep red roses.
She’d spent all night trying to convince herself she would be better off with Leon. Dylan would just have to accept Leon being in his child’s life. However, no matter how much her brain tried to reason out all the good things that could come out of being with Leon, her heart wouldn’t listen. It steadfastly belonged to Dylan.
The realization cleansed her soul of indecision and confusion. She crumpled the letter and carried the roses with her when she left the kitchen. At the trash receptacle on the other side of the garage, she tossed them and turned toward the bunkhouse.
When Dylan didn’t answer the knock on the screen door of his office, she turned around and looked out over the pasture. Her cattle nibbled on the tender green vegetation. Was he working on the range?
She turned back to the door. Perhaps, he was inside eating lunch, or he’d seen her approach, and like a coward, hid from her. He wouldn’t be hiding from her for long.
Taking a fortifying breath, she opened the screen door and turned the knob of the solid door. After she entered the small room, she peeked around the frame of the open door separating his living space from the office. “Dylan? Are you in there?”
Her only answer was the low hum from a window air conditioner. She stepped into the darkened room serving as his living area and bedroom. At the bottom of a futon, a blanket and sheet were tangled into a ball. A small square table and two chairs made up the rest of the apartments furnishings. She stared at the empty bottle of whiskey sitting on the tabletop. Swallowing hard, she turned away.
No sign of the man who occupied these sparse quarters.
She heaved a sigh of disappointment and turned to leave the way she’d come. On the desk, she noticed a letter with the official letterhead of Sam Evans’ veterinarian clinic.
She picked up the fax and read the report that told her nothing she hadn’t already known. Her calves and horses had gotten sick from ingesting the toxic plant datura stramonium, commonly known as jimsonweed.
The sheet of paper fell from her hand and landed back on the desk. She noticed another paper on the floor partway under Dylan’s desk as she moved away. The letter was addressed to her in his strong handwriting. She picked it up.
Charli,
I quit.
If you are pregnant with my baby, I hope you’ll let me know before you and Leon do anything. My sister will know where to find me. I’ll do what I can, but I can’t be there.
Dylan
She had to read the letter twice before the full impact of its meaning hit her hard enough to shatter her heart.
Dylan was just like every other man she’d ever loved. He’d used her and thrown her away.
At least Leon wanted her. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so hasty with throwing away his note.
Too bad, he wasn’t the man she wanted.
“Charli?”
At the sound of Dylan’s voice, she sniffed back the tears, but didn’t turn to face him. She held up the letter. “So, this is what you want?” How could she face him? But she had to. He stood inside the door. “When are you leaving? Tonight? Like some coward!”
“I’m...” He took a step toward her, and the screen door closed with a bang.
“Don’t.” She held out her hand. “Just don’t. I don’t want you to be sorry. I don’t want to hear your excuses.” She tried to rush past him, but he caught her around the waist.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He pressed so close, and despite what he intended to do to her, his touch was like a balm on a sore nothing else would heal.
She tugged free of his grasp and flailed the sheet of paper at him. “That’s not what this says.”
Dylan dropped his hands to his side, his face full of chiseled regret.
He turned toward the desk and tossed his hat on it. As he shoved his hands through his dark hair, he gruffly said, “You were never supposed to see that letter.”
“Oh. So, were you just gonna take off and I’d never see you again?” She h
ated the brittle sound of her voice and the fear crashing over her. The pain in her chest made it hard to breathe, and she wrapped her arms around her middle. He didn’t love her, but she’d never believed he’d abandon her.
* * * *
Dylan turned and hated what he witnessed. Charli backed away from him like a scared little animal. How could he cause her so much pain and fear? He took her into his arms and pulled her close to him again.
She didn’t fight him, but she made no move to hug him back.
“I’m not leaving you. Unless you tell me you don’t want me. I wrote that letter this morning while I was still drunk.” When she looked up at him, he wiped at the wetness on her cheek with his thumb. “I’m scared I can’t be the man you deserve.” I’m afraid you don’t love me. “I never wanted kids. I don’t think I’ll be a good father. My own father was never around, but he was around enough for me to know I’ll never measure up to Bob Quinn.” Muttering, he added, “I never did in any other way.”
“I’m scared, too.” She slipped her arms around him. “Too much is going on at once. What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know. But I told you I’d be here for you, and I will. When do you expect to get your...eh...”
Charli swallowed and tears shimmered in her eyes. “I’m late, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Nodding, he glanced away and his shoulders slumped. Damn. “Charli, I can’t play games with you. I saw the kiss the other night.” He met her widened eyes. “What does Leon mean to you?”
“Nothing. He has feelings for me I don’t return.” She paused and swallowed so hard her throat moved. The pulse fluttered at the side of her neck. “What does Brenda still mean to you?”
“Not a damned thing.” What do I mean to you? But he couldn’t get the words past his tight throat. “But even if you are pregnant, I’m not ready for marriage again.” He couldn’t let himself get in that deep. Marriage to a woman who didn’t love him was the last thing he wanted.
Charli slowly nodded and turned away. She wrapped her arms around her middle and looked out the screen door. “And I–I don’t want a marriage either. I won’t be trapped in a marriage for a child’s sake. That’s worse, in my opinion, than living separately. Actually, I never want to get married. I’ll never let a man have that much control over me.”
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