by Angi Morgan
“You should see the other guy,” he joked. “There’s silver tape in the emergency kit. That might help.”
Megan repeated the steps she’d used to retrieve her bag, found the tape and stopped the water spray through the windshield. Then she curled up and fell asleep about five minutes down the road.
He was tempted to turn his phone on and call Wade. Private words, calmly spoken, that wouldn’t wake Megan. But he’d wait. It was smarter to be in a place where they could get help immediately.
He hooked Megan’s long hair around her ear. His fingers felt how cold she still was. Damn. He cranked the heater up another notch, gladly wiping the sweat off his face if it meant Megan got warm. She should have shed her wet jeans, but they were still stuck to her legs. That must be keeping her cold.
He couldn’t wait long to get her temperature back to normal. They wouldn’t be good to anybody—especially each other—if they were stiff or sick.
If his memory was right, the next superstore was at Highway 1 and 290. The thing about heading that direction was that he might as well deliver Megan to headquarters. Talk about the safest thing to do...
But he wanted to finish this. Hell, he wanted to begin whatever it was he’d become involved with. Clothes, another vehicle...there was one place he could get both and where he knew the chief of police and the mayor.
Hell, he was the mayor this week.
“It’ll be risky.” He’d have to verify that no one was watching his sister’s place on the ranch.
Feeling the coolness of Megan’s cheek...it was their best bet. Once there, he’d have access to a ranch hand’s phone that no one would be monitoring.
So when it came time to turn east toward Austin, Jack kept to the smaller roads. The reduced speed as he skirted the Colorado River made it easier to steer. It took longer, but someone had thought ahead and given him an energy drink.
Lightning danced across the sky. He turned on the radio and kept sneaking looks at Megan. She didn’t wake when they pulled into the back lot at the Liberty Hill Police Station. He left the truck—and the heater—running while he banged on the back door until the deputy opened.
“Hey, Little Jack. Whatcha doin’ out here? Hell of a storm today. You look like—Good Lord, what happened to your truck?”
“Yeah, we hit some water. Hydroplaned into a tree. It was pretty bad. I was wondering if I could borrow your phone, Aaron.”
“Sure. Come on inside.”
“No, thanks. My girlfriend’s asleep. I just need to call Gillie real fast.”
“It’s on the charger. I’ll be right back.” The door swung closed.
Jack kicked some rocks and thought about whom to involve. He needed Gillie. But they’d found them in Wimberley. And that was a place without any direct connection to him. Odds were pretty good that whoever was after Megan was already monitoring his sister’s phone.
Aaron returned, extending the cell to him. “Dad blast, it’s colder out here than a milk cow’s teat. You want a jacket? I have a couple in Lost and Found.”
Before he could say no, thanks, Aaron was gone again. It gave Jack the opportunity to scroll through the deputy’s list of contacts. He called one of Gillie’s neighbors, who called her and asked her to call Aaron.
The phone rang just as the deputy brought out an old bomber jacket.
“Gillie?”
“What’s gone wrong, Jack? I’ve been worried sick.”
He shook his head and waved off the offer of the coat. “Is anyone watching your house?”
“And why would I be under surveillance?”
He turned away from Aaron and walked to the back of the truck, noticing that the damage wasn’t nearly as bad as he’d thought. “Listen to me, Gilleth Anne. I need you. No questions right now. Okay?”
He explained what she needed to do to verify no one was following her before she could come for them. He handed the phone back to Aaron. “Thanks, man. I know this all seems strange, but will you keep it to yourself for a while?”
“Does this mean you owe me a favor?” Aaron asked.
“Sure—anything.”
“I want to drive the Model T in the parade Saturday.”
“The Model T that my dad drives? The mayor? The same guy who was just elected to the Senate?”
“Yeah. I’ve always wanted to drive that thing.” Aaron tossed him the jacket. “You should keep that.”
“Jack’s going to be seriously ticked, but I’ll find another place for him.”
“Dad blast, Little Jack. I didn’t think you’d say yes. This must be pretty serious.” He leaned in a bit closer. “It must be Texas Rangers stuff. Everyone said that’s the only thing that would take you away from the homecoming meeting.”
“That’s right.” Sort of. But if it kept the phone calls to a minimum, he’d let Aaron run with it. “Think you could move the truck to a body shop tomorrow?”
“Hey, anything you need. You’re letting me drive the Model T.” Aaron slapped his arm. “I’m heading inside. Want some coffee or something?”
His dad would just have to understand and take his place in the back seat. Come to think about it, that was a good place for him. Telling him about it might take a little last-minute maneuvering. At least Jack hoped to be back to tell him.
“I’m good. I’ll leave the keys under the mat. Thanks, man.”
“Anything for the Rangers.” He waved and went inside.
Waved?
Jack looked in the truck and saw Megan was awake. She smiled and waved.
“Time for our phone calls?” she asked once he was inside. “By the way, where are we?”
“Liberty Hill. My sister’s on her way.”
“Look, I like your sister and I definitely appreciate her jeans—” she slapped the denim, then rubbed her hands together “—but don’t you think her coming with us is a little dangerous?”
“I’m not bringing her. We’re borrowing a ranch hand’s car, making some phone calls and getting you some dry clothes.”
She rubbed her fingers across her lips, thinking. “Is there a sandwich in there, too? Or are you frying fish again?”
“After your attempt at cleaning up? No way.”
Laughing again. She had him making jokes about the men after her. And she hadn’t questioned his decision. Megan was smart—not because she agreed with him. Well, that wasn’t the only reason. No, he could see her mind working. She weighed the options and agreed that he’d chosen the right path.
There were plenty of times when she’d disagreed and they’d talked it through.
“What day is it?”
“Sunday.” He raised the bottle of water she’d handed him.
“Are you sure? I feel like I’ve slept with you more than just a couple of nights.”
Water shot up his nose at her deliberate double entendre. She’d really slept around him or with him in a truck. And the lack of sex hadn’t been for a lack of trying. He laughed. He couldn’t help it.
It was the strangest thing. He’d laughed more with Megan in two days than he had with the woman he’d wanted to marry. It was the first time in two years that he was thankful Toni had turned him down.
“Thanks. I needed that.”
“You’re welcome.” She dug in her laptop bag and pulled out another protein bar. “Last one. Seriously, do I need to split this with you or will we be eating soon?”
“If I know my sister, she has food for us.”
“Food, food? Not just ingredient-type food.”
Headlights pulling around the building had him reaching for his weapon instead of answering that Gillie never had ingredients. “It’s okay. That’s Gillie. Take everything with you. We won’t be back.”
She grabbed her heels, stuffing them in the side pocket of her laptop bag.
“Shoot, Jack.” His sist
er punched his arm lightly. “You said Megan needed dry clothes, but he failed to mention she was freezing. Can you hang on ten more minutes until we get back to my place?”
“Oh, sure. I’m all numb now. As long as you have some food. Even a real sugary cereal will do.”
“I’ve got both. Don’t worry.”
While he transferred everything, both women climbed into the smaller and older truck his sister had borrowed from the ranch. He wasn’t certain it was licensed for the road, but it ran.
Bouncing down the road in a vehicle with basically no shocks, he once again listened to Megan and Gillie talk as if they’d known each other more than two days and were best friends.
Megan basically filled his sister in on all the details, including their game of strip Battleship. He covered his face with his hand and looked out the window. The rain had passed to the north, where he could still see the lightning. The direction they were headed had clear skies and stars.
“Isn’t that right, Jack?”
“Huh?”
“I said,” his sister emphasized, “you were looking forward to seeing your high-school teammates again. And that I hoped this was all wrapped up before the game Friday. Mrs. Dennis was so not happy when you didn’t show for the meeting.”
“I thought it was homecoming.”
“It’s a special gathering, since the football team’s headed to state again.”
“The last time they went, Jack was the quarterback.”
“Oh! I get it now. That’s the game Carl Ray back at the diner was talking about. The one they rerun on television because of a last-minute super throw or something like that,” Megan said.
“So,” his sister began with teasing in her voice, “do I need to make up the couch or are you good with sharing the spare bedroom?”
“We won’t be here that long.” He spoke louder than Megan’s affirmative answer that one bed would be spectacular.
“When’s the last time you slept, Jack? Thursday?” his sister asked. “Maybe you should catch a couple of hours while I look after Megan.”
“Honestly, Megan doesn’t need looking after,” Megan answered, sounding annoyed.
“You’re right. My apologies. After the couple of days you’ve had, I’m sure you can,” his sister amended.
Come to think about it, he hadn’t slept since Thursday. Not really. Not for more than twenty-minute stretches. Tonight could be different. “Maybe I could manage a couple of hours. That is, if Megan doesn’t mind.”
“You know I don’t. I’ll be fine.” She squeezed his hand.
So was the gesture just a gesture? Was it thanks for asking her opinion? Or was it the next step in something he was starting to hope could develop into more?
Gillie turned the old truck onto the road where her house was located. It had belonged to his uncle’s family eons ago, before his death. Before his father had bought them out to ensure that the property stayed in the family. Jack’s body was powering down, accepting permission to sleep.
They cornered the last turn to the house, and Gillie skidded to a stop. The house was lit with flashing red, white and blue lights. At least three police cars and two black SUVs were parked with their headlights trained on the front door. Another official vehicle pulled across the drive behind them.
They were boxed in.
Megan squeezed his hand, then laced her fingers with his. “I guess this means no sugar flakes.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Before you say anything stupid, I did not call Dad,” Gillie said, banging her hand on the steering wheel. “It must have been Oscar.”
“It looks like officers are approaching the truck and I think they have their weapons drawn.” Megan’s hand was still holding on to Jack’s. She covered her eyes with her free hand before the flashing lights made her tired brain seize.
“Gillie, get out. Raise your hands, call out to Dad and then walk toward him. And be careful. No sudden movements. You know the drill.”
“Sure. You aren’t going to do anything stupid, like try to leave in this broken-down thing. Are you?” his sister asked.
“No. I have to make a phone call and we’ll be right behind you.”
Jack squeezed Megan’s hand and let go, putting his right hand on the dash and removing his phone with his left. As it powered up, it began dinging with notification after notification.
“Do you want mine?” she asked.
“No, but put your left hand on the dash so they can see it. We don’t want them to get trigger-happy.” His eyes locked with hers, giving her courage.
Strange how that worked.
“How come I’m more afraid now than when those guys were shooting at us? Or when I was alone with that man who didn’t think I could swing a poker?”
“I get it. But nothing’s going to happen. These are the good guys and don’t forget...my dad’s a senator. Use your right hand and play the last message from Wade.”
“Get out of the car!” a man said with a bullhorn.
The voice message played. “Jack, I get why you aren’t calling or checking in. Saw the news. Nothing is right about this gig. Not the girl, the crew, the reason. Supposed to be returning a favor for rescuing your hide—yeah, I owe you another explanation about that. I’m on the trail of the people behind your ambush in Austin. Sorry about this, partner. Contact border-style.”
“What does that mean? He didn’t mention Therese. Or me. I’m far from being a girl.”
“These details are for if the police listen to the message. We had a drop when I was undercover. There’s a place in Dallas that matches up. Megan—”
She turned the phone off, dropped it in her laptop bag and turned her face toward his. “So what’s the plan? Are we honest with them and tell them everything?”
“Of course, but wait on a lawyer. Cops can be tricky.” Jack winked and turned his shoulders in the first movement to get out of the car.
“Ranger MacKinnon, put your hands out the window. Now!” said the bullhorn man.
He turned the window crank. “I’m getting out, and I’m unarmed.”
“Tell them I begged for your help. It might save your job.”
Jack quickly turned and took her face between his hands. He brought his lips to hers, a second kiss just as passionate as the first. Even if the situation this time was desperate, the kiss was beautiful and comforting. Instead of being filled by the hope of what questions might come, it was filled with the dread that they knew the answer.
The men surrounding the truck finished their advance. Jack raised his hands. “I’m not lying, Megan. Neither should you. And don’t forget, we have some unfinished...um...Battleship business.”
He purposely accentuated his dimples.
“I knew you could use those at your will.” She would have responded with more if she hadn’t been dragged by her borrowed flannel shirt out the other side of the truck.
The next minutes were a long blur. At least Gillie was free. Jack was handcuffed and facing a man who paced back and forth on the porch. She sat in one of the state troopers’ cars, hands behind her back, totally uncomfortable on the plastic seat, afraid to move. She was paralyzed. First because she hated not knowing what would happen and secondly the ick factor. Sitting on a seat that could be hosed out made her wonder what had been there before her.
Two cars remained, and both officers were standing out of earshot of the porch conversation. Her window was cracked and she could finally hear a little of what was going on.
“I am your father, and you will listen to me,” said the man pacing. Well, that settled who he was.
Jack looked nothing like him, with the exception of the dimples in their chins. The older man was several inches shorter, graying at the temples and wearing a suit. But he exuded authority—especially over Gillie and her brother.
“Take
those cuffs off him and bring in the girl,” he directed.
“We need to take Miss Harper in for questioning, Mayor MacKinnon.”
“Officer Scranton, I’m the one who brought you here. Don’t you think I know that you’ll be taking her back to Austin? But first, I’d like to speak to her and my son. And remember, you’re in my town. I could lock them up here and you could just wait your turn. Or I can insist that you go through proper channels and file all the appropriate paperwork required to transfer from my city to yours. Do you want that?”
“Bring Miss Harper inside and stay posted at the doors.” Bullhorn man had also succumbed to the powerful Mr. MacKinnon.
Thing was, she was used to a man like Jack Sr. She’d wrapped someone just like him around her pinkie finger all her life. He wouldn’t like weak or tired. He’d appreciate someone honest and straightforward. But would it do her any good to try?
Jack stood at attention once inside the small living room. It was a position that Megan was extremely familiar with as a child of a military officer. He also seemed to be avoiding eye contact with Megan. Was he blaming himself? Or attempting not to draw attention to her?
Gillie plopped on the couch and toed off her boots. Her head dropped to the top of the cushion, and she let out a long sigh but kept staring at the ceiling.
“What in the hell are you thinking?” Jack Sr. began—or should she think of him as Senator?
“Can you stop the bluster now, Dad? Everyone’s out of earshot.” Gillie grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her body, subconsciously getting an additional layer of protection. “I know you’re happy they’re both safe.”
Jack Sr. took a dining-room chair, flipped it around and invited Megan to sit. It was on the tip of her tongue to refuse, but Gillie caught her eye and ever so slightly suggested a no with her chin. Then she looked toward her brother.
“Thank you, sir,” Megan said, trusting the siblings to handle the person they’d grown up with.
He looked at her with a surprised expression that Jack and Gillie both had in their repertoire. This should be fun.
Well, it would be if she weren’t in handcuffs.
