by Carsen Taite
Lay Down the Law
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Lay Down the Law
© 2015 By Carsen Taite. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-62639-380-6
This Electronic Book is published by
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, New York 12185
First Edition: April 2015
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Cindy Cresap
Production Design: Susan Ramundo
Cover Design By Sheri ([email protected])
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Acknowledgments
I was a junior in high school when the “Who Done It” episode of the popular series Dallas (the original version) aired on TV. Unlike the 90 million folks who tuned in to watch, I didn’t get to see the show that night. It was Friday night, I was in the high school band, and the Plano Wildcats were battling it out in 5A football. This was before the days of cell phones and instant downloads, but loud shouts revealing the truth about who shot J.R. spread through the stadium full of Friday night light fanatics with as much enthusiasm as “Take State!”
I truly believe the series Dallas was so popular because of its bold characters and the colorful canvas of the setting. Big oil, corruption, and dark family secrets kept a nation glued to their televisions week after week for fourteen seasons. So, when Rad and I discussed my plan for a new series, it was a no-brainer to put the lawyer and cops I usually write about smack in the middle of a dynamic Texas setting, complete with ranches and oil and corruption and crime. I look forward to taking these heroines on a wild ride full of twist and turns, and I hope you’ll enjoy this first installment enough to hop on board for the rest of the series.
Thanks to all the usual suspects: Rad, Sandy Lowe, and all the rest of the crew at Bold Strokes Books for all the hard work they do to get our stories out into the world. Sheri, thanks for another great cover. Cindy Cresap—my intrepid editor—you’re the best. Ever. Ruth Sternglanz, for always being available when I need to brainstorm, thank you! Ashley Bartlett and VK Powell—you two are the best first readers a gal could hope for. You keep me on track, and your willingness to give me insightful critiques under the gun of a deadline always amazes me. I owe you both. Big time. And a big hug to all my fellow BSB authors—you are family.
Lainey, I couldn’t have realized this dream without you. I notice everything you do, big and little, to support me, and I appreciate you more than I can ever express.
To my readers—all the notes you write, all the books you buy are fuel to my creative spirit. Thanks for all your support. This story is for you!
Dedication
To Lainey, my fellow dreamer.
CHAPTER ONE
At first glance everything looked exactly as it had when she’d left three years before.
Peyton hefted her duffle bag onto her shoulder, handed the driver a fifty, and declined his offer to traverse the rocky drive up to the main house. The long walk along the rugged path would give her just the right amount of time to adjust to the change from the cement, steel, and bustle of the nation’s capital.
A few steps in, sweat beads formed on her forehead, and Peyton mourned the fall weather she’d left behind. North Texas would likely be warm for at least another month, maybe more. She’d need to invest in some cooler clothes. She set down her bag and rolled up her sleeves while saying a silent thanks that she’d thought to wear her boots on the plane. She paused and looked around. The portion of fence she was leaning on was in good shape, but at least three other sections in plain view needed repair. From this distance, the house looked the same—large, but unassuming. Round bales of hay dotted the field to the left, but she didn’t see any cattle out to pasture. No doubt they’d found the nearest shade tree for a nap, which is what she’d wind up doing if she didn’t get inside soon.
She strode briskly the rest of the way, with mixed feelings about coming home to the Circle Six Ranch. But now that she was here, she was anxious to drink in all she’d missed. Land as far as the eye could see. The crisp, earthy smell of hay and horses. The sweat of a hard day’s work. A week from now, she’d be back in an office, but when the workday was over, she’d come back here to open vistas and a twilight ride on her favorite horse. Much better than a steel and glass apartment building on the Metro line.
As she got closer to the house, she realized it wasn’t the same. She surveyed the obvious signs of wear and tear. Nothing major, but she wasn’t used to seeing anything out of place on the ranch, which made the peeling paint on the eaves, the overgrown shrubs, and the taped up window on the second floor cause for concern. Before she had a chance to process her feelings, a loud but welcome voice shattered her concentration.
“Peyton Davis, get your butt up here! Did you walk all the way from Washington D.C.?”
Peyton grinned at her mother who stepped down from the porch. People said they looked exactly alike, and she took it as a compliment. Helen Davis was a handsome woman, tall and rangy with rugged good looks. Like Peyton, she was dressed in jeans and boots. She tugged on the duffle bag hanging on Peyton’s shoulder.
“I got it, Mom.”
“Fine then.” She let the bag go. “You’re almost late for lunch. Can’t be late around here. You do and you won’t eat. There’s not a restaurant on every corner. You’re going to have a lot of things to remember now that you’re home. Come in and wash up. You look like you just waded through a dust bowl.”
Her rapid-fire speech complete, she turned and walked back into the house, letting the screen door swing shut behind her. Peyton shook her head and followed, taking care to knock some of the dust from her boots before she crossed the threshold into the main house of the Davis family ranch.
When the smell of fresh baked cornbread combined with the leftover scent of breakfast bacon hit her, she knew she was home. Her mouth watered. The package of peanut butter crackers she’d eaten on the plane had long since worn off. She set her bag in the mudroom and followed her nose to the kitchen. She was steps away when strong arms swept her into a huge embrace. She knew who it was without looking.
“Zach, let me go, fool. I’m covered in dust.”
Peyton mock struggled, but her younger brother only grinned. “I’ll match you, dirt for dirt. I just came in from the north forty. Couldn’t let you get to the food before me.”
“I should’ve known this wasn’t about you being glad to see me. Hello to you too.”
“Seriously, sis. It’s great to have you home.”
She leaned back and studied his face. As with her mother, it was like looking in a mirror except Zach’s usually playful brown eyes were
tinged with melancholy. He’d always been the most expressive child in the family, but his mood was rarely serious. Then again, recent events had given all of them more to be serious about. Still, something about his tone signaled his display of affection was about more than the time they’d spent apart. She filed the observation away with the others. She’d pull them out and examine them once she’d had a chance to settle in. “It’s great to be back. I want you to catch me up on everything, but right now I’m starving. Are Dad and Neil coming in for lunch?”
“Uh, Dad’s here. I think he’s already in the kitchen. Come on.”
He took off in front of her, but she waited a second, noting that Zach had glossed over the mention of their brother, Neil. She’d have to face him sooner or later, but later would be preferable. Today was a packed day, and she’d need a good meal, one without conflict, to brace for the rest of it.
Jim Davis was already at the head of the table, drinking what she suspected was thick, sweet tea from a large glass. He stood when she approached and pulled her into a hug, not as forceful as Zach’s, but every bit as intense. The embrace was tender, but his grip wasn’t as strong as she remembered. When he finally pulled back, she searched his eyes for more signs of change. His gaze wasn’t quite as clear, his pallor was gray, and he braced an arm against the table. She’d known he was sick, but the reality of it was hard to witness.
“Dad, it’s great to see you.”
“Good to have you back, Peyton. We have a lot of work to do.”
Her mother strode to the table with a large platter of fried chicken, and was followed by an elderly Latina carrying bowls with mashed potatoes and fried okra. “Work talk later,” her mother said. “We have to sort out the details for this afternoon.” She turned to Peyton. “Fernanda put some go-to-meeting jeans and a few new shirts with your black boots in the closet upstairs. We need to leave at five.”
Peyton nodded and shot Fernanda Luna, the family housekeeper, a smile. While she would have much rather spent her first day back in Texas settling in, she knew the family had never missed the annual Cattle Baron’s Ball, and her homecoming wasn’t a good enough reason to change that. Thank goodness her mother had arranged to have some clothes ready for her, since all she had until the movers arrived on Monday was the clothes on her back and what she’d been able to fit in her duffle bag.
As they settled in to eat, Zach took over the conversation, enthusiastically including her in all the plans he had for the ranch. She heard the words, but she couldn’t ignore the cautious undercurrent from her internal ear. The broken rails, the peeling paint, the empty fields. For every thing Zach said he wanted to do, she could think of two others that had been neglected. Where was Neil and why wasn’t he taking better care of things?
She studied her dad, trying to get a read on his feelings about all of Zach’s plans. He looked back at her, but his eyes were tired, distant. None of this exuberance was coming from him. She chewed her food and her thoughts, slowly, carefully. She wasn’t here to tend fields, herd cattle, or raise horses. The ranch wasn’t hers, and she shouldn’t let its disrepair concern her. She’d decided before she ever got on the plane that she’d find a place to live in the city. Her father’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Mother, pass me the mashed potatoes.”
He was staring directly at her, but he seemed a million miles away. Peyton looked from her father’s outstretched hand into his eyes, waiting for him to realize his mistake. One, two, three seconds passed before she finally lifted the bowl and handed it to him, holding his gaze the entire time. When she released the bowl, he smiled and said, “Thanks, Peyton. It’s good to have you home.”
She cast a look at Zach who seemed to be unduly interested in a chicken thigh and then at her mother who shook her head. Peyton reached for her tea glass and took a long drink of the cool, sweet liquid, escaping into the simple pleasure. She’d drink her drink, eat her dinner, visit the horses, and get ready for the ball. Later, she’d sort through all the things that had changed in her absence.
*
“It’s not supposed to rain.”
Lily Gantry turned around at the sound of her best friend Courtney Pearson’s voice and pointed at the gathering clouds. “When was the last time the weather here did what it was supposed to?”
“Well, if the bottom falls out, you’ll just have a bunch of soaking wet donors. We already got most of their money, so what’s the downside?”
“Silent and live auction, bar receipts,” Lily ticked the list off on her fingers. “I’ve already let the convention center go as our in case of rain venue. If it pours, we stand to lose a bunch of money.”
“And we’ve already made a ton for a wonderful cause. In just a few hours, people will start pouring in here, and rain or shine, we’ll get them liquored up and they’ll start emptying their pockets. Relax.”
Lily took a deep breath. This was her first time to chair the annual Cattle Baron’s Ball. She’d stepped in at the last minute when the other co-chair had a family emergency, but despite her late entry, she’d made it her personal goal to raise more money for cancer research than any of the years before them. Courtney, her co-chair, seemed more interested in finding an eligible bachelor in the mix of attendees than raising funds, but her charisma was sure to rake in the bucks.
Two hours later, Lily changed into her outfit for the evening and went back outside to check the sky. She heaved a sigh of relief when she saw the clouds had scattered and the dusky night hinted at a cool, comfortable evening. The full moon was in view, and crowds of well-heeled donors started to pour through the gates at South Fork Ranch, ready for one of the biggest events of the year. Now that all the details for the event were in place, her primary job was hostess. She squared her shoulders and headed for the front entrance to greet the hundreds of guests who were arriving to support cancer research and have a Texas-sized good time.
“Shall we?” Courtney hooked arms with her and they walked to the front gate.
They’d barely made it a few steps before Dalton Henry, the chair of the Cattle Baron’s Ball board, corralled them. “Ladies, looks like we’re in for a record crowd tonight. You sure you’re up for it?”
Lily squeezed Courtney’s arm before she could snap out a sharp retort in response to Dalton’s usual condescension. “We’ve done everything we can do at this point. Only thing left is to make sure everyone has a good time.” She offered her sweetest smile. “You’ll help us with that, won’t you, Mr. Henry?”
Before he could reply, a big voice interrupted. “Dalton Henry, are you bothering my girl?”
Lily smiled as her father pulled her into a hug, but this time her smile was genuine. “Dad, this dress has to make it through a long evening. Let’s try not to wrinkle it to death in the first five minutes. Where’s Mom?”
Cyrus Gantry waved his hand in the air. “She found Courtney’s mother the minute we got here and I haven’t seen her since.” He signaled to Dalton. “Dalton, leave these girls be. They’ll do you proud. Now why don’t you do something important and show me to the bar?”
Courtney pointed behind him. “Isn’t that the Davis family?”
“Who?”
“You know they own the Circle Six Ranch. They’re long-time supporters and sponsors. Time for me to go schmooze. Mr. Henry, will you wait here? I’m sure they’d love to meet you.”
Dalton looked at her father who shrugged and signaled that he was headed to the bar. Lily watched Courtney walk away, her curiosity piqued. She and Courtney had split the duty of gathering sponsors for the event. She’d heard of the Circle Six Ranch, but she’d never met the Davises. She suspected the handsome young man in Courtney’s sightline was the primary reason she was interested in giving them a personal greeting.
Their warm embrace proved her right. Even from a distance, Lily could tell Courtney was flirting shamelessly. Just like in high school. If she were interested in men, she might flirt too. He was devilishly attractive.
&n
bsp; Lily’s glance moved to the couple she assumed were his parents. Mrs. Davis was a taller version of her son—handsome, full of life, but Mr. Davis was hunched and sallow. He looked exhausted. Before she could process her impressions, Courtney and the Davises started walking toward her. As they approached, a woman who’d been standing with them came into view, and Lily locked eyes with her, taking in honey eyes, short waves of brown hair, and a firm jaw. They held each other’s glance, and then the woman’s face softened slightly and her lips curled into the hint of a smile. Infectious. Lily smiled back, even started to walk across the lawn, drawn to the magnetism of the stranger, but two steps in, she froze.
“Are you okay?” Courtney grasped her arm as she whispered the question in her ear.
Lily could only manage a nod, her gaze still fixed on the woman who’d hung back from the rest of the crowd. While Courtney introduced the Davis clan to Dalton Henry, Lily watched Virginia Taylor, the bane of her existence, casually drape an arm around the tall, mysterious stranger and lean in close. Too close. Lily wanted to look away, but inexplicably she seemed destined to see this play out. All traces of the stranger’s smile disappeared as Virginia’s body hugged her tight, but the connection between them lingered, and Lily couldn’t bear to be the one to break it.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Courtney again. Unwilling to risk looking away, Lily grabbed Courtney’s arm and willed her to look in the direction she was focused. “Who is that?”
“Where?”
“Over there. With Virginia.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? You look pale.”
“Courtney,” Lily growled, willing her to focus.
“Okay, that must be Peyton Davis. She’s Zach’s older sister. I hear she just got back in town today. Rumor is she left town a few years ago—some kind of falling out with the family. She’s been living in D.C. I think she’s a lawyer. I hear she’s got a new job in Dallas.”
