Beneath A Texas Sky (Harlequin Super Romance)

by Winters, Rebecca

  “No.”

  That one word conveyed a wealth of emotion. It spoke of living and loving. Of shattered dreams…Dana could relate.

  She unlocked the observatory door. “Welcome to my world.”

  Jace’s eyes widened in surprise when she turned on the lights.

  He’d been concentrating so hard on the case, trying so desperately to get a handle on it from any conceivable angle, he’d assumed the observatory was a newly erected shell, still empty on the inside.

  Good Lord. If this was her world, then that meant sh—

  “If you’d like to go into my office there on the right side of the telescope, I’ll bring you something to eat from the kitchen.”

  Staggered by the realization he’d been this far off base where she was concerned, he entered her office in a daze.

  Dozens of fascinating photographs of the planets covered the walls. There were all kinds of computers, machines, printers and screens. The place was an astronomer’s paradise.

  On her desk she’d propped small framed photos. He saw one of Dana with a man and woman he suspected must be her parents, though they were blonde.

  There was another photograph of a very attractive-looking couple. The man appeared to be about Jace’s age. The woman looking up into his eyes had the most amazing red hair.

  There were other photos. One of a cute little Hispanic girl around four or five. Another of a teenage boy with a dog. The last showed a blond teenage girl. Were they her siblings?

  “Here you go.” She set a package of nacho chips and a bottle of Orange Crush on her desk. “I hope you don’t mind canned jalapeño bean dip. This is about the extent of my offerings until I go grocery shopping on Monday.” She popped open the lid and placed the can next to the chips.

  “Please, have a seat. I’ll get another chair out of my dad’s office.”

  She was off and running before he could stop her.

  “You’re not going to eat with me?” he asked when she reappeared with a swivel chair exactly like hers and sat down.

  “Not right now. I stayed at the Pride Ranch last night. This afternoon, just before I left, I had dinner at their buffet. I’m so full I couldn’t eat or drink anything.”

  He’d wondered where she’d gone. Feeling happier and happier with every answer, Jace ate a few chips with dip. “So that’s where you got your sunburn.”

  “Yes. I laid out by the pool too long. Then I rode horses for the rest of the day. Now I’m miserable.”

  He drained half the bottle of pop before he asked, “Were you on a date with someone?” He had to ask her.

  She eyed him frankly. “No. I decided to take a little break. But my reason for going was to visit the camp.” She told him about her plan for the young astronomers.

  “When did you become an astronomer?” Everything about her charmed and fascinated him. Jace couldn’t hear enough.

  She tapped a finger against the group photo. “My dad’s one of the head astronomers at Mount Palomar near San Diego, California. He got me interested when I was just a little girl.”

  Jace shook his head in wonderment. “Isn’t that part of Cal-Tech?”

  “Yes. I moved to Pasadena so I could get my master’s there.”

  “In what, specifically?”

  “Astrogeology.”

  At some point in her studies, she’d gone to prison. It made no sense.

  “Did Cal-Tech build this observatory?”

  “No. This property belonged to my mother’s family since way back. She was originally from Texas.”

  The pieces were falling into place faster than he could fit them.

  “They were ranchers who owned a lot of land near Big Bend, then sold it off in parcels. My grandparents held on to this piece on Mount Luna, then willed it to Mom.

  “She gave Dad the land for a wedding present. It’s probably the best place in the western hemisphere to study the stars.

  “Recently he built this observatory with private funds. It’s linked to Palomar. In a few years he and Mom will both retire and build a house here. Until then, I’m running the place while I work on my Ph.D. in astrogeology.”

  “Why the change?”

  “Because I’ve always had a fascination with volcanoes as well as stars. This way I can have my cake and eat it too.” When she smiled at him this time, it reached dark places inside him that hadn’t felt the sunshine in years.

  “What project are you working on right now?”

  “When I started graduate school, I began studying one of Jupiter’s moons called Europa. You can see the pictures on the corkboard. Those large blowups were in the package you brought to my trailer. Dad sent them.”

  “I take it there’s something special about it.”

  She nodded. “Very.”

  “Tell me.”

  “I don’t want to bore you.”

  “That wouldn’t be possible.”

  “Did you ever take astronomy in college?”

  “No.”

  “That’s why you can say what you did with such certainty.”

  He chuckled. “All I’m asking for is a layperson’s explanation.”

  “You really want to know?”

  His expression sobered. “I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”

  “Well, astronomers are no different than the fictional characters on Star Trek who search for life on other planets. There is evidence that the possibility of life could exist on Europa.”

  “What sort?”

  “I’m not talking about aliens,” she teased.

  “I didn’t think you were.”

  “Okay. To make energy, which is essential to life, you need fuel and something with which to burn it. Earth has a supply of oxidants which are energy sources. As it turns out, data from the spectrometer reveals the presence of sulfur on Europa, a known oxidant on Earth.

  “The reddish-brown area on the surface you can see in those pictures suggests that another oxidant, sulfuric acid, might coexist with the sulfur. What I’m attempting to do now is prove that the acid is coming from Europa’s hot interior beneath its icy crust.

  “I believe the material is either being ejected by sulfuric acid geysers, or else it’s being funneled through cracks in the ice to the surface.”

  “In other words, volcanoes.”

  “Yes. There’s one theory that the volcanoes on Io, Jupiter’s fiery moon, have been ejecting sulfur atoms into the magnetic environment around Jupiter that eventually whirled toward Europa.”

  “But you don’t think so.”

  “No. So far my data suggests that sodium and magnesium sulfates have worked their way from underground oceans. When they reach the surface, they are altered by an intense radiation field. The pictures Dad sent me, which were taken by one of the probes, support my theory.

  “Since I came to Mount Luna, I’ve been monitoring volcanic activity on Europa twenty-four hours a day and recording my observations. That’s about it.”

  “I’m sure that’s only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.”

  She smiled. “It’s the only part that’s interesting. The rest is physics. What about you, Jace? I’ve been doing all the talking. Tell me about your life.”

  I’ve already told you some of it, Dana Turner. But there’s a lot I can’t reveal. Not yet.

  “I tell you what. I know you came up here to work. If you’re not busy tomorrow evening, how about having dinner with me at the café, and we’ll take up where we left off.”

  She sat back in the chair. He flinched when she crossed those gorgeous long legs of hers. Being with her had made all his senses come alive.

  “I’d like that very much, but there’s something you should know about me first. After you hear what I have to say, you may not want to see me again, and that will be all right with me.”

  At her unexpected remark, his heart skidded sideways.

  She reached for the picture of the blond teenage girl. “This is my younger sister, Amy, my only sibling. Last year she took
a lethal overdose of drugs, lit her bedroom on fire and died. She made it look as if I had murdered her.

  “The prosecuting attorney convinced the jury I was guilty, so I was given a thirty years-to-life sentence and locked up in Fielding Women’s Prison outside San Bernadino.”

  After putting that picture down, she showed him the couple photo. “If it hadn’t been for my best friend, Heidi, and her husband, Gideon, a homicide detective in San Diego, I would still be in prison.

  “They found new evidence to get my case reopened. The judge ruled my sister’s death a suicide. I was acquitted and set free at the end of April.

  “Before I did anything else, I went through some intensive counseling. Among other things, it taught me that even though I knew I was innocent of any wrongdoing, there’d always be people who would believe I was guilty, or at least entertain doubts about me.

  “However, I’ve learned the hard way that my past will always cling to me. The truth is, I’ve spent seven months in prison. It’s a fact of life, and it has changed mine forever.”

  Jace heard her take a steadying breath, evidence of what it had cost to be so brave. Her honesty spoke straight to his soul.

  “Rather than say anything now, why don’t you think about what I’ve just told you, Jace. Tomorrow evening I’ll go to the café at six. If you’re there, fine. If you’re not, I’ll understand.”

  He didn’t need time. But a woman who’d been wrongfully imprisoned did.

  Dana fit the typical profile of an innocent weighted with the fear that people would always see her as a felon. Jace would give her the space she needed for her sake, not his. Little did she know her unsolicited confession had filled him with joy.

  “Six it is.”

  Tonight he would fill in the dark hours hiking around. While people were asleep, he could look around the more isolated ranch areas without being spotted. During the day, he’d sleep. It was a plan that would keep him from jumping out of his skin until he could be with her again.

  By tacit agreement they walked to the door of the observatory. When she opened it, he saw the soft breeze tousle her shining dark hair around her shoulders. With classic features set in the smooth oval of her face, she was a truly beautiful woman. He rebelled at the thought of having to leave her for any reason.

  “How soon are you going back to your trailer tonight?”

  Her eyes met his. “I’m not. The project I’m working on requires me to stay at the telescope. I’ll go home in the morning.”

  Perfect. He’d noticed the observatory came with a state-of-the-art electronic locking device. He was satisfied she had more than adequate protection against predators like Glen.

  “Good night, Dana. After I make camp and stretch out in my sleeping bag, I’ll look up at the heavens and think of you.”

  “You’re going to camp tonight?” she cried.

  “That’s right. When I’ve been penned up in the van all week, there’s nothing I love more than to get out in nature.”

  “Where?”

  “I don’t have a set destination. I like to explore. When I see the right spot, I’ll know it.”

  “I guess I don’t need to tell a grown man like you to be careful, but my mom warned me there are black bears and mountain lions roaming these mountains. They stay in the caves.”

  He grinned. “Don’t I know it! If I don’t show up at six tomorrow night, you can send out a search party.”

  “That’s not funny, Jace!”

  What he’d said had upset her. Good.

  He walked to his car with the sure knowledge that she cared. In his gut he had the feeling she cared as much as he did.

  “Thanks for the snacks and the drink,” he called to her from the open window.

  “You’re welcome,” she answered.

  As he started the engine and headed around the downward curve, he glanced in the rearview mirror. She was still watching him.

  How long had it been since he’d wanted a woman to watch him, to worry about him….

  The feeling was indescribable.

  By the time he’d reached the crossroads in Cloud Rim, it was dark out. Another hour and he’d follow the fire road highlighted on his forest service map. It would take him to the southeastern portion of the area for a search. In the meantime he’d check things out at the Mason property and see what was going on.

  When Pat had phoned him earlier in the day with his latest report, Glen appeared to be clean of any warrants for his arrest as far as the state of Texas was concerned.

  An officer had tailed him to a bar in Alpine. He drank beer and played pool with some local guys before getting in his truck and heading back to Cloud Rim at eleven-thirty.

  Thinking back to his conversation with Glen, Jace recalled his jealous reaction to the mention of another man in Dana’s life. Jace had been talking about Tony Roberts—but who had Glen been thinking of? None of those local guys fit the description.

  It looked as if nothing was going on, but Jace and Pat thought differently.

  With time to spare, Jace parked his car in front of the café, then walked along the side of the road until the trailer came into view. The first thing he noticed was the IPS tag missing from her front door.

  Since Dana hadn’t stopped there on her way home from Fort Davis, only one other person could have removed it. Glen would probably use it as an excuse to come over and see her when she was home.

  He flicked his gaze to the ranch house. The pickup wasn’t there. Now might be a good time to pay a visit on Ralph. But no sooner had Jace made up his mind to walk over there than he heard the sound of an engine coming down the road.

  Thankful for the darkness, he moved behind the trailer and waited to see who it was.

  Jace didn’t have to wonder very long. Glen turned into Dana’s driveway and pulled the truck alongside the trailer as if he lived there. Within seconds he’d let himself inside her place.

  A light went on. Jace guessed it lit the corridor between the kitchen and bedroom. He tiptoed around the other side.

  Glen was doing something in the bathroom. Whatever he was up to, it didn’t take long before he turned off the light and locked the trailer. Until he’d gone back to the ranch house for the night, Jace didn’t move from his vigil behind the trailer.

  When all was quiet, he walked back to town and drove his car as close as he dared to the edge of the Mason property. His tools and flashlight were in the trunk. He got out what he needed, then crept over to the trailer.

  This was another one of those times the situation called for an immediate search. Once he had the door open, he rushed to the bathroom.

  Glen had come in here for a reason. There was nothing on the walls or ceiling but the smoke alarm. Jace turned on the flashlight so he could see to remove the cover.

  His fingers found a minicamera with a pinhole lens and a ten-hour tape. Where did Glen get the kind of money it took to buy a device like this? Bastard!

  In a rage, Jace grabbed it at the edges and pulled it out, wrapped it in tissue and put it in his pocket. He probably wouldn’t be able to get any good prints off it, but the hard evidence was stacking up big time against Ralph’s grandson.

  After Jace put the cover back on the smoke alarm, he moved to the bedroom to see if she was being filmed in there too. But a thorough search didn’t reveal anything else. He walked through the entire trailer checking for listening devices. When he was satisfied there was nothing more, he locked up and took off.

  Dana had been renting for a month. Who knew how long that vile little vermin had been watching her. Jace broke out in a cold sweat, as if his own body had been violated.

  He wouldn’t tell her what Glen had done, but Jace would fix it so Glen never got his jollies at her expense again.

  Picking up his cell phone, he called Pat and told him what he’d uncovered.

  “It’s time to call in the P.I.’s to set up a twenty-four surveillance on Glen Mason. I want to know every move he makes, every person he talks to
. Pictures. The works!

  “He’s at the ranch house right now. I presume he’ll be there until tomorrow morning. By first light I want those guys ready to follow him to work, wherever he goes. After he’s left the house, I’ll have a chat with his grandfather.

  “Hopefully, Ralph will be able to tell me something that will help us trace Glen’s movements before he came to Texas.”

  Pat heaved a sigh. “You can bet that if he’s into breaking and entering to do garbage like that, he has a record a mile long.”

  “It’s only the tip of the iceberg,” Jace muttered emotionally. He still hadn’t recovered from his find. Maybe he never would.

  “At this point it doesn’t matter whether he has anything to do with Gibb’s case or not. I’m going to make sure Glen gets put away for what he’s been doing to Dana. When I think—”

  “Don’t go there, Jace,” Pat broke in. “I know how hard this has hit you, but I think you’re on to something big with Glen. He’s got the profile of a bona fide criminal.”

  “I know. He’s a pathological liar, which makes him particularly dangerous.”

  “And shrewd,” Pat added. “I’ve been asking myself how come he’s been able to stay out of trouble since he came to Texas.”

  “That’s easy. He knows he’s a wanted man. He’s trying to be extra quiet about whatever it is he’s doing.”

  “Exactly. It’s the only reason a twenty-three-year-old hellion would turn up at his grandpa’s after years of no contact, offering to take care of an eighty-eight year-old man.”

  Jace’s hand tightened on the cell phone. “Forced to keep a low profile, he gets his kicks from spying on his neighbor and harassing the hell out of her!”

  “It’s all part of a pattern, Jace. A little more patience and who knows where this could lead.”

  “If it were anyone but Dana…”

  “You want to get this off your chest now?”

  That was all the encouragement he needed to confide his feelings. Pretty soon Pat knew everything.

  “Tell you what. When I contact the P.I.’s, I’ll warn them that if it looks like Dana could be in danger from Glen, they’re to call me so my officers can intervene in time. We’ll keep her safe.”

  “Thanks, Pat.”