StudinTexas

by Calista Fox

  “Hmm, that’s odd,” she said.

  He glanced at her over a bare shoulder. He’d only slipped on his Levi’s and he was a vision of rugged sexiness with his sinewy back and tanned skin. But her stomach clenched, eclipsing the desire that flared at the sight of him.

  “What is it?” he asked, concern etched on his chiseled-to-perfection face.

  “Five calls from my friend Lucy at the dance hall. All first thing this morning. Must be some sort of wedding cake emergency in Luckenbach.”

  She called Lucy back. “Hey, there. It’s Sky,” she said when the line connected.

  “Oh sweet Jesus. I have been worried sick about you.”

  Sky’s brow furrowed. Sam piled the pancakes on a plate and joined her at the breakfast bar, his curious gaze on her.

  She said into the phone, “What’s going on? I see you’ve been trying to reach me this morning. Wedding cake disaster?”

  “No, it has nothing to do with the dance hall.” Lucy’s voice was filled with dread. “Lord, Sky. I’ve been going crazy, not being able to reach you and not knowing where you are.”

  “I spent the night in Wilder.”

  “I am so glad to hear that.”

  “Lucy, what is going on?”

  “Well,” she said in a more troubled tone. “It’s your trailer, honey. It caught fire.”

  “What?” Sky sank onto a stool, shock gripping her soul. An ominous sensation snaked through her, making her shudder.

  Lucy said, “The volunteer firefighters from Fredericksburg came out and they were blown away by how fast and furiously your trailer burned. Scorched some trees in the area too. They were worried about your whereabouts as well. Why, one of them said if you’d been asleep inside, you might not have been able to get out, the trailer went up in flames so quick.”

  She blanched. Her blood ran cold. “Oh my God.”

  Sam stepped toward her and gently gripped her upper arm. She was shaking.

  “Honey,” Lucy continued, “they were real suspicious about the cause of the fire and did some looking around. They found a couple of containers that still had some gasoline in them. So they’re thinking it was intentional.”

  “Arson?” She could barely get the word out.

  Sam’s free hand raked through his hair and he let out a low groan. “Goddammit.”

  “My stuff…?” she muttered.

  “Oh, sweetie,” Lucy said. “There ain’t nothing left of your stuff. I’m telling you, that trailer burned clean to the ground. Who would do such a thing?”

  She knew exactly who. “I feel sick.”

  “I think you ought to stay where you are,” Lucy told her. “’Til the sheriff from Fredericksburg or Wilder figures out what really happened.” She sighed. “I’m real sorry to be telling you this, Sky. But I am damn glad you weren’t in that trailer. Why, I just can’t even begin to imagine…” Her voice tapered off.

  Sky swallowed hard. “Thanks for letting me know, Lucy. And for being concerned about me. I’ll give you a call in a day or so, okay?”

  “Sky, are you gonna be all right?”

  She stared up at the hunky cowboy whose expression was a cross between consternation and fury. As though he weren’t sure whether to pull her into his arms or spit nails—at Mac Willet.

  “Yeah, Lucy. I’ll be just fine. I’ll talk to you later.”

  She disconnected the call and barely managed to set the phone on the counter without dropping it, her hand shook so bad.

  Staring up at Sam, she told him, “There’s nothing left of my trailer. The firemen suspect arson. Said if I’d been inside when the fire started, I—” She sucked in a sharp breath, unable to repeat what Lucy had mentioned about her not escaping.

  “Son of a bitch.” Sam hissed under his breath. His fingers grazed her cheek, brushing away a few tears. “It’s time to talk to the sheriff, sweetheart.”

  “I know,” she whispered, fear and anxiety gripping her. “But, Sam.” She continued to gaze up at him, her heart twisting. “If I tell the sheriff—either here or in Fredericksburg—then I have to tell Reese. Like you said, she can’t hear about this from someone else. And word gets around quick in these parts.”

  He pulled her from the stool and wrapped his arms around her, holding her firmly as her body still trembled.

  “It’ll be all right, darlin’. The sheriff will find him and we’ll put a stop to this. And Reese will be nothing but concerned about you. She won’t think any less of you, you have to know that.”

  “She’ll be so disappointed in me.”

  “Hey.” He pulled away slightly, cupped her face with his hands and stared deep into her eyes. “This is not your fuck up. You believed in this guy enough to agree to go into the studio to record another CD.”

  “He got me the Casey James gig. I trusted him.”

  “And he got himself into a bind and lied to you so you’d bail him out. Then he assaulted you. I repeat,” he said in a strong voice, “this is not your fault.”

  She was quiet for several moments, drowning in his mesmerizing emerald eyes. Then she smiled softly and said, “I don’t deserve you, but I’m sure glad you’re on my side.”

  He hugged her again, squeezing her tight. “Darlin’, you have got to start giving yourself more credit. Don’t let this guy rob your confidence.”

  She sighed. Sam was right. She was fighting tooth and nail to keep Mac from stealing money from her, but she’d handed over her dignity pretty damn quick. Yes, it would be hell to tell Reese the full truth about Nashville. But she had to believe that Reese would still love her, anyway. That nothing would ever break their bond.

  “Okay,” she said. “I’ll go to the sheriff’s office.”

  Chapter Nine

  “I’ll take you,” Sam said as he unraveled from her.

  “I want to talk to Sheriff Johnson. I’ve known him since I was a kid. It’ll be easier to speak with him than a stranger. And since there’s no local law in Luckenbach, I’d have to go to the authorities in Fredericksburg or Wilder, so I choose Wilder.”

  “All right.” He trashed their uneaten breakfast, then finished dressing while Sky pulled on her jeans. She tucked in the hem of his shirt, but she was still swimming in it.

  While she sat on the edge of his bed and yanked on her boots, he told her, “We’ll have to stop into a store when we’re in town so you can get some clothes.”

  Her foot dropped to the floor and she pressed her palms against her knees and took several deep breaths.

  Sam fought the wave of fury crashing over him. Seeing Sky in such distress—and knowing everything that had happened to her—damn near killed him. And the thought of what might have occurred if she hadn’t spent the night with him had him more than ready to slam his fist into her ex’s face.

  Sky didn’t have much to say as they drove into Wilder. And her anxiety clearly escalated, because when they walked into the office and she saw Ryan Bain, Wilder’s newest deputy, she drew up short and then abruptly whirled around on her boot heels and headed toward the door.

  “Whoa, darlin’,” Sam said as he caught her by the arm. “Why the about face?”

  Her gaze flashed to Ryan, who got to his feet. He wore a confused expression.

  Her attention returned to Sam and she whispered, “I forgot he’s a deputy now. He’s married to Ginger. He’ll tell her what happened to me.”

  “I’m sure he’ll be discreet.”

  “They’re married,” she repeated. “And we’re all close friends. He wouldn’t keep this from her.”

  “What’s going on?” Ryan interrupted them. “You okay, Sky?”

  Over his shoulder, Sam told him, “No, she’s not.”

  The sheriff came from his office.

  “Sky, honey,” the older man said. “You in some sort of trouble?”

  She sighed. Sam kissed her on the temple and murmured, “You’ve got to tell him everything, darlin’. That’s how they’re going to nail this guy.”

  She to
ok a deep breath, then said, “I know. But I want to talk in the sheriff’s office, with just him and Ryan.”

  Deputy Dan Baker appeared to be out on patrol, which meant she was politely indicating to Sam that she didn’t want him in on the conversation.

  His jaw clenched.

  Sky explained, “I don’t want you hearing all the details. I have to let Ryan and the sheriff know exactly what happened in Nashville. But just like you don’t want me learning all the painful details about the new horse at the ranch, I don’t want you knowing specifically what Mac Willet did to me.”

  She may as well have stabbed a knife in his chest, it hurt so bad. Yet as the tension seized him, he understood what she was saying to him, and he had to admit, she made a good point, given how furious he already was.

  “Fine,” he said with a nod. He released her. “But I’ll be waiting out here for you. I’m not going anywhere.”

  She gave him a quick hug. “Thank you.”

  Then she stepped around him and said to the lawmen, “Someone burned my trailer in Luckenbach and I have a very good idea who it was.”

  Ryan’s gaze shot to Sam, the consternation immediate in his eyes.

  Sam said, “She’s got a story to tell, and she doesn’t want me to hear all of it.”

  “Then let’s go into my office,” the sheriff said, looking equally disturbed.

  Sky preceded the men and the door closed behind them. Sam’s chest tightened and it was a wonder he could breathe. He slumped into a chair and rubbed the knot at the back of his neck.

  All Sky had told him about this Willet character forcing himself on her was that he’d pinned her down and had shoved her skirt up. Sam hadn’t allowed his mind to wander any further than the natural conclusion that he’d taken her against her will. He hadn’t even fully digested her words about Willet telling her she could scream for help as loud as she wanted because the walls were soundproof.

  As was the case with the abused horses he dealt with, a filter in his mind latched on to significant nuggets, but compartmentalized traumatizing details. It helped him to focus on what needed to be done, not the emotionally devastating aspects of each case. He’d learned that trick in the Service.

  But now he couldn’t escape the true reality of the situation with Sky.

  By the time she was done with Johnson and Ryan, Sam was edgy. He stood when she came out of the office and shoved his hands in the front pockets of his jeans.

  Sky told him, “The sheriff is going to contact the authorities in Fredericksburg and speak on my behalf with the firefighters who responded to the call.”

  “You gonna be all right?” Johnson asked her.

  “Sure.”

  “We’ll find this guy,” Ryan assured them. “He obviously knew you didn’t go to the police in Nashville because you were afraid of people hearing about what happened to you, and he’s deluded himself into thinking he can get away with terrorizing you until he gets the money.”

  “Going forward, I’ll do whatever I have to in order to help y’all,” she said. “I want him behind bars. And out of my life.”

  “I’ll call you this evening if there’s any news,” the sheriff told her. “Where are you planning to stay?”

  “The Painted Horse,” Sam answered for her.

  Sky stared up at him. The alarm in her big blue eyes made his gut wrench.

  “Now wait a minute,” she said. “If Mac has been watching me, he might end up at the ranch. We can’t risk that. Not with all the people out there who could get hurt. Reese. Caleb. You. The horses.”

  “Doubt he’d make a move with all the activity on that property,” Ryan interjected.

  “And you know we’ve got ample security,” Sam reminded Sky. “We’ll double the number of guards that patrol the grounds if we have to. My cottage is the safest place for you.”

  She clearly couldn’t argue the logic. With resignation in her tone, she said, “Fine. If it’s okay with Caleb.”

  “You know it will be.” His brother wouldn’t balk. In fact, Sam knew it’d be the first thing he suggested. The additional patrolmen being the second.

  The sheriff gave her a hug and said, “We’ll be in touch.”

  She and Sam headed out. They walked down the sidewalk, Sky apparently lost in thought until she caught sight of the reverend and his wife.

  “Jonathan, Lydia,” she said as they approached the Bains. They exchanged friendly embraces.

  Lydia said, “We heard you were in town and hoped to see you. But…” Her gaze narrowed on Sky. “You are just as white as a ghost. What in heaven is wrong, Sky?”

  “I’m a little under the weather,” she said. “Nothing to worry about.” To Reverend Bain, she said, “I’ll see you in church on Sunday.”

  “Be a nice treat if you’d sing with the choir. If you’re feeling up to it.”

  She smiled. “Sure, I’d like that.”

  “You let us know if there’s anything you need,” Lydia told her. “Anything at all.”

  “I will. I appreciate your concern.”

  “I have to run along now,” Lydia said. “The mayor’s wife is my first appointment this morning, and we all know better than to keep Emelda Grant waiting.”

  They all chuckled, because the woman’s reputation of being the Queen Bee of Wilder preceded her.

  The Bains continued on in one direction, Sky and Sam in the other.

  She said, “I’m glad to see Lydia’s mellowed out.”

  “Thanks to Ginger taking her to task.”

  “I heard Lydia was in an uproar when Ginger opened her lingerie store.”

  “There was a lot of tension in this town until the Bains got off their high horse.”

  “Lydia used to be so much fun,” she mused. “We pulled a few pranks together in high school. Snuck out from time to time with a couple beers and a radio that we’d take out to the lake. Jack was always with us. Then Reese.” She sighed. “I am not looking forward to the conversation I have to have with her.”

  He draped an arm around her shoulders and tucked her against his side. “Darlin’, this goes well beyond unpleasant, but you’re doing the right thing.”

  “I hope so.”

  They reached a boutique and Sam opened the door for her. He waited patiently while she selected a number of items. Rather absently, he noted with more dismay. Weren’t women supposed to love shopping? A gender predisposition?

  But she merely piled a few pairs of jeans, some shirts and necessities on the counter while the salesclerk stared at her in awe. Sky handed over her credit card and signed for everything.

  Then the girl at the register said, “Since you’ve got a pen in your hand, would you mind an autograph?” She ripped off a piece of blank receipt tape from the roll.

  “What’s your name?” Sky asked.

  “Jennifer.”

  She wrote on the paper. Signed with a flourish.

  Jennifer beamed. “I’m going to frame this and put it right here on the counter so I can tell everyone that Sky Travis shops in this very boutique!”

  He saw Sky cringe. Ever so slightly. Jennifer didn’t seem to notice.

  Sam swooped in and collected all the bags.

  “Have a great day!” the salesclerk told them.

  “You too,” Sky mumbled. They stepped outside, but didn’t make it far down the sidewalk before she stopped. “I should go back for that piece of paper.”

  “Why would you do that? You saw how excited she was—and how much it means to her to be able to show off your autograph.”

  “It might mean something today, but when word gets around about Nashville—”

  “It’ll still mean just as much tomorrow and the day after that,” he told her with a pointed look and a steady voice.

  She shook her head. “Lord, what a mess.”

  “Come on.” They continued on to the parking lot. He set all the bags on the backseat and helped her into the truck. He hooked a finger under her chin and lifted it. “You know you’r
e breaking my heart, right?”

  She let out a long breath. “Sorry.” She leaned toward him and kissed him. Then she said, “If only I could wish it all away…”

  “No chance there, but Ryan and the sheriff will find Willet. They did a damn good job when two rowdies were tearing up the town and accosted Ginger.”

  “I heard about that. I’m so glad Ryan was there to save her from them.” She shuddered. “Ginger’s tiny. There’s absolutely no way she could have fought them both off. Not even one of them.”

  “She got lucky. Wish you would have too.” He palmed the side of her face. “From what I understand, because I didn’t live here at the time, no one thought any less of Ginger because she was attacked and robbed.”

  “I know.”

  “Yet I noticed you didn’t stop into her shop for lingerie.”

  Sky was silent a few moments, then said, “I can’t see her just yet. I have to start with Reese.”

  “Then I’ll drive you back to the inn.”

  He kissed her before shutting her door and climbing in on the other side. She stared out the window during the entire ride, and Sam feared that did not bode well for him. She was pulling away. He felt it in his bones.

  When they reached the inn, Sky went inside. He headed to the med facility to talk in private with Caleb, with Sky’s permission. He told his brother as much as he knew.

  Caleb dragged a hand down his face and groaned. “Jesus.” He slumped into the chair behind the desk in his office. “That poor woman.”

  “She’s pretty strong of mind, I can tell you that, but having people know what happened to her is tearing her up.”

  “You too, by the looks of it.”

  He propped a shoulder against the wall. Crossed his booted feet at the ankles. “Been hard enough to know what went on, but she’s kept the specifics from me, and that’s helped. I can focus on the fact that she’s okay physically now, and isn’t afraid of men. She’s not afraid to be with me. But this asshole has burned her trailer to the ground and has caused so much devastation in her world that I can’t stop thinking about hunting him down myself.”