Tough to tell anything about the guard’s reactions behind those shades, but he had the clear sense of being observed closely. Evaluated as a potential threat. He kept his posture easy but not relaxed. Strength only respected strength.
“He’s a busy man,” the guard said.
Here was his chance. “Maybe I could just say hello to Mrs. Kruger, then. Let her pass along my regards to her husband.”
There. Definite reaction, a tension that was very interesting.
He’s made her a virtual prisoner on that ranch. I’m really worried.
But no one got tense about prisoners who weren’t a problem, so what was the deal? The reaction he was getting was more unsettled than anything else. It was far-fetched to think she was dead, and anyway, that would mean she was no longer a problem. Greg puzzled over the range of options for a second.
Whoa…was it possible that Carmen’s friend had, what…escaped?
But Carmen had said she wouldn’t consider leaving, so what would have changed to make her flee?
“Mrs. Kruger isn’t available, sir.” A slight twitch of his head as though the eyes behind the shades were glancing away.
He was lying, but about what? How was she unavailable?
She’d missed her regular grocery day.
“That’s too bad. I hope she’s not ill.”
Yep, definite tell there. Greg blessed the training he’d received in reading faces. Seeing eyes was best, of course, but other little movements could reveal a lot.
Something was wrong, and it had to do with Elena Kruger.
“Mrs. Kruger isn’t available,” the man repeated.
Not she’s fine. Not no, she’s not sick.
Interesting.
“I’ll just leave my card for Mr. Kruger, then, if that’s all right.” No quick motions, he reminded himself. This guy wasn’t alone, and Greg had spotted cameras. Slowly he went for his shirt pocket and withdrew a business card, then handed it over.
Then made another stab in the dark. “Lot nicer to work here than the place down the road, huh?” He scanned the area. “Mr. Kruger clearly takes pride in his property. Place next door is an eyesore.”
“It is.”
“Do I remember right that it belongs to Mrs. Kruger’s father?” he smiled. “Been doing a lot of looking at maps, trying to familiarize myself with the county. Sometimes it all runs together.”
“Mrs. Kruger’s father died recently.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I hope you’ll pass along my condolences.”
Tension again at the mention of her name. Because he’d brought up the land? Because he was being too chatty? Or because he was noticing too much?
They had to expect that from someone in law enforcement. Cops didn’t stay alive if they weren’t vigilant, didn’t notice details.
“Well, better be on my way. I’ll make an appointment next time.”
“Good idea, sir.”
“You want to give me the phone number, or shall I just ask the sheriff?”
If the guy got any more tense, he’d break in half. Greg tipped the brim of his hat. “I’ll just check with him. Have a good day.”
“Yes, sir.” But the guard didn’t turn away or get back in his air-conditioned guardhouse.
Instead he watched Greg’s every move.
And was still watching as Greg drove away.
Chapter Fifteen
Elena watched avidly as they turned off the highway onto what Josh said was Quinn’s road. As Josh’s car eased up the lane, Elena spotted a man on a gray stallion, galloping in the pasture off to the right, making such a striking picture that she gasped aloud. “Look!”
“That’s Quinn,” he said, love and pride in his voice.
Just then Quinn slowed the horse, coming to a halt beside a blonde woman whose arms opened wide in welcome. In a motion so smooth it seemed choreographed, Quinn leaned down and swept her up across his lap, lowering his head to kiss her deeply, smothering her laugh of delight. Her hands slid into his hair as he pulled her closer.
Elena sighed. “I’ve never seen anything so romantic in my life.”
Josh’s hand came to rest on the back of her neck. “They deserve it, after all they went through to be together.” Josh kept his gaze on them, too. “You’ll like Lorie, Elena.”
But would Lorie like her? The woman was a blond goddess, stunningly gorgeous, famous in her own right…basically everything Elena never could be.
“She’s so beautiful.”
“She is definitely that.” Then Josh chuckled. “Though I doubt our former director would even recognize her now.”
“Why not?”
“No makeup, hair blowing in the breeze, barefoot half the time. Hardly the glamour puss she once was.” Josh laughed again. “But I’ve never seen her so happy. Quinn adores her, and it’s mutual. All the money and good looks in the world can’t buy their kind of happiness.” He glanced in her direction. “But it didn’t come without a lot of pain.”
Elena turned back to look at them. Lorie had her head thrown back, silver laughter wafting on the cool breeze. Quinn’s deep chuckle echoed with hers as he urged his horse forward. When Lorie cuddled against his chest, Elena felt a pang in her heart. Would she ever know love like that?
“Penny for your thoughts.”
Elena didn’t answer. If she told him, he might think she was asking that he be the one. She knew there was no chance of that.
Forcing a smile to her face, she turned to him. “Will your tía be home?”
“We’ll check, although if Lorie and Quinn are off together, Tía Consuela is probably at their house with the kids.” Josh hit his horn, and Quinn’s head swiveled to look. Both he and Lorie lit up with smiles, and Quinn pointed toward the house, eyebrows lifted in challenge.
“You’re on, big brother.” Josh gave him a thumbs up.
Quinn’s horse leaped into action.
Lorie’s laughter trailed behind them.
“Hold on, Elena,” Josh warned. “Quinn’s got the advantage of riding cross-country, but I’m not giving up that easily.” With a grin of anticipation, he pressed down hard on the accelerator.
Elena grabbed her hat, and they were off to the races.
Quinn and Lorie won.
But the welcoming committee had eyes only for Josh.
“Uncle Josh! Uncle Josh!” Three young children lined the fence in front of a log house much too large to be called a cabin, waving wildly. As they pulled to a stop, Elena saw a girl of perhaps four scramble down from the fence and come running toward Josh, blonde curls bouncing.
Josh picked her up and whirled her around, her head thrown back as her mother’s had been earlier, childish giggles bubbling from her throat.
“How’s my princess?” Josh asked, cuddling her close to his chest.
Elena’s heart squeezed at the sight of their two heads together, a breathtakingly handsome man and a girl as beautiful as one he would father. She smiled as she watched the other children crowd around him.
Still holding the little girl close, Josh squatted down and gathered the twins against him. The two boys, both dark and striking like their father, chattered incessantly, vying for Josh’s attention.
Elena saw movement behind him. An older boy approached, worship in his gaze. Josh rose and set the little girl on the ground.
“Grant, my man!”
Smiling with shy pleasure, Grant moved closer. When Josh gave him a complicated handshake, then enveloped him in a bear hug, Grant’s eyes gleamed.
“Looks to me like you’ve got your hands full here, dude,” Josh said, gesturing to the younger children.
“They’re okay, Uncle Josh.” He shrugged his shoulders. “For little kids, that is.”
Josh laughed out loud, ruffling the boy’s dark hair. “You sound like your dad did when we were kids.”
He turned toward Elena, pulling her into his side as Lorie neared. “Elena, I’d like you to meet my nephew, Grant Marshall. Grant, this is Elena…Navarro
.” He cast her a glance.
She smiled her thanks and held her hand out to the boy, whose head topped her shoulder. “I’m pleased to meet you, Grant. Your uncle has talked about you. He’s very proud of you.”
With shy pride, Grant darted a quick glance at Josh. “Thank you, Ms. Navarro. I’m happy to meet you.” He sounded much older than the ten Josh said he was.
Josh’s hand at her waist steadied her as Lorie rushed up to give Josh a delighted hug. Seeing her up close, Elena felt even mousier. Lorie’s blonde beauty had been the stuff of Elena’s girlhood dreams, the type of woman Elena could never be in a million years. The princess, the cheerleader, the girl every boy wanted.
Then Lorie turned to her, and Josh introduced them. “Welcome to our home, Elena.” Even her voice was perfect, melodic and poised. “I’m very happy to meet you.”
Lorie’s eyes were impossibly blue, and Elena felt once more how far short she fell, how very distant she was from Josh’s world. He must know women this beautiful by the hundreds.
Lorie squeezed her hand and, just as with Grant, the touch conveyed only joy and love.
“Would you like to come inside and wash up?” Lorie asked. “Have you been on the road long?” Not by one hair did she betray any question about why Elena was here, much less why she was with Josh.
Then her gaze was caught by the man approaching them, his daughter on his shoulders, blonde curls bouncing. He had one boy tucked in one arm and walked with a hand on the head of the other twin, whose arm wrapped around one leg.
Even with such encumbrances, he moved with a panther’s grace. Her breath caught in her throat as he neared. Josh’s brother was not as all-American handsome as Josh—his looks were more exotic. Up close, Quinn’s resemblance to a panther struck even harder; glossy black mane, topaz eyes glowing from bronzed skin. As he neared, Lorie turned toward him, and Elena could feel the love flowing between them without even touching.
She almost sighed aloud. The hungry heart within her warmed in the glow of love between the striking couple.
The twin in Quinn’s arms leaned toward his mother. Quinn handed him over, patting the boy’s back as the child nestled into his mother’s shoulder. She saw Lorie lean into Quinn before the full force of his attention turned her way. “Welcome.”
“Quinn, this is Elena Navarro,” Josh said.
His brother enveloped her hand in his much larger one, and across Elena’s mind darted a fleeting image, oddly familiar, of laughing green eyes and terrible pain. She saw Quinn still and look at her strangely.
Then a sense of immense calm and strength flowed from him. She was seized by an urge to lean into him herself, simply for the peace he exuded, the comfort. She’d never met anyone like him.
Quinn’s eyes widened; his piercing gaze studied her intently. His deep voice seemed to resonate through her entire being. “I’m glad you’ve come to us.”
His calm, deep voice was a balm on her soul. His presence was deeply spiritual and completely reassuring. He made her believe that she was indeed welcome.
It was easy to see why Josh loved him so.
“Daddy, who’s the pretty lady?” The blonde girl peered down at Quinn from her perch on his back.
Quinn let go of Elena’s hand and reached to steady his squirming daughter.
“Elena, this is our daughter, Clarissa. Clarissa, can you say hello to Ms. Navarro?”
“Elena, please.” Though her time here would be brief, Elena suddenly wanted badly to have no formality stand between her and Josh’s remarkable family.
Clarissa’s finger moved from her mouth to pat gently on her father’s hair. “Hello, Elena,” she said softly.
Elena longed to touch this fairy child but did not dare. “Hello, Clarissa.”
Then she felt a tug on her leg and looked down. A pair of topaz eyes gazed up at her, the mirror of the man standing in front of her. One of the twins had squeezed himself in between Josh and Elena, wrapping one arm around a leg of each of them.
“Hey, sport!” Josh called out, bending down to pick up the boy. “Elena, this is… uh, which one are you?” He waggled his eyebrows and grinned.
Clarissa giggled. “You know which one, Uncle Josh.”
Josh cocked one dark eyebrow, then squinted. “Is it Tweedledum?” He looked at the other boy, nestled in Lorie’s arms. “Oh-ho! No, you’re Tweedledum!”
The children giggled. The boy in Josh’s arms placed one hand on each side of Josh’s face, sighing exasperation. “Uncle Josh, it’s me, Emilio,” he scolded.
“Son of a gun, so it is!” Josh looked over at the other boy. “Then you must be…?”
The boy in Lorie’s arms snuggled into her neck shyly, shaking his head.
Clarissa kicked her heels on Quinn’s chest, proclaiming from her high perch, “Antonio, Uncle Josh!”
Josh slapped his forehead. “Of course,” he laughed heartily.
Elena’s heart ached. How she had wanted this—children, a man to love and care for…to be cherished herself. Seeing them all together like this, she was consumed by a longing she’d tried hard to forget. Her dreams hadn’t been big—just a home and a happy family. She didn’t care about big houses and fancy cars or exotic vacations. Only a home, filled with love and laughter.
Instead, she’d had a big house that became a prison. The man she’d thought would give her babies, stole the life of her unborn child instead. He became her jailer, the man for whom she was never pretty enough, smart enough…woman enough.
Elena’s heart cried for lost dreams.
“Mijita,” a low voice spoke from beside Quinn.
A small woman of indeterminate age reached for Elena’s hand, clasping tightly while stroking the back of it with her other hand. Waves of comfort and understanding swept across Elena’s troubled mind.
Dark, soulful eyes met hers, eyes that seemed to hold knowledge of ancient mysteries, answers to questions, solace for the aches of a cold world.
“Mijita, you fill an emptiness in my grandson’s heart.”
Startled, Elena looked to see if Josh had heard, but he stood a pace away, talking to Lorie. She looked back at the old woman, unsure how to explain how wrong she was.
“You are troubled, my child, and your troubles are not easily banished, but there is strength within you to overcome them.”
Tears pricked at Elena’s eyes. She wanted to rest her head on this woman’s bosom and weep for all her lost dreams.
The woman who could only be Tía Consuela lifted her hand to stroke Elena’s hair. Elena closed her eyes as a sense of healing flowed into her.
“Come, child, you need rest. Let your weary spirit take sustenance from this place. You are safe here.”
Josh closed the gap between them, his arm stealing around her waist to support her.
“Tía, this is Elena Navarro. Elena, this is my great-aunt, Tía Consuela.” He enveloped the old woman in a hug. “I fear I am the bane of her existence. She thinks it is past time for this boy to settle down.”
The affection in his voice rang out, loud and clear. As his great-aunt’s hands framed his face, Elena could see deep devotion pass between them. Then the old woman patted his cheek and grinned with sly satisfaction. “I have told you many times, Joshua Antonio, that you will know when the time is right.” Turning to exchange an odd smile with Quinn, she continued. “And if you are so foolish as to ignore your heart’s wisdom, we will be glad to help you, won’t we, Quinn Emilio?”
Josh reared back in mock horror. “I am not letting Quinn take me behind the barn and pound what he calls sense into me, Tía.”
All the adults laughed heartily. Lorie touched Elena’s arm. “You must be exhausted, Elena. Come inside and let me show you your room. I hope you can stay awhile.”
Elena hesitated, darting a quick glance at Josh to see his reaction.
Josh shot her a reassuring grin, then answered his sister-in-law, never taking his gaze off Elena. “I hope so, too, Lorie.” Clapping his brother on
the shoulder, he half-turned toward the car. “Kids, you go on inside with your mom and Elena. Big brother here can help me unload the bags and see what we might find in the trunk.”
Clarissa’s eyes lit up. “Oh, boy, Uncle Josh brought presents!”
Josh stopped and turned to face her, eyebrows lifted. “Well, now, princess, what makes you so sure?”
Sweetness and certainty marked her face. “You always bring us presents, Uncle Josh.”
He glanced at Grant. “Is that right? Am I getting that boring and predictable?” His grin warred with his words.
Jesse and Antonio stood beside their mother, excitement leaping from their eyes. “Presents!”
He searched the expectant faces of four very interested children, then threw up his hands in surrender. “Well, I guess you’d better help me unload for sure, sport,” he said to Grant. “I think this is a job for three men.”
Adoration flitted across Grant’s face. “Cool!” He raced to the trunk, hopping from one foot to the other, waiting for Josh to open it.
“Got a good grip on it, Grant?” Josh asked, adjusting Grant’s load.
“Yes sir, Uncle Josh.”
“You go on ahead and take those packages to Elena’s room, okay? Your dad and I will follow with the toys—tell the little ones we’re coming.”
“Yes, sir.” Grant moved toward the house, gingerly balancing a load that was probably too big for him, but neither Josh nor Quinn was going to convince him not to try.
Josh turned to face his brother. “Thank you for welcoming her. Sorry for not giving you any notice.”
Quinn shrugged. “You wouldn’t bring just anyone here.” He paused. “Want to tell me about it?”
Josh thought about stalling, but knew it would do him no good. In some ways, the habit of being a big brother had never left Quinn. He could be relentless, and he had always been able to see past any pretense of Josh’s.
So he went ahead. “I can’t tell you much yet because I don’t know, but she’s running from an abusive husband. I think there’s more to the story, but she’s scared half to death and afraid to trust anyone. I found her on the side of the highway, trying to fight off two mean drunks bent on dragging her into their car.”
The Marshalls Boxed Set (Texas Heroes: The Marshalls Books 1-3) Page 38
