A Texas Family

by Linda Warren

  “Oh...why would Jared do that?”

  “He wrote a lot about you and I guess he didn’t want Pa to find it.” He opened the briefcase on his desk and pulled out an old-looking book. He pushed it toward her. “You might want to read it. It tells what he was doing on that county road the day he died.”

  Jena stared at the book, not knowing if she could read it.

  Carson stood. “I’ll give you some privacy. I’ll go across the street and try to calm the confusion over there.”

  As the door closed, Jena kept staring at the book. Did she want to go back and read about that turbulent time? But somehow the temptation was too strong.

  * * *

  CARSON GAVE HER as much time as he could. When he opened the door, she was just sitting there staring off into space. He squatted by her chair.

  “Hey, you okay?”

  She brushed away a tear, and he just wanted to hold her like he did Trey and Claire when they were hurt. But his feelings for Jena were not childlike.

  “I’m not that young girl anymore,” she mumbled.

  “No,” he agreed.

  “It’s so sad. That shouldn’t have happened to us.”

  “No. And Jared shouldn’t have been killed.”

  She brushed away another tear. “He went to meet Roland.”

  “Yeah. My guess is Roland stole your dad’s shotgun and killed Jared. I have a meeting with the sheriff and the district attorney in an hour to see if I have enough to reopen the case.”

  “I’m going, too,” she said, her eyes bright.

  “Are you sure?” He got up and went around his desk. “What about Hilary?”

  “I’ll call her. She’ll be fine.”

  “It’s a nightmare at the café. No one can find anything or cook anything. Bea is trying, but she’s just making matters worse.”

  “That’s what Billy Jack said. Mabel and Bea don’t realize how much work Hilary does.”

  “They do now.” Carson placed the book in the briefcase. “Ready to go?”

  She got to her feet, looking down at her khaki shorts and knit top. “I should probably change.”

  “You look gorgeous.” He’d meant to say fine, but another word came out instead. With her slim figure, feminine curves and dark soulful eyes, no one would pay one bit of attention to what she was wearing. He wasn’t.

  She lifted an eyebrow but didn’t say anything for a second. “I...I have to call Hilary.”

  Carson grabbed his hat. “I’ll meet you in the car.”

  Within minutes they were on the road to San Marcos. They didn’t talk much. Jena seemed lost within herself, and he hoped something good came out of this for her.

  They were shown into Sheriff Bill Ratcliff’s office. Bill was in his fifties, balding and a little flabby around the middle, but Carson knew him to be honest and one hell of a lawman. Carson explained what was going on, and Bill agreed the D.A. needed to see the journal. He’d already talked to the district attorney after Carson’s call. They walked over to the D.A.’s office.

  Riva Stanton was new to the job, and Carson hoped she was an eager beaver for justice. They waited in her office. Jena was too quiet and that bothered him. He gently touched her arm. She seemed to relax.

  Ms. Stanton came in wearing a gray suit, her brown hair in a bob. “What have we got, Bill?” she asked as she took her seat.

  The sheriff made the introductions. “As I told you, Mr. Corbett has new evidence concerning his brother’s death.”

  Ms. Stanton looked at a file on her desk, which evidently someone had pulled for her. “From what I understand it was an open-and-shut case.”

  “Roland Stubbs made us all believe that,” Carson replied.

  The D.A. tapped her pen on the file. “Okay, Mr. Corbett, tell me what you know.”

  Carson told her everything he’d found since he started investigating, and then he pulled the journal from his briefcase and opened it to the last entry. “We never understood what Jared was doing on that old county road, but in his journal Jared tells us he went to meet Roland. Something Roland never mentioned.”

  She glanced at the entry. “Mr. Stubbs was embezzling money from the Bar C, which is owned by your father, and Mr. Stubbs is now serving time for that crime.”

  “Yes.”

  Ms. Stanton looked at Jena. “Ms. Brooks, your father is accused of the murder. How do you feel about that?”

  “I want his name cleared. That’s why I’m here.”

  “The journal is damning evidence, but I need a lot more to reopen this case.” Her gaze settled on him. “If I’m going to go out on a limb, I need to know everything. I don’t like surprises popping up. Surprises that will make me look like an ass who’s wasting taxpayers’ money. Do you understand me, Mr. Corbett?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He wasn’t expecting to have to make this decision today. He glanced into Jena’s dark eyes and saw everything he wanted. He also saw fear there, and right and wrong.

  Yet, his family loyalty weighed heavily upon him. He was about to incriminate his own father, but he couldn’t get Jena’s baby out of his mind and off his conscience. Jared’s baby. That child deserved justice, too.

  He rubbed his hands together. “There’s more, but I request that you keep what I tell you in the strictest confidence.”

  Ms. Stanton leaned back in her chair. “I’m not making deals, but my office is discreet about every case we handle.”

  Slowly, Carson began to tell her about Jena’s baby and his father’s involvement. The D.A.’s mouth fell open a couple of times, as she was clearly stunned.

  “Ms. Brooks, your child was forcibly taken from you?”

  “Yes. Minnie Voltree gave me something to induce labor. Roland, Curly Sanders and Asa Corbett were there.”

  “Why didn’t you tell someone?”

  “Asa threatened to kill my mother and my sister if I ever came back to Willow Creek, and I knew he meant it. I was eighteen when my baby was born and scared, but I’m not anymore. I want to know what happened to my child.”

  “Mercy, this is small-town Texas justice, isn’t it?”

  “Ms. Stanton, I don’t condone what my father did, but in his defense he was grieving and out of his mind.”

  “I agree with that, Mr. Corbett.”

  “My father has had a stroke and is in poor health. Before a detective or an investigator is sent to the house, I’d like the opportunity to tell him first.”

  “We have a lot to do before that happens.” She scribbled something in the folder. “I’m going to put an investigator on this, and if he can get more details from Mr. Sanders and a signed statement from Mr. Bass and Mrs. Voltree, we might have enough to reopen this case and get a conviction.” She flipped through the file. “No one was ever arrested for Lamar Brooks’s murder?”

  “No, ma’am,” the sheriff replied.

  “I really dislike the good-old-boys’ network, and I dislike it even more when teenage girls are taken advantage of.” The D.A. glanced at Jena. “Ms. Brooks, we might even get a clue as to what happened to your baby. Stubbs and Sanders were there. They know something.”

  “Ms. Stanton, I’d like to help the investigator.”

  The D.A. looked directly at him. “That might be a good idea. It will save some time. What do you think, Bill?”

  “It will certainly help. Holden is our best investigator, but he’s working the Gomez case.”

  “I know Holden,” Carson said. “He’s a colleague of my friend Levi Coyote.”

  “Mmm. Levi’s done work for our department before. We can contact him and see if he’s interested. I like his work. He’s thorough.”

  “Good idea, Riva,” the sheriff replied. “Levi knows the area and the people involved in the crime. He can hit the ground runnin
g.”

  “Sounds good.” Ms. Stanton closed the file. “Mr. Corbett, do you have a problem working with Levi?”

  “No, ma’am. I would prefer it.”

  “Good.” She folded her hands across the folder. “We’ll be in touch with Levi and let him know what we need. Hopefully, we can find answers that will bring the real murderer or murderers to justice. But I will need something substantial. I hope you understand that.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Carson walked out of the room with a heavy heart. He’d set the wheels in motion and now he had to see it through. He had to find a good lawyer for his dad so that he could stay under house arrest or something. How was he going to tell his kids? And Aunt Fran?

  Suddenly, Jena took his hand and held it as they walked to his car. “Thank you,” she said with a smile. And in that moment, looking into her bright eyes, it was all worth it.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  “I CAN’T BELIEVE you did that,” Jena said on the way back to Willow Creek. She was so touched by his openness she didn’t know what to say. She’d never expected him to reveal his father’s involvement.

  “The D.A. is willing to take a look at the case, so I had to be completely honest, even though it hurt.”

  Unable to resist, she touched his arm. “I’m sorry.”

  He looked down at the hand on his arm. “It was going to happen sooner or later. I just have to prepare my family.”

  Removing her hand, she felt guilty for the pain she was causing him. How she wished they had met under different circumstances. They were so compatible. Or maybe she was just dreaming.

  “How about lunch?” Carson asked. “There’s a country diner up ahead.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  The place was packed with a lunch crowd. Country music played in the background. They were shown to a small table in the back—a cozy spot for two. He ordered chicken-fried steak, and she had salad with grilled chicken.

  “I like Riva Stanton.” She placed her napkin in her lap.

  “I thought I’d have to do a lot of talking to even get her to review the case,” he replied. “But the two of us together was hard for her to dismiss. And she wants justice, too.”

  Their food arrived and nothing was said for a few minutes. She watched his strong hands as he cut up the steak, and she felt she could watch him forever. His movements were sure, confident and masculine. She liked the whole package of Carson Corbett, except for a little, annoying fact: Asa was his father.

  “Things will start to happen fast as soon as Levi gets on the case,” Carson said. “He’s like a bulldog with a bone. He doesn’t let go until he gets what he wants.”

  “You trust him?”

  “With my life.”

  She took a sip of her tea. “How long do you think it will take?”

  “I don’t know. Hopefully soon, but you never know what kind of roadblocks we might run into. Levi and I will put in a lot of time, though.”

  “I want to be included.”

  Their eyes met across the gingham tablecloth. “You don’t have to be.”

  “I need to be.”

  He nodded and placed his napkin on the table. “The main reason I mentioned my dad today was that Roland might know where the baby is. He was Pa’s right hand. It could be a bargaining chip.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If we can get the information Ms. Stanton needs and it points to Roland killing Jared in cold blood, she could go for the death penalty. A lot of things have to fall into place before that happens, but she could offer a reduced sentence if he will tell us what happened to the baby.”

  “Oh, Carson, then...”

  “Yes, I wouldn’t have to continue grilling Pa. Roland may have all the information we need.”

  She stared into his gorgeous green eyes, which were soothing and comforting and a whole lot more. “I want to hug you.”

  His eyes twinkled. “I want to do a lot more.”

  She laughed, stood and leaned across the table and kissed his waiting lips. He held her head and kissed her back, and they were oblivious to the crowded diner.

  Until the waitress approached. “Will there be anything else?” she asked.

  Jena resumed her seat, feeling giddy and young. And happy.

  “No.” Carson cleared his throat. “Check, please.”

  The waitress laid a ticket on the table. “You pay up front.”

  “Thank you.” Carson pulled out his wallet and laid some bills on the table. Hand in hand they made their way to the cash register and then out the door.

  On the way home they talked about trivial things, letting the heart-wrenching stuff rest for now. It was nice to feel normal even if it was only for a short time. That wasn’t realistic, but she couldn’t make her heart believe that. She’d found nirvana and she wanted to savor it, even if it was only for this moment. Every woman deserved that.

  * * *

  WHEN JENA MADE the turn onto their road, she had to slow down. Kids and bicycles were everywhere, but mostly in their yard. Hilary had a card table set up and kids milled around it. What was her sister doing?

  She managed to park in the driveway as the kids sped off on their bicycles. An old ice-cream maker sat in the middle of the table, and Hilary was stuffing change into her pocket.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Making money, sis. I just can’t sit around, so I got the old ice-cream maker out of the attic. I went into Dripping Springs and got everything I needed. Kids are out of school and they want ice cream. I’m charging fifty cents a cup and I’m sold out. I’m going into the house to count my money.”

  “What about the table?”

  Hilary made a face, but she folded the table, and Jena helped to carry things into the house. Her mom was knitting in front of the TV. Jena prayed she wouldn’t bring up the baby, but her mother seemed fixated on the TV.

  Hilary emptied her pockets onto the table and sat down to count. Jena was amazed at the difference in her sister’s attitude since the morning. With Hilary’s bubbly personality, Jena should have known her sister wouldn’t be down for long.

  “Thirty dollars and fifty cents. Hot damn. Now we can eat.” Hil raised her arms in the air. “And you know what else? Ms. Colley called and asked if I’d make a chocolate pie for her. She has relatives coming, and she always buys them from the café. She was sorry to hear that I had quit. I told her I’d make her a pie, and she’s picking it up in the morning. Ten more bucks. Yay!”

  “Have you been sniffing the paint fumes?”

  “No.” Hil stuck out her tongue. “I just decided I don’t do depression very well. And I... Hold on. My phone is vibrating.” She pulled it out of her pocket, and Jena listened to what her sister was saying.

  “Hi, Mrs. Rogers. No. I’m not working at the café anymore. Yes, I can make you a coconut pie. You want it delivered? That’s all the way out to Willow Creek flat. Probably around fifteen dollars. Yes, I’ll put thick meringue on it. See ya at ten tomorrow.” Hil clicked off and made a motion like pulling a lever on a slot machine. “Ca-ching. Another sale.”

  Before Jena could say anything, Hil’s phone went off again.

  “Hey, Billy Jack. How many? Okay. About six-fifteen. I’ll have it ready.”

  Jena leaned against the cabinet. “Now what?”

  “Billy Jack wanted to know if I’d make coffee and cranberry-walnut muffins for the guys in the morning. It’s what they usually have at the café, and he said they’re not going back in there.”

  “Hil, you can’t run a restaurant out of our house.”

  “Why not?”

  “You have to have a license, which you don’t, and that makes it illegal. And as soon as Mabel and Bea find out, they’ll report you to Carson or the sheriff.”

 
Hilary got to her feet. “Well, ignorance is bliss. I’ll just say I didn’t know. I mean, what can they do?”

  Jena shook her head. “Not much, I suppose.”

  “I have to get supplies for in the morning. I won’t be long. Mama’s been good most of the day, but who knows what the evening will bring.”

  “I’ll be here, so don’t worry.”

  “How did it go with Carson?”

  “I’ll tell you later.” For now, Jena just wanted to hold everything in her heart. There was now hope where there wasn’t before and that was thanks to Carson. He’d put her before his family. No one had ever done anything like that for her before, and she was still trying to process his generous gesture. Not to mention her feelings, which were growing every time she looked into his green eyes. More trouble was ahead but she’d just as soon not think about that now. How could she when Carson was making it possible to find her child.

  * * *

  EVEN THOUGH CARSON had done the right thing, he found it hard to face his family. He’d weighed the odds and there just wasn’t another way. Now he had to tell Aunt Fran.

  As a constable, he’d sworn to protect the people of Willow Creek. As a father and a son, he had to protect his family. Jena’s child was family, too, and he couldn’t ignore that. Somehow he had to pull it all together and keep everyone safe, including Asa.

  When he entered the kitchen, childish chatter filled the room. Aunt Fran was putting something in the refrigerator, and Trey and Claire were right beside her.

  “Wait till Dad sees,” Trey said.

  “What does Dad need to see?”

  “Daddy,” they squealed and ran to him.

  He picked up Claire. Aunt Fran had called to see if it was okay to go fishing at the stock tank, so he knew it had something to do with fishing.