Texas Fire

by Gerry Bartlett

  “Thanks, Deputy Rydell, for your quick response.” Megan jumped when Rowdy tugged on her hand. “We’ve got to move our truck so the concrete can be delivered.”

  “I hope this issue between Sharon Wallace and Calhoun Petroleum can be settled amicably.” The deputy made serious eye contact. “She’s the ringleader and the most vocal, but not the only person around here who’s not happy with the way things are going out there at your well site. Look at this road.” He pointed to a pothole that a Smart Car could get lost in. “Wasn’t like this before your crew started using it for heavy equipment. And there’s been no compensation for the damage. This county sure can’t afford to fix it when your vehicles will just tear it up again.”

  “I understand. I’ll see what I can do about that, Deputy.” Megan smiled. “Seriously. I want to make things work here. There is a limit to what we can afford, of course. If oil were still at a hundred dollars a barrel, I could do a lot more. But please pass the word in town that I’m here to help.” She pulled her own card out of her pocket. “Here are my numbers. I have a new one that’s written on the back. Address complaints to me, and I’ll see what I can do.”

  “All right, then.” He tipped his hat. “And next time you call us, please leave your name. We may not like Calhoun Petroleum out here, but we will certainly always come to your aid when you need us.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked back to his cruiser.

  “Let’s go.” Rowdy slammed the tailgate closed, got into his truck, and waited until Megan was inside before he pulled out of the way so the concrete truck could go first. They followed it back to the well site. “You did a good job back there. I just have one complaint.”

  “Oh?” Megan knew what was coming.

  “You had to give them my real name? I didn’t think you even knew it.” He grinned. “Don’t ever say it again. I’m not too crazy about it.”

  “You’ve just given me ammunition, you know. And of course I knew it. Research. I’m learning I’m pretty good at it. As for handling Wallace and her crew? Thanks. I wasn’t sure talking to them would work, but I had to try. The rock throwing surprised me. I was glad you were there.” She patted him on the thigh. “At least they backed right down. Being outnumbered . . .”

  “I wasn’t about to let them get away with that. And I didn’t figure they’d do anything too bad in broad daylight with witnesses. Calling the cops on them was genius.” He frowned and hit the brakes. “I’ve got to stay well back from that concrete truck. Look at the rocks that thing is kicking up. I’d hate to get this new windshield dinged.”

  Megan stared out at the road as they crept along. How much would it cost to repair some of the damage they’d caused? Everywhere she looked, there was something that would be a drain on the company’s resources.

  “Good to know the sheriff’s department will back us up.” Rowdy pulled into the job site and shut off the engine.

  “Oh, sure, they will. But only if we’re in the right. You notice Calvin called our professor ‘Sharon’?” Megan had picked up on that right away. “I bet they have some kind of relationship, though he was trying hard not to let it show.”

  “She’s an attractive woman, and single, according to the background information I was given. He might be available, too, and he seems about her age.”

  “No wedding ring, either.” Megan opened the door and hopped out. “But I still wonder why a woman like that would have come out here by herself to retire. It’s so isolated.”

  “Some people like to be where they can enjoy nature. Imagine how she felt when her dream of living on unspoiled land fell flat.” Rowdy stood next to her, but his eyes were on what was happening on rig number four. “And being alone doesn’t have to mean you’re lonely. Maybe she likes the isolation.”

  “A woman with fifty-three cousins? I doubt she gets to be alone too often. Not with so many of them liking to use their RVs.” Megan laughed. “Oh, go watch the Christmas tree action. I can see that’s where you want to be. I’m going back to my research. I want to know more about Dr. Wallace and the land around here.”

  Rowdy grinned, looked around to make sure no one was watching them, then patted her bottom. “Okay. I need to make sure they’re doing things right up there. See you in a while. Lunch. I’m getting hungry.”

  “Good idea. We should go into town and see what there is to eat. Maybe pick up some gossip about the situation here.” Megan ran her hand over the backside of his well-worn jeans, too. “Let me know when you can leave.” She headed back into the office and got on her computer. A professor who had suddenly retired to the back of beyond. Why? And she’d bought the land quickly without doing decent research on it or she’d never have made the basic mistake of buying without owning the mineral rights. It wasn’t something an intelligent woman with a doctorate should have done.

  Megan began her Internet search, trying different combinations of words until she finally hit pay dirt. It wasn’t anything she’d use to get Sharon Wallace to back off in her complaints against Calhoun, but it certainly explained a lot about the woman’s current attitude. Well, well, well. The lady had a past. Too bad it had ruined her career and sent her into hiding.

  * * *

  Rowdy figured Megan had been right about the food on this trip. He’d paid little attention to what he ate when he’d been by himself. Throwing together a ham and cheese sandwich on the run had been pretty much the norm for him. No wonder he’d been on the edge of burnout. But here he’d just devoured another excellent meal in a little town café and was feeling pretty good about his job. He could make a difference. Clean up a bad situation. All in all, it was an important assignment.

  Of course, what made the difference this trip was the good company of the woman across from him. Clearly word had spread that they were working for Calhoun. One look at their shiny new truck parked in front of the café and their waitress had barely spoken to them. She’d delivered the food efficiently enough for a tip, but her folksy manner was reserved for the tables around them, which had cleared out until they were now an island in an almost deserted restaurant.

  Rowdy sipped his second cup of coffee. He’d need it or he would fall asleep on the job. It had taken him hours to get the RV in order the way he liked it after the earthquake. He certainly hadn’t wanted to ask Megan to help him. She’d been too freaked out after the third aftershock and gone straight to bed. So he was tired. Clint would probably be happy if he and Megan didn’t come back right after lunch. Maybe a nap . . . He realized Megan had just dropped a bombshell.

  “Wait. Wallace came here because she had an affair that ended badly? How’d you find that out?” He leaned forward after glancing around. Of course, no one could hear them.

  “The Internet is my playground, Rowdy. You just have to keep digging. Apparently it was hushed up, but I finally found a little article in the college student newspaper. Frankly, I’m not sure she had the affair at all. Sharon Wallace was accused of sexually harassing a student. He was no kid—twenty-something—but he claimed she came on to him. She fought his allegations all the way to the faculty senate, and won, because it was a case of he said, she said. Then the student wrote a book about it. Called it fiction and masked the names just enough to avoid a lawsuit. Dr. Wallabe and her Study Bunny. Can you believe it?”

  Rowdy shook his head. “Doesn’t seem fair.”

  “You’re right. The book became a steamy online sensation with tales of how they had wild monkey sex on her desk in her office, all over campus between classes, and in her car. No wonder she ran away. I feel sorry for her. The student was a loser and a user. Bitter because he flunked her class.”

  “Wow. I admit she’s attractive. But a sex scandal? She doesn’t look the type. I hope it doesn’t follow her here.” He studied Megan as she dove in to her dessert.

  “I sure wouldn’t tell. Like I said, I’m on her side. He was obviously out to get her.” She grinned. “I might order a copy of the book, though. For ideas. Steamy? I like the sound of th
at.”

  “You think you need new ideas?” Rowdy finished his coffee and frowned. “Or do I?”

  “Never hurts to broaden our horizons.” She winked and offered him a bite of her lemon meringue pie. “Try this. Delicious.”

  “You finish it. I’m stuffed.” He watched her lick the fork, and his body kicked into gear. “Stop that.”

  “What? Enjoying my dessert? You should know by now that it’s my favorite part of any meal.” Her eyes twinkled as she took another bite and licked her lips. “Do we have time to go back to the trailer after lunch? I feel a nap coming on.”

  “I was just thinking the same thing. And you tempt me. We need to finish what we started last night. We have a lot more territory to cover in that RV. The other bedroom, that padded bench in the dinette, the shower.” He was hard and getting harder.

  “Ah. So, you do have ideas. But the shower?” She laughed. “Even if we can both squeeze into that tiny bathroom, I doubt we’d be able to move once we got in there.” She reached for his hand. “But I’m willing to try.”

  Rowdy held on and sat back. What the hell was happening to him? He could not, definitely could not, fall for Megan Calhoun. She was from a completely different world. When he’d walked into the office trailer after they finished with the concrete, she’d been on the phone pricing repairs for that county road. And had already gotten authorization from Headquarters to offer money to the county commissioners up to a dollar amount that made his head spin. Only a Calhoun could have managed that.

  He wasn’t stupid. He knew she’d grown up with every advantage. In San Antonio they’d been talking about school field trips when she’d dropped the name of the exclusive private school she’d attended in Houston. He knew the tuition for that place cost as much as a year at most colleges.

  Then there were the clothes she kept pulling out of her duffel. He’d been with Cassidy long enough to recognize quality goods. Cass had saved for months to buy just a few pieces like those Megan seemed to take for granted. Everything Megan owned was the best. Even now he knew the pale blue shirt she wore that matched her eyes was of the finest cotton because he’d felt it when he buttoned her into it just this morning. Now he wanted to peel it off her again. It was soft, almost as silky smooth as her skin when he touched her.

  He raised his hand and the waitress ambled over. “Can we have a couple of pieces of that lemon meringue pie to go? For later.” He smiled at Megan. “And the check.”

  She flushed, clearly getting the picture. “Why do I think you’re having even more of your own ideas?”

  “Because I am.” As soon as the waitress set the Styrofoam box down in front of him, he glanced at the ticket, threw money on the table and jumped up.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here.” He didn’t need to look at his watch. He was going to make time for what he wanted and to hell with responsibility.

  Chapter 14

  “I hope we both can fit in that shower, because I have lemon pie in the most interesting places.” Megan grinned and dragged herself off of Rowdy’s chest. She sauntered down the short hallway to the bathroom, then turned on the shower. The water took a while to heat up, but that gave her time to slide a plastic cap over her hair.

  “You know we have to go back to work.” Rowdy followed close behind her. “There are still several hours left in the workday.”

  “I know.” Megan stepped onto the bathroom’s wooden floor with a drain in it. She grabbed a washcloth and the shower gel and got busy. She wasn’t surprised when Rowdy pushed aside the shower curtain and got in with her. “Seriously? You really want to try this now? After the performance you just gave? You must have eaten your Wheaties this morning, big guy.”

  “I am nothing if not an overachiever.” He took her washcloth and the gel and slid the cloth over her backside. “You’re right. That lemon filling is everywhere.”

  She squealed when he got particularly interested in searching for more. “You do that again, and I’m going to have to turn around and see what you might have up your—”

  She didn’t finish the sentence because he turned her to face him anyway, his mouth on hers. Where, oh where, did this come from? This desperation to have him? To have each other? She’d never been this insatiable before. Megan ended up out of the shower and on the tiny counter, her butt almost in the sink before she linked her ankles behind him and he thrust inside her. God. Had she ever felt so complete?

  The washcloth fell to the floor and the gel landed on the back of the toilet. The water grew tepid but they couldn’t seem to part. Megan held on to his broad shoulders, sliding her hands down and around him, eager to feel every inch of his skin, his taut muscles, his . . . everything. He was doing the same, his hands lingering where she gasped or called his name. The water finally sputtered into icy cold and they laughed, giving in and pulling apart. He turned off the faucet, his wicked grin making her kiss him again.

  How much was too much? Megan didn’t know, but she hadn’t found it yet with Rowdy. He handed her a towel from the cabinet above her head and took one for himself. They dried each other, still reluctant to leave the bathroom. A knock on the door to the outside broke the spell.

  “Rowdy? Megan? I’ve got someone here who wants to see you.”

  “God. It’s Raylene. I guess she saw our truck.” Megan finally stepped out of the bathroom and reached for the robe Rowdy had stuck neatly on a hook. “I’ll tell her we have to go back to work.”

  “Wish we didn’t.” Rowdy had grabbed fresh jeans and was already pulling them on when there was another knock. “I’ll get it.” He tugged a shirt over his head and opened the door. “Raylene, I’m sorry we didn’t stop by your place when we drove in. We just came home for lunch and a quick nap. Megan didn’t get much sleep last night. Too upset by the earthquake.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, honey.” Raylene had Butch in her arms and Lucky on his leash. “I can take them back.”

  “No, that’s all right. I’m working in the office today. Why don’t I take him with me this afternoon?” Megan went to the door to grab Lucky’s leash. He was so excited to see her he jumped around. She lost her balance and he managed to pull her outside. She finally picked him up. When she rubbed his head with her nose, she almost sneezed at the interesting smell clinging to him. “I hope he wasn’t too much trouble.”

  “This sweetie pie? Good as gold.” Raylene must have noticed Megan’s nose twitch. “Bet you thought that pup would come out of my trailer smelling like an ashtray, didn’t you?”

  “Well, I know you smoke.” Megan sniffed Lucky’s fur again. “What is that smell? Rowdy, take a whiff.” She smiled. “It’s nice.”

  Rowdy leaned over to give the dog an ear rub and sniff his fur. “Smells like something my mama likes to put in our bathroom back home. Not an insult, Raylene. It does smell nice.”

  She pulled a can out from the pocket of the apron she wore over her jeans. “It’s my secret weapon. I just knew the cigarette smell would bother you folks, since neither of you have my bad habit. So I gave Lucky a good spritz with my lavender-scented air freshener before I brought him back to you.” She squirted it in the air a couple of times. “See? Sweet as can be.”

  Lucky sneezed, then barked. Butch barked, too, and they were soon doing a doggy duet, even after Megan set Lucky down and told him to hush.

  “Quiet now.” Raylene put Butch on the ground and gave him a spritz, too. “Gets jealous if I leave him out.” Instantly both dogs were quiet and sat down beside each other. “Isn’t that cute? I can’t get over how they’ve bonded.”

  “It’s amazing. We’ll let you keep him again, of course. Every day until we have to leave the area. We really appreciate it.” Megan exchanged glances with Rowdy. “I have something to tell you. Should have done it right away. I had a run-in with Sharon Wallace today. And some of the cousins.”

  “Not surprised. They don’t like anyone who works for Calhoun Petroleum.” Raylene scowled as a couple of trucks and an SUV drove into the
park. “Some cousins are back now and just look at them kicking up dust. I have a posted speed limit for a reason. And they’re claiming to be all about the environment?” She bent over to pick up Butch again. “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind.”

  “Wait. You need to know something about me. Before they tell you.” Megan laid her hand on Raylene’s thin arm covered in an old, well-worn army jacket. It was several sizes too big for her. The name stitched across the pocket was Sadler. Was that hers? A husband’s? Boyfriend’s? Or had she just found the jacket at a thrift store?

  “Megan?” Rowdy nodded. “Raylene is waiting.”

  “Oh yes. Anyway, I didn’t give you my last name, and you didn’t ask for it.” She recognized Amos in one of the trucks that had pulled up nearby. “I’m not married to Rowdy. Maybe you assumed . . . Anyway, it’s Calhoun. I’m Megan Calhoun. Conrad Calhoun was my father.”

  Raylene’s mouth fell open. “Seriously? No wonder you arrived in the Cadillac of RVs.” She cackled. “I’ll bet Sharon Wallace about shit her drawers when you told her that.” She got serious and looked back at the vehicles that had parked and were unloading people. “Honey, what the hell happened today?”

  “Megan faced us down, that’s what happened.” Amos strode over to stand next to their landlady. “Could have knocked us over with a feather. Here we’d been in their trailer, everyone so friendly, and she’s a Calhoun?” He shook his head. “But we’re not stupid. I’m here to tell you, Megan, that most of us want to have a dialogue with the company. Sharon said it’s too late. She claims she’s tried to be reasonable and nothing happened so it’s time for drastic action.”

  “I’m sorry it came to that. She needs to give me a chance to see what I can do now that I’m here.” Megan sighed. “This hasn’t been handled well so far.”

  “It’s just that Sharon came out here for a reason, and things have gone wrong ever since. I think it’s got her so worked up she’s not thinking straight.” Amos turned when Art joined him. “We came when she called saying she needed help, but the family—many of the cousins, anyway—believe that it’s better to try to work out problems. We’re determined to get her to see that. We think that the company sending you here, Megan, is a good sign.”