by June Faver
Although Pete was clearly not okay, he nodded in agreement. “Good man. You hold down the fort, and I’ll be right back.” Beau ducked out and drove his truck straight to the sheriff’s office. He called in an order to be picked up at the diner before loping inside and asking to see the sheriff.
“He’s gone home for lunch,” one of his deputies said. “Can I help you?” He gazed at Beau questioningly.
“Um, maybe. I just need to leave a message for the sheriff. I’m Beau Garrett, and my—uh—my fiancée is Dixie Moore.”
The deputy nodded. “I know who you are. You’re Colton’s little brother.”
Beau bit his tongue, knowing he would wear this dubious title his entire life. “Yeah, that’s me…the little brother.” This was somewhat ironic since Beau towered over the deputy.
The deputy must have realized the humor of the situation. He gave a wry smile and shook his head. “I’m Fletcher Shelton. I went to school with Colt.” He extended his hand and gave Beau’s a hearty shake. “Call me Fletch. Is there anything I can do for you, or do you want to wait for the sheriff to come back?” He shrugged. “The sheriff has been known to take some long lunch hours.”
Beau considered this. He needed to grab lunch and return to the feed store before Pete imploded.
Fletch gestured to a chair across from his desk. “Take a load off. I didn’t say this, but the sheriff has also been known to take a nap after lunch—for a couple of hours.”
Beau sat down heavily. “It’s about the troubles at the feed store. I need to report a new development.”
The deputy took out a legal pad and noted the date and time. “Go ahead. I’m working on the feed store shootings.”
“Are you looking for Josh Miller?”
“Oh, hell yeah. We don’t know if he’s layin’ dead somewhere, rotting away.” He smacked his hand on the desk in front of him. “Trust me. We are very actively searching for one Josh Miller.”
At Fletch’s nod, Beau made the decision to tell what he had been told. “Pete, the man who works at the feed store, is Josh’s cousin. He told me that Josh has come to him for money. He says that Josh is terrified of whoever shot the guy behind the shed, and he’s hiding out.” Beau paused and pressed his lips together. Something just didn’t make sense about this story. “I figured that if you could question Josh, you could find out what he saw. You know, get a description of whoever did the shooting?”
Fletch was making rapid notes. “I’ll go right over and question Pete.”
Beau threw up his hands in a cautionary gesture. “No. That’s not going to work. Pete told me this in confidence. He’s so scared he can hardly function. I thought you might be able to watch his place and when Josh contacts him, you could grab him, not Pete.”
Fletch frowned, his brows almost meeting in the center of his face.
“Pete is about to have a stroke as it is. I can’t let you spook him.” Beau arranged his features to appear as fearsome as Fletch. “If you bring Pete in, you’ll never get Josh.”
“I guess you’re right. But how do you think we can get Josh if he’s hiding out?”
“I can give Pete some cash to give to Josh, so that might draw him out.”
Fletch smacked his open palm on the desk again. “Great idea. We’ll have to watch Pete to see when Josh makes contact.”
“I’ll hit the ATM and grab some cash. Pete is waiting for me to pick up lunch, so I better be on my way.” Beau stood and reached out for another handshake.
Fletch stood and grasped Beau’s hand firmly. “Say, are you working at the feed store now?”
“I’m just helping out. I really don’t want Dixie to be there. She’s determined to find out who killed her father, and it’s pretty obvious the two crimes are connected. I told Pete I would try to hire someone to take Josh’s place. You know, so Pete won’t be so scared and to take over the shed.”
Fletch squinted and tilted his head to one side. “Interesting.”
When Beau arrived back at the feed store, Pete was standing near the front door, as though anxious for his return.
“I was a-thinkin’ that maybe you got lost.”
“No, man. I got us some of those pulled pork sandwiches from Tiny’s Diner. And Crystal said you really liked their potato salad, so I got some of that too.” Beau set the bag on the counter and began dividing up the food. “Woo-hoo! A big pickle on the side.”
Pete’s distress seemed to evaporate when he saw the food. “That does look mighty tasty.” He sat down on the stool behind the counter and reached for a napkin.
Beau unwrapped his sandwich but remained on his feet. “By the way, I did stop and get some cash for Josh. Poor guy. He must be really worried.”
A wave of relief washed across Pete’s face. “That’s awful nice, Mr. Garrett. I know Josh will appreciate it.” He took the lid off his container of potato salad and eyed the contents appreciatively. “Best potato salad around.”
“I agree.” He chewed a few bites of the meaty sandwich and then reached for a napkin. “By the way, will you be able to get in touch with Josh to let him know you have some cash for him?”
“I—I got his cell phone number right here…somewhere.” Pete patted his shirt pocket absently but then spooned some potato salad into his mouth with an expression that reflected pure bliss.
“Um—maybe you ought to save that phone number to your cell, Pete. It would be terrible if you lost it.”
Pete swallowed his bite and paused, the spoon halfway to his mouth. “I don’t have me one of them cellular phones. I’m either at home or here at the store, so I just use the landlines if I need to make a call… Heck! I don’t actually call very many people.”
Beau let that sink in and finished his meal. He was just discarding the remnants when the little bell over the front door clanked against the glass and Deputy Fletcher Shelton strolled in. He had shed his uniform and wore cowboy boots, Wranglers, a western belt, and a white T-shirt.
“I heard you might be looking to hire some help? I’m strong and willing to learn.” Fletch flexed his muscles while wearing a wide grin.
“That’s right,” Beau said. “I think you might do just fine.”
Pete stroked his chin. “Say, don’t I know you? You look mighty familiar.”
Without missing a beat, Fletch stepped closer. “I’m Herb and Ellen Shelton’s oldest son, Fletcher. I’ve lived here all my life.”
Pete grinned back, nodding his head. “Local boy.”
Beau gestured toward the back of the store. “Let me show you the shed out back. That’s mostly where we need help.”
When he had escorted Fletch to the shed’s loading dock, he slid open the door and closed it behind them. “What’s going on?”
Fletch looked particularly pleased with himself. “I called the sheriff, and he said I could go undercover…so here I am. I figured if I was here I might be able to keep an eye on things and maybe contact Josh.” He looked particularly proud of himself. “It’s my first time undercover.”
Beau related that Pete would be contacting Josh by phone from either the store or his home phone, and Fletch assured him that he had things under control. The two walked back inside, and Beau left Fletch with Pete for training.
Beau exited the store, feeling both relieved and anxious. He hoped that Fletch would be able to take Josh in peacefully. Josh was kind of an ass, and if he was running scared, he might be more so. The muscle-bound oaf had dropped out of high school, but Beau thought he had to know something about the criminal acts that had been carried out at the feed store. Definitely, Josh was a part of the human trafficking that involved the three young girls discovered hiding in the loft. But what did he know about the death of Vern Moore and the shooting of Dixie’s friend Scott?
* * *
Big Jim was surprised when the sheriff called him. He retrieved his phone from
his shirt pocket, listening to the man on the other end. He heard an overview of the feed store situation. Somehow, he doubted that the sheriff had come up with this idea all on his own, and he planned to cross-examine his youngest son to find out the real story.
“How about the two young girls?” Big Jim asked. “Did they get home to their parents okay?”
There was a silence that drew out way too long on the other end of the line.
“Well, not exactly…”
Big Jim got a sick feeling in his stomach. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Um—well…them two little girls went to Amarillo with that social worker lady. She was able to get in touch with their parents, but they can’t afford to pay for the bus tickets to get the girls back to wherever they live in Mexico.”
Big Jim felt his jaw tighten. “Well, where in the hell are those two girls staying?”
The sheriff cleared his throat. “I believe the social worker has them staying in some kind of juvenile center.”
Big Jim exploded. “With a bunch of delinquents? How can that be right?”
The sheriff dithered a bit. “I believe there are some children who have been removed from their homes for some reason…runaways…petty theft…drugs.”
“Gimme the name and number of that social worker lady. I’m gonna give her a piece of my mind.”
The sheriff gave him the information, but his voice sounded anxious. “Now, be careful, Big Jim. We don’t want to make any waves.”
“Waves!” Big Jim’s voice took on a belligerent attitude all its own. “Now see here, Sheriff. I plan to go full-fledged tsunami on her ass.” He disconnected abruptly.
“Big Jim, are you all right?” It was his daughter-in-law Leah. “I could hear you all the way in the dining room.”
Big Jim expelled a deep breath. Gentle Leah was the last person he wanted to unload on. “Oh, just got a call from our glorious sheriff. He told me that those sweet little girls who got kidnapped are now staying with a bunch of damned juvenile delinquents in Amarillo because their parents can’t afford to transport ’em.” He blew out another lungful of air as he tried to get his temper under control.
Leah’s big blue eyes opened wide. “Transport them? Makes them sound like cattle.”
Big Jim stood with his fists planted on his hips. “Don’t it though? This social worker lady contacted the parents, but they couldn’t afford bus fare for the girls to go back to Mexico.”
Leah covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, no! After all they’ve been through, and the best they can do is put them on a bus? Those girls are so young to be traveling by themselves.” She looked at him imploringly. “How can we get them home? I’ll help if I can.”
Big Jim stood staring at her. “How can one little person have such a big heart?”
Leah giggled. “I’ll have you know that I’m a tall woman.”
“Not when you hang around with the Garrett men. You’re a downright miniature.” He stroked his chin. “But I’ll call this social lady and see how we can get the girls home.”
She threw her arms around his waist. “Oh, thank you so much. I’ll be happy to help. Let me know what she says.”
Big Jim went into the kitchen and slid onto one of the stools at the dining bar. He figured he should be sitting down for this. “Is there something to write on around here?”
Leah sat beside him, pen in hand and a small notepad. “Put it on speaker, and I’ll take notes.”
Perfect. Big Jim punched in the number the sheriff had given him. “Miss Lorene Dyer, LSW?” He paused for her to respond. “This is James Garrett. I’m calling about the two young girls from Mexico. The ones who were kidnapped and rescued in Langston.”
The woman explained to him that she was not able to give any information about the children she was supervising.
“I understand that,” he said. “I just wanted to see if my family could help them get home.”
The woman’s frosty demeanor evaporated. “Well, that would be wonderful. The girls don’t speak English, so their stay at Harvest House is very difficult.” She cleared her throat as though showing any emotion was not allowed. “Would you like to contribute to their bus tickets down to the border?”
Big Jim stifled the urge to yell at the woman. “No, we would not. We would like to take the girls to meet their parents at the border. Can you arrange that as quickly as possible?”
She sputtered and stammered. “Why, no. That will not be possible. We can’t just release these very young girls to a complete stranger. They have been traumatized. They were kidnapped with the intent to sell them into some kind of slavery. Maybe sex trafficking. I cannot turn them over to you.”
Big Jim drew in a deep breath, filling his lungs. But before he could formulate a response, Leah had scooted the phone closer to her.
“Miss Dyer? This is Leah Garrett. I’m sure the girls are frightened, but it would be cruel to send them all the way down to Mexico on a bus. Anything could happen to them on that long ride. We want to protect them. You can call our sheriff to ask about the Garrett family.” She smiled at Big Jim. “We’re good people.”
* * *
Beau called Dixie to tell her he was on his way but that he was going to check in at the Garrett ranch.
“Of course you are,” she sang out. “I swear, that Garrett umbilical cord doesn’t stretch very far.”
He laughed, a single syllable. “It’s in the Garrett DNA. We check on each other. I’ve neglected all my usual duties, so just going to touch base with Dad and then I’ll be at your service, baby.”
“Ooh, that sounds good. I’m making dinner.” A deep chuckle erupted from her throat. “And you know that’s always an adventure.”
“I’ll take my chances. See you later.” Beau returned the cell to his pocket and drove to the Garrett ranch. He turned in at the horseshoe-shaped arch, his tires bumping over the cattle guard.
When he entered the ranch house, some kind of an uproar was coming from the rear of the house. He tossed his hat on one of the pegs by the front door and went back to the kitchen. “What’s going on?” he asked. He noticed his next older brother’s face was red and Leah’s brow was furrowed.
“Well, look who showed up,” Big Jim said. His face seemed to be more purple than red.
Beau looked from man to man, not venturing a comment.
Tyler made a growling noise in the back of his throat. “Would you tell my father that I forbid him to take my pregnant wife to Mexico?”
Beau took a step back, raising his hands in supplication. “Don’t drag me into this war.”
Big Jim shot a fierce glare at Tyler. “Not a war. Leah and I are just trying to do something nice for those poor little Mexican girls who got kidnapped.”
“Just calm down, everybody,” Leah said. “It’s not that big a deal. Big Jim and I were talking to the social worker who took charge of those two young ladies.” She rolled her eyes up to the ceiling. “Honestly, we were just trying to get them back to their parents in Mexico.”
“Mexico!” Tyler exploded. “I’m not having my pregnant wife traipsing off to Mexico with my father, no matter how noble the cause.”
“Well, I can’t take those two little girls down there by myself,” Big Jim said. “I mean—they’re little girls.”
Beau crossed his arms over his chest. “Why don’t you just go with them, Ty? You traipse all over the country when you’re touring with your band. Why not just take a little trip with Leah and Dad—and those two girls?”
The silence was so heavy the air itself seemed to have gained weight.
“That’s a good idea,” Leah said. “But who would keep Gracie?”
“I’m pretty sure she can come stay with us at the Moore ranch. She can play with Ava, and if Dixie’s cooking doesn’t kill us all, everything will be okay.”
Leah exchanged glances with her husband and father-in-law. “That doesn’t sound bad at all.”
In the end they agreed to make the trip together and that Beau would pick Gracie up after school and take her to the Moore ranch to spend the night when they were to pick up Sofia and Ana in Amarillo.
Beau smacked one fist into the other open palm. “Bam! It’s all settled. Any other world-shattering problems you need me to solve for you?” He looked from one to the other. “Well, then…I guess I’ll be going to eat Dixie’s wonderful cooking and hope Ava and I survive.”
“Hold on a minute there,” Big Jim’s voice boomed out. “What’s the status of your involvement with this ranch? Should I still count on you to perform your usual duties, or are you permanently on some kind of leave of absence?”
“Aw, Dad,” Ty said. “Beau’s just trying to get his relationship going again with Dixie. There’s a child involved.”
“I know that,” Big Jim snapped. “But this is a working ranch. I need to know if I can count on my youngest son to show up and lend a hand now and then.”
“Dad,” Beau said. “You know you can always count on me.” He raked his fingers through his thick hair. “I’m trying to make sure both Dixie and Ava stay in my life. And Dixie needs help with her ranch and the store. I know you like having that little girl around.” He gave Big Jim a questioning look.
“You know it.” Big Jim huffed out a snort. “You just do whatever you have to do to make sure Dixie doesn’t go running off to Dallas again.”
“I’m trying, but if she goes to Dallas, I’ll be following her there.”
* * *
“Well, could you be any later?” Dixie threw her head back so she could look down her nose at the very tall man.
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure I could. Do you want me to leave and come back again later?”
“I put Ava to bed, and she was upset that you weren’t here to kiss her good night.” She turned back to the stove. “I’ll heat some food for you. It was delicious when I first cooked it.”
“Ummm—looks—interesting,” he said. “What was it?”
