by June Faver
“And you got Valentina arrested and them girls picked up. I had plans for them two. They were gonna bring a big payday.” He shook his head and aimed the gun at Josh again.
“Wait!” Josh pointed at Dixie again. “You can take her. Somebody oughta pay a pretty penny for her.”
“No!” she shouted. She remembered the Beretta nestled at the back of her waist. “You can’t do that!”
* * *
Beau’s gut was tied in a knot, and his jaw gritted together. “Oh, babe. What have you done?” As quietly as possible, he opened the driver’s-side door and stepped down onto the pea gravel in the drive.
A shot rang out, causing Beau to freeze in his tracks. “Dixie!” He took off running across the parking area, leaped up the steps, and threw open the door to the back of the shed.
Dixie was wrestling with a huge guy. Josh was sitting on the floor, blood oozing from his thigh.
Beau threw himself at the man trying to contain Dixie. Beau pulled him off, but Dixie rolled up after him. She landed a solid punch straight to the man’s face. It was solid enough to rock Beau backward onto the floor with the man falling back on top of him.
Beau was trapped under the behemoth of a man. He wrapped an arm around the man’s neck, hoping to cut off his air supply, but the neck was wider than the man’s face. “Back off, Dixie, and call the sheriff’s office.”
The man bucked violently, dislodging Beau and scrambling across the floor toward Dixie.
“Oh,” she said, her eyes wide. She threw herself onto the floor, scrambling for whatever he was after.
Beau grabbed the man’s booted feet and dragged him backward, away from Dixie. The man rolled to one side, twisted out of his boots, and leaped to his feet, fists raised. He launched himself at Beau, punching out wildly.
Beau sidestepped, avoiding the thrashing-windmill technique. He drew back his fist and landed one uppercut punch to the man’s nose, sending him flat to the floor flat on his ass. He shook his head but didn’t immediately get up.
Beau turned to see that Dixie had snatched a large handgun and was pointing it toward him with shaking hands.
“Dixie, put that away,” he demanded. Being shot was not on his agenda for the evening.
At that moment a uniformed Fletch Shelton burst in through the back door, weapon raised. He was followed by another deputy in similar mode.
“You got here quick,” Beau said.
“I—I didn’t call them,” Dixie said.
“I saw her drive up to meet with Josh,” Fletch said, “so I called for backup.” He jerked his head toward the doorway, now filled with other deputies.
“Josh has been shot.” Dixie pointed to where Josh sat crumpled in a heap at the other end of the shed. “His partner in the human trafficking business shot him.”
Fletch took the gun away from Dixie, and she removed the Beretta from her waistband, causing him to step back quickly. “Don’t worry, if I were going to shoot anyone, it would be Josh. He admitted that he killed my dad and shot Scott. It was all him.”
Fletch held his hand out tentatively, and Dixie handed over the gun, butt first. “Who’s this guy?” He gestured to the man sitting on the floor, blood streaming from his nose.
“His name is Troy Elmore,” she said. “He’s Josh’s partner.”
The other deputy called for an ambulance, while Fletch handcuffed Josh and the big man.
“So, why were you wrestling with this Troy guy?” Beau asked.
Dixie’s shoulders sagged. “He—he was going to sell me. He was ticked off at Josh and decided he could make up for losing those two little girls.” She squirmed. “He put his hands on me.”
“Come here, baby.” Beau gestured for her to come into his embrace.
She rushed over to him, burying her face against his chest.
“Honestly, Dixie. Why the hell would you come inside here? I thought you were going to talk to Josh outside and find out what you wanted to know.”
“Okay, I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it.”
“Really?” His voice dripped sarcasm.
She placed both hands on his chest. “No, I really couldn’t. I had to know who killed my father, and the killer, for sure, wasn’t going to admit it. But it was Josh. He was willing to do anything to keep his human slavery business going. He killed my father, and then when Scott was nosing around, he tried to kill him too.” She gazed up into Beau’s eyes, seemingly trying to convince him of the necessity of her actions.
“Slavery? You mean human traffickers?”
She nodded. “Yes, you understand. Apparently my father suspected something was going on, so Josh murdered him to protect his interests…and then he shot Scott when he poked around back here.”
Beau huffed out a little snort. “Sounds like a bad man. Maybe that’s why I told you to stay away from him.”
“Um—well, yes. I can see that would have been a good thing to do, but you know how impatient I am, and I just couldn’t wait any longer. Please don’t be mad at me.”
He lifted her chin. “What would you have done if I hadn’t come in when I did? The big guy had you on the floor, and there was a gun.”
Her lower lip jutted out a bit. “Well, I could have taken him.”
“Excuse me for buttin’ in, Beau,” Fletch said. “But your girlfriend is crazier than a bedbug. This Josh guy shot two people, and then she saw him get shot by this other man here with her own two eyes…and she thinks she can take that guy in a wrestling match. He weighs three times what she does.” Fletch shook his head. “I swear, Beau. You can do better. I have a cousin, Cheryl, who’s just as pretty and has more sense than this’n.” He walked away, shaking his head. “I’ll give you her phone number.”
The ambulance had pulled up, and two attendants were working on Josh. They had wrapped his thigh and were in the process of strapping him to a stretcher.
“That man is under arrest,” Fletch said. He ordered the other deputy to escort the ambulance and to make sure Josh didn’t escape.
Fletch took charge of the handcuffed and surly Troy and led him from the shed.
Beau stood in the cavernous space gazing at the totally crazy, headstrong woman he loved. He snapped his fingers. “Damn! I forgot to get Cheryl’s phone number.”
Dixie punched him on the arm.
Chapter 20
“This is really beautiful.” Leah gazed out over the Intracoastal Waterway, enjoying the soothing sound of chop slapping at the bulkhead. Their waiter refilled her glass of iced tea and served her husband and father-in-law another beer. She was glad they had made the decision to stay overnight at South Padre Island as opposed to driving all night to get home.
“Sure is,” Big Jim agreed. “I’m guessing there are a few fish out there just begging to be caught.” He gestured toward the expanse of water that had been dredged by the Army Corps of Engineers and extended from Brownsville, Texas, around Florida and up the east coast. A series of sand bars, some natural and some man-made, protected the shipping channel.
Tyler just shook his head. “Knock yourself out, Dad. I’ll take more of these incredible shrimp.” He demonstrated by stripping off the shell and popping one into his mouth.
Leah recalled the fleet of shrimp boats they had observed when they had driven over the long Queen Isabella Bridge spanning the mainland and South Padre Island. “Maybe the shrimp was freshly caught.” She stabbed a fork in one of the shrimp making up her shrimp scampi.
They were enjoying the evening with dinner at a restaurant before returning to their rooms at a hotel on South Padre Island.
“I’m just glad we’re not all in jail,” Leah said. “Those border crossing officers scared the daylights out of me.”
Big Jim made a scoffing sound. “Not likely. You just stepped right up and spelled it out for them.” He cocked his head to one side. “You, lit
tle lady, were the reason those guards helped us get together with those girls’ parents.”
Leah’s chest felt tight when she recalled the moment that Sofia and Ana were reunited with their mother and father. There had been tears, of course, and a cacophony of voices all speaking Spanish at the same time. After hugs and farewells, the decision to stay over had been made. Leah was glad to be out of the truck and wasn’t looking forward to sitting so long again.
“You were very clear when you explained to the border guards about the girls. Maybe we ought to send this little one to law school. What do you think, Ty?”
“Step away from my wife, Daddy dearest. We’re going to have our hands full with Gracie and this new little one.” Ty fixed his father with a grimace of mock ferocity.
Big Jim raised his hands in surrender. “I give.”
Leah set her tea glass back on the table. “I think I’ll be quite content to get settled into our new house before the baby comes. I can’t wait to have a place for my grandmother too.”
Big Jim beamed across the table at her. “Your grandma is one feisty little lady. I like her spirit.”
“Let’s eat up,” Ty suggested. “I’d like to take my beautiful bride on a romantic moonlit walk on the beach.” He reached across the table to take her hand.
The look he gave her sent a rush of heat to Leah’s lower regions. She smiled as Ty lifted her hand to his lips, glad the romance was alive and well in their marriage.
* * *
There had been a bit of confusion as to who was sleeping where.
Dixie took a great deal of satisfaction in making her mother sleep in the same room she had shared with the man she betrayed.
“But—but I can sleep in the guest room,” Mamie had insisted.
“No, Mom. Beau and I sleep there.”
Okay, she had enjoyed getting that out there too. Yes, I’m having wild sex again with the man who knocked me up in high school. Smiling, she made sure there were fresh sheets in the master bedroom, and then she went to tuck the girls in bed.
She found Beau was already there. Pausing in the doorway, she heard his deep voice and realized he was reading to the girls. She felt as close to him as though in his embrace.
The girls noticed Dixie first, tearing their attention from Beau to smile at her.
Beau looked up, his face reflecting love. “There’s my girl.”
She stepped into the room, giving each girl a kiss and hug. “Enjoy your story. I have a few things to put away in the kitchen, and then…” She changed her focus to meet Beau’s gaze. “Then I’ll be getting ready for bed.”
This elicited a wink from Beau.
“Mommy, are you and Daddy going to get married?” Ava asked.
“What?” Dixie looked at Beau, who also appeared to be surprised.
“Why do you ask, baby girl?” Beau asked.
Ava’s dimples flashed. “My gramma asked if you and Mommy were going to get married. I told her I didn’t know.” She shrugged and held her hands up to indicate her lack of knowledge.
Dixie put a finger to her lips. “Shh… It is absolutely not any of your grandmother’s business…and you can tell her if she wants to know, she should ask me directly.” That her mother had been pumping her daughter for information was more than irritating.
The next morning, Dixie rose early and went to the kitchen, surprised to find her mother sitting at the table, sipping a cup of tea.
Girding her literal loins, she tightened the sash of her robe. “Good morning, Mother. I trust you slept well.”
Mamie’s mouth was turned down at the corners. “Not well at all,” she whispered.
Dixie selected a cup from the cabinet. “Too bad. I would think you might feel right at home.” She set the cup on the counter and rummaged for a tea bag. “Considering that you slept in that room for many years.”
“I suppose you feel justified in beating me up emotionally, Dixie. I did leave your father.” She gave a halfhearted shrug. “This was never my home. I didn’t love it the way a woman should love her home.”
Dixie’s mouth felt dry. She moistened her lips before speaking. “How about your husband? Did you love him?”
Mamie sucked in a deep breath and expelled it slowly. She stirred her tea again, the tinkling of the spoon against the china cup working on Dixie’s nerves. “I did love Vern Moore…once. Then he brought me to this godforsaken place to rot for as long as we both shall live.”
Her mother’s bitter words stung like nettles, bringing an ache to Dixie’s chest. “Wow! It’s not such a bad place…and Dad loved it here. I’m sure he thought he was sharing a place he loved with the woman he loved.”
Another deep sigh from Mamie. “I’m sure he didn’t bring me here out of malice. I just never fit in here. I ached to return to Dallas—to a civilized life—but, of course, Vern couldn’t even comprehend my pain. He thought I should be thrilled to be stranded here.”
Dixie poured hot water over her tea bag and took the cup to the table. She took a seat across the table and, when the tea had steeped sufficiently, began to vigorously stir in a spoonful of honey.
Mamie gave out a brief little laugh. “Our own little tea ceremony. Another special mother–daughter moment.”
Dixie sighed and set the spoon on the saucer. “Look, Mom. You were the best mother on the planet. I loved coming home from school to have the special time just for us. I can even sort of understand why you thought it was necessary to leave Langston.”
Mamie nodded, her mouth tight but somewhat pleasant nonetheless.
“I’m only angry at you because of the way you did things. You could have left without taking me. You could have left me right here with Beau. We would have been married, and Ava would have had a father. She would have been a part of the Garrett family. A beloved child and grandchild.”
“But not my family,” Mamie spat out.
“It’s normal for a child to be the binding between two families.” Dixie gazed at her mother steadily.
* * *
Mamie Moore drove back to Dallas after breakfast.
Dixie and Ava waved goodbye from the front porch. Beau hung back, giving them their space. He sensed there had been a lessening of tensions between mother and daughter while granddaughter remained blissfully unaware of any discord.
When Dixie and Ava turned back to the house, Beau opened his arms, enfolding both in an embrace. “My girls,” he breathed, ruffling Ava’s curls in the process.
“Daddy, don’t mess up my hair. Gramma fixed it for me.” She patted her hair back down.
“Sorry, princess. Your hair looks fine.” He watched her prance into the house. Such a girlie girl.
Dixie remained glued to his side, her arms locked around his torso. “Oh, Beau, I’m so glad things are back to normal. I don’t ever want anyone to be able to drive a wedge between us.”
He rubbed her shoulder. “Me neither.” He pressed his lips to the crown of her flame-red hair. “Although I’m not exactly sure what normal is between us.”
“I’m truly sorry that I upset you by contacting Josh, but you know, we might never have found out who murdered my dad—and I had to know.”
“I’m just glad we both lived through it.” He gave her a little squeeze. “I had my doubts there.”
“But everything turned out okay. Josh Miller has been arrested for murdering my dad and for shooting Scott. And that other man, the trucker, he is in jail for human trafficking…so it’s all good.”
He shook his head, knowing he would never be able to squelch her determination or convince her that she had taken a dangerous risk. Perhaps being impulsive and headstrong was a part of her genetic makeup. Perhaps that was a part of her charm. “This might be a good day to go get a marriage license.”
She pushed away, gazing up at him. Her lower lip trembled, making her at once
vulnerable and childlike. “Today?” Her voice sounded fragile.
Beau shrugged, looking around the sun-drenched landscape. “Looks like a good day to me.”
“Well—I, uh…”
“You don’t have to marry me until you feel like it, but we could get a license…and see—”
“Yes!” she said. “Yes. Let’s go get the license today. I’m ready to make things official.”
Beau was blown away. He called his brother Colt to let him know he was on his own for the day but didn’t tell him why. Beau could tell from Colt’s tone of voice that he was miffed, but he had to put Dixie first.
He dropped Gracie off at school and then drove to Amarillo with Dixie and Ava. Dixie seemed a bit anxious. He thought it was hilarious that she would face down a killer but was nervous about making a lifetime commitment when she had known him all her life. He reached over to squeeze her hand. “Everything is going to be great. You’ll see.”
Ava, for her part, was excited. She wasn’t sure what she was excited about, but she was taking a trip with her mom and dad, so that’s all she cared about.
Their first stop was the courthouse, where Beau and Dixie obtained the required license to marry. Beau was elated but noted that Dixie seemed a bit subdued. He hoped she wasn’t having second thoughts.
She heaved an audible sigh when they climbed back in the truck. “That’s done. I guess we can go home now.” She buckled her seat belt and flashed a brief smile.
He started the motor, pausing before putting it in gear. “I have just one more stop to make. You don’t mind, do you? We can grab dinner at a nice restaurant before we leave.”
She glanced back at Ava. “Sure. That sounds great.”
Beau drove to a large mall and parked as close as he could.
A wide grin spread across Dixie’s face. “Well, a shopping center. Now you’re talking. Ava and I know how to shop.”
Beau was glad to see her good humor restored, but he wished she had more enthusiasm for the marriage license. He released Ava from her car seat and walked across the parking lot holding hands with each of his ladies.
Once inside, Dixie broke away. “I think Ava and I deserve some serious retail therapy. Where are you going to be, Beau?”
