Pulling out her lap top, she Googled the names she got from the library in Bandera County. After an hour of searching, she had the phone number of the school counselor but couldn't find anyone else. She crossed all her fingers that the number was still good.
She tore out a couple of sheets of paper and labeled them Kenneth, then dialed Sheriff Kline.
Her luck held. The old guy picked up the phone. "Hello?"
Introducing herself, she quickly told him her reason for calling.
He replied, "So, you want to know what kind of kid this Hale was, huh?"
"Yes, please. Anything you can tell me would be helpful." She crossed her legs and settled in.
"He was a strange-acting kid. Strange-looking too, you ask me. His momma died in a crash when he was around ten or twelve, and his dad never remarried. He was a hard one. Never seemed to care much for the boy."
The old man hacked and spit into something. "When Hale was about fourteen, I got a call from a young lady who seen a guy looking in her bedroom window. When I got there, Hale was still in her backyard, crouching in the bushes. He never said a word when I yanked him out and threw him in the back of my car. Never said a peep when his daddy yelled at him and slapped him around, neither."
The sheriff heaved a wheezy sigh. "I had to pull his daddy off'n him and read 'em both the riot act before I sent the boy home. I made him promise to never do it again, and he just nodded. Still didn't say a word.
After a loud coughing spell, the sheriff continued. "Next time I saw him, he'd laid hold of a cat out behind the school gym and lit it on fire. I picked him up and called his daddy down to the station again. Same thing. No talking. Pulled his dad off'n him. I told the boy if I had to run him in again, he'd be going to juvie. He looked at me a while and nodded his head. That's the last time he got in trouble."
The sheriff spit again, and Lee's stomach lurched. "Now, mind you, I sure don't think it was the last bad thing that boy done. It was just the last time he got caught. Kids like that don't change, in my book. They just get sneakier. I kept my eye on him but never had no cause to bring him in again. He moved out after high school, and I never heard of him coming back that way. As far as I could see, there wasn't nothing for him there."
Lee thanked the sheriff and disconnected. Well, well, well, the little sneak was a peeping Tom and abused animals. Reading over her notes, she added some things to ensure she remembered everything clearly.
Taking a drink, she looked up her contact for Theron as a youngster and dialed it.
A woman's voice answered. "Hello?" She sounded like she was older, but definitely not old old.
Lee spoke quickly. "Hi, my name's Lee Granger, from Bentwood, Texas? I'm trying to reach a Mrs. Danette Nelson. I'd like to ask her some questions, if this is the right number for her?"
There was silence on the line for a few seconds. "This is Mrs. Nelson. What kind of questions did you want to ask?"
Lee used her friendliest voice. "I'm so glad I was able to reach you, Mrs. Nelson. I need to speak to you about a student that attended high school during the time that you were a counselor. Just basic questions. I don't expect you to disclose any confidences, should there be any."
The woman was quiet again for a moment. "You would like this information why?"
Lee had hoped the woman wouldn't ask that. "Do you want the honest answer, or the answer I was prepared to give you so you'd talk to me?"
More silence. "The honest answer, if you please."
Lee took a deep breath. "Okay, I have suspicions about the man I'm going to ask you about, but absolutely nothing concrete to base them on. I'm a former Texas Highway Patrol Trooper and sheriff's deputy, but right now I'm just a rancher."
She took a sip of soda, collecting her thoughts. "Last week I found the naked, tortured body of a young woman in the middle of one of my pastures. I think this man may have something to do with it. If so, excuse my French, he's a slippery son of a bitch. I'd like to find out what he was like as a young man. I want to know if he got into any trouble and if so, what kind. His name's Theron Rubek. He's thirty-eight years old."
Silence. And more silence. Lee waited it out. Finally, the woman said quietly, "Yes, I do know Theron Rubek. It appears important, so I'll tell you what I remember. A spiffy dresser. Winning smile, but I never saw it reach his eyes. I helped him with his college entrance tasks. He had a mean streak, but nothing that anyone could ever prove."
She paused, as if considering what to say. "One serious incident occurred his junior year. Someone spilled musical instrument oil on the stairs—it was never proved that it was deliberate—and Theron slipped and fell all the way down. He skinned himself up a bit. Bruised his face. The worse of it was, two members of the football team watched and laughed at him. And they made fun of him to the girls they were with. At the time of the incident, Theron kept quiet and walked away. But the story got around the school, and Theron let it be known that he thought the two football players had done it on purpose."
Sighing audibly, as if unhappy, she said, "At the next football game, one of these players had his truck, which had the windows rolled down, set on fire. The other player's brake line was tampered with. He ran off the road and hit a tree, resulting in a badly broken leg. He missed the rest of the football season. No one saw Theron do it, and there was no evidence linking him to it. However, the coincidence was not overlooked by me or the sheriff. So, if you tell me, Ms. Granger, that Theron Rubek may be involved in unsavory things, then no, I would not be surprised."
This is what Lee was looking for. "Mrs. Nelson, you've been unbelievably helpful."
The woman said, "One more thing. There was a girl that was a close friend of his. Not a girlfriend, I don't mean that. They were friends throughout high school. Her name is Elizabeth Flack. She still lives around here, and she's never married. As an only child, she cared for her elderly parents, who, unfortunately, have both passed away. She's a home health nurse and lives in her parents’ home outside of town."
Lee smiled. Now they were getting somewhere. "Do you, by any chance, have a phone number for Elizabeth?"
"Just a minute, let me look in the book." Then, "Yes, here it is. Elizabeth Flack."
Lee wrote the name and number on her list. "I appreciate this so much. My goal is to identify this young woman and bring her back to her family. I believe what you've told me today will help me do that. One last thing. Please keep this conversation confidential." Lee said goodbye and hung up.
She'd long since finished her sandwich and was ready for a break. Pouring a glass of wine, she stood at the front window. It was time to put another coat of clear varnish on the bench. It was something she never neglected to do.
She took another sip of wine and sat back down at the kitchen table, dialing Elizabeth Flack. As a home health nurse, the woman would most likely be away during the day, and that was the case.
An answering machine picked up. "Hello, this is Elizabeth. You know the drill. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks."
Lee gave her the spiel, plus, "I'll call you back tomorrow evening. If that isn't a good time, I'm leaving you my phone number. Please give me a call and tell me when you'd like to speak to me. I'd sure appreciate it, and thanks." Glancing at the clock on the wall, she called it a day on the phone calls.
The spare bedroom closet was where she'd stashed her clothes from her life with Wess. It had been Megan's room, and it still held ghosts for her. The healthy part of her mind kept her out of there except on her worst days, and those were infrequent now.
She walked past the bed with its light-blue, cheery bedspread and opened the closet, pulling out a pair of denim capris and a red sleeveless blouse with a collar and pocket that was comfortable but cute. She'd loved that shirt. She found some white tenny shoes to wear, too.
By the time she was ready, Jesse drove in and headed down to the barn to feed. Damn, she liked having a cowhand. Another thing she'd miss about having him around—afternoon feeding gett
ing done without her lifting a finger. She poured another glass of wine and straightened a few things in the living room.
Expecting Jesse any minute, she headed to the garage, keeping an eye out for snakes, and gathered her gardening tools, leaving them all on the front porch. Crossing her arms, she surveyed her flower beds from the cool shade.
Jesse pulled up behind her truck.
Waving, she walked over, ready to help him unload whatever he'd brought for dinner. "Hey there, cowboy, you look nice." He smelled great, too. He'd obviously taken a shower when he'd run home to pick up the food.
Looking her over from head to toe, he said, "And, don't you look cute, butterfly." He swept her up in a hug and kissed her cheek.
Following him as he walked to the passenger side, she took the armload of groceries he handed her and asked, "So, what's on the menu?"
"I make a mean burger, so that's one thing. Then I'll make some country-fried potatoes. You better not be on a diet."
She laughed. "Me? On a diet? That takes will power, of which I have none."
He grinned. "You don't need no diet, girl. You fine."
"What, now you watch gangsta movies?"
"Hey, I been told I got eclectic tastes."
She shook her head. "Oh, man."
He put his arm around her as they walked into the kitchen, setting down the bags and giving her a peck on the cheek. "Okay, give me a rundown so I can get started. Then you can do whatever you want."
She showed him the spices, got out a skillet, told him where the silverware and other dishes were kept, then helped him unload his bags and put food in the fridge. "Do you want me to peel those potatoes?"
"Get on out of here, girl. I said I'm cooking dinner, and I meant it. You go do your thing."
"You got it. Let me know if you need anything." Shaking her head, she walked out to the yard. This was going to be something else.
She worked hard pruning dead heads and pulling weeds. It was still plenty hot out.
Forty-five minutes later, Jesse came out the front door and surveyed her progress. Handing her a chilled bottle of water, he drew her to him and kissed her soundly.
Laughing, she took a long swallow. "Nothing better than cold water when you've been working in the sun. Thanks for this."
He pouted. "What, you like the water more than my kiss?"
"Come here, you!" She pulled him to her and kissed him with a loud smack.
Squeezing her tight, he kissed her long and slow. "My, my, Miss Lee, I really do love how you kiss."
She laughed and bent down to her flowers again.
Jesse walked back to the house.
She couldn't help but follow his sexy, swinging gait. She was working on her pretties, a handsome man was cooking for her, and her sweet boy Chowser rolled and played in the yard. She couldn't remember the last time life had been this good.
After a while, Jesse called out the door, "Do you want to eat outside or inside?"
Eating outside was fun, but she wasn't up to fighting the flies. "Let's eat inside. I'm pooped."
"Inside it is. Dinner in five."
As she entered the kitchen, she realized how hungry she was. "Man, this smells awesome, Jesse."
"On the road, one thing I learned how to cook—and cook good—was hamburgers. And, my momma taught me how to make the potatoes. Hers were the best!" He smiled and gave Lee a kiss on the forehead.
Pulling back, she said, "Yuck. I'm all sweaty. Let me go wash up."
He patted her behind. "You're just right, but suit yourself."
She washed and put on more deodorant. Next time she went to Abilene she needed to buy some perfume.
Jesse had the table set and waited for her with a cold glass of wine.
She grinned. "Oh, you know what I like."
He pulled out her chair.
Her plate held a gorgeous, open-faced hamburger with all the fixings and tons of soft fried potatoes. "This looks amazing. You really do know how to make a good burger."
Jesse sat and popped the top off his beer.
"What, no prayer, cowboy?"
"Give me time, give me time," he teased back. "Of course, I'm going to thank the Lord for having you in my life. Did you think I'd forget?"
Heat rose up her neck to her face. That hadn’t been what she meant.
Jesse reached across the table and took her hand in his, closing his eyes. "Dear Lord, I thank you so much for putting this sweet woman in my life. Please watch over her and bless her abundantly. Help us find a way to blend our lives together in a way that makes us both happy. Lord, please send Lee rain to grow her wheat and water her stock. And lastly, Lord, we thank you for this food and for the blessings you give us every day. In Your Son Jesus's Name, Amen." He squeezed her hand and released it.
She smiled at him across the table. "Jesse, you're one wonderful man. I'm thankful to have you in my life, too." With a heart full to overflowing, she reached for the salad dressing and spread it on her bun.
As she chewed her first bite, he said, "So, tell me how you like it?"
"It's great! You sure know what you’re doing, cowboy.”
After dinner, she washed the dishes while Jesse cleared the table and put things back in the fridge. Night had fallen, but the moon wasn't out yet.
She asked, "Feel like going out to the yard for a while?" Steering him outside where the evening noises were beginning to sound, she hesitated, looking at the lawn chairs on the patio for a few seconds. Then, she turned and led him to the old bench under the tree.
Jesse was silent and, when she stopped at the bench, asked, "You sure about this?" as if he'd sensed her hesitation in sharing this precious seat with another.
She gave him a brief, soft kiss. "I'm sure."
Sitting with Jesse in this almost-sacred spot, she couldn't help but compare the differences in the two men who had shared it with her. Jesse was a bit taller. His legs and hips were longer and leaner, but his chest was just as broad as the beloved one she remembered. She leaned into Jesse and their bodies melded together. This loving harmony, the most important thing, felt the same.
They finished their drinks in peaceful silence as the stars came out. Slapping at a mosquito that had been trying for a couple of minutes to get hold of her, she said, "I think I'm ready to go in. I'm fixing to be made a meal of here. That okay with you?"
He kissed her forehead and helped her stand. Slipping his arm around her, they walked through the yard and up to the front door, eyes peeled for snakes.
Once inside, Jesse drew her close, whispering in her ear, "If I promise to be good, can we snuggle for a while before I head home?"
She pulled away from him slightly and searched his face.
"Scouts honor"—he held up three fingers in the air—"no funny business."
Grinning, she shook her head and led him back to the bedroom.
As she opened the door, Jesse squeezed her hand. "Same drill, t-shirt and shorts, Miss Lee. I'm taking my boots and socks off."
When she came out of the bathroom, he stood by the bed waiting for her.
She smiled a little, wondering exactly what to do. God, had she really been married twice before? She felt like a school girl. Damn.
Jesse grinned, the rat, and pulled her into a hug.
Sighing, she melted into him, better already.
He nudged her. "Come snuggle with me, butterfly." Laying down in the middle of the bed, he drew her against him, kissing her forehead and brushing her hair away from her face. "You're such a beautiful woman, Lee. I dream of you at night. Did you know that?"
She shook her head as her pulse raced.
"I do, and there's been a terrible thing happen in my bedroom. Poor old Pamela has lost her bragging rights. She's not the most gorgeous woman in the world anymore. I'll have to take down her poster now."
Lee giggled, envisioning his bedroom with an old Pamela Anderson poster. It was just too much.
He turned her on her back and lay on his side, propping his head u
p on his hand. "I've dreamed of Pamela all my life and now it's over—the ending of an era, thanks to you."
She giggled again, looking into his eyes, which had turned black in the darkness of the room. Pulling his head down, she kissed him slowly, caressing every surface of his lips.
Jesse's breath caught, and he kissed her, moving his mouth over her cheek and neck.
She slipped her arm around his waist and pulled him closer, running her hand up his back and drawing his lips back to hers.
He kissed her deeply, and then teased her lips with the tip of his tongue before pulling back.
Moonlight shone on his dark hair, highlighting the planes of his cheekbones.
Her heart pounded in her chest and she breathed in shallow pants, her body responding in old familiar ways to this unfamiliar man.
Jesse stared at her in the soft light, and took her hand, kissing the palm. "Butterfly." He pushed the hair out of her eyes, and rested his hand over her hammering heart. "Shush, shush," he whispered, still looking at her, and she began to calm.
He kissed her eyes closed and ran his fingers lightly up and down her arm, calming her as he would a child.
She felt cherished and small.
In a while, he pulled her into him, lying on his back. Sliding her across his chest, he drew her leg up his thigh. He stroked her face and her hair, as she relaxed into him.
Jesse lifted her chin.
She looked into his eyes as moonlight painted a black-and-white portrait of the planes of his face.
He cradled her head in his hand. "Lee Granger, I love you," he whispered. "I love your strength, your beauty, and your love of this land. Hell, I even love that damn temper of yours. I love you with everything I am, Lee."
Time froze. He loved her? She couldn't move, or blink, or anything.
After a moment, Jesse sat up, which forced her to as well. "Oh, Jesus. You okay, honey?" He grabbed her arms, peering into her face.
She breathed, then she moved, pushing him gently back down on the bed and leaning over him. Staring into his eyes, she kissed him decisively. Straddling him, she pulled his hands over his head, tasting his lips, bit by bit, until she'd savored every part of them. "Jesse, I love you, too."
True-Blue Texas Cowboy Page 11
