The Reluctant Rancher~Badlands (Contemporary Western Romantic Suspense) Read online

  Breck reached out to steady her, taking the cup and saucer to the sheriff. “Sit down, honey. Let’s hear what the sheriff has to say. I’m sure he didn’t drive all the way out here just to pass the time.”

  Cami nodded and sat down on the brocade Queen Anne sofa, her hands clasped together, scarcely breathing.

  The sheriff took a sip of coffee and then set the cup carefully on the saucer. “There have been some developments in the case. The dead Hispanic fellow appears to have been a Mexican national. The few papers on him showed him to be from the state of Chihuahua, but no name on them. We notified the border patrol and the Mexican government with a photo, in case someone is looking for him.”

  Cami thought she might pass out from sheer anxiety. She tried to make herself breathe in and out in a semi-normal fashion.

  “This won’t mean anything to you, Mrs. Ryan,” the sheriff said. “It was before your time. But Breck, you should remember the Atwaters.”

  Breck frowned. “Vaguely. I was just a youngster when they left town. My dad might be able to tell you something about them.”

  “The Atwaters, Brody and Marie, have been at the bottom of the caves for twenty-some-odd years. They’re petrified like mummies due to the conditions in the caves.”

  Breck sank down on the sofa beside Cami. “How did you get a positive identification, Sheriff?”

  “Brody got into a few scrapes with the law and his fingerprints were on file. The forensic lab had to rehydrate his fingertips but there was a match, pure and simple. Somebody shot ‘em dead and tossed them down in that old cave on Silky’s property.” He shook his head. “Talk about a cold case.”

  A tremor gripped Cami, causing her to shake visibly.

  Breck put an arm around her and drew her against his solid chest. “Here, now. You don’t need to be upset about these people. They have nothing to do with us.”

  She sucked in a breath and nodded. “It was Eldon!” she blurted out. “Eldon Kincaid. He murdered them and threw them down in the cave.”

  Breck gazed at her, shook his head and patted her shoulder. “Now, honey. I’d like to believe it was Eldon, but that’s a big stretch. What makes you think it might have been him?”

  The sheriff frowned, as though entertaining the possibility. “That’s not as far-fetched as you might think, Breck. I remember Eldon filing a deed of ownership on the Atwater place right after they left…or so we thought. He claimed to have won the property in a poker game and had a hand-written quit-claim deed signed by Brody Atwater. We sorta figured that was the reason the Atwaters left.”

  Cami gasped for air. “He…he told me. That night, when he tried to kill me and…and Red broke his ribs…He told me Brody Atwater had come at him and he’d killed him in the fight…and then he murdered the woman.”

  Breck stared at her, his mouth open as though he was groping for words.

  The sheriff cleared his throat, frowning at her. “Mrs. Ryan, why on earth would you keep silent about this for the past several months?”

  “Because we had a deal. When we were rescued and Eldon was in the hospital, he agreed to plead guilty to murdering my Aunt Silky. That was all I cared about. I know this was wrong, but there was no evidence to tie him to her death, or any other, so I thought as long as he was in prison, it didn’t matter.” Tears streamed down her face. “I’m sorry. I’m sure I made things more difficult, but I didn’t know what else to do.” She turned to Breck and buried her face against his neck.

  Breck stroked her hair. “That’s enough, honey. Don’t say anything else.”

  “Mrs. Ryan, if you could come in and make a formal statement tomorrow that would be acceptable”

  Cami turned to face the sheriff, sniffling and dabbing at her eyes. “Acceptable?”

  Breck blew out an exasperated sigh. “As opposed to the sheriff arresting you tonight for obstruction of justice.”

  The full weight of her actions slammed home.

  Damn you, Eldon Kincaid!

  ~*~

  The next morning, Jenna Lewis drove to the local airport. She had gotten a call from E.J. asking her to meet him there. She supposed he needed a ride, but then again, she thought he had driven to Dallas in his Jaguar. No matter. She was just glad he was coming home.

  She pulled her truck to the rear of the designated hanger and parked, keeping well to the side of the runway. Quite a few small planes were lined up along the side or in hangers. A crop dusting company had two small, single-engine planes under tarps.

  A Cessna Citation approached the runway with its wheels down, circled once, and came in for a landing.

  As it rolled to a stop, Jenna couldn’t control her grin. The door opened and E.J. stepped out, looking big and gorgeous. He cocked a grin at her and walked straight to where she was parked.

  He opened her door and swung her out and into a bear hug. “God! I missed you.”

  She could hardly speak, partially because of the emotions choking her and due, in even larger part to the strong arms squeezing the breath out of her.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  “Ready for what?” she gasped out.

  “Just lock your truck and come with me. I need you.”

  “What? Come with you where?”

  He drew a breath and pulled her away from the truck. “Dallas. Just for a few days. Please come with me.”

  “I have appointments.”

  The blue eyes drilled into her. “I would appreciate it if you could reschedule.”

  “E.J., I don’t know what this is about, but…” she expelled a sigh. “If you need me to be with you, I’ll go.” She looked around. “I have nothing with me. Can I run home and get a few things?”

  “Nope. We can shop.” He drew her by the hand. “Let me show you my city. Let me spend some money on my girl.”

  She grinned. “Now you’re talking!”

  He led her to the plane and ushered her inside. The door was closed and secured. She was seated and her seatbelt fastened for her. The pilot took off in a matter of minutes. “Oh, my!” She hadn’t ever flown in a plane so small.

  The pilot turned the aircraft, banking to the left and climbing. A dizzy feeling swirled through her head. She gripped the hand rests.

  E.J. clasped his hands over hers. “Don’t worry, Jenna. This is a very safe plane.”

  She grinned at him. “Did you rent this airplane just to come get me?”

  He raised his brows, looking a bit embarrassed. “Actually, I own this aircraft. Or Kincaid Enterprises does.”

  “Whoa! That boggles the mind.”

  “I’m still me, Jenna. Just the same guy who loved you last week…and the one who will love you next week.”

  She leaned forward and planted a kiss against his jawline. “Good to know.”

  He laced his fingers through hers and seemed content to fly in his own plane, so high above the grasslands of north Texas, gripping her hand.

  When they landed, E.J. shook the pilot’s hand and deplaned, still grinning. His Jaguar was parked near the hanger and he held the door open for her. When he had closed her inside, he leaned down to collect a kiss.

  “Why, Mr. Kincaid,” she teased. “I do believe you missed me.”

  His grin faded and he looked totally serious. “I would not have believed it possible to miss another human being the way I’ve missed you.”

  A wave of emotion clutched her throat, silencing her. Strangling any possible comment she might have made. Tears stung her eyes and she nodded.

  He climbed into the driver’s seat and started the vehicle, revving the motor once. He drove her on a confusing series of freeways and exited in a posh business district. Parking in an underground parking system, he abandoned the vehicle and drew her into an elevator. On the upper level of a mall, they exited.

  “Where are we going?” she asked, a little breathless from sheer excitement.

  “Here,” he said and pulled her into a jewelry store. He strode straight to the back, where the manager came
out to greet him.

  “Ah, Mr. Kincaid. How good to see you.” The man beamed from ear to ear and extended a hand to E.J. “We haven’t enjoyed your company since your dear mother passed.” He turned to Jenna, an expectant smile on his lips.

  “My beautiful friend here…” E.J. lifted her fingers and kissed them. “She needs something beautiful. I’m thinking emeralds…or maybe sapphires.”

  Her stomach caught. “Oh, no, E.J…I couldn’t let you…”

  “Sure you could.” He turned to the manager. “I’m thinking a significant pair of earrings. What do you think?”

  The manager held up his hand. “I believe I might have some ‘significant earrings’ to gratify the lady. Please be seated and I will select something from the vault.” He led them to a private room with a counter and mirrors. The lighting was somewhat subdued, but directed strategically so that it lit a black velvet pad placed on the counter in front of her.

  Jenna wasn’t accustomed to jewelers who brought out ‘significant earrings’ to gratify his customers. The only jeweler in Langston specialized in wedding bands and watches…ordered the senior class rings each year in the sizes specified for each student.

  She looked at E.J., but he was drumming his fingers on the glass case. In a few minutes, the manager returned carrying several velvet pouches. He sat down across from them and smiled. “Let me see if I can find something to please the lady.”

  He opened the first pouch and removed something using a jeweler’s cloth to polish it before placing it on the velvet lined pad in front of her.

  Jenna’s breath wedged in her throat. The item was a sapphire and diamond earring. He placed its mate beside it. The light caught the rich blue facets and the sparkling diamonds. One round sapphire with a circlet of diamonds and a tear shaped sapphire also circled with diamonds. Significant, indeed.

  “Very nice,” E.J. said. He picked up one of the earrings and held it against her neck, just below her ear and then replaced it on the velvet. “Do you have something that approaches the beauty of my girlfriend’s eyes?”

  Jenna found herself blushing. To be praised so lavishly and so publicly was new for her.

  The jeweler shook his head, placing the sapphire earrings back in their pouch. “No, nothing so lovely…but perhaps these might offer counterpoint to such eyes.” He placed a box on top of the polished glass showcase.

  Jenna couldn’t take her gaze from the pearly white box. Slowly, the jeweler lifted the lid and drew out the earrings. The knot in her stomach tightened. She had never before seen anything so extravagant. Three long strands of perfectly matched emeralds extended from each of the larger emerald studs, while smaller strands of diamonds glistened among the green.

  E.J. was smiling. “Very nice. Try them on and see if you like them.”

  Jenna fumbled with the backs, and pushed the studs through the holes in her ears. The mirror was offered to her and the image made her catch her breath. “Oh, my.”

  “Exactly,” E.J. said. “We’ll take them.”

  “Certainly, Mr. Kincaid.” The manager rose and left the room with the other boxes.

  “E.J., I can’t possibly let you buy me something this costly.”

  “Too late,” he said.

  “I’m a small town veterinarian. Where will I wear them?”

  “We’ll find a place,” He signed the paperwork the jeweler presented. When she removed the earrings, the jeweler polished them again and placed them in a presentation box and then in a bag.

  E.J. tucked the bag inside his jacket and gestured to the exit. “No sense in advertising your jewelry.”

  “I guess I never had anything worth stealing before.”

  The look he gave her scorched her insides. “You deserve so much more.”

  “Where are you taking me now?” she asked.

  He chortled. “You need a dress to go with your earrings.”

  She giggled. “Well, of course.”

  ~*~

  The next morning was a flurry of activity at the Ryan camp. Sara Beth was excited as she gulped down breakfast and fed the baby. She had taken over making breakfast, since it seemed the doctor and Mr. Ryan were preoccupied.

  Doctor Cami gave her a big hug when she came down. “I honestly don’t know how we got along without you. I would have grabbed coffee and run out the door…but this is nice…very nice.”

  Mr. Breck smiled and tucked into a plate of eggs with bacon and biscuits on the side. He seemed a little anxious, too, but Sara Beth figured he had some big lawyer business on his mind.

  Sara Beth folded some bacon inside the two remaining biscuits with a couple of spoonfuls of scrambled eggs. She wrapped them in tin foil and tucked them in the insulated part of the diaper bag along with Cami Lynn’s bottles. Waste not, want not.

  “Frank’s going to take you to the store today, if you don’t mind.” Doctor Cami’s face appeared to be strained.

  “Oh, I don’t mind at all,” Sara Beth assured her. “I don’t mean to be a bother.”

  “You’re no bother,” Doctor Cami said. “Breck and I have an errand to do first thing.”

  “Don’t you worry about me,” Sara Beth said. “Me and Cami Lynn will be just fine.” She smiled cheerily, wondering how fine they would be without the kindness and generosity of these caring folks.

  She took her baby and the diaper bag outside to wait on the porch. In a few minutes, Frank drove up in a somewhat dusty truck. He touched the brim of his hat in a jaunty two-fingered salute and jammed the vehicle into idle. He swung down from the truck and reached for the baby’s car seat.

  “Good Morning, Sara Beth,” he called.

  “And good morning to you, Frank. I sure appreciate you taking us into town this morning.”

  “My pleasure.” He secured the car seat and turned to take the diaper bag from her. He extended his hand and she hesitated before placing her own hand in his.

  She felt the roughness of his fingers. A hard working hand. One that gave an honest day’s work in exchange for his pay.

  He assisted her into the truck and closed the door before going around to the driver’s side. He gazed out the windshield at the clear blue sky overhead and took a deep breath. “Beautiful morning.”

  She nodded. “Certainly is.” The fields were freshly planted and others were grassy plains with innumerable cattle grazing. “I can see why they call this God’s Country. It sure does look like it holds a special place in His heart.”

  “That sounds about right.”

  They rode in silence into town and Frank parked in front of the store. He opened Sara Beth’s door and reached out to help her descend. Again, she hesitated a moment before placing her hand in his. “Thank you, Frank,” she murmured as she alit.

  He leaned back to release the baby’s car seat and swung it down as he turned.

  Sara Beth reached to take her daughter, but Frank gestured for her to precede him up to the entrance. She stopped to dig in the diaper bag for her keys and then opened the glass door.

  “Thanks so much for the ride, Frank. I really appreciate it.”

  He carried the baby inside and placed the car seat on top of the counter. “No thanks necessary. Wait right here. I’ll be back.” He went back outside and removed a large box from the bed of the truck. “Where do you want your computer set up?”

  Sara Beth had taken the baby out of her seat and held her against her shoulder. She felt a lurch in her chest. “What? We just talked about this yesterday. I can’t believe you threw those old spare parts together so fast.”

  He shrugged. “Let’s just say I spent a little time on it last night.” He looked around the store. “How about right here?” He indicated a small, lady’s desk set against the far wall.

  “That’s perfect,” she said, following close behind.

  Frank removed the tower and set it on the lower platform of the desk and arranged the keyboard and monitor on the desk top. He plugged it all in and the machine came to life. “All you need is an intern
et connection.”

  “Oh, I wonder how much that will cost.”

  “Not much and it will be a business expense.”

  So much to learn.

  “I’ve got to get back to the ranch, but I’ll check to see what internet service is available and you can choose your provider.”

  “Um…yes, that would be nice.”

  “You should make a list of everything you want to sell.”

  She said goodbye to Frank and spent some time sitting at the desk with her new-old computer Frank put together out of spare parts. She ran her hands reverently over the keyboard. He must be very smart.

  ~*~

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Cami was seated in the sheriff’s office. She clasped her hands together, almost afraid to breathe. Her story had sounded so lame. She knew Breck couldn’t understand why she had kept Eldon Kincaid’s secret, especially from him.

  His dark eyes probed her…wondered what else she was keeping from him.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  He took her hand, tried to act like it didn’t matter, but she knew it did.

  The sheriff re-entered the room with her statement printed out. “Please read this over, Mrs. Ryan and make sure it’s accurate. Then, sign it at the bottom.”

  Breck reached for the document and read it before handing it to Cami with a slight nod.

  She signed it without reading it, trusting that her husband’s judgment would be better than hers.

  The sheriff made a copy of her statement and handed it to Breck, who folded it and tucked it inside his jacket. He stood and offered his hand to the sheriff, who shook it solemnly. Breck gestured to Cami to get moving, even though she felt paralyzed by fear. She had thought she might be arrested, but apparently she was free to go.

  When they cleared the building, she expelled a deep breath. Breck held her hand all the way to the truck and then assisted her in climbing up into the passenger seat. He rounded the vehicle and slammed the door when he got in. “Honestly, Cami! That was about the most foolish thing you could have done. How many times have I told you not to get mixed up in anything Kincaid?”