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

  “Yes, dear.” She tried to keep a straight face. “I promise not to be manipulated by Eldon Kincaid.”

  Breck made a scoffing noise in the back of his throat. “I’ll be amazed if you walk out of there without getting rooked into one of Eldon’s twisted plots. I swear…That man!”

  “Don’t get in a snit ahead of time. I just want to hear what he has to say. I agree…he is a powerful and evil man. But, he’s been so insistent on seeing me, I have to find out why.”

  “Just don’t buy into anything that snake oil salesman has to offer.”

  “Yes, dear.”

  When they arrived at the James V. Alred maximum security prison, Cami felt a shiver spiraling down her spine. The imposing facilities looked harsh. She tried to reconcile her feelings, considering the man who had murdered her elderly great-aunt resided therein.

  Breck had no such reservations. He entered this and other penal institutions frequently to communicate with clients, but it was a new experience for Cami, and much more personal.

  “Leave your bag in the truck, honey,” Breck directed. “They won’t let you take it inside.”

  They were admitted after a metal detector determined they had no weapons on them.

  “I’ll wait for you right here.” Breck fixed her with a solemn gaze. “Remember what I said.”

  She nodded and was ushered into a room with chairs placed in front of a thick glass partition.

  She waited. The sound of buzzers and metallic clanging made her jump. Her nerves were getting frayed and she was beginning to wonder why she had insisted on attending this charade. Then there was a loud buzz and a door on the other side of the partition opened.

  Eldon Kincaid, clad in an orange jumpsuit, was being escorted into the room with manacles on his wrists and ankles. When he was seated behind the glass, the guard fastened his leg irons to the chair and removed his wrist cuffs.

  Cami found that her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth.

  He appeared to be older, grayer and much smaller now than at their last encounter. He reached for the telephone receiver attached to the wall and pointed to the one on her side of the glass. “Afternoon, Cami.” He gazed at her sorrowfully. “Or should I say, Mrs. Ryan?”

  She sucked in a deep breath. “Cami is fine.”

  “I appreciate you coming all this way.”

  It occurred to her that he was nervous too. “Breck---my husband—He drove me.”

  He nodded. “Glad things are working out for you.” He swallowed hard. “And I appreciate you staying friends with my boy. He didn’t have anything to do with---the things I did. That was all me.”

  Cami bit down the angry retort, knowing there was nothing more she could do to avenge her great-aunt’s murder. “E.J. is a fine man.”

  “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’m worried about him. I think he’s in danger and I don’t know how to protect him...You...You know the truth about his birth.” His brow furrowed and he gazed into her eyes, a plea ravaging his face.

  Cami nodded. “I’ve told no one.”

  “Good,” he said, lowering his voice. “I want you to do me a favor though.”

  “A favor?” Why would he think I would even consider doing him a favor?

  He glanced around to make sure the guard was gone. “You know these phones aren’t secure?”

  She shook her head, suddenly feeling claustrophobic.

  He held a finger up to his lips cautioning her to silence. “Just listen. You remember what you found in the caves?”

  The spiral of fear teasing her spine reached out to strangle her. “Yes,” she whispered. “How could I forget?”

  “I want you to find it now. I want you to call the sheriff and tell him what you found, but that’s all. Let him do his job.”

  She was confused. He wants me to tell the sheriff I found two mummified bodies in the caves on my property? “Eldon—I’m not very good at this kind of thing.”

  “Don’t worry. You’ll do fine. If you don’t, I’m afraid that someone will come after E.J...Someone who will do him real harm.”

  She shivered...wanted to leave...was sorry she had come in the first place. “Why now?”

  He took a deep breath and sighed. “Believe me, it’s not what I want to happen, but it’s the only way to keep E.J. safe.”

  Eldon’s grim expression told her that the man was telling the truth,

  “Are you certain? Isn’t this going to impact E.J. when he finds out...”

  He held up a hand to silence her. “What’s to find out? There isn’t any link to him. Just the answer to a local mystery.”

  Cami nodded. If she understood him correctly, he wanted her to report the discovery of the bodies, but not the link to E.J. Oh, why didn’t I listen to Breck?

  “Now, I’m trustin’ you, Cami, not to hurt my boy. I’m tellin’ you, he’s in real serious danger. Something that’s likely to get him killed, and you’re the only one who can help.”

  She heaved a sigh, Breck’s dire warnings ringing in her head. “E.J. doesn’t know about the danger?”

  An imperceptible shake of his head.

  “Shouldn’t he be told?”

  Eldon’s voice dropped even lower. “Please don’t. That would put him in even greater danger.” He raised anguished eyes to plead with her. “Don’t you understand? I’m trying to save his life.”

  “I have to tell him something...and Breck. They’ll want to know why you summoned me here.”

  “Tell him...Tell him I wanted you and Breck to help him learn to run the ranch. God knows he’s not cut out for this...but he’s got to learn. You and Breck could take him under your wing and mentor the boy.”

  Cami snorted. “Like that will ever happen. Breck is not too fond of E.J.”

  The guard came back in the room. “Time’s up.”

  “You can make it happen, Cami. I’m trusting you.” Eldon hung up the receiver and stood.

  Cami replaced the receiver and left the room quickly, not wanting to see the shackling of a once proud and formidable man.

  Breck was waiting for her in the outer room. When he saw the look on her face he opened his arms to receive her.

  She buried her face against his chest. “Please take me home.”

  He kissed the top of her head and hustled her from the grim facility.

  She was silent on the way back, but he glanced at her from time to time, weighing her down with his unasked questions.

  She felt a huge sense of relief when Breck pulled into the circle drive in front of the old Victorian that had been in Cami’s family for generations and now belonged to her. He pocketed the keys and came around to open the passenger door. “C’mon down, honey. It’s been a hard day.”

  She eased down into his arms and he escorted her inside. He helped her remove her jacket and hung it on the peg by the door. “Whenever you’re ready, I’ll listen. Just remember that old bastard has been conning people for decades and I won’t stand by while he takes another piece of your heart.”

  “I—I just need to think.”

  “That’s fine. Just don’t act until you talk it over with me.”

  “Thanks, Breck.” She leaned heavily against him, burying her face against his chest. “I love you so much.”

  He blew out a deep breath. “I love you too. Just please don’t get yourself entangled in anything Kincaid.”

  ~*~

  When E.J. picked her up, Jenna was ready. Apparently she hadn’t heard from her city sisters that she should keep her beaus waiting...Just a little power play.

  She greeted him at the door with a big grin. Oh, God! He loved to see that grin. He gave her a hug and brushed his hand over her hair. And she didn’t spray stuff on her hair, so it was soft and smelled great. Not bad for a girl who spent much of her day wading through horse shit. “Ready?”

  She lifted her face for a kiss and he leaned down to capture her soft lips. But as soon as his mouth touched hers, he wanted more. The first kiss led to a
nother and another after that.

  She pulled away, laughing. “Wow! I see where this evening is going.”

  He felt a twinge of guilt, knowing that he had led her to believe they had been intimate. He wondered if she would be so agreeable if she knew the truth. Now their relationship had leapfrogged to another place, a place built on false assumptions. Okay, built on a lie. Tonight. I’ll tell her the truth tonight and then whatever happens will happen. She may dump me.

  That thought hit him like a Greyhound bus. I don’t want her to dump me. I can’t tell her…But I have to tell her.

  She gazed up at him, a perplexed look on her face. “What are you thinking about?”

  “About how much I like you,” he answered truthfully. His voice was thick, revealing too much emotion.

  “Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?”

  He pulled her into an embrace. “It sure feels right to me.”

  He stood for a moment with his arms around her, trying to get hold of his feelings before he made a complete idiot of himself. “Let’s go get something to eat,” he said gruffly. When he looked down at her, the expression on her face clutched at his heart. She appeared to be content; even happy in their pseudo-relationship.

  Well, why the hell not? If she wants a relationship, I’m sure as hell going to give her one.

  He ushered her to his car and waited until she was tucked safely inside before closing the door and circling around to the driver’s side. Taking a break from those big green eyes gave him a chance to clear his head. I can’t settle down here. This is not what I want. I want a life back in Dallas. I need to shake this hick town dust off my boots and beat it back to the city. He opened the door and slid onto the low-slung seat. Sticking the key in the ignition gave him another second to ignore the beautiful vortex pulling him into this small town miasma.

  He turned over the engine, listening to it purr. Sweet baby!

  He managed to drive the five blocks to the Mexican restaurant. “Is this okay, or would you prefer something else?”

  Jenna laughed, soft and sexy, forcing him to turn her way. “Since we only have three choices, this is fine.”

  He liked seeing her laugh. Liked the way her mouth looked when she was happy. Aw, shit! He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her closer, kissing her lips like a starving man pouncing on a pork chop. He kissed her hard. He kissed her deep. “Damn!” he said pulling away.

  “Damn?”

  “Yeah, I just like you too damned much. Come on!” He got out of the car and rounded to her side to open the door. He pulled her from the depths, but when he did, she landed against him and he was kissing her in front of the entire audience of diners at Tio’s restaurant.

  He gazed at her fiercely. Her little pink tongue darted out to moisten her lips and he had to kiss her again.

  She grinned. “Is this an appetizer or the entertainment?”

  He drew a deep breath and expelled it. “C’mon.” He took her hand and entered the restaurant.

  Milita Rios greeted them at the door, obviously having observed the events taking place in her parking lot. “Um...Good evening, folks. Table or booth?”

  “Booth,” he replied tersely. As he gazed around at the occupants, they smiled and turned back to their food. He followed Jenna in the direction Milita was leading. He removed his jacket and placed it on the seat across from Jenna, then scooted in on the same side with her. She looked pleased. I am in so much trouble.

  Milita handed them menus, but he gazed up at her. “What looks good tonight?”

  She said, “Well the special today is the ranchero plate...” She rattled off all the items on said plate. “Or my father can grill you a nice steak.”

  “That sounds good to me.” He slid his arm around Jenna. “How about you?” At her nod, he handed the menus back.

  When they were alone, Jenna slipped her hand in his. “You’re in a strange mood…or is it? I honestly don’t know you well enough to know if this is a strange mood.”

  He kissed her temple. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

  “Oh, of course...Your dad. I’m sorry. How is Eldon holding up?”

  “Not so well.” He recalled his dad’s haunted look when he’d seen him last. He wished he had some idea of what Eldon was concealing. Hell, he wished he had some idea how to read Eldon’s cryptic bookkeeping records.

  Jenna reached out and squeezed his wrist and then laced her fingers with his. He took comfort from the things she did, large and small. Things were changing too fast. Last week he was wallowing in a sea of discontent, consumed with his father’s situation and burdened by unwanted responsibilities. Now, just because one sweet and beautiful woman was holding his hand, the scenario didn’t seem quite so bleak.

  A few of Jenna’s friends came by the booth on their way out to say hello. Jenna introduced them to E.J. as though everything was normal; as though she wasn’t in the company of a murder’s son. She seemed to be okay with the relationship that was developing.

  Tonight, he would tell her. Tonight, he would find the right way to let her know that he had just been messing with her and that they had not been intimate.

  After dinner he took Jenna back to the Kincaid compound. He let her choose a movie and got some refreshments together before ushering her to the media center. Her eyes grew large when he opened the door and gestured for her to precede him.

  “Wow! This place is better than the movie theater over in Colby Springs. Pretty fancy.”

  “My dad’s idea.” He watched her spin around once.

  “You could charge admission,” she said.

  “I think not. I like just being here with you.”

  She smiled and leaned against him, circling his torso with her arms. “Me too.”

  The sudden tightness in his chest made it impossible to reply. He stroked her hair and placed a kiss against her temple. He gestured toward the leather recliners positioned for optimum viewing.

  She sank onto one and lifted her nose. “What is that I smell?”

  “Cohibas. My dad’s favorite Cuban cigars.”

  Her mouth formed a little pout. “Aren’t those illegal here in the USA?”

  He heaved a deep sigh and sank onto the oversized recliner with her. “If that was the only law my father broke, he wouldn’t be where he is today.”

  “Sorry,” she murmured, snuggling closer.

  E.J. punched the remote and they settled in to watch the film. He couldn’t concentrate because of the thoughts racing through his head. It came as a shock to him that he was actually considering staying in Langston and it was all due to the woman in his arms. How could he have done such an about face in less than a week?

  He glanced down at her pretty face. He had known plenty of pretty women. Dallas was full of them. No, it was definitely something else. Something that made this woman special, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

  It hit him hard. She cares.

  He had enjoyed previous relationships with beautiful Dallas women; women who were measuring him against the success of their daddies; women who were out to catch the best fish in the pond. But they didn’t care.

  E.J. realized the only other woman who had actually cared about him as a person was his mother. This woman didn’t give a damn if he had a nickel in his jeans. She liked him in spite of himself. He grinned in the dark. And damned if I don’t care about her too.

  ~*~

  Sara Beth placed her baby in the cradle next to the bed in the Ryan’s guest room. She sat down on the edge of the bed and heaved a sigh. She wasn’t really tired, but she didn’t want to intrude on the Ryan’s privacy. She had sensed there was some kind of tension between them tonight and had made an excuse to go to her designated room as soon as she had helped Cami clear the table.

  She appreciated their many acts of kindness, none the least of which was opening their home to her when she was in danger. Not that she knew what the danger was all about. She had no idea why anyone would be watching her, nor why t
hey would shoot up her home.

  For her part, she preferred to grieve in private. She was mourning for her sweet little house, now ravaged by bullets.

  The loss of her car was another blow. Having a car meant independence and being able to transport herself and her baby to and from her store. Now she was totally dependent.

  Lastly, she was mourning her husband’s departure and continued silence. She felt sorrow and fear and anger all at the same time.

  Sara Beth fisted her hands, controlling the urge to scream; to cry out. It isn’t fair! It just isn’t fair. How could Nick leave me? What if he’s hurt and can’t call me? Conflicting thoughts raced through her head, battered her with questions until finally, she slipped out of her clothing and into a gown rescued from her home. She lay awake for hours, staring at the ceiling and listening for the sound of gunfire.

  ~*~

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  When the film ended, Jenna stretched and yawned.

  “Sleepy?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Um huh. I brought my toothbrush.”

  That statement hit E.J. like a fist in the gut. He swallowed. “Your toothbrush?”

  “Did I read you wrong?” Her eyes opened wide. “I kinda thought you would want me to stay over...I mean, after...”

  “I do,” he assured her. “Ah...Why don’t you run upstairs and I’ll choose a bottle of wine for us to enjoy?”

  She shook her head. “Thanks, but none for me. I don’t seem to have much of a head for alcohol.”

  He took in a deep breath and let it out soundlessly. “I’ll just get some for me then.”

  She smiled and pulled herself out of the recliner. “See you upstairs.”

  He watched her leave the room and a strangling sensation clogged his throat. I’ve got to tell her!...But how?

  He stood and exhaled a deep breath. Man up! He swallowed and took a few steps toward the door. Crap! I hope my damned prank doesn’t blow up in my face. I don’t want to lose her.