A Cowgirl at Heart

by Christine Lynxwiler

  She stepped close to him. “We have to talk. Really talk. If it’s over, it’s over. But I deserve to understand.”

  Beka tugged on her dress.

  Crystal looked down into those big eyes, and her heart melted. “Hey, sweetie.”

  “Daddy watched you on TV.”

  “What?”

  Jeremy frowned and shook his head as if to say, “Five-year-olds.”

  He gently touched Crystal’s arm and put his mouth close to her ear. “On Tuesday I’m going to Oklahoma for a couple of days to get some more cattle. I have some things to figure out. I’m so sorry. Can you give me a little time?”

  “Okay.” She couldn’t say any more; her throat was already tight from holding back tears. She wanted to demand answers now. But not if it meant jeopardizing her future with the man she loved. “When will you be back?”

  “Probably Thursday night.” He disappeared into the crowd, taking Beka with him. Crystal walked out to her car, numb and unsure what to think. How would she make it until he’d had enough time to think things through? And what then? If he came to a decision to end their engagement, how would she make it through the rest of her life without him?

  ***

  Over the weekend, Andrew had steered clear of the McCords. He figured with Jonathan and Elyse’s brothers around, she had enough manpower to protect her.

  Saturday, he’d gone into town and asked a few questions about Zeke. All he’d found out was what he’d already known—that Zeke was rotten to the core.

  Sunday, after church, he’d headed straight to the river.

  Monday, he’d been painting about an hour when he heard a movement behind him. He swung around.

  Jonathan McCord grinned. “Quick reflexes for a painter.”

  Andrew returned his smile. “Years of karate and tae kwon do lessons.”

  “Lynda is cooking her world-famous pot roast tonight, and we’d love it if you’d eat with us.”

  “I appreciate the offer, sir. But just because I’m living here doesn’t mean I have to be included in the family meals. I’m used to making it fine on my own. Tell her thank you, though.”

  Jonathan ran his hand over the top of a can of paint and sat down on one.

  Out of politeness, Andrew did the same.

  “My wife makes the best pot roast you’ve ever tasted. And it’s enough to feed an army. We won’t be begging you to come to every meal, but you’d be crazy to let this one go by.”

  “She found out you warned me last week about breaking Elyse’s heart, didn’t she?”

  Jonathan’s eyes widened, and he laughed. “Yes, as a matter of fact, she did. And she’s decided that’s why you made yourself so scarce this weekend. So are you going to help an old man stay out of the doghouse or not?”

  Old man? Jonathan didn’t look much older than his sons. Andrew guessed him to be fifty, maybe. “I’ll make that sacrifice for you, I guess.”

  “In that case, supper is at six-thirty.”

  “Do Luke and Matthew know I’m coming?”

  “Matthew has gone back to Tennessee. Escaped by the skin of his teeth. Lucas will be there, but you don’t have to worry. I’m not the only one who got straightened out about trying to run guests off before they even get settled in.”

  Andrew raised an eyebrow. “Technically, I’m not really a guest. I’m a painter.”

  Jonathan stood and clapped Andrew on the shoulder. “Are you going to tell her that?”

  “No sir. See you at six-thirty.”

  ***

  When Elyse walked out the door to go to her parents’ for supper, the sheriff’s car was in her driveway.

  Jack stood beside it talking to Andrew. He waved to her. “Good news. We found your Jeep.”

  “That’s great!” Elyse dreaded asking the next question, but she had to. “What kind of shape is it in?”

  Jack frowned. “The inside is fine. But the outside...”

  “Oh no.”

  “Nothing permanent, but he wrote some stuff on it with spray paint.”

  “What kind of stuff?” Elyse asked, her stomach feeling sick.

  Jack looked uncomfortable. “Oh, you know. Threats. We took pictures. I hope you didn’t mind, but I sent it on down to the dealership to get them to buff those things out and repaint it.”

  Her mind raced as she imagined the threats Zeke would have written. She shivered. Jack’s eyes met hers. “I don’t want to scare you, but only a real sicko would stop while he was ditching a vehicle to paint a message to the owner. You definitely made an enemy. Be careful.”

  CHAPTER 10

  “She’ll be careful.” Andrew stepped up next to her, and she was glad he was there. “Any sign of him?” he asked.

  Jack gave a slight shake of his head. “Nope.”

  Andrew frowned. “Where’d they find the Jeep?”

  “About seven miles from here.” Jack motioned with his hand. “Right outside of Hardy, down a little road off Bowman Hill.” The radio on his belt crackled, and he put a finger on a button to silence it. “From all the signs, it looks like he ditched it the same day he stole it. But no one’s been down there until this morning. A squirrel hunter found it and remembered the news report.”

  “So he could be anywhere,” Andrew said, almost as if to himself.

  She turned around to face him. “You think he’s driving a little yellow truck now?”

  “What are you talking about?” Jack asked.

  Andrew quickly told him about the yellow Toyota.

  Jack made notes in a small notebook. “I’ll run a check and see if a truck matching that description has been stolen.”

  Elyse shivered. “Thanks.”

  “When can she get her Jeep back?” Andrew asked.

  “The dealership said it should be ready by Thursday.” Jack looked at Elyse. “If you want me to, I’ll drive it out here and get one of the boys to pick me up.”

  “I’d appreciate it.”

  “I’ll let y’all know if I find anything on that yellow truck,” Jack said as he climbed into his patrol car. “Call me if you see it again.”

  They both nodded.

  After Jack drove away, Andrew put his hand on Elyse’s shoulder. “You okay?”

  She shuddered. “I am. But it’s weird. I almost don’t even want to drive the Jeep again after knowing Zeke has been in it.”

  “That’s normal.” He slid his arm around her and gave her a side hug.

  She put her arm around his waist and relaxed against him, taking comfort in his strength. “Thanks for that. Always nice to feel normal.”

  Just at the second that she started to feel really awkward, he stepped away from her. “Are you going to eat famous pot roast with your folks tonight?”

  Her eyes widened. “Yep. Are you?”

  He rubbed his stomach. “I can’t wait.”

  “After you disappeared this weekend, I thought maybe you had a policy against fraternizing with clients.”

  “Even if I did, I’d make an exception for you.”

  “Thanks.” She groaned inwardly. Thanks for what? Finally putting in an appearance?

  ***

  As they walked down the pea gravel path, Andrew glanced over at Elyse. “I want to ask you something, but it’s kind of personal.”

  “Uh-oh.” She chewed her bottom lip. “I guess you can ask. If I don’t want to answer, I don’t have to.”

  “You don’t look like your sisters. And they don’t look like each other. Same for your brothers. Well, except for Kaleigh and Chance.”

  She grinned at him. “Was that a question?”

  He swallowed. “I was kind of hoping you’d fill in the blanks.”

  “Ohh,” she exclaimed in mock enlightenment, “you wanted me to tell you that we’re adopted.” She paused. “Except Crystal. She’s Mama and Daddy’s biological child. And so was Cami. They were twins.”

  “Cami?”

  “Our sister who was killed in a car accident several years ago.”


  He sucked in his breath. “The reason you’re scared of reckless driving. I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay. You didn’t know.”

  “Thanks for telling me.” He kicked a piece of white gravel. “About Cami, but mostly about all of you being adopted. You’re all so much alike in mannerisms and so ... brotherly and sisterly, that it didn’t hit me until last night how much different you all look from each other.”

  “I forget sometimes.” She looked over at him. “That we’re adopted, I mean.”

  “Do you remember a time before you came to live here?”

  “I try not to.”

  He took the hint. “How’s Pal doing?”

  The sadness disappeared from her expression. “So much better! You wouldn’t believe he’s the same dog. You’ll have to come in and see him after supper.” Her face reddened. “That wasn’t an excuse to invite you in, by the way.”

  He chuckled. “I knew it wasn’t. You don’t strike me as a ‘come on in and check out my DVD collection’ kind of girl.”

  “I’m definitely not.” Elyse ran ahead to the porch of the main house and waited at the door for Andrew.

  He opened the door for her. “After you,” he murmured.

  “Manners. I like it,” she said softly.

  “I like you,” he said even softer—soft enough that he could be sure she didn’t hear it. But the fact that the words slipped out at all shook him to the core. What future could there possibly be with her? Or anyone else for that matter? None. He knew the answer, just as plainly as he knew that the police, though they’d officially let him go, still considered him a possible “person of interest” in Melanie’s murder.

  For the next few minutes, he let himself be absorbed into the buzz that was family. When they were settled at the table, he got his bearings enough to thank Lynda McCord for the supper invitation. “It would have been awful to miss this delicious roast.” He grinned at Jonathan. “Your husband was right. It is the best I’ve ever tasted.”

  Lynda smiled at Jonathan. “Aww ... that’s sweet.”

  “But true,” Jonathan said. He looked at Andrew. “That’s the key to good flattery. It needs to be true.”

  “Doesn’t that kind of make it not flattery?” Luke asked dryly. “I think they just call those compliments.”

  As the easy banter swirled around him, Andrew relaxed. Meals at the table in the Stone household had never been like this. His father had used the time to touch base with Andrew and make sure he was on track to the goal—to be just like his father and his grandfather, the best Texas Rangers there ever were. Andrew took a bite of roast. If only that had been his goal, too, instead of just one he inherited, his life might have been completely different. He pushed away the unpleasant memories and reached for a yeast roll.

  After everyone had finished eating, he looked at Elyse next to him. “Want to help me do the dishes?”

  Lynda McCord shook her head. “I’ve got all night to get these done.” She glanced at her husband. “Besides, Jonathan’s already volunteered to help me.” She stood and gathered up an armload of plates. “You kids take the night off.”

  “I’m going to turn in early,” Crystal said, her voice dull.

  Lynda’s eyes filled with concern as she looked at her oldest daughter. “You sure, honey?” She nodded toward the plates. “I can leave these for a while if you want to talk.”

  Crystal shook her head. “Not tonight.”

  Elyse hugged her and whispered something Andrew couldn’t hear.

  Crystal said something about “later,” and Elyse nodded and released her. Crystal waved toward him and Luke. “Good night,” she said as she headed up the stairs.

  After they all said good night to Crystal, Jonathan and Lynda took the dishes into the kitchen.

  Luke retrieved his cowboy hat by the hook at the front door. “I’m going to head on out to my apartment.” He grinned at Andrew. “Some of us have to be at work early in the morning.”

  Obviously, the cowboy carpenter had noticed that Andrew wasn’t up working when he left this morning. And Andrew wasn’t about to tell him that he’d barely gotten in bed from keeping watch all night when he heard Luke’s loud truck start up across the property. “Must be tough.”

  Elyse hugged Luke before he could answer. “Play nice,” Andrew heard her whisper.

  Luke nodded. “I am.” With that, he let himself out the door and was gone.

  Elyse turned to Andrew. “Sorry about that. My brothers can be a little overprotective.”

  “Really? I hadn’t noticed.” Andrew grinned.

  She slapped him on the shoulder. “Sure you haven’t. Now, be a gentleman and walk me home.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He held the door open for her.

  “Did I mention I could get used to these good manners of yours?”

  He chuckled. “You might have said something about it.” A brisk wind almost pulled the screen door out of his hand. He shut it carefully behind them and turned back to her. “Looks like a storm’s brewing.” The porch swing swayed back and forth. In the sky, dark clouds rolled toward them so fast it looked like a video clip set on high speed.

  “We’d better hurry,” Elyse said over her shoulder.

  Andrew came up beside her and grabbed her hand. It felt as natural as anything he’d ever done. Yet at the same time, touching her hand was like grabbing an electric current, and he could feel it to the center of his heart.

  They jogged together past his camper. When they reached her walkway, they stopped.

  “The thunder and lightning are still pretty far off, so it looks like we may have a few minutes before the front actually gets here.”

  Elyse nodded. “I haven’t heard the weather, but I have a basement. The dogs and I go down there when there’s a bad storm.” The wind whipped her hair across her face, but she didn’t pull her hand away from his. “If you don’t mind four dogs, you’re welcome to join us.”

  He tugged her around to face him and looked into her brown eyes. “I like dogs.”

  A small smile teased at her lips. “That’s good.”

  “It is convenient, isn’t it?” If he leaned forward six inches, his lips would be touching that smile. And he would be dragging her into the mess he’d been involved in for the past three years. Yet he couldn’t seem to look away.

  ***

  Elyse stared into his blue eyes. He was going to kiss her. And if she let him, her heart might not survive when he finished painting the barn and left. Before she had to make a decision, something over her shoulder caught his attention and his eyes narrowed.

  She started to turn, but he pulled her into a tight embrace, nuzzling his face against her hair. “There’s a man standing at this end of the lane, kind of behind a tree. He’s watching us.” His words were warm against her ear.

  “Is it Zeke?” she breathed, not moving.

  “No, he’s a lot taller than Zeke. I’m guessing it’s the driver of the yellow Toyota. I’m going to let you go, but don’t look.” He released her, and she could tell he was forcing himself to smile. “I’ll walk you to the house,” he said quietly. “I want you to go in and lock the door. Then I’ll get him.”

  “No,” she whispered. “What if it’s just someone who’s lost?”

  “A lost person who is spying on you? When you get inside, call 911.”

  Suddenly Andrew let go of her and took off at a dead run.

  She spun around to see the tall man sprinting down the lane. Andrew darted diagonally through the field, leaped the fence, and tackled him.

  “Let me go,” the man yelled as Elyse ran to them. “Let me go.”

  Andrew ignored his pleas and held him face down with his arm behind his back. “Call 911,” he yelled to Elyse.

  “No!” The man went wild, thrashing around and fighting to get loose.

  Elyse pulled her phone out as she got close to them, but just then Andrew glanced back at her and the man broke loose. In that instant, his gaze locked with Elyse
’s. She sank to her knees and her phone tumbled out of her hand. This couldn’t be right.

  Andrew glanced back at her, and the man took advantage of his distraction and sprinted for the road. Andrew chased him, but Elyse heard a motor start up in just a few seconds. Even before Andrew came walking back up the lane alone, his hair whipping in the wind, she knew the man was gone.