Placing the mail in the passenger seat, Wes would not allow himself one glance at the postcard until he was alone in a quiet place to think. Pulling out of his parking spot, Wes drove down Main Street until he reached the entrance to the dirt road that lead to a rarely used river access.
Parking the truck and picking up the postcard, Wes walked down the trail to the river. He took a seat on a smooth, wide river rock that faced the flowing water. Holding the postcard in his hand, he memorized every detail of the cover. It was a photograph of a surfer, riding an aquamarine wave, the white foam of the crest splashing around the nose of the board. Wes flipped the card over, feeling a pang of homesickness at the sight of Garrett’s familiar, compact italic printing.
Brother,
Here at Freefall drying out. Not fun and no surfing, but a lot of pretty alcoholics. Usually meet women at bars but ironically doing the reverse, though dating is discouraged. In all seriousness though, I am facing my mistakes and beginning to find peace with my many, many, faults. To quote George Elliot, “The beginning of compunction is the beginning of a new life.” Wes, thank you for my new life. This time, I will not let you down.
Your younger and much better-looking brother,
Garrett
Tears stung the backs of Wes’ eyes as he chuckled happily at Garrett’s classic closing remark. Wes pulled his phone from his shirt pocket to look up, compunction, having never heard the word before. At the top of his class before he left college to take over the ranch, it was not because of his amazing academic ability, those skills had gone to Garrett. Being a hard worker had earned Wes his grades.
“Compunction,” Wes murmured to himself, “a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that prevents or follows the doing of something bad.” Flipping the card over, Wes stared at the surfer on the front. The massive wave reminded Wes of a drink coaster he had seen under his beer once, at Ray’s. The coaster had a similar wave with the overlapping words, “In the waves of change, we can find our true direction.”
Garrett was finally riding his own wave of change. Standing, Wes carefully put the postcard into the back pocket of his jeans, returning his phone to his shirt, closing the pocket with a snap. Wes chose several small, smooth stones and walked down to the water.
Skipping the rocks over the glassy surface of the water, Wes enjoyed the sunshine warming his back, and the promise of a new day.
Pulling the Jeep into the driveway of the cottage, Ray sighed with relief as he turned the key to cut the ignition. Rubbing his bleary eyes, Ray saw that Jessica’s car was absent. Figuring that she must be out with Evan, Ray climbed out of the Jeep, eager to grab some sleep before his family returned.
Walking up the drive, Ray’s legs and back ached from snoozing in the uncomfortable hospital chair. He had helped Diana get nursing established, teaching a few tricks to the young lactation consultant on duty. Diana’s husband, Mark, had finally made it to the hosptial. Ray had excused himself from the room, watching the sweet reunion from the window in the hallway. When Mark laid eyes on his baby boy for the first time, Ray had broken down and cried right along with the new father.
Buttercup had borrowed Diana’s car and was back and forth between the Bledsoe home and the hospital, packing and bringing Diana the things she needed. The women had bonded and Buttercup did not like to have Diana or the baby out of her sight for too long. Purple circles under her eyes and her face paler than it had ever been, Ray had forced Buttercup to go back to the Bledsoe house and sleep in their guestroom for a few hours before returning to the hospital. She acquiesced on the condition that she could accept Diana’s invitation to stay and help her with the baby for the next week.
Though Ray was more exhausted than he had ever been, the adrenaline and lack of sleep doing a number on his body, he had never felt more in his element than he had in the past twenty-four hours.
Birth was an absolute miracle, and it was an honor to be a part of the process. The skills he had learned from his mother had been put to good use. Ray chuckled to himself as he thought that maybe he made a better midwife than bartender.
Passing through the front door, and kicking it shut with his heel, Ray bypassed the kitchen, too tired to eat, and laid face down on the bed, shoes still on, passing out instantly.
Having no idea how much time had passed, Ray sat up suddenly when the blaring of sirens interrupted his sleep. The sound was getting louder and closer. Rubbing the sleep from his burning, dry eyes, Ray went to the front of the house, pulling back the curtains covering the window. A sheriff’s car and police SUV were tearing down the little street and it looked like they were headed straight for the cottage.
Fear that something had happened to Jessica and Evan hit the pit of his stomach like a rock. The wind was knocked out of him and his knees went weak as the cars pulled into the drive, right behind his jeep.
Ray had caught a glimpse of a few of Jessica’s murder movies in the early days, before he had put his foot down about that trashy nonsense. But now, a flash of the familiar scene came into his mind. There were always two cop cars that would come to the front door, announcing to the family in a foreboding voice, “There’s been an accident.”
Reminding himself to breath, Ray opened the door as the two officers made their way out of their cars. Not recognizing them as Poke Town law enforcement, Ray stood still in the doorway.
The sheriff approached him, deputy not far behind. “Ray Stevenson?” the man asked Ray.
“Yes, sir. Is everyone okay?” Ray asked.
“Is who okay?” the sheriff asked, looking puzzled.
“My family,” Ray demanded.
The two men shared a glance with one another, then the deputy spoke, “We aren’t here for your family, Ray. We are here for you. We are going to need you to come down to the station with us. We have some questions to ask you.”
The thought that he might be dreaming in his state of exhaustion crossed Ray’s mind as he asked, “What about?”
“We have had an anonymous tip that you may be involved with a money laundering scheme,” the sheriff said.
“Largest one in Texas, being uncovered to date,” the deputy added.
“What in the Texas tarnation?” between the ludicrousness of the request and brutal exhaustion he was facing, it was the only response he could come up with.
“Will you come down to the station with us, sir? We’d appreciate your cooperation.”
“Of course,” Ray said, turning back to the house. “I’ve nothing to hide. Let me get my things and call my wife.”
“That’ll be just fine, we will wait right here.” The men stood awkwardly by the stoop, eyeing Ray suspiciously.
Ray quickly gathered his belongings, dialing Jessica’s number. Receiving her voicemail, he tried Wes.
Getting Wes’ voicemail as well, he opted to leave a message for him. No need to panic Jessica until he had this cleared up. “Wes, the sheriff and deputy are here. I’ve got to go down and answer some questions about money laundering, of all the things. If you could meet me down there, I’d appreciate it.”
Shaking his head, Ray gave a delirious chuckle at the strange situation. Taking one last look around the cottage, as if he would find answers, Ray left the house, locking the door behind him.
“Doesn’t this just beat all,” Wes said, standing outside of the police station with Ray. After receiving Ray’s voicemail, Wes linked it with the conversation he had heard between Jessica and Carrie earlier. Settling Evan in at the ranch with Mama for the day, Wes had loaded Jessica and Carrie up in Mama’s sedan, and taken them to the station with him.
“Our girls,” Ray said, rubbing tiredly at the back of his neck. “A couple of super sleuths.”
The men looked over to the car, Jessica and Carrie huddled together anxiously in the back seat.
Carrie and Jessica had taken their conversation from the ranch, to the Burger Barn for fries and a milkshake. A town busybody who read too many newspapers had overheard Jessica and Carrie ta
lking in the Burger Barn. Hearing that Ray’s new wife was mystified by the suspicious amount of cash that she had found in their home, the woman had instantly reported it to the county. The papers were chock full of the story of a money launderer hooked up with the Mexican drug cartel, washing giant amounts of cash around inconspicuous, small Texas towns. Assuming she had pegged the ring leader, Ray Stevenson, residing in her hometown of Poke, the woman had made the call and tipped the sheriff off.
“I’m just sorry I didn’t nip this in the bud earlier, Ray. I might have stopped it from getting this far,” Wes said, regretting that he had not interjected himself into their wives chatting about the Benjamins this morning.
“All’s well that ends well,” Ray said with a chuckle. “But I will say, our women have very active imaginations.”
“This isn’t the first time Carrie’s wild hair has gotten her into trouble, and I’m sure it won’t be the last,” Wes chuckled.
“This is a first for me. Jessica and I will be having a chat when we get home, that is for certain,” Ray said.
Wes would be chatting with his own wife as soon as they got home. “I’ll take care of mine; you take care of yours. We just better get them both out of here before that sheriff gets a hold of them,” Wes said, looking over his shoulder. Holding in a laugh, Wes gazed at the red-faced man who was staring down heatedly at the girls from his window. After questioning Ray for only fifteen minutes, the team was agitated to realize they were working a bunk tip. “He really thought he had a lead.”
“Nope. Just a couple of gals trying to solve a mystery and talking way too loud in a small-town burger joint,” Ray said. “And getting themselves into trouble while they are at it,” he added.
“Let me know if you need to use the barn,” Wes offered.
“I think I have a good plan for Nancy Drew.” Ray looked at Jessica, who gave him a small smile and nervous wave from the back seat of the car. “But I’m going to keep that offer in my back pocket for next time. I’m too angry to trust myself with leather.”
Arriving back at the ranch, Wes grabbed Carrie’s hand and led her up to their house. Entering the kitchen, Wes pulled out a kitchen chair. “Sit yourself right down in this chair, young lady.” Crossing his arms, Wes stood by the table watching his nervous wife. Peeking up at him through her lashes, Carrie quietly sat down.
Nosiness was a trait that had gotten Carrie into trouble with Wes before. Her last birthday had come complete with a well-earned birthday spanking. Wes had hidden her gift as well as he could, knowing Carrie’s snooping nature. She had still found the gift, peeled back the paper and peeked, and lied about it later when Wes had confronted her. The tear she had left in the paper had given her away, and the birthday girl had ended up in the barn over Wes’ knee for a good old-fashioned strapping with her little, brown leather strap.
The snooping Wes could have let go unpunished. He knew his little girl couldn’t stand not knowing what her present was going to be. Lying to Daddy, on the other hand, earned a serious penalty.
Carrie had blown out her birthday candles on a sore tushy, and acted like an angel the rest of the party. As always, after Wes set her straight with his firm, loving correction, Carrie couldn’t keep her hands off him that night.
Wes had made Carrie take a pregnancy test after the milkshake incident. It was negative, but Wes wasn’t taking any chances with her health. No spankings until he was one thousand percent sure that his little girl was well. That didn’t mean that Daddy was going to let his little girl go unpunished. Sitting curly haired and face flushed with embarrassment, Carrie looked perfectly naughty and adorable. Wes wanted nothing more than to have Carrie bare her bottom to him for a good, sound spanking. The kind that warmed her skin and left her bottom burning all afternoon. And she had earned it, but that would not work today, so Daddy was going to have to get creative.
Pulling out the chair next to Carrie, Wes sat down, hands folded on the table. “Carrie, look at me, please.”
Her brown chocolate eyes met his, shining with unshed tears. “Oh, Wes, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. It all just happened so fast and…” she began to reply.
Holding out a hand to stop her response, Wes said, “That’s enough, baby girl. I understand why you did what you did, but it was still wrong to do so. You never should have stuck your nose into Ray and Jessica’s business. And if you did think that something strange was going on, what should you have done?”
“Come to you?”
“Yes, right away. Daddy handles the big stuff and the dangerous stuff, not Carrie. Is that understood?”
“Yes,” Carrie answered.
“Yes, what, Carrie?” Wes asked.
“Yes, sir,” she sniffled.
“The worst part of this whole mess is that you and Jessica have put Ray’s reputation on the line. Once gossip gets out in Poke, it is impossible to control, no matter what the real story is.”
“I know; I feel just terrible about it.”
“But you didn’t when you were getting caught up in the drama of it all, did you?” Carrie loved excitement and mysteries and Wes often had to rein her in before she got carried away. “You let your imagination run wild and it was at the expense of a friend. I’d like you to sit in this chair. I have a few things I need to get done on the ranch. Once I figure out what to do with you, I’ll be back.”
Carrie’s wide eyes blinked at Wes in disbelief, “You aren’t going to spank me?”
“Not this time.” Wes didn’t mention his concerns for Carrie’s health. Since her illness, Carrie hated going to doctors, avoiding them at all costs. Wes had scheduled an appointment for Carrie for next week, but knew that it was better to wait until just hours before to tell her about it. That way Carrie didn’t have to worry herself sick over the inevitable trip.
Rising from his chair, Wes gave Carrie a kiss on the head. “Now, be a good girl, and sit here quietly till I get back. I want you to think about things and maybe make a plan for what you are going to do next time you get one of your wild gumshoe hairs.”
“Daddy?” Carrie asked.
“Yes?”
“Can I have a snack?”
Wes chuckled as he heard her tummy rumble. “Yes, baby. What would you like?” Far be it from him to hold back food from his hungry gal, naughty or nice.
“Milk and cookies,” Carrie said with a decisive nod of her head.
“Treats are for good girls. Not naughty girls,” Wes said, sternly. “I’ll make you a sandwich.”
Letting the pouty look go, Carrie was in enough trouble as it was, Wes made the sandwich, cutting it diagonally to form two triangles as was required by his little lady. Wes had figured out what her punishment was going to be. Writing the line, “I will not interfere in the lives of others” until the thought was planted in his little girl’s mind.
Twirling her hair in her fingers, Jessica sat anxiously at the kitchen table of the cottage. A furious Ray stood towering over her, arms crossed in front of him. Jessica had yet to see Ray irate. It was a quiet, unnervingly calm kind of anger.
“How could you possibly think that of me, Jessica?” Ray asked, his rumbling voice low.
“I just got carried away. It was a lot of cash,” Jessica answered, thinking of the stacks and stacks of bills that she had found. “Why didn’t you tell me about it?” she asked softly.
Running a hand through his short hair, Ray paced the kitchen. “I was going to, but I wanted to wait until after the wedding. I was afraid if you knew that I had it, it would be harder for you to stick to the budget I gave you.”
“There was enough money in this house to pay for ten weddings, Ray Stevenson.” Anxiety melting into her own anger, Jessica felt her temper flare. Sure, she and Carrie had gotten Ray hauled down to the jail to be questioned, but he had played a major part in this too. “Lying by omission, right, Ray?”
“Damnit, Jessica.” Ray’s voice was dangerous. Placing his hands on the back of the chair in front of
him, Ray’s dark eyes locked on her.
Staring at Ray, Jessica froze, her finger dandling in a strand of her hair. “What is going on, Ray?” she asked, shocked by the curse word that Ray had thrown at her.
Leaving his stance behind the chair, Ray took up pacing again. His huge body moved through the small kitchen as he spoke. “It was supposed to be a surprise. I wasn’t omitting, I wasn’t lying, I was trying to surprise you. I hid the money in the places that you would never look, making sure to write on the paper that I wrapped the cash in for you to come see me right away if you found it.”
In her haste of counting the Benjamins, Jessica had thrown the white paper away, not giving it a second glance. Standing from her chair, Jessica walked over to the trash can. Pulling out a piece of butcher block paper, she flipped it over in her hands. Inside the creases where the money had rested was Ray’s neat handwriting. Jessica read the words, “I told you it pays to eat your vegetables, Miss Jessica. Talk to me as soon as you find this.” A sinking feeling hit the bottom of Jessica’s stomach.
“I missed the note,” she said, “but what kind of surprise requires that much cash?”
“A big one.” Sighing, Ray sat down in the chair, rubbing his head through his hands. Resting his elbows on the table, Ray looked tired. “I understand the situation that I put you in, I really do, Jessica.” His eyes locked on hers and the look in them made Jessica feel shame before he spoke the words. “I just wish you trusted me enough to come to me, first. Not go to Carrie and start this whole mess.”
“I wasn’t thinking straight, Ray. I just got caught up in the mystery of it all. But it was a lot of cash.”
“And I’m sorry for the way you found it,” Ray said. “But I am livid that you didn’t come to me, Jessica. Absolutely livid.”
Jessica sat in the chair across from Ray. “And I apologize, Ray. But I still don’t know where the heck you got all those hundred-dollar bills. I swear I have never seen that much money in my life. Can you fill me in, now?”
The Bartender (Sweet Texas Love Book 3) Page 11