Cowboy at the Crossroads

by Linda Warren

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  THE NEXT MORNING Becca woke up to a slightly disoriented feeling, which surprisingly was not unpleasant. She reached out her hand, somehow thinking Cord was there, but he wasn’t. It was cool where he’d lain, and she yearned for his presence. She pushed herself to a sitting position, brushing hair away from her face. Her body was achy and sore but otherwise she felt fine. Her head wasn’t even throbbing anymore.

  “Becca, Becca.” She heard Nicki shouting a moment before the child burst into the room. Cord followed close behind.

  Nicki ran to her side. “Daddy said I can’t jump on the bed. Oh…” Her eyes grew big when she saw Becca’s face. “Oh, you got an ouchie. Does it hurt?”

  Becca leaned over and kissed her. “No, I feel okay this morning.” Her voice slowed as she noticed what Nicki was wearing. She had on a red silk gown, and the thin straps had been tied into a knot to fit Nicki’s small size. “Where’d you get that outfit?”

  “It’s Blanche’s,” Nicki said excitedly. “She let me sleep in it.” She ran her hands down the red silk. “Isn’t it pretty?”

  “Yes, very,” Becca said enthusiastically. She glanced at Cord, who was frowning. Their eyes met and she smiled, wanting him to know it was all right for little girls to play dress-up.

  He smiled back, and her heart raced.

  “Baby.” He addressed Nicki. “Becca has to rest today. She can’t play or go riding.”

  “That’s okay, Daddy,” Nicki informed him. “Blanche is gonna show me how to put makeup on.”

  “What!”

  Nicki’s face crumpled at the note in Cord’s voice. “She said it was okay.”

  Cord took a calming breath. “Nicki, you’re too young to wear makeup.”

  Nicki shook her head in agitation. “I’m just gonna play with it.”

  “I’m sure Daddy understands that,” Becca said, her eyes catching Cord’s and sending a message.

  “Yeah,” he said slowly, receiving the message and shifting his eyes back to Nicki. “Now it’s time for you to get dressed.”

  “’Kay, Daddy. I can dress myself, then I’m gonna wake Blanche.” Nicki ran from the room.

  Cord opened his mouth to stop her, then closed it.

  “Aren’t you going to tell her that Blanche doesn’t get up until noon?” Becca asked when she saw the glint in his eyes.

  “No.” He walked over to sit on the bed. “I think I’ll let her surprise Blanche.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “How are you?”

  She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply in response. He groaned, gathered her close and took the kiss a step further. Delicious warm feelings swirled around them, and Becca didn’t want the kiss to end, but Cord began to draw back.

  “Much better, I’d say.” He grinned.

  “Yes, now that you’re here.” She stroked his shaven cheek and one finger traced his mustache. He caught the finger in his mouth, then kissed her palm and trailed kisses up her arm to her shoulder. Her body quivered from the sensation.

  “I could stay here all day,” he whispered into her neck.

  “There’s a thought,” she said breathlessly.

  “Hmm.” He gave her a final quick kiss and got to his feet. “I’ve got a child to take care of, so stop tempting me.”

  “Cord, it’s all right for Nicki to play with makeup and to wear fancy clothes. That’s normal for a girl her age.”

  “I just don’t want her to grow up too fast.”

  “I know, but Blanche’s taking an interest in her is good.”

  “Yeah, I have to be careful what I wish for.” A grin split his face and he added, “Take it easy today. Nothing strenuous. And maybe you should call your parents.”

  She frowned. “Cord.”

  “Think about it,” he said as he left the room.

  Becca stared at the phone, then picked it up with a sigh. She knew her parents would be up and it was probably a good time.

  Her father answered the phone; she could tell he was startled by her voice.

  “Is something wrong?” was the first thing he asked.

  She told him about the accident, and her mother immediately came on the line.

  “Becca, are you okay?” Her voice was full of anxiety.

  “Yes, Mom, I’m fine.”

  “Why don’t I come out to the ranch and check you over?”

  “I’m fine. I just have a bruise on my head.”

  “Your father and I can be there in no time.”

  “You’re not listening to me,” Becca said impatiently.

  “I’m sorry. I get a little nervous when one of my children’s been injured.”

  “But I’m fine,” she repeated again. “So you’ve got nothing to be nervous about.”

  “When are you coming home?” Emily asked, suddenly changing the subject.

  “I’m not sure.”

  “You’ve been there three weeks and you said Nicki’s doing better. Isn’t it time to come back to Houston?”

  Becca took a long breath. “No, the time’s not right. When I decide to leave, I’ll let you know.”

  “You sound annoyed.”

  “I am.” Becca didn’t lie or disguise her feelings, as she had so many times in the past. “I wish you’d let me make my own decisions and trust my judgment.”

  There was a long pause.

  Finally Emily said, “I always trust your judgment.”

  “No, you don’t,” Becca said. “You’re questioning my decision to stay here.”

  “Only because I want you home where I can take care of you.”

  “I’m not Scotty’s age and I can take care of myself. If I couldn’t, you’d be the first person I’d call.”

  Another long pause.

  “I love you, Becca.”

  Becca blinked back a tear. “I love you, too, but I’m not a little girl anymore.”

  “You will always be my little girl.”

  “But now, please, let me be an adult.”

  “That’s so hard, angel.”

  “I know, but it’s what I need.”

  “Okay, then, I’ll try, but you’ll have to bear with me if I falter at times.”

  “I will, Mom. Always.”

  “Call me when you get back to Houston.”

  “I will. Bye.”

  Emily hung up the phone, turned in to Jackson’s arms and promptly burst into tears.

  “Emily, what’s wrong?”

  “Our little girl is all grown-up,” she sniffed. “She doesn’t need us anymore.”

  His arms tightened around her. “She will always need us, but we have to release our hold—let her live her own life.”

  “I don’t like this part of being a parent.”

  “Ah, but this is where it gets good. Grandchildren will be next, and I can’t wait.”

  “Grandchildren!” Emily drew back in shock, and Jackson laughed at her. It wasn’t long before she was laughing with him.

  CORD HELPED NICKI finish dressing, persuading her to wear a T-shirt and shorts rather than the frilly pink sundress she’d originally chosen. They were halfway through breakfast when the phone rang. It was Gus.

  “Can you come to the vehicle shed as soon as possible?” he asked.

  “What’s up?”

  “You need to see this for yourself.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  Cord left Nicki with Edie and Della, and hurried to the shed. He was sure it had to do with the Jeep, which made him anxious. Gus met him in the yard.

  “How’s the doc?”

  “She has a bad bruise on her head and a slight concussion, but she’s going to be fine. Just has to take it easy.”

  “That’s great.”

  “Did you get the Jeep pulled in?”

  “Yep, that’s what I want to talk to you about. It didn’t take Smithy long to find the problem.”

  “What was it?”

  “The nut on the brake line tubing has been loosened. The brake fluid drained
out.”

  Cord stopped in his tracks and stared at Gus. “What!”

  “The nut was loosened,” Gus repeated. “There’re fresh marks on it. Smithy says it was done recently.”

  “You mean it was loosened intentionally.”

  “Looks that way.”

  “My God, who would do that?”

  “I’d say we got a snake in the chicken house.”

  “But who?” Cord said under his breath as he walked into the building. Smithy showed him the line, and it was plain as day that it had been loosened. Smithy assured him it couldn’t have been jarred loose. He’d checked the line last week and the nut was tight with not a mark on it. For a moment Cord was completely staggered. This was intentional. But he couldn’t let his thoughts run away with him; he had to have more facts.

  He walked some distance away, and Gus came with him. “What do you think’s going on?”

  Gus removed his hat and scratched his head. “Got me. Ain’t nothing like this happened around here before.”

  Cord glanced off to the horses frolicking in the pasture. “Doesn’t make sense. Who’d want to hurt Becca? Everyone likes her.” He said the words he’d been trying to avoid, to deny. Someone was trying to hurt Becca.

  “Yeah, maybe that’s the problem.”

  Cord’s narrowed his eyes at Gus. “What do you mean?”

  “All the cowboys are smitten with her. Maybe one of ’em thought he’d come to her rescue. Be the big hero and all.”

  Cord shook his head. “That’s hard to believe. I trust every cowpoke on this property.”

  “Me, too, but we have to face facts. We were the only ones around that Jeep yesterday.”

  “It must’ve been loosened sometime after it left Smithy’s shop,” Cord said almost to himself.

  “That’s what I’m saying. Becca drove straight to the bottom where we were working. No one else came near the Jeep except us, the cowboys and Edie. Mona was there for a little while, but she left when we went to the last pasture.”

  Cord dismissed them immediately. “Mona doesn’t even know Becca, and I doubt if Edie has any idea how to loosen a brake line.”

  Gus thought for a minute. “Maybe someone wasn’t trying to hurt the doc. Maybe they were trying to hurt you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Joe Bates.” Gus said the name that tied Cord’s stomach into a hard knot of anger. “He said he’d get even, and he knows you drive that Jeep occasionally. He’s a shifty character, and he could’ve slipped in and out of here easily. He knows the ranch.”

  “I suppose,” he muttered, trying not to let his anger get the best of him. He had to think this through with a clear head. Still, none of it was logical. Joe Bates was all talk and basically a coward. He knew that if he pulled anything, Cord would come looking for him. But what if he was drunk? He’d been bold enough to show up at the ranch the other day. Surely the man wasn’t so stupid as to try something like this. Nevertheless, Cord decided he’d let the sheriff know. But he’d start by questioning his cowhands.

  “Get all the boys into the bunkhouse. I want to talk to them.”

  “Now, why don’t you let me do that? I probably can get more out of ’em.”

  “I’ll talk to them personally,” he responded in a stubborn voice.

  “Don’t lose your temper. These are good boys,” Gus reminded him.

  “Maybe one of them isn’t,” he said in that same stubborn tone. When Gus began to speak, he held up his hand.

  “Whatever. Just get them in the bunkhouse—now.”

  Gus ambled away without another word.

  Cord went into his office, which was attached to the tack room, and called the sheriff. Then he walked over to the bunkhouse with a hollow feeling in his gut. He had to get to the bottom of what was happening here. Now that he knew the Jeep’s crash couldn’t be dismissed as an accident, he had to acknowledge that Becca’s life could be in danger. He had to keep her safe and he would do everything in his power to achieve that—even if it meant her leaving the ranch.

  CORD ENTERED THE BUNKHOUSE with a dark expression on his face. The house consisted of a kitchen, large living area, two bathrooms and two big bedrooms with four bunk beds in each. The cowboys were gathered in the living area.

  Cord didn’t sit, nor did he say a word. He’d known each of these men a very long time and for a moment he just stared at them.

  Dusty was the first to speak. “What’s up, boss?”

  Cord took a step closer. “It’s about yesterday.”

  “The doc’s all right, ain’t she?” Clint asked anxiously.

  “She has a slight concussion and a bad bruise on her face, but she’s going to be fine.”

  “Great,” Joe Bob put in.

  “I want to thank all of you for your efforts in finding her last night.” Cord thought he should mention that first.

  “Ah, shucks, boss, it weren’t no problem,” Rocky said.

  “What happened? Did she lose control of the Jeep?” Big Jim asked.

  “No, she didn’t lose control,” Cord replied, letting his gaze sweep over them. “The nut on the brake line was loosened.”

  Cord watched their faces in the shocked silence that followed his words. A minute later, Dusty jumped to his feet.

  “What the hell? Somebody did that on purpose?”

  “Yeah,” Cord replied.

  “Well, I’ll be a son of a bitch,” Hank said. “Tell us who it is and we’ll string ’em up.”

  “I don’t know who it is. That’s why I’m talking to you.”

  The silence became suffocating. Then Clint got to his feet. “Are you saying you suspect one of us?”

  Gus intervened. “Now, don’t go getting’ a burr in your jeans. But we were the only ones around that Jeep yesterday, and it’s not exactly a secret that you all are smitten with the doc. If one of you did something a little crazy, just tell us. That’s all Cord’s asking.”

  “I’ll handle this,” Cord said to Gus, a little offended that he’d interfered. He turned back to the men. “I’m just asking for the truth.”

  “Hell, boss,” Clint said. “We may be cowboys, but we’re not stupid. We can all see the doc only has eyes for you, just like the song says. She’s a nice lady and we all like her. Not one of us here would harm her in any way.”

  “I believe you,” Cord said without having to think about it. These men wouldn’t hurt Becca. “Did any of you notice anything suspicious—anything out of the ordinary?”

  “No, we were working,” Rocky said, and each man in turn shook his head.

  “Any of you noticed Joe Bates around lately?”

  “He was at the feed store the other day when I picked up that load of feed,” Little Jim muttered. “He said some snide things about you, and I told him if he didn’t shut up, I’d smash his face in. He said you’d get what was coming to you.”

  Cord frowned. “This was on Tuesday?”

  “Yeah. Want me to find him and rough him up a little?”

  “No, the sheriff will talk to him. And he’ll probably talk to each of you. Just be honest.”

  “Sure,” Dusty said, then asked, “You do believe us, don’t you?”

  Cord nodded. “Yeah,” he said, and walked out, Gus on his heels.

  Outside, he turned to face Gus. “Next time I’m talking to the boys, please don’t interfere.”

  “I’m sorry. I was only trying to help.”

  “Gus…” He took a deep breath, not sure why he was so upset. “I’m just—never mind. I have to talk to Becca.”

  He strolled toward the house, stopping as the sheriff drove up. Cord explained what had happened in more detail and showed him the Jeep. They talked a bit about Joe Bates, then Gus took the sheriff over to talk to the cowboys and Cord headed back to the house. He wanted to tell Becca personally; she deserved to hear it from him.

  Before he could make it to the house, Mona drove up, pulling a cattle trailer. Cord could see a bull inside. He didn’t have
time for this. But he and Mona had been friends since they were kids. Mona and his brother Clay were the same age and she was more Clay’s friend than his, but Cord occasionally helped her with ranching problems. He’d tell her what was going on, and she’d understand that he didn’t have time to look at a bull today.

  “Howdy,” he said, as she got out of the truck. Mona was a strong, independent woman, and Cord had always admired that about her. Even after her father died, she’d continued to run the ranch with as much expertise as a man.

  Mona glanced toward the sheriff’s car. “Something wrong?”

  “Yeah, there’s been an accident.” He told her about the night’s events.

  “Oh, no. Is Dr. Talbert all right?”

  “She’s fine.”

  “I’m so sorry, Cord. I know how appreciative you’ve been of the doctor’s help.”

  “Not a very good way to show my thanks.”

  “No, but I’m sure the sheriff will find the culprit.”

  “Mona, did you notice anything yesterday?”

  “I was only there for a little while.”

  “Did you notice anyone around the Jeep?”

  She shook her head. “No, can’t—wait a minute. Gus was putting an ice chest in the back as I rode away. But I’m sure that means nothing.”

  Cord thought about that for a second, but dismissed the possibility. Gus wasn’t like that. He only wanted to help Becca. Didn’t he? Cord shook his head to clear it of such traitorous ideas.

  He glanced at Mona. “You seen Joe Bates lately?”

  “Yeah, he was over at my place yesterday asking for work.”

  “He was?” That might be the answer to all his questions—Joe Bates.

  “Yes, but don’t worry. I didn’t hire him.”

  “Damn, this is all so confusing.”

  “I guess I’ll leave you to sort it out. I only stopped by to show you this new bull.”

  “Put him in your pen and I’ll try to look at him tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, Cord, and try not to worry too much.”

  “Bye, Mona.”

  BECCA SPENT MOST OF THE MORNING on the phone. Not long after she’d talked to her parents, Grandpa George called, and she knew her father had told him what had happened. He insisted that he didn’t want to bother her but just had to hear her voice. She assured him she was fine, and Grandpa George believed her. That was what she loved most about him—his trust in her judgment, his faith in her good sense. She suddenly realized that was the major problem with her parents; they’d never fully believed that she’d adjusted to the revelations that had changed her life. They wanted to be there for her, to comfort her, to help her. But with two such wonderful people, she had adjusted a long time ago. Now they had to trust her to live her own life. Becca felt good about this morning’s conversation, in which she’d taken a stand on this very issue. The past, present and future seemed clearer in her head, and Cord had a lot to do with that. He eased her restlessness. And she needed that. She needed Cord.