Serenity's Deception (Texas Sorority Sisters Book 1)

by Janice Olson

  At one side of the willow a small, almost imperceptible round point of light caught her eye. The dim speck grew brighter into a tiny reddish-orange glow before disappearing altogether. Not big enough for a penlight. Almost convinced that she hadn’t see it, she noticed the reddish glow again—barely noticeable, grow with intensity, and then nothing.

  Lightning struck again, illuminating the ground below as if it were day. Loud booms of thunder rattled the windows. In the momentary light, BJ saw a man, wearing a long rain slicker, hat pulled down low on his head, standing just outside the perimeter of the willow. Just as quickly he was shrouded in darkness.

  Another strike lit the sky. Again the man stood there, and for a split second it felt like their eyes met … his looking into her soul. The eerie thought she knew him popped into her head. But how could she, she couldn’t even see his face.

  With the next blue streak, the man had vanished. Was it her imagination playing tricks on her? Or did he step under the cover of the willow’s trembling branches waiting, watching?

  BJ shivered, backed away from the window, feeling vulnerable, moving to where she couldn’t be seen from the ground below. She watched, searching each time lightning struck, yet she didn’t get another glimpse of the man nor the red glow. He had to be a figment of her imagination, brought about by the incident of the bull and snake. Was she jumping at shadows?

  Deep in her heart, she knew he still watched.

  Chapter 37

  Terrible goings on last night. Trees down and big ol’ branches all over the place. Heard tell half the town lost power. Fortunate the Rose didn’t. I would have figured it’d be the first place to go out with all these big ol’ trees.”

  On a normal day, BJ didn’t mind Doris Jean’s chatter. The all-around maid always liked to deliver the latest gossip of town. However, today BJ wasn’t up to listening. The kitchen nook where she sat overlooked a back portion of the grounds. Bright sunshine radiated through the glass causing her to squint and turn away from the view. With the combination of the predawn rumbling storm and the sighting of the man, sleep had evaded BJ. Her lack of shut-eye brought about a horrendous headache, and the maid’s chatter didn’t help much either.

  She pushed the scrambled eggs around her plate and half listened while the continual flow of words traipsed in and out of her mind.

  “…don’t know what he’d be doing up here by The Rose. Lives the opposite direction. But Fanny, that’s my friend, said that Ben ran off the road in his truck behind the grounds. Probably drunk, that one.”

  Alarm bells went off in BJ’s head. She sat down the fork with a speared piece of cantaloupe, her mind reeling. “Was that Ben Rueger?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Sure was.”

  “He had a wreck close by?” Couldn’t be a coincidence, surely.

  “Yes, ma’am. Over on South Street.” Doris Jean pointed south of the estate. “Little Rush Creek runs alongside the road there. Not much of a creek though, except when it rains. Most likely couldn’t tell where he was. Wouldn’t have found him either till morning.”

  What was he doing around here? He had as much a right to travel the streets of Serenity as anyone else. He might have been the man she saw during the storm? “Where exactly did they find him?”

  “Not too far from the edge of your property.” The maid stopped cleaning, propped her hands on her hips, apparently satisfied she now had BJ’s full attention. “Fortunate for him his headlights were shining up in the air or they’d never found him. He could of drowned, been pushed down stream with the downpour we got.”

  “Who found him?”

  “Officer Greene, Fanny said. Was off-duty and just happened to be coming down the road. Why at that hour is beyond me. Anyways, Ben’s lights led the cop straight to him.”

  “What time did Officer Greene find Ben?”

  “Oh, heard tell, he brought him in the station about four-thirty, five this morning. But—”

  BJ shoved her chair back. “Excuse me. I need to attend to something. Tell Martha thanks for the breakfast.”

  “Sure will. But you didn’t eat much. You want me to get something else?”

  “No thanks. I’m not hungry.”

  BJ rushed out of the room ready to investigate her early morning sighting. Maybe it hadn’t been her imagination after all.

  Hiking boots on, camera around her neck, she slid her shades on the bridge of her nose and moved in the direction of the weeping willow.

  Ben’s look-alike, Jerry, dressed in the standard uniform, khaki shirt and pants, was out on the grounds raking up leaves and small twigs … until he saw BJ. He stopped, shoved his hat back off his forehead, and leaned on the handle of the rake. She could feel him watching. She ignored him and rushed on toward the tree.

  BJ wondered if he’d heard about his brother’s escapades. Certainly he had. Was Jerry’s reputation as bad as Ben’s? Surely he wouldn’t have been hired to work at The Rose if it were.

  Uncomfortable with Jerry watching her, BJ was glad to see Mr. Wilks drive up in the electric lawn cart and stop in front of Jerry. Disgruntled voices were heard, but not the words. The little vehicle took off again, and soon after Jerry headed off toward the lake.

  Glad to see him out of sight, BJ stopped in front of the tree and then looked up at her window. She moved further around the perimeter until she found the spot where she’d seen the man. Glancing down at the ground, she found what could have been shoeprints, but they had been washed away by the rain. If they were prints, they could have been Mr. Wilks or Jerry’s from yesterday.

  BJ stepped beneath the willow. Drops of moisture fell on her head from the spindly branches, rolling down her scalp, out onto her forehead causing a shiver. She removed her sunglasses, swiping at the droplets. Continuing to search for a cigarette or some telltale sign someone had maybe hidden under the tree, she saw it. One crushed, half-smoked butt imbedded in the sparse grass.

  She hadn’t been mistaken. But whose was it? Ben’s? The darkness and distance had hid his face even though she was certain he had looked straight at her.

  “May I help you, Miss?”

  BJ jerked around. She received a slap in the face by several thin branches and a deluge of water showering down on her. Brown work boots and khaki pant legs were all she could see of the man standing on the outer edge of the tree until he parted the branches. She came face-to-face with Jerry Rueger.

  Fighting her way out from under the willow, she moved around him. His eyes, like his brother’s, were dark, almost threatening. BJ wished she hadn’t come looking for signs of the stranger.

  “No. I don’t need help.” What excuse could she give for being under a dripping weeping willow? Did she need one? She slipped her sunglasses on better to observe Jerry .

  “Did you lose something? Maybe I can help.” He took a step in her direction.

  “No.” She knew her voice sounded anxious, but she couldn’t stop her reaction. She moved hastily, sidestepping Jerry to only face him again. She drew in a breath, her insides quaking. Could Jerry have been the one watching her window? If so, why?

  “What were you looking for?” His eyes narrowed.

  “Begging your pardon, Miss BJ.” Mr. Wilks’ cart came to a stop next to where Jerry and she stood. “Something wrong?”

  “No.” BJ was glad for his intrusion. “Nothing’s wrong, I was just out for a walk and Jerry happened along. I best be getting back to the house.” She flashed a smile. “Have a pleasant day.”

  “You too, Miss.” Mr. Wilks tipped his hat.

  Walking away, she overheard the head gardener scolding Jerry for not cleaning up down by the lake as he was told. BJ wondered why Jerry had followed her instead. At least now she was confident there had been a man by the tree. Jerry or his brother? She couldn’t be certain.

  BJ didn’t like the thought that someone had stood watching her room. It made her second-guess the weird happenings that had taken place since coming back to Serenity. They added up to no good … all a
imed at her.

  Chapter 38

  Miss BJ. Miss BJ. Miss …”

  The exuberant little voices brought a smile to BJ’s lips as she looked up at the landing. Two look-alikes with animated faces, yellow pigtails, one with blue ribbons, the other with green, waved through the banister.

  BJ’s heart constricted at the sight of Penny’s and Jenny’s cheerful grins. She’d been back to Heritage several times since her first visit to the house, but each time the girls’ excitement at her arrival made her feel warm and loved. She’d never had someone so eager to see her before, and for a moment, she knew what it must feel like to have a mother’s pride.

  “Miss BJ, com’ere.” Jenny’s stage whisper was loud enough to wake the sleeping. She beckoned with her tiny purple-stained fingers. “I wanna show you sumpun.”

  “Shush! You wanna get caught?” Penny pulled on Jenny’s jumper and giggles erupted as the twins tumbled together laughing.

  BJ climbed the stairs, stopping in front of them. She crouched down at eye level with the girls, gathered them both up for a hug. The feel of their little soft arms entangled around her neck, squeezing tight as the smell of playground and outdoors filled her nose, all worked to provoke a longing BJ couldn’t ignore. The hugs were over too quickly.

  She moved back and stood. “Now what did you want to show me?” They slipped their little hands inside hers, pulling BJ toward their room.

  “I did finger paints today. I made a rainbow.” Jenny’s toothless grin washed over BJ filling in the hunger for a child’s love and acceptance.

  “I think it’s plain to see by the paint stains on your jumper and fingers.” BJ held out the soft, delicate but very colorful stained hand. A longing tore at her heart.

  “I did too. Mine’s flowers. All kinds of flowers.”

  BJ lifted Penny’s little palm. “Yes, I think your favorite color must be purple. Am I correct?”

  Penny nodded looking puzzled. “How’d you know?”

  “A lucky guess, I suppose.” She winked at Penny. “Well, I really must see both of your paintings, but right this minute I have an appointment.” BJ watched the sparkle in their eyes dim. “How ’bout I come up and see your paintings just as soon as I’m finished. Does that sound okay?”

  The cherubs smiled, nodding their head enthusiastically, ending with a chorus of Yes, ma’am.

  She couldn’t resist their infectious grins and sparkling emerald eyes. She gathered them both into a tight hug then released them, looking at her watch. “My meeting should take me all of thirty minutes. Where will you be?”

  Take-charge Penny opened her mouth to answer, when a noise came from below. All three heads turned and looked down into the vestibule. The headmistress walked into view and stopped in front of the mirror to sweep back a few wayward strands.

  BJ glanced at the girls and barely caught Penny’s strained whisper.

  “Dorm 206. We will be there waiting.”

  She nodded, gave a thumbs-up sign, then a finger to her lips before shooing them off with her hands. She watched the girls sneak quietly out of sight before moving toward the stairs. Halfway down, the woman spotted BJ.

  “Ms. Blackthorn, nice to see you again.” BJ reached the last rung, holding out her hand. “How kind of you to meet with me. Shall we go to your office?”

  Icy fingers latched around BJ’s hand. By the headmistress’ arched brows, BJ knew the woman wanted to inquire what were you doing upstairs? BJ refused to alleviate her curiosity. Instead she smiled and headed down the hall to Ms. Blackthorn’s office with the headmistress trailing.

  Knowing her topic probably wouldn’t set well, BJ asked about the house rules and procedures and how many children were housed at Heritage. She was surprised to learn that sixty-four children awaited adoption, ranging from ages one to sixteen. BJ knew the younger ones were always easier to find placement, except when she lived here. No matter what her age, no family ever asked to adopt her, or so she’d been told.

  “At this time, I don’t see a need to change personnel or procedures, but you will find me popping in from time to time. However I want to incorporate some new activities for the children like horseback riding, swimming, hiking, even camping out. I’d like to see the older ones helping on a ranch for the experience or taking jobs in town. And there are other ideas I have in mind, but we’ll start off with small changes and begin to incorporate others as time goes by.”

  Ms. Blackthorn’s look of relief mixed with skepticism on wasn’t missed by BJ. “However, first on my agenda, I’d like to work with you more closely about seeing if we can’t get our adoption numbers up. These children, especially the older ones, need families—a place to call home. And I don’t mean Heritage House.” She didn’t want to make an enemy, but neither did she want to see children languishing in an orphanage when there were good homes waiting.

  Ms. Blackthorn stiffened. “We have several adoptions working at the moment. There’s a lovely couple ready to adopt one of the twins you met the first day.”

  “Absolutely not!” BJ took a deep breath before continuing. “Whether or not it has been the practice in the past, it won’t be the practice in the future. Under no circumstances will we divide siblings, and especially twins.”

  “But it’s impossible to find homes for two or more children together.”

  “Everyone will just work a little harder on placement. In fact, I will be hiring someone who has been working with the Austin’s Child Protection Agency. She’s good at finding homes for children who have been abandon and abused, in need of a home. Her success rate has been one of the highest in Texas.” Since BJ hadn’t approached Randi about the job yet, she prayed her friend would say yes when she called—which would be the minute she got back to her car.

  By Ms. Blackthorn’s tight expression, BJ figured the woman must be simmering at a steady boil. “I’m sure you will be able to work with the person I’ve chosen for placement. Hiring someone will give you more free time to implement the new ideas I’ve mentioned.”

  BJ didn’t wait for a reply. Instead she stood, stuck out her hand noticing a slight pause before the headmistress offered hers, her rigid features back in place.

  If Ms. Blackthorn didn’t like the changes being implemented, BJ would find someone who would.

  Chapter 39

  It’s happened again, boss.”

  Mateo hoped off his horse before the dust settled to the ground. The weight of the foreman’s news perched heavy on Jason’s shoulders. Furry like a hot branding iron seared Jason’s stomach as the scowl tightened over his brow.

  He gave a cursory glance at his friend. The evident of repugnance he witnessed in Mateo’s stormy, black eyes, told him the report wouldn’t bode well.

  “How many this time?” Jason didn’t try to hide the loathing in his voice.

  “Two in the south pasture. One close to Fielder’s pond. And three more out by the digs.”

  Jason snapped the clamp with more pressure than required for tagging the steer’s ear. He gave the calf a slap on the rump before turning around. He removed his hat and with his shirt sleeve gave a quick swipe at the sweat falling in his eyes.

  “What were the calves doing out there?”

  “That’s just it. They shouldn’t have been there. We gathered all the cattle like you said into the north pasture.” Mateo rammed his hands in his rear pockets, his feet planted apart. “Somehow those didn’t get included. Maybe hid in a thicket or creek bed. Don’t know. My fault. I should have sent a couple of men out to check one last time.”

  “The calves were killed like the others?” He knew the answer.

  “’Fraid so.” Mateo didn’t look up.

  “At least tell me someone saw them.”

  “Nope. Didn’t even hear them.”

  This time Jason saw concern in his eyes. The deep etched lines of worry and concern were present and he knew Mateo was blaming himself. The urge to pound someone into the ground had Jason pounding his hand into his fist. On
e of his men should have seen or hear something, that’s why the extra night guards. The continued slaughter of his purebred stock was a sick, ugly business, and sooner or later someone was going to pay. He prayed sooner.

  “It’s one thing if they stole them and sold the calves. This isn’t just a sicko we’re dealing with. This is pure out’n out revenge. Three times and nothing?” Jason pulled a deep breath. “No one’s that good. I should fire the whole lot of them. They don’t hear anything. They don’t see anything. Shoot! The culprit could do it right under their noses and they wouldn’t know it. And you and I both know that’s not the case.”

  He set free a derisive ha! “Contrary to popular opinion, we’re not dealing with a ghost here. But with honest-to-goodness hardcore criminals, who get their jollies out of slaughtering animals.” Jason kicked a rock with the toe of his boot and watched the thing sail out into the field, all the time wishing it were a bullet in his rifle trained on the perpetrator. No better than they deserve.

  Releasing a deep sigh, he glanced up at his foreman. Mateo’s easy-going nature had disappeared. Self-blame rode him hard, but a spark of determination hardened his resolve.

  “I’m sorry. There’s no call for my outburst. Letting off steam accomplishes nothing. But you’re the one that’ll have to catch this guy. My hands are tied if I want to keep my ranch. I can’t stay out here at night. And someone knows it.

  “Now what are we going to do about this?” Jason knew of no easy solution. He also knew he’d have to rely heavily on Mateo to implement whatever plan they devised.

  “I’ve talked it over with Reuben, and if you’re agreeable, he, Chaps, Slim, and I will guard at night. Slim and I will take the early evening shift. We’ll be out before dusk. Reuben and Chaps will take over around midnight to dawn. One will be by the gate. The other will watch the knoll. We’ll have a clear view of the cattle and should be able to see anything that moves, including two-legged snakes.”