Serenity's Deception (Texas Sorority Sisters Book 1)

by Janice Olson

  BJ closed her eyelids and rolled her head back against his hand, permitting the luxury of his touch for several moments before raising her head and looking at him.

  “If you think about it, Madelyne’s generosity reaches far beyond the bounds of modesty. She used her money more like bargaining chips—gambling with your life and mine. And her bigheartedness continued to know no bounds. She gave me enough clues to one side of my ancestry, leaving me completely in the dark as to my father and his antecedents. Wasn’t that magnanimous of her?”

  Jason pulled her up tight against his chest. Tears ran unchecked soaking his shirt. He allowed her to cry as he gently rocked her in the circle of his embrace.

  She pulled back and looked full into his eyes.

  “Why, Jason? Why couldn’t she love me?”

  Chapter 59

  Jason, on late shift guard duty, sat on the knoll overlooking his cattle, a Thermos of coffee, and his pump 12-gauge for company. Nearly a month had passed, yet there were still no signs of the men who had shot Reuben and killed his cattle. The farthest from his mind were the culprits he waited on.

  BJ—he smiled—never further than a thought away and more important to him than ever before. That woman had made inroads to his heart, and she probably didn’t even know how much. This time he wasn’t fighting his love for her. Over the past three weeks they had met nightly over dinner or, when their schedules didn’t permit, a late night glass of tea on the veranda to talk. Those were the best times and he looked forward to their time together each day.

  Since the night of the shooting he hadn’t kissed her again. He wanted to. The good Lord only knew how much he wanted to. But he also wanted her to be sure of him and her emotions. And the best way to go about that was to get reacquainted and to forgive the past.

  Glad that BJ felt safe enough to open up to him, Jason found the little things about her he’d missed while she was away, especially her profession, fascinating. Nothing seemed off limits with either of them unless he brought up the subject of the night she left town. She’d clam up tighter than a submarine preparing to dive. He knew when to back off and give her breathing room. Only a matter of time before she’d be ready to tell him, but until she was ready, he’d practice patience.

  Making plans helped pass the time. Plans that included BJ. First, he’d take her to dinner, somewhere expensive. If the evening went as intended he’d …

  Adrenaline skittered through his bones. Every fiber of his body went on alert. He didn’t hear a sound exactly, more like a sixth sense someone was approaching from behind. Then he heard it … a faint crush of leaves beneath a foot.

  He knew it imperative to wait, but every muscle strained to move into action while he sat hidden beneath the huge bush. He’d be ready if his cover were blown.

  A man with a discernible, familiar limp, moving cautiously, crossed less than three feet in front of Jason. From the man’s left side, a glint of light from the moon overhead reflected off the silver blade dangling from his hand.

  Jason moved slowly, tightening his fingers over the stock of the 12-gauge lying in his lap. Four shells rested in the magazine and one in the chamber. Jason knew if he jacked the fore-end, he would have the man’s immediate attention. For some inexplicable reason he held fast to the quivering urgency to attack.

  The man continued down the hill at an angle straight for the cattle. Before Jason moved to stand, another light sound of someone heading in his direction stayed his movements.

  Another man came into sight and followed behind the other killer. These men were hedging their bet to not get caught. No wonder Reuben didn’t fire a shot. He was surprised like Jason would have been if he hadn’t waited.

  Delaying until both men were in front of him, twenty feet apart, Jason realized the first one would soon be out of range of his shotgun. However, the second one was less than five feet in front of Jason.

  With one fluid motion, Jason stood, jacked the shell in place pointing it straight at his closest target.

  The noise startled both men. The one closest to Jason jerked around, a lifted rifle in his hand ready to shoot as he scanned the area for the cause. The one further away stopped then yelled in a loud whisper, “What are you doing, Casey? What’s going on?”

  The shock that Casey was one of his own ranch hands had Jason wanting to do him bodily harm.

  “Stand where you are unless you want a belly full of lead.” Jason secretly wished Casey would make a move. He’d love nothing better than to give him a little of what Reuben suffered. This close the man would die. Regardless how much he would like to, Jason didn’t want the man’s death on his conscience.

  “Drop your weapon.” Jason watched both men, ready to shoot Casey if he had to.

  Casey eased the rifle on the ground keeping a keen eye on Jason.

  "Call your partner up here now!”

  “Ben, get up here quick.”

  Instant recognition of why Jason thought the first man’s walk was so familiar. Casey’s partner was Ben Rueger.

  Jason, with his gun still trained on Casey, kept his peripheral vigil on Ben as he moved up the hill toward them, Jason making sure he didn’t draw a weapon. “Drop the knife on the ground and kick it away from you. You do the same, Casey. Kick your rifle down the hill.”

  The skittering noise of both weapons echoed in the silence until no noise was heard.

  Jason motioned with his gun for Ben to stand next to Casey. He pulled his cell from his pocket, hit the button without taking his eyes off the scum downhill from him.

  “Call the police, then get over here fast. I need your help. I have our mystery men lined up in the crosshairs of my shotgun. I’m not sure if I can keep myself from pulling the trigger.” Jason pocketed his phone.

  “Tell me, Casey, who paid you?” Jason waited without answer.

  The man looked belligerent and unwilling to cooperate.

  “Since you were bringing up the tail following Ben, I figure you shot Reuben.” Casey still mute, Jason trained his eyes on Ben. “And again, it could have been you. Maybe you trade off trailing. You do know that for attempted murder you will do hard time.”

  “It wasn’t me.” Ben thumbed in Casey’s direction. “He shot the boy. I didn’t have a thing to do with it. I was in front of him, just like tonight.”

  “Shut up you fool. He’s only fishing.” Casey looked as though he’d like nothing better than to plant a fist in Ben’s mouth to shut him up.

  “I’m not taking the rap for you.” Ben looked at Jason, fear in his eyes. “We were hired by the Drunken T to slaughter your cattle and put you out of business, nothing more. I certainly ain’t goin’ up for attempted murder. Casey did it all. I just helped him drag the kid under the bushes before hightailing it off your property”

  “You idiot. Keep your mouth shut.” He spat the words at Ben, murder in his eyes. “They can’t connect us with the boy’s shooting.”

  “I’m not going down for it. You will. I just killed the animals, nothing more.”

  “If I could, I’d shoot you both where you’re standing. But then I’d be no better than the two of you. I’ll let the law take care of you.” Jason hated looking at the putrid examples standing before him. “Which of you tried to drive Billy Jo out of town?”

  Both men wore puzzled looks that didn’t sit well with Jason.

  “Don’t try’n pin that on me. I don’t know a thing about it.” Ben flipped his thumb again at Casey. “He might.”

  Chapter 60

  The bullfrog and crickets serenade the impromptu picnic. BJ and Jason allowed the companionable silence to fall down around them. They didn’t have to talk. Just being in one another’s company was enough.

  On the quilt, BJ, head on a pillow, watched the sun move lower in the sky. Jason sat with his back up against the oak tree where he’d stood a little over four weeks ago watching her take the pictures of the mallards. So much had transpired since that night, so much so, it seemed like eons ago.

&nb
sp; Jason glanced down at BJ and gave her a smile. There was something different in his gaze. She didn’t dare hope his look meant more than friendship though she wanted more … so much more. He hadn’t kissed her except that one night. Though he’d been attentive, he had never offered intimacy again. If friendship was all he had to give, she would take what he offered.

  BJ cherished her times with Jason—their talks, learning about his past, even him working with her to move beyond her extreme hatred of Madelyne. Jason’s wisdom had shown BJ nothing good would come from harboring her intense hate or dredging up the past. Though not complete, her healing had begun. She could actually think of the woman who brought her into this world without loathing.

  Sitting up, she looked at the man who was so dear to her. “Jason.” She waited until he looked at her.

  “Yes?” He watched her intently.

  “Thanks for being here for me. I still can’t say I’m perfectly okay with Madelyne. What she did, I’ll never understand, but I don’t judge her as harshly. In fact, I feel sorry for her.”

  Jason’s hand covered hers. She relished his touch. All those years she had lived without this man were empty and meaningless. She prayed he’d give her another chance.

  ~~~

  Jason couldn’t believe how much BJ had changed in four weeks. He knew he loved her, but was uncertain if she felt the same. But it was now or never. He had to make his move.

  “Remember the day when I retrieved the snake out of your car?” He witnessed the furrows between her brows. Fairly certain she didn’t know where he was headed with this line of questioning, he smiled inwardly.

  “Yes?”

  “When you said you owed me big time?” No longer able to hold back his grin, he displayed it proudly when BJ showed bewilderment. “Well … I’d like to collect now.”

  “Collect what?”

  “I’m calling in your marker.”

  “My what?”

  He loved to see her mind working feverishly to make sense of what he was saying. “Your chit. Your IOU.”

  Finally dawning on her, she dimpled up. “You name it, you can have it. Of course, within reason.” Her laughter was music to his ears.

  “Great! That’s just what I wanted to hear.”

  “What do you have in mind in way of payment, Mr. O’Connell?”

  “I would like for you to accept my invitation for dinner to Eddie V’s in Austin. How ’bout it?”

  “Eddie V’s—wow. Pulling out the big dogs, huh? I think I can spring for it.” She laughed. “I’d love to. When?”

  “No, you won’t be paying for it, I will. I just want your company. Friday night, will that work?”

  “Sure. I’m free.”

  “Good. I’ll pick you up at the front door at six o’clock.”

  “Six, Friday night. It’s a date.”

  The sparkle in her eyes made him want to gather her up in his arms and kiss her senseless. He refrained even though it was harder than anything he had done in a long while. The kiss and telling her how much he loved her would come later, when everything was just right. Friday night. He hoped she felt the same about him, but he was going to make his move. But it was getting harder and harder to refrain from telling her just how much he loved her and wanted her for the rest of his life, if she would have him.

  Don’t let her chop that limb out from under me again, Lord. I don’t think I could survive the fall this time.

  Chapter 61

  Outside BJ’s office window, a new container with a huge, hearty plant sat on the terrace to replace the old shattered one. No pottery shards, black soil, or traumatized fern. Everything back to normal, only the terrifying memories remained but there had been a bonus … that night she and Jason reconnected.

  In many respects, BJ was glad for that night. If it weren’t for the fear of something happening again to her or Jason, she would be ecstatic. Their nightly ritual of talking and bonding had given BJ a ray of hope of more than friendship. Her love for Jason had never stopped, but she was uncertain of his feelings. Friendship or something more? Tomorrow night might give her the answer. Eddie V’s was expensive. Maybe, just maybe.

  Ever lurking in the back of her mind—something would happen to take him from her again.

  Her cell rang and BJ pressed the button on the Bluetooth receiver hugging her ear. “Good morning, BJ Spencer.”

  “Hey, funny face.”

  All the dark thoughts faded with the cheery greeting. “Hi, Randi. What’s up?”

  “Just calling to let you know I’ll be there this afternoon. Should arrive around twoish. And we need to talk.”

  The tone of Randi’s voice caused a knot to form in BJ’s stomach. “Something I need to know now? Not backing out on me, are you?”

  Randi’s light laughter eased the tension. “No. Not hardly. With what you’re paying me, shoot, I could retire before I’m fifty. So I don’t plan on bailing on you yet.”

  “Yet? Hmm.”

  “You worry too much.”

  “Then what?”

  “It’s about the books for Heritage House. I’ve been going over them and I found several discrepancies. Some things don’t seem to quite match up.” Randi gave a slight pause. “I don’t want to discuss it over the telephone—too complicated. I’ll show you when I get there. It might be nothing, but …”

  “All right, I’ll see you this afternoon. And I’ve got a few things to tell you too.” She figured the smile in her voice wouldn’t slip Randi’s notice.

  “Oho. Me thinks me smells a juicy morsel. By any chance does the tidbit have anything to do with the delectable Jason O’Connell?”

  “Like you, I don’t wish to discuss such things over the phone … too complicated.” BJ gave a lighthearted laugh. “I’ll see you this afternoon. Be safe.” She disconnected before Randi could counter and prod her for more.

  Zitt-zitt. BJ looked at the missed call, punched the button to retrieve her voice mail.

  This is Mateo Hernandez, Jason’s foreman. Jason is in a meeting and asked me to call. He’d like you to meet him at Fielder’s Pond in an hour. He said to tell you he had a surprise.

  BJ’s pulse raced at the thought of Jason wanting to see her in an hour. A surprise? She couldn’t imagine what it could be but after their new beginning, anything would be special.

  She went in search of Sidney, told him where she was headed, minus the get-together part with Jason, but would be home in plenty of time for Randi’s arrival at two. Within minutes she was in her Jeep heading down the road, her camera equipment in the back. She figured she’d show up early and use the extra time to take photographs and hopefully, when Jason got there, take a few more pictures of him.

  Thoughts of the shooting niggled at her mind. She still wasn’t convinced that Chief Doggett was behind it or the text messaging. Yet the threats and the target practice could have come from an overzealous person in town wanting to scare her away for the inheritance. But whoever they were, she wasn’t running.

  Willing herself to relax, she began to enjoy several sightings of wildflowers alongside the road and a field of phlox in and among the post oaks. The beauty of the flowers weren’t enough to erase her troubles or to keep them at a distance, but her anxieties weren’t as dark and looming in her mind as before.

  BJ was jarred out of her reverie with a tap on her bumper. “Hey!”

  She looked up into her rearview. An oversized black truck, a huge chrome brush-guard across the front was less than ten feet from her Jeep’s backend. The windows were tinted and she couldn’t make out the driver gaining on her once again. Before she could react, another tap, harder this time, jerking her around, causing her tires to lose traction. Her Jeep began to fishtail across the white hatch marks on the road before she could gain control and swing the Jeep back into her own lane.

  BJ tromped the accelerator to put distance between her and the truck. She noticed the sign for the curve ahead. Releasing the gas, she applied her brakes. The truck slammed into th
e backend harder this time, but didn’t ease up, causing her to swerve. He shoved her down the road, gaining speed. Smoke bellowed out from her tires.

  She gripped the wheel, prepared to make the curve. She knew she had a one in a million chance to make the turn. Beads of sweat popped out on her forehead. A tingling sensation began in her armpits then began spreading through her weakened limbs. She knew there was nothing she could do except try to make the curve and … pray.

  The screech of tires on asphalt and the smell of burning rubber surrounded her as she attempted without success to slow her car. All her efforts hampered by the truck pushing her faster and faster down the road.

  Too late to gain control of her swerving Jeep or stop from taking the twenty-five-mile-an-hour turn at sixty-five, her wheels locked. The surreal and nightmarish feeling of sliding sideways, leaping through the air over the bar ditch held BJ in a dreamlike state of impending doom.

  She screamed a prayer. The Jeep tumbled side over side. The metal ripped and crumbled around her, tearing at her flesh. That’s when BJ knew she was going to die.

  Chapter 62

  He slammed on his brakes watching the car in front of him fishtail as she attempted to make the curve. Cranking his steering wheel a hard left, out of his peripheral, the black Jeep caught air and flew over the ditch sideways, landing hard, bounced then rolled over several times.

  His tires hit gravel and for a moment he thought he was going to end up in the ditch alongside the Jeep. His wheels struck pavement, griped the blacktop, swinging around the curve before swerving all over the road. By the time he stopped his truck, the dust from the Wrangler had settled and steam bellowed out from under the hood. He didn’t see any sign of Goldilocks.