Elise’s eyebrows shot up, but then her expression turned serious. “Josh is a great guy, and yes, he’s very nice on the eyes—”
“Why do I hear a but coming? Is he a womanizer or something—” Sabrina paused and quickly shook her head. “No, wait. I’m not supposed to ask.”
Colt’s phone started to ring, distracting them. Colt walked into the kitchen and swiped it from the counter.
Elise shook her head. “He’s not a womanizer that I know of. That’s not it—”
“I know Josh has a thing for you, Elise,” Sabrina said in a lowered voice once Colt walked into the hall to talk. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. If my interest in him makes you uncomfortable, I’ll forget about it.”
Her friend put a hand on her arm. “No worries, Sabrina. And, yes there was a bit of rivalry between Josh and Colt, but that’s in the past. It’s just that—”
“Elise, it’s your mom.” Colt approached from the doorway, phone in hand, a curious look on his face. “She couldn’t get you on your cell, so she called mine.”
“Excuse me for a second.” Elise took the phone from her husband. “Hey, Mom,” she said, then her face quickly pinched in concern. “Is he all right?” Colt put his hands on his wife’s shoulders and pulled her close, mouthing, “Your father?” When Elise nodded, he massaged her shoulders, giving her his support.
Sabrina’s stomach tumbled as her friend’s face grew pale. What’s wrong? Not her dad too!
“When’s the surgery? I’ll be on the next plane out. I know he doesn’t want me to worry, but I want to be there when he wakes up.” Elise’s voice broke when she finished, “Mom, just in case… tell Dad I love him.”
Tears fell once she ended the call. Colt turned her around and pulled her close. Kissing her forehead, he said, “I’m going with you, darlin’.”
“But you can’t go,” she said between sniffles. “You’ve got all your travel plans made.”
Colt shook his head. “Mace can go in my place. You’re not going home alone. Just in case, I want to be there with you.”
Elise hugged his waist and pressed a kiss to his jaw. “This is why I love you so much, Colt Tanner.”
Sabrina’s heart swelled for her friend and the obvious love she and her husband shared. She stood up from the table when Elise let go of Colt and walked over to her, a worried look on her face. “My dad had some heart pains and when he went to his doctor, they wouldn’t let him leave for fear he’d have a heart attack. He’s on the verge of one with clogged arteries. They’ve scheduled an emergency angioplasty tomorrow.”
Sabrina’s eyes teared. “Oh, Elise. I’m so sorry. I hope the surgery goes well. I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.”
Elise reached for her hand and shook her head. “Absolutely not! I’m only going to be gone for a couple of days. My dad’s as tough as nails. He’ll love the fact I’m there, but I’ll be ready to come back once I know he’s out of the woods.”
“Are you sure?” Sabrina didn’t want her friend to feel the need to accommodate her.
Elise squeezed her fingers. “Very much so.”
While Colt called to make flight reservations, Sabrina asked in a low voice, “You started to say something about Josh…”
“Yes, I did…” Elise began, then paused. Holding Sabrina’s gaze for a second, she pulled her into a hug and whispered in her ear, “Go for it, Bri. Grab life by the horns. You never know when you’re going to get thrown, so you may as well savor the ride while it lasts.”
Sabrina knew Elise was thinking about her father. She whispered back, “Your dad’s going to be fine. I know it.”
“I know he will.” Elise clasped her tight, then leaned away and smiled. “I’m sure Josh would be happy to keep you company while I’m gone. I’ll call him in the morning before I leave and tell him we’ll have to hold off on the horse trade until I get back. Then I’ll casually mention, ‘But I do have a houseguest who might be bored out of her mind while I’m gone…’”
Sabrina grimaced. “Um, I’d prefer not to be so blatant.”
“And acting on your ‘tripping trigger theory’ isn’t?” Elise snickered at Sabrina’s sour look before she moved over to the cabinets to retrieve some mugs. Glancing back at her, Elise sobered. “You changed after your dad died, Bri. Became more…contained over time. I’m glad to see you trying to open yourself up to possibilities.” Turning to lean against the counter, Elise continued, “How about this…since Josh is supposed to come by tomorrow, I just won’t let him know that I’ll be gone. When he arrives, you can explain the situation? That work better for you?”
Sabrina grinned. “Much. What time was he supposed to stop by?”
“He just said late afternoon.” Elise poured coffee into a cup. “That should give you plenty of time to dress to impress. I’m assuming that’s your plan.”
Batting her eyelashes, Sabrina adopted an innocent expression. “Why ever would you think that?”
Chapter Three
“Stood up before we ever got started. This is a new low,” Sabrina grumbled and looked at her watch. Go figure I’d pick a man who can’t even show up on time on the very first date. Trigger tripping only works if he’s around to make it happen. The Texas sun beat down on her, its heat making her skin sticky and wet. She must’ve uncrossed and re-crossed her legs for the hundredth time while she sat on the front porch steps. Leaning against the railing, she hoped she appeared to be just resting and not the wilted flower she felt like.
Granted, Josh didn’t know it was their first date or that she’d spent three hours getting ready, from deciding what to wear to her hair. Three hours! But he had made plans to meet Elise. It was six o’clock and the man still hadn’t shown. Remembering she’d heard the phone ring not too long ago, she stood and walked inside, then veered into the kitchen, where Nan sat reading the paper. “Was that Josh who called?”
Nan lowered the newspaper and shook her head. “No, hon, that was my sister confirming our dinner plans.” Her brown eyes held an apology. “I feel bad leaving you, but we’re celebrating her sixtieth birthday. Oh, speaking of which, let me get you a key to the house. There’s an extra one in Colt’s office.” She started to get up, but Sabrina shooed her back in her seat. “Let me get it. I’m antsy. Where in Colt’s office?”
Nan nodded. “It’s in the top desk drawer. You can’t miss it. It has the Lonestar brand on the key ring.”
“Got it.” Sabrina headed for the office near the living room. Just as she pulled open the desk drawer, a knock sounded at the kitchen door.
Someone rasped through the screen. “Where’s Colt?”
Nan moved to the door. “He’s not here and won’t be back for a couple of days. What do you need, Jackson?”
Sabrina paused and listened, surprised to hear Nan sound less than friendly.
Coughing and hacking, the man said, “Tell Colt that if he can’t keep his cows off my land, they’ll become my property.”
“You should quit smoking,” Nan admonished. “Are you saying one of the fences is down?”
“Why else would I be here? Tell him to get the damned thing fixed. Now!”
Nan sighed. “Go home. We’ll get the fence fixed.”
After the man left, Sabrina grabbed the Lonestar key ring and walked into the kitchen. Nan was on the phone with someone, probably Colt’s foreman. “Yeah, he said it’s down and is being crankier than his usual self about it. Can you get it taken care of? Great. I’ll be sure to let Colt know.”
Once Nan hung up, Sabrina asked, “Who was at the door? He didn’t sound too happy.”
Nan rolled her eyes as she slid her oversized purse onto her shoulder. “That man’s never happy. He’s just an annoying neighbor.”
Sabrina lifted the key ring. “Found it.”
“Good. Well, guess I’d better get going.”
Sabrina followed Nan outside.
“I’m sure it seems quiet around here without Mace,” Nan said, glancing her way.
“Mace does have a certain addicting charm.” Sabrina smiled. “I definitely miss his banter.”
“That’s our Mace. He always knows just what to say to the ladies.”
“He’s got it down to a science,” Sabrina agreed.
Nan paused on the porch, looking reluctant to leave. “You’re welcome to come with me if you’d like.”
Sabrina patted her shoulder. “Go enjoy yourself. Don’t worry about me.”
Nan walked down the steps, then nodded toward the screen door once she reached the ground. “I left you a dinner plate in the fridge. You’ll just have to heat it up when you’re ready.”
“Thank you, Nan. Go have a blast with your sister. You only turn sixty once.”
“I’ve turned sixty for the past five years.” Nan winked, a wide grin spreading across her face. “It’s called ‘sixty and holdin’.”
Once Nan drove off, Sabrina decided she’d give Josh another half hour and sat down on the stairs once more. The wind kicked up, blowing her long hair away from her neck and giving her a break from the oppressive heat. That was another reason she was so hot. She’d left her hair unbound. She frowned at the crumpled wrinkles creasing her cream linen miniskirt and baby pink linen top.
The wind buffeted around her again, announcing evening’s arrival. Sabrina glanced up to see dark clouds rolling across the night sky. Guess she’d better eat some dinner. Just as she shut the screen door behind her, the wind howled, causing the screen door to swing wide open and slam against the door jamb. The loud sound made her heart jerk. Holding her hand over her chest, she latched the screen and decided it was probably best to close the main door too.
While the smell of fried chicken and baked beans wafted from the microwave, Sabrina watched the wind bend the trees back and forth through the kitchen window, her fingers thrumming on the counter. Why hadn’t Josh shown or at least called?
She flipped on the TV, then sat down on the couch to eat. The television show’s noise in the background made her feel less alone. Nan was right. She did miss Mace and everyone else. The house seemed so quiet now that they were all gone. When she thought of the reason for Elise’s absence, Sabrina said a little prayer for her friend’s father before she began to eat her meal. She hoped he made it through his surgery without any complications.
A warning flashed up on the TV screen, making her turn up the volume.
Earlier today, Eddie Clayton, convicted for the murder of his longtime live-in girlfriend, escaped the bus that was transferring him from his temporary cell to his permanent twenty-year stay in the state penitentiary. If you see this man, don’t go near him, please call 911. He was last seen heading south on foot, where he disappeared into a stretch of woods off Highway 17.
The mug shot picture that flashed up on the screen of a menacing man with long black hair, a full beard and beady black eyes made her shiver. Wasn’t Highway 17 only a few miles from the Lonestar ranch? “What part of Highway 17?” she asked the unresponsive TV. When the news flash ended, she clicked off the TV, regretting watching it. Now she’d be all jumpy, noticing every shadow.
Sabrina finished cleaning her dishes and turned off the light in the kitchen. Remembering her glass of water, she walked back into the dark room and swiped it off the counter. Something outside drew her attention. It sounded like a door had closed. She stared out the kitchen window. Then blinked when a light flashed in the darkness.
Her stomach tensing, she waited and stared in the direction where she thought she’d seen it. A light flickered again, making her heart leap. It was coming from the stables.
Had Josh shown up late and was checking out the horses himself before coming to the door? Why didn’t he turn on the lights?
Could it be someone else? She recalled the news on the TV and a shiver of apprehension zipped along her spine. As her body tensed, it occurred to her that she had trouble with the main light switch in the stables cutting in and out while she was in there the other night. It had to be Josh!
As soon as she walked outside, Sabrina paused when she saw an oil lantern sitting on the porch railing. A piece of paper fluttered underneath it. She slipped the paper out from underneath the lantern.
Elise,
Meet me in the stables. I’ve got a couple things to go over with you.
Smiling, Sabrina set down the note and lifted the lantern, then carefully walked down the stairs in her heeled sandals. She was glad for Josh’s company. That news flash had really spooked her.
She didn’t let the buffeting wind or the rolling thunder announcing an impending storm bother her. She just wanted to see Josh again. Her steps briefly slowed. What if he was disappointed that Elise wasn’t meeting him about the horse? Even as the worry entered her head, her heart still raced in anticipation of seeing him again. Hopefully her appearance in the stables would make him glad he came by anyway.
The wind had apparently blown the large stable doors closed. She had to pull hard to open one of the wood panels. Once she’d opened it enough for her body to squeeze through, she slid inside.
As the door slammed closed behind her, a couple of horses neighed, drawing her attention. She tried to ignore her heels sinking into the dirt floor as she turned the lantern light in their direction and shhh’d the agitated horses. Once they calmed a little, she called out in a hushed voice, “Josh, are you there?” Why the heck am I talking so low?
Maybe it was because the lantern made shadows appear to move throughout the otherwise pitch-black stables, but the darkness, combined with the sound of the wind buffeting the stable walls outside, made knots form in her stomach. Not to mention, the idea of some psycho-killer running around not too far away didn’t help either.
As she walked toward the horse’s stall that was still making low agitated sounds, she realized Josh never answered her. “Josh Kelly, I’m spooked enough as it is tonight,” she hissed out in a whisper once more. “I don’t need you goofing around. You’d better show yourself or…I’m going to tell Colt what you said to me yesterday.”
When Josh didn’t acknowledge her, the knot in the pit of her stomach turned to queasiness. A cold feeling shot down her spine right before the hairs on her arms began to stand up. Something definitely didn’t feel right. Sabrina turned, intending to retrace her steps out of the stables when a man spoke from behind her in a low voice, “Two birds.”
Strange comment aside, the odd coldness in his tone made her bolt. Sabrina had only taken a couple of steps when a sharp pain lanced through the back of her skull.
Groggy, she fell to the dirt floor and thought she heard him whisper, “One stone.”
Scents of earth, hay and horseflesh filled her senses as bits of hay dug into her cheek. Pain wracked her head and she tried to speak, but her voice refused to work.
As her vision started to blur in and out, Sabrina blinked to focus, but couldn’t.
Then everything went black.
* * *
Sabrina woke feeling like someone had used her as a punching bag. She tried to turn her head in order to determine where she was, but pain ricocheted from the base of her skull, making her moan into the pillow.
She started to lift her hand to her head, but a sharp sting across the back of her hand caused her to gasp. Someone quickly leaned across her and grabbed the IV pole that had tilted with her swift movement, righting it.
“Hi there.” Josh pushed her hair back from her eyes as he looked down at her, worry and relief flickering in his gaze. Dirt and hay clung to his light blue t-shirt, and he smelled of smoke. Black smudges streaked across his face.
“You look as bad as I feel,” she croaked.
The corner of his mouth tilted and amusement crept into his eyes. “You must not be too bad off then, or do you always wake up handing out compliments?”
She managed a half-smile. “I’m not a morning person. That’s for sure. Uh, is it morning?” she asked, confused.
“No, it’s a quarter ‘til midnight. But as far as your comment on
not being a morning person,” he paused and gently ran his thumb along her jaw. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
As a flush crept along her cheeks, she glanced around the sparse room for a distraction. A bed table, IV pole, gurney-style bed, and the unbecoming floral print gown wrapped around her pretty much clued her in. “Why am I in a hospital?”
Josh’s brows drew together and he reached for her hand. “You don’t remember what happened?”
Her heart thudded and her stomach tensed; how had she gotten there and why did her head hurt so damn bad? As she slowly shook her head, he cupped his fingers around hers. The gesture helped calm her frazzled nerves, sending a fuzzy feeling of comfort spreading through her.
“Why were you so late?” she asked, trying to remember when he finally showed up at Elise’s house. Staring at his tousled blond hair and the appealing five o’clock shadow on his jaw, she wondered how she could’ve forgotten him finally showing up.
“I’d say he got there just in time.” Nan’s upbeat voice came from the other side of the bed as she approached from the open door. The older woman patted her other hand, then picked it up and squeezed. “I’m so thankful you’re okay. I came back early to see Josh tugging on the stable doors. He ran in and horses scattered right before he carried you out. The chaos of smoke and fire trucks—”
“Stable? Smoke and fire trucks?” Sabrina’s voice rose and her stomach dropped, her gaze pinging to Josh’s. “What fire trucks?” A fire would definitely explain his smoky, sooted appearance.
“The stables were on fire while you were unconscious inside,” he said, eyes searching hers.
“Josh saved your life, Sabrina,” Nan said, patting her shoulder.
“Oh my God,” Sabrina raised a trembling hand to her mouth, afraid to ask, but she needed to know. “Did all the horses make it out okay?”
“They’re fine, dear. Don’t you worry about them,” Nan answered calmly.
Josh's Justice, Cowboy Romance (Bad in Boots, Book 4) Page 3