Winning Texas

by Nancy Stancill

  CHAPTER 53

  Rob Ryland ducked into a coffee shop for a quick latte. The cozy place near the Austin Comet offices was where he always headed for his afternoon caffeine fix. He was surprised to see Annie Price standing in line directly in front of him.

  “Annie?” he said. “Is that you? Are you following me again?”

  He said it lightly, because he didn’t want to create the kind of scene that had festered since their last meeting a few weeks ago. That had been stupid and unnecessary. She turned around and smiled at him. She looked good and seemed happy, despite her bandaged arm.

  “I’ve worried about you, getting shot on that crazy ranch,” he said. “How are you doing?”

  “Better, Rob,” she said. “Thanks for asking. I had to stop in today at the Texas Rangers to give a statement about the ranch conspiracy, as they call it. Now I’m craving a coffee before I hit the road.”

  “Heading westward, to Marfa? He smiled. “Going to see Tom Marr?”

  “Now you know that’s confidential information. No comment.”

  “No problem,” he said, matching her playfulness. “I have unimpeachable sources.”

  She turned serious. “I wanted to congratulate you on the Comet’s cover story about the ranch’s operations and the attack on me. It was beautifully written and researched and I appreciate the nice things you said about my investigative reporting. The paper’s lucky to have you.”

  “Thanks, Annie,” he said, genuinely pleased. “Can’t you sit down with me and enjoy your latte? I promise I won’t keep you for more than fifteen minutes.”

  “Better not,” she said. “Got to get going before rush hour. But I’m glad to get the chance to apologize. I’ve felt guilty ever since that day Travis and I followed you to the Comet office. I must confess I doubted that you were actually a reporter.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “You see I haven’t let your good mentoring go to waste. Since I can’t persuade you to sit down, I’d better head back to the office. Got to file a story this afternoon.”

  “Bye, Rob,” she said. “Take care and happy writing.”

  “Do you still have a job? I can’t believe that the stupid hedge fund that bought the Times doesn’t recognize the importance of continuing a great daily paper.”

  “I have an offer, but I haven’t decided what to do yet.”

  “You mean you might leave the Times?”

  “I’m trying not to think about it for at least a week,” she said. “I need a vacation first.”

  “I can’t believe you’d leave journalism. You’re so good at it.”

  “Well, I honestly doubt that I’ll leave, to tell the truth. I still need to make a living – and most other jobs are so boring.”

  “Isn’t that the truth? As someone once told me, reporting’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on.”

  “That wasn’t me, I hope?” she smiled.

  “No, but I’m sure I heard it at the Times. Good luck, Annie.” He shook her soft hand.

  “You too,” she said. She left quickly, sashaying out with the suggestion of a sway in her hips that still moved him. He’d always remember the night he’d stayed over at her place and had his way with that sweet, long-legged body. She’d been so wrong when she threw him out the next day. She’d likened his lovemaking to rape, but that wasn’t true at all. It wasn’t rape to take a woman you really wanted. Real Texans had always taken what they’d wanted and they always would.

  He liked Annie, her fire and her intelligence. He just hoped he wouldn’t have to kill her. But he suspected he’d have to do it sooner or later, because she kept getting in the way of his secession goals. She seemed to have a sixth sense about secrets the Nation of Texas needed to hide. She’d always be a nosy reporter who wouldn’t give up. He’d kill her, but only after he’d enjoyed that body one more time.

  He walked back to the newspaper office, pleased with the way the unexpected encounter had gone. Right now, Annie believed in him. She’d made it clear that she thought he was a bona fide journalist for life. It wasn’t true of course – he couldn’t imagine himself ever again being such a chump.

  Pretty soon, he’d give up his cover job at the Comet and devote full time to rebuilding the Nation of Texas. This afternoon he’d cut out early to lead a training exercise with his militia in the hills outside Austin. He and his key lieutenants were picking up new recruits for their army every day. The money Uncle Dan was sending from Venezuela was having a tremendous impact.

  Dan Riggins would always have a role in the Nation of Texas, but his uncle finally had anointed Rob as supreme leader. Uncle Dan had proved his ultimate devotion to the cause by placing the blame on Alicia for Sam Wurzbach’s shooting. It had been so easy for him to wipe the rifle clean of Rob’s fingerprints, let the dying Alicia handle it and turn it over to the Texas Rangers with a note that exonerated Rob. He’d known his uncle would shield him from the murder to promote the greater good of the Nation of Texas.

  Rob had ridden a wave of exhilaration when he’d staked out the state senator at his silly German-Texas party and fired a perfect shot from the hills behind the restaurant. All his rifle practice had paid off. He’d never killed anyone before, but was surprised at how easy it had been to execute a man bent on destroying the secessionist cause. He’d felt no guilt when Wurzbach fell on the patio, bleeding and dying. He hadn’t been able to stick around to enjoy the results of his handiwork, but the chaos following the assassination was thrilling.

  Now he’d crippled, perhaps even dealt a lethal blow, to the German-Texas scourge. He’d keep an eye on those Nazi bastards. Texas would be a country of its own, just like he and his compatriots had spent years planning. It would be a pure, strong and true nation, a place that would become the envy of the world. Winning Texas was squarely in his sights. He’d do anything to make it happen. Winning Texas was everything.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  With great respect and deep appreciation:

  For the support of my mentors and early readers:

  Stefan Kiesbye, Tony D’Souza, Kevin Moffett, Pam Kelley, Karen Garloch, Dannye Powell, Leslie Gerber, Judy Tell, Don Mason, Diane Hall, Julia Edmunds, Naomi Zeskind, Kenneth Ashworth and Ian Graham Leask.

  For the support of my family, especially my mother, Phyllis Pruden; son, Jeffrey Stancill Norman and siblings, Diane Hall, Melinda Poe, Steve Stancill and Jane Stancill.

  For the support of my fellow students and wonderful teachers in the University of Tampa master’s program in creative writing.

  For elements of the cover design created by Christine Long.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Nancy Stancill is a writer and award-winning investigative reporter and editor who formerly worked for the Houston Chronicle and the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer. She has a B.A. degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina and an M.F.A. degree in creative writing from the University of Tampa. Her first book, Saving Texas, featuring newspaper reporter-sleuth Annie Price, was published by Black Rose Writing in 2013. She lives in Charlotte, NC.