by Sara Orwig
“You know the location of the treasure? It really exists?” Tom asked.
“Yes,” she said. “I’m sure I do, but I need your help.”
“Keep your voice down,” Tom said. “We’ll talk about it later.”
“No one is paying any attention to us.”
“Wait until later, Rose,” Tom urged as a waitress with golden-blond hair caught up in a ponytail came to their booth. A pin on her pink polyester uniform indicated her name was Valerie.
“Are you ready to order yet?” she asked. Even though she smiled, her periwinkle-blue eyes were shuttered as if hiding her own secrets from the world.
“You want another minute or two?” Tom asked, and Rose shook her head as she looked back at the kitchen and saw the Chicano bodybuilder bustling over a hot grill.
“I can’t resist Manny’s hamburgers and chocolate shakes,” she said to Valerie, who smiled.
“Good choice. Sir?”
“I’ll have the same,” Tom said and their waitress picked up the menus and left.
“There’s your friend, the sheriff,” Rose said, watching Gavin O’Neal motion to Valerie, who went to his booth. “I want you to come out to the horse farm soon. And it has to be during daylight.”
“I’ll try, but I’m tied up this afternoon and tomorrow I need to help my uncle with a project. How about the next day? Let’s wait to discuss the details,” Tom cautioned again.
“This is Monday. Can you be there Wednesday after lunch?”
“Sure. I’ll arrange my schedule.”
While they ate lunch, Tom turned on the charm. She introduced him to people who stopped at their table and noticed that he already knew a lot of the locals.
Gretchen Halifax entered the diner and paused briefly at each booth to greet people. Once again, when she reached their booth, her attention was on Tom and she gave Rose only a cursory hello.
“So the truce between the Devlins and Windcrofts is actually working,” she said to Tom, glancing briefly at Rose. “At least until another incident out at the Windcroft place. Then the feud will probably resume.”
“Relations between the families seem solid so far, Gretchen,” Tom said. “How’s the campaign coming?”
“I expect to win. Do get out and cast your ballot for me, darling. Remember, Jake Thorne will ruin Royal’s economy.”
She moved on, chatting with others before returning to join Malcolm Durmorr. Rose’s pulse jumped when Malcolm leaned across the table to say something to Gretchen and the two slid out of their booth. Malcolm hurried to the cash register, paid and left with Gretchen.
“They departed in a rush,” Rose whispered to Tom.
“Probably had something to discuss,” he said with satisfaction in his voice. He smiled at Rose. “How’re you feeling?”
She had to laugh as she answered, “Fine. Just the same as I felt when I saw you at breakfast.”
He grinned and touched her cheek. “It’s good when you smile, Rose.”
“I could say the same,” she answered, relieved that he was less tense and angry with her.
They chatted while they ate their burgers and drank Manny Reno’s chocolate shakes. Finally Tom and Rose left together, strolling out into a brisk, cool November day. While the wind swirled brown leaves along the sidewalk, Tom straightened the collar of her jacket and his warm fingers brushed her throat lightly.
“I think we convinced them,” Tom said. “I’m sure that woman behind you was listening.”
“I’m sure she was. Zelda Mae has the curiosity of a cat. You did great getting a booth next to Malcolm.”
“I tipped that waitress to put me next to him. He eats lunch here almost every day.”
“And you had Zelda Mae on the other side of us.”
“That was sheer coincidence. I don’t know her at all.”
“For our purposes, it was great, but Malcolm may have been even better. He sure rushed Gretchen out of there. Maybe it was to tell her what he overheard. Let’s hope the right person will fall for your ploy. If Malcolm isn’t involved in the trouble, Zelda Mae will have word about the treasure all over town by nightfall.”
Tom gazed at her solemnly. “Right now you get back to the farm. I’ll be there after a brief meeting with the Cattleman’s Club guys. I’ll take the long way and make sure no one sees me. Connor is going to follow you home.”
She looked around. “Where’s Connor?”
“He’s parked down the street. You’ll have about two blocks on your own and then he’ll turn in behind your car.”
“Seems silly and unnecessary.”
“Humor us,” Tom replied. “Here’s hoping it all works and no one sees me. You head home now, Rose,” he ordered, and for a minute she stared at him, thinking how easily he took charge even though she knew it was for her protection. She nodded and turned to go to her car. He fell into step beside her and at her car he reached around her to open her door. When he paused, blocking her way, she looked up at him.
“Except for the family, townspeople don’t know about your pregnancy, do they?”
“No, they don’t. I don’t feel up to coping with all the speculation and questions yet.”
His eyebrow arched. “There’s a way to avoid some of that speculation, you know.”
She clamped her lips together. “I’m going home.”
“See you at the farm,” he said and closed the door as soon as she was behind the wheel.
When she arrived at the farm, she waved at Connor before she drove to the guesthouse. Now that the plan was set in motion, she had work of her own to do.
As prearranged, Tom went to the Texas Cattleman’s Club to report on the incident in the diner. All he really wanted to do was keep tabs on Rose.
At the club Tom strode to the reserved private room, greeting the others, shaking hands with Gavin. “I’ve already heard that Rose thinks she knows the location of the treasure,” Gavin said as soon as Tom was seated.
“We expected word to get around but not this fast,” Tom said in surprise.
“I think you can thank Zelda Mae and her cell phone,” Logan said drily. “That woman knows everyone and she likes to spread news.”
“We sat in the booth by her. Malcolm was on the other side of us—I saw to that ahead of time.”
“I hope to hell this works,” Gavin said.
“I’ll be glad when this is over,” Tom said, worrying about Rose.
“I imagine by now word is all over town about Rose discovering where the treasure is hidden,” Mark Hartman added. “The two of you must have been convincing.”
“No reason for anyone to think it’s a setup at this point. The main thing to remember is Rose’s safety,” Tom said.
“You put on a credible show,” Logan remarked. “I was there and saw Malcolm and Gretchen hightail it out of the diner.”
“There was another thing we mentioned. Rose asked me to help her and I said I couldn’t go to the horse farm until Wednesday. Anyone eavesdropping would assume we were talking about getting the treasure, so now we have a time frame that may push the killer into action in the next thirty-six to forty-eight hours,” Tom informed them.
“You guys stay alert and where we can keep in touch with each other,” Gavin instructed and the others nodded.
“You know Gretchen was working the crowd in the diner. Maybe we ought to have someone out there actively schmoozing the public for you,” Tom said, looking at Jake.
Jake shrugged. “I’m campaigning my way. I’m sure Gretchen has a different approach.”
“From what I’ve heard,” Mark said, “Malcolm has cheated on her and has someone he slips off and sees in Lubbock.”
“That wouldn’t surprise me,” Gavin remarked.
“Back to the question—what next?” Logan asked.
“I think all of us should be ready for a call from Tom or Connor if they need backup,” Gavin said. His words chilled Tom.
“I agree,” Logan said. “What else?”
Ever
yone was silent until Gavin spoke up. “No ideas. Okay, for now we’ll see what Tom and Rose’s little noontime pretense produces.”
“One more thing those of us who live in the city limits need to do,” Mark said, “is vote for Jake. Election day is approaching. No one in this room wants Gretchen Halifax for Royal’s new mayor. We need to all get out and make sure our families and friends go to the polls. If you aren’t eligible to vote, then campaign for Jake.”
“Thanks,” Jake said with a smile. “If looks could kill, Gretchen would have done me in several weeks ago.”
“That witch. She surely will be defeated,” Gavin snapped.
“Well, let’s all do our part,” Mark urged.
The meeting was over and Tom strode outside to his pickup.
“Tom!”
Tom turned to see Earl Finlay from the Royal newspaper rushing toward him.
“Wait up!” Earl implored, catching up with Tom who waited quietly. Earl had interviewed Uncle Lucas, his family and Tom when they were reunited in Royal. Earl was a distant Devlin relation, so the Devlins cooperated with him but only up to a point. He could push the questions until it was tiresome, and in the last interview Lucas had finally sent Earl on his way.
Gasping for breath, Earl blew locks of brown hair out of his eyes while he yanked out a small writing tablet and his pen. His brown gaze focused on Tom. “There’s a rumor going around and I want to check it out and see whether it’s only that—a rumor—or if it’s true. Do you think the Windcrofts know the exact location of Jessamine Golden’s treasure?”
“No, I don’t,” Tom replied swiftly.
“Aw, hell,” Earl muttered, looking crestfallen. “I’d hoped I had a scoop. Is the truce still on between the two families?”
“Are you interviewing me, Earl?” Tom snapped.
Earl’s face flushed. “I might be a little.”
“Yes, there’s still a truce,” Tom replied. “There’s no treasure, that’s just a wild rumor, and I need to go,” Tom stated.
“One more question. Who do you think has been causing all the trouble at the Windcroft place?”
“If I knew the answer to that, I would have told the sheriff the minute I learned the truth. I’ll see you later,” Tom said, heading for his pickup again.
“Tom, do you swear that Rose hasn’t asked you to help her find the treasure?”
“Stop listening to gossip. You know how things can get blown out of proportion and get a million miles from the truth.”
Earl trotted behind Tom, placing his hand on the pickup door when Tom slid inside. “You must have an opinion as to why someone has been trying to hurt the Windcrofts.”
“That could be most anything,” Tom said. “Someone who wanted to run them off their land or someone who is an enemy of the Windcrofts. Rose turned down a couple of men around this area. Will and Nita Windcroft both have fired hands who worked for them. Any of those people could be disgruntled and want to get even.”
“It’s always been common knowledge that Rose Windcroft couldn’t wait to get away from Royal and their horse farm. Most everyone figured she came back because of her daddy’s injury, but maybe that treasure brought her back. Do you think?”
“I think Rose is deeply concerned about her family and the recent mishaps.”
“And you’re certain that Rose doesn’t know one thing about the treasure?” Earl repeated.
“I’ve answered that question. Goodbye,” Tom said, starting the engine. Looking disappointed, Earl moved out of the way and Tom shut the door of his pickup. With his jaw clamped shut, he drove out of the lot. The plan might be the best way to catch the killer, but he couldn’t shake his terrible premonition that disaster would befall them.
Before he went to the Windcroft farm, he wanted to go back to the Devlin ranch. Now that he had a family, he wanted to keep them informed about his life, so he intended to tell his uncle how things had gone at the Royal Diner.
When Tom slowed in front of the barn, Uncle Lucas came out. Barrel-chested, gray-eyed, with powerful shoulders, Lucas Devlin was patient, likable and reliable. Dressed in his usual Western shirt and jeans, he strode toward Tom’s pickup as Tom climbed out.
“I’ve already heard from one of the boys who heard from a friend in town that Rose Windcroft knows the location of the treasure.”
“Damn. Did everyone get on a cell phone and spread the word while Rose and I were eating lunch? Is there anyone in Royal who doesn’t know about this?”
Lucas grinned. “I doubt it. Small towns have a way of circulating news. To add to that factor is the gold. When money or scandal is involved, word goes with lightning speed. If I wanted to find out, I’m sure I could tell you what Rose was wearing.”
“I believe that. As I told you yesterday, this treasure stuff is all a ruse and I’m staying with Rose to protect her.”
“I hope it works, and you be sure to take care. If you want any of us to come help, let us know.”
“Thanks. I will.”
“If you have time right now, I could use a hand over here. I don’t want you to get dirty.”
“My clothes wash. What can I do?” Tom asked, always glad to pitch in any way he could.
Tom and Lucas lifted long stacks of two-by-fours from a flatbed truck, then Tom went on to the guesthouse to get some more of his things.
While he gathered his belongings, he paused and made a call, arranging to have three dozen red roses delivered to Rose—at the main house, so she wouldn’t answer the door when she was alone at her place. The impulse to send flowers surprised him. Did he really want to court her? Was he doing the wrong thing to cajole her into a loveless marriage? Or was he falling in love with her? How important was this ranch he had bought?
It seemed an eternity before darkness fell and he could leave. In his red pickup Tom drove on back roads through several counties en route to the farm house. When he entered the Windcroft property, he pulled off the road and cut his lights, waiting and watching to make certain no one was behind him.
While he sat in silence, he had time to think. Did he really want Rose to marry him? Did he want a loveless marriage? As well as they got along in bed and otherwise, he suspected they might fall in love. He contemplated his feelings, wondering if he was already falling in love with her.
He had to admit that his attitude was colored by the expectation of a baby. A thrill zinged in him every time he thought about the baby, and he wondered how long it would take him to grow blasé about his approaching fatherhood. Becoming a father was fabulous. This might not be the way he’d intended it to happen, but it would be good.
He thought about the ranch that he’d had such high expectations for. He wanted badly to live in the country. Yet Rose had no intention of moving away from a big city, and he was convinced that she would never change her mind. Did he want to give up his latest dream for Rose?
He wondered again how strongly he felt about her. He remembered her laughter, the hot sex. Merely by thinking about her a few seconds, he could get aroused.
If she wasn’t pregnant, how would he feel? He did care about her. For the first time in his life he didn’t want to walk out on a relationship before it got serious.
If they caught the killer soon, she would go back to Dallas. One thing he knew for certain—he had no intention of getting out of her life or letting her out of his, not as long as she responded to him the way she did.
After a twenty-minute wait, Tom continued along the farm drive. When the lights of the guesthouse came into view, he let out a sigh of relief. He drove to the back and let himself in with the key Rose had given him.
“Rose!” he called as soon as he had punched off the alarm. “Rose!”
No one answered and Tom chilled, standing in the house while silence enveloped him.
Eight
“Rose!” Tom called again. He headed to the kitchen moving lightly on his feet, listening for the slightest sound and wishing he had asked Lucas for a gun. Too late for tonight.<
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Every muscle was tense as Tom stood in the empty kitchen.
Then he noticed a note propped on the kitchen table. He hurried to scan it. Letting out his breath in relief, he tossed aside the paper. Rose was at the main house. He should have thought of that possibility, but panic had gripped him when she hadn’t answered his call.
As he jogged across the drive, he tried to stay in shadows as much as possible, even though he knew it was highly unlikely anyone with sinister intentions would get close enough to keep the houses under surveillance. In spite of knowing that, when he crossed the porch and knocked, he felt on display. As soon as the door swung open and he faced Rose, his pulse jumped.
Looking delectable, she had changed into a red skirt and blouse. He wanted to reach for her and pull her into his arms. The past few minutes of finding her house empty had given him a scare. Instead of hugging her, he jammed his hands into his pockets.
“Come in,” she said.
“I drove all over three counties to make sure no one was following me,” he told her as he entered the house and closed the door.
“Everyone is in the living room,” she said. “We’ve gotten a few calls this afternoon and Earl from the paper called wanting to know if the rumor he’d heard about my knowledge of the location of the treasure was true.”
“He quizzed me this afternoon, and of course I denied it, just as I’m sure you did. But no one wants to accept that after overhearing us today.”
“You’re right. When he asked if I knew the location of the treasure, I told him the truth. I told him that if I knew where the treasure was located, I would have gotten it already and I would have talked to the authorities about it.”
“What do you think he believed?”
“That I know where the treasure is,” Rose replied. “He asked me if I found the gold, what would I do with it. Would I tell others? Would I go to the law with it? Did I know what the law was on finding buried treasure on our property?”
All the time she talked, Tom couldn’t resist touching her. Pulling his hands from his pockets, he toyed with her collar and lightly caressed her nape with his right hand. He ached to hold and kiss her.