Blackwood's Woman (23 page)

"It doesn't help that Plott has somehow changed his appearance," Agent Landers said. "He didn't have time to get any kind of plastic surgery done, so whatever changes he's made have to be superficial. Dyed his hair, maybe. Possibly got contacts. There's no way to know."

"We've been running checks in Richmond, passing out Plott's photograph to see if anyone anywhere recognizes him. We're desperate for a lead of some sort." Dane stretched his long lean frame up and off the sofa. "But a man with Plott's money can pay people off, get whatever help he needs and make sure nobody talks."

"His mother insists she hasn't seen him or talked to him," Landers said. "But Lieutenant George has told us that the old woman would do anything to protect her son."

"Has the FBI sent more agents to Texas to protect Libby?" Joanna asked. "I know that she can't afford private security any more than Claire could have."

"We're taking every precaution where Ms. Felton is concerned," Dane assured Joanna. "In Shelby, where Ms. Felton lives, we've brought the local authorities in on the case, just as we're doing here in Trinidad."

"You understand that resources and manpower are limited, Ms. Beaumont,"

Landers said. "We're doing all that we can. And I can assure you that we're going to get Lenny Plott."

"Before or after he kills all four of the women who testified against him?" Although she quivered inside, Joanna's voice was strong and steady.

J.T. noticed that her tight little fists rested in her lap. Lifting himself up from where he'd had his hip propped against the edge of the desk, J.T. walked around behind the desk and gripped the back of the swivel chair.

"I'm taking Joanna away," J.T. said. "First thing in the morning, we're leaving the ranch."

"There's no need to do that, Mr. Blackwood." Agent Landers jumped up off the sofa. "Dane's bringing in more agents, and we've got the local police department and county sheriff's office to back us up."

"Where do you think you can take her where she'll be safer than she is here?" Dane asked.

J.T. glanced at Dane, then over at Landers. "To the Navajo reservation. My sister is making arrangements with members of our mother's family. Elena and Alex will know how to reach us."

"See here, Blackwood, are you saying you plan to take Ms. Beaumont to some sort of hideaway on the Indian reservation?" Landers asked. "I don't recommend this move, and if you insist on—"

"I insist." J.T. glared at Landers.

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"I

10/31/2009insist." J.T. glared at Landers. Blackwood's Woman Landers's face reddened. He cleared his throat. "In that case, I'll have to insist on our knowing your exact whereabouts. Perhaps you can have your sister draw a map and give us telephone numbers where we can locate you."

"Dane has my cellular phone number," J.T. said. "And the tribal police will know our whereabouts."

"I don't understand your reasoning." Landers marched across the room, stopping in front of the huge oak desk. "You've got the FBI here, as well as local authorities as a backup, and you're taking Ms. Beaumont out in the middle of nowhere and expect the tribal police to protect her."

"You've said too much," Dane told his subordinate.

Snapping his head around, Landers glowered at Dane, who was watching J.T.

Landers looked at J.T., then swallowed hard. "I didn't mean—"

"I'll protect Ms. Beaumont," J.T. said. "I expect the FBI to do their job and find Lenny Plott."

Landers wisely kept his mouth shut when Dane Carmichael asked J.T. to walk them outside. Dane said goodbye to Joanna, then motioned for Landers to follow him into the hallway.

J.T. slipped his hands down the back of the chair, grasped Joanna's shoulders and squeezed. "I'll be back in a few minutes and we'll talk to Elena and Alex."

She laid both of her hands atop his, patting him reassuringly. "Try not to kill Agent Landers before he leaves the ranch."

J.T. chuckled. "It'll be an effort to keep from strangling him, but I'll do my best."

Joanna watched J.T. follow the FBI agents. Leaning over, she rested her elbows on the desk, then lowered her chin, cupping it in her hands.

In such a short period of time, her whole life had changed. She had found peace and contentment in Trinidad, and her career as an artist had excelled beyond her wildest dreams. And after waiting for so many years to find a special man to love, J.T. Blackwood had ridden his Appaloosa stallion into her life.

But as he had done once before, Lenny Plott threatened to destroy her happiness.

"Are you all right?" Elena's question interrupted Joanna's thoughts.

Joanna gasped, then looked up to see Elena standing in the doorway. "I'm fine.

Come on in. J.T. will be right back. He's seeing the FBI agents to their car."

Elena nodded, then walked across the room and lifted herself up on the desk.

Dangling her legs off the side, she faced Joanna. "I just got off the phone with my cousin Kate and she's going to go out tonight and tidy up Mama's house. No one has lived there since she died, but Kate and Ed keep an eye on the place and Kate airs it out and cleans it a couple of times a year."

"I remember you telling me about your home on the reservation," Joanna said. "I had planned to have Kate take me out there to see it the next time I visited her."

"Now, you'll be living there with J.T." Elena bent over, leaning closer to Joanna.

"He's been back to the reservation only three times since he was a child. Once when Mama was dying, and again a few days later for her funeral. Then the last time, to get me and bring me back to the ranch."

"Maybe our stay in your mother's home will help J.T. as much as taking refuge there might keep me safe from Lenny Plott." Joanna clasped Elena's hands. "I'm in love with your brother, you know. I didn't mean for it to happen, but it did. He hasn't made me any promises—other than to guard and protect me."

"J.T.'s afraid to love anyone," Elena said. "I know he cares about me, but … well, I F:/…/Beverly Barton - Blackwood's Wo…

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"J.

10/31/2009 T.'s afraid to love anyone," Elena said. "I kno Blackwood's Woman w he cares about me, but … well, I think maybe Mama was the only person he ever loved. You know, when he was a little boy. After he was taken from the reservation, he was told Mama had given him away because she didn't want him anymore. That cruel grandfather of his taught him to hate Mama and everything Navajo. Old John Thomas Blackwood saw to it that J.T.

grew up hard and cold and cynical, just like him."

"I think J.T. needs to come to terms with his mixed heritage." Releasing Elena's hands, Joanna rose from the chair and walked over to the window, looking out at her converted bunkhouse. "If only he would allow himself to be the man he is. Half white. Half Navajo."

"He told me once that the reason he didn't stay in New Mexico is because out here he isn't either. Not white and not Native American. He doesn't feel accepted by either people, doesn't feel a part of either world. But in the marines and then in the Secret Service, he was just J.T. Blackwood. A soldier. An agent. His past didn't matter. He had a job to do and he did it."

"But he has no personal life. No real home, despite having inherited this ranch from his grandfather," Joanna said. "And although, as you say, he cares about you, he won't let himself be part of a family."

"You've gotten to know J.T. very well in a short period of time, haven't you?" Elena smiled. "I knew you and J.T. would be good for each other, if I ever got you together."

"I don't know about that. Sometimes I think maybe J.T. and I are very bad for each other. I've fallen in love with him and I trust him with my life, but… Well, there's still a part of me that doesn't completely trust anyone. I love J.T., but I don't trust him with that love. He can't make a commitment to me, can't promise me a future. And I don't trust what there is between us enough to believe we have a chance together."

"Be patient with him. Try to have faith in his ability to change." Elena walked over and placed her hand on Joanna's shoulder. "If you can learn to trust him and trust what you feel for him completely, then maybe he can learn how to love you."

"Maybe I'm the wrong woman for him." Joanna stepped away from Elena.

Stretching her shoulders, she clasped the back of her neck with both hands and tilted her head. She took a deep breath, relaxed and dropped her arms to her sides. "After what happened to me … the rape … maybe I'll never be enough woman for a man like J.T. He's so … so…"

"All man," Elena said. "Yeah, my big brother is primitive macho masculinity personified, isn't he? But I'll tell you what I think. I think that if J.T. can't love you, he can't love anybody."

"Where's J.T.?" Alex walked into the study.

"Seeing the FBI men off," Elena told him. "Did you tell Benito that J.T. wants to take Washington and Playtime with him when he leaves in the morning?"

"Yes, I told Benito. He'll have them in a trailer and have it hitched to J.T.'s Jeep by eight in the morning," Alex said. "J.T.'s already told me that he wants to get an early start."

"I'll have to go back over to my house to pack." Joanna dreaded walking into her living room again, although she knew J.T. had asked Benito's wife, Rita, who worked as a part-time maid for Elena, to clean and straighten the mess Lenny Plott had created. "I want to take some supplies and try to do some work while I'm gone. We have no idea how long we'll be away. It could be days or even weeks."

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have

10/31/2009 no idea how long we'll be away. It could be da Blackwood's Woman ys or even weeks."

"There's an old hogan close to Mama's house," Elena said. "My great-grandparents lived there. You might want to do some sketches."

"Are you saying this hogan belonged to Benjamin Greymountain?" Joanna asked.

Elena nodded. "While you have J.T. on the reservation, see if you can get him to open himself up to our heritage and become acquainted with our relatives. You know our mother's family far better than J.T. does."

"I'll try," Joanna said.

Returning to his study, J.T. found Alex and Elena with Joanna. Taking Joanna to the reservation had been Elena's idea, but after giving it some thought, J.T. had agreed with her. There was no way to predict what Lenny Plott's next move would be or when he would act. One thing for sure, he knew exactly where Joanna lived and how to get to her. Taking her away was the wisest move. Of course, even on the reservation, hidden away from the world, there was no guarantee that Plott wouldn't figure out a way to find her.

If and when Plott showed up, J.T. would handle him. A part of J.T.—that primeval, protective, possessive male part of him—actually looked forward to a confrontation with Plott. Although J.T. had killed before, in the line of duty, he took no pleasure in it. But if he had to kill Plott, he would, and have no regrets.

"Well, did you get in touch with your cousins?" J.T. asked Elena as he walked into the study.

"Our
cousins," Elena corrected him. "And they have names. Kate and Ed Whitehorn. Kate's mother and our mother were sisters."

"Fine. Did you get in touch with this Kate and make arrangements for me?"

"Yes, I did. She'll clean up Mama's house and have it ready by the time you and Joanna get there tomorrow," Elena said. "I explained the situation to her and—"

"How much did you tell her?" J.T. asked.

"Everything! We can trust our family completely, J.T. You are a member of that family, you know. And a member of our clan. They would never betray you." Planting her hands on her hips, Elena glared at her brother. "Besides, Kate and Ed are very fond of Joanna. She has stayed with them several times when she's gone to the reservation to work on her sketches and paintings."

"Calm down, little sister, I didn't mean to rile you. I'm sure your cousins—our cousins—are fine, trustworthy people," J.T. said. "It's just that the fewer people who know exactly where Joanna and I are, the better."

"Kate and Ed raise sheep, but Ed works at the NFPI sawmill," Elena said. "Their house is pretty isolated, but neighbors will see you and Joanna as you travel the road to Kate's house, so Kate has asked her brother to speak to these neighbors, most of them friends and family, and caution them to tell no one of your presence on the reservation."

"I appreciate all you've done to help us." Joanna hugged Elena. "Maybe the FBI will capture Lenny Plott soon and this nightmare will be over for all of us."

"J.T. will keep you safe." Elena glanced at her brother and smiled. "And he will have Ed nearby, as well as Joseph, who is very handy with a gun. And we both know that Joseph would do anything for you, Jo."

"Speaking of Joseph reminds me that I promised to do a sketch of him as well as one of the children next time I came to visit," Joanna said.

"Who's this Joseph?" J.T. frowned.

"Joseph is Kate's younger brother." Elena ran her fingers through her long dark F:/…/Beverly Barton - Blackwood's Wo…

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"Jo

10/31/2009 seph is Kate's younger brother." Elena ran Blackwood's Woman her fingers through her long dark hair, pulling the flyaway strands off her face. "He's been sweet on Joanna since the first time they met."

"Elena!" Joanna's green eyes widened. Her cheeks flushed.

"Joseph is our cousin," Elena told J.T. "His mother and our mother were sisters, so that makes Joseph the great-grandson of Benjamin Greymountain, too."

"Is that right?" J.T. deliberately avoided eye contact with Joanna, knowing exactly what his sister was trying to do. She wanted to elicit his jealousy over another man's interest in Joanna. And not just any man, but another direct descendant of Annabelle Beaumont's one true love.

"Well, why don't you two finalize your plans for the trip." Elena grabbed Alex's arm. "I'll get one of the guest bedrooms ready for you for tonight, Jo." She pulled Alex toward the door, halting just before walking out into the hall. "Let me know if you want my help packing. I can run over to your house with you and J.T. before supper."