Lone Star Winter (24 page)

She moved against him, her lips welcoming, her hands spreading, caressing, against his rib cage, his chest. There was no tomorrow. There was only Jordan, wanting her.

Her body throbbed in time with her frantic heartbeat. She was hot all over, swelling, aching. She wanted relief. Anything…!

Voices coming close pushed them apart when she would have said that nothing could. Jordan stepped back, his face a rigid mask. She looked up at him, her crushed mouth red from the ardent pressure, her eyes soft and misty and dazed.

Her pocketbook was on the ground. He reached down and handed it back to her, watching as she put the strap over her shoulder and stared up at him, still bemused.

She wanted to tell him that Harley was a better lover, to make some flip remark that would sting him. But she couldn't.

He was in pretty much the same shape. He hated the very thought of Harley. But even through the jealousy, he realized that Libby's responses weren't those of any
experienced woman. When Julie kissed him, it was with her whole body. She was more than willing to do anything he liked. But he couldn't take Julie to bed because he didn't want her that way. It was a source of irritation and amazement to him. And to Julie, who made sarcastic remarks about his prowess.

It wasn't a lack of ability. It was just a lack of desire. But he raged with it when he looked at Libby. He'd never wanted a woman to the point of madness until now and she was the one woman he couldn't have.

“Women and their damned ambitions,” he said under his breath. “Damn Harley. And damn you, Libby!”

“Damn you, too, Jordan,” she said breathlessly. “And don't expect me to drag you into any more alleys and make love to you, if that's going to be your attitude!”

She turned and walked away before he had time to realize what she'd said. He had to bite back a laugh. This was no laughing matter. He had to get a grip on himself before Libby realized what was wrong with him.

 

After their disturbing encounter, she wondered if she and Curt wouldn't do better to just move off their property and live somewhere else. In fact, she told herself, that might not be a bad idea.

Mr. Kemp didn't agree.

“You have to maintain a presence on the property,” he told Libby firmly. “If you move out, Janet might use that against you in court.”

“You don't understand,” she groaned. “Jordan is driving me crazy. And every time I look out the window, Julie's speeding down the road to Jordan's house.”

“Jordan's being conned,” he ventured.

“I know that, but he won't listen,” Libby said, sitting down heavily behind her desk. “Julie's got him convinced that I'm running wild with Harley Fowler.”

“That woman is big trouble,” he said. “I'd give a lot to see her forced to admit what she did to the Culbertson girl at that party.”

“You think it was her?” she asked, shocked.

He shrugged. “Nobody else had a motive,” he said, his eyes narrow and cold. “Shannon Culbertson was running against her for class president and Julie wanted to win. I don't think she planned to kill her. She was going to set her up with one of the boys she was dating and ruin Shannon's reputation. But it backfired. At least, that's my theory. If this gets out it's going to disgrace her father even further.”

“Isn't he already disgraced enough because of the drunk-driving charges?” she asked.

“He and his cronies at city hall are trying desperately to get those charges dropped, before they get into
some newspaper whose publisher doesn't owe him a favor,” Kemp replied, perching on the edge of her desk. “There's a disciplinary hearing at city hall next month for the officers involved. Grier says the council is going to try to have the police officers fired.”

She smiled. “I can just see Chief Grier letting that happen.”

Kemp chuckled. “I think the city council is going to be in for a big surprise. Our former police chief, Chet Blake, never would buck the council, or stand up for any officer who did something politically incorrect with the city fathers. Grier isn't like his cousin.”

“What if they fire him, too?” she asked.

He stood up. “If they even try, there will be a recall of the city council and the mayor,” Kemp said simply. “I can almost guarantee it. A lot of people locally are fed up with city management. Solid waste is backing up, there's no provision for water conservation, the fire department hasn't got one piece of modern equipment, and we're losing revenue hand over fist because nobody wants to mention raising taxes.”

“I didn't realize that.”

“Grier did.” He smiled to himself. “He's going to shake up this town. It won't be a bad thing, either.”

“Do you think he'll stay?”

Kemp nodded. “He's put down deep roots already,
although I don't think he realizes how deep they go just yet.”

Like everyone else in Jacobsville, Libby knew what was going on in Cash Grier's private life. After all, it had been in most of the tabloids. Exactly what the situation was between him and his houseguest, Tippy Moore, was anybody's guess. The couple were equally tight-lipped in public.

“Could I ask you to do something for me, sir?” she asked suddenly.

“Of course.”

“Could you find out if they've learned anything about…Daddy at the state crime lab and how much longer it's going to be before they have a report?” she asked.

He frowned. “Good Lord, I didn't realize how long it had been since the exhumation,” he said. “Certainly. I'll get right on it, in fact.”

“Thanks,” she said.

He shrugged. “No problem.” He got to his feet and hesitated. “Have you talked to Violet lately?” he asked reluctantly.

“She's lost weight and she's having her hair frosted,” she began.

His lips made a thin line. “I don't want to know
about her appearance. I only wondered how she likes her new job.”

“A lot,” she replied. She pursed her lips. “In fact, she and my brother are going out on a date Saturday night.”

“Your brother knows her?” he asked.

She nodded. “He's working for Duke Wright, too…”

“Since when?” he exclaimed. “He was Jordan's right-hand man!”

She averted her eyes. “Not anymore. Jordan said some pretty bad things about me and Curt quit.”

Kemp cursed. “I don't understand how a man who was so concerned for both of you has suddenly become an enemy. However,” he added, “I imagine Julie Merrill has something to do with his change of heart.”

“He's crazy about her, from what we hear.”

“He's crazy, all right,” he said, turning back toward his office. “He'll go right down the tubes with her and her father if he isn't careful.”

“I tried to tell him. He accused me of being jealous.”

He glanced back at her. “And you aren't?” he probed softly.

Her face closed up. “What good would it do, Mr. Kemp? Either people like you or they don't.”

Kemp had thought, privately, that it was more than liking on Jordan's part. But apparently, he'd been wrong right down the line.

“Bring your pad, if you don't mind, Libby,” he said. “I want you to look up a case for me at the courthouse law library.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, picking up her pad. It was always better to stay busy. That way she didn't have so much time to think.

 

She was walking into the courthouse when she met Calhoun Ballenger coming out of it. He stopped and grinned at her.

“Just the woman I was looking for,” he said. “On the assumption that I win this primary election for the Democratic candidate, how would you like to join my campaign staff in your spare time?”

She caught her breath. “Mr. Ballenger, I'm very flattered!”

“Duke Wright tells me that you have some formidable language skills,” he continued. “Not that my secretaries don't, but they've got their hands full right now trying to get people to go to the polls and vote for me in May. I need someone to write publicity for me. Are you interested?”

“You bet!” she said at once.

“Great! Come by the ranch Saturday about one. I've invited a few other people, as well.”

“Not…the Merrills or Jordan Powell?” she asked worriedly.

He glowered at her. “I do not invite the political competition to staff meetings,” he said with mock hauteur. He grinned. “Besides, Jordan and I aren't speaking.”

“That's a relief,” she said honestly.

“You're on the wrong side of him, too, I gather?”

She nodded. “Me and half the town.”

“More than half, if I read the situation right,” he said with a sigh. “A handful of very prominent Democrats have changed sides and they're now promoting me.” He smiled. “More for our side.”

She smiled back. “Exactly! Well, then, I'll see you Saturday.”

“I've already invited your boss and Duke Wright, but Duke won't come,” he added heavily. “I invited Grier, and Duke's still browned off about the altercation he had with our police chief.”

“He shouldn't have swung on him,” she pointed out.

“I'm sure he knows that now,” he agreed, his eyes twinkling. “See you.”

She gave him a wave and walked into the courthouse
lobby. Jordan Powell was standing there with a receipt for his automobile tag and glaring daggers at Libby.

“You're on a friendly basis with Calhoun Ballenger, I gather?” he asked.

“I'm going to work on his campaign staff,” she replied with a haughty smile.

“He's going to lose,” he told her firmly. “He doesn't have name identification.”

She smiled at him. “He hasn't been arrested for drunk driving, to my knowledge,” she pointed out.

His eyes flashed fire. “That's a frame,” he returned. “Grier's officers planted evidence against him.”

She glared back. “Chief Grier is honest and open-handed,” she told him. “And his officers would never be asked to do any such thing!”

“They'll be out of work after that hearing,” he predicted.

“You swallow everything Julie tells you, don't you, Jordan?” she asked quietly. “Maybe you should take a look at the makeup of our city council. Those were people who once owned big businesses in Jacobsville and had tons of money. But their companies are all going downhill and they're short of ready cash. They aren't the people who have the power today. And if you think Chief Grier is going to stand by and let them railroad his employees, you're way off base.”

Jordan didn't reply at once. He stared at Libby until her face colored.

“I never thought you'd go against me, after all I've done for you and Curt,” he said.

She was thinking the same thing. It made her ashamed to recall how he'd tried to help them both when Janet was first under suspicion of murder and fraud. But he'd behaved differently since he'd gotten mixed up with Senator Merrill's daughter. He'd changed, drastically.

“You have done a lot for us,” she had to agree. “We'll always be grateful for it. But you took sides against us first, Jordan. You stood by with your mouth closed in Barbara's Café and let Julie humiliate me.”

Jordan's eyes flashed. It almost looked like guilt. “You had enough support.”

“Yes, from Harley Fowler. At least someone spoke up for me.”

He looked ice-cold. “You were rude to Julie first, in your own office.”

“Why don't you ask Mr. Kemp who started it?” she replied.

“Kemp hates her,” he said bluntly. “He'd back your story. I'm working for Senator Merrill and I'm going to get him reelected. You just side with the troublemakers
and do what you please. But don't expect me to come around with my hat in my hand.”

“I never did, Jordan,” she said calmly. “I'm just a nobody around Jacobsville and I'm very aware of it. I'm not sophisticated or polished or rich, and I have no manners. On the other hand, I have no aspirations to high society, in case you wondered.”

“Good thing. You'd never fit in,” he bit off.

She smiled sadly. “And you think you will?” she challenged softly. “You may have better table manners than I do—and more money—but your father was poor. None of your new high-class friends is ever going to forget that. Even if you do.”

He said something nasty. She colored a little, but she didn't back down.

“Don't worry, I know my place, Mr. Powell,” she replied, just to irritate him. “I'm a minor problem that you've put out beside the road. I won't forget.”

She was making him feel small. He didn't like it.

“Thank you for being there when we needed you most,” she added quietly. “We aren't going to sell our land to developers.”

“If you ever get title to it,” he said coldly.

She shrugged. “That's out of our hands.”

“Kemp will do what he can for you,” he said, feeling guilty, because he knew that she and Curt had no
money for attorneys. He'd heard that Janet was still missing and that Kemp's private detective had drawn a blank when he looked into her past. Libby and Curt must be worried sick about money.

“Yes, Mr. Kemp will do what he can for us.” She studied his face, so hard and uncompromising, and wondered what had happened to make them so distant after the heated promises of those kisses they'd exchanged only weeks before.

“Curt likes working for Wright, I suppose?” he asked reluctantly.

She nodded. “He's very happy there.”

“Julie had a cousin who trains horses. He's won trophies in steeplechase competition. He's working in Curt's place now, with my two new Thoroughbreds.”

“I suppose Julie wants to keep it all in the family,” she replied.

He glared down at her. “Keep all what in the family?”

“Your money, Jordan,” she said sweetly.