Lonestar Secrets (13 page)

He gulped down a last swig of strong coffee to fortify himself, then went out to the big porch to greet his parents. At least he wouldn't have to listen to his mother's cries for long. He had to get out to the training corral in another hour.

The hot breeze blew down from the hills, carrying with it the scent of mesquite. He loved this ranch, the pillars of black igneous rock that stood like ancient guardians along the hills, the desolate majesty, even the jackrabbits scrabbling over the hardpan desert. When he was a kid, his mother's housekeeper used to scare him with stories of the unforgiving land. The devil, she said, was sealed up in a cave on the south bank of the Rio Bravo del Norte. As a boy, Jack often watched the nearby mountains to make sure the devil didn't escape on a swing hung between them.

This country's other name was El Despoblado, the land of no people. More creatures than human inhabitants lived here, and Jack never wanted it to change. Development of the land was a topic of contention between him and his father. Now, watching his dad stride up the driveway with Jack's mother, Jack could see from the great Senator MacGowan's confident smile that he was here for a reason Jack wasn't going to like.

Jack stepped down to the brick walkway to embrace his mother, who hurried ahead of the senator. Her light flowery scent reached him before she did. When he hugged her, he could feel her ribs, but he knew better than to ask her if she was dieting. She was always dieting, and no amount of chiding on his part lessened her determination to fit into a size four.

He brushed his lips across her cheek. "Good to see you, Mom."

"Jacky, you're not dressed. Did you forget?" His mother's voice was softly reproachful.

"Forget?" Then it hit him. Several months ago his parents had coerced him into a trip to Austin to meet the daughter of another senator. "I'm not going to be able to make it, Mom." He turned from the hurt in her eyes to shake his dad's hand.

"What's this?" his father demanded while gripping Jack's hand. "Not going?You have to go. I paid two hundred dollars for your ticket."

"I'll pay you back, Dad." Jack gestured to the porch. "Coffee? Enrica made some killer coffee cake this morning to go with it."

"Don't change the subject," his father said, his scowl growing as dark as the hills. "Carleen is expecting you. Why, she even told her mama she'd bought a new dress. I won't be humiliated like this. Get your suit and get in the car. We don't have a lot of time to waste."

Jack didn't let his smile slip. His father would take advantage of any weakness. "I'm training horses, and there's an even more important reason I can't go. Sit down on the porch and let me explain." At least out here there was no chance of Faith overhearing.

His mother clung to his arm. "You should have called us," she whispered as he led her up the steps to the seating area at the end of the porch. "You know how your father hates to be caught off guard."

His father liked to know everything and reveal nothing. Jack shrugged. "I forgot." Like that excuse would satisfy either of them. He'd been so upside down with worry over losing Faith, he couldn't remember the last time he'd even looked at his calendar.

His mother settled onto the plush cushion and smoothed her skirt. The senator dropped into the seat beside her, and his brows came together. Jack didn't want to sit, but he forced himself to perch on a chair and appear nonchalant.

"What's this about, Jack?" his father demanded.

"It wouldn't be right to go out with another woman when I'm engaged." Nothing like dropping the bomb all at once. He waited for his mother's gasp and his father's brows to rise before plunging on. "In fact, I'm getting married a week from Saturday. I hope your schedules will allow you to come."

"Ma-married?" His mother put her hand to her throat. "You're teasing us, Son.

"I'm spot-on serious, Mom. Her name is Shannon Astor."

"Astor? As in old Earl Astor?" the senator put in. "His niece is the new vet in town."

"That's Shannon. My fiancee."

"I remember her," his mother said, tipping her head to one side. "She helped you and your sister with biology one year. Studious little thing, but no presence. She barely looked up from her books. And wasn't there some talk about her being not quite emotionally stable? Are you sure about this, Jacky?"

"I'm very sure. In spite of losing her parents, she went on to make something of herself. She's a good person. And one of the strongest women I know." To his surprise, he found he meant the words. Shannon was someone to be admired. She'd be a wonderful role model for the girls. He wanted Faith to grow up to be able to stand on her own. Shannon had done just that.

His father still had said nothing. He glanced at his watch. "We'd better go, poppet, or we'll be late." He rose and held out his hand.

His mother fluttered to her feet. "Senator, we need to talk about this." She put her hand on Jack's arm. "Don't rush into anything, Son."

"I'm not, Mom. Will you both come to the wedding? I know Leah can't." His sister was abroad.

His father put his hand on her shoulder and ushered her toward the steps before she answered. His glare pierced Jack.

Jack followed them. "Look, Dad, I'm not some puppet to be used to help you climb the political ladder." His dad turned with hooded eyes and tight lips. Jack knew he should have kept his mouth shut.

"Just what I would have expected you to say, Jack," the senior Jack MacGowan said. "You have never supported my dreams. All you want is wrapped up here in this ranch." He waved his hand toward the barns and outbuildings. "You could make something of yourself if you'd try. Yes, you're the rooster in this tiny yard, but you have it in you to be more than that to really be someone of substance."

"We don't all have to be in the limelight to be reaching our potential," Jack said, keeping his voice even. "There's something to be said for raising a family and being part of my community." He watched his mother flinch, then hurriedly get into the blue Cadillac and shut the door.

His dad snorted. "I suppose that's a slap at the way I was gone some when you were growing up. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made." He turned back to the car and got under the wheel.

"I don't want to sacrifice my daughter on the horns of my ambition," Jack said to the dust billowing from the back of his father's car. He stood and watched the wind catch the particles of sand and swirl them away. Just like his words.

9

AFTER FLEEING THE RANCH, SHANNON SPENT THE REST OF THE NIGHT AT THE Bluebird and decided, at Rick and Allie's urging, that was where she and Kylie would stay until the wedding.

All day, she barely went through the motions at the mustang camp. She was supposed to turn over the money whatever it was in a few hours to the big guy. But she was no closer to figuring out what they wanted. Would he really kill Mary Beth?

Rick's buddy had discovered nothing out of the ordinary in his check on Mary Beth. Grabbing a bottle of water from the big iced bucket by the mess hall, Shannon sat on the ground and pulled out her cell phone. No answering text message from Mary Beth, but then, Shannon hadn't expected one. Still, she'd hoped. Mary Beth's sister might know some thing, but Shannon didn't have a phone number. The guy wanted money. Could Mary Beth have put money in Shannon's account? It wouldn't be the first time. Mary Beth was always trying to help out without Shannon's knowing, though usually she could only spare small amounts like a hundred dollars. Still, it wouldn't hurt to check.

She dialed the bank's automated number and followed the prompts to get to her balance. Three hundred twenty-six dollars and two cents. Hardly worth terrorizing her and Mary Beth for. And exactly what her bank register said. She closed her phone and sighed.

"Everything okay?" Jack's voice spoke above her head. "You were scowling."

She scrambled to her feet and dusted her jeans. "You would, too, if you had a bank balance like mine," she said before she could stop the words.

"Listen, we're practically married. If you need money, I'd be glad to help."

"I don't need anything, but thanks."

They stood staring at one another. Shannon wished she could tell him about the problem, but the last time she'd shared anything with him, he'd ruined her life. She couldn't risk it again.

SHANNON'S DEADLINE TO DELIVER THE MONEY HAD COME AND GONE WITHout a hint that the intruder's threat was real. But Mary Beth's failure to call Shannon kept her mind focused on the worst. There'd been no text message answer from her, no phone call. Only silence.

Could her own ignorance make her responsible for the death of her friend?

Saturday morning, Shannon and Allie decided to go shopping for dresses. Kylie had taken the news that she was marrying Faith's daddy with her usual enthusiasm. It was all she talked about.

"There's nowhere to buy a nice dress around here,"Allie said, tying a bow at the end of Betsy's braid. "I think we should go to San Antonio."

"That's over six hours away!" Shannon wanted to look nice, but she didn't plan to spend the entire weekend on a shopping trip for a sham marriage.

Allie cast a sly glance at Rick. "Not when your husband has a plane."

By plane, San Antonio would be a short hop. Many large ranchers had small planes, but she hadn't suspected Rick did. A plan began to form in Shannon's head. She glanced at Rick. "Would you have time to take us?"

Rick's gaze settled on his wife's swollen belly. "I can make arrangements. At least then I'll make sure Allie isn't overdoing it. I got her an oxygen setup when I found out she was pregnant so she can fly with no problems."

Allie brushed a kiss across his lips. "I thought you'd see it that way."

He draped his arm over her shoulders. "When do you girls want to leave?"

"As soon as you can get the plane ready. I need to call Jack and see if I can take Faith."

"It's ready. I was planning on offering my services." He grinned when Allie gently punched his stomach. He stooped to scoop up Betsy. "Let's get out of here."

Shannon smiled, but a hollow sensation settled between her shoulder blades. She'd never seen a more tender look than Rick bestowed on Allie. She would never experience loving banter or have a man want to protect her. Her marriage wouldn't change a thing. Only her last name and her place of residence.

One other important thing would change, she thought, glancing at Kylie. Her daughter would have a father. And that was worth everything.

She picked up the cordless phone. "Give me a minute to call Jack." She punched in the number, surprised to find she knew it by heart already.

Jack's deep voice answered. "MacGowan."

"Jack, good morning. I'm, um, I'm going to go buy the dresses for next Saturday." She couldn't bring herself to say the word wedding. "I wondered if Faith would like to go? I don't have to take her since she and Kylie are the same size, but I thought she might enjoy the outing." A long pause followed, and she was beginning to wonder if they'd lost the connection before he finally answered.

"She's not here. Enrica took her over to play with her granddaughter. I don't think I can contact them. Enrica refuses to have a cell phone. She thinks they're dangerous." He cleared his throat. "Nice of you to think of her."

"She's my daughter. Of course I think of her." He seemed to forget that fact so easily. Shannon longed to do so many things with Faith.

"And mine," he said with an edge to his voice. "You should have called earlier to make plans. Besides, I haven't told her about the wedding yet."

"Why not?" Shannon failed to keep the disappointment from her voice. Moses nudged her hand, and she rubbed his ears.

"I was waiting for the right time. I'll tell her when she gets home."

Did he think Faith would be upset? Faith seemed to like Shannon, so surely she'd be happy. And the girl already loved Kylie. "Can I bring the dress over for her to see tonight?"

"My parents are coming for dinner, and I don't want to subject you to them yet. How about Sunday? You can come over for dinner after church."

So he was ashamed of her. Her eyes stung. "Fine. I've got to go."

"Wait, Shannon. Maybe I can track down Enrica. Give me an hour."

"Everyone is ready to go. Rick is flying us to San Antonio, so we can't really wait. I wish we could. I'd love to have had her with us." And it was her fault. She should have called last night, but she'd put it off.

For just a moment, she thought about asking him to come with her. She wanted to tell him about the guy who wanted something from her. But would he even believe her? Maybe he'd think she was making it up to get his sympathy. Besides, if he still thought her imagination had the better of her, he might back out. In the end, she said nothing until he finally spoke.

"Okay, sorry," he said, really sounding as though he meant it. "I'll see you later."

Shannon put the phone down. She could have kicked herself. It wasn't like her to let fear rule her, but she'd let it make her put off the call. "Let's go," she told the Bailey family. "Time's a-wasting" She followed Rick and his family out to a small hangar behind the barn. The plane was already outside on the sand. "No runway?"

Rick opened the plane door and deposited Betsy inside. "The desert makes a fine one." He helped Allie into the plane and held out his hand to Shannon.

"I have something else I need to do," she said in a voice too soft for Allie to hear. "I'd like to go by my old apartment." She had told him about what the guy said when he broke in.

"You forget something?"

She shook her head. "I want to see if Mary Beth is there. If she's not, maybe I can find clues to what's going on. Maybe there's something in her room."

Rick frowned, then gave a reluctant nod. "You should ask your fiance to go with us."

"I haven't told him," she said, pressing her lips together. Shannon saw the condemnation in his eyes and sighed. Her guilt about not telling Jack was bad enough without Rick adding to it. "I don't trust him, Rick."

"You're marrying him," he pointed out.