Microsoft Word - DeadHeat_wrp356.doc (25 page)

Rye glanced up at his brother just walking around

the corner. “Man, it's hot.” He wiped the moisture from

his face with the bottom of his T-shirt. The sensation of

sweat dripping down his back tickled and annoyed him.

Brett rested his palms on the rail. “You going back to

the farm?”

“In a bit. As soon as Jenna and Dani leave.”

Brett cleared his throat. Rye's head snapped up. His

brother only did that when he was nervous. “It's really not

a good idea for her to be out. We still don't know who's

been harassing her.”

“You tell her. She's not listening to anything I have

to say.”

“I suggest we go honky-tonking, too, little brother.”

Oh yeah. Follow her around on her night out with a

friend.
Great way to win her heart. “Someone should

watch her. Send two agents she won't recognize.”

His brother scrutinized him until he squirmed. He

hated it when anyone tried to see inside his head. “What's

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up?” Brett finally asked.

Dani's laugh rang out in the shed row and saved Rye

from answering.

The women halted when they spied Rye and Brett.

“Have a good time.” Rye forced cheerfulness in his

tone. “Going straight to the bar?”

Jenna's mouth tightened. “We're going to Dani's

place for a while first.”

Brett stepped in front of Rye. “You be careful. Don't

forget someone's out to get you.”

“Jenna, maybe we shouldn't...”

“Forget it,” Jenna interrupted her friend. “I need a

night out.”

“Where you girls off to?” Casey asked, ducking under

one of the stall webbings.

Rye started. He hadn't realized Casey was still at the

track. His work should have been finished a long time

ago. “A night on the town,” Jenna said, grabbing Dani's

arm. They hurried toward the car. “See you all tomorrow.”

“I'd like a chat with you, Casey.” Brett said.

Rye’s curiosity spiked. Brett had checked over

Casey's application this morning, but hadn't indicated he

found anything suspicious.

“What about?” This morning's insolence was back in

Casey's voice.

“About your criminal activities.”

The groom's eyes narrowed, his nostrils flared. Rye

stiffened, ready to spring into action.

“I've never broken the law.”

“That's not what it says in your juvenile record.”

Casey clenched his fists and stepped toward Brett,

who didn't flinch. Rye pushed away from the rail and

straightened.

“Those records are supposed to stay sealed.”

“Don't worry,” Brett said. “I'll make sure to tape

them back up.”

Casey moved to lunge at Brett, then suddenly

relaxed and smiled. Actually grinned. “So what are you

charging me with?”

“Nothing. At the moment. Just don't leave town.”

Casey saluted and sauntered away.

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“What the hell was that about?” Rye demanded.

“I'm in the process of getting a search warrant. I have

a feeling your groom is neck deep in shit and it's about to

cover his nose.”

“You think he's the one after Jenna?”

Brett shrugged. “I have no proof. He was a runner for

the mob when he was fifteen. Like he said, he was a

juvenile, so he never did time. Judge let him off with

probation.”

Rye whistled. “Maybe I should start running criminal

checks on all my employees.”

“Wouldn't have done any good in this case. I had to

pull strings to get a look at his record.”

“You're right. We can't leave Jenna alone. Let's swing

by the farm so I can shower. Then we'll hang out at the

OK Corral and spend the night side-stepping swinging

fists.”

“Hey, I haven't been in a good fist fight for years.

Sounds like a good time.”

Laughing, Rye slapped his brother on the back. “You

were a hell of a lot younger then.”

“Be honest with me, Rye. It's more than just sex with

Jenna, isn't it? You gonna marry her, or what?”

Rye faced the music. Had to start somewhere. Might

as well be with his brother. “Yeah, I'm in love with her.

Want her more than I've ever wanted anything. If she'll

have me, I plan to marry her.”

A corner of Brett's mouth tilted. “I figured as much.”

Braced for an argument, Brett's calm acceptance

startled the hell out of Rye. “What's this? No warnings

about how she'll sneak out during the night with the

silver?”

“No more lectures. Just a bit of advice. One thing I've

learned, little brother. If you let yourself want something

too much, you'll spend your entire life afraid of losing it.”

“Brett, you're just too damn cynical.”

****

boss?”

Dani never took her eyes off the highway, but Jenna

knew her friend well enough to realize she’d be like a dog

with a bone unless she got an answer. “Nothing,” she

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stated in a flat voice. “At least not any more.”

“So something was going on. Did you sleep with

him?”

Jenna hated to admit the truth. “Twice.”

“Was he as good as they say?”

“Dani!”

“Don't go coy with me, Jenna Green. I've known you

too long. Who ended it, you or Rye?”

Jenna considered the question. No one had done

anything yet. Since she planned to leave Kentucky,

perhaps she could take the credit. “I'm leaving for

southern California.”

Dani turned her head and stared at Jenna. “What?”

“Watch where you're going. The exit to my apartment

is coming up.” Jenna had realized as soon as they left the

track she had nothing to wear. Dani's clothes certainly

wouldn't fit.

“What do you mean you're leaving? Why? Where in

California are you headed? No, let me guess. Santa Anita.

Am I right?”

Jenna rested her head on the back of the seat and

closed her eyes. “Yes. I made the decision last night.

Rising Sun and I will start over at Santa Anita.”

Dani whistled loudly. She was the only female Jenna

knew who could whistle better than a man. “Talk about

an abrupt change. Are you sure about this?”

“I'm sure.”

Dani sounded doubtful. “Are you running away?”

Jenna bolted upright. “Damn it. You sound like Rye.

I'm not running away from anything. I'm running toward

a future. My future.”

“Hey, calm down. Don't get mad at me. I'm your

friend, remember?” Dani turned the car into Jenna's

driveway. Jenna squelched her rising fear. She hadn't

returned to the apartment since the last time she'd been

here with Rye. The time someone had ransacked the

place.

“You deserve to be happy,” Dani continued as she

turned off the engine and opened her door.

“And I plan on being just that.”

Side by side they walked to the front door. Jenna's

fingers trembled. It took three tries before she got the key

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inserted. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and

stepped in. Startled, she did a visual sweep of the living

room. Nothing was out of place. Had Rye put everything

back together? Why hadn't he told her?

Dani's fingers lightly touched her arm. “Jenna? Are

you okay?”

“Sure. I'm fine. I'll just grab an outfit and change at

your place.”

Even the bedroom was spotless. There was no bed.

Memory of the slashed mattress came and went. All her

clothes were folded and put away in the bureau. Her

cheeks grew warm thinking about Rye handling her bras

and panties. Stupid really, since he'd handled a lot more

than her underwear.

After grabbing one of her newer pair of jeans and a

white blouse, Jenna searched the closet for some sandals.

Stuffing everything in an overnight bag she found in the

corner of the closet, she straightened. “I'm ready. Let's get

out of here.”

“You could move to another apartment. You don't

have to leave the state.”

Jenna gazed at Dani. “What are you talking about?”

“It's obvious you're frightened. Is that the real reason

you're leaving?”

God give her strength. “I'm only going to say this

once, Dani. So listen up. I fell in love with a man who

doesn’t want a wife. I refuse to be his short term, or even

his long term, girlfriend. That's what will happen if I stay

here.”

“He might change his...”

“Believe me,” Jenna interrupted, unable to control

the rising pitch in her voice. “He's not going to change his

mind. He's made that crystal clear.”

“Okay. I get it,” Dani replied, worry clouding her

eyes. “Are you ready?”

Jenna nodded, embarrassed at her outburst. “I'm

sorry. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”

“Don't worry about it. That’s what friends are for.”

“Besides,” Jenna teased. “I'd much rather hear about

your crush on Rye's jerk of a brother.”

****

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Jenna the moment she entered the OK Corral ahead of

Dani. She halted directly inside the door and waited for

her eyes to adjust to the dim interior. The place reeked of

stale beer and cigarettes, even though smoking wasn't

allowed. Probably left over smoke from past years.

Not many people had arrived. The few men at the bar

gave them the once over. Jenna felt like a side of beef

hanging in a cold storage locker.

Great. A night fending off wolves looking to get laid.

The two men shooting pool didn't even give them a glance.

The band hadn't arrived yet. Hopefully, they'd be worth

listening to.

Willie Nelson's Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain

twanged from the jukebox. One of Jenna's favorites. A

couple moved on the dance floor in a pretence of a waltz.

Anyone could see it was just an excuse to have their

hands all over each other.

Dani poked her in the back. “Well? Are we going to

find a table or stand here gawking like a couple of idiots?”

“Want to sit close to the band?”

“Fine. Let's go.” Dani walked toward the wooden

platform where the band would perform.

Jenna followed, trying not to drag her feet. After all,

this had been her idea in the first place.

They'd no sooner sat down when a plump waitress

who didn't look old enough to drink sashayed to the table.

“Whadda' want?” she asked, snapping her chewing gum in

between words.

Jenna forced herself not to stare at the heavy

makeup caked on the girl's youthful face. “Draft beer.”

“Make that two,” Dani echoed.

“Same tab?”

“Sure.”

The waitress moved toward the bar, her hips swaying

in time with the gaudy earrings dangling from her ears.

“Glad we came?”

Jenna grimaced at her friend's sarcasm.

“We don't have to stay, Jenna.”

Determination took control. “I'm going to have a good

time.”
Even if it kills me.

The waitress returned, shrouded in a cloud of cheap

perfume, and plunked the mugs on the table hard enough

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that foam sloshed over the tops and slid down the frosty

exterior of the glass. As if she'd been stranded in the

Sahara Desert for a week, Jenna grabbed her mug and

drained half the beer.

Dani's eyes widened.

“I'm thirsty,” she defended.
Why the hell should I

have to defend myself to anyone?
She'd always bounced

back from all of life's disappointments. Why was it so

difficult to let go of her feelings for Rye?

“Uh oh,” Dani whispered. “We're about to have

company.”

Jenna looked up as two pseudo cowboy types, each

holding a bottle of Bud, sauntered toward their table.

They pulled out chairs. One of them turned his chair

around, swung his leg over it as if mounting a horse, then

leaned his elbows on the back. She guessed they'd stopped

at Wal-Mart to purchase their clothes just for the

occasion. Neither seemed to think they needed an

invitation to sit.

“Jenna Green,” the lead cowboy said. “I'm Marty

Campbell.” He tipped his hat. “This here's my friend Bill.”

He made a grand sweeping gesture to the second man

who grinned ear-to-ear as if he were running on two

cylinders.

“Have a seat.”

They both laughed, oblivious to her sarcasm.

“That's quite a horse you got,” Marty continued. “The

backside's buzzing like a hive full of angry bees.”

Jenna raised her brows.

“You work on the track?” Dani asked.

Marty shifted his gaze to give Dani the once over.

“I'm John Gray's assistant trainer.”

Jenna could have sworn his skinny chest puffed out

as he said that. Vain asshole. She remembered him now.

He did work for John Gray—as a groom.

Jenna drained the rest of her beer and signaled the

waitress for another.

“Yeah,” Marty rattled on, not caring that no one

appeared interested in anything he had to say. “Word's

out that Rising Sun's Derby caliber.”

The band started their warm up. Thank God. Jenna