Pressure Point (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 3) (4 page)

Now here he was, in a cell, half-naked, because she got a bright idea to take something that wasn’t hers.

He should be as angry as a hornet. And yet, he wasn’t.

He hated what Em had told him about Sea Breeze and what she’d seen on Nazarene’s property. Anyone could see the man was jilted, and that’s why he’d called Sheriff Barnes. Nash couldn’t understand why Nazarene didn’t just give Em the horse. It would have relieved him of the expense and effort of putting him down. The horse couldn’t race anymore, obviously.

“You’re set free, Walters.”

Nash looked up and found Barnes standing in the open door. “Free?”

“You heard right. Better go home and get some clothes on before the local paper catches wind that you’re wearing a skirt. You’ll never live it down.” Sheriff Barnes laughed.

“It’s not a skirt. It’s a blanket,” Nash corrected.

Barnes shrugged. “If you say so.”

“Is Jobe here to pick me up?” Nash stood up, tightening the blanket around his hips.

“No, but I’ll take you home.”

Nash brought his chin around to find the owner of the feminine voice. Em stood in the corridor, hands on her hips. Her long, dark hair framed her face in satin waves. Her makeup was smeared under her eyes and the dress she wore looked like it’d been through hell and back…but damn, she was still the prettiest thing he’d seen. His gut tightened. She looked vulnerable, and he hated feeling sorry for her. On their way to the county jail, she’d sat quietly in the back of the cruiser. Nash had a feeling she wanted to throttle Nazarene too. Before they’d gotten out at the jail, Nash had asked her if she was okay and she’d turned to him, her eyes misted with tears and her bottom lip trembling. She’d answered, “I’m fine. As always.”

Sure, they’d planned to commit a crime, but there was definitely more to the story than an intent, and she’d meant to do the right thing.

He saw a side of her that he doubted many besides himself had seen.

But it was best he steer clear of her.

“I can wait for my brother,” Nash said. He’d had enough drama for the day.

“Suit yourself.” She shrugged.

“Better take the ride, young man. I still haven’t gotten ahold of either one of your brothers,” Sheriff Barnes interjected.

Nash rubbed his chin. DJ was on his honeymoon and Jobe, well, who the hell knew what kept him busy. He glanced at Em and sighed. He wanted to go home. Fast. He’d like to get on a pair of pants. “Fine. But assure me you’ll take me home and we won’t rob the bank on the way.” Sheriff Barnes cleared his throat. “Theoretically speaking, Sheriff.”

“My father is here. So we’ll definitely be heading home. Hope you aren’t uncomfortable with father/daughter moments.”

“Can’t say, considering I’ve never witnessed one.” Nash stepped out of the cell, relief easing the strain in his shoulders. “Do I need to sign anything, Sheriff?”

Barnes shook his head. “No. Nazarene didn’t file charges. You two stay off his property. You hear, Miss Stone?” He turned his grey gaze on her.

“I have no plans to pay him a visit.” She turned and started down the corridor toward the exit door.

Nash caught up to her. “Is your dad pissed?”

“I’d say so. I haven’t seen him yet. He was the last person I wanted the sheriff to call, but I couldn’t let him call Jewels. She’d probably give me more of a lecture than Dad.”

They stepped outside and found Joshua Stone standing on the sidewalk. His hands were deep in his pockets and a sour expression marred his weathered features. He wasn’t necessarily a tall man, but his stocky frame made him appear to be a giant. Nash wasn’t afraid of Em’s father, but Nash knew it was best to stay quiet and let the older man handle his daughter.

Joshua saw Em and shook his head, looking like he could explode any second. He dragged his hands from his jeans and crossed his arms over his chest, heated gaze narrowing. “Well, well, what do we have here? Do you two have any self-respect? Dressed like a couple of clowns.”

“Sir, I can explain.” Nash stepped forward.

“Don’t bother, son. I already know who came up with the cockamamie idea to steal the horse from Nazarene. Let’s get in the truck before we have the entire town talking.” Joshua opened the passenger door and waved Em in. Nash slid in beside her, feeling much like he did when he was five and got caught stealing cookies from the jar.

Once they pulled onto the street, Joshua thumped the heel of his hand on the steering wheel. Nash’s balls shrunk to peanuts. “Em, what did I tell you about that horse?”

“Dad, that poor horse is being punished because of his trainer’s ignorance. That’s unfair.”

Nash felt her stiffen. He had an impulse to take her hand, but he ignored the stupid urge. Joshua would have his head. Nash rubbed the bridge of his nose and gritted his teeth. Why did he have so much compassion for her when she’d almost gotten them arrested?

“As unfair as this issue might be, it’s none of your business. You almost got yourself, and this boy, arrested for stealing property that doesn’t belong to you.” Joshua’s voice remained hard.

“It is my business.  I spent a lot of time with Sea Breeze while I was at Nazarene.” Her voice quaked.

Joshua’s jaw softened—some. “Look, child, I know you grew attached to the horse, but he can no longer race and this is Nazarene’s business. I wouldn’t want someone to come along and tell me how to run things at Rhinestone. You don’t even like someone telling you how to live your life when it’s for the best. What in the hell would you do with Sea Breeze if you did have him? He needs a vet’s attention and, young lady, you can’t afford the expense.”

“John doesn’t have an ounce of emotion or compassion. He relies too much on what his trainer says.” Em wrapped her arms around her waist.

Nash wondered why she’d dated Nazarene. In his early fifties, the man walked around with a pumped out chest and a billfold full of cash. He thought he owned the town. However, he did own many businesses. Nazarene was currently in a deal to buy acres of farmland to expand his livestock of Angus beef and become a top supplier for a meat company. In the end, the purchase would gain him a few million dollars, if not more. This irked Nash to no end. There wasn’t anything wrong with living comfortably, but Nazarene had the greediest, grubbiest hands and it wouldn’t have hurt him one bit to keep Sea Breeze alive for Em. She could be a loose cannon, but she wasn’t cold. Not like Nazarene. She just wanted to save a defenseless horse.

Joshua patted her knee. “I’m sorry, but this has to stop. You’re going to drive me into the grave.”

“There is a way we can save Sea Breeze,” Em said.

Joshua gave her a quick side-glance. “Another scheme I presume?”

“No. John named a price.” Her voice trembled. “I have enough to pay half, but not all.”

“And what are you asking?” Joshua rubbed his chin.

“Can I borrow the other half from you?”

Nash scooted closer to the door, feeling like a third wheel on a rutted path. He just wished Joshua would drive the speed limit so Nash could hurry and get home.

“Em, why in heaven’s name would I do that? I told you, and your sisters, that I was done bailing you out of trouble. It’s time you get your life in order, have a family of your own. Find happiness.” He sniffed. “I’d like to see some grandchildren before I’m too old to care.”

“A woman doesn’t need a man or children to make them happy.” She rolled her eyes. “Dad, you have to pull your views out of the golden ages.”

“And you call this happiness? Getting dragged down to the county jail for stealing a horse?” Joshua shook his head.

“We didn’t steal Sea Breeze,” Em corrected.

“Have a family or don’t. Just stop the shenanigans. I want the best for you, but it seems you can’t stop getting yourself into trouble, young lady. Now you have brought a Walters into it. I don’t want to even know why he’s wearing a skirt.”

“It’s a blanket, sir,” Nash said, but neither of them paid attention to him.

“What can I do to get you to let me borrow the money? To prove to you that I am getting my life in order?” Em twisted to face her father, her back pressed against Nash’s arm. He inhaled and got a strong whiff of her smell—peaches. He liked peach cobbler. How could a woman smell so good after what they’d been into? He lifted his free arm and sniffed his armpit, wincing. He smelled liked dirty socks.

“If I thought you were getting your life in order. If there was a change, a drastic one, I’d consider helping you out. That way I’d know you’d follow this thing through and it wouldn’t be one of your half-baked ideas that usually fizzles.”

“When have I ever had half-baked ideas?” she whined.

“Do I need to remind you of Charmin, Pearl’s prized horse, and the mule she sired after you let the donkey, Pugly, inside the pen with her?”

Em shrugged. “Look how great things turned out. DJ and Pearl got together and married, all because of Pugly. And the mule, Sarah, is adorable.”

“Have you forgotten that DJ got shot in the ass because of that donkey?” Joshua rubbed his forehead.

“I didn’t tell Pearl to head over to the Walters R&R and carry her shotgun. And it was an accident,” Em argued. “Anyway, I didn’t want to tell you like this, Dad, but the reason why Nash is with me is because we’re seeing each other.”

Nash’s ass cheeks clenched. What the hell…? “Em, I don’t—” She stopped him by squeezing his knee.

Joshua looked at her, narrowing his gaze.  “Really?”

“Yes, Dad. We’ve kept it secret. We didn’t want to take the spotlight off Pearl and DJ’s wedding.”

Nash gritted his teeth. He knew he shouldn’t have come along. He wondered how much injury he would suffer if he jumped out of the moving truck.

Joshua remained quiet for a few minutes, apparently digesting what Em told him. “I guess that’s the beginning of change, but in every relationship before—”

“This isn’t just any relationship.” Em reached for Nash’s hand and entwined their fingers. Sparks sped up his arm and he jerked, trying to pull away, but she wouldn’t let him. “Nash asked me to marry him last night.”

“What?” Nash couldn’t believe his ears. What was she doing?

“It’s okay, sweetie.” She winked at Nash. “I know we wanted to tell the family when we were all together, but I think Dad needs to see how my life is changing, thanks to you, sweet cheeks.” She swept the tips of her fingers down his jaw.

“Is this right, Nash?” Joshua looked past Em, question in his gaze.

Em narrowed her eyes, silent meaning glowing in the dark depths. Nash gritted his teeth. He should tell the truth, and that was what he intended to do, but when his mouth opened, his tongue betrayed him. “Yes, sir. I asked your lovely and high-spirited daughter to marry me.” The words left a gritty taste in his mouth. “There’s no running away once she sets her mind to something. Ain’t that right, snookum?” He tapped the tip of his finger on her nose, forcing a smile on his lips. Em would owe him big time.

“Oh yes, I have my ways.” She smiled proudly.

He bent his head close and whispered in her ear, “And so do I.” Before he thought over his actions, he brushed his lips across hers. It was only a brief second, but a strong current passed between them. She exhaled and her eyes widened. He leaned back into the seat, squeezing the armrest until he thought the leather would crack.

He needed to get away from her…fast. Her poison seeped into him and the danger grew. And unfortunately, he liked every second he was near her.

CHAPTER THREE

NASH WATCHED THE truck fade away on the narrow lane leaving the R&R.

His head still reeled. Em had gotten him into a mess.

Before Nash had gotten out of the truck, Joshua had agreed to give Em the money to buy the horse, so she’d gotten what she wanted. Nash considered that was the end of their engagement—a world record for being the shortest engagement ever.

Hopefully Jobe had a good excuse for not answering his cell when Nash needed him. Otherwise, Nash was going to wring his brother’s neck for not coming to get him from jail.

Nash had a gut feeling Jobe had been detained by a pretty brunette. He’d been dancing with one of the Stone cousins last night and they seemed pretty comfortable in each other’s arms. Maybe it turned into breakfast. 

Nash scrubbed his jaw and shook his head. Something about the Stone women that could make the Walters boys tenderhearted cowboys. Hell, he’d seen it with his brother DJ.

Once upon a time, DJ couldn’t stand the sight of Pearl.  At least he acted like he couldn’t. They’d fought every time they’d see each other about the craziest and silliest bullshit. From being splashed by mud puddles, to goats peeing on a barn. The biggest disagreement came when Pearl caught DJ’s donkey, Pugly, in a stall with Charmin. She’d come barreling down the lane and ended up shooting DJ in the ass, and he up and fell in love with her. Sure, the shooting incident had been an accident, but Nash had a feeling DJ would have fallen no matter what.