Texas Lonestar (Texas Heroes Book 4) (8 page)

“But who would shoot him?” Lennon was stunned. “Is he dead?”

After examining for a pulse and the wound, Dallas answered. “Yes, shot in the heart.” He didn’t like this; he didn’t like it at all. Staring at the poor individual, he got a distinct chill. The man was small and the way he dressed was very familiar. “I think the same person whose been killing your livestock killed him.” And the scary thing was–from a distance, the shooter might have thought he was aiming at Lennon.

The rest of the evening was chaos. Dallas called his department to inform them of the situation, receiving further offers of help if it was needed. Next, he phoned the local law and they came out to investigate while the coroner picked up the body. If Ferguson was surprised to see him, he didn’t say so. In fact, he had very little to say. Unfortunately, Dallas didn’t really expect too much effort to be put into the investigation. Immigrants were found dead all the time near the border. One section nearer Brownsville was called The Desert of the Dead. He listened as they spoke of coyotes and drug cartels. Dallas knew those things happened, but he was convinced this incident was different.

As soon as everyone departed, Dallas escorted Lennon back inside. George had stayed with Sally, who was now sound asleep. “I want you to stay inside as much as possible,” he told Lennon.

“Why?” she asked, studying his face in the lamplight. He pressed his lips together and it dawned on her. “You think someone might try to kill me?”

“Shooting cattle is one thing. This is a whole different ball game.”

She ran a hand across her forehead. “I can’t. I have the ranch to run. We’ll starve if I don’t work. Besides, tomorrow is Sunday, we’re going to church.”

Dallas fought with himself. He wanted to order her to get under the bed and stay there. But she had a point. He just wished he had a clue as to what was going on. “I’m not saying you’re a prisoner, but you’re not going out into the pasture by yourself. I’m going with you.”

“How long do you think this will last? You won’t be here forever!” Lennon felt panic rising within her.

“I don’t know. Just give me a little time. I’ll figure this thing out.” He gazed into her eyes trying to convey his concern. “Lock the door behind me.”

“Wait.” When he paused, she threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you for everything.” He held her for a moment and when she pulled back, it was to find him staring at her again with that same intense, hooded expression. He looked at her lips, then back to her eyes. His head lowered just a bit and Lennon gasped…he was about to kiss her! She closed her eyes and lifted her face. Waiting…

“Sorry.” He pushed her away. “Goodnight.” And then he was gone, leaving her totally embarrassed. What had she been thinking? Dallas McClain would never be tempted to kiss a woman like her in a billion years. God, she felt like such a fool. Sadly, she moved through the house, turning off lights.

“Are you okay?” George’s voice came from the hall.

“Yea, I’m fine. Dallas thinks I should stay indoors.” She huffed out a long breath. “I can’t. The ranch won’t survive if I don’t work it.”

“Maybe you should take Daniels up on his offer. Just let this place go.”

To Lennon’s ears, he sounded old and sad. “I can’t do that. Where would we go? He’s not even offering fair market value. Rooster wants me to just give him the place. He’s not considering the potential of Apache Springs.”

“You can’t tell what the man is thinking. Rich people don’t operate like the rest of us,” he groused. “Let’s get some sleep. Things might look better tomorrow.”

Lennon nodded, kissing the old man on the cheek. “You’re right. I am tired.”

She was exhausted, but she couldn’t sleep. All she could think about was how stupid she’d been. What Dallas must think of her now! Every muscle in her body was tense. Abandoning her efforts to rest, she grabbed a towel and headed out to the bathhouse. Maybe a dip in the warm waters would make her feel better.

In the lodge, Dallas tossed and turned on the bed. He was running the facts through his head. Was he missing something? Maybe he needed to go into town and just talk to people. One thing he’d discovered in his years of investigating–nothing was a secret and someone would always talk. “Dammit!” he groaned, sitting up on the side of the bed. Sleep wasn’t coming anytime soon and every time he shut his eyes, all he could see was Lennon lifting her face for his kiss. No doubt he’d hurt her when he walked away. Hell, he was an idiot.

Rising, he remembered how good the hot springs had felt. He was here, he might as well take advantage of them. Going to the bathroom, he found a big brown towel, then set out to the bathhouse.

In the water…Lennon luxuriated in the bubbling caress of the bath. She’d stripped down to nothing, loving the liquid caress on her bare skin. She closed her eyes–just for a minute, letting the soothing waters chase away her troubles.

Dallas entered the bathhouse, surprised to find one of the hall lights already on. Had he failed to turn it out before? What if someone were here? Hell, he didn’t have his gun with him. Stepping carefully, he eased up to the door.

Lennon’s eyes opened wide. Had she heard something? Too much had happened. She was beginning to spook her own self. Maybe, it was time to leave. Slowly she stood, letting the water run from her body in rivulets. She hated to go, it had felt so good.

At the door, Dallas almost swallowed his tongue. “Holy Mother of God,” he whispered. How blind could a man be? How had this incredible treasure escaped his notice? Lennon rose from the waters like Venus rising from the deep. Dallas would’ve given everything he owned to follow even one drop of that water gliding down her body with his tongue. As his heart pounded in his chest, he ate her up with his eyes. Never had he seen a more beautiful woman. Her body was exquisite, delicately proportioned and perfectly curved. He held his breath as she reached for something to wrap around herself. “No,” he whispered. Covering up that sweet little body had to be a sin. His cock was hard and throbbing. She was facing away from him, drying off in long sweeps of the towel. When she reached for her robe, he knew he had to leave. He didn’t want her to know he’d been spying on her. On quiet feet, he retraced his steps and disappeared into the night.

From a discrete distance, he stopped and waited–watching until she was safely back in her home. Now, what was he going to do? He’d already been attracted to her as a person and now he’d discovered she was a fuckin’ wet dream. The only thing that held him back was the knowledge that this woman wasn’t the kind you played with. He didn’t have the capacity to be what she needed.

*  *  *

“Hold still, let me latch your shoe.” Lennon knelt and tried to hold Sally’s baby leg steady enough to fasten the buckle. Sally was so excited, she was wiggling. “George, are you sure you don’t want to go with us?”

“I’m sure,” he called from the kitchen. “Widow Thompkins will be there and she keeps making eyes at me. Makes me uncomfortable. Now…if it was Widow Simpson, that’d be a different story.”

“Gotcha.” Lennon giggled, then sobered. Dallas felt the same way about her. She’d made him uncomfortable–well, no more. Since he’d come, she’d been subdued, worried. Neither of those emotions was going to do her a dang bit of good. It was time she developed a little backbone. If she could taunt a bull and dodge his horns, she could manage to act like an adult in front of a handsome man. He was here to help her, not to entertain her.

“I’m gonna sang so pretty,” Sally chirped, running her baby hands down her dress.

“I know you will.” Lennon kissed her on the cheek. “And you look pretty too.”

“Is Dallas going wiff us?”

“No, just you and me, twerp.” Lennon picked up her purse and took Sally by the hand. Dallas hadn’t been in for breakfast, but she’d left his portion of a frittata in the oven. Clearly, he was avoiding her. Lennon pushed away the hurt to focus on her little girl. “Do you want to practice your song on the way?” Opening the door, she pulled it behind them once Sally was beside her.

“Yes, and you can sing wiff me.” She looked up at Lennon. “Do you know the woods to
Jesus Wuvs Me
?”

“Yes, I know the words.” Lennon assured her as she started down the steps. And then she froze! “Oh, no!” All four tires on her truck were flat as pancakes. “What in the world? Stay here,” she told Sally.

Hurrying down the steps, her mouth open, she couldn’t believe it! “Who?” she asked? Of course she had no name, but there was no doubt in her mind that it was the same person or persons who was doing everything else. “They’re trying to terrorize me.”

“Lennon! What’s wong?” Sally screamed, obviously frightened.

Dallas was on the phone with Hiram Glover when he heard the ruckus outside. He’d already been to Sierra Blanca and back this morning. Like he’d planned, Dallas had made time to just sit and observe the residents. The diner across from the courthouse had seemed the best place to start. And what he’d learned had been intriguing. He didn’t know what bearing it might have on the case, but he was beginning to get suspicious. As he’d sat in the 50’s style eating establishment, bright with stainless steel and red gingham, all he could hear was talk of Rooster Daniel’s mining site on Round Top.

At first, he’d just listened or eavesdropped, if you wanted to call it that, from a distance. This proved to be frustrating, what with the general noise level in the diner. Much of the local talk seemed to be going on at a table near the back. Five elderly gentlemen, about George’s age, were deep in the middle of a game of dominoes. His grandmother had been a chicken-foot aficionado and as best he could tell, that was what they were playing. Rising, he’d sauntered over, watched politely for a few minutes, then asked if he could join in.

Seeing he was a Ranger, they welcomed him and even bought Dallas a cup of coffee. He quickly found out the stakes were high. The high scorer, in other words the loser, had to spring for a slice of pie for everyone at the table. Dallas decided he could afford the risk. He’d laughed and talked with Otto, Oscar, Floyd, Price and Peewee. Dallas regaled them of stories about past famous cases like the Texarkana Phantom killer which inspired the movie,
The Town That Dreaded Sundown
. “This was before the days of forensics, and even though the Rangers had a suspicion about the killer’s identity, public curiosity obliterated most of the evidence that might have offered proof.”

Oscar leaned forward conspiratorially. “I’ve got friends up there. Who do you think it was?”

Dallas wasn’t about to give away any secrets, but he could tell them what the documentaries had already revealed. “Most think it was Youell Swinney, a man who went to prison for auto theft–but I guess we’ll never know for sure.” They also talked about the stand-offs at Rusk State Hospital, the Huntsville Federal penitentiary and the infamous conflict in Waco. “These stand-offs are still ongoing, people thinking they can force others to give them what they want.” He told them a little bit about the one he’d just wrapped up with ex-SEAL Deacon Jones and the pretty Russian, Natasha Levin.

“You never know what’s going to happen, do you? Just look at that murder case we tried here in town. They just let that river guide off, even though he admitted to fighting with his bartender friend right before he was killed. The bartender weighed a hundred-fifty pounds and the guide weighed three-fifty. Hell, one punch from him woulda done it.” Otto drawled out the story between sips of beer.

PeeWee piped up. “You know why he got off, don’t you?”

“Why?” Dallas asked, getting as caught up in the story as they were.

“He’s Rooster Daniels nephew, that’s why.” PeeWee crossed his arms and nodded, firmly convinced of his information. “That man is used to getting his own way in everything.”

“True. Money talks.” Price nodded. “That’s how he got the long-term lease and a permit to dig on Round Top.”

“Round Top?” Dallas frowned, recalling Lennon mentioning that name. “Dig for what?”

Oscar leaned up and began to whisper. “Fluorite, beryllium, uranium and lithium. They were discovered during a geological study in the 70’s. I’ve heard him say he thinks there’s at least eight billion dollars’ worth of rare earth minerals on that mountain. All he’s done so far is sink money into it, they say about three hundred million. I think he’s disappointed with the results. According to that study, this area is supposed to be swimming in the stuff. At least he’s created some much-needed jobs.”

“I hear he’s trying to buy up all the surrounding property he can get his hands on.” Otto whispered.

“Why would people sell?” Dallas asked. “Couldn’t they make more money by keeping their mineral rights for themselves?”

“This ain’t like oil that you pump out of the ground, you have to dig the earth up.” PeeWee spit into a cup. “That’s expensive as hell, and it tears up everything. Some folks don’t want to give up land their family has been on for generations.”

“Tell me more about Daniels.” Dallas asked as he laid down a domino that ended the game.

“Dang, he’s got the double-blank.” Price grumbled. Everyone stopped to add up their score.

Once they were through, Oscar began to shuffle the dominoes and as he did, he began to talk. “There’s a lot of folks who resent Rooster, but then there’s a lot who’ll kiss the ground he walks on. The man has friends, but he’s not even a Texan. He has a ranch here, but his main holdings are in New Mexico. Some say he’s just buying up land for the water. I’ve heard he plans on draining the Ogallala Aquifer and selling the water to cities like Dallas and El Paso.”

By now Dallas’ head was spinning, but he had to ask one final question. “I’ve been told there’s some cattle rustling going on in the area. Any of you boys heard about that?”