Chapter 11

Celia Diaz looked up just as a tall and broad-shouldered young man filled the doorway of her classroom. He was very neatly dressed in a nicely pressed western shirt, Wranglers, boots, and a belt with a big buckle. Of course, he topped it all off with the requisite white Stetson. Can you say “cowboy”?

He swept off his hat and smiled down at the little girl whose hand he held. Her other arm was in a cast.

“Can I help you?” Celia climbed off the step stool where she had been tacking decorations on the bulletin board.

“Yes, ma’am.” The cowboy spoke in a deep voice. “The principal said you were in your classroom, so we just came down to meet you. This is Gracie Benson, and I’m Tyler Garrett.”

Celia noted the different last names with interest. “I’m so happy to meet you.” She extended a hand and found it enveloped in a big, warm grasp. “Garrett? I’ve heard that name. Isn’t there a big Garrett ranch around here somewhere?”

“Yes, ma’am. That would be my father’s spread.”

She cleared her throat and glanced down at the little girl. Totally opposite coloring. Can’t be related. “And how are you, Gracie?” Celia flashed a smile.

The girl beamed. “I’m fine, thank you.”

Celia looked back at Tyler. “Are you her father…brother?”

He shook his head. “No, ma’am. We’re not related. I’m a close friend of the family. Gracie’s mother is working, so I got her registered today.”

“Enrolled,” Celia corrected automatically.

“Um, yes, ma’am. Well, Gracie is enrolled to start your class.”

Celia smiled. “That was very nice of you.”

Ty clasped both his hands around Gracie’s good hand. “I have a favor to ask you, Miss Diaz,” he said. “We’ve been having a little trouble with some local fellows. Could you make sure she gets on the bus safely after school?”

Celia glanced from man to child and back again. “Well, of course I will,” she said rather explosively. Did he think she just threw them out the door? “Young man, I have taught elementary school students for sixteen years. I assure you that I take the safety of every single student very personally. Of course I will see to it that she is safely on the bus each day. No problem.”

Tyler grinned. “We sure do appreciate it.”

“So you won’t be picking her up yourself?” Celia asked.

“Her mother works until five, but I might be picking her up if I’m in town.”

Celia offered her hand again. “Well, between us then, we’ll make sure she arrives home safely. I’ll see you on the first day of school, Gracie.” She noted that the little girl looked less anxious than she had when she first entered the room. Celia smiled and waved as they left.

* * *

When Leah pulled in at the doctor’s parking lot, she saw that Ty’s truck was already there. She went inside and found him and Gracie grinning at her. “Sorry to be late.”

“It’s okay,” Ty said. “Gracie is the last patient of the day. The nurse took her in for an X-ray of her wrist and sent the image to some specialist over at the county hospital.”

Leah sank into the chair beside him and heaved a huge sigh. “Thanks so much for helping us out. Being new on the job, I didn’t want to ask for time off.”

The receptionist pushed a pen and clipboard across the counter at Leah. “You’re the mother? You need to fill out her information.”

Leah procured the paperwork and went back to her seat. She quickly added the missing information and returned it to the desk. She produced Gracie’s immunization records and sat back down.

When the nurse motioned for Gracie to follow her to the back, Leah took her by the hand.

The doctor was Breck’s wife, Cami, and she smiled a greeting. “Hello again. Good to see you two.”

“Hello, Dr. Ryan.”

“I sent the images of Gracie’s wrist to a pediatric orthopedic surgeon over at County Hospital. He just called to confirm that her cast can come off, and he faxed a set of exercises for her to do. He’ll want to see her in person in a couple of weeks.”

Leah glanced at Gracie, whose eyes widened. Leah’s throat constricted with anguish. She was so sorry she had inadvertently brought this injury to her child. Mutely, she nodded at the doctor.

“I’ll remove it right now,” Cami said. “School starts next week, and I’m sure you would like to get rid of this thing.”

Gracie’s face lit up.

“Yes, please,” Leah said.

In a short time, Gracie had been divested of her cast. The arm looked thinner than its mate, and the skin was paler.

“You can do some simple exercises to strengthen your wrist, Gracie,” Cami offered and handed a paper to Leah with instructions for the exercises on it. She checked in a drawer and found a squishy ball for Gracie. “Try to squeeze this a lot when you’re watching television or reading. It will help.”

Gracie rotated her wrist gingerly and breathed out a sigh. She was sent out the door with an apple instead of a lollipop.

When they got back to the waiting room, Ty stood grinning at her. “There you go! Now we can arm wrestle.”

Leah snorted. “I think not! She has some exercises to do to strengthen her wrist.”

“Aww, you’re no fun.” He ruffled her hair.

When they were outside, Ty tucked them both in Leah’s car and leaned in the window. “We better get back to the house. I hated to leave your grandmother alone out there all day, but I told her to call me if there was any trouble.”

Leah nodded, and he went to his truck. She started her car and pulled out into the street with Ty’s big, red vehicle on her tail. Somehow, just having him as her shepherd chased away any fear she might have had hovering in the back of her mind.

Gracie chattered about her new teacher and about how she would work on the exercises every day.

When they reached Gran’s, the door was flung open, and both dogs raced out to greet them, while Gran waited on the porch, her brow furrowed. Gracie ran up to meet her, babbling about the events of her day.

Ty was just pulling in when Leah made it to the porch. Gracie had already gone inside. “What’s wrong?” Leah whispered.

“I think your friend from Oklahoma came a-callin’ today.”

Ice-cold fear slashed through Leah’s chest. A huge tremor wracked her body as she dropped her purse. “Oh!” she whispered, covering her mouth with both hands.

Gran’s eyes were grim. “Big, tall, blondish feller? Rough lookin’? I told him I hadn’t seen you in years.” She shrugged. “I don’t know if he believed me or not, but he left.”

Leah leaned against the doorframe to keep from dropping to her knees. “Oh no. Not now.”

“Come on,” Gran said. “Here comes Ty. After everything that happened with them Carters, maybe you don’t want to spring this on him.”

Leah nodded. She picked up her purse and pushed through the door. No! I can’t believe Caine found us so quickly. I thought I was being really careful. She sank onto the sofa and tried to compose herself.

“Look, Mommy,” Gracie said. “I can squeeze the ball real hard.”

Leah plastered a fake smile on her face. “Good girl.”

* * *

The next morning, Ty woke up early with Leah in his arms. Somehow, this just felt right, as though he should awaken every morning with this sweet face on his shoulder.

It was first light, and he could barely discern her features. A slight smile graced her pretty mouth, and her long lashes rested on her cheeks. She appeared to be sleeping peacefully, a much-improved state from the night before. She had been closed up and quiet all through dinner, seemingly wrapped in her own thoughts until someone jostled her out of her trance with a direct question.

This puzzled him. She had been in a great mood after they left the doctor’s office. What happened between Langston and her grandmother’s place to bring her so far down?

Perhaps Gran had said something to her. Maybe about the fight? Ty hadn’t intended to exchange blows with Ray Carter, but then, Ty hadn’t thrown the first punch.

He flexed the fingers of his right hand. Still a little stiff and swollen around the knuckles. Nothing damaged. Nothing permanent. The bruise on his cheek had turned a nice purple, and his lower lip was healing. He remembered how Ray had looked after the fight. He’d definitely gotten the worse part of the exchange. Dean too. His little brother had served him up proud. Maybe it was enough to keep them from bothering Leah or Gran again. Somehow, he doubted it. If they had two brain cells to rub together, they might have gotten the message, but he had a feeling the Carters were running on pure instinct and they didn’t know how to back down.

Well, I better stick around until they figure it out. If they come around here, they’ll be sorry.

* * *

Leah sailed through work that day. She felt especially proficient in performing her simple duties. She tried not to think about Caine’s visit to the farm. She tried not to think about the Carters or how angry they had looked after their losing battle with the Garretts.

She focused on sorting and filing, and when her brain had an idle moment, she thought about Gracie and how happy she’d been to be released from the cast, about how she had made a friend in Tina, Milita’s niece, and how she seemed to have gotten over her dread of starting school.

“Everything is going to be fine,” she said aloud, repeating Ty’s mantra. It seemed to work for him.

She had left him with Gracie and Gran that morning, for once knowing they would be protected from any evil that might be out there.

When Breck came in, he told her he had hand delivered the paperwork on the restraining orders to the sheriff and that Ray Carter had been released yesterday evening, but Dean was being held for the assault on her grandmother.

Leah shuddered, remembering the scowling brothers and their bloody faces.

Breck cocked his head and grinned. “Don’t worry. Ray Carter can take a licking and keep on ticking.”

She nodded, trying to force a smile. It didn’t make her happy to see anyone hurt, even men as despicable as the Carters. She considered confiding in Breck about her reason for leaving Oklahoma, but the entire story was just too painful, and she was afraid he would tell her, as a lawyer, that Caine might have some rights over her child, even though he had forced himself on her. That, she could not bear to hear.

She busied herself with the files until lunchtime. Just before noon, the phone rang, and when she answered it, using her professional voice, she was met with a giggle.

“Well, don’t you sound all citified?” Sara Beth was always a welcome respite.

“Hey, that’s my job.” Leah grinned in spite of her concerns.

“C’mon down to the shop. Frank grilled some ribs last night, and I brought leftovers.”

“Sure thing. I’m on my way.” Leah put the clockface sign in the door and locked up quickly. She almost ran to the little shop and pushed through the glass-front door. The cowbell clanked to announce her.

“Grab a fork,” Sara Beth called.

When Leah got close to the counter, she saw it was covered with paper towels, and two disposable plates were filled with food. Ribs swimming in barbecue sauce had already been piled on the plates along with a generous helping of coleslaw.

“Oh, mercy!” Leah gasped. “This all looks amazing.”

“Dig in,” Sara Beth invited, tearing off a couple of paper towels and handing them to her. “I’m expecting this to get real messy.”

“Smells divine.” Leah’s stomach gave a loud growl. She slid onto the stool across the counter from Sara Beth and picked up a plastic fork to take a big scoop of the slaw. The crispy, grated cabbage was mixed with just the right amount of grated carrot, and the dressing was creamy and rich. “Mmmmm…” she intoned.

“Glad you like it.” Sara Beth picked up a rib with her fingers and began to gnaw the meat from the bone, smearing enough barbecue sauce to decorate her mouth, her cheeks, and the tip of her nose. “My Frank made this sauce himself. I’m just crazy about it.”

Leah enjoyed the repast as much as the developing friendship. She couldn’t recall the last time she had a real friend. She hoped she would be able to stay here and let her friendships ripen, as well as her romance with Ty.

* * *

Ty drove into Langston with Gracie. He planned to stop by the feed store and pick up feed for his horse as well as the dogs. He had offered to take Gran with him, but she declined.

“Someone needs to stay here and guard the place,” she said.

Earlier, Gracie had proudly shown off her three new school outfits. This triggered his decision to make the trip to Langston. Maybe a little more shopping was in order. He stopped by the law office when they first arrived to tell Leah he had Gracie with him and just to see her face.

“What is this?” He made a swipe at a deep-orange smudge by her mouth.

“Oh!” She colored. “I ate some barbecue ribs with Sara Beth. Really delicious, but I got the sauce all over me.”

He leaned over to steal a kiss and Gracie giggled. “Yep. Delicious.”

He told her they might take a drive to Amarillo if he couldn’t find what he needed in town, and she didn’t object.

“Have a nice drive.” She waved as they left the office.

Now, he and Gracie were in a shopping mall and he was helping her to find a comfortable pair of shoes. The store clerk checked the fit and Gracie stood up. “Oh, these are so springy.”

“Good for running and jumping,” Ty said. He also helped her find a pretty pair of shoes to go with her new Sunday dresses.

“I’ve never had two new pairs of shoes before,” she said, delight apparent on her face.

He didn’t reply to that but was glad he could make it happen for her. When they left the mall, Ty was laden with all kinds of bags. They had selected about a dozen new outfits for school and a warm winter coat from the various stores.

Gracie skipped along at his side, wearing a pair of her new shoes. “Mommy is going to be so surprised.”

He tucked her in the truck and stowed the bags on the back seat.

When they returned to Langston, he did indeed pick up the items he needed at the feed store. He turned off the highway onto the farm-to-market road leading to Gran’s place and noticed a group of turkey vultures circling overhead in the distance. He watched them as he made the turn onto the caliche road leading to the house and realized they were circling something in the field to the west of the house on Gran’s property. Probably a dead rabbit or raccoon. Maybe it got hit on the road and dragged itself off into the field to die.

Ty had every intention of plowing that field and putting in some winter rye grass to feed the cattle. As he got closer to the house, he saw an old truck on the road with the driver’s door open.

He slowed and peered inside as they crept slowly by. It was a faded blue, and the seats were torn. He didn’t know who would be coming way out here to call on Leah’s grandmother, but he got an uneasy feeling about it and sped up, not slowing until he reached Gran’s house.

The minute he stopped the motor, Gracie leapt out and ran to the house, excited to show off her new shoes. She was jumping up and down impatiently, waiting for Gran to get to the door.

Ty felt a wave of relief wash over him when Gran opened the door and the two dogs rushed out. Heaving a sigh, he grabbed the packages and followed Gracie into the house.

When he stepped inside, Gracie was clutched to Gran’s chest, babbling about all the new clothes Ty had bought her. The expression on Gran’s face could be described as grim at best.

Ty set the packages down on the sofa and told Gracie to take them to her room. When she had disappeared down the hall, he turned with a frown. “Miz Fern, did I do something wrong? I just wanted to make sure Gracie had enough clothes to start school.”

She waved her hand. “No. No, that ain’t it. I just got some bad news for Leah when she comes home.” She wrapped both arms around her frail torso, seeming to fold in on herself.

“Well, tell me. Maybe I can help.” The very last thing Leah needed was bad news when she was just barely getting on her feet. “Maybe it’s not so bad.”

She went into the kitchen and took a seat at the chrome-and-plastic dinette set, clasping her hands on the table in front of her. She shook her head. “It’s the worst. That feller she run away from in Oklahoma. He was here lookin’ for her. I don’t think he’s right in the head.” She raised her gaze to meet Ty’s. “He’s got that sick animal look, like somethin’ that needs to be put down.”

The back of Ty’s neck prickled with her words. “I thought he was in jail.”

Gran nodded. “I did too, but he was here, bigger ’n’ meaner lookin’ than I ever thought a man could look.”

Ty pulled out a chair across from her and collapsed into it. “Damn!”

“Exactly.”

* * *

Leah left work, looking around for the Carters’ old blue truck. Maybe the temporary restraining order had done the trick. Maybe the Carters would stay away from now on. Maybe being confronted by Ty had taught them a lesson.

Still, a lingering apprehension settled in the pit of her stomach, accompanying her all the way down the highway. When she turned off on the farm-to-market road heading to Gran’s, she heaved a deep sigh. Probably nothing to worry about. Let the law take care of the Carter brothers. Since Dean Carter remained in jail, maybe that would keep the other from acting on his own. Charges of assaulting her grandmother might not amount to much since Gran wasn’t seriously injured, but she might have been.

There was nothing Leah could do about it at this point. She just hoped the violence had come to an end. And there was nothing she wanted more than to forget about the Carters and concentrate on making a good life here with her family.

She smiled, knowing the word family also included Ty, at least in her own mind.

Leah was still smiling when she turned onto the caliche road that dead-ended at Gran’s place. Almost home. She thought she would change into her old, beat-up jeans and a T-shirt to see if she could help Ty with anything or maybe just sit on the porch and listen to him sing.

With a sickening lurch to her stomach, she spied the blue truck just ahead. The breath seemed to be caught in her throat. “Oh no! Oh no!” she moaned over and over again. “Please don’t let them cause any trouble.” Realizing the truck was stopped and the door open, she stomped on the brake with both feet. What are they up to?

Making sure the doors were locked, she peered around anxiously. The truck’s driver side door was open, as though someone had jumped out, intending to get back in hurriedly. She had a suspicion they were up to their usual tricks, or worse. They had cut the fences in the past. What would they do this time? The fields were fallow, overgrown with high weeds. It would be easy to start a fire with all the dry grasses growing by the side of the road and into the fields. She realized a fire would be impossible to stop, spreading rapidly to the barns and outbuildings…to the little farmhouse.

Leah’s imagination played out worsening disasters. No, not going to let them get away with it. She sucked in a breath and clicked her seat belt open. The sound of the wind rustling through the high grass sent a prickle of fear along her skin. Stepping out, she heard something else and glanced up. Birds…big ones. They were flying overhead, circling around with their big wings spread. She saw where the dried grass had been parted. Yes, the fence had been cut, and someone had stomped right through into the field. She was frightened, but more than that, she was furious. Her heart pumped out righteous anger in a tempo she could hear in her ears. I’m not going to let them get away with this. Not again.

Her foot collided with a large rock and she stumbled. She swallowed hard, picking it up with both hands as she stepped through the same gap in the fence. Although she tried to move soundlessly, her approach through the tall rustling grass would be heard by anyone in the area. The path veered to the left and she followed it, hoping to avert any damage to her Gran’s property. Gripping the rock, she mentally rehearsed how she would clobber any Carter if she found him up to no good. What else could he be doing here?

She tightened her grip on the large rock as she crept forward. One of the birds swooped down just ahead of her. She heard it scratching around in the grass. When she stepped into a clear space where the grass had been beaten down, she froze. The rock fell from her hand into a pool of blood.

A man lay sprawled before her, his face bloodied and a gaping wound slashed from his chest all the way down to his stomach. He appeared to have been eviscerated. Giant black birds were gathered around him, picking at his entrails.

A tremor seized her, shaking her from head to foot. She couldn’t draw a breath. Her gag reflex went into overdrive as she choked back the bile rising in her throat. She thought she screamed, but it came out as a whimper.

She looked down at her feet and saw that she was standing in the blood. Turning, she ran blindly back through the brush to her car and started it with shaking hands. I have to get away. I have to get away.

She peeled out and around the blue truck, her tires skidding in the dry, dusty road. What if whoever did this has been to the house? What if my family… She wheeled in at Gran’s place and threw the car into park. Looking up, she saw Ty come out onto the porch, his brows knit into a frown.

She covered her face with both hands, giving in to the horror she had just discovered. How could something like this happen?

“Honey? What’s wrong?” Ty opened the car door and pulled her to her feet. She collapsed against him, and he lifted her in his arms. “Baby, what happened? Are you all right?” He carried her toward the house.

“No! Don’t go in there,” she whispered. “There’s a dead man.”

“No, there’s not,” he assured her. “Everyone is fine.”

“Please listen to me,” she moaned, her voice trailing down to a whine. “You have to call the sheriff. There’s a dead man out in the field. I saw him.”

Ty stopped in his tracks. “You found a dead man?”

“Yes, and I don’t want to scare Gracie. It was awful. Just call the sheriff.”

Ty set her on the porch, and she collapsed into the old wicker rocking chair. She heard him make the call as she stared blindly in front of her. What would this mean to her grandmother? Did she know the dead man? What about the Carters’ truck abandoned on the road? Could it be one of them?

Her grandmother came out onto the porch, looking worried, but Ty put a hand on her shoulder. Speaking in a low tone, he brought her up to speed and asked her to keep Gracie distracted. She nodded and hurried inside.

In a short time, the scream of sirens split the air. As they drew closer, Leah’s panic grew until she felt she was being strangled. Suddenly, the sound stopped as two cruisers from the sheriff’s office careened into the yard. The sheriff and two deputies spilled out of the cars and came running onto the porch where Ty stood beside Leah.

“What’s this about a body?” the sheriff demanded.

“Me. I found it.” Leah raised her hand like a schoolgirl. “It’s all chewed up. I mean there are birds…eating on him…” She gave in to a violent shudder.

Ty put his arm around her shoulder and squatted down beside her.

“Where?” the sheriff asked. “In the house?”

“No, no,” she insisted. “By the truck.”

Puzzled, the sheriff looked over at Ty’s truck.

Ty frowned at her. “That old blue truck sitting down the road? I passed by that earlier.”

She nodded. “Yes. That’s the one. It belongs to the Carters. They went after me with their truck. I’ll never forget.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms to chase away the gooseflesh.

“Dean Carter is still in custody.” The sheriff cocked his head to one side. “Just exactly where is this body?”

“In the field. I saw the fence was cut. The Carters did that before, and Ty repaired it. When I saw the truck and the cut wire, I went to see…” She covered her mouth with both hands and stifled a shiver.

Ty squeezed her shoulder. “You knew it was the Carters’ truck, and you went there anyway? What were you thinking? Those men are dangerous.”

She nodded helplessly. “I know. I just wanted to see what they were doing. I followed their trail, and when I got to the end, I found this dead man, his insides spilled out all around him.” This vision in her head caused her to flinch.

“You two stay here,” the sheriff ordered and returned to his vehicle. He backed out, followed by the deputies in the other car.

She sat staring at the place where the flashing lights stopped.

Ty kissed her temple. “I can’t believe you got out of your car to go after one of the Carters. Honey, that was just foolhardy.”

“I know. But I was really angry they would come around here again, even with the restraining order in place.”

He stroked his hand over her hair. “What did you hope to accomplish? Either one of them could have snapped your neck in a second.”

She nodded, unable to comprehend that she had been in danger; she’d just wanted to protect her family. She sat and waited, not wanting to take her anguish inside the house, knowing the sheriff would be back with more questions, knowing he too would want to know what she had been thinking when she jumped out of her car to challenge the trespasser.

* * *

Ty was dumbfounded. How could she do something like going alone to confront one of the Carters? Why didn’t she come up to the house to get me?

He huffed out a breath. Of course, he hadn’t known whose truck it was. If he had, he might have done the same thing. He was a lot better equipped to deal with the scumbag Carters. But then, he’d had Gracie with him, so even had he known, he would have continued on to the house…but he would have gone right back to find out what was going on. He supposed he could see her perspective.

“Was it—” He cleared his suddenly husky throat. “Was it one of the Carters?”

She shrugged, continued to stare off into the distance. “Could be. I—I couldn’t tell. His face was all bloody. Crushed really. And there was blood everywhere.”

What a day. He recalled coming home to Gran looking distraught because she thought Leah’s boogeyman had come to call. Could there be a connection between the arrival of this Caine guy and the death in the field? And if it wasn’t one of the Carters, what was their truck doing abandoned by the side of the road?

The sun was starting to cast long shadows, and dusk was coming on strong.

Ty’s cell phone sounded and he checked the caller. Will. He sucked in a deep breath and let it all out. He wasn’t in the mood to take a big helping of guilt over returning to Langston. He glanced at Leah, but she was still staring off into space. He moved to the opposite end of the porch and squatted down.

“Hey,” Ty said by way of greeting when he answered the call.

“Hey, man! Just got the call. You made it!”

For a moment, Ty sat back on his haunches with a puzzled expression on his face. “What are you talking about?”

“The show. The producer called, and you’re in. You’re on your way to being the next Country Idol.”

This news rocked Ty. He rolled down to sit with his back against the front of the house. “Whoa! You don’t mean it.”

“Yep, I do. So get your ass back here to Dallas as soon as possible. We need to plan your launch. Every minute is precious. Ticktock, man…ticktock.”

Stunned, Ty remained where he was after he had disconnected from Will. He was all at once thrilled and petrified. What would happen if he left Leah alone now? Too much could go wrong.

First, there was the entire Carter family, and now this Caine guy.

Ty thought about taking Leah with him, but that was insane. Gracie still had to go to school, and Gran needed protection too. He couldn’t leave them alone and vulnerable. Will would have to understand.

Ty sat back down beside Leah as the sky darkened, enveloping them in a comforting late-summer world. Crickets chirped and frogs peeped. The air was heavy with the scent of impending rain. That’s what we need. A good rain to wash away the dust…and the blood.

At dusk, the sheriff returned and told them the body was being removed to the medical examiner’s office in Amarillo. He turned on his flashlight and asked them to stand up.

Ty climbed to his feet and held out a hand to Leah. She stood beside him, looking small and frightened.

The flashlight beam traveled over both of them. He asked them to turn around and examined their clothing in detail. “Young lady,” his deep voice boomed. “I’m gonna need those shoes.”

Leah looked down at her feet, and so did Ty. The white summer slip-ons had dark spatters on them and the same dark goo caked on the sides.

“Oh no!” she wailed.

The sheriff put her shoes in a plastic bag and returned to glare at them, a stern expression on his face. “Considering the history of bad feelings between the Carters and the Davises and that dustup between Tyler and the Carter brothers, I’m gonna have to ask both of you not to leave town anytime soon.”