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“Fair enough. My family calls me Jub.”
He opened her passenger door. “If you don’t mind, I’ll call you Jubilee. Jub seems more like a drink than a name.”
When he climbed into the driver’s seat, she was busy rummaging through her tiny purse that couldn’t hold more than three or four things. She didn’t look at him.
For some reason, he thought he’d won a round, but Charley had a feeling it would be a long time before they knew each other well enough to even be friends. They were as different as two people could be.
Ten minutes later when she asked for the vegan menu at Dorothy’s Café, Charley had to fake a coughing fit to keep from laughing.
CHAPTER SIX (#ulink_056d91cd-e6b1-5654-990e-c658e1e65b21)
Thatcher
February 27
LAUREN BRIGMAN, the sheriff’s daughter, stared at him with those sky blue eyes, as if he was toad-level in her world. She was all dressed up in her Texas Tech University jacket with silver buttons and he looked as though his whole body served as the tester kit for paint samples. Somehow in two hours he’d managed to drip more paint than he got on the walls. The sheriff would think long and hard about hiring him again.
But he didn’t care. He couldn’t stop looking at Lauren’s beautiful long hair. Something must be wrong with him. He couldn’t think of five girls’ names at school but all at once he was aware, first of the girl in the rain the other night, and now of the sheriff’s only child. At least the girl whose father found a body in the canyon was his age. Lauren was way too old for him.
But Thatcher didn’t care. A guy his age didn’t get to talk to a girl in college very often, so he was happy to be in the sheriff’s office with her even if she didn’t appear to be.
He felt smarter just being in the same room with Lauren. He heard someone say she’d never even got a B in her school career. Neither had he, but Thatcher knew he was coming from the other direction.
She might be six or seven years older than he was, but she’d never been mean to him. That meant something to him. Since grade school, every time he saw her, Brigman’s daughter had at least nodded at him. Most of the other kids treated him as if he was a pound dog who’d escaped.
He did his best to act as though he barely noticed her while he painted the far wall of the sheriff’s office. This was his job for the morning and the sheriff must have assigned her duties, as well.
Every now and then she’d glance up as if she’d just remembered that she was supposed to be watching him while she filed. He didn’t accept the idea of having a babysitter. Hell, he’d been his own man since he was six or seven and his mom started making a habit of disappearing every weekend. Sometimes the weekends seemed to run together before she came home. He never minded being alone.
But this morning Lauren’s silence was starting to bug him.
“How old are you, Lauren?” he asked without stopping his work.
She didn’t look up from her computer. “Twenty-one. That must sound pretty old to you.”
He ignored the fact that she thought of him as still a kid when he was taller than she was and almost fifteen. “I guess that’s not too old to still be minding your old man. I was just wondering how many days of school you missed to be stuck here in your dad’s office on a Saturday.”
She smiled. “I didn’t miss any school. In fact, much as I hate to think about it, I’m almost finished with college. It’s a place where no one makes you go to class—you just go because you want to. Whole new concept for you, Thatcher.”
He groaned, feeling a lecture coming on. He figured all the Brigmans must share some mutant gene that made them give advice the minute their mouths opened.
She laughed as if she’d read his mind. “I just came in this weekend to help Pop with the filing. My dad’s a great sheriff but somehow the folders never move off his desk and into the right filing cabinet. County said they’d hire him a secretary, but he’s always saying he’d have to clean up and organize first.”
Thatcher set his paintbrush down and took his third break of the morning. “You know, come to think of it, twenty-one is old. My mom was married and had me by then.” When Lauren didn’t answer he added, “You’re real pretty so I’m guessing it’s the fact your dad meets everyone at the door wearing a gun that keeps men away.”
Lauren nodded. “That’s it. How about you, Thatcher? At the old age of almost fifteen you’re probably looking for a girlfriend, right? Maybe already have the lucky future Mrs. Jones picked out?”
Leaning on the corner of the desk, he crossed his arms. She was probably talking down to him, like a lot of townsfolk did, but he needed a few answers and she might know enough to help him. “I thought that girl whose dad found the body in the canyon a few days ago wasn’t so bad looking.” He shrugged. “Or she might have been cute if she hadn’t been all wet and shaking like a coyote with his ear shot off.”
“You see a lot of coyotes with their ears shot off?”
“I seen a few.”
Lauren closed her laptop looking as if she didn’t believe him. “The girl with her father that night is named Kristi Norton. Her dad took over as the new high school principal on Monday. He and his wife grew up around here. I think Kristi is your age, so you should have seen her in school.”
“I ain’t been to school lately. That’s why I’m here today. I made the mistake of telling the sheriff that I was too embarrassed to go to school because I didn’t have lunch money. I was thinking he’d loan me some, but instead he offered me a job. If I’d turned it down, he’d know I was lying and there weren’t no telling what he’d do. I swear the past few years I seem to have my own guardian cop and I ain’t sure if he’s from heaven or hell.”
“Tough life, kid,” Lauren said as she went back to filing. “I’m basically here for the same reason. My father doesn’t believe in loaning money, not even to his only daughter. For once, before I get out of college, I’d like to go somewhere for spring break besides Crossroads, Texas. Maybe a beach.”
“What about your mom?” Thatcher moved over to the coffee pot and mixed half coffee with half milk. “Did she run off or something?”
“My folks are divorced. Mom would give me money, but it comes with strings. She’s in that do-I-still-look-like-I’m-in-my-early-thirties stage. If I told her I wanted to go to the Gulf for spring break, she’d probably buy the exact same bathing suit and go with me.”
Thatcher nodded but had no idea what she meant. He wasn’t even sure what she meant by divorce. “My mom has been common-law married four times—all the guy does is move in and she starts calling him her husband. Then, when he moves out, she considers herself common-law divorced. She claims it’s cheaper that way, but I never called a one of them Dad. I figured, judging from my mom’s taste in men, that I’m better off not knowing who the bastard was that fathered me.”
Lauren’s light blue eyes stared at him. “You’ve got to go to school, Thatcher. I think, somewhere beneath all the dirty hair, there just might be a brain.”
No one had ever said that to him. He wanted to tell her that he made two thousand three hundred and fourteen dollars last year selling snakes, and almost eight hundred selling eggs to farms too lazy to bother with chickens.
But he didn’t say anything because one of his mother’s boyfriends told him if he told anyone he was selling snakes or eggs the government would come after him for taxes.
“Lauren, could I ask you a question?”
“If it’s about how to impress Kristi, I’d say start with a haircut, a bath and clean clothes. You’ve already got the brains and that cute smile.”
“No, it’s not that,” Thatcher said as he stored the information away for later. “Could you tell me where the grid is? Mr. Fuller told me once that I lived off it.”
Lauren laughed. “You mean old Mr. Fuller who retired years ago?”
“Yeah. He came in to substitute when Mr. Franks ran off with Miss Smith-Williams back before Thanksgiving.” Thatcher scratched his head. “That was strange. Mr. Franks was old and mean and Miss Smith-Williams always seemed confused. Couldn’t even pick a last name. And, no matter where she was—her class, the hallway or the parking lot—she’d jump when the bell rang. You’d think after teaching high school for twenty years she’d get used to it ringing.”
Lauren giggled. “Wonder where they are now?”
He winked at her. “Probably on a beach where there are no bells to ring or kids for Mr. Franks to yell at. I can see them wearing matching bathing suits and listening to country swing.”
Lauren winked back at him. “You might want to keep that vision to yourself.”
They both laughed.
He leaned over the desk and figured it was time to risk another question. “See that bottom drawer of your dad’s desk?”
“Yes.” She was back to working.
“You have any idea what he keeps in it?”
“Papers, I guess.”
Thatcher knelt down and tugged on the handle. “Then why is it locked?”
Now he had her attention. She swiveled around and also tried the drawer. “I don’t remember him having a locked drawer. He has a safe to keep evidence in. Why would he need a drawer?”
Thatcher shrugged. “Letters from a lover. Weapons. Drugs. Body parts.”
She frowned. “My pop doesn’t have time for lovers. He carries his weapon. Drugs would be locked in the safe and body parts would smell.”
Before he could ask any more questions, the phone on the sheriff’s desk rang.
Lauren answered, nodded a few times and said yes once, then hung up.
Thatcher moved closer.
She’d turned eggshell-white.
“What?” he said.
Lauren stood slowly. “The coroner has the report ready on the man they found dead in the canyon. He’s faxing it over. He said he wants my pop to see it immediately.”
“So call him up and tell him.” Thatcher might not have a cell phone, but everyone else in the world seemed to.
“I can’t. He’s down in the canyon looking for clues. No cell service in that tiny sliver of canyon behind Lone Heart Pass.” Lauren looked worried as the fax machine spit out three sheets of paper. “I have to get this report to him. I know there’s nothing down there, but going to where someone died gives me the creeps.”
Thatcher set his cup in the sink and washed his hands. “Don’t worry about anything, I’m going with you.” He lowered his voice, trying to sound older. “This is official police business and you might need backup.”
“But...”
He moved a few feet, blocking her exit. “The sheriff told you to keep an eye on me, didn’t he?” Thatcher saw the truth in her eyes before she had time to think of a lie. “Well, the only way to watch me is to take me with you.”
She grabbed her purse. “Then come on.”
Thatcher exploded. “Wow! We’re on a job. Do I get a gun?”
“No,” she shouted as she bumped his shoulder on her way out.
“Well, fine,” he yelled back. “But we’re picking my truck up on the way back. The last bit of paint is probably rusting off right now from being left out in the rain.”
When she didn’t answer, he tried asking another question as they reached the small parking lot beside the county offices. “Any chance I could drive your car? I could use a little practice with something that I don’t have to shift.”
“No,” she answered as she climbed into the driver’s side.
Lauren started the car and shoved the gear into drive before he had a chance to close the passenger door.
Thatcher didn’t care. He was on official police business. This was exciting. He might have to rethink becoming a coroner.
CHAPTER SEVEN (#ulink_f025ab64-d637-5dd4-a4a2-b5125b994c95)
Charley
February 27
THE MORNING WAS COOL, but Charley could feel spring coming as he saddled his horse, Dooley, and prepared to ride out. The calves he’d bought yesterday at the auction would arrive after lunch and he wanted to cross the pasture on horseback a few times just to make sure there were no surprises. A leftover round of wire or a nest of snakes could kill a calf. He had the feeling Jubilee couldn’t take much of a loss.
One bite from a rattler on a horse or cow’s neck could cut off the windpipe and suffocate the animal. There would be nothing a cowboy could do to help.
He also wanted to check the quality of the water. Sharon’s parents had taken Lillie to the farm and ranch show in Amarillo, and on this rare Saturday without her, he planned to put in an extra five or six hours of work. He knew his daughter would have fun with her grandparents, and he needed every daylight hour he had to get this place ready for spring. He was making progress, but not fast enough. On Monday he’d hire men to help him work the cattle but today he was working on his own.
Grinning, he remembered Jubilee mentioning twice yesterday that she was glad it was Friday. She wouldn’t be helping him today. City people might take off Saturdays and Sundays, but most farm and ranch folks kept working. Livestock don’t know it’s the weekend.
He’d spent more time explaining things to her this week than working. He should have added in the bargain that he would get paid double for every day she helped. Yesterday, when he’d gone in for breakfast, he noticed she’d turned what had been a living room/bedroom for Levy into an office. Calendars, maps and goals for each month were taped to the walls.
The woman was as much a puzzle to him as she’d been the first day when she’d stormed out in her raincoat and socks. Bossy one minute and completely confused the next. She was her own private merry-go-round of emotions.
What made it worse was that he felt the need to help her, watch over her. She seemed adrift, without any friends or family. As far as he knew, not one person had called to check on her. Now and then he had to fight the need to just hold her and tell her it was going to be all right. She didn’t have to fight so hard or always put on such a brave face.
Only Charley wasn’t sure he believed that himself. He knew what it was like to have few friends and no family that cared. Sometimes being brave was the only choice because the other alternative was too dark to think about.
Jubilee did look good in her jeans and boots, though. He’d give the crazy lady that. And she always took the time to stop and talk to Lillie, even if she barely spoke five-year-old.
He’d found them sitting in the middle of Jubilee’s dirt garden one afternoon. They were laughing about all the strange vegetables they could grow if plants mixed.
“If an apple married a carrot,” Lillie had said, “I’d call it a carropple.”
Jubilee made several suggestions for new plants and that night she brought over a tower of vegetables for Lillie to eat with her supper.
Her being kind to Lillie mattered to Charley.
The second day, when Lillie mentioned to Jubilee that her daddy was sleeping on the couch because there was no bed in his room, Jubilee insisted they go shopping in the upstairs rooms of her house. Four bedrooms were completely furnished and looked as though no one had slept in any of them for over fifty years. Plus, extra furniture lined the walls of the attic.
When the three of them moved furniture out of the old place, Charley looked around. The big old house wasn’t in bad shape even if it did seem haunted with a hundred years of memories.
The fifth bedroom, the one over the kitchen, was obviously Jubilee’s. She must have decorated it when she’d lived with Levy as a child. It looked as if she hadn’t changed a thing.
When they started lugging the bed frame into his place, Charley complained all the way, but that night he stretched out in a full bed and slept like a rock. When he tried to thank Jubilee the next morning, she brushed it off as nothing, saying she’d had fun with Lillie.
As he led Dooley out, saddled and ready on Saturday morning, Charley noticed Jubilee walking in the dirt she called her sleeping garden. This time she had the book in her hands he’d given her. The woman was always planning. More than a dozen times over the week her quick mind had surprised him and, though he wouldn’t admit it even to himself, he found that sexy as hell.
He waved and thought of reminding her to put on sunscreen, but he reconsidered. He hadn’t minded two nights ago when she’d knocked on his door and asked him to cover her back with aloe vera lotion. She’d worn a sleeveless blouse with tiny straps that morning and blistered both her front and back all the way down to the top of her bra line.
For a moment he’d just stood there staring at her bare shoulders.
“Well?” she said. “Would you mind helping me?” She’d obviously taken off her blouse and bra and wrapped herself in a towel.
He couldn’t stop staring. The towel was low enough to show off not only the sunburn, but the white line below where no sun had touched. With each intake of breath a tiny bit of creamy breast seemed to push up from beneath the towel.
“I’ll help. Sure.” He tried to sound simply polite.
She handed him the lotion and turned, lifting her hair off her red shoulders.
He poured the lotion in his palm and slowly spread the cream over her skin. Back and forth from just below her hair, down her neck, over her shoulders and down to where the towel blocked his progress down her back.
