Genuine Cowboy

“Good thing you showed up when you did,” Gordon said.

“I’m taking that as a good omen, but I’m still worried about Troy.”

“Are you alone in Troy’s house?”

“Not exactly. Troy’s son Sean is here.”

“You mean Dylan?”

“No, it seems I wasn’t the only one who showed up at the ranch unexpectedly last evening. It’s complicated.”

“Sounds that way. The good news is you’re safe and don’t have to worry about Orson showing up at your house.”

And yet she could hear the alarm in Gordon’s voice. “Is there news about Orson?”

The long pause sent her pulse spiraling.

“This could mean nothing, Eve. There’s no conclusive proof that Orson is even still in Texas.”

“Don’t beat around the bush. Just give me the truth.”

“Okay. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but a young woman was killed yesterday in a carjacking, and the police seem to think Orson might have been involved.”

“I caught just the basics on the evening news last night.”

“Then you know the car was deserted a few miles from where you live.”

“No, I didn’t realize that.” A new wave of uneasiness wrecked havoc with her control. For all she knew, Orson might have already been to her house looking for her. Had she been there …

She forced herself to breathe. “Is there more?”

“Reagan Conner has been trying to get in touch with you.”

“Reagan Conner? Should I know who that is?”

“He’s the homicide detective investigating the murder.”.

“Why would he contact you?”.

“To see if I know anything to help them locate Orson. He questioned me about former inmates that Orson might try to hook up with for help in getting out of the area. I gave him a few names, but also told him about the threats on your life.”.

“Did Detective Conner mention that I’d called the police department yesterday and told them I could be a target?”.

“Yes. He wanted my take on the threat Orson made to you, but for the record, he thinks you’re overreacting. He’s convinced Orson’s only concern will be avoiding capture. Nonetheless, he says he’s been trying to reach you.”.

“Did you give him this number?”.

“No. You asked me not to give it to anyone, and I wouldn’t go against your wishes without asking first. I think you should call him, but handle it anyway you want. Just don’t go home until Orson is back in prison, or the cops are certain he’s out of the area.”.

“Thanks for the heads-up that he was near my neighborhood. You can be sure I won’t go home until I’m convinced it’s safe to do so.”.

Not that she had any idea where she would go, now that she couldn’t stay here.

“Just hang tight,” Gordon said. “Every cop in the state is on the lookout for him. He’ll be behind bars soon.”.

“I’m counting on that.”.

In the meantime, Orson was disrupting every aspect of her life. If she didn’t have Joey, she’d just buy a gun and take her chances with the monster back in Dallas.

But she did have Joey. Violence had torn his life apart once. Now she not only had to protect him, but see that he was not traumatized again.

Once they’d said their goodbyes, anxiety scratched along her raw nerves like the claws of a wildcat. She drooped against the wall and buried her head in her hands, massaging her temples, as if that would stimulate her brain into making a decision as to what she should do next.

“Is there a problem?”.

Sean’s voice startled her. She turned to find him a few feet away, shadowed in the moonlight that filtered into the house. He was wearing jeans, still unsnapped at the waist. No shirt. No shoes.

She fought an impulse to throw herself into his strong arms and stay there until the quaking inside stopped. After the knife episode, surely he’d think she was nuts. She managed to keep a ragged hold on her composure.

“How much did you hear?” she asked.

“Enough to know it wasn’t good news.”.

“Good news seldom comes at daybreak, does it?”.

“Not often. Anything I can do to help?”.

“No, but thanks for asking.”.

“I’m a good listener. Actually, I’m not,” he admitted, “but I’ll make a stab at it, since we’re both awake anyway.”.

“Believe me, you don’t want to get involved in this.”

“In that case, can I offer a shoulder to cry on?”.

“That’s the most tempting offer I’ve had in days.” Maybe years, but she wouldn’t go there. “But crying wouldn’t help.”.