Texas Gun Smoke

“Not a speck of mold on my body.”

She had no doubt that was true, though she had no plans to inspect for proof. Physical intimacy with a man like Bart would be a shortcut to heartbreak. She’d run the risk of falling hard, and once he found out the truth about her past, he’d dump her as if she were a mad cow carrier.

“That leaves one more brother,” she said.

“Zach, the baby of the family along with my sister Jaime. They’re twins. Zach is a ladies’ man and a practical joker. Jaime’s the free spirit— Mother’s polite way of saying she’s never met a rule she couldn’t break.”

“I already like her best.”

“Somehow I knew you would. My sister Becky is separated from her husband Nick, a pro football player who everyone gets along with except Becky. She says they have issues. I think that means Nick prefers taking orders from his coach instead of from Becky, but I try not to get involved.”

“Good idea. Are Becky and Nick the parents of your two nephews?”

“Right. David and Derrick are twins, seven years old, mischievous and have boundless energy. Watch out for toads in your bed.”

“Thanks for the warning. And your mom?”

“Lenora Collingsworth. She’s fifty-six and runs circles around all of us. When Jeremiah had his stroke, he shocked us all by having papers drawn up that turned the position of CEO of Collingsworth Enterprises over to her at any point he couldn’t fulfill the required duties.

“The only paying job she’d ever had before was as a waitress before she got married. But she’s amazed us all with her tenacity and ability, though she drives Langston a little nuts with her reforms for the oil company. Collingsworth Enterprises includes ranch operations, but she hasn’t gotten to telling us how to run Jack’s Bluff yet.”

“Collingsworth Oil, Collingsworth Enterprises, Jack’s Bluff Ranch. You sound like the Ewings of Southfork.”

“More scruples and a lot fewer sexual escapades.”

And in spite of the wealth, Bart still appeared to be just an easygoing cowboy with no hidden agenda. But that didn’t mean the same would be true of the rest of his family. Lenora especially worried her. A woman astute enough to step into the role of CEO without prior executive experience would surely see through Jaclyn. She’d know instinctively that Jaclyn was bad news for her son. She’d be right.

Bart pulled into the drive behind a row of pickups, a Porsche, a BMW, a silver Mercedes and a Harley. But it was the sprawling house, not the impressive vehicles, that claimed her attention. It wasn’t elaborate. There were no ostentatious columns or intricate masonry. There were only gables and porches and huge oak trees embracing the structure. It was homey and welcoming—at least that was the illusion it created.

She was hit with a paralyzing attack of nerves. “I can’t do this, Bart.”

“Can’t do what?”

“Intrude on your family.”

“You’re not intruding, you’re an invited guest.”

“But they don’t know me. For that matter, neither do you.”

“We’re feeding you, not adopting you. Just relax.”

One of his brothers walked out the back door and waved. Bart waved back. She gritted her teeth, climbed reluctantly from the car and followed Bart to the house.

“SHE’S WOW MATERIAL,” Zach said. “Not sure you can handle a sweet, young hottie like that, big brother, even if she is the size of a good bottle of tequila.”

Bart poured himself a mug of coffee and leaned against the kitchen counter. “I told you—she’s married to a serviceman. I have no plans to ‘handle’ her. I’m just going to drive her back to New Orleans and see if her friend’s disappearance checks out to be as suspicious as she fears.”

“And if it is?” Matt asked.

“Then I’ll see what I can do to help her find out what happened to the missing woman.”

Zach opened the refrigerator and pulled out a half-gallon container of milk. “Politicians being what they are today, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if Hebert is involved in her disappearance.”

“Whether he is or not, I suspect he’s anxious to keep his affair away from public scrutiny,” Langston said. “But he’s going pretty far if he’s the one guilty of running—or having Jaclyn run—off the road last night.”

“Desperate situations call for desperate measures,” Bart countered. “And if he’s guilty of foul play, the guy is not only desperate and immoral but also depraved.”

“Which would put Jaclyn in serious danger,” Langston admitted.

Bart had especially requested Langston’s presence at the informal after-dinner confab. Langston wasn’t as negative as Matt or as impulsive as Zach and he was used to dealing with difficult situations and political confrontations in the business world.

“So what do you suggest, Langston?”

“I’d say the first step is to hire a good private investigator. I put Clay Markham on retainer for Collingsworth Oil a couple of months ago, so you’re welcome to use him. He’s as good as they come. I’d suggest having a background check done on Jaclyn, as well. She seems nice, but appearances can be deceiving. And then I’d make a personal visit to the Louisiana senator who’s suspected of foul play.”

Zach cut himself a slice of chocolate cake to go with his milk, scattering crumbs as he took it from the cake plate to a napkin. “Foul play? You sound like a politician yourself. Just say it like it is. There’s a good chance Margo was murdered. Then you can get down to the nitty-gritty of finding out who, why and where.”

Bart shook his head. “Don’t let Jaclyn hear you say that. She’s still hoping for the best.”

Matt rocked back on the heels of his boots, his face grim. “Did it ever occur to you that this Margo woman could have blackmailed the senator, then taken off with the money? The way I see it, that’s the most likely scenario. If it were me, I’d buy Jaclyn a plane ticket home, maybe even offer to pay for a private detective for her since you said her husband’s off fighting for our country. Then I’d ride off into the sunset like a smart cowboy.”

“I’ll drive her home,” Bart said. “After that, I may follow your advice.” But he doubted it. There was something about Jaclyn and the situation that had hold of him, and he just couldn’t see himself letting go of it until he had more facts.

He’d have to be careful around Jaclyn for the reason Zach had said. She was wow material. And she was married. But she was also spunky and possibly in real danger. He couldn’t just turn his back on her.

“Keep us posted,” Langston said. “And don’t take any unnecessary risks.”

“Don’t worry. The image of dead hero has no appeal for me.”

“And keep your pants zipped and your heart in tow,” Zach cautioned. “Jaclyn’s the kind of woman who could burrow under a man’s skin without even trying.”

“I have the skin of an armadillo,” Bart said, though he wasn’t sure even that was tough enough to avoid letting Jaclyn get to him. Still, he’d never messed with another man’s wife before—and he damn sure wouldn’t start with the wife of a serviceman on active duty.

Bart and his brothers joined their mother and their sister Becky on the screened back porch for Langston to say his goodbyes.

“Where are Jaime and Jaclyn?” Bart asked, alarmed that Jaime might be somewhere bombarding her with questions.

“Jaime went into town with a couple of her girlfriends,” Lenora said. “Jaclyn seemed tired, so I suggested she go upstairs and get some rest. She seemed grateful for the offer.”

“That’s probably a good idea,” Bart agreed, hating the disappointment that he hadn’t gotten to tell her good-night.

“She’s really worried about her friend,” Becky said. “She didn’t say much, but I could hear it in her voice when she talked about the police blowing off her concerns.”

Lenora stood and walked over to where Bart was standing. “I don’t know how the police can do that. I know the area’s had a hard time coming back after Katrina and that the police have their hands full with the upswing in crime, but surely they could have at least questioned people about her disappearance.”

“It’s hard to say what they were thinking or what they’ve actually done,” Bart said, “but I think the situation deserves better than it’s getting.”

“I’m not sure you’re getting involved in this is a good idea, Bart.”