Southern Comfort (17 page)

"Will Rodrick go to prison?"

"That depends upon the depth of his involvement. Like I said, first we have to find him. We suspect he will either be trying to flee the country, or come here and try to get the money back from you. That's why Joe is going to look in on you while we're gone."

"You're staying here?" Analise looked at Joe.

"Naw, just gonna pop in now and then to make sure everything's okay."

"Oh, okay. So what do you want me to do?"

"Just let us know if you hear from your husband." Cia answered the question and slid a card across the table to Analise. "Call my cell anytime."

"Thank you. Again. I appreciate everything you're doing."

"You're welcome, but I'm afraid we're not quite done. We need to ask you some questions, Analise. About your husband's business and your knowledge of it."

"Okay. I don't know anything since I was never a part of it but ask away."

"She doesn't know anything, Gracie." Joe spoke up.

Cia cut him a look and they stared at one another for a moment. "I still have to ask, Joe."

"Have it your way." He went back to eating pie.

Cia activated the video app on her phone and turned it toward herself. After stating her name, Kade's presence and the date, she put the phone on the table, pointed at Analise.

"Mrs. Becke. Please state your name for the record.

With a sigh, Analise did as instructed, her thoughts not as much on the questions as on David out in the paddock with Riley.

*****

Riley walked the mare around the paddock then slipped off the bridle and walked away from her. It took a couple of seconds before she followed. He smiled to himself as he walked over to the fence where David and Bobby sat on the top rail with the man he'd bought the horse from, JD Weathers.]

Riley had always thought that JD was the one who should have gone to Hollywood.  If ever a man looked the role of a western hero it was JD, or Justice Weathers. Tall and big, he had a hard look to him, with flinty eyes and a face of angles that made him appear a little dangerous.

He would have turned the heads of a whole lot of those Hollywood women.  But JD wasn't a man given to fanciful or superficial things.  He was a down-to-earth rancher with a family to take care of and that seemed to be his only focus in life.

"She's a beauty, Mr. Riley." Bobby said.

"Yep, she is."

"So you really got it for my mother?" David asked.

"Yep. That okay with you, David?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Good.  JD, I appreciate you bringing her over."  Riley pulled a check out of his top shirt pocket.

"No problem.  She's a sweet thing.  I think your gal's gonna like her."

Riley put his hand on JD's shoulder and turned him away from the fence, talking to the boys as he did.  "I'm gonna speak with JD for a few. I'll be back."

"Take your time, boss." Bobby grinned and immediately started talking to David.

"So, how's the family, JD?"  Riley asked as they walked toward JD's truck.

"Good."

"Those boys of yours are on fire this year.  I missed the last couple of games, but keep up with it through Cody and her family. Team's leading the division, I hear."

"Yeah, they're having a hell of a year."

"Frank down at the feed store mentioned that they were being scouted pretty heavily."

JD smiled.  "Yeah and loving it."

"As they should.  They have their eyes on a school?"

"A couple.  UT in Austin is courting them pretty strong and I thought they were going to commit, but then Notre Dame and Ohio State started wooing them."

"They offering full rides for the boys?"

"I wish.  They're offering some but god almighty what it leaves owing more than I can wrap my head around."

"You know I'll help if I can.  I'm happy to pitch in if it helps them get where they want to go."

"I appreciate that Riley.  You're a good friend. The problem as I see it is they don't really know what they want – outside of playing football that is.  They've got those pie-in-the-sky dreams of making the big league and we all know how slim those chances are.  They're my boys and I'm proud of them.  They're good players, but the truth is there are a lot of good high school players.  Few of them wind up playing pro."

"It's not necessarily wrong to follow a dream."

"No, but you've gotta be realistic.  Go to college and learn something."

"So you can leave the farm? You stayed home and you've done alright for yourself and your boys."

JD shrugged.  "I'm not complaining.  Ranching is all I know aside from rodeoing and the rodeo days are way behind me.  I just want better for my boys."

"You're a good man, JD."

"I don't know so much about that."  JD started closing up the trailer.

"How's your brothers' construction business?"

"Holding its own but not making us rich."

"They sure did a good job on the renovations on my place."

"Yeah, they do good work."

"Indeed they do.  Well, I best get back to the boys.  Thanks again."

"You bet.  Take care, Riley."

"You too."

Riley made his way back to the boys and looked at Bobby. "Bobby how 'bout giving me and David a minute."

"Sure, Boss." Bobby swung his leg over the rail, hopped down and then turned to look at David. "If you're interested in going let me know. I'll head out after work. Around seven."

"Thanks. I am. Swing by and I'll be ready."

"You got it."

"You and Bobby have plans?" Riley wasn't surprised that Bobby was being friendly. It was his nature.

"Yeah. He said he wanted to take me over to Billy's, wherever that is. Said they have the world's best barbecue and really pretty girls working there."

"Well, yes they do – on both counts, but heads up on the girls. Any girl with a last name of Sweet, you'll want to tread carefully. Their daddy owns the bar."

"Good to know. Thanks. So, I'm assuming you sent Bobby away because you have something to say to me."

"I do."

"Okay."

"I want you to know that I care deeply about your mother and I'll do everything in my power to make sure she's safe – while this thing with your father is going on and when it's done."

"Are you in love with my mother, Mr. Morgan?."

"Riley. And yes I am."

David looked at him for several long seconds. "I read up on you during the trip. I know you were a huge film star at one time, and I know you've been married and divorced multiple times. There's little information about you after you left Hollywood, so I want to know. Have you been married again since you've been here?"

"No."

"So there are the three divorces and that's it?"

"Yes."

"And do you plan on my mother being your fourth wife?"

Riley reached up and scratched his chin. "Well, we haven't quite gotten that far along, David."

"So maybe you won't want to marry her. Maybe you just want to shack up with her for a while until you get tired of her,  And what then?  I don't know you at all, Mr. Morgan, aside from what my mother's told me, but I do know her. She's not the kind of person to just take up with a man for a fling. And I don't think she'd want someone to take up with her if that's their reasoning."

Riley smiled. He couldn't be offended by what David said, because he was doing what any son who loved his mother would do. He was vetting Riley to see if Riley measured up. "I agree with you completely, David. About your mom, I mean. She's a special woman, and I'd never treat her as anything less."

David nodded and stuck out his hand. "I'm going to take your word on that, Mr. Morgan, but make no mistake. You hurt my mom and you
will
answer to me."

"I'd expect no less." Riley clasped David's hand and gave it a firm shake. "Now, what say we get back to the house and see if your mother is finished with the questions Kade had for her."

"Sounds good."

As they walked back to the house, Riley asked David about his life, what he enjoyed and what he wanted out of life. The answers he received made him think David was a young man with a good head on his shoulders. Obviously, he'd had a good upbringing and Riley was willing to bet that was due to Analise.

She, Kade and Cia were just walking out of the house when he and David reached the yard. "Ya'll all set?"

"Yep." Kade walked down the steps and extended his hand to Riley. "Hope to see you again soon, old friend. Under different circumstances."

"Likewise, Kade. My home's always open so any time you and Cia want a place to hang your hat in Texas, you know where to kick off your boots."

"I'm gonna take you up on that."

"I hope so." Riley stuck out his hand to Cia as she walked up beside Kade. "You keep him in line, Cia and take care."

"Oh I will. And you too. Riley. If anything, and I mean anything, out of the ordinary happens, get in touch with Kade or me immediately. We have someone in the area keeping an eye on things, but want to know if anything looks out of the ordinary."

"Yes ma'am."

"Then I guess we'll get out of your hair."

"Safe journey."

Cia looked at David. "You'll be hearing from us soon, Dave. Keep your eyes and ears open and if—"

"You'll hear from me if anything looks suspicious."

"Good man." She looked back over her shoulder at Annie who was standing behind her. "Talk to you soon, Annie."

"I hope so. Be safe."

"Gonna try." She looked up at Kade. "Okay, big guy, let's hit the road."

With a grin and a wave, they did just that. Everyone watched them leave except David. Riley noticed he was looking in the direction of the rocking chairs on the porch."Everything okay, David?"

"Huh?  Oh yeah. Yeah. Great. Hey, Mom, I'm going to head out with Bobby later and go get some barbecue. That okay with you?"

"You're going out?  I – well, do you think that's wise?  I mean—"

"It'll be fine." He cut his eyes back to the porch for a split seconds. "Trust me, first sign of trouble and I'll be 911'ing like a speed demon."

She chuckled. "Fine. Until then, you want to get your things settled?"

"Sure."

She looked at Riley. "Which room?"

"The one at the front of the house upstairs is the biggest."

He saw the look of panic that came on her face and realized that she probably hadn't told David she was sleeping in his bed. Riley didn't believe in playing games or trying to hide anything. He wasn't ashamed of what he and Analise were doing.

"David, I need to be straight with you. Man to man."

David looked him in the eye and Riley could tell his words had a good deal of impact. He suspected it was the "man-to-man" part. "Your mother isn't just hiding out here. She's living with me – we're living together. I told you I'm in love with your mother and I don't say that lightly. But I want you to know upfront that she's not just sharing my house. She's sharing my bed."

David looked from Riley to Analise. "It's your life, Mom and your choice. If you're happy, then that's all that matters. I'm  going to tell you just like I told Riley. As long as he's good to you and doesn't hurt you in any way, I don't have a problem.

"But I'm not going to see you become someone else's doormat. You put up with Dad's bullshit my entire life and I know it was because you thought you were doing it for me. But I don't want that for you anymore. You're smart and talented and should realize by now that you can make it on your own without depending on a man.

"I'm not saying you don't deserve someone in your life, just that you don't need them for survival. If Riley makes you happy then I hope it stays that way. If it does you won't get any shit from me."

Riley saw the tears that welled up in Analise's eyes. She didn't try to hide them. She just let them spill and smiled through them at her son. "When did you get to be so wise and aware?"

David smiled. "I had a good teacher."

"And an observant one." She said, which puzzled Riley, but apparently not David because he cut a look at Riley and then at the ground.

"We'll talk later, Mom. Right now, let's haul my stuff upstairs. I need to get online – oh hey, Riley do you have internet?"

"Why yes we do, along with running water and satellite."

David laughed. "Well hell, I guess this isn't quite Bumfuck, Texas after all."

"Oh it's Bumfuck," Riley said as he gestured towards the door. "Just a little less than what people imagine."

Analise smiled at him and he took her hand. It had been a somewhat tense day, with her being nervous about the arrival of her son and being questioned by the FBI, not to mention worrying that he and David might hit it off like oil and water.

So far, it had worked out and for that he was grateful. He'd be a lot more grateful when the FBI found Analise's husband and the mobsters he was involved with and made sure she was no longer in any danger. Until they did, he was going to make damn sure that nothing happened to her or David.