Texas Tall (9 page)

Would he be here to see it? But with his fate in the balance, Will knew better than to think that far ahead. For the next few weeks, he would live for each day. He would take Jasper bird hunting. He would ride and play chess with Erin, work the stock with Beau and Sky. He would fill his eyes with the sight of Tori and his ears with the sound of her voice. But he would not forget where he'd been or what lay ahead.

Like ammunition for a coming war, he would store up his anger, his outrage, and his hatred of the corrupt justice system that had allowed this to happen. If the trial went the wrong way, he would need it all to fuel his strength.

Erin was waiting on the front porch when the jeep pulled up and stopped. As Will climbed out of the passenger side, she flew down the steps and flung herself into his arms. She was growing long and lean like her mother. Her hair smelled of hay and horses. She didn't speak, but he could tell from the slight jerk of her breathing that she was holding back sobs. With her involvement as a witness in his case, there'd been no way to shield her from what was going on. She knew what her family was facing, and she was handling it with remarkable courage. Will couldn't have been more proud of her.

“I love you, Daddy,” she whispered.

A lump rose in Will's throat. As he hugged his daughter close, it was as if he could feel the slow breaking of his heart.

* * *

Parked next to the Jeep, Tori watched as Erin greeted her father and led him into the house, followed by Beau. This was an emotional time that had little to do with her. She would give them a few minutes before she went inside to join them for lunch.

Will was her client now. The man she'd loved, married, and divorced, the man who'd given her Erin, the man who'd swept her away in an explosion of need on the night of the storm—that man couldn't be allowed to matter now. Emotion would only cloud her ability to defend him.

Once more, applying cold logic, she asked herself the forbidden question—the one she'd been asking, answering, and rethinking all the way on the drive from town to the ranch.

If the unthinkable happened and Will went to prison, what would be best for Erin?

Will's daughter loved being on the ranch, especially her time with Tesoro. She loved the house, loved her room, and loved spending time with Bernice and Jasper. To take that away from her would be cruel. But with Will gone, there'd be no reason to keep the big house open. Bernice could retire and move into Sky's half of the duplex, next to Jasper. Beau and Natalie would have their own home. So would Sky and Lauren. Erin would be welcome to visit, but nothing would be the same. The Sunday dinners around the dining-room table, the long talks with Jasper on the porch, playing in the paddock with Tesoro, watching sports on the big-screen TV with the men of the family, and helping Bernice in the kitchen—all these things would be gone for her.

Erin wouldn't just be losing her father's presence. She'd be losing her whole happy, secure world.

But enough, why agonize over something that hadn't happened—and wasn't going to happen? She was going to win Will's case and set him free, Tori told herself. Failure wasn't an option. The stakes were too high for that.

She was getting out of the car to go into the house when her cell phone rang. She glanced at the display. The caller was Drew.

“Hi,” she said, “I was just thinking about you—good thoughts.”

He laughed. “Nice to know. I was thinking about you, too. Extremely good thoughts. What are you up to today?”

“I'm at the ranch. Some business with Will's case.”

She sensed the slight hesitation. “Oh? How's that going?”

“I can't discuss the details. Lawyer-client privilege. But the trial's four weeks off, and it's shaping up to be a fight. I'll have my work cut out for me.”

“I take it that means you're going to be busy.”

“I am. I'm counting on you to help keep me sane.”

She meant what she'd just said. If she let him, Drew would provide an oasis of calm amid the craziness of the upcoming trial. Besides, she needed to give him some encouragement. Otherwise, he could be gone. Distracted as she was right now, she wasn't ready to lose him. When her life slowed down enough to make future plans, she wanted him there.

“I can do more than that, but not over the phone. Are you free for steak and lobster in Lubbock tonight?”

Was she? Tori had work to do, but she'd already come to the decision to make time for him. “That sounds wonderful,” she said.

“Seven o'clock? I'll pick you up. And I loved that black dress on you the last time.”

“I'll wear it again, just for you. And seven is fine. Gotta go.” Tori ended the call, thinking about the need to structure her life into separate compartments—Will's trial, Will's family, Erin as her daughter, Erin as a witness, and her time out with Drew. If she tried to deal with everything at once, she'd be on the fast track to a meltdown.

In the house she found Will, Beau, Bernice, Jasper, and Erin seated around the kitchen table, eating a lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches, baked beans, and potato salad. Tori grabbed a Diet Coke from the fridge and slipped into the empty chair. As if by mutual agreement, they were laughing and exchanging small talk, putting Will's trouble on hold for now.

“Lauren's taking me on a treasure hunt tomorrow,” Erin announced. “We're packing a picnic and going up the canyon to look for the Spanish gold.”

“Well, don't get your hopes up about findin' it,” Jasper said. “That tale about the Spaniards hidin' their treasure before the Comanches killed 'em all is nothin' but a made-up story.”

“Well, who made it up?” Erin demanded. “That's what I'd like to know.”

“Can't say for sure,” Jasper said. “The story's been goin' around since before my time. But I know that Lauren's granddad Ferg Prescott searched every inch of that little canyon—dug it all up by his self and never found a thing.”

“Is that why he bought the canyon from Grandpa Bull? Just so he could look for the treasure?”

“You'd have to ask Old Ferg that question. And he's long gone to his grave.”

“Well, maybe he didn't look hard enough or dig deep enough. If the treasure's there, we're going to find it!”

Tori listened, enjoying the exchange. It was a relief to be talking about something besides Will's case. Even Will was getting involved in the conversation.

“You know the canyon belongs to Lauren now,” he said. “Anything you find will be hers.”

“No,” Erin protested. “Lauren promised me if we find the treasure, we'll share it with everybody, even Jasper and Bernice.”

“Now that's right nice of her,” Jasper said. “ 'Specially for a Prescott. But I'm not holdin' my breath till you two make us all rich.”

“It's not the treasure that matters, Erin,” Tori said. “The important thing is that you and Lauren have a fun adventure. I hope you thanked her for inviting you.”

“I did.” Erin helped herself to another sandwich. “Sky was going to come, too, but he's got work, so it'll be just us girls. Why don't you come with us, Mom? I know it would be fine with Lauren.”

“I'm afraid it'll be a workday for me, too,” Tori said. “Go and have a wonderful time.”

Disappointment shadowed Erin's face. Then she brightened. “The Vegas rodeo finals are on TV tonight. You could stay and watch with Dad and me.”

Guilt was like a cold stab between Tori's ribs. “Sorry, sweetheart, but I've got work in town this afternoon. And tonight I've got plans.”

Tori's gaze shifted toward Will. He didn't speak, but his expression had darkened. No doubt he'd guessed what those plans were. Tori could imagine what he was thinking. Here he was, facing a life-changing ordeal, and she was running off to go on a date with another man.

Tori looked away, refusing to acknowledge his silent message. As Will's lawyer, she would give her all to win his case and save him. But she wasn't his wife anymore—and the fact that she'd slept with him in a weak moment didn't give him ownership. If she let him, Will would drown her with his need to be in control. That had happened in the past, but it wasn't going to happen again. She had a private life, and tonight she needed a break.

“Say, Will.” Beau came to her rescue. “I could use your advice on where to move the cattle next. Maybe this afternoon we could saddle up and ride out to check the grass in the empty pastures.”

“Sounds fine to me,” Will said.

“Can I come, too?” Erin asked.

Will gave her a fatherly frown. “Is your schoolwork done?”

“I finished it before you got here.”

“Okay, you can ride along on old Belle. And tonight we can make popcorn and watch the rodeo finals, just you and me, unless Jasper wants to join us.” The look he gave Tori said it all. They were still a family; and at a time like this, it was wrong for her to be away.

But Tori wasn't about to let Will push her guilt buttons. She was going out with Drew tonight and, by damn, she was going to have a good time.

CHAPTER 9

T
ori and Drew lingered over their dessert wine, enjoying the panorama of the city, the glow of candles, and the tinkle of piano blues from the adjoining bar. The steak and lobster had been well-prepared, the atmosphere romantic, the conversation easy.

Tori gazed at the man across the table, grateful that, without being asked, he'd avoided all mention of the upcoming trial. He was, at all times, tactful, soft-spoken, and kind. And he was handsome enough to break hearts in his tweed blazer, dark shirt, and tie—not a bolo, but a real silk tie. With the candlelight sharpening the planes of his face, he could have stepped out of a PBS Edwardian drama.

She found herself imagining Will in this upscale dinner club—his big, rugged presence overpowering the intimate space, his restless nature demanding that they finish the meal and get back to the ranch to check on the cattle. He'd be more at home at a barbecue, where he could fill his plate and grab a beer, eat at his own pace, socialize or not, and leave when he was good and ready, with no apologies.

But why was she thinking about Will tonight?

“A penny for your thoughts.” Drew's hand slid across the table to capture hers.

“I was thinking how much I needed this break tonight.” It wasn't quite true, but close enough. “Thank you, Drew.”

“My pleasure. I know how much you must have on your mind.”

That's the right thing to say, at the right time,
she thought. “What I've got on my mind right now is you,” she said.

“I hope you mean that.” His hand tightened on hers, smooth palm, no calluses; but then, he was an educator, not a rancher. “I know I agreed to keep things platonic till the trial's over. But if I'm going to wait, I need to know what I'm waiting for.” He cleared his throat. “Not to get too personal, but for a woman who's been divorced eight years, you're pretty involved with your ex.”

“It's because of Erin. She loves her father and she loves the ranch. My staying involved gives her a sense of family.”

“So what if things were to come together for us, and I was in the picture full-time? Would that mean a sort of ménage à trois, with you running back and forth between two men?”

It wasn't so much his question that surprised Tori as his timing. “Certainly not! Things would have to change. Erin's growing up. She could handle a different arrangement.”

“But could Will? Why hasn't he remarried? Is he still in love with you?”

His question rocked her, but only for the instant it took to come up with an answer. “Will
is
married. He's married to his ranch. No woman on earth could compete with that.”

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I think I'm beginning to get the picture. Not that I want to pry, but I could be more understanding if I knew what split you apart.”

Tori gave him the
Reader's Digest
condensed version of her story—how Will had put his father and the ranch ahead of his marriage, how Bull had disapproved of her working, and how things had gone from bad to worse after her miscarriage and partial hysterectomy.

“So you can't have more children?”

“Not the regular way.”
Will that be a problem for him?
Tori wondered. However Drew might feel about having a family, it couldn't be helped. At least she wouldn't have to worry about telling him later. “My father-in-law wanted a houseful of strapping grandsons. He never forgave me for not being able to produce them.”

“And Will?”

“Will adored Erin from the first moment he saw her. He'd wanted more children, of course, but when they didn't come, he lavished all his love on her. She was enough.” Tori realized her voice had gone tender.

“So what finally happened between you?” Drew asked.

“That's another story. We could be here awhile.”

“I'm listening.” His thumb stroked the back of her hand, raising a tingle of awareness.

“First off, you have to know that I grew up in Blanco Springs. My father was a county judge.”

“So the law's in your blood.” He gave her a smile.

“Something like that. While I was away at law school, he retired and moved with my mother to Florida. I came home to Blanco and married Will. Five years later, with the marriage already crumbling, my father died of a heart attack.

“When I got the word, I took Erin and caught the next flight to Florida. Will was too busy with his father and the ranch to leave right then, but he promised to be there in time for the funeral.” Tori paused. She'd told him enough. The rest was better left alone.

“Let me guess,” he said. “Will didn't show up for your father's funeral.”

“That's right. I stayed two weeks to settle things and be with my mother. He never showed up, and I never lived with him again.”

And never slept with him—until the night of the blizzard.
But that lapse in judgment was best buried and forgotten.

There was more to the story—like the reason why Will hadn't come to Florida, or so much as called her during the two weeks she was away. But even after eight years, that memory was a raw wound. And the truth—that the deathblow to the marriage had been struck by Will's jealousy and distrust—was too painful to share.

She gave Drew an easy laugh. “Next time we'll talk about you,” she said.

“There's not much to talk about.” He signed the bill the waiter had left on the table and rose to help her with her chair. “I grew up in Omaha, one older sister. Graduated from college with a master's in educational administration. Worked here and there. Came to Blanco for a change of scene—or maybe to find the right woman. What do you think? Have I found her?”

“That remains to be seen.” She snuggled into her coat as he settled it around her shoulders and offered her his arm as they walked to the car. She was tired and she'd drunk a little too much wine. But she had to credit Drew for a pleasant, relaxing date.

It was almost eleven when he pulled up to her house and walked her to her door and gave her a long, slow good-night kiss. “I won't invite myself to come in,” he said. “But not because I don't want to. You must look lovely in your sleep.”

“Thanks for understanding,” she said. “I need to start work on Will's case tomorrow, and I'm going to need a clear head. Besides, you've got school, Mr. Middleton.”

“Sleep tight, Tori.” He feathered a second kiss across her lips and turned away. As she opened her door, he trotted out to his car and climbed inside.

Tori watched him drive away. Their date had been rewarding, she thought. They'd gotten to know each other without crossing any lines. Maybe she'd revealed too much of herself, but Drew had been a good listener and a perfect gentleman. She wanted the chance to know the man better. But preparing for Will's trial had to come first. For the next few weeks, nothing else could be allowed to matter.

She could only hope Drew would have the patience to wait.

* * *

By ten the next morning, the weather had warmed enough to feel comfortable. Wearing hats and jackets and packing a lunch, a flashlight, and a small shovel, Lauren and Erin mounted up and took the trail that wound through the foothills into the deep canyons. The turquoise sky was winter-bright, dazzling above the time-sculpted towers of the escarpment. A quail, perched atop a stunted cedar, scolded them as they rode past. The earth smelled rich and clean.

They rode side by side, laughing and chatting. Lauren was glad she'd decided to take the girl exploring today. After Will's night in jail, Erin had become more and more worried about her father. A day of treasure hunting in the canyon would provide a welcome diversion.

Lauren, too, had felt the need to explore the sliver of land that had caused so much contention between the Prescotts and the Tylers. She'd been there with Sky when they'd freed up the spring and taken out the barbed-wire fence. But he'd been in a hurry that day so they hadn't stayed long. Today she wasn't expecting to find Spanish treasure; but before selling the land back to the Rimrock, she wanted to at least take a closer look. With winter coming, this brief warm spell might be her last chance.

By the time they reached the petroglyph canyon, they were both hungry. They tethered the horses near the canyon mouth, where the animals could graze and drink from the spring. Then they spread a cloth on the sand at the foot of the decorated cliff and feasted on Bernice's homemade bacon sandwiches, topped off with oatmeal cookies and canned root beer.

“Jasper says we won't find any treasure because it's just a story,” Erin said. “But what if it's really there? Do you think it might be?”

“My grandfather never found it,” Lauren said. “But what do
you
think?”

Erin nibbled her oatmeal cookie. “Sky always tells me the best way to handle a horse is to think like the horse. Maybe if we want to find the Spanish gold, we should think like the Spaniards. You know, pretend we're trapped in the canyon and the Comanches are closing in, and we have to hide our treasure fast.”

“That's a very clever idea,” Lauren said. “What do you say we clean up our picnic and try it? You're in charge.”

They packed the remains of their lunch, put on work gloves, and gathered up the tools they'd brought. Erin led the way up the box canyon's narrow, steep entrance to the small clearing on higher, more level ground.

Putting down their tools, they surveyed the spot. On the left, a wall of broken rock rose fifty feet above their heads. Fallen boulders and scree lay thick along its base. Willows, on their right, overhung the spring that trickled down into the lower canyon; behind the spring a high bank of crumbling earth sloped upward, then crested and dipped toward pastureland now owned by the syndicate that had bought out the Prescott Ranch.

The ground under their feet was hard-packed sand and gravel, dotted with tussocks of weedy grass. Almost thirty years had passed since Ferg Prescott had dug for buried treasure here and left empty-handed. The canyon looked as if it hadn't been touched since.

Glancing around her, Lauren experienced a strange unease. She'd never known herself to have psychic gifts, but instinct whispered that something dark had happened here—something evil, best left alone.

Erin, however, was all grins and excitement. Asking her to leave, based on a whim of imagination, would be cruel, Lauren decided. For now, she would play along. But she'd keep an eye out for the first sign of trouble.

Erin's gaze traveled up the crumbling cliff. “This is cool!” she exclaimed. “If there's treasure here, maybe the two of us together will be smart enough to find it! Now let's think. We're Spaniards, we've got a chest full of treasure, and the Comanches are coming after us. What do we do?”

“We need to get away.” Lauren joined in the game. “But gold is heavy and hard to carry. We'll have a better chance of escape if we hide it now and come back for it later.”

“Right.” Erin glanced around. “So what do we do with it?”

“We could bury it,” Lauren suggested.

Erin thought a moment, then shook her head. “We're in a hurry. Digging a hole in hard ground takes time. And we might not even have a shovel. Besides, we'd have to camouflage the hole when we were finished. That would take time, too. What else could we do?”

“Drop it into the spring?”

“Too easy to see. And if the treasure's in a wooden chest or a leather bag of some kind, the water could ruin it and scatter the gold. What else?”

“Let's look around.” Lauren was enjoying the harmless fun. Maybe the unease she'd felt earlier had been nothing more than her imagination. “If the Spaniards were here at all, it would've been two or three hundred years ago, maybe even longer. Any hiding place would have changed on the surface.”

“Maybe.” Erin made a slow visual circle of the clearing, muttering half to herself. “We're on the run. We have to hide the treasure someplace fast, someplace safe and dry, where nobody will see it.”

A curious raven launched itself from the cliff top, circled, and glided down to perch on a nearby boulder. Unafraid, it studied the visitors with intelligent black eyes. Erin froze, staring at it. “The rocks,” she said. “We'd hide the treasure in the rocks. It's the only place that makes sense.”

The idea made sense to Lauren, too. But over the years tons of rock would have broken loose and crashed down the cliff to shatter at the bottom. The layer of scree piled along the cliff base was at least five feet thick. If any treasure had been buried in the rocks, it would be buried deep.

“Can you imagine how much rock must've fallen down here since the time of the Spaniards?” Lauren asked. “You and I could never dig through it all. If there's more loose rock up on that high wall, it could even be dangerous. Maybe we should just take Jasper at his word and go home.”

“Not yet.” As the raven flapped away, Erin stood her ground, gazing at the fallen scree. “I read this in a detective book once. When a lot of rocks fall by themselves, they usually land together—you can see it if you know what to look for. And when you look up, the rocks should match where they came from, and match each other. If not, that's a sign the rocks have been moved. I'm looking for a place where the rocks have been moved.”

Lauren suppressed the urge to argue. She'd never seen this stubborn side of Erin before. The girl was definitely her father's daughter. And she was so excited, so determined to find what she was looking for. As long as it made her happy, it wouldn't hurt to play the game a little longer.