Dream Lover (Denim and Spurs Book 2) (12 page)

A door slammed, shutting out the background noise he’d been hearing. “What’s wrong?”

“We’re here at the cemetery, and her grandmother’s grave has been desecrated.”

Low cursing filled the line. “I’ll be right there.” She ended the call.

Shoving his phone in his pocket, he turned back to find Laciee had risen to her feet. As she had done in the hotel, one arm snaked along her midsection and her other played with the collar of her shirt.

“She’s on her way.”

Her gaze never left the grave. “Thank you.”

That was the last thing spoken between them until the rumble of a diesel had him turning to see a dusty silver dually eating up the distance. It had barely parked when Finn jumped out, ran around the front, and hastened to Laciee’s side. She didn’t say a word, just reached out, and gathered the woman in her arms. Sobs rent the air, and the women sank to the ground.

“Give them some privacy.”

Judd glanced to his right and found himself staring into a pair of cobalt blue eyes. Dustin Kane. Flicking his gaze from Dustin to the women and back again he strolled back a bit to rest against the hood of his truck.

“Not going farther than this.”

“They know who did this?”

The anger in the man’s voice made him like Dustin even more.

“Sheriff says he hasn’t any clue.”

Dustin snorted derisively. “Of course not.”

“I’m going to kill the fucker when I get my hands on him.”

“Call me if you want some help.” Dustin leaned against the grill and crossed his arms. “They were friends in school. Lost touch when Laciee bolted and yet when Samantha and I got married, Laciee was one of the first ones she thought of to be here for the wedding.”

“She didn’t come.”

He shook his head. “As close as they are, for some reason Laciee wasn’t ready.”

The women were speaking to each other before they began ripping up the ground that had the vile words on it.

“But she came for Karis?”

“Apparently.”

“Dustin!” Finn called. “Go get us some fresh dirt so we can cover this properly.”

“Come on,” Dustin said after he acknowledged his wife’s order.

“Not leaving her.”

“Samantha is with her. They’ll be fine. It won’t take us long.”

He paused and looked at the women. Finn met his gaze, and she gave him a sharp nod before returning her attention to the work ahead of them. He walked with Dustin to the silver truck and jumped in the passenger side. Moments later they were flying down the road.

“Did you interact with Laciee much in school?” Judd asked.

“No, she and Samantha were two years behind me.” He pulled them into a landscaping place and backed the truck up to a pile of black dirt. “Knew of her, but rarely talked to her.”

Lord, the fury washed over him with such perspicuity he wanted to smash something. Break someone. Hurt. Maim. Kill. Judd took several deep breaths as he got out and hefted a shovel and began tossing dirt in the back.

“Can I help you gentlemen?”

Judd turned to find Miles Hotner walking up. “We’re buying some dirt. Send me a bill.”

“A truckload? Sure thing, Mr. Travers. Might I inquire what it’s for?”

“Fixing a grave which was defiled.”

The man paled and shifted his feet. “I’m so…sorry, Mr. Travers. I forgot this pile was already spoken for. I can’t sell it to yo—”

Judd had the man up against the side of the truck, arm slanted across the man’s throat. Eyes narrowed, he bent down. “You can get money for it, or I’ll take it and you lose money, but I’ll be damned if I let that grave stay looking like that.”

Dustin clamped a hand on his shoulder. “Let him go.”

Judd ignored him. “Who told you not to sell it if that’s what it was for?”

“Travers, let him go.”

“Not until the little bastard answers me.”

“Problem, hoss, is he can’t breathe enough to answer you.”

Judd pressed harder, not caring a single bit.

Chapter Twelve

Laciee stood with Finn and stared at the grave. The sun had begun to set low in the sky, offering a soft golden glow to caress the newly cleaned headstone. All the graffiti had been scrubbed off, new dirt placed over the grave, and flowers replaced. Without looking behind her, she knew Judd stood there, watching. Waiting.

He and Dustin had been with them all day, none of them pushing her along. Not even Finn. Her friend just rolled up her sleeves and jumped in to assist her. The weight of her loneliness hit her hard, and she bit down on her lower lip to keep from crying out.

“Are you going to tell her?” Finn questioned in a soft voice as Laciee lifted her gaze.

There wasn’t a need to ask her to specify who she meant by that. “I suppose I should, not that it would matter a hill of beans to Lola.”

“It’s her mother.”

Laciee shoved her hands in her pants, mostly to keep from wrapping them around herself and sinking to the ground, allowing the overwhelming sorrow to win. “I suppose I should.”

“Want me to go with you?”

Laciee blinked away the tears lingering at the corner of her eyes. “You sure you wouldn’t mind? Or you don’t have anything else more important to do?”

Finn walked to stand right before her. “Laciee, you’re my friend. We may have been distant these past few years, but there is nothing more important to me than being there for my friends. We both know I don’t have a lot of them in this place but I’ve always thought of you as one. You want me there with you and I’ll be there. We can take my truck, and Dustin can ride with Judd.”

“Thank you.” Her voice was so low even she almost didn’t recognize it.

Finn stepped close and wrapped her arms around her. “You’ll get through this, you know you’re not alone.”

“There’s nothing more I can do here, may as well get it over with.”

“Let’s go.”

Together they turned. Laciee saw Judd staring at her, his eyes unblinking and full of concern and anger on her behalf. He and Dustin had done the dirt. She’d begun to argue it with him, but he’d silenced that with a single look. She gave Finn’s hand a brief squeeze before stepping out to meet Judd.

He gathered her close, his scent piercing her pores and bringing comfort with it. His large hands settled along her back, bringing her as close as she could be.

“Ready to go?”

“I have to go with Finn for one more stop.”

His body went rigid, but he didn’t argue. “Dustin and I will be right behind you.”

“I know.” She held him tight then stepped back, her hands remaining on his strong forearms. “Thank you.”

He captured her chin between his thumb and his index finger. “Would that I could make all this vanish for you, Laciee. You deserve so much more than this.” His mouth grazed hers with a tenderness that one might not expect while looking at the rugged cowboy.

She blinked away more tears before walking to where Finn stood beside her truck. Pausing by Dustin, she canted her head to the side and opened her mouth. Dustin shook his head and hugged her. “Don’t you dare thank me, Laciee Dupree.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she managed to say, wrapping her arms around him as well. The exchange was brief, and soon she climbed up into Finn’s truck.

“I’m glad to see you again, Laciee, and it sucks that this was the circumstance which brought us back together.” The woman started the big diesel and shifted into gear.

“I’ve missed you too, Finn.”

Chatter was deliberately kept light, and the nearer they came to Lola’s, the quieter the interior became. Finn parked by the sidewalk and put the truck in neutral, allowing it to idle. “I’m coming with you, don’t tell me no because I’ll just ignore it.”

“My legs don’t want to work,” she admitted.

Finn gave her a squeeze before opening her door. Laciee did the same on her side, noticing Judd’s truck parked behind them as she climbed down. He sat there behind the wheel, hat low on his head, but she had no doubt his gaze was on her. She gave a grin despite it being fake then closed the door to turn and head up the walk.

Keeping pace with her, step by step, was Finn. The women were silent and Laciee had to wipe her hands off on the dirt-stained jeans she wore a few times before she could will enough iron into her arm to reach up and press the bell.
This is why I stayed in New York. I didn’t have to do this. Never had to allow others to see this part of my past.
Yes, Finn and Dustin knew about her mother, but Judd hadn’t. Until now. And whatever sluttish clothes she would be clad in would be his first impression.

The door opened and she stared at the woman who’d given birth to her. The welcoming smile faded away in seconds as recognition set in. “Twice in one visit,” she sneered. “To what do I owe this honor? You show up at my door, filthy and with someone in tow.”

“The only reason I’m here is to let you know, since I’m not sure if you’re still fucking the sheriff or not, is that Lavina’s grave was vandalized today.”

Had she not been staring so close, she would have missed it. The shock existed, widening those drug-addled eyes briefly before loathing filled them. “So someone took exception to the old bitch and ruined it. Who cares? Are you expecting me to pay for repairs?”

Fury laced every cell of her being. She fisted her hands and forced herself to take deep breaths. “I expect nothing from you. Never have. I came to let you know what happened. I took care of it.”

“Of course you did. Big city girl with all the money you can’t give to your mother but you spend on a dead woman.”

“I’m trying really hard not to sink to your level, but if you keep speaking of her with such disrespect, I’ll drop to your level so fast it will make your head spin. And once I drop there,” she lowered her voice, stepping closer. “I don’t fix what I ruin.”

“Always thought you were so special.”

“Better that than to be the whore you are.”

Her mother narrowed her gaze and stepped forward. Laciee didn’t hesitate, just met her halfway. “Do it,” she begged. “I want you to lay a hand on me. Because when you do I’m going to drag you out of this shithole and beat the fuck out of you.”

“Such a vulgar mouth.”

“Coming from the town whore, there’s a scathing remark.”

She shook with the extent of her fury as the undeniable truth hit her of how unmoved her mother was about anything other than what may pertain to her. For all these years she just assumed it was a cover, partially to keep the pain from what she did at bay. Now she realized that wasn’t it at all. Her mother was just a self-centered, callous bitch.

Laciee drew her arm back only to pause at the feel of a touch on her wrist. It wasn’t Finn, for she stood at her left and this was on her right hand. She turned her head slightly and saw Judd standing there, his face a cold mask of anger, flints of diamond lingering in his eyes.

“You will regret it,” he remarked slowly in his typical unhurried way.

“I really don’t believe I will,” she said.

She tugged on her wrist, yet he didn’t release her. Instead he lowered her arm between them and rubbed his thumb over the pulse.

“Looks like you’re following in your mom’s footsteps. He looks like he’d be a great fuck.”

Judd merely tightened his grip on her slightly, and she found some strength to keep her mouth shut about her mother’s latest comment. Well, right up until her mother moved aside her robe and showed off her boobs to Judd.

“If you want to take a ride with someone who knows what they’re doing, look me up.”

“You bitch!” she seethed, lunging for Lola.

Judd stopped her and turned Laciee so they were face to face. He cupped her cheek and held her gaze. “Don’t lower yourself to the slop where she lives. You’re better than she’ll ever be.”

Beside him, Finn nodded. “He’s right, Laciee. Don’t let her drag you down to her level. Me, I’m already there.”

Finn cold cocked Lola Dupree and sent her falling back into the dilapidated house. Judd grabbed Laciee in one arm and took Finn in the other until Dustin made his way to them and took hold of his wife.

“Samantha,” he began.

“I don’t want to hear it, Dustin. Lola deserved it for how she was acting and talking. Laciee shouldn’t have done it, but we both know I was right to.”

Laciee hugged her. “Thank you.”

“Anytime. And call me, you’re here for a bit yet, we need to do some things together.”

“Yes.”

Judd carried Laciee back to his truck where he placed her inside then shut the door on her. Through the windshield she watched her mother crawl further inside her dark home. There were no sympathetic feelings for her. The woman had brought it on herself. Laciee turned away and focused on the cowboy who stepped into the cab of his big truck.

“I’m sorry.”

He looked at her as he started the truck. “There isn’t anything for you to apologize for, darlin’.”

“Really?” She snorted with disbelief. “My mother flashed and propositioned you. I’d say there’s something to apologize for.”

“Your mother means nothing to me. My concern is for you.”

She sighed, wrung her fingers, and closed her eyes as he got them on the road.
I’m done with her. Firmly shutting the door on that.
It still bothered her that someone would go after her grandmother’s grave. Lavina had been nothing but nice to all who crossed her path. The woman didn’t have a mean thing to say about anyone. Ever. To have that happen… Laciee’s stomach churned with unease, and she wished she were back in her apartment in New York City where Branchwater was only a distant thought.

* * * *

“Who the fuck is in charge in this damn town?”

Judd rocked back on the heels of his boots before he readjusted his stance and leaned on the top rail of the corral. “Supposed to be the sheriff but from all I’ve seen the bastard is useless.”

Cian rested next to him. “Want me to scope it out a bit?”

“No, I’m going to focus on this shit. I need you and your dogs out there to watch my cattle and find the fuck who’s poisoning them.”

“I’m capable of doing more than one thing at a time.” He gave a low chuckle. “It’s why the ladies love me. That and my adorable Irish accent,” he said, deepening his brogue.

“You keep that shit away from my woman.”

“Worried she’s gonna want a real man?”

“She has one. I just want you away from her.”

“Shit, you know I don’t poach. So, tell me more about what was at the hotel when you saw it.”

As the moon rose in the sky, Judd filled in his brother, who did most of his work for the Department of Natural Resource, like a wildlife officer and a detective all rolled into one. He wasn’t quite positive what his brother did, but the man carried a gun, had permission to use it anywhere, and traveled with his dogs to stop poachers and rogue animals. He would go anywhere. Borders didn’t stop him, and for some reason, whatever credentials he carried always allowed him to get out of any situation.

Back in the house, Judd headed off in the direction of his bedroom and walked in silently. Removing his boots, he stared at the bed and subsequently the woman sleeping in it. She’d been remarkably quiet on the way back from her mother’s. Not that he blamed her; it had to be hard dealing with a mother like that. Not to mention the rest of what the day had thrown in her direction.

Naked, he walked to the bed and crawled in beside her. She rolled over to him and snuggled up close. Judd held her and pressed his lips to her temple as he closed his eyes.

I’ll keep you safe, Laciee, even if you don’t think you deserve a protector.

He was alone in the bed when he woke a few hours later. Sitting up, he waited for his eyes to adjust and scanned the room for her. Empty. He rolled his eyes and climbed from bed.
Not sure why she persists in going back to the bedroom upstairs.
Judd drew on a pair of sweats and cracked his neck as he went to the door.

One light on in his kitchen alerted him to the fact that Rosa had already arrived. He stuck his head in and waited for his housekeeper to acknowledge him. She rolled out biscuit dough.

“Some reason you’re standing in my kitchen looking at me like I don’t belong here?”

“You know this is my kitchen, right?”

She sniffed. “So I let you think.” She paused and looked up at him. “What’s wrong?”

“Move her things down to my room today. She’s trying to insist she’s still up there and there’s no reason for you to clean an extra room.”

She narrowed her gaze. “You going to do right by her?”

“Yes.” He stepped closer. “What do you know about her and this town?”

“You asking because of what happened yesterday or because you care?”

“Both.”

“A few people in this town hate her. Mrs. Beaumonde and Mrs. Raines are among those. Lola was a woman who found pleasure where she wanted it, no matter the status of the man. So, she made a lot of enemies.” She tackled the dough once more. “There’s a lot of bad blood between the families. If she wants to go, Judd, you need to let her.”

“She’s here until Karis returns.” He heard the defiance in his own tone.