Promise Made (The Callahan Series) (14 page)

If so, she didn’t think he’d succeeded. They’d been minutes away from falling into bed. Did that mean he loved her? Or just wanted her?

What if he did love her? Even now, with want a curling knot of desire inside her, she couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t leave him again.

Dugan would never back out on a commitment. But could she trust herself? She’d run away once, twice if you counted Erik’s proposal. Why wouldn’t she do so again?

Yogi snuggled under her arm. She stroked him until he moved away.

She sat there and wished things were different, wished she was different. Tonight with Dugan had changed everything. Could she stay in Oaktree knowing the attraction was still there? Could she keep her hands off of him? Would he keep his off of her?

The questions were driving her crazy.

She didn’t know how long she sat there, crying one minute, pounding the floor with her fist the next. A slamming car door made her jump. “Gram!”

They couldn’t catch her like this. Kate, her animals scrambling behind her, ran to her room. She shut the door quietly just as the front door opened. Gram’s soft laugh followed by Ed’s chuckle filtered softly through the closed door. Kate could imagine them kissing just as she and Dugan had earlier.

Her blood ran cold. What must Dugan think?

They’d been through this before. They
would not
go through it again.

She moved Heidi aside, put a pillow over her head so she couldn’t hear—couldn’t think.

Pain settled in her heart region. There was no way she could get involved with Dugan. He deserved a woman he could trust—and that wasn’t her.

She clamped her lips together so they wouldn’t hear as she cried into the pillow.

****

Dugan wanted to kick himself into the next county. Last night should never have happened. He’d almost turned down the invite to the fish fry. Now he realized he should have listened to himself. He simply couldn’t be around Kate without wanting her. Did that mean he still loved her? He didn’t want to think about that. Lord knew he couldn’t go through another fiasco like the one five years ago. So why didn’t he just stay away?

He kicked himself again. Because he couldn’t. She was like a drug. One he couldn’t do without. What did that mean in the long run?

Nothing. Kate was someone he’d have to get over. Whatever it took, even though he had a helluva time resisting her. Touching her last night had brought up memories of happier times. Younger times. When they’d loved with a passion that couldn’t be quenched.

For a short, glorious minute, he thought they would make love. He’d wanted her more than he ever remembered wanting her before. And she’d wanted him.

He guessed it was a good thing when Kate put a stop to it.

Could she forget what had happened? Could he?

Last night had been an eye-opener. He couldn’t stop the awareness that swamped over him when he saw her at Ed’s, looking both smart and sexy. When he’d kissed her, he’d thought it was a test. Could he resist? Was he over her? The kiss would tell. The sudden blossoming heat of passion had taken him by surprise. He’d found his head swimming with an old, familiar want. When her eyes widened, he’d seen that same want—that same desire.

What did all of this suppressed passion mean?

The buzz of the intercom broke into his reverie.

“State police are on the phone,” Sybil said, her voice low and intimate.

Usually, Sybil’s attempts to flirt amused him. Not today.

Other than saying good-morning to the office in general, the only thing Dugan had accomplished this morning was his daily run and a couple of conversations to himself about his Kate problem.

He picked up the phone, growled his hello.

“Olin Williams, State Police. Figured you’d like a heads-up on the Johnson murder.”

“Have you found any proof that the wife intentionally killed her husband?”

“Not exactly.”

“What does that mean?”

“The insurance policy makes me wonder.”

“That’s not enough to prove pre-meditation.”

“No, it doesn’t. But it’s enough to make us look deeper.”

“Do you intend to question her neighbors, her sister, and anyone else who knows her?” Dugan asked.

“Sure do.”

“Need any help?”

“You agree with my suspicions?”

“Every one of them.”

“Then yes. We’re shorthanded right now. We could use the help.”

“Would you like me to take the neighbors?”

“Sounds good. We’ll question the sister in San Antonio. While you’re at it, check with her pastor. I understand Ms. Johnson’s a big church-goer.”

“Will do.”

“You have my number. Let me know what you find.”

Dugan hung up and sat there a minute. The best way to keep your mind off a problem you couldn’t solve was to keep busy. One of his deputies could do the legwork, but doing so wouldn’t help Dugan.

He grabbed his Stetson off the rack and stalked out the door. “I’ll be on the horn if you need me.”

He ignored the questioning eyes that followed him out.

An hour later, his notebook was full, but he had no new information. If Rita had planned to kill her husband, she’d kept it to herself. He had two more people to interrogate, Rita’s best friend, Halle Wright, was next.

He drove up to the doublewide, got out and dodged tricycles, a colorful beach ball, and a beat-up child’s stove before he made it to the door.

It was opened by a nice looking woman in her mid-thirties, a look of frustration in her eyes.

“Everybody, back to your game,” she said over her shoulder as she opened the door.

From the woman’s stern, no-nonsense voice, she could be a drill sergeant. Her black hair frizzled around her face in tiny curls, and she had what looked like play dough on her hands. She held them up, made a grimace.

“Kids!”

“Are you Halle Wright?”

“Yep! What’s up, Sheriff? You haven’t taken Rita back to jail, have you?”

As she talked, she walked through the living area to the kitchen. Dugan followed. She washed her hands and wiped them on a paper towel.

In the next room, an argument broke out. Several dark-headed kids of various ages were bent over the dining room table.

“Excuse me.”

She left him standing there. It didn’t take but a minute. “Sorry. Can’t leave them alone for too long.”

“I won’t take much of your time then. And no. We didn’t pick Rita up, but I do want to ask you a few questions.”

Her gaze flew to the kids. “Shoot.”

He opened his notebook. “How long have you known Rita?”

“Ever since we got here. Met her at church and hit it off right away.”

“Did she talk about her family life?”

Halle snorted. “What else is there to talk about? Kids and husbands
are
our life.”

“Did she complain about her husband? About his drinking?”

“Sure she did. On occasion, I’d see bruises and ask her if he hit her.”

“And?”

Halle dropped her head. “She admitted he did, but wouldn’t do anything about it.” She lifted her eyes to his. “If he’d been my husband, I would have divorced him.”

“Or killed him?”

Halle glared. “I would have wanted to.”

“Did she ever say anything to you along those lines?

“About wanting to kill Toby? Are you kidding? Rita is too passive to be so bold. If the knife hadn’t been there she’d be dead now. That’s how submissive she is.” Halle shook her head. “All I can say is, I’m glad. Think what would happen to her kids if he’d killed her?”

The kids at the table acted up again so Dugan made his escape.

Was he, along with the state guys, on the wrong footing? But he’d seen the brief look in Rita’s eyes when he answered the 911 call. Plus, he had a cop feeling. His cop feelings were almost always dead-on.

He made one last stop to see Pastor Jones of the Mount Zion church, where Rita and her children were members. The reverend was more than happy to talk about Rita. “She’s one of the pillars of this church. She doesn’t have money, but she makes up for the lack by volunteering. She helps put on the rummage sale each year, and brings food for the less fortunate. Even though I thought she should keep it for her own family. Rita Johnson is a fine and upstanding lady.”

“Did she ever complain about her home life?”

“About her husband, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“Never did. There were bruises from time to time on her face or arms as they healed. She’d miss church before she’d let the church members see her all beaten up. She wouldn’t talk to me about it other than to say she had it under control. So no. She never did talk about her husband and their problems.”

“Then she never hinted she was at the end of her rope, so to speak. Perhaps wanted out?”

Pastor Jones shook his head, his eyes wide with indignation. “If you’re insinuating what I think you are, you’re wrong, Sheriff. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do.”

Having been summarily dismissed, Dugan left. He had accomplished nothing.

Since it was lunchtime, and he hadn’t had breakfast, Dugan stopped at Molly’s.

Until Kate came home, he’d enjoyed eating at Molly’s daily. He’d enjoyed the camaraderie of the town folks. Their gossip had kept him clued into the latest goings on.

Not so much now that it centered on him.

Since he was aware of what they were up to, he dreaded walking in the door. Hell, he still had to eat, didn’t he? He’d ignore their questioning looks and their blatant inquiries.

Easier said than done, as the first one to wave him over was Sadie Hicks. “Hi, Sadie. How’s everything going?”

“Just fine, Sheriff. You?”

The gleam in Sadie’s eyes made him hesitate. After last night, he didn’t want questions and didn’t want Sadie’s wagging tongue to take anything he said and twist it to her liking. “Don’t have time to talk, Sadie. Gotta eat and run.”

He eased to the counter and placed his order. He didn’t want to stay here and be forced to listen to questions about Kate. Nor could he bear their soulful looks. But hell, he was hungry.

Molly leaned over the counter and whispered, “I can have it delivered.”

“You’re one in a million, Molly.” He paid, left a hefty tip and was out the door before anyone else could waylay him.

“Close call.”

He looked up to see his brother, Donovan, grinning from ear to ear.

“What are you doing in town?”

“Wanted to have lunch with my brother, but you were in and out of Molly’s too fast for me.”

Dugan walked to his cruiser. “Molly said she’d deliver my lunch. Got time for a cup of coffee?”

“Let me make a quick order myself. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Donovan ducked into Molly’s while Dugan drove the short distance to his office. It was Donovan’s busy time on the ranch. Dugan wondered what had sent him to town.

When they finished their BLTs, Donovan looked over at the large piece of cake sitting on a file cabinet in the corner. “Don’t remember Mom baking a chocolate cake in the last day or so.”

“Didn’t. It’s from Molly’s.”

“Oh? Mighty big piece even for Molly.”

“You’re as nosy as everybody else around here.”

Donovan chuckled.

“Which takes me to the question, why are you here in the middle of the day when this is the busy season?”

Donovan sat back, stretched his long legs out from his chair and shrugged. “Family sent me,” he grunted.

Dugan leaned across his desk, glared. “The family? Is there a problem?”

“Yeah, but not the kind you're asking about.” Donovan took a deep breath. “Gossip says Kate is back in town and you’re still smitten. Most folks I’ve talked to, say the two of you are hooking up again.” He looked Dugan in the eye. “True?”

Dugan slammed a hand on his desk. “Damn gossips! I wasn’t aware talk had spread as far as the ranch.”

“It has.” Donovan looked deep into his younger brother eyes. “The family doesn’t want you to go through what you did five years ago. They’re worried about you.”

“Tell them to stop,” Dugan said. His mouth clamped tight. He couldn’t give an honest answer to the questions. After last night he was more confused than ever. He’d wanted Kate then. Thinking of her now, that same want inched its way inside him.

“It’s not true?”

“It’s true Kate’s back. It’s true we see each other. This is a small town. She’s the trial lawyer on the Johnson murder case. But getting back together? I don’t think so.”

“You loved her once.”

“I did.” But that was in the past. Right now, he was in lust. He’d get over it. “It’s true, you know. I’d like to have what you and Phyl have; what Douglas and Lisa have, what TJ and Max have. I don’t think I’ll ever be that lucky.”

“What about Mary Jo? Is she still in the picture?”

Dugan shook his head.

“I’m sorry about that.”

They were silent for a few minutes, finishing the last of the chips that had come with their sandwiches.

“Five years ago,” Donovan finally said, “we were happy you were in love with Kate, had asked her to marry you. Mom was all aflutter about another wedding at the ranch. Everyone in the family was shocked when Kate didn’t show up.

“Tell me something I don’t already know.”

“We liked her, Dugan. We thought you would be good for each other. Are you sure there’s nothing between the two of you now?”

“Nothing that isn’t professional,” Dugan lied.

His brother studied him for a long, silent moment. “I see.”

Donovan stood, shoved the remnants of their lunch into the garbage, put on his Stetson.

With a heavy heart, Dugan walked Donovan to the door. Now he was lying to his own family.

For Kate?

After last night, Dugan mourned even more deeply for what might have been.

Chapter Thirteen

Every day another client called, which kept Kate so busy she didn’t have time to think about Dugan. Which was a lie. He was on her mind way too much.

She had to get out of her office and take a break. Move around. Walk. A cup of Molly’s coffee and a cinnamon roll would be just the thing.

And if she ran into Dugan? She’d handle it.

Just my luck,
she thought. When she walked in, he was there. But she refused to back out, back away, or back down. They were bound to see each other. The town was too small for it to be otherwise. She smiled and waved when he spotted her sliding into a booth.