Promise Made (The Callahan Series) (20 page)

He wanted to ask about her plans. But was afraid to. After the verdict she’d be free to go. He didn’t know what he’d do without her. They had issues over their past. Painful ones. If they loved each other, they could get past them. But at what cost? He wouldn’t ask her to give up a profession she excelled in. She’d hate him for it. Her skills as an attorney would be wasted in Oaktree.

Could he leave Oaktree to be with her as she followed her dream?

His gaze raked over every remembered inch of her body. Unwanted, his blood heated up several notches. Regret swept through him.

“Aren’t you hungry, Dugan? I’ve never seen you turn down food.”

“Guess not.”

“Let’s put it away for later,” she suggested, as she gathered up everything and returned it to the bag.

“Good idea.”

She smiled half-heartedly at him.

Even a partial smile lit up his heart.

“I’m sorry, Dugan.”

Before he could ask why, the bailiff opened the door. “Saw you come in here. The jury is back.”

“Already?” Kate asked.

Fear and anxiety lit her troubled eyes. She turned toward Dugan as if for help.

“C’mon, Kate. Let’s hear what they have to say.”

****

Five minutes later, the jury was led in. Judge Greer followed.

Rita looked as if she might pass out.

“Hang in there, Rita.”

“If they find me guilty, I’ll have a heart attack, Kate.”

“Shh.”

When everyone was settled, the judge looked at the jury. “Have you reached a verdict?”

“We have, your honor.”

The bailiff took a slip of paper to the judge. He cleared his throat. “Is everyone in agreement?”

Twelve heads nodded.

“Very well. Will the defendant stand?”

Rita stood. Kate stood with her.

Rita was so wobbly Kate had to hold onto her arm to keep her on her feet.

“The jury finds the defendant, Rita Mae Johnson, not guilty.”

Rita slumped against Kate, who guided her back into her chair. “It’s over, Rita. Here, take a drink of water.”

Rita grabbed the bottle with shaking hands, drank greedily. “How can I ever thank you?”

“I’ll send you a bill.” Kate grinned, knowing the insurance money would allow Rita to pay it.

“That’s not enough. You believed in me.”

“You protected yourself. The jury believed you.”

Rita wiped her eyes, stood. “I can’t wait to get home to the kids.” They hugged. After the legalities were over, Rita would be a free woman.

Kate looked around for Dugan. But he wasn’t in his seat. A swift kick of regret made her realize she had become accustomed to his face.

“Kate,” the bailiff said, touching her shoulder.

Kate jumped. “Yes.” She looked around. The courtroom was empty. “I’m sorry.” She gathered her things. “I was daydreaming.”

“Congratulations,” he said. “Your closing was great.”

“Thanks.”

She scooted out of her chair and was out on the sidewalk in less than a minute. Luckily, it had stopped raining. Her gaze swept over to the sheriff’s office. Was Dugan there? Or had he been called out?

Trying to get a grip on her roller-coaster emotions, she sat a moment in her car. She should go home to Gram and tell her the verdict. She chuckled. Gram had heard the verdict moments after it was given. How else had she known earlier the jury was out?

The town hotline was up and running.

****

Dugan yanked the door open. He’d wanted to stay a while with Kate, but the call from his cell sounded urgent. “What’s up?”

Jonathan jumped up and came over. “We need to hook-em to the Nelson place. The twins are at it again. This time Jake threatened to kill Joe.”

The last thing he needed was another murder on his hands. “Can’t you take care of it?”

“C’mon, boss. You know they won’t listen to me. You’re the only one who can calm them down.”

“Let’s roll, then.” He had other things he wanted to do. Like talk to Kate.

It took thirty minutes to calm the twins down and by the time they were headed back, Sybil was on the horn with another emergency. Damn.

“Sorry I had to call you, but this is urgent and I didn’t know what you wanted me to do.”

“Tell me again.”

“Tobias Johnson’s brother, Jerome, has been in jail in Oklahoma for the past two years. He’s out now and over at Booger’s bar drinking like a man dying of thirst. He’s raising all kinds of hell. Says he’s going to kill the bitch who killed his brother.”

“Jeez!” Was every hot-tempered man in the county heading in a downward spiral?

“You and Jonathan are on a call, should I call Ralph?”

“I’ll handle it.” Dugan dropped Jonathan off at the office and headed to Rita’s. It took ten minutes to get there. On the way, he prayed she was home. What if she were at a friend’s? He had to find her before there was another murder.

One of the children, the six-year-old girl, answered the door. “Is your mother here?”

The girl gave him a toothless smile. He smiled back.

“She’s baking a cake. She said we’re celebrating.”

“Who is it, Rach?”

“It’s the sheriff, Mom.”

Rita walked into the room from the kitchen. For the first time since this began, she gave him a genuine smile. With her bruises gone and her mouth healed, she was a lovely woman. Tobias had been a fool.

“What is it, Sheriff? The trial is over.”

“Yes, it is. But there’s a problem.”

Dugan looked around the trailer. It was as neat as any home he’d been in. The furniture, though shabby, was clean and in its place.

“My problems were supposed to be over.”

“Could we talk in private?”

Rita sent Rachel to her room. When the door shut, Dugan said, “Tobias’ brother, Jerome, is in town.”

Rita gasped, a hand to her chest. “Isn’t he in jail?”

“He’s out. He’s down at Booger’s boozing it up, threatening to get you for killing his brother.”

“He’s mean, Sheriff. Worse than Toby ever was. At least Toby had his good moments. Jerome has none. What should I do?”

“Pack a bag for you and the kids and go to your sister’s in San Antonio. Does Jerome know about her? Her name? Where she lives?”

Still in shock, Rita shook her head. “He might know I have a sister. He doesn’t know her name, certainly not her married one.”

“Good. I’ll wait for you. When you’re packed, I’ll take you to Sonora. From there you can get a bus to San Antonio. There’ll be no way he can trace you.”

“This is just what I needed. Another Johnson to deal me misery.”

She hurried from the room as the aroma of chocolate cake filtered from the kitchen.

Rita called her children, told them to pack a few clothes for a visit to their aunt’s house.

Their questions went unanswered as Rita packed two small bags. In less than ten minutes they were ready.

“Did you turn everything off? Gas? Oven? A/C?” Dugan asked.

“Yes. And I have all of my important papers with me.” She pointed to a small bag. “I don’t trust Jerome. He’s likely to come in here and tear up the place. We might not have a home to come back to.”

“I’ll try to keep an eye on him.”

“I don’t know how to thank you, Sheriff.”

“Just doing my job, ma’am.”

A job he didn’t think he’d done too well.

Because as sure as he stood here in this small home Rita had made for herself and her children, the air redolent with the smell of chocolate cake and celebration, his gut told him she was guilty of murder. And had gotten away with it.

Chapter Eighteen

“I won,” Kate sang to herself. Deep down there was a giant sliver of satisfaction. For a moment, she wondered how she’d feel if she’d lost. She wouldn’t go there, she knew how devastated she’d be—how she’d spend the rest of her life mourning the fact that Rita would spend years in prison without her girls.

The house was empty. A note on the kitchen counter told her Gram was at Ed’s house.

Kate put a kettle on the stove for tea hoping it would calm her. But it wouldn’t. She was too exhilarated. She had to see Gram. She turned off the fire and walked to Ed’s. The exercise might take her down off her high. Her first case to try all on her own and she’d won. She pumped the air, wondered again why Dugan had disappeared. This was a victory she wanted to celebrate.

Gram would understand. She’d pop in and see her for a minute.

No one answered the door. They were probably on the new deck drinking a cup of coffee. She walked around the house. Stopped when she heard their voices. Love vibrated in every word. They were on a bench sitting close together. She stood there mesmerized, then backed up a few steps. She should leave. Now.

“I’m so proud of my Katie-Girl. I knew all along she’d get Rita off.” She paused. “I so want Kate to stay in Oaktree. If she did, it’s possible she and Dugan would realize they love each other.”

Kate’s heart swelled.

Ed kissed Gram’s cheek. “Kate’s a grown woman, Grace. If it’s meant to be, it will happen.”

“You’re right.” Gram chuckled and changed the subject. “I love this one. It’s my favorite.” She held up a canvas.

Was Ed an artist?

Even from here, Kate could see vibrant and colorful flowers. So this is what Gram had alluded to a few weeks ago. Who would ever believe it? Ex-sheriff Ed Clark, an artist. And no one knew. Unbelievable.

“It’s yours,” Ed said.

“I’ll pay you for it.”

Kate was well aware she should either make herself known or leave, but she was rooted to the ground.

“It’s a gift.”

“It’s not my birthday, and it isn’t Christmas, so I’ll pay.”

Ed chuckled. “Do I have to have a reason to give a gift to my best girl?”

“Your what?”

Ed turned to her, took the canvas from her and held her hands. “My only one, Grace. You’ve been the only one since Beth. Don’t you think it's time to make it legal?”

Kate gasped and put a hand to her mouth. This was too personal, too intense. She started to turn away, but when she heard her name, she went still.

“I love you. It’s just…Will Kate feel as free to come home if we marry? Where will we live? If we live here, I don’t think she will. If we live at my house, you won’t be comfortable.”

“If you’re worried about Kate, you worry for nothing. Kate loves you. She’ll come to see you no matter where you are.”

“Your house is smaller than mine,” she mused. “Easier to keep.”

“Say yes, Grace.”

She leaned over, kissed him on the lips. “Give me a few days.”

Kate finally found her legs and took off, almost running back to the house. Gram couldn’t worry about her. Kate wouldn’t allow it. It wasn’t as if she was still a kid.

Doesn’t she know how much I love her?

Somehow, she’d have to convince Gram without letting her know she’d eavesdropped on a very private conversation.

****

Dugan dropped Rita and her two children off at the bus stop in Sonora, bought their tickets to San Antonio. “Can you get from the bus stop to your sister’s?” he asked when he handed them to her.

“I’ll call when I get there and have her pick us up.”

“Good. Stay there until I call and tell you Jerome has left town. It won’t be safe here until he’s gone.” She wrote her sister’s number on the back on one of his cards and handed it back.

“He’s mean and vindictive.” Dark eyes looked into his. “I’ll do as you say, Sheriff. Thanks.”

Dugan didn’t say it aloud, but he’d do whatever it took to keep another murder from happening in his town.

On the drive back, his thoughts turned where they always did, to Kate.

They needed to talk. Plus, she’d want to celebrate her win. And Dugan knew just how he wanted to help her celebrate.

The road that led to the ranch was up ahead.

Though it was getting late, he made the turn.

He would talk to Donovan. The sermon earlier that if he didn’t leave Kate alone he’d get hurt again didn’t stop the way his heart did a crazy dance every time he saw her. It didn’t stop the longing or the passion. The family meant well. They always did. This time they were out of line. Dugan was a grown man. If he got hurt, he would handle it.

You didn’t handle it very well five years ago when Kate left you pie-faced at the altar. What makes you think you can handle it any better now?

He pulled into his usual spot, climbed out of his cruiser. Lights were still on in the house and in the barn. He looked at his watch—a little after nine. Not too late.

Dugan passed through the mudroom and into the kitchen. Sure enough, Mom and Phyl were at the table with a glass of tea. They looked contented. He wondered when was the last time he felt the same. “Hey!” he said.

“Dugan,” his mom cried out. “What are you doing here this late? Has something happened?”

Both women stood, as if braced for bad news. He should have called. “Sorry I scared you. No. No news. I took Rita to the bus station in Sonora because her dead husband’s crazy brother threatened to kill her. I wanted to stash her away somewhere safe.” He looked at them. “Now don’t go and tell anyone or Jerome will try to track her down.”

“Not a word,” Mom promised as she gave Dugan a kiss on the cheek. “Are you hungry? We have leftovers.”

His stomach growled. “What does that tell you?”

“I’ll get a plate. Get the food out of the fridge, Mom,” Phyl said. “I’ll nuke it.”

In less than two minutes a plate of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and corn were set in front of him. “Where’s Donovan?” he asked around mouthfuls of the familiar and savory food.

Phyl chuckled. “In the barn with Mark. I was about to go out and tell him it was time for bed.”

“Give me a minute. I’ll send him in.”

“Take your time, Dugan. You eat too fast,” his mom admonished.

“Didn’t realize how hungry I was until I took my first bite.”

She sat a piece of apple pie next to his plate. “Dessert.”

He finished his food. “I’ll get to the pie later.”

“Send Mark inside,” Phyl reminded him. “It’s past his bedtime.”

Dugan grabbed a couple of bottles of water and walked to the barn where Donovan and Mark were beating the heck out of their punching bags. Both were in shorts and tennis shoes, boxing gloves on their hands. Mark had grown since he and his mom showed up on their doorstep. He was taller, his little boy look slowly being replaced with a pre-teen one.