Spurs and Heels (14 page)

A sweet, gravelly voice came on the line right away. “Hello, darlin’. How’s my girl doing?”

Juliana paused for a split second, biting back the words that fought to erupt from her lips.

She turned to look at the girl and caught her eyes as she spoke into her phone, “Hello, honey. I’m doing great, or I was until just a few minutes ago. We’ve detained a Brenda Sanderson in the store for shoplifting. She gave me your number to call. Could you come up to the store if it’s not too much trouble?”

“Shit,” he said with a gusty sigh. “You pressing charges against her?” he asked in an even voice.

“I have to. It’s non-negotiable with Mr. Woodworth. All shoplifters are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Hank has the security camera footage, and he’s talking to her right now.”

“Okay. I’m already getting in my truck. I’ll be there in five minutes. Darlin’?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry you’re in an uncomfortable position. I suspect that inside you’re furious.”

Juliana looked at Hank and pointed at the phone, verifying that it would be okay to step away from the doorway for a few moments.

“I have to admit that my first reaction was anger when I recognized the phone number. I’ll even admit to being a little green-eyed. I kept myself awake all night imagining what could call you away from my place right before bed and could only assume it was an old flame. She’s quite manipulative.”

Ash scoffed. “That little twit has nothing on a woman like you.

She’s a buckle bunny from Denver. She’s by no means an old flame, but I am sorry to say she is a woman from my past. She tracked me
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down through one of my sisters. I set her straight when I got home then found out she hooked up last night with one of the ranch hands back at her bed and breakfast. She moves fast.”

“Was she trying to get even with you?”

“I don’t know, probably just looking for the next thrill. Evidently, tangling with the law was also on her to-do list. She’s a conniving little thing, so I wouldn’t put much store in what she tells you, darlin’.

I’ll be at the side door in a few minutes.”

“Okay. See ya.”

She returned to the office, listening to Harry describe what happened. Brenda looked over at her with narrowed eyes.

“Why did you give Ash Peterson’s phone number?”

“Because up until he threw me away last night, evidently for
you
, I was his girlfriend, and he’s the only one I know in town. You’ll see.

He’ll find someone else he likes the looks of, and he’ll toss you aside, too, just like that,” she said, snapping her fingers.

“Whatever, sweet cheeks. He’s on his way.”

As Juliana sat listening to them, she cringed inwardly, thinking of what the options were for Brenda when she went before a judge. Jail time, community service, a stiff fine. Jail time and community service meant the little crook would have to stay in the area.

Juliana wondered who this little thief would go to when it came time to pay the fine. Hopefully, she had a rich daddy somewhere.

Having seen her in action, Juliana could imagine the ruckus she must’ve stirred up at the ranch last night.

She heard the side door open, and then Ash walked down the hallway, greeting Evelyn as he approached.

Juliana smiled at him but wouldn’t reveal how relieved she was to see him for Brenda’s benefit. She didn’t rise from her chair but simply looked over at Brenda. Brenda looked up at Ash, and her limpid-blue eyes filled with tears, and her little chin quivered dramatically. She hitched a sob, and it was all so damned “
tragic
” all over again as she bawled her eyes out.

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Ash looked over at Juliana and rolled his eyes, shrugging. “I called your daddy, Brenda. He’ll fly in to San Antonio and be here late tonight. I don’t know why you called me when he’s the one you’ve got to talk into bailing you out.”

“How did you find out how to contact with my daddy?” she asked, shutting off the waterworks so suddenly it was almost comical.

“I used the same search engine you used to track me down. Some people look up Google, and some people call my sister Donna. Mrs.

Warner asked me to tell you that after the stink you made last night, if you set foot on the Divine Creek Ranch again, she’ll meet you with a loaded shotgun.”

Hank and Juliana exchanged a big-eyed look, and Juliana did her best to hide a wide grin. Curiosity got the best of her, and she had to ask. “She pissed off Grace enough to say something like that? What did she do out there?” Juliana didn’t miss the jealous glare Brenda shot her.

“After Brenda was done screaming at me, she tore down the drive in that gigantic, hot-pink dually pickup parked outside and took out all of Grace’s newly planted crape myrtle trees by the ranch house.

Grace was fit to be tied.” He looked down at Brenda then frowned, tilting his head in puzzlement. One eyebrow arched, and Ash smirked.

“Girl, what is
wrong
with you? Open your jacket and take it off.”

Hank looked at her expectantly. “Little lady, we were going to get to the moment of truth eventually. Open your jacket and purse, too, please.”

Brenda unbuttoned her jacket and a bright pink, crocodile-print handbag fell out. Hank lifted the coordinating wallet that matched the bag from the inside pocket, along with a couple of pieces of silver jewelry from one of the locked counter cases. She must’ve distracted the salesgirl that was covering for Teresa while she was on her honeymoon because Teresa would never have fallen for it. Several other accessories were discovered in the inner pockets of her coat and a couple down her boots as well as several pieces in her purse.

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“Miss Sanderson, you’re now looking at Class A misdemeanor charges. I don’t know what you were thinking. But you’d better hope the judge is feeling merciful today and that your daddy’s pockets are deep enough because your fine just went through the roof. It would be a good idea to remove any other stolen merchandise we have not already found on you before I take you down to the jail. You’re going to get searched there, too.”

By now, Brenda’s face was splotchy from crying, and her makeup was ruined. She was no longer as pretty as she had been when they’d first hauled her in and certainly no longer innocent or waif-like in appearance. She cursed a blue streak at Ash as she pulled a long package that contained a beaded necklace from her coat sleeve and a red lace pushup bra from the back waistband of her designer jeans.

Ash smiled at Juliana and rolled his eyes again as Brenda continued her tirade at him as if this were his fault.

“We’ll need your truck keys, ma’am. I’m impounding your truck as well, at least until your father shows up. See how things shake out, literally,” Hank muttered as he guided her to stand up from the chair, turned her, and cuffed her hands behind her back, despite her protests and whining.

Hank escorted her out of the office and through the store to the patrol car parked out front.

Any customers who had been in the store when the girl had run out with her hands full of the leather jacket must have stayed, telling any other customers who came in what was going on in the manager’s office.

One little, blue-haired lady said to a friend, “What a
shame
such a nice-looking girl is a thief!”

“That’s right, hang your head. You should be ashamed,” the lady’s friend said. As Brenda Sanderson was walked down the main aisle of the store, everyone seemed to have something to say.

“Off to jail with you, missy!”

“Shame, shame!”

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“Oooh! She had a potty mouth! Did you hear all that cussing at poor, sweet Ash?” one other little lady said to her husband.

“We don’t cotton to folks stealing in Divine.”

“I guess she knows now, doesn’t she?”

It probably wasn’t the most politically correct thing to do, but Divine was filled with people who looked after each other. It didn’t happen often, but it made petty thieves think twice about stealing from the local businesses. Stigall’s was not known as an easy mark for small-time criminals.

Ash came to stand beside her, his arms crossed over his chest.

They watched Miss Sanderson as she was escorted red faced from the store.

“Her daddy will come and pay her fine and make it right with the judge, escort her home, and then two weeks from now she’ll be off in her big, pink dually again. She’s pulled this before. Spoiled rotten, does it for the thrills, knowing daddy will take care of it if she gets caught.”

“So that means she’s not likely to hang around?” Juliana stood beside him, wishing this was the moment when she could ask for all the details about what had happened the night before, but there were too many listening ears.

“Damn, I hope not! I balled Donna out for telling Brenda where I was and set Donna straight about my status since she obviously hasn’t talked to mom in a while. She says to tell you she’s ‘super sorry.’ Her words, not mine.”

“Where is she?”

“At the moment, she’s in Fairbanks, Alaska. She’s a travel writer, doing a piece on a local winter festival. She loves to travel.”

One of her employees chose that moment to approach Juliana with questions about a work assignment. She answered the question then turned back to Ash, who was waiting quietly.

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“I guess I’d better get back to work,” he said as she walked with him to the side door. She wrapped her arms around him and snuggled close.

“I wish I’d known last night what I know now. I would’ve gotten more sleep than I did.”

“I knew she was making a fuss already, and I needed to get to the ranch. It was a bad deal all around, but I should’ve taken the time to give you a few details. I didn’t know how bad it was going to get. I’m sorry darlin’. Did she tell you what a rat bastard I am?” he asked with a devilish smile.

“Oh yes, in vivid, Technicolor detail. I thought about telling her what a heinous bitch I am so she would know we were perfect for each other. I don’t think she likes me.” Juliana didn’t think it was possible to care less.

“No, she’s not known for her ability to cultivate female friends.

I’m sorry she’s a part of my past. Men think with their ‘small’ brains sometimes.”

Juliana laughed and gave him a kiss. He left, promising to bring her supper when she told him she’d be there until closing. She noticed that he didn’t pass judgment or say anything negative. He just gave her a sexy smile and blew her a kiss.