All Roads Lead to Texas Page 24

  She was almost delirious with excitement at her decision and couldn’t wait to get the kids home and in bed. But it was still daylight and she stopped at Buddy’s for gas. She hadn’t seen him today and she missed him.

  Polishing an old red Corvette convertible, Buddy waved and the kids bailed out to see what he was doing. Rascal barked in a frenzy when he saw Mary Beth.

  Brit and Adam climbed into the Corvette while Buddy filled up her car. “Missed you in church this morning,” Callie said, leaning against her car.

  “Had a bit of a situation and couldn’t get away.”

  “Are you okay?” Callie was immediately worried.

  “Sure.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a movement and saw two Mexican boys hiding behind Buddy’s house. “Buddy…”

  “It’s all right. They’re just illegals waiting for a ride.”

  Callie waited for him to explain. “Rolando Diaz over in Buttermilk Flat sends for a lot of his family—the illegal way—and he tells the coyotes to drop them at my station. Rolando got tied up this morning and these boys are scared half out of their minds. He should be here any minute.” He twisted the cap in place. “Just don’t mention them to Wade. If he knows, he has to do his job.”

  “Okay.” She spared the boys a glance. “Is this safe?”

  Before Buddy could answer, a battered truck drove up close to Buddy’s house and the boys jumped into the bed. The driver nodded to Buddy and they disappeared down the highway.

  “Rolando and a few of his compatriots build fences at a reasonable rate. They’re good people looking for a better way of life.”

  “Buddy,” Brit called, interrupting the maudlin thoughts running through Callie’s head. “Can we please go riding in the Corvette?”

  Buddy glanced at Callie.

  “Okay. I’ll meet y’all at the house.”

  Buddy climbed into the driver’s seat with Mary Beth and Rascal beside him. Adam and Brit were in the back seat.

  Callie smiled at the picture. “What model is it?”

  “Nineteen fifty-eight. Ain’t she a beaut?”

  “Definitely.”

  He started the motor and it hummed like a new car. “We’ll take a leisurely spin through town.”

  Callie waved and watched them drive out of the station. She was going to miss her father, but she couldn’t think about that now. She tried to keep her thoughts focused on tonight.

  Tonight and Wade.

  She hurried home and waved to Odell and Wanda as they drove out of her driveway. They’d been in church this morning with Ethel sitting right beside them. Poor Odell. He was going to have a hard time getting rid of his mama. But Odell and Wanda had spent the afternoon working on his apartment and Ethel was nowhere in sight.

  Smiling, Callie walked through the back door. The big house was quiet, very quiet, and Callie sensed that something was different. Her cell buzzed and she dug it out of her purse. It was Wade. Her smile widened. She’d take the call in the parlor with her feet propped up.

  Hurrying into the parlor, she stopped in her tracks. Her heart jackknifed into her throat and her cell slipped from her hand to the floor with a thud.

  Nigel stood just inside her doorway with a leering smile on his evil face.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  “HI, THERE, CALLIE. I’ve been waiting for you.”

  The sound of his voice scraped across her skin like sharp fingernails. How did he find her? Where was the FBI? She took a step backward, gauging her distance to the door. She had to get to Buddy and the kids before Nigel did. That was her only thought.

  “Where are the spoiled brats? Did you think you could hide them forever?”

  He moved closer and she knew her means of escape were dwindling. His blond good looks and well-built body were striking, but something about him always made her skin crawl.

  “Cat got your tongue, sweet Callie?”

  “How did you find us?” she managed to ask.

  “You should be careful who takes your picture.” His lips twisted into a cynical smile. “The FBI were dragging their heels so I hired a P.I.—a good P.I. He discovered that good ol’ Glynis was from Homestead, Texas. A little more checking and there was your picture right on the front page of the local newspaper.”

  The picture Millie had taken the day Callie had come home after the vandalism. She’d gotten careless and now it was costing her—and the children.

  “You can have the money. Just leave us alone.”

  “Ah, sweet Callie. I’d love to do that, but your cautious father put in his will that whoever was guardian of the children had control of the money. Of course the guardian was Glynis and the stupid bitch said she couldn’t get that changed.”

  “Don’t call her that,” Callie said between clenched teeth.

  “Tut-tut. Watch your temper.” He wagged a finger at her and she wanted to bite it off.

  “You forced her to write that crazy will. I know you did.”

  “Force is such a harsh word, and if Glynis knew how to take orders, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Do you think I want to be saddled with those kids? I wanted control of the money, not the kids. But she insisted the lawyer wouldn’t budge. John had cemented his wishes in stone. I even threatened the poor bitch and she became hysterical that her precious babies would be harmed.”

  Suddenly it made sense. Her mother had been coerced, just like she and Wade had suspected. There was nothing she could have done about the money. John had already made all the arrangements. All she could have done was change the children’s guardian—that’s why Glynis had been so upset. She’d been worried about the children and she’d had a right to be. Evidently Glynis had realized how evil Nigel really was.

  Nigel touched her cheek and everything in her shriveled up in revulsion. “Why do you have to be so difficult, sweet Callie? You and I could have a grand old good time.”

  Her stomach churned with nausea and she slapped his hand away.

  He hit her across the face with his fist, knocking her sideways into the wall, her head slamming against a table. She heard someone screaming and realized it was her.

  “Shut up, you bitch.”

  Her head felt as if it were dislocated from her shoulders and she reached up to stop the floating sensation. Something wet oozed through her fingers. Blood. She was sinking, going somewhere she didn’t want to go. No. She had to remain conscious. She had to get to the kids and warn them.

  “Get up, bitch.” Nigel kicked her with his shoe. “The FBI are on the way. They’re talking to the sheriff.”

  Sheriff. Wade. The room swayed and she held on. Wade was coming. He’d keep the kids safe.

  “What’s going on here?” That was Wade’s voice.

  “Damn bitch attacked me,” Nigel said.

  Wade ran to Callie and knelt on the floor, a suffocating sensation tightening his throat. Her forehead was bleeding and her face was turning blue. He gently brushed blond hair caked with blood away from her forehead. “Callie, can you hear me?”

  “The…ki…”

  “Ssh. Don’t try to talk.” That’s why she hadn’t answered her cell. That bastard was here. Wade had wanted to warn her to take the kids and get out of the house as quickly as she could. Now it was too late. Where are the kids?

  He reached for his phone. Kristin was at the jail checking an inmate who’d gotten hurt in the fight at the Saddle Up last night. He was hoping he could catch her before she left to go home.

  He gave a sigh of relief when she answered. “Kristin, get over to Callie’s as fast as you can. She’s hurt.” Next he called Virgil. “I need you at Callie’s,” was all he said.

  “Wade,” Callie whispered.

  “Don’t try to talk. Kristin is on the way.” With a bloody hand, she reached for his shirt to pull him closer. Her hand shook and he leaned down.

  “What is it?” It was clear she was trying to tell him someth
ing.

  “The…kids are with…Buddy. Keep…them…. away.”

  “I’ll take care of it.” Her first thought, as always, was of the kids. He stroked her arm, his heart laden with fear. “Relax. Kristin is—”

  Kristin hurried through the door, bag in hand, and Virgil was a step behind her. Kristen dropped down by Callie and Wade stood. Two FBI agents stood at the door with Nigel and Wade stepped into the breakfast area, quickly poking out Buddy’s number.

  When Buddy answered, Wade came straight to the point. “The FBI is here. Take the kids to Jock and wait to hear from me. Just get them quickly out of Homestead.”

  “Got it,” Buddy said. “Nobody’s taking these kids.”

  “Tell them to be brave and I’ll be there soon.” That was a big relief. The kids were safe for now.

  He hurried back to Callie, kneeling by Kristin. “How is she?” Kristin had stopped the bleeding and Callie had a bandage on her forehead.

  “She hit this table with her head and probably has a slight concussion. Callie, I’m going to help you sit up.” Wade helped, too, and soon Callie was sitting upright against the wall.

  “Thanks, Kristin,” Callie said, and Wade could see that she was better. But the left side of her face was blue and swollen all the way to her jaw. Anger replaced the fear.

  “Did hitting the table cause the damage to her face?” he asked.

  Kristin pointed to the bandage. “In my opinion, that was caused by hitting the table. Her face appears as if she’s been hit very hard with something else.”

  Wade stood, banking down the anger. “Nigel Tremont, you’re under arrest. Read him his rights, Virg.”

  “What the…” Nigel spluttered.

  “C’mon, Sheriff, what are you trying to pull?” Agent Rod Turner asked.

  “He assaulted her and that’s a crime in my town.”

  “You don’t know that,” Agent David DeLeon said.

  “Take a look at her face and tell me he didn’t hit her.”

  “That’s just your opinion.”

  “The PA confirmed it and that’s all I need for an arrest. Read Mr. Tremont his rights, Virg.”

  “You have the right to—”

  “You can’t arrest me,” Nigel declared in anger. “She’s wanted for kidnapping. Do something.”

  Rod put a hand on his shoulder. “When you do something stupid like this, it makes our job difficult. You shouldn’t have come over here by yourself in the first place. Go with the deputy and we’ll get this straightened out.”

  “Put your hands behind your back,” Virgil instructed. Nigel complied and Virgil snapped on the cuffs. Going out the door, Virgil was reading him his rights. David followed.

  Wade didn’t miss that Rod stayed behind and he knew why. He was waiting to arrest Callie and Wade had to figure out a way to stop it.

  “How is Miss Lambert?” Rod asked Kristin.

  Kristin frowned. “Who?”

  Rod thumbed toward Callie. “Callie Austin is really Callie Lambert and she’s wanted for kidnapping her brother and two sisters.”

  Kristin looked at Wade and he nodded, hoping she got the message. “I don’t know anything about that, but I need to get Callie to my clinic to check her over and I might have to send her to San Antonio for further evaluation. Your guy did a number on her.”

  Bless Kristin. She got the message loud and clear.

  “No,” Callie said to Wade’s surprise.

  “C’mon.” Wade swung her into his arms. “Let’s get you to the clinic.”

  Within minutes, they had her in one of Kristin’s rooms. Agent Turner waited outside.

  Kristin spoke to Wade. “She has a slight concussion and her face is blue and swollen and will hurt for a while, but otherwise she’s fine. I can send her to San Antonio if you want me to.”

  “No,” Callie said again, sitting up on the bed. “I can’t go to San Antonio. I have to stay here with the kids.” Her hand touched her forehead. “I’m fine—just a little dazed.”

  Wade knew the kids were the reason she was resisting. “But it will have you out of the way so I—”

  “You once said I had to face this situation. Well, that time has come and I have to deal with it. We can’t keep hiding for the rest of our lives.”

  “So you’re going to turn the kids over to Nigel?”

  A tear slipped from her eye. “No. I can’t do that either.”

  “Okay.” He put his arm around her. “I’ll take care of this. Agent Turner is waiting outside to arrest you. I’ll take you over to the jail and put you in the holding cell.”

  A smile ruffled her mouth and she winced as pain registered next. “I like the holding cell.”

  “We’re not giving the kids over until Simon and Gail get here—and hopefully not then. Nigel might be spending a long time in my jail.”

  “You called Simon and Gail?”

  “Yeah. While Kristin was checking you over. They’ll be here sometime tomorrow.”

  “Thank you.” She closed her eyes briefly. “Where are the kids?”

  “With Jock and Buddy. Would you like to talk to them?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Wade glanced at Kristin. “Would you check and see where the agent is?”

  Kristin opened the door a crack. “He’s sitting in a chair, flipping through a magazine.”

  “Good.” Wade poked out a number. “Let me know if he comes near the door.”

  “Okay.”

  “Pop, how are the kids?” Wade asked as soon as Jock answered.

  “They’re scared and want Callie. How are things going?”

  “Not real good, but I don’t have time to get into it. Please keep the kids away from the house in case the FBI come looking.”

  “We’re on horseback headed for the deer cabin on Spring Creek. They’ll be well hidden.”

  “Thanks, Pop. Callie wants to talk to them.”

  “Just a minute. We have to stop. Little bit’s riding with me and I’ll put her on first.”

  Wade handed Callie the phone.

  “Callie, come get me,” Mary Beth cried. “I’m scared.”

  Callie swallowed. “It’s all right, sweetie. Jock will take good care of you until I can get there. Be good for me. I love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  “Callie, are you okay?” Adam’s worried voice came on.

  “Are you in jail?”

  “I’m fine and I’m not in jail.” At least she didn’t have to lie to him.

  “Is he there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’m coming back.”

  “No,” Callie shouted, and winced. “Your sisters need you. Help take care of them.”

  “I will.”

  “I wanna talk.” She could hear Brit and in a second she was on the line. “Callie, I’m scared.”

  Tears stung her eyes. It wasn’t like Brit to admit she was frightened. “I need you to be brave for me and help with Mary Beth. Soon we’ll be together again.”

  “Okay. Buddy and Rascal are with us and Mary Beth likes that. Adam and me do, too.”

  “Good.” Buddy was there and somehow that made her feel better. He hadn’t been there for her when she was small and now he would protect Glynis’s children as if they were his own. “Mind Buddy and Jock. I love you and I’ll be in touch.”

  “Love you,” she heard chorused in the background as she hung up.

  She looked at Wade. “I’m ready.”

  Wade nodded to Kristin and she opened the door. Agent Turner was immediately on his feet, walking into the small room.

  “How is she?” he asked Kristin.

  “Slight concussion and a swollen and bruised face, but she’ll be fine in a few days.”

  “Then there’s no need for a trip to San Antonio?”

  Kristin glanced at Wade and replied, “No.”

  “Okay, then. Callandra Lambert, you’re under arrest for the kidnapping of Adam Lambert, Brittany Lambert and Mary Beth Lambert. You
have the right to remain silent. You—” He reached for his handcuffs and Wade stepped in front of him.

  “I don’t think so. She’s not in any condition to escape.”

  The two men eyed each other and the agent shrugged and backed off. “Where are the kids, Miss Lambert?”

  “I’m not saying anything until my lawyer gets here.”

  “Suit yourself, but it will go a lot easier on you if you cooperate.”

  “We’ll continue this questioning at the jail,” Wade interrupted, helping Callie off the table.

  At the door, Callie hugged Kristin. “Thank you.

  “If you need anything, and I mean anything, just call me.”

  “I will.”

  Wade held Callie’s elbow as they walked out to his car. She sat in the front seat and the agent crawled into the back. No one said a word as Wade drove to the jail. Virgil met them at the door.

  “I put Tremont in the basement. Is that what you wanted?” Virgil asked Wade.

  “Yes. That’s fine.” He went to the holding cell and held the door open. Callie walked in and Wade closed it.

  Virgil frowned. “Why you locking up Callie? Did Tremont do that to her face?”

  “In my office, Virg.”

  Wade closed his door and he told Virgil the whole story.

  “So that’s why she was so touchy when she first came here.”

  “Yes.”

  Virg’s face contorted as he did some thinking. “You’re not gonna let them have her, are you, Sheriff?”

  “Not without a very good fight, and even then, I’m still not sure. Call Ray and tell him I need him for extra duty.”

  “You got it. That Tremont’s causing a ruckus and the agent’s trying to calm him down.”

  “Let him complain all he wants. He’s staying put.”

  Virg nodded and went to call Ray. Wade dialed Miranda, figuring she had a right to know. Miranda was very understanding and said she’d be in as soon as she could. In a matter of hours, the whole city council was going to be barreling down on him like an eighteen-wheeler out of control. He was ready. There was no way they were going to force him to give up those kids.