Son of Texas (Count on a Cop) Read online

  Caleb slowly removed his hat from his knee, uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, gauging his words carefully. “Why did you never report her missing?”

  Boone’s eyes narrowed. “Because that old bat, Lencha, beat me to it. I hounded that inept Fry every day, but Josie seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth.” The eyes narrowed to mere slits. “Are you implying I had something to do with Josie’s disappearance?”

  Before Caleb could respond, Boone added with a growl in his voice, “Because if you are, I’ll have that badge ripped off your chest with your skin still attached.”

  Caleb looked directly at him. “Mr. Beckett, if you’re so powerful, why haven’t you found your granddaughter?”

  “Listen, you…”

  “Pa, Consuelo said a Texas Ranger is here.” A man with light brown hair and blue eyes walked in. This had to be Mason. In his fifties, he was average height and his age was beginning to show with threads of gray in his hair and flab around the middle.

  Boone made the introductions. “He’s searching for Josie.”

  “That old busybody just won’t let it rest, will she?” Mason seethed under his breath, then he turned to Caleb. “This wasn’t the place for Josie and she knew it. If she wanted to come back, she’d be here.”

  “Maybe she’s unable to do that,” Caleb’s said.

  “What?” Mason frowned, as if he didn’t understand the answer.

  Two blond women strolled into the room. Lorna and Ashley. “Oh. I didn’t realize we had company,” Lorna said. Her hair hung like a bell around her face and she was dressed in a tan linen suit and heels. Very elegant and sophisticated—everything Boone would want in a wife for his son.

  Again Boone made the introductions and Lorna’s green eyes turned stormy at the mention of Josie. “No offense, Mr. McCain, but what’s your interest in Josie?”

  Caleb stood. “Justice, ma’am. Justice.”

  “Justice.” A brittle laugh left her throat. “Has a crime been committed?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

  “I hope you find her,” Ashley spoke up. She was a replica of her mother except her hair was long and held with a clip behind her head.

  “Oh, please.” Lorna sighed in anger. “Let’s don’t go through this again.”

  “She’s my half sister,” Ashley said, undeterred by her mother’s anger. “You always seem to forget that.”

  “Oh, sweetie, I never forget that. Josie Beckett is not welcome here—ever.”

  Boone stood to his full height. He was a big man with a barrel of a chest and a presence that demanded attention. “Listen, missy, you don’t give orders around here. No one does, but me.”

  “Pa…”

  “Stay out of this, Mason, or you’ll find yourself on the first truck out of here. I want to make one thing very clear, then I don’t want to hear one more word about it again. Josie is welcome here any time—day or night. Does anyone have a problem with that?”

  “Not me, Pa.” Ashley put an arm around his waist and hugged him.

  Boone removed her arm. “You’re still marrying Richard Wentworth and kissing up won’t change that.”

  “I don’t love him,” Ashley said stubbornly.

  “You don’t have to. It’s not required. Just do what’s expected of a Beckett.”

  “He’s fifteen years older than me.”

  “You’ll adjust.”

  Tears gathered in Ashley’s eyes and she ran from the room.

  The tears didn’t faze Boone. He flopped down on the sofa. “Now everyone get the hell out of my den and that includes you, ranger man.” He clicked on the TV and jammed the cigar into his mouth.

  Meeting Boone was unlike anything Caleb had ever experienced before. He lived in his own world where he was king, and with his wealth, he could pretty much make that happen, even with his arrogant personality.

  Caleb placed his hat on his head and headed for the door, needing fresh air.

  “You find Josie, ranger man,” Boone shouted after him.

  Caleb kept walking, knowing a response wasn’t necessary. In the foyer Lorna caught up with him, grabbing his arm.

  “Don’t bring her back here.” There was a hint of a warning in her voice.

  He removed her fingers from around his arm and strolled out the door. Outside, he sucked air into his lungs, feeling thoroughly inducted into the dysfunctional Beckett family.

  As he drove away, he could fully understand why Brett didn’t want to marry Lorna. She was like a cold fish compared to Josie, and Caleb was sure Josie took after Marie, warm and vibrant.

  Through all the tension he could feel an underlying fear. They were all afraid of something. Or of what his investigation might uncover. Deciding which one might have shot Josie was like taking a stab in the dark. Sooner or later the truth would come out, though. He just had to be patient.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  AFTER SHOWERING and changing into clean clothes, Josie walked into her bedroom and stopped short. Everything was exactly as she’d left it, even the open suitcase was still on the bed. A photo of her parents stood on the nightstand. She picked it up and touched it lovingly. Josie had taken it on their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Both faced the camera and her father had his arms around her mother’s waist as Marie leaned her back into him. They were smiling, happy. A sob caught in Josie’s throat.

  She sank onto the bed, holding the photo against her, hoping their love would cause a spark to ignite the rest of her memory. But nothing happened.

  Chula jumped onto the bed and crawled up her back. “Oh, Chula.” She squirmed. “Those claws are sharp.” She held the squirrel in her arms, stroking her.

  “Chula,” Lencha called and appeared in the doorway. “There you are.”

  “She’s grown so much,” Josie said of the squirrel. “I remember her as a baby. You were wondering what to do with her, but I guess she’s made a good pet.”

  “Yes. She disappears sometimes, but she always comes back.” She scooped Chula out of her arms. “I’ll put her outside for a while.”

  Josie just sat there, wondering what Caleb was finding out. She didn’t have the strength to make him leave and she should have. But she still needed that warm glass of milk.

  Nervous, she walked around the room touching her things, a jewelry box her father had given her, lotions, perfumes and makeup. In the drawers were panties, bras, socks, hosiery and T-shirts—all hers. Her officer’s uniforms hung in the closet with slacks, jeans and a couple of dresses. All familiar, yet not quite her. Then whose were they? She couldn’t answer that. All she knew was that the items weren’t Belle’s. God! She ran her hands up her arms. She had to let go of Belle. But when she did, Caleb would be gone, too. And for now she wasn’t ready to do that.

  Everything Dr. Oliver had cautioned her about was coming true. Her attachment to Caleb was impeding her full recovery. She was strong enough and smart enough to know that she and Caleb were only friends. They would always be friends. She would never lose that. She leaned against the dresser trying to calm her chaotic mind.

  “You okay?” Lencha came back in and sat on the bed.

  “You haven’t touched this room,” Josie said instead of answering.

  “Sure I have. Put your gun and badge in a drawer. Dusted a bit.” Lencha glanced around. “If I did anything else, that would mean you were gone forever and I just couldn’t do it.”

  Josie knew that feeling well. She wasn’t losing Caleb. She had to make herself believe that.

  Lencha studied her. “So, is something going on with you and the ranger?”

  Sweet, direct Lencha could read her like a book. “He’s a very good friend and he’s been there for me when no one else was. He brought me back from the edge of insanity and he showed me that not all people are bad. He has a very good heart.”

  “And you’re in love with him?”

  She took a moment to answer, wanting to be truthful about what she was feeling. “Belle w
as very grateful to him. Josie—” She shrugged. “I’m not completely Josie yet.”

  “Josie is engaged to Eric,” Lencha reminded her.

  She raised her troubled eyes. “Was I in love with him?”

  “You said you were and he wanted to get married right away. But you wanted to wait until you and Boone had reached a measure of understanding. You actually wanted the old buzzard at your wedding.”

  “I did?”

  “Yeah, and he was pressuring you six ways from Sunday.”

  “How?”

  Lencha tapped one of the posts of the antique Spanish bedroom set. “Had this shipped from Spain with Egyptian cotton sheets—like we don’t have that in this country. Had central air and heat installed in this old house.”

  Josie lifted an eyebrow. “You allowed him to do that?”

  “We went to Corpus one weekend to take care of your parents’ house and the old bastard had it installed while we were gone. You repeatedly said no and so did I. Didn’t faze him. Not much I could do after the work was done, except put another curse on him. But he’s so damn evil they don’t even affect him any more.”

  Egyptian cotton sheets. Those words hung in her mind. They were the first thing she remembered in the hospital. And the central air and heat. She remembered that, too. At the time Caleb had thought she was talking about a husband or a lover, but she was remembering her grandfather and his callous way of trying to make amends for the years of neglect.

  Seeing her sad face, Lencha jumped up. “Let’s fix supper. How about tacos and chocolate quesadillas?”

  Josie looped an arm around Lencha’s waist, letting go of the turmoil and accepting the peace she’d found in being home. “A balanced diet if I ever heard one.”

  CALEB WALKED into the house and heard Belle’s laughter. No, Josie’s laughter. Was he ever going to think of her as Josie? It might take some time. But it was good to hear her laugh. She needed more of that in her life.

  “Ranger McCain,” Lencha said when she noticed him. “Have a seat. We’re fixin’ supper.”

  Josie smiled at him and his pulse hummed like a racing car at the starting line. He was sure her smile had voltage power because it always revved him up with all his cylinders firing in perfect order, ready for the race, ready for the checkered flag. As a kid, he was enamored with racing. As a man he was enamored with Belle…Josie. But that race would never be run.

  “We’re having tacos and chocolate quesadillas,” she said.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard right.” Her smile broadened.

  “Josie loves chocolate and when she was a kid Marie made chocolate quesadillas for her with chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, white chocolate and nuts all on a large flour tortilla. It’s just about ready. Have a seat.”

  Caleb removed his hat and did as instructed. The tacos were loaded and delicious, but he hesitated over the quesadillas. At the eager look in Josie’s eyes, he ate it. He had to adjust his taste buds and it wasn’t all that bad.

  Taking a swallow of tea, he said, “Tea has an usual taste. What’s in it?”

  “Just drink it. It’s good for you,” was Lencha’s response.

  When Lencha turned away, he whispered, “What’s in it?”

  “A mixture she makes from herbs. It won’t hurt you.” And, of course, she smiled and he’d drink and eat anything she wanted him to.

  After the meal, Josie followed him into the living room while Lencha went to feed her animals. He sat on the worn brown tweed sofa and she curled up beside him in the corner, facing him.

  “What did you find out?”

  “Same story that Lencha told us, but Fry said a missing person’s report had been filed and it should have been in the nationwide database.”

  “But it wasn’t?”

  “No. If it was, we would have known who you were that first week.”

  She studied the tips of her fingernails. “Someone is lying.”

  “Yes.”

  “How did it go at the Silver Spur?”

  “Same story. Boone said he wasn’t there the evening you came out to see him, but you and Lorna had an argument about your father and mother. Lorna called your mother some names and you stormed out saying you were leaving and never coming back.”

  Her hands curled into fists and she squeezed her eyes shut. “I don’t remember.”

  “Ashley seemed genuinely concerned about you,” he told her, to ease her stress. “And so was Boone.”

  Her eyes flew open. “He was?”

  “Yes. He ordered me to find you.”

  “Moments pop into my mind like bubbles in a bubble bath and dissipate just as quickly. But the memory of my grandfather is very strong. We had this strange relationship. At first, he seemed to hate me because I was Marie’s daughter, then he wanted me in Beckett and he started buying me all these things.” She ran her palms down the thigh of her jeans. “He’s the one who bought me those Egyptian cotton sheets and had central air and heat installed in this house. Said a Beckett had to have the best. In the next breath he’d say he was bringing his son’s body back to Silver Spur and we’d argue. I was determined not to move my father away from my mother.” She chewed on the inside of her lip. “I wonder if he had it done while I was gone. I’ll have to ask Lencha.”

  One sentence stuck in Caleb’s mind. Boone had bought her the sheets. Not a boyfriend or a husband as they’d originally thought when she was in the hospital remembering bits and pieces of her life. Eric hadn’t bought them for her. Why did that make him feel so good?

  He channeled his thoughts back to the conversation. “I think it’s time for you to make an appearance. Today was just a trial run. Tomorrow we’ll get more answers and you can find out about your father.”

  She took a deep breath. “Yes, I agree. It’s time.”

  “Just remember this will be dangerous. Once everyone knows you’re alive, the person who tried to kill you could try again.”

  She nodded. “I know and I’m ready. I want my life back.”

  Caleb stood, not wanting to think about a life without her. That would come soon enough. “Now, I need to find a place to spend the night. Any motels in Beckett?”

  She looked up at him. “You’ll stay here. There’s an extra bedroom and Lencha won’t mind.”

  “What won’t Lencha mind?” the woman asked walking into the living room in rubber boots, Chula on her shoulder.

  “That Caleb stays here,” Josie informed her.

  “No. Don’t mind a bit. If someone’s gonna try to hurt Josie then I want you near. My spells are not as strong as they used to be.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.” He wanted to be close, too, just in case someone was that stupid.

  Lencha sank into her recliner. “Just remember you’ll be sharing the bathroom with two women, so don’t embarrass us.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  CALEB SLEPT SOUNDLY on a featherbed with a strange smell wafting around him. Jars of herbs and bottles filled with all colors of liquid he hadn’t a clue about were on the dresser. Items Lencha made cures and potions out of, he was sure of that. At four he awoke with a start and listened. Noise. Someone was in the kitchen. He crawled out of bed and opened the door. Lencha’s light was on so it had to be her.

  Good God! What was she doing at this time of the morning? Probably weaving spells or something, he thought as he went back to bed. Lencha was as eccentric as Boone. How weird it must be for Josie to be caught between them.

  When he finally awoke, he got out of bed and headed for the bathroom, taking a shower, shaving and getting dressed. Josie’s door was closed so she still had to be asleep. He walked into the kitchen inhaling the smell of coffee.

  Lencha poured him a cup. “You’re up early.”

  “I’m an early riser.” He took a sip. “And so are you.”

  “Yep. Always have been,” she replied, taking a bowl out of the refrigerator.

  The stuff in the bowl looked weird, like puffed-up or swollen
raisins. “What’s that?” he couldn’t help but ask.

  “Golden raisins soaked in gin.”

  “That’s a relief. Thought it was eye of newt or something.”

  “Don’t be cute, Ranger McCain.” Her voice was stern, but there was a twinkle in her eyes. “Eat nine raisins soaked in gin every morning for my rheumatism.”

  “Why not just drink the gin?”

  She gave him a look. “It’s not the same thing. It’s the chemical reaction of the raisins and gin that helps rheumatism. Not an ache or pain in my body.”

  “I’ll remember that for future reference.”

  “Good. I can cure most things or at least I have remedies that might help. God gave us natural cures from the plants he put on this earth. All that stuff you get from your doctor is poison.” She turned toward the stove. “Making chocolate pancakes for Josie. Want some?”

  “Are you kidding?” His eyebrow lifted.

  “Not that I’m aware of.”

  He smiled, and shifted his thoughts to Josie’s memory recall. “Lencha, it would be best if you don’t give Josie a lot of information about her life. The doctor said it was best for her to remember on her own.”

  “Figured that out myself, Ranger.”

  He nodded, sipping on his coffee.

  Josie walked in dressed in jeans and white short-sleeved fitted blouse. Her dark hair was pinned at the back of her head. Her eyes were bright and she looked ready to face this day.

  He pointed a finger at her, unable to keep a grin from spreading across his face. “You’re a chocoholic.”

  “Yes.” She kissed Lencha’s cheek. “Guilty. You know my secret.”

  “You should weigh at least three hundred pounds.”

  She made a face. “Bite your tongue.”