Reunited with the Rancher (Texas Cattleman's Club: Blackmail 3)

The questions came at her constantly, and there were no answers.

Three

When they got to town, Tom parked in front of the sheriff’s office and carried the CPU inside. Nathan greeted them and shook Tom’s hand. “We don’t have much in the way of good leads and I don’t expect to get anything from your computer, but I need to check it out. I hope both of you will go to the meeting Monday.”

“We plan to,” Tom said. “I’ll help in any way I can. Just let me know.”

“Thanks,” Nathan said. The sheriff was tall and had friendly brown eyes. “I’d like to talk to each of you, one at a time. Emily, want to go first?”

“Sure,” she answered, smiling at him. He was slightly older than Tom and she, but she knew him and his wife, Amanda, who owned the Royal Diner, which was a town fixture.

Emily went into his office and tried to answer his questions. She was with him only a short time and then he talked to Tom. Their session was also brief.

Soon both men came out of Nathan’s office. “If either one of you think of anything to tell me, just call, no matter what the hour is. I want this Maverick caught.”

“I think most of the people in Royal probably want him caught quickly,” Emily said.

“Sorry we weren’t more help, Nathan,” Tom said. “I’ll keep thinking about any possibilities.”

“Sure. Both of you try to make the meeting Monday. I’m shocked that Emily was a target. And it could have been to get at you, but why you? You don’t have any real enemies around these parts.”

“You never know—you can aggravate someone without even knowing it. Since there are several people now who’ve received these Maverick messages, I’d say this is a sour character who has a lot of grudges.”

“You’re right. I want to catch him—or her. I’m sure Emily’s computer will be the same as the others—we can’t trace where the messages originated. Maverick may be mean, but he’s not stupid.”

Nathan followed them outside, and the three of them stood for a moment in the late-afternoon sun. “Emily, since you’ve moved into your uncle’s house here in town, if you need us at any time, just call. I’m glad Tom is there now, because that takes away some worries.”

“We’ll keep in touch,” Tom promised as he took Emily’s arm lightly. He was saying goodbye to the sheriff, paying little attention to her, but with each of Tom’s touches, the contact was startling. How could he still do this to her when they were no longer in love and headed for divorce? They had no future together, she was annoyed he had taken charge of her life and was staying with her, yet the slightest contact was electrifying. She hoped her reaction didn’t show.

They told Nathan goodbye and walked to the car. As they drove away, Tom glanced at her. “Let’s stop at the diner and get a burger.”

“Sure,” she answered, knowing Tom was probably hungry, but suspecting he wanted people in Royal to see them together.

Everything they did reminded her of old times with him, which made her sad, but at the same time, she couldn’t keep from enjoying his company.

They drove the short distance down Main and stopped at the Royal Diner for burgers. Too many things she did with Tom reminded her of their life when everything was exciting and they were in love. The reminders hurt and made her realize how her expectations had been destroyed and there wasn’t any putting their marriage back together. They might fool Maverick, but it was going to cost her peace of mind to have Tom hovering around.

They sat down in a booth upholstered in red faux leather. “How many times have we eaten burgers or had a malt here?” she couldn’t resist asking Tom.

He smiled at her. “Too many to keep track, but my mind was never on the burgers or the malts.”

“I doubt mine was, either,” she said, remembering how exciting he was to her. “This is the first place you asked me to go with you—to get a malt.”

“I remember,” he said, focusing on her with a direct gaze that made her warm. “After you ran into my car.”

“That was one of the first times I ever took the car. I just didn’t see you when I pulled out of the school parking lot. It’s a good thing you had quick reflexes, because it would have been a worse wreck if you hadn’t put on your brakes.”

“That seems so long ago. Your uncle Woody was understanding about the whole thing. His insurance paid for my car and he had faith in you. He knew you’d learn to drive, and I guess he figured you’d be more careful after hitting my car.”

“I was definitely more careful.”

“It was worth it to get you to pick me up every morning and take me to school while my car was being fixed,” Tom said, smiling at her.

“I thought so, too,” she said, loving to see him smile. The sad times they’d experienced had taken away smiles and laughter, but before that she had always had more fun with Tom than anyone else. “I liked picking you up, except it was embarrassing, too, because everyone in school knew what I’d done.”

He leaned across the table, and his voice dropped as he spoke softly. “Remember our first kiss? I do.”

She looked into his bedroom eyes and drew a deep breath. But it felt as if all the air in the diner suddenly vanished. She couldn’t keep from glancing at Tom’s mouth, thinking about his kisses, remembering them in exacting detail and wanting to kiss him again.