Angi Morgan - The Cattleman

“Oh, it’s entirely my pleasure. Do you want some tea or something?” Kate didn’t wait. She waved at Brandie and raised her own glass. “Add another iced tea to our bill, please.”

“You aren’t ready to leave?” Beth asked, eager to escape the peering eyes of Marfa citizens breaking for lunch.

“Believe me, I’m so ready. But we’re waiting for Pete and Andrea. They’re staying at the house and babysitting Danver. Cord and I have been called to Lubbock for a couple of days. We’re flying there when we get back.” She leaned across the table and brushed her son’s full head of soft hair.

“Keep your voice down, Kate. You don’t know who’s going to overhear,” Cord said, giving the entire room another look and landing on the mechanic leaning in the archway to the gas station.

Beth cringed at the thought of facing Andrea. The sheriff’s girlfriend had no reason to trust her abilities. Her inadequacy with horses had put Andrea in danger and was yet another reason Beth needed to learn how to ride.

“I’m glad you thought about me for a shopping trip.” Beth searched the occupants, too, giving the mechanic a closer look. He seemed too alert, watching his surroundings constantly. Almost like she paid attention to details and her surroundings. A well-toned body was hidden under his coveralls. He wiped his hands as if he was used to grease under his nails. Cord watched him for a couple of minutes, raised an eyebrow and the man left.

“You’re the perfect excuse to take off for the afternoon,” Kate continued, smiling at her husband. “Just girls. Baby and husband free for the first time in months. Cord only trusts me to be out with someone licensed to carry.”

“I’ve got a good reason for keeping you close,” the Ranger mumbled before turning to Beth. “You do have your weapon, right?”

“Yes, sir.”

Kate ignored Beth’s response and her husband’s question, for that matter. “Shopping over the internet and in downtown Marfa’s just not the same as trying on clothes. And especially picking out things for someone else.”

“Where can you buy clothes here?” Beth lowered her voice so the rest of the café wouldn’t think she was complaining. If her cover was going to work, she had to make them think she actually liked their small town. “The commercial part of Marfa is about the same size of one block in downtown Chicago. Comparing the two just depresses me. Sorry, I know this is your home.”

“Not a problem. We know it’s a culture shock for most. I attended school in Austin. Cord’s originally from Dallas. Believe me, sometimes I really miss the convenience of a department store just a few minutes away.”

The bell above the door rang and Andrea entered, the sheriff at her side. Kate waved and called the couple over. Beth wanted to tap “Jingle Bells” with her nails, she was so nervous.

The last time she’d seen Pete Morrison, he’d been fanatically expressing his opposition to her being kept on the task force—agreeing with everything Nick said. Of course, she hadn’t been an asset rescuing Andrea from the gunrunners. She’d lost control of her horse, which had forced Nick to leave the group to rescue her.

The two couples shared pleasantries and Andrea sat next to her. While Kate invited Andrea to join them in Alpine, Beth could just nod and smile.

“Would you two want anything?” Brandie asked, handing Beth the iced tea.

“You should take the afternoon off and come with us, Brandie,” she said. Then the conversation couldn’t be about all her screwups.

“Sorry, I’d love to get some Christmas shopping done, but I’ve already sent the extra help home.”

Rotten luck. Now it was inevitable that the afternoon girl talk would include men. The two women might even be bold enough to ask about her night in the mountains with Nick. She wouldn’t trade their night together, but the circumstances leading to it were consistently embarrassing.

Evade, tell the truth or lie? Three options she wasn’t looking forward to. Before she could dwell on a decision, the ladies stood, handed off baby stuff—including the baby Andrea now held—and were ready to leave.

Both women knew she worked undercover and both knew she was locating herself at the ranch as bait. But she still couldn’t let down her guard. She needed the shopping trip, but she needed to prove her abilities at the same time. From downtown Marfa, it was a thirty-five minute ride, straight highway with no traffic. She could keep things casual that long.

“Cord wants you to be on your toes. Both of you, of course,” Kate stated once they were on the road. “Having a conversation with both law enforcement entities should clue whoever’s watching exactly which side you’re on, Beth. Bait the hook, so to speak.”

“I figured.”

“A day off from hiding while you’re here in Marfa should be nice,” Kate said.

“Or hiding that I prefer city life in Chicago.” She couldn’t forget that she didn’t belong here. “My muscles are shouting with joy that they’re going shopping.”

“I’m done with cities. I love the stars too much,” Andrea said.

Beth was having an honest conversation she couldn’t afford to have at the ranch, even when she thought Juliet was the only person within earshot. The task force didn’t know who supplied information to the cartel. All the workers on the Rocking B had to be treated like suspects. As did almost all the residents of the county.

“You know,” she said, leaning back against the seat and stretching, “this is terrific. I’m in such a good mood. Nothing is going to stop me from feeling great. Not even Nick’s running away.”

Kate and Andrea looked at her from the front seat.

Oops. She hadn’t meant to be that relaxed this afternoon. Should she have told the task-force team while they were sitting in the café? Yes. Instead she’d shared it with their significant others just a few moments later.

“Nick ran away?” Andrea asked, laughing. “That’s hilarious. Are you sure his horse wasn’t frightened?”

“Andrea, don’t make me referee. I haven’t been out in almost a year.” Kate was calm and firm.

“Okay, I’ll take the one hit that I don’t deserve. I told everyone up-front that I don’t ride a horse, but I do apologize for missing out on all the fun that happened while I was in the mountains.”

“If you’re talking about all the fun of being abducted, you didn’t miss much.” Andrea was still understandably upset. “I don’t know Nick very well, but I can’t blame him for not wanting to get involved further. Not after being shot last year and then almost shot a second time. I don’t want Pete to face any of those murderers again, but there’s no way around it. He’s the sheriff.”

“I know Nick very well.” Kate caught Beth’s curious gaze in the rearview mirror. “He’ll be back.”

If she pretended not to have an opinion, maybe the subject would change without her admitting anything. She’d seen Nick’s bravery up close. She was the reason he’d been caught and held at gunpoint. He was probably out there right now looking for signs of the cartel traveling across his land.

“Nick’s okay. He’s just stubborn,” she finally said.

Kate lifted her wheat-blond hair off her neck. “Cord forced this on him and he’s rebelling.”

“From what Pete tells me, you should know. Isn’t he an old boyfriend?” Andrea asked.

Boyfriend? That must be a bit awkward for Nick. And a small detail Kate and Juliet had left out of their proposition. The awkward conversation was definitely revealing.

“I’ve known him since we were children. Nick was never my boyfriend, no matter how much everyone believes it.” Her eyes looked only into the mirror, connecting with Beth’s a second time. “Should you talk about this with the guys? You can call as soon as we get to Alpine.”