Kate wore one of the sundresses she’d brought along to Bootleg, topped off with a cute little turquoise and silver necklace and her sandals. Using a curling iron, she managed to give her hair some extra volume. Makeup consisted of a brush of light-brown eye shadow, mascara, and a little lipstick. And then the time was gone.
She picked up her purse and carried it to her favorite rocking chair on the front porch, but Waylon drove up in his big black crew-cab truck before she could sit down. She waved and started in that direction. He shook the legs of his starched and creased jeans down over the tops of his boots when he got out of the truck and rushed around to open the passenger door for her.
“You look like a fresh breath of spring after a long winter,” he said.
“Thank you. I hope that is a good thing,” she answered.
He pulled the seat belt across her body and snapped it shut, and then brushed a soft kiss on her lips before shutting the door. She watched him in the side mirror until he disappeared. Good Lord, but he did fill out those jeans well. She would far rather be looking at him than singing hymns.
“So how was your weekend in Dallas? Was what I gave you any help at all? I let Amanda and Kate read the letters,” she said.
“And?”
“And they said they wanted to finish every one and then we’d talk about them tonight. Your turn, even though I know you can’t discuss the case,” she said.
“The information was a tremendous help to my partner and his new partner, whom he’s bitchin’ about.” Waylon chuckled. “Anyway, between the three of us, we’ve got some solid suspects on the list and aren’t out there chasing our tails. It’s lookin’ good, so thank you.”
“The letters?”
“I’d like copies of them for the evidence files just so we have something tangible with all those names he’s used. We’ll run our own investigation, but if we had a copy of the old report, it would be good,” he answered.
“I’ll get that done this week.”
She had to clasp her hands in her lap to keep from clapping and doing a wiggle dance right there in the truck. To keep from acting like she felt, she turned on the radio and flipped through several stations with preaching before she found one that played only country music.
She could tell by the way he had fidgeted that he was nervous that morning, not wanting to tell her something and yet needing to do so. The closer they got to Wichita Falls, the more he relaxed. Was she losing her famous ability to read people, or had the music calmed him down?
If she’d been in her office trying to broker a deal to buy a smaller oil company that was failing, right then would have been the moment when she made her big move. The buyer would have arrived all tense, and with a little small talk, he would relax and then she would ease into the business aspect of the deal.
Suddenly, she realized that she didn’t miss the business. It was her turn to tense. Maybe Hattie was right and she was ready for a big change. Her hands went clammy and her chest felt like it had stones in it.
“You okay?” Waylon asked.
“Yes, why do you ask?” She’d admitted that she liked working on the ranch. She’d owned up to the fact that she loved Gracie. Jamie and Amanda could pick up and move, but she shouldn’t entertain such a foolish notion.
“You went all stiff and the air in the truck got heavy,” he answered. “So what were you picturing in your mind that made it hard for you to breathe?”
“I was thinking about work, and it hit me that I didn’t miss it. I’m a workaholic like my mother. I love my job. I hate change. I should miss being there at the office, right?”
“You are preaching to the choir. At least up to six months ago, when I sat down on a bar stool with a beer in front of me and my precinct friends around me and suddenly I didn’t want to be there. I wanted to be on the ranch full-time. I love my job, too, and I sure hate change, so I know where you are coming from.”
“So what is your goal?” she asked.
“To finish this case, get my paperwork all signed and sealed, freeze my retirement, and come home to the Double Back Ranch for good. The closer the time gets, the more I want that now that I’ve made up my mind,” he said.
“What about your partner? Is he quitting the force, too?” she asked.
“No, he’s still got ten more years before he gets to decide whether to stay or go. And besides, I know he secretly likes the woman who’s his new partner. She’s smart and has all the newest ways of doing things that get the job done,” he said. “And she’s a helluva lot better looking than his last partner.”
“That would depend on who was doing the judging,” she said.
“So you think I’m a little bit good-looking?” He smiled.
“Waylon Kramer, that’s the low end of the scale. You measure way on up past that.” She flirted.
“Well, now that chases away even more dark clouds.” He grinned.
“Speaking of dark clouds, look over there.” She pointed toward the southwest. “Think that might be bringing in some rain?”
“I hope so. The hay is all in, and the next crop could sure use some watering. Maybe we’ll get caught in it and have to spend the night up here in Wichita Falls,” he said.
“And now we have Luke Bryan with one of his top tunes from last year, ‘Strip It Down,’” the radio DJ said.