Leaving Liberty, a Western Romance (Book 5) (Texas Hearts)

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  Chapter Nine

  Libby looked at Jackson across from the dinner table. He’d found a set of candlesticks in the cabinet when they were setting the table and insisted they dine by candlelight. When she told him they were having Shepherd’s Pie, hardly a candlelight dinner meal, he still insisted. Libby decided maybe a little romantic atmosphere wouldn’t hurt.

  “You surprised me today,” she said.

  Jackson’s face glowed against the low light of the candles. His hard features would be menacing if she didn’t find him so handsome. He didn’t have the typical chiseled look of a stud from a magazine ad peddling cologne or some other product. Jackson was real. And he was here with her. Libby fought to keep from making a fool of herself by sighing or doing something equally as silly as that.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “You don’t even know what it is that surprised me.”

  “That you noticed anything at all about me is flattering.”

  A blush burned her cheeks. She didn’t want to be here with Jackson Gentry like this. Aside from Cole, she’d never been alone in this house with another man. She wasn’t a teenage girl with her father watching over her, making sure no boys were taking liberties they shouldn’t. She was a woman.

  “What?”

  She hadn’t realized she’d chuckled, but seeing the quizzical look on Jackson’s face, she realized she had.

  Shaking her head, she said, “I was just thinking about my father.”

  She loved Jackson’s expressions. They changed so readily that she couldn’t imagine how he could ever play poker and win. You knew his emotions just by looking at him. Right now, all she saw was deep sympathy in his beautiful blue eyes.

  “What were you thinking?” he asked.

  “That he would have liked you.”

  His eyebrows raised. “Really?”

  She nodded. “My father didn’t like games. He was honest to the core. As annoying as this investigation has been for me, he would have liked your straight forward approach, making sure the job got done right. He admired that in a man.”

  “That’s a nice compliment.” Jackson looked away as if he were hiding a blush and then shook his head with a smile. “Two compliments in one night. I don’t know if I can stand it.”

  She laughed then. “You’ve reached your quota, Ranger Gentry.” She reached across the table and picked up her empty dish and glass. He did the same. “I’ll get it,” she said. “Isadore would whip me.” She laughed. “Sounds like Isadore ran the show at your ranch.” He shrugged. “My mother did, but Isadore was a close second. And after mom passed…” “Your mother must have been quite a woman.” He cornered her at the sink. “You’re quite a woman, Libby.” She’d seen desire in him before, fleeting in between his professionalism. He’d always pull back and remain distant when talking about her father’s case. But the attraction between them was always there. And it was there now. Except this time, like in the barn, Jackson did nothing to hide it. She watched the rise and fall of his chest as he stood beside her. Then as his hand reached up and touched her cheek, slowly moving along her delicate skin, sending shivers through her body. Still, she did not look away. “I didn’t plan on this,” he said. “Does anyone?” He kissed her lips lightly and then pulled back with a smile. She wanted more, but the playfulness of his smile had her curious. “Come to San Antonio with me,” he said. Her mouth dropped open. “Why would I do that?” “Because I asked nicely,” he said, revealing his deep dimple with his smile. “You’re out of your mind.” “I’m not denying that. But I have a reason.” “I can’t just go skipping off to San Antonio.” “It’s a two and a half hour ride. You can sleep in the car to rest.” “What’s so big about San Antonio?” “Aside from getting to spend a whole lot of time with me, my brother and his band are playing at a club in San Antonio. He just texted me when he found out I was here in Liberty. I haven’t seen him in a while because he’s been on the road and recording some new music. You said you liked his music.” “I like a lot of music.” “Are you always this difficult?” She couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes. I hear I get it from my mother.” “That’s funny. On more than a few occasions I could swear you were looking at me with that same scowl your dad has in that portrait hanging over the fireplace.” “I don’t scowl.” “If you say so.” “I…don’t think it’s a good idea.” “Of course you don’t. You don’t think anything that has to do with me is a good idea. But let me put it this way. You’re not going to get rid of me regardless. I’m either going to be here working with you where, as I now know, you intend to drive yourself into the ground. Or I’ll be with you on the way to San Antonio where you will get a much needed break from killing yourself with work. I’m sure Dr. Gordon will be only too happy that I am dragging your backside out of town for the day.” “Chores still need to be done.” “Yeah, I know. That’s why I called Dane and asked if he knew of some ranch hands who wanted some extra work. Luckily for you, he did. His three nephews just came back to Liberty for a visit with his sister.” “Dane’s nephews? But they’re kids.” “Hardly. The youngest one, Colton, is almost sixteen and is used to working on his farm. The oldest is twenty-two.” “I knew Dane’s sister Mallory had kids, but I hadn’t realized the boys had gotten so big. It’s been years since I’ve seen her.” “He said they’re hard workers and don’t expect much in the way of pay. They’ll work at the ranch for the week. Dane said he’ll be stopping by to check on them.” She shook her head. “I have some petty cash I can use to pay them. But I can’t afford—” “You can’t afford not to, Libby.” She bit her bottom lip and thought a moment. “John Bennett has had his eye on one of my father’s rifles for some time. My father always said that rifle was money in the bank if we ever needed it. Maybe he’ll buy it. If Dane’s nephews are anything like Dane, they’ll be good workers and get a lot done, so it’ll be money well spent.” Libby hated the idea of selling off family items. But if it got the job done, then she’d do it. When she glanced over at Jackson, she saw nothing but sympathy. “I know this is hard on you.” “Do you?” “Yes. I’ve never been in this position. But I do know what it’s like to feel lost like that. When my mother died, I saw my father become something I’d never seen before. Bitter. It effected everyone. Especially Brock. It took a long time for him to come into his own and now he has. I’d like to see him in his element and I’d like to share that with you.” Her chest squeezed tight with emotion. “Why do you have to be so sweet?” “It’s a disguise. I’m really a big meany.” Libby chuckled at the face he made. Time away from the ranch, even if only for the day, might do her some good and get her out of the funk she’d been in for so long. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone to San Antonio. It was probably with Hannah before she’d left for the military. Before life got so crazy that she didn’t recognize it. “When is your brother playing?” “Thursday night.” “I’ll give Dane a call.”

  * * *

  Libby had never understood quite what the allure of her father’s rifle was to John Bennett. But she was happy that John had jumped on the chance to buy it when she’d called him. Lucky for her, she’d done some research on the Internet about the worth of that old rifle so she could negotiate a much higher price than what John had originally offered. The smile on the man’s face as he’d paid Libby told her he was not only pleased with his purchase, but that she’d given him a good run for his money, even though she’d settled lower than the value of the gun. “It’s a win-win for both of us, Libby. Your dad would be impressed,” was the last thing John had said before she’d left. John had no idea the impact his words had on her. She drove home wondering if her dad would approve of her decision or if he’d be angry that she’d relented in giving John Bennett something he’d hounded her father about for years. As she parked the car in front of the house, she decided it didn’t matter. Sitting in the front seat, she recounted the cash in the white envelope. Regardless of how her father would feel about selling the gun, i
t gave Libby a sense of relief. Not only did she have more than enough money to pay Dane’s nephews a full week’s wage, but she had enough money to carry the expenses of the ranch for the rest of the year while she sorted out her father’s estate. Two hours later, Dane introduced her to his nephews and they got to work. She soon learned that like Dane, they weren’t afraid of hard work and took to her instruction well. At the end of the first day, it had Libby wishing they could stay longer than the week. She was just sitting down on the porch with a glass of lemonade when she saw Jackson’s truck rolling down the driveway toward the house. “I wasn’t expecting you today,” she said when Jackson walked slowly up to the porch. He seemed to struggle for words, as if weighing exactly what to say. In the end he just shook his head. “I have no reason other than to see you.” His playfulness was more than Libby could handle. She’d felt good getting things back on track today with the boys handling chore after chore. With one smile from Jackson and she suddenly felt off kilter again. She stifled a smile. “Don’t you have a job?” “Right now, you’re the only reason I’m in town.” “Me? Aren’t you done with the investigation yet?” “I wish.” Her mood went south with the expression he gave her. “If Cole was still here I could ask him some questions. But he’s missing.” “He’s not missing. He’s just not here. Please don’t try to make this into something it’s not.” “Did you know your father hired a private investigator to find out information about Cole?” She heaved a heavy sigh. “Yes.” “Are you going to tell me why?” “My father was helping him. He wanted to find his father.” “Why didn’t Cole hire the private investigator himself?” “That was between my father and Cole. You’ll have to ask him. Does that satisfy your curiosity enough?” He opened his mouth and then closed it. “Did your father keep all the ranch’s guns out in the open?” “All the rifles, except for my father’s prized pieces, are kept on the gun rack in the great room. They’re available for anyone on the ranch to use if need be. The one I just sold was one my father kept in his private safe in his office.” “Are all the guns accounted for?” “As far as I know. Why?” “I talked to Dane earlier about the breaks in the fences along your spread. He told me they’d found some slaughtered cattle along the highway up north.” “What does that have to do with us?” “No one has been here to count your head of cattle. Are you missing any?” She shook her head. “I honestly don’t know. We live pretty close to the border of Mexico. There have been times when people have wandered onto the ranch looking for food or work.” “Has Cole contacted you?” Jackson asked, averting her gaze, but not before she saw the flash of jealousy in his eyes. She looked out at the ranch, at the pretty colors the sunset had painted on the sky as the day faded to night. “That’s one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve seen in a long time. Do you want sit here with a glass of lemonade and watch it with me?” “You’re changing the subject.” “Yes, I am. You see, today was a good day. And tomorrow we’re going to San Antonio. It’s been a long time since I did something just for fun and I don’t want talk of guns or investigations to spoil it.” “Is that homemade lemonade?” “Any Texas gal worth her salt wouldn’t serve anything else.” * * * Libby slept most of the way down to San Antonio. Jackson had hoped it would give them both a chance to talk without having the investigation, her father, Cole or the hard times on the ranch become the main topic. He truly wanted to get to know Libby and discover what was driving her so hard. And then there was the little things that curiosity had him thinking about. He wanted to know why she always covered her glass of lemonade with the palm of her hand when she held the glass. And after that first day of seeing her put on funky socks underneath her cowboy boots, he had the odd obsession of always wanting to know what kind of socks she wore. He was a grown man and he was obsessed with Libby’s socks. But rather than get all those burning questions answered through conversation on the drive to San Antonio, Jackson let Libby sleep. Her fatigue was more pronounced than he would expect in a woman so young and so full of life. With any luck, she’d be full of energy again when they arrived at the club where Brock and his band were playing. As he pulled the truck into the parking lot, Libby’s eyes drifted open. He parked the truck next to the band’s equipment truck, killed the engine and sat for a few seconds, giving Libby time to get her bearings. “We’re here already?” she said, her voice groggy. “We made good time.” Libby wiped her eyes with her fingers and then smooth down her hair with her hand. She wasn’t wearing much make-up and her jeans were new. Jackson had noticed. But she hadn’t needed any pamperings to be beautiful. She just was. “I can’t believe I slept the whole way. I must look like a wreck,” she said, touching the red mark on her cheek from where she’d been leaning against the seat. “You’re beautiful.” Glancing at her watch, she said. “Aren’t we early? I thought you said the show doesn’t start until seven-thirty.” “Brock and the band are doing a sound check right now. We’re going to have dinner with Brock and Josie when they’re done.” He stepped out of the truck and looked around to see where the entrance to the music hall was. A door on the side of the building was open. The sound of someone hitting a drum in a monotonous beat filtered out into the parking lot. “I guess this is the way,” Jackson said. As they walked toward the building, the sound of the music grew louder. Jackson took Libby by the hand and led her inside of the darkened arena. They moved through the back hallway until they reached the door to the arena. A man holding a clipboard stopped giving instructions to one of the workers backstage when he saw them. “No one is allowed back here during sound check,” the man said. “You’ll both have to come back tonight through the main door. You can purchase tickets there if they aren’t sold out.” “Brock Gentry is my brother,” Jackson said. “We’re supposed to be meeting him here.” “Your name?” “Jackson Gentry. This is Liberty Calvert.” The man looked at the list of names on the clipboard, and then nodded his head. Pulling two stage passes out of a stack he had fastened to the clipboard, he said, “Okay, you can go on through. They’re just finishing up sound check now so wait to the side.” The man moved aside so Jackson and Libby could walk into the arena. “I’m impressed,” Libby said, leaning into Jackson as she followed behind him. “Are you sure he’s your brother?” Her teasing smile made Jackson’s heart melt. “He got all the talent but I got all the good looks.” Libby rolled her eyes as she laughed. “One more time with the bass drum,” a woman called out from behind the sound board which was located near the middle of the arena. “I’m getting weird feedback on it out here.” The drummer began kicking a steady rhythm on the bass drum. His expression was one of boredom. “Okay, that’s good,” the woman called out. Jackson knew from talking to Brock that the woman behind the sound board was Josie Tibbs, the new love of Brock’s life. By the way his brother talked, things between Brock and Josie were pretty serious. He was happy to finally be meeting her. “Brock, let me hear a few lines through your microphone,” Josie called out. The sound check continued for a few more minutes until Brock noticed Jackson and Libby standing on the sidelines. His brother’s bored expression immediately brightened. “Hey, you made it!” Brock yelled into the microphone, causing feedback that made everyone wince and groan. “We all thank you for that, Brock,” Josie said, laughing. Glancing over at Jackson and Libby, Josie waved from her position behind the sound board as Brock jumped off the stage. Brock winked at Josie as he ran over to Jackson. It had been a long time since he’d seen his younger brother. Brock had been on the road for a while. He had been on the road even longer. It only emphasized how much distance Jackson had put between himself and his brothers since their mother died.