water. The gelding was too warm and too tired to misbehave. A sigh of contentment eased through the big body as Sky began rubbing him down with a towel. Sky usually found the job relaxing. But right now his thoughts were tumbleweeds in the wind.
Laurenâs departure had left him smarting, but she was the least of his worries. The discovery heâd made today had to be dealt with. That would mean involving Will, Beau, and ultimately the lawâmost likely the DEA, since Abner Sweeney didnât seem competent to handle anything more serious than a traffic ticket.
But first he needed to talk with Marie. Heâd hoped for a free afternoon to drive into town and catch her before the bar got busy. But it hadnât happened, and now he couldnât wait any longer. He would go back to the Blue Coyote tonight before closing time, and he wouldnât leave until he found out what she was doing in Blanco Springs.
The little girl he remembered was long gone. He could only hope the hardened woman whoâd taken her place would tell him the truth.
CHAPTER 7
I t was ten-fifteen when Sky pulled his pickup into the parking lot at the Blue Coyote. The bar closed at eleven on weeknights, and the lot was already thinning out. As Sky switched off the engine he saw Abner Sweeney, still in uniform, stroll out the front door, cross the crumbling asphalt, and climb into a gleaming maroon Ford Explorer, so new that it still had the temporary license permit stuck to the rear window. Either Abner had been saving his pennies, or his promotion to sheriff had given him a nice bump in pay. Or maybe heâd just done somebody a big favor.
Never mind, Sky lectured himself. Having a new vehicle wasnât against the law. And the reason heâd come here had nothing to do with Abner.
Marie was working. As Sky stepped through the door she glanced up to meet his eyes, then tore her gaze away. She looked drawn and harried, the scar a white slash against the olive skin of her face. Except for that scar and her grim expression, she looked much the way Sky remembered his mother.
Stella was nowhere in sight, but her half brother, Nigel, was on duty behind the bar. Sky remembered the boots and the tracks. There werenât many biker types in a cowboy town like Blanco Springs. But the bar would have been open at the time Sky had heard the motorcycle. Nigel would have been working. So, most likely, would Marie.
Finding an empty booth, Sky sat down to wait. Marie was the only one serving seated customers. Sooner or later she would come to him. When she did, heâd have the twenty-dollar bill, with the note folded inside, ready to give her.
Blue pickup, parking lot, after closingâor tell me when and where.
Stella wandered in from the back hallway, tugging down her skin-tight denim skirt. Sky turned away, shifting his face toward the back of the booth. If the woman decided to corner him, that could keep Marie at a distance.
âWhatâll it be, mister?â Marie stood next to the booth. Sky kept his eyes lowered as he fished the money with the note out of his pocket.
âCorona, no glass.â He handed her the bill. âBring me back ten and keep the rest.â
âThanks.â Her voice betrayed nothing as she turned away and headed for the cash register at the end of the bar. Sky cautioned himself not to watch her. Stella had sharp eyes and a suspicious nature. If Marie wanted to treat him like a stranger, heâd be smart to play along. It was clear that she didnât want her boss to know about her connection to the Fletcher family.
Marie came back with the beer, along with ten dollars that she laid on the table. No reply note and no eye contact. Did that mean he was to wait outside for her, or was she blowing him off?
Sky sipped his beer, taking his time. Stella gave him a wink and a wave but didnât sidle over and join him, which was all to the good. At ten minutes to eleven, he walked outside
Laurenâs departure had left him smarting, but she was the least of his worries. The discovery heâd made today had to be dealt with. That would mean involving Will, Beau, and ultimately the lawâmost likely the DEA, since Abner Sweeney didnât seem competent to handle anything more serious than a traffic ticket.
But first he needed to talk with Marie. Heâd hoped for a free afternoon to drive into town and catch her before the bar got busy. But it hadnât happened, and now he couldnât wait any longer. He would go back to the Blue Coyote tonight before closing time, and he wouldnât leave until he found out what she was doing in Blanco Springs.
The little girl he remembered was long gone. He could only hope the hardened woman whoâd taken her place would tell him the truth.
CHAPTER 7
I t was ten-fifteen when Sky pulled his pickup into the parking lot at the Blue Coyote. The bar closed at eleven on weeknights, and the lot was already thinning out. As Sky switched off the engine he saw Abner Sweeney, still in uniform, stroll out the front door, cross the crumbling asphalt, and climb into a gleaming maroon Ford Explorer, so new that it still had the temporary license permit stuck to the rear window. Either Abner had been saving his pennies, or his promotion to sheriff had given him a nice bump in pay. Or maybe heâd just done somebody a big favor.
Never mind, Sky lectured himself. Having a new vehicle wasnât against the law. And the reason heâd come here had nothing to do with Abner.
Marie was working. As Sky stepped through the door she glanced up to meet his eyes, then tore her gaze away. She looked drawn and harried, the scar a white slash against the olive skin of her face. Except for that scar and her grim expression, she looked much the way Sky remembered his mother.
Stella was nowhere in sight, but her half brother, Nigel, was on duty behind the bar. Sky remembered the boots and the tracks. There werenât many biker types in a cowboy town like Blanco Springs. But the bar would have been open at the time Sky had heard the motorcycle. Nigel would have been working. So, most likely, would Marie.
Finding an empty booth, Sky sat down to wait. Marie was the only one serving seated customers. Sooner or later she would come to him. When she did, heâd have the twenty-dollar bill, with the note folded inside, ready to give her.
Blue pickup, parking lot, after closingâor tell me when and where.
Stella wandered in from the back hallway, tugging down her skin-tight denim skirt. Sky turned away, shifting his face toward the back of the booth. If the woman decided to corner him, that could keep Marie at a distance.
âWhatâll it be, mister?â Marie stood next to the booth. Sky kept his eyes lowered as he fished the money with the note out of his pocket.
âCorona, no glass.â He handed her the bill. âBring me back ten and keep the rest.â
âThanks.â Her voice betrayed nothing as she turned away and headed for the cash register at the end of the bar. Sky cautioned himself not to watch her. Stella had sharp eyes and a suspicious nature. If Marie wanted to treat him like a stranger, heâd be smart to play along. It was clear that she didnât want her boss to know about her connection to the Fletcher family.
Marie came back with the beer, along with ten dollars that she laid on the table. No reply note and no eye contact. Did that mean he was to wait outside for her, or was she blowing him off?
Sky sipped his beer, taking his time. Stella gave him a wink and a wave but didnât sidle over and join him, which was all to the good. At ten minutes to eleven, he walked outside
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