The Sheriff (16 page)

“How would they use the UFO convention? It’s not like there are crowds and crowds of people wandering everywhere. The thing draws a couple of thousand at best. And that’s during the concerts. They’ve only been having the conference for a couple of years now.” Pete caught himself shoving his hair back and resituating his hat. A habit Andrea had drawn to his attention when she’d arranged his hair with gel. His fingers had gotten stuck a couple of times in the stiff edges. After every shower now, he stopped himself when he reached for the styling tube.

“I don’t know, Pete. All I can confirm is what my informant tells me. And that’s all he’s got.”

“What’s the deal with your task force? Do I need to be doing anything differently?”

Cord stretched his back. He’d been shot several years before by drug traffickers. All those men were behind bars or hadn’t survived a second confrontation. “Naw. Just keep being the sheriff and keep Allen’s daughter safe. You could let me know who you’ll be sending to the aliens conference.”

“You got it.” Exactly what he’d thought. He’d been put on the task force only because of Andrea. “Cord, I know Andrea’s being used as bait.”

“I didn’t think it would stay a secret from you long.”

“Is that right? Why?”

Cord raised a curious eyebrow. “Come on, man. I saw the way you two looked at each other. The tension the other night could be cut with a knife. She insisted on staying at your place, having you as her protection detail. Allen wanted you in charge of the border detail.”

So those were her terms.

Cord clapped him on the back. “I can see that brain of yours working, pal. That’s right. Miss Allen wouldn’t trust anyone else with her life. Just you. Go ahead, stick that chest out a little farther. Does that make you feel more important?”

They both laughed, but he did feel more competent.

“Just so you know, I’ll be filling her in on our suspicions that something’s happening. I want her to be prepared.”

“Makes sense.”

“Kate and the new baby okay? We haven’t seen much of her around town.”

“They stay close to the house, but they’re great. Danver’s a regular roly-poly. Kate’s brother David is coming in at the end of the month, which is a code word for barbecue with the McCreas. Bring your dad.”

“Sure. As long as this thing’s over by then.”

“You realize that we’re never going to be done with drug traffickers trying to make a buck. We stop this group, another one is standing right behind it ready to take up the reins and harness a new set of horses. It’ll never be over,” Cord said sadly.

“Job security. What more can a man ask for?” He shrugged. At least Cord had job security. The position of sheriff—no matter how competent Pete felt—might be out of the question for him.

“There’s more to life, man. I hope you’ll find out what soon.” He tipped his hat. “See you around. I’ll give you a holler if my guy comes through with more info about the shipment.”

“I’ll have additional deputies in or near Presidio. They were already on the schedule to be at the UFO conference. Hard to understand that’s the date they’re choosing...when we have
more
men posted there.”

“My source is more reliable than they normally come. It ain’t gospel, but it’s close. Take care now.” Cord closed the door of his truck and drove out on the broken trail.

Pete stayed put, leaning on his Tahoe, watching the first evening star shine in the darkening sky. Andrea would have been dropped off about an hour ago. His dad was driving her from the ranch to the observatory and a deputy would pick her up in the morning and drive her to the ranch.

He would have to talk to her sooner or later. They couldn’t keep successfully avoiding each other. He finished his soda and crushed the can, tossing it into the back. A couple of minutes on the road and he could make a call.

“Dispatch, reassign the driver for Miss Allen in the morning. I’ll be picking her up myself.”

“You don’t say,” Peach answered. “I told Honey you’d come around.”

“Thanks for the confidence.”

“Well, we did raise you as a hero, not a coward.”

“I’ll be signing off now, Dispatch.”

“’Night, Sheriff.”

Not a coward. For the past three days, he sure as hell had been one where Andrea Allen was concerned. Dammit.

*

P
ETE
WAVED
AT
Randy Grady still on his feet at the door where Andrea was working. “Didn’t they have a chair for your shift?”

“I didn’t want to get too comfortable and nod off. You said to stay on our toes. I thought your dad was picking up Miss Allen?” They shook hands.

“He had an errand this morning, so I’m filling in.”

“How’s the arm?”

Pete stretched it across his chest. “Surprisingly good.”

“Heard you passed out.” Randy snickered under his breath.

“More from a lack of sleep than this thing.”

“Right.” Randy sang a song as he said the one word, doubting. He trotted down the sidewalk and stopped. “She’s a nice woman. Any chance this protective detail will be over before she blows town?”

“Don’t think so. Not with her father.”

“Totally understand. I’d keep her for myself, too. I’ll head out, then.”

“It’s not like that.” But at the back of his mind, he knew it was. Randy disappeared down the path, and Pete stopped himself from shouting a denial.

He watched the sky lighten in the east through the treetops. Andrea would be out any minute. Why had he decided to pick her up? The dare from Peach? He had nothing to prove. Andrea would be gone at the end of the week without a glance back in his direction.

She didn’t need any of the complications that getting involved with him would bring. The door opened.

“Oh, hi,” Andrea said, then waved behind her. “My ride’s here, guys. See you tomorrow.”

Pete scanned the perimeter, including the skyline for a possible chopper, avoiding eye contact with his assignment. There had been three days without a hint of an incident. None of the deputies had reported any unusual activity. No one had reported any unusual cars or visitors hanging around either Fort Davis or Marfa.

“I’m surprised to see you.”

“Why?”

“Well, Randy was here earlier.”

“He just left. I thought I’d give you a ride back to the ranch. Do you need anything else?”

“Nope, I’ve got everything.” She patted her laptop bag. “Gorgeous morning.”

“That it is.” She was a step ahead of him. He could take a long, good look at her. Gone was the bandage around her wrist, and the bruise was fading. Tight-fitting jeans covered her slender figure. A McDonald Observatory souvenir T-shirt hugged a tiny waist, giving him a terrific view.

They both got inside the Tahoe, and he drove away from the observatory, watching for stalled cars or men on the road. He noticed Andrea’s constant movement and glances behind them. “You seem kind of antsy. Something on your mind?” he asked after a few minutes.

“I was just waiting for you to drop the real reason you’re personally picking me up. I know you’ve been avoiding me. Did something happen? Did they send a new threat?”

“Nothing like that. I thought I’d give you a chance to pick up anything you might need. Our schedules haven’t been conducive for much socializing, that’s all.”
And let you know about the possible threat for the next three days.
But those words stuck in his throat.

“And whose fault is that?”

“I wouldn’t place blame on anyone. It’s just the way it happened to turn out.” Peach’s words argued with his conscience. If he did say something, what good would it do?

“So, did something happen? Do you have a message from my father?”

“Wouldn’t Commander Allen be calling you directly?”

“I really don’t know. This isn’t exactly our normal situation. We normally don’t talk that often.”

“That’s a downright shame.”

Andrea laughed. “You’ve heard all about the educational differences I’ve had with my family. Now it’s your turn to share.”

“My dad and I get along just fine.”

“You can’t get off that easy. I’ve been living in your house. Joe’s walking on eggshells and you guys barely say three words to each other.”

“He had a heart attack, and I’ve sort of been busy.”

“Oh, I know all about that. It’s nothing to take lightly, but he’s exercising and has lost seventeen pounds by changing his diet.”

“How did you know that?”

“He brags about using a new belt hole all the time. You’d know if you were around him for more than five minutes. Is it the upcoming election? Are you afraid he’s going to be upset that you’re taking his job?”

The desire to spill everything to Andrea was tempting. In spite of the nonstop chatter and her irresistible kissing ability, she was easy to talk with. He’d kept his dad’s secret without saying a word for six weeks.

“I take your silence for a yes.”

“Joe Morrison has been ready to retire. I know he’ll miss the people, but he’s been frustrated with the day-to-day stuff for a while now.”

“He said you’re running unopposed, so what’s the problem? Why are you nervous?” she asked.

“You seem pretty cozy with my dad, but I’m not sure this is any of your business.”

“What can I say? I like to talk.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“Are you mad at him because of me? I mean, Joe agreed to help the Commander. I know all this is an added strain. Especially having to drive me back and forth to the observatory.”

“I have an idea. Why don’t we listen to the radio and you take a break from thinking too hard on my problems.”

“Okay, but I don’t do country. Are there any classic rock stations around here?” Andrea turned away.

Pete immediately wanted to spill his guts. He’d been rude in order to stop himself from telling her everything. By the time they turned south into Fort Davis, he was ready to beg her to chatter again. He liked her voice and hadn’t realized how much he’d missed it.

“You’re right,” he said, unable to take the silence.

At least she looked at him, eyebrows arched, waiting for him to continue.

“It’s not...” Could he appease her curiosity without sharing all the details of his problem? No. In a very short time, this woman had gotten into his psyche. He wanted to be honest with her. But he just didn’t know if he could be.

Telling anyone would be risking everything his dad had worked to achieve for thirty years.

“If things were different—” He clammed up...again.

“I get it. This is personal and I’m a stranger.”

“Why is it so important to you?”

“You and your dad have been a big help this week. I owe you a lot. I hate to see your relationship strained because of me.”

“It has nothing to do with you.”

“Okay, I’d believe that. Except, after my dad formed this task force, you didn’t want to have anything to do with me. And Joe said I should just ask you why. I would have sooner, but you made it pretty clear—”

“Wait a minute. Slow down. Dad told you to ask me why?”

“Yes, when he left the meeting Saturday, he said you had a good reason for acting like a jerk.”

“He’s called me worse.”

Andrea turned a nice shade of embarrassed pink. “Sorry, that’s actually my description. But you didn’t even give me a chance to say thanks for saving my life before you completely brushed me off.”

“I think we sort of saved each other. We made a good team.”

“And that has to end?”

He took the vehicle through Marfa and made the last couple of turns to the ranch without responding.

“Look, Andrea, I don’t see the point. You’ll be on a military chopper out of here in four days. I have no doubts your father will keep you as far away as he can from Marfa, Texas, and this drug cartel. After that, you’re trying to get a job on the other side of the world.”

“Oh, so that’s it. You’re afraid of short-term relationships. Have you been burned before?”

He pulled past the front of the house, waving to his dad on the front porch. The grin and waggling eyebrows on his dad’s face were enough of a sign that everything appeared normal. He parked, cut the engine and got a strange feeling his dad expected something to happen with Andrea and him.

She unbuckled, turning his direction. A playful grin replaced the serious expression from earlier. “I got the impression from the nurses the other night that you were a popular guy.”

“Popular? I’ve had a few dates, nothing serious—”

“Hold that thought. Do you hear something?” She opened her door and hopped out before he could react. “Is that a helicopter? Was it following us?”

He drew his weapon as he jumped from the Tahoe, searching, seeing nothing. Andrea continued to the far side of the barn, her face turned to the sky.

“Wait! Don’t run out in the open! Dammit, exactly like what you’re doing.”

Chapter Eighteen

Andrea ran until she got a good look at the helicopter heading away from the ranch. A sense of relief that their day wouldn’t be interrupted swept over her as fast as the pleasant northern breeze. She stopped, and a second later, Pete skidded to a halt behind her. He stretched out his arms to steady her but quickly dropped them to his sides.

“Still alive.” She shrugged. Hopefully indicating that running had been the wrong thing to do. “We don’t have to make a big deal out of this, Pete. I know I shouldn’t run off like that. It won’t happen again.”

“When am I supposed to make a big deal out of it? After they succeed in abducting you?”

Andrea was tired of seeing Pete’s face worried instead of smiling. In the past few days, when that deep furrow appeared across his brow it was because of her. She was also tired of avoiding her attraction. Deep down, she knew that part of the reason she’d stayed in the area was her attraction to this man.

There was just something about him. Something sweet about his silence, though he was strong to his core. She wanted to discover what centered him and made him so easily confident without conceit. Simply put...she wanted to know him better.

So it made perfect sense to kiss him again.

“Did I finally ask something you don’t have an answer for?”