Read Online Texas Lawman by Ginger Chambers - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ginger Chambers
Tags: Romance
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yes. ” Crystal lost the baby. “
He closed his eyes and began to rock back and forth, thumping the back of his head against the wooden stall separator.
Jodie didn’t know what to say. She was under no obligation to feel compassion for him, but she would have had to be made of stone if she didn’t feel something. She was quiet for a moment, then said, “Tell me what happened.”
“I don’t know! If i did I’d…” He stopped rocking. “The last time I saw Crystal she was fine. She’d told me about the baby the week before, and I was tryin’ to find a way to work everythin’ out. I saw her before I went into town for a ropin’ contest. I went in early, the Friday evenin’ before it started—last Friday, as a matter of fact, although it seems a lot longer.” He shook his head and continued, “There were card games and such goin’ on. This ropin’ contest is a big draw. It has some nice prize money, and there’s some big pots in the poker games. I thought I could win us some money to live on. Cowboys come from all over with their pockets full. One or two from Texas, even.” He sat forward. “That’s who knows I couldn’t have done it! The fellas I was playin’ cards with that night. All night! There’s four of ‘em. An’ they’ll remember me, ‘cause I. won! I took a bundle off ‘em! Crystal was gonna be so happy” — His voice trailed off in misery and he began rocking once more, his head thumping against the separator.
“Why can’t you tell that to the sheriff?.” Jodie asked.
He looked at her. ‘“CJuse I only know one of their names. This buddy of mine called Joe-Bob. The others” — he shrugged “—well, Joe-Bob knows ‘em. They’re his friends.”
“Then all you have to do is produce this Joe-Bob.” Another hollow laugh. “I wish I could. Like I said, that contest pulled ‘em in from far and wide. And by the time I found out Crystal was in a coma and that Sheriff Preston was lookin’ for me, everybody’d scattered. Moved on back to the ranches they work on or to other places.”
“And Joe-Bob?”
“He’s one of the boys from Texas I told you about. He’d been workin’ on a ranch up in Montana and was on his way back home. Said he’d made arrangements with a rancher in West Texas that was lookin’ for extra hands. That’s why I’m here—to find him.”
“What’s his last name?”
Rio gazed at her steadily. “All I know him by is Joe-Bob. Big o1’ boy, about thirty. Could be part Mexican. Brown hair, dark eyes.”
“If you show your face around here, you’ll get picked up. Tate’s telling everyone to watch out for you.”
“That’s why I need you. To help me find Joe-Bob. Please, Jodie! I know I don’t deserve it, but you’re the only person I can ask.”
“Are you completely out of your mind?”
“I was afraid to turn myself in. Afraid what would happen. You don’t know these Hammonds!”
Jodie could sense his fear. He might be lying about other things, but not that. “I don’t know,” she said slowly. “I have to think.”
He grasped hr by the shoulders. “Don’t think too long, okay? I have to get this straightened out. When Crystal wakes up, she’s gonna wonder what’s happened to me. She’ll think I ran out on her! I’m sure that’s what her daddy and her stepbrothers are gonna tell her.”
Only Rio Walsh would have the gall to ask an old girlfriend-to help him retain the affections of a new one. Jodie gazed at him incredulously and wondered how in the world she’d ever been attracted to him. Even to the point of running off with him. Now she felt nothing but an odd kind of pity.
She wriggled against his hold. “Don’t touch me!” she snapped.
He let go instantly.
They both got to their feet and looked at each other a little awkwardly. This wasn’t the first time they’d had to brush the straw from themselves after being together in this stall. Only, years before, she’d been exhilarated after being
He closed his eyes and began to rock back and forth, thumping the back of his head against the wooden stall separator.
Jodie didn’t know what to say. She was under no obligation to feel compassion for him, but she would have had to be made of stone if she didn’t feel something. She was quiet for a moment, then said, “Tell me what happened.”
“I don’t know! If i did I’d…” He stopped rocking. “The last time I saw Crystal she was fine. She’d told me about the baby the week before, and I was tryin’ to find a way to work everythin’ out. I saw her before I went into town for a ropin’ contest. I went in early, the Friday evenin’ before it started—last Friday, as a matter of fact, although it seems a lot longer.” He shook his head and continued, “There were card games and such goin’ on. This ropin’ contest is a big draw. It has some nice prize money, and there’s some big pots in the poker games. I thought I could win us some money to live on. Cowboys come from all over with their pockets full. One or two from Texas, even.” He sat forward. “That’s who knows I couldn’t have done it! The fellas I was playin’ cards with that night. All night! There’s four of ‘em. An’ they’ll remember me, ‘cause I. won! I took a bundle off ‘em! Crystal was gonna be so happy” — His voice trailed off in misery and he began rocking once more, his head thumping against the separator.
“Why can’t you tell that to the sheriff?.” Jodie asked.
He looked at her. ‘“CJuse I only know one of their names. This buddy of mine called Joe-Bob. The others” — he shrugged “—well, Joe-Bob knows ‘em. They’re his friends.”
“Then all you have to do is produce this Joe-Bob.” Another hollow laugh. “I wish I could. Like I said, that contest pulled ‘em in from far and wide. And by the time I found out Crystal was in a coma and that Sheriff Preston was lookin’ for me, everybody’d scattered. Moved on back to the ranches they work on or to other places.”
“And Joe-Bob?”
“He’s one of the boys from Texas I told you about. He’d been workin’ on a ranch up in Montana and was on his way back home. Said he’d made arrangements with a rancher in West Texas that was lookin’ for extra hands. That’s why I’m here—to find him.”
“What’s his last name?”
Rio gazed at her steadily. “All I know him by is Joe-Bob. Big o1’ boy, about thirty. Could be part Mexican. Brown hair, dark eyes.”
“If you show your face around here, you’ll get picked up. Tate’s telling everyone to watch out for you.”
“That’s why I need you. To help me find Joe-Bob. Please, Jodie! I know I don’t deserve it, but you’re the only person I can ask.”
“Are you completely out of your mind?”
“I was afraid to turn myself in. Afraid what would happen. You don’t know these Hammonds!”
Jodie could sense his fear. He might be lying about other things, but not that. “I don’t know,” she said slowly. “I have to think.”
He grasped hr by the shoulders. “Don’t think too long, okay? I have to get this straightened out. When Crystal wakes up, she’s gonna wonder what’s happened to me. She’ll think I ran out on her! I’m sure that’s what her daddy and her stepbrothers are gonna tell her.”
Only Rio Walsh would have the gall to ask an old girlfriend-to help him retain the affections of a new one. Jodie gazed at him incredulously and wondered how in the world she’d ever been attracted to him. Even to the point of running off with him. Now she felt nothing but an odd kind of pity.
She wriggled against his hold. “Don’t touch me!” she snapped.
He let go instantly.
They both got to their feet and looked at each other a little awkwardly. This wasn’t the first time they’d had to brush the straw from themselves after being together in this stall. Only, years before, she’d been exhilarated after being
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