Read Online Texas Pride by Bárbara McCauley - Free Book Online

surface, but Dylan forced it down. He wouldn’t let his past take away from the pleasure of his friend’s happiness. “The first of many, I hope,” Dylan said, and shook Jared’s hand again.
    Both Dylan and Jared tensed at the hoot of a barn owl, then laughed softly and moved around the corner of the barn into the shadows. Jared’s truck was parked a few feet away, out of sight of the hotel.
    Propping one boot against an old wooden water trough, Jared folded his arms and leaned back against the weathered barn. “So what do you think of Jess?”
    Dylan thought it best not to go with the first answer that came to mind. He wanted to wear his teeth, not carry them. “I think she’s going to be mighty ticked off if she finds out you and Jake asked me to come here and take this job so I could keep an eye on her.”
    â€œSo she doesn’t suspect anything?”
    Dylan shook his head. “You almost had me convinced you didn’t know me when she introduced us yesterday. She thinks Jake invited me tonight so the two of you could interrogate me further.”
    â€œI laid it on a little thick,” Jared admitted. “But if I hadn’t, Jess would’ve wondered.”
    â€œShe asked me about South America tonight,” Dylan said. “There was a spark of connection in her eyes.”
    Jared frowned. “We’ll just have to be careful. Even Annie’s been watching me as if she thinks something’s up.”
    â€œShe doesn’t know about any of this?”
    Jared gave a snort of laughter. “I couldn’t tell Annie any more than Jake could tell Savannah. These women hang together. They might think it was deceitful.”
    Dylan couldn’t help but grin. “It is deceitful.”
    Jared shrugged. “But necessary. Jessica’s too damn trusting. She wouldn’t know a bad guy if he stuck a sign on his forehead and introduced himself.”
    Like me, Dylan thought. He’d given her a good example of a bad guy himself tonight, and the thought left him with a sour taste. “Why don’t you tell me exactly what’s going on here?”
    Jared hunkered down and picked up a small piece of splintered wood, then drew a rectangle in the dirt. “Stone Creek is about one hundred thousand acres. This is Jessica’s land, mine is east of here—” he divided the rectangle into smaller boxes “—Jake’s is north, and Emma’s is east of Jake’s. Myrna’s house sits smack-dab in the middle.”
    â€œJessica told me your father left Myrna no land.”
    Jared nodded. “She’s been trying to buy our land since the will was read. First Jake’s, then mine. We both had strange accidents, potentially tragic. We caught the guy responsible for Jake’s problems. He’s in jail, but refuses to implicate anyone else. We suspect he’s been paid well enough by someone else to do the time. The man who tried to sabotage my rig got away before we could question him.”
    â€œYou think he’ll be back?”
    â€œNo. But I think whoever hired these guys will try something with Jessica. She’s an easy target out here by herself.”
    â€œDo you think Myrna’s involved?”
    Jared sighed. “I don’t know. My stepmother has done a lot of selfish things, but it’s hard to believe she’d go this far or actually hurt anyone.”
    â€œSo who, other than Myrna, would gain from this land?”
    â€œIt’s good ranch land. I struck oil a few weeks ago. Jessica’s parcel is closest to the highway, and there’s been some talk of an airport being built west of here somewhere.”
    â€œSo just about everyone,” Dylan said, shaking his head. “And Sam? Stone Creek land would be valuable to a neighboring ranch.”
    â€œSam would never hurt Jessica,” Jared said. “He’s crazy about her.”
    A knot of irritation tightened