StudinTexas (11 page)

“A gift she passed onto you.”

Sky shook her head. “I don’t know about that. All I know is
that my whole life, people have thought I should be a celebrity. And all I ever
wanted was to figure out how to immortalize those recipes my gramma left us. I
never intentionally sought fame and fortune. I capitalized on my God-given
talents, sure. But really, I was just hoping I could make enough money to open
a little patisserie on Main Street. Or put together a cookbook that I could
submit to a publisher.”

Sam said, “You could do both.”

“I might. If I can just get my life straightened out.”

He tucked a curl behind her ear. “You really think you saw
the ex’s car tonight?”

She sighed. “Maybe not. But in the back of my head, I keep
thinking the sudden golden silence is too good to be true.”

“You have a point. Try to get some sleep, though.” He kissed
her cheek. “You’re safe with me.”

In the morning, Sky felt refreshed from another sound
slumber. Between Sam wearing her out with his sinful lovemaking and the fact
that she truly did feel safe with him, she was finally catching up on some
much-needed rest.

He cooked breakfast again while she set plates and
silverware on the counter. They’d showered together and she wore one of his
T-shirts and tied her hair in a low ponytail over a shoulder.

Though she felt relatively at ease, she couldn’t help but
check her phone to see if her bliss was about to be shattered. She retrieved it
from the pocket of her jeans, draped over the chair in Sam’s room, and scrolled
through the missed call log as she returned to the kitchen where Sam flipped
pancakes at the stove.

“Hmm, that’s odd,” she said.

He glanced at her over a bare shoulder. He’d only slipped on
his Levi’s and he was a vision of rugged sexiness with his sinewy back and
tanned skin. But her stomach clenched, eclipsing the desire that flared at the
sight of him.

“What is it?” he asked, concern etched on his
chiseled-to-perfection face.

“Five calls from my friend Lucy at the dance hall. All first
thing this morning. Must be some sort of wedding cake emergency in Luckenbach.”

She called Lucy back. “Hey, there. It’s Sky,” she said when
the line connected.

“Oh sweet Jesus. I have been worried sick about you.”

Sky’s brow furrowed. Sam piled the pancakes on a plate and
joined her at the breakfast bar, his curious gaze on her.

She said into the phone, “What’s going on? I see you’ve been
trying to reach me this morning. Wedding cake disaster?”

“No, it has nothing to do with the dance hall.” Lucy’s voice
was filled with dread. “Lord, Sky. I’ve been going crazy, not being able to
reach you and not knowing where you are.”

“I spent the night in Wilder.”

“I am so glad to hear that.”

“Lucy,
what
is going on?”

“Well,” she said in a more troubled tone. “It’s your
trailer, honey. It caught fire.”

“
What?
” Sky sank onto a stool, shock gripping her
soul. An ominous sensation snaked through her, making her shudder.

Lucy said, “The volunteer firefighters from Fredericksburg
came out and they were blown away by how fast and furiously your trailer
burned. Scorched some trees in the area too. They were worried about your
whereabouts as well. Why, one of them said if you’d been asleep inside, you
might not have been able to get out, the trailer went up in flames so quick.”

She blanched. Her blood ran cold. “Oh my God.”

Sam stepped toward her and gently gripped her upper arm. She
was shaking.

“Honey,” Lucy continued, “they were real suspicious about
the cause of the fire and did some looking around. They found a couple of
containers that still had some gasoline in them. So they’re thinking it was
intentional.”

“Arson?” She could barely get the word out.

Sam’s free hand raked through his hair and he let out a low
groan. “Goddammit.”

“My stuff…?” she muttered.

“Oh, sweetie,” Lucy said. “There ain’t nothing left of your
stuff. I’m telling you, that trailer burned clean to the ground. Who would do
such a thing?”

She knew exactly who. “I feel sick.”

“I think you ought to stay where you are,” Lucy told her. “’Til
the sheriff from Fredericksburg or Wilder figures out what really happened.”
She sighed. “I’m real sorry to be telling you this, Sky. But I am damn glad you
weren’t in that trailer. Why, I just can’t even begin to imagine…” Her voice
tapered off.

Sky swallowed hard. “Thanks for letting me know, Lucy. And
for being concerned about me. I’ll give you a call in a day or so, okay?”

“Sky, are you gonna be all right?”

She stared up at the hunky cowboy whose expression was a
cross between consternation and fury. As though he weren’t sure whether to pull
her into his arms or spit nails—at Mac Willet.

“Yeah, Lucy. I’ll be just fine. I’ll talk to you later.”

She disconnected the call and barely managed to set the
phone on the counter without dropping it, her hand shook so bad.

Staring up at Sam, she told him, “There’s nothing left of my
trailer. The firemen suspect arson. Said if I’d been inside when the fire started,
I—” She sucked in a sharp breath, unable to repeat what Lucy had mentioned
about her not escaping.

“Son of a bitch.” Sam hissed under his breath. His fingers
grazed her cheek, brushing away a few tears. “It’s time to talk to the sheriff,
sweetheart.”

“I know,” she whispered, fear and anxiety gripping her.
“But, Sam.” She continued to gaze up at him, her heart twisting. “If I tell the
sheriff—either here or in Fredericksburg—then I have to tell Reese. Like you
said, she can’t hear about this from someone else. And word gets around quick
in these parts.”

He pulled her from the stool and wrapped his arms around
her, holding her firmly as her body still trembled.

“It’ll be all right, darlin’. The sheriff will find him and
we’ll put a stop to this. And Reese will be nothing but concerned about you.
She won’t think any less of you, you have to know that.”

“She’ll be so disappointed in me.”

“Hey.” He pulled away slightly, cupped her face with his
hands and stared deep into her eyes. “This is not your fuck up. You believed in
this guy enough to agree to go into the studio to record another CD.”

“He got me the Casey James gig. I trusted him.”

“And he got himself into a bind and lied to you so you’d
bail him out. Then he assaulted you. I repeat,” he said in a strong voice,
“this is not your fault.”

She was quiet for several moments, drowning in his
mesmerizing emerald eyes. Then she smiled softly and said, “I don’t deserve
you, but I’m sure glad you’re on my side.”

He hugged her again, squeezing her tight. “Darlin’, you have
got to start giving yourself more credit. Don’t let this guy rob your
confidence.”

She sighed. Sam was right. She was fighting tooth and nail
to keep Mac from stealing money from her, but she’d handed over her dignity
pretty damn quick. Yes, it would be hell to tell Reese the full truth about
Nashville. But she had to believe that Reese would still love her, anyway. That
nothing would ever break their bond.

“Okay,” she said. “I’ll go to the sheriff’s office.”

“I’ll take you,” Sam said as he unraveled from her.

“I want to talk to Sheriff Johnson. I’ve known him since I
was a kid. It’ll be easier to speak with him than a stranger. And since there’s
no local law in Luckenbach, I’d have to go to the authorities in Fredericksburg
or Wilder, so I choose Wilder.”

“All right.” He trashed their uneaten breakfast, then
finished dressing while Sky pulled on her jeans. She tucked in the hem of his
shirt, but she was still swimming in it.

While she sat on the edge of his bed and yanked on her
boots, he told her, “We’ll have to stop into a store when we’re in town so you
can get some clothes.”

Her foot dropped to the floor and she pressed her palms
against her knees and took several deep breaths.

Sam fought the wave of fury crashing over him. Seeing Sky in
such distress—and knowing everything that had happened to her—damn near killed
him. And the thought of what might have occurred if she hadn’t spent the night
with him had him more than ready to slam his fist into her ex’s face.

Sky didn’t have much to say as they drove into Wilder. And
her anxiety clearly escalated, because when they walked into the office and she
saw Ryan Bain, Wilder’s newest deputy, she drew up short and then abruptly
whirled around on her boot heels and headed toward the door.

“Whoa, darlin’,” Sam said as he caught her by the arm. “Why
the about face?”

Her gaze flashed to Ryan, who got to his feet. He wore a
confused expression.

Her attention returned to Sam and she whispered, “I forgot
he’s a deputy now. He’s married to Ginger. He’ll tell her what happened to me.”

“I’m sure he’ll be discreet.”

“They’re married,” she repeated. “And we’re all close
friends. He wouldn’t keep this from her.”

“What’s going on?” Ryan interrupted them. “You okay, Sky?”

Over his shoulder, Sam told him, “No, she’s not.”

The sheriff came from his office.

“Sky, honey,” the older man said. “You in some sort of
trouble?”

She sighed. Sam kissed her on the temple and murmured,
“You’ve got to tell him everything, darlin’. That’s how they’re going to nail
this guy.”

She took a deep breath, then said, “I know. But I want to
talk in the sheriff’s office, with just him and Ryan.”

Deputy Dan Baker appeared to be out on patrol, which meant
she was politely indicating to Sam that she didn’t want him in on the
conversation.

His jaw clenched.

Sky explained, “I don’t want you hearing all the details. I
have to let Ryan and the sheriff know exactly what happened in Nashville. But
just like you don’t want me learning all the painful details about the new
horse at the ranch, I don’t want you knowing specifically what Mac Willet did
to me.”

She may as well have stabbed a knife in his chest, it hurt
so bad. Yet as the tension seized him, he understood what she was saying to
him, and he had to admit, she made a good point, given how furious he already
was.

“Fine,” he said with a nod. He released her. “But I’ll be
waiting out here for you. I’m not going anywhere.”

She gave him a quick hug. “Thank you.”

Then she stepped around him and said to the lawmen, “Someone
burned my trailer in Luckenbach and I have a very good idea who it was.”

Ryan’s gaze shot to Sam, the consternation immediate in his
eyes.

Sam said, “She’s got a story to tell, and she doesn’t want
me to hear all of it.”

“Then let’s go into my office,” the sheriff said, looking
equally disturbed.

Sky preceded the men and the door closed behind them. Sam’s
chest tightened and it was a wonder he could breathe. He slumped into a chair
and rubbed the knot at the back of his neck.

All Sky had told him about this Willet character forcing
himself on her was that he’d pinned her down and had shoved her skirt up. Sam
hadn’t allowed his mind to wander any further than the natural conclusion that
he’d taken her against her will. He hadn’t even fully digested her words about
Willet telling her she could scream for help as loud as she wanted because the
walls were soundproof.

As was the case with the abused horses he dealt with, a
filter in his mind latched on to significant nuggets, but compartmentalized
traumatizing details. It helped him to focus on what needed to be done, not the
emotionally devastating aspects of each case. He’d learned that trick in the
Service.

But now he couldn’t escape the true reality of the situation
with Sky.

By the time she was done with Johnson and Ryan, Sam was
edgy. He stood when she came out of the office and shoved his hands in the
front pockets of his jeans.

Sky told him, “The sheriff is going to contact the
authorities in Fredericksburg and speak on my behalf with the firefighters who
responded to the call.”

“You gonna be all right?” Johnson asked her.

“Sure.”

“We’ll find this guy,” Ryan assured them. “He obviously knew
you didn’t go to the police in Nashville because you were afraid of people
hearing about what happened to you, and he’s deluded himself into thinking he
can get away with terrorizing you until he gets the money.”

“Going forward, I’ll do whatever I have to in order to help
y’all,” she said. “I want him behind bars. And out of my life.”

“I’ll call you this evening if there’s any news,” the
sheriff told her. “Where are you planning to stay?”

“The Painted Horse,” Sam answered for her.

Sky stared up at him. The alarm in her big blue eyes made his
gut wrench.

“Now wait a minute,” she said. “If Mac has been watching me,
he might end up at the ranch. We can’t risk that. Not with all the people out
there who could get hurt. Reese. Caleb. You. The horses.”

“Doubt he’d make a move with all the activity on that
property,” Ryan interjected.

“And you know we’ve got ample security,” Sam reminded Sky.
“We’ll double the number of guards that patrol the grounds if we have to. My
cottage is the safest place for you.”

She clearly couldn’t argue the logic. With resignation in
her tone, she said, “Fine. If it’s okay with Caleb.”

“You know it will be.” His brother wouldn’t balk. In fact,
Sam knew it’d be the first thing he suggested. The additional patrolmen being
the second.

The sheriff gave her a hug and said, “We’ll be in touch.”

She and Sam headed out. They walked down the sidewalk, Sky
apparently lost in thought until she caught sight of the reverend and his wife.

“Jonathan, Lydia,” she said as they approached the Bains.
They exchanged friendly embraces.

Lydia said, “We heard you were in town and hoped to see you.
But…” Her gaze narrowed on Sky. “You are just as white as a ghost. What in
heaven is wrong, Sky?”

“I’m a little under the weather,” she said. “Nothing to
worry about.” To Reverend Bain, she said, “I’ll see you in church on Sunday.”

“Be a nice treat if you’d sing with the choir. If you’re
feeling up to it.”

She smiled. “Sure, I’d like that.”

“You let us know if there’s anything you need,” Lydia told
her. “Anything at all.”

“I will. I appreciate your concern.”

“I have to run along now,” Lydia said. “The mayor’s wife is
my first appointment this morning, and we all know better than to keep Emelda
Grant waiting.”

They all chuckled, because the woman’s reputation of being
the Queen Bee of Wilder preceded her.

The Bains continued on in one direction, Sky and Sam in the
other.

She said, “I’m glad to see Lydia’s mellowed out.”

“Thanks to Ginger taking her to task.”

“I heard Lydia was in an uproar when Ginger opened her
lingerie store.”

“There was a lot of tension in this town until the Bains got
off their high horse.”

“Lydia used to be so much fun,” she mused. “We pulled a few
pranks together in high school. Snuck out from time to time with a couple beers
and a radio that we’d take out to the lake. Jack was always with us. Then
Reese.” She sighed. “I am not looking forward to the conversation I have to
have with her.”

He draped an arm around her shoulders and tucked her against
his side. “Darlin’, this goes well beyond unpleasant, but you’re doing the
right thing.”

“I hope so.”

They reached a boutique and Sam opened the door for her. He
waited patiently while she selected a number of items. Rather absently, he
noted with more dismay. Weren’t women supposed to love shopping? A gender
predisposition?

But she merely piled a few pairs of jeans, some shirts and
necessities on the counter while the salesclerk stared at her in awe. Sky
handed over her credit card and signed for everything.

Then the girl at the register said, “Since you’ve got a pen
in your hand, would you mind an autograph?” She ripped off a piece of blank
receipt tape from the roll.

“What’s your name?” Sky asked.

“Jennifer.”

She wrote on the paper. Signed with a flourish.

Jennifer beamed. “I’m going to frame this and put it right
here on the counter so I can tell everyone that Sky Travis shops in this very
boutique!”

He saw Sky cringe. Ever so slightly. Jennifer didn’t seem to
notice.

Sam swooped in and collected all the bags.

“Have a great day!” the salesclerk told them.

“You too,” Sky mumbled. They stepped outside, but didn’t
make it far down the sidewalk before she stopped. “I should go back for that
piece of paper.”

“Why would you do that? You saw how excited she was—and how
much it means to her to be able to show off your autograph.”

“It might mean something today, but when word gets around
about Nashville—”

“It’ll still mean just as much tomorrow and the day after
that,” he told her with a pointed look and a steady voice.

She shook her head. “Lord, what a mess.”

“Come on.” They continued on to the parking lot. He set all
the bags on the backseat and helped her into the truck. He hooked a finger
under her chin and lifted it. “You know you’re breaking my heart, right?”

She let out a long breath. “Sorry.” She leaned toward him
and kissed him. Then she said, “If only I could wish it all away…”

“No chance there, but Ryan and the sheriff will find Willet.
They did a damn good job when two rowdies were tearing up the town and accosted
Ginger.”

“I heard about that. I’m so glad Ryan was there to save her
from them.” She shuddered. “Ginger’s tiny. There’s absolutely no way she could
have fought them both off. Not even one of them.”

“She got lucky. Wish you would have too.” He palmed the side
of her face. “From what I understand, because I didn’t live here at the time,
no one thought any less of Ginger because she was attacked and robbed.”

“I know.”

“Yet I noticed you didn’t stop into her shop for lingerie.”

Sky was silent a few moments, then said, “I can’t see her
just yet. I have to start with Reese.”

“Then I’ll drive you back to the inn.”

He kissed her before shutting her door and climbing in on
the other side. She stared out the window during the entire ride, and Sam
feared that did not bode well for him. She was pulling away. He felt it in his
bones.

When they reached the inn, Sky went inside. He headed to the
med facility to talk in private with Caleb, with Sky’s permission. He told his
brother as much as he knew.

Caleb dragged a hand down his face and groaned. “Jesus.” He
slumped into the chair behind the desk in his office. “That poor woman.”

“She’s pretty strong of mind, I can tell you that, but
having people know what happened to her is tearing her up.”

“You too, by the looks of it.”

He propped a shoulder against the wall. Crossed his booted
feet at the ankles. “Been hard enough to know what went on, but she’s kept the
specifics from me, and that’s helped. I can focus on the fact that she’s okay
physically now, and isn’t afraid of men. She’s not afraid to be with me. But
this asshole has burned her trailer to the ground and has caused so much
devastation in her world that I can’t stop thinking about hunting him down
myself.”

“Hey, now,” Caleb said as he shot to his feet. “Don’t go
getting any ideas, Rambo. I know you have a gun.”

“And a woman I want to protect.”

“I know you care about her and you’re worried about her.
Probably pissed to high hell too that something this awful has happened to her.
But you’re also fueled by the fact that you have something to prove.”

Because he’d failed to protect Charlotte, even though it was
in an entirely different capacity?

“Look,” Caleb continued. “I know you wouldn’t go off
half-cocked, but I’m fairly certain that if you were the one to find this
prick, you’d be tempted to take justice into your own hands. I’m saying this
because I’d feel the same way if someone hurt Reese. But it’s not necessarily
the right thing.”

Sam grunted. “I know that.”

“All right, then. Let the sheriff’s office handle this. And
just continue to be there for Sky.”

“Yeah, about that…” He uncrossed his ankles and shoved away
from the door. He raked a hand through his hair and said, “She needs to tell
Reese. It’ll be the hardest damn thing for her, but she doesn’t want her best
friend to hear from someone else. You know the rumor mill in this town. There
really are no secrets in Wilder. So just keep this under your hat until she’s
made her confession.”

“Agreed.”

“She’s going to have to tell her dad, her sisters. Ruby and
Mike. Ginger, Jack and Jess. The Bains. Shit.”

Caleb gripped Sam’s shoulder and said, “They’ll all be
supportive. And that just might help her through this.”

“Once they locate Willet and press charges, it’ll be in the
papers. Given her name, we’re not just talking about the newspapers in Hill
Country. This sort of thing will make national headlines.”