Chapter 15
Sonny felt every aspect of her sadness, and saw the depths of Nora’s secrets. She was a warrior in her own right. The man she chose was her equal. He liked the spirit in this house. It was good.
As they moved through the house, he could hear the excitement in Ellen’s voice and witnessed the continuing disbelief on Chris’s face.
He knew exactly what this felt like. The same way he’d felt when he found out Ellis Cooper had willed him an entire ranch.
This was Sonny’s way of giving back, and Maggie was right in the middle of their delight, exclaiming over the dark-wood trims and the beauty of the original floors.
“So, what do you think?” Sonny asked as they were viewing the last bedroom at the end of the hall.
“We love it,” Chris said. “It’s so grand compared to where we are. Not sure we can afford the rent.”
Sonny laughed. “Cowboy, you haven’t been paying attention. If I own it outright, then I set the rent, and whatever you’ve been paying Pearl will be fine with us.”
Chris blinked in disbelief. “I know you’re my boss and all, but I have an overwhelming urge to hug you until you’re squeaking for air.”
Sonny grinned. “No need for all that, so it’s a done deal. We’ll get the ball rolling with the realtor. Do you want the furnishings left?”
“Lord, yes,” Ellen said. “We have nothing, and these are beautiful. It will feel like home in no time.”
Sonny nodded. “Duly noted. Let’s go tell Nora.”
Nora was standing at the kitchen window, remembering where her swing set used to be, and eyeing the dug cellar out back, when she heard them coming up the hall, and went to meet them.
“What’s the verdict?” she asked.
“It’s a yes from all of us, with the furnishings,” Sonny said.
Nora was beaming. “The comps in this area are great for a buyer. The asking price, with furniture included, is $160,000. Is that okay with you?”
“More than okay,” Sonny said, and held out his hand.
Nora shook it gladly.
“Wonderful, Sonny. The phone number for the realty company is on the sign in the front yard. Ask for Patty when you give them a call. I’ll notify her tonight that a full offer has been made, so she won’t schedule any appointments to view.
” Then she smiled at Chris and Kelly. “I’ll likely be long gone before all the paperwork goes through, but I wish you a long and happy life together here. ”
“Thank you so much for offering the furnishings along with the house. They will be treasured,” Ellen said.
Nora walked them to the door, waved as they drove away, then closed the door and cried. It felt a little like pulling the plug on life support, but she was also glad that it was over. Then she glanced at the time, wiped her eyes and blew her nose, and made a call to the realty office.
A man answered. “Thomas Realty. How may I direct your call?”
“Nora Borden calling for Patty Thomas.”
“One moment while I transfer your call,” he said.
A few seconds later, Patty picked up. “This is Patty.”
“Patty, this is Nora Borden. Good news. I just got a full offer for the house with furnishings included. The buyer is Sonny Bluejacket. He’ll be in touch.”
“Is he that rodeo guy? Mom and Dad said he was living out on Ellis Cooper’s old place.”
“He owns it. It is a very large, very well-established training facility for rodeo horses.”
“Well, that’s just wonderful, but of course we’ll have to wait for approval from his bank,” Patty said.
“No. He’s paying cash, so there will be no need for a property appraisal, however, the inspector will still need to go through the property to identify repair issues,” Nora said.
“I guess I didn’t know he was that well-off,” Patty muttered.
Nora laughed. “Those cowboys pay tens of thousands for well-trained horses, and that’s what he does… Train them for any or all rodeo events. However, it’s apparent that you don’t know who he’s married to.”
Now Patty was beyond curious. “I don’t believe I do. Do tell.”
“Ever hear of an artist by the name of Magnolia Brennen?”
“Well, yes! Lee and I attended one of her showings in a big art studio in Santa Fe.”
“That’s his wife. She used to wait tables at the Yellow Rose.
They’re buying this property for their ranch foreman and his new bride.
Anyway… Just wanted to give you a heads up.
He’s rodeo royalty and she’s the reigning new discovery in the art world.
And they’re my friends. I know you’ll be wonderful with them.
I’ll probably be leaving Crossroads before the paperwork is ready to be signed, but we’ll figure that out down the road. ”
Patty was still trying to wrap her head around what Nora was saying when she tuned in to “figure that out down the road.”
“So, you’re heading back to Fort Worth,” Patty said.
“Only for a brief time. Asher’s job needs to stay in Austin, and all of my work is online. IT stuff, you know. So, I’m going back to Fort Worth just long enough to get out of my penthouse lease, and then it’s Austin and Asher, all the way.”
The first thing that went through Patty’s mind was penthouse? And then Austin and Asher, and thought, no way. Still, she had to ask.
“Asher as in Kingston…from high school?”
“Yep. Still my best guy,” Nora said.
Now Patty was just the teeniest bit jealous. “Well, that’s just wonderful. I’m so happy for both of you. Out of curiosity, what does he do for a living?”
“Oh, he’s always been in law enforcement, and for the last few years, a special investigator for the attorney general’s office in Austin.”
Patty sucked up every snotty thing she wanted to say, and smiled instead, hoping it transferred to the tone of her voice.
“Well, honey, I couldn’t be any happier for the both of you. Now, you don’t worry yourself further. I’ve got the sale end of this covered, and we can do a remote closing on signing day.”
“Sounds perfect,” Nora said. “Thank you so much for contacting me when you did. It’s helped everything fall into place, and my best to Lee, as well.”
The call ended, and so did Nora’s patience.
She’d heard the snip in Patty’s voice and rolled her eyes.
Some people never get past high school drama.
And she was tired and wanted nothing more than a long soak in a hot bath.
Maybe Asher would call her and maybe he wouldn’t.
She knew what was at stake for them, and all she could do was pray.
* * *
It was just after 6:00 p.m. on a cold, cloudless day. Sunset had already happened, and Bill Eldredge was filling his brother in on their new targets.
“Except for that trip to the hardware store, they’ve been inside since. If they leave, you are to follow, and if they take I-27 south leading to Tulia, that’s where your tracking ends, and immediately let Asher Kingston know.”
“Got it,” Phil said. “So, are we off guarding Jacob or what?”
“If the Brandts make another attempt and they catch them, then we’ll be done. But Kingston will let us know. For now, it’s proceed as usual. If the Brandts come back, then we’re still on them.”
“Got it,” Phil said. “Get some food and rest. I’ve got this.”
Bill drove away, more than ready for both, while Phil settled in, keeping his eye on the door the Brandts would exit, and on their car, which had been conveniently parked beneath one of the only working lights in the parking lot.
Phil was trying to learn Spanish and had his earbuds in, listening as he kept watch, repeating the words as instructed.
It was just past eleven o’clock when he saw two men exit the building and walk straight to the white Mustang.
When the red brake lights came on, he yanked the earbuds out and started his car.
As soon as they began driving toward the street, he followed a distance behind, then became part of the traffic the Brandts were in.
He followed them all the way through Amarillo, and when he saw them take Highway I-27 south, he pulled over and sent Asher Kingston a text.
* * *
Asher was in the living room with the door open between the house and the bar. Dylan was in the back of the house. Gunner was in the bar. They were trying to cover all of the points of entrance and exit when Asher’s phone signaled a text. He was on his feet within seconds of reading it.
“Phil Eldredge just texted us. The Brandts are heading southbound on I-27 at this moment. It’s going to happen tonight. We all know our places, right?”
“Right,” they echoed.
“And we’re ready to end this,” Asher said.
“Hell, yes,” they echoed again.
Asher’s adrenaline was pumping. He kept picturing that god-awful pool of their dad’s blood that had soaked into the floor behind the bar, and he was ready for a takedown.
“We’re looking at fifteen or twenty minutes until they show. Gunner gives us the signal as to which way they’re coming. We’ll be in place before they get out of the car, and then they have to break in. Just stay calm and trust each other. There’s three of us, and two of them.”
“It’s all good, Ash. We’ve got your back,” Dylan said.
At that point, the TV was turned off, and they resumed their positions to wait for Gunner’s warning.
* * *
Everett was speeding through the night, his gaze fixed on the highway before him bathed in headlights coming and going. Freddie was quiet, which was worrisome, and Everett consoled himself by the thought that Freddie still wasn’t a hundred percent from the flu they’d both suffered.
For the past few days, he’d been going through what happened before. The fact that the bar was closed and there was no one in the building to deal with made all the difference.
But…since it was closed, parking in the front parking lot would only bring attention to their presence. He knew there was a private drive that led around to the back, and his plan was to get out of sight of the highway, and they’d have the whole place to themselves for hours.
When they reached the intersection of Highway 86 and I-27, he took eastbound 86 and headed to Crossroads.