Texas Tall by Janet Dailey

Author:Janet Dailey [Dailey, Janet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2016-07-04T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

Ralph stood on his front stoop, smoking a Marlboro from the pack Stella had given him. The night breeze was cold, but even in his thin denim jacket, he barely felt the chill. Truth be told, he was too churned up to feel much of anything.

Through the closed door behind him, he could hear the blare of a TV reality show. Vonda liked the one where they locked hot men and women in a house and filmed them bitching at each other, or falling into bed. Stupid show, but that was Vonda for you.

At least he wouldn’t have to put up with her much longer. All he needed to do was carry out Stella’s orders, and he’d soon be on the road with plenty of cash in his pocket.

The cigarette had smoldered low enough to burn his fingers. With a muttered curse he dropped it on the porch, ground it out with his boot heel, and fished another one out of the pack in his pocket. His cheap lighter flared in the darkness as he lit it and inhaled the bittersweet smoke.

From where he stood, he could see the lights from the big stone house where the Tylers lived like royalty, lording it over their land and their cattle and their underpaid shit-shoveling crew, like him. Tomorrow they’d be gathering in the house for Thanksgiving dinner. That was when he would carry out Stella’s plan—the plan that would change everything.

Just thinking about what she wanted was enough to scare the spit out of him. But she’d given him another thousand-dollar payment with his marching orders tonight. Back out now and he could end up as dead as Lute Fletcher.

The job itself would be easy. The hard part would be making sure he wasn’t seen. Get caught, and all bets were off. He’d, for sure, go to jail—unless Stella got to him first. He was just beginning to realize how dangerous the woman was.

He’d already withdrawn his savings—by now, almost $15,000—from the bank, and hidden the cash in his truck. As soon as he’d gotten full payment from Stella, and maybe bought that used truck he’d had his eye on, he’d be out of here.

He turned to go back inside, then paused, torn between need and fear. Maybe he’d be smart to forget the money and go tonight—just get in the old truck and drive. He was already in too deep with Stella. The little he knew about her operation was barely the tip of the iceberg, but it could be enough to damage her. If she knew he planned to leave, he wouldn’t put it past her to make him disappear. All the money in the world wouldn’t do him any good if he wasn’t alive to spend it.

He’d taken two strides toward his truck, when he realized he’d left his keys on the kitchen table. Stopping in his tracks, he cursed. Vonda had been nagging him to stay home more. She would throw a hissy fit if he came in, got the keys, then tried to leave again.

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