The Marshalls Boxed Set (Texas Heroes: The Marshalls Books 1-3) by Jean Brashear

Author:Jean Brashear [Brashear, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Texas
Published: 2014-04-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Greg grinned as he neared Kruger’s ranch, thinking about Carmen’s face when he’d kissed her.

Sure she’d tried to look all how-dare-you, but the initial reaction, the one Greg knew from long experience was the genuine one—was interest. He’d intrigued her. She’d keep thinking about him.

All of that was good. Very good. He might not be around long, or he might be here for months. However it went, Carmen seemed more than capable of taking care of herself.

But in the meantime, they could have fun.

Not now, however. He would only get this one shot, he suspected, so he had to make it count.

As he passed the Navarro place, he noticed it was looking bad. Old Man Navarro had died a few weeks back, he’d learned, and neglect hovered like a noxious cloud. The homestead he could see a couple of hundred yards back was weathered, the roof of one barn sagging.

But he knew the second he encountered Kruger land. Fences were straight and strong—expensive, too. Even the road in front of it was in better condition than any he’d seen in this county.

Nice to have the big bucks.

But not if you built all this on the backs of others’ misery.

A big gate with its own gatehouse guarded the road that must lead to the house he couldn’t see from here. A man stepped out as he approached, a guard with a uniform that reeked of South American dictatorships.

Kruger was serious about his security, clearly.

The man stepped into the road in front of the gate, big and broad, his posture screaming ex-military. “Can we help you, sir?”

Greg got out but made his movements slow and clear. “I’m Deputy Sheriff Greg Blackwell. New on the job and looking to familiarize myself with the area.” He glanced up the drive. “Mr. Kruger in? Thought I should introduce myself. Pay my respects.”

Tough to tell anything about the guard’s reactions behind those shades, but he had the clear sense of being observed closely. Evaluated as a potential threat. He kept his posture easy but not relaxed. Strength only respected strength.

“He’s a busy man,” the guard said.

Here was his chance. “Maybe I could just say hello to Mrs. Kruger, then. Let her pass along my regards to her husband.”

There. Definite reaction, a tension that was very interesting.

He’s made her a virtual prisoner on that ranch. I’m really worried.

But no one got tense about prisoners who weren’t a problem, so what was the deal? The reaction he was getting was more unsettled than anything else. It was far-fetched to think she was dead, and anyway, that would mean she was no longer a problem. Greg puzzled over the range of options for a second.

Whoa…was it possible that Carmen’s friend had, what…escaped?

But Carmen had said she wouldn’t consider leaving, so what would have changed to make her flee?

“Mrs. Kruger isn’t available, sir.” A slight twitch of his head as though the eyes behind the shades were glancing away.

He was lying, but about what? How was she unavailable?

She’d missed her regular grocery day.

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