LITMIR.BIZ

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for television last night.”

      “That was inevitable in a town this size,” Ryan said. “Anything unusual happens here and it’s all over town within the hour, much less something happening in the Royal Diner.”

      “It’ll pass, though,” Alex remarked, taking a swig of pop.

      David turned to Clint. “Now you need to bring us up to date on our mystery woman. Is she without a guard right now?”

      “No, our Jane Doe has a guard. I called Aaron Black, and he said he could come into town and stay while I meet with y’all. He told me to take a few hours and get some sleep.”

      “Aaron’s a good one to call,” David said, thinking of the tall Texas Cattleman’s Club member and fellow rancher.

      “That’s the great thing about our members,” Alex said, stretching out his long legs. “They’re always willing to help.”

      “That’s what we all want to do,” David added quietly. “Tell us about the woman, Clint. How is she?”

      “Her condition doesn’t look good. She’s still in a coma. She’s malnourished and dehydrated. She just gave birth not long ago and she’s had a bad blow to her head,” Clint replied.

      “Thank goodness I hired a nanny this morning,” David said, his hopes disappearing that the mother would be able to have her baby returned to her right away. He glanced at Clint, who had one jeans-clad leg propped up with his booted foot on his other knee. “What else?”

      “She’s in ICU and they told me they’ll run tests all the rest of the week and probably into next week if she doesn’t come around. They did an EEG, an electroencephalogram, to check her brain because there’s some swelling.”

      “It doesn’t sound good,” Ryan said.

      “We better say some prayers that she survives,” Clint said, looking grimly at the baby. “That little girl can’t lose her mother,” he added, with worry in his blue eyes, and David was reminded of Clint’s loss of his wife when fire claimed her life. Clint always seemed to have the hurt bottled up inside him, and David knew Clint carried scars from the fire. David looked down at the two crooked fingers on his left hand, knowing that he had his own scars. Perhaps every man in the room did.

      “We have to do all we can for both of them,” Alex said, bringing David’s thoughts back to the problem at hand.

      “The hospital is concerned. They’re giving the mother a lot of attention, and we have an excellent staff here,” Clint added.

      “That’s right,” David agreed. “With all the wealth that people in Royal have poured into Royal Memorial, it rivals big-city hospitals.” He shifted and looked at Alex. “Alex, what’s your report? Any information on her identity?”

      “None,” Alex replied grimly. “There was a list of names in the bag she carried and I’ll investigate them. This morning I checked with Wayne Vicente and there’s no one on the missing person’s report who fits her description. So far I haven’t found out anything about her. Except one thing.” His green-eyed gaze circled the room as he looked at each man. “She was carrying about half a million dollars in that bag. Most of it in large bills.”

      “Damn, that’s a lot of money,” Ryan remarked.

      “I’d say it sounds like she’s in a lot of trouble,” David said, and the others nodded agreement.

      “Half a million—what in blazes can she be mixed up in?” Ryan asked, and the men gazed at one another.

      “Something dangerous,” Clint said grimly.

      They fell silent when Jimmy returned with more drinks and sandwiches on silver trays. Another waiter helped him, and in minutes, the men were alone. As soon as each had what he wanted to drink and eat, David returned to their subject. “Let’s get back to business. Alex, go ahead with what you were saying.”

      “I haven’t found anyone who remembers seeing her come into town. Not at the airport or the bus station. I don’t have a picture to show anyone. I can only give them a description, but so far nothing. I’m just beginning to work on that list of names and dates she had in the diaper bag. Since she’s malnourished, I’m guessing that the money hasn’t been in her possession long. Her clothes were bought off the rack. Her nails aren’t done professionally. If that money is hers, then she’s one of those eccentrics who stashes every penny, but she’s too young to accumulate that kind of money. My guess is that she’s on the run,” he said, and the others agreed.

      “That means you need to continue to guard her if you can,” David added.

      “I can help out when y’all need me. I can spell you at the hospital, Clint,” Ryan offered. He looked at Alex, whose thick brown hair was windblown. “I’ll help you, too, Alex, if you need me for anything.”

      “Thanks,” Alex replied as Ryan’s gaze shifted to David.

      “You’re on your own with the baby, though.”

      “So I guessed,” David replied with resignation. “When are Travis and Darin getting back?”

      “I don’t know, but we could certainly use their help,” Ryan answered. “I’ll get in touch with Travis and find out.”

      “So where do we go from here?” Clint asked.

      “I’ll keep trying to find out our mystery woman’s identity and who gave her that card. I can ask here at the club and everyone will keep things confidential,” Alex offered. “I put the money in the club safe and I’m staying in contact with the police chief.” His green eyes twinkled. “So, David, you’re our surrogate daddy. You just keep taking care of little Autumn. Looks as if she’s happy.”

      “She is happy. She’s got a nanny coming soon.”

      “Who’s the nanny?” Alex asked.

      “Marissa Wilder.”

      “I know her sister,” Ryan said.

      “Karen Wilder,” Alex agreed. “I dated her once. She’s a hoot. I think she was more of a party girl than her little sister. Karen’s married now and has a passel of kids.”

      “So my nanny has a good background?”

      “You didn’t check?” Clint asked. “I can run a check on her background, but sounds like we’ve already got enough if you guys know her family. You didn’t check on her?” he repeated.

      “Hell, no, I didn’t,” David snapped. “If you’d been up all night trying to get formula down and a diaper on a baby and stop her crying, you’d snap up the first nanny you could find, too. Marissa has a knack with babies.”

      “Well, so might have Lucrezia Borgia,” Alex teased.

      “You guys. Give me much flak and you can take this baby and then we’ll see who runs out and gets a nanny,” David answered, thinking about the night he’d just spent.

      “Just keep it up, Dad. You’ll do fine,” Alex said. He rubbed his forehead. “Seems to me I remember Marissa Wilder being married.”

      “She’s not married now,” David said. “I asked her.”

      “Yeah, she was,” Clint broke in. “A guy who was a doctor. After his divorce from Marissa, he and his new wife moved to Midland.”

      “I don’t care if she’s had five husbands,” David said firmly, and the others laughed.

      “I’m going,” Clint said, standing and taking a last long drink of pop. Clint was as solemn as ever, looking worried and concerned. David was sorry Clint was mixed up in this because he didn’t need any more hurt in his life.

      “Frankly, David,” Clint remarked, “you look like you had a rough night.”

      David merely waved his hand at

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