LITMIR.BIZ

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with drugs or wanted for something and on the run.”

      “She owns a boutique. That’s not your typical criminal profile.”

      “If I can’t talk sense into you, I’ll go with you,” Matt said. “Bart can handle the ranch a few days without me.”

      “And if I can’t, I have CEO Mother to tell me what to do.”

      Matt groaned. “That is not a joking matter.”

      “I’d rather go this alone at first,” Langston said. “I can keep a lower profile that way, but I’ll call if it looks like I need assistance.”

      Bart nodded. “What about Gina?”

      “I’d appreciate it if you’d take responsibility for her. I don’t want her to leave the ranch unless you’re with her. And all of you will need to be on guard that no one comes looking for her and causes any trouble at the ranch.”

      “That’s a given,” Matt said.

      “Are you going to explain all of that to Mom?” Bart asked.

      “That’s my next order of business. Then I’ll pack a few things and hit the road.”

      “If you don’t have what you need, help yourself to my closet,” Bart said. “The jeans and shirts should fit. I don’t know about the shoes. I’ve got man feet, you know.”

      “If the man’s a giant,” Zach mocked.

      “I keep some old jeans and boots and such at the big house so that I don’t have to pack a duffel every time I drive out,” Langston said. “They’ll do.”

      “Anything I can do to help, just say the word,” Zach said. “I’m your man.”

      “How would you like to escort Celeste to a dinner party at Mayor Griffin’s tonight?”

      Zach groaned. “Let me rephrase that offer. Anything I can do for you short of riding a maniacal bull or spending an evening with your charming fiancée, just let me know.”

      “And she speaks so highly of you.”

      “Yeah, right.”

      None of his brothers were particularly fond of Celeste, but that would change when they got to know her better. He was sure of it. Langston headed off to find his mother and was already at the top of the stairs when Matt caught up with him.

      “You’ll need a handgun,” Matt said. “You can take my Glock.”

      “Thanks.”

      Matt put a hand on Langston’s arm. “You don’t have to do this, you know.”

      “Sure I do. When has a Collingsworth ever turned their back on a woman in distress?”

      “Never, but I’m not sure that’s what this is about. If it’s about some kind of bond you think you have with Trish, just remember that the two of you were a hell of a long time ago. You’ve changed a lot in those years. She will have to. You can’t just go back and pick up where you left off, not even if…”

      “I have no plans to pick up anything. I’m engaged. I just need to check this out. That’s all.”

      “Sure.” Matt delivered a brotherly punch to the arm. “Just be careful, bro.”

      “I always am.”

      LENORA WAS IN SEMI-SHOCK by the developments of the meeting with Nigel and then with the idea of Langston rushing off to north Texas to rescue an old girlfriend. But she could see how Gina’s story would have gotten to him. The girl was scared to death.

      “This will be your room,” Lenora said, leading Gina into the guest room on the far eastern end of the upstairs hall.

      Gina looked around for a few seconds before dropping her one piece of luggage to the bed. “Did you know my mom well?”

      “Not well, but I’ve met her. She wasn’t a lot older than you at the time.”

      “Did she come here to Jack’s Bluff Ranch?”

      “Several times. She loved the horses, could never wait to go riding.”

      “She still likes to ride, but she doesn’t get to do it much. We live in the city.”

      Gina walked to the window and stared out. The view looked directly over the garden that they’d built around the rosebush Randolph had given Lenora for their first anniversary. Beyond that was a stretch of pines that gave away quickly to open pasture.

      It was almost six, but the sun was still high enough in the sky for the roses to show off their beautiful collage of colors. Dark came late in July.

      “Mom never mentioned any of you,” Gina said. “I don’t know why she sent me here.”

      “I couldn’t say,” Lenora said, “but delightful young ladies are always welcome at Jack’s Bluff.”

      “Thanks.”

      “The bathroom is down the hall, the second door to your left. Normally you’d have to share it with the twins, my seven-year-old grandsons who have the room across the hall from you, but David and Derrick are with their father for two more weeks.”

      “I won’t be here two weeks. I’ll be leaving as soon as my mom’s okay.” She walked back to the bed and unzipped her bag. “How many people live in this house?”

      “Currently six, seven counting you.”

      “Does Langston live here?”

      “No, he lives in Houston. And Matt and Bart have their own houses here on the ranch. Zach, Jaime and Becky—the twins’ mother—all live here in the big house.”

      “You have a large family.”

      “Yes, I do. You met all of them except the twins. How about you, Gina? Do you have brothers and sisters?”

      “No. It’s just me and my mom.” Gina started to unpack, but stopped and collapsed on the bed.

      “There’s plenty of time to shower and take a nap before dinner,” Lenora said. “We won’t eat until seven-thirty. Juanita’s making a chicken enchilada casserole, at least that’s my name for it. It’s spicy, but superb.”

      “Who’s Juanita?”

      “Our cook. Bart hired her last year, because he and the boys wanted me to take it a little easier. Actually, I miss my kitchen and I’m a little jealous sometimes that she gets the compliments instead of me.”

      “Then why don’t you fire her?”

      “I can’t. She makes tamales to die for. Besides, it gives me more time for my charity work and spending time with my grandsons.” And now time to exert some influence into the operations of Collingsworth Enterprises—or at least into the development of her sons and even her daughters.

      Gina kicked out of her shoes. “I’d like a shower, but I can’t really dress for dinner. All I have with me are shorts and T-shirts.”

      “They’ll do fine. I tried the policy of dressing for dinner for awhile. I gave it up after I got tired of sitting at the table by myself. Now we’re back to South Texas rules. Come as you are, but the horse and spurs stay outside.”

      Gina finally smiled.

      Lenora did, too, though a sudden horrifying thought crept into her mind. Suppose Trish wasn’t all right. Suppose Langston was too late and something had gone terribly wrong.

      Maybe she should call Billy Mack. He had a friend that had been a Texas Ranger before he retired. Langston might not appreciate her calling their neighbor in on this, but Billy was older and had a level head on him. And he’d been a friend of the Collingsworth family all his life.

      If Langston didn’t call back with good news by morning, she might just give Billy a call.

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