A Texas Child. Linda Warren

his grandfather.

      “So what happened to all that heat?”

      “Like you said, it fizzled out.”

      “Mmm. So what’s the problem?”

      “I’m not getting involved with her again.”

      Pop scratched his gray head. “Some of my brain cells nap, some of them have just plain dried up, but the ones that are working are confused as hell. The woman is just asking you to take the case. I don’t see a problem. Oh, is this about Valerie? You sure as hell don’t want to mess that up. She’s making pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy tonight. I’m not eating all day.”

      Levi closed his computer and got to his feet. While Pop was on another subject, he decided to make his escape. “I’m going into the office.”

      Pop frowned so deep his forehead looked like road ruts. “Wait a minute. We’re not through talking.”

      “I am.”

      Pop pointed a gnarled finger at him. “If something happens to that boy, you’ll never forgive yourself. I know you just as well as I know myself. You’re a P.I. It’s a job. Valerie will understand because she loves you, and if she don’t trust you, well, then, son, you ain’t got a thing.” Pop pushed to his feet. “Now I’m gonna go drive my tractor and push some dirt around just for the hell of it, and if I feel like it, I might plant some winter coastal for my pain-in-the-ass cows.”

      It’s not about Valerie. But explaining that to Pop would take more patience than he had right now.

      Levi took a quick shower, pushing Myra to the back of his mind. She wouldn’t stay there, though. Yanking on jeans, he tried to figure out what he was so angry about. She had some gall coming out here and destroying his peace. Grabbing a shirt out of the closet, he paused.

      He was overreacting.

      This wasn’t about Valerie. This wasn’t about Myra. It was about him and his damn pride. Myra had taken a strip of it and crushed his heart. It wasn’t easy to trust again and let a woman back into his life. He loved Valerie and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, so his anger was out of place.

      Slipping his arms into a white shirt, he thought about his parents. They’d had a crappy marriage. His father had been a cowboy rancher and his mom was a city girl. They’d fought all the time. It had come to an end when his father was killed in a car/truck accident when Levi was nine. His mom had moved them from the ranch to Austin. Levi hated the city and had begged to live with his grandfather. That hadn’t happened until his mom met someone else, a short six months later. They’d moved to Virginia and Levi refused to go, so his mother relented and allowed him to stay with his grandfather. After that, Levi had minimal contact with his mom and his sister. They visited every now and then, but they felt like strangers.

      He was well aware he had a trust issue with women. He blew out a breath and admitted that maybe a part of him was never going to get over Myra. That was a long way from doing her a favor, though.

      But what about Stu?

      Opening his sock drawer, he pulled out a pair. Unable to stop himself, he reached into the back corner where he had a single sock stored. He sat on the bed with it in his hand and dumped out the object that was inside—a ring box. Flipping open the top, he stared at the solitary diamond he’d planned to give Myra that weekend long ago.

      He wasn’t sure why he’d kept the ring. Maybe as a reminder of the pain she’d caused him. Putting it back in the drawer, the anger left him. He’d learned from his affair with Myra. No one was perfect. Certainly not him. He didn’t hate Myra. He’d hated what she’d done to his pride. It was a man thing. But he was tough and she’d made him tougher. It reinforced his decision not to get involved with her again—even if it was business.

      As he headed for his truck, he couldn’t help but think of what Pop had said. Could he live with himself if something happened to that little boy?

      CHAPTER THREE

      MYRA DROVE TO the Westwood Nursing Facility to visit with Stu and to let him know Levi wasn’t taking the case. On the way, she called Mick Travers, another P.I., and left a message on his cell. She’d worked with him before and she knew he’d call her back.

      Stu was lucky to have good health insurance that included extended care. He’d lived in a condo, but was so weak from the cancer treatments, Natalie had talked him into moving here, where he had constant care. The place was very nice and it brought Natalie peace of mind.

      Stu and Myra went way back. Fresh out of law school, Myra had been searching for a job for weeks and had an interview with the D.A. of Travis County in Austin. She’d been sitting in the secretary’s office when Stu walked in. She had no idea he was the assistant chief of police. He was dressed in ordinary street clothes. They struck up a conversation and she told him she had little hope of getting the job but she was a damn good attorney. He told her she had guts and that would see her through and he wished her luck.

      After the interview, she was called back. The D.A. told her Stu Stevens had put in a recommendation for her and the job was hers. She was stunned, having no idea who Stu Stevens was. But it didn’t take long to find out. Ever since then, they’d had a connection.

      When he was offered the chief of police job in Houston, Stu moved on and she soon followed. He was the reason she had a job in the D.A.’s office in Houston. The relationship seemed to go on, too. She found him to be one of those trustworthy men she could count on...like Levi.

      Stu had been one of the officers to start the petition to support Levi when he’d disobeyed the direct order. So she and Levi owed Stu a lot and she didn’t understand Levi not helping the man who’d always been there for him. This wasn’t about her and Levi. Couldn’t he see that?

      She stopped at the nurses’ desk. “How’s Stu?”

      “Sad.” Barbara, an R.N., shook her head. “We just called his daughter and the nurse held the phone to Natalie’s ear so she could hear her father’s voice. But she’s still in a coma. I hope you have some good news for him.”

      Myra’s heart sank. Too much heartache and there was nothing she could do about it, except curse Levi under her breath. That didn’t help, either, though.

      “Not really, but the police are still trying to find the baby,” she replied, and walked off down the hall. At Stu’s room, she knocked on the door.

      At a faint “come in,” she went inside. Stu had a private room and sat in his recliner with oxygen tubing in his nose. He was painfully thin. His dull, tired eyes lit up when he saw Myra.

      “Is Levi coming?”

      “No. I’m sorry, Stu. He’s not taking the case. You should have called him. Seeing me only made him more bullheaded to never work with me again.”

      “That surprises me.”

      At the thoughtful light in his eyes, she asked, “Why did you want me to see him in person? A phone call from you would have been more effective.”

      “Because, to get my grandson back, I need both of you on my team. I thought the two of you would have grown up enough to let the past go.”

      “If I didn’t love you so much, I’d really be pissed.”

      A slight smile touched his face. “I’ve always liked your spirit. Don’t worry, kid, Levi will come around.” “Kid” was his nickname for her and she found it hard to stay mad at him.

      “Just in case your instincts are off, I called another P.I. and I’ll have him on it just as soon as he calls me back. The cops are still searching, too. I’m doing everything I can.”

      “I know. You’ve been a good friend to Natalie and to me, but as each hour passes we’re losing time.”

      Myra didn’t know what to say. Nothing was going to comfort Stu until Natalie woke up.