Cowboy Conspiracy. Joanna Wayne

still had time to talk Kelly into staying in a motel.

      He was being overly cautious. But then, dealing with dead victims on a regular basis did that for a man.

      McGuire got as far as the door and turned back. “Another option would be to drive Mrs. Burger and her daughter out to Willow Creek Ranch. I’m sure Troy would be glad to put them up for the night,” McGuire said. “There’s plenty of room in that rambling old house.”

      Wyatt nodded, but he wasn’t keen on that idea.

      “You two work it out and let me know what you decide. The deputy can be in the area if you need him, Mrs. Burger. But now that I think about it, staying out at the Ledger ranch is what I’d recommend.”

      “I’ll go make room for a couple of extra passengers in my truck,” Wyatt said, deciding to leave before he said too much. As far as he was concerned, the ranch was a last resort. Reuniting with Troy would be stressful enough without pulling a woman he barely knew into the sticky mix.

      Fortunately, the rain had stopped, since making room for two passengers required moving his clothes from the backseat to the covered bed of the truck. When the truck was ready, he made one quick call to Alyssa and then went back for his two charges.

      The intriguing and naively seductive Kelly Burger would be the first female passenger in his new truck. This was where Alyssa’s ridiculous raised-by-a-family-of-skunks analogy might actually come in handy.

      Too bad that Kelly smelled so damn good.

      Chapter Four

      Miraculously, Jaci barely stirred when Kelly strapped her into the seat belt. Kelly made a support pillow of her lightweight jacket for her daughter.

      “I’ll turn on some heat,” Wyatt said as she settled into the front passenger seat.

      “Thanks. Neither Jaci nor I are dressed for this weather. I knew there was a cold front predicted for tonight, but I expected to be in Mustang Run long before now.”

      “What made you late?”

      “Car trouble.”

      “Tough. That’s the kind of luck I’d have wished on the thief.”

      They grew silent after that and she leaned back, closed her eyes and contemplated Wyatt and the idea of renting a motel room tonight. She’d counted on staying in the empty house, only now the pillows and sleeping bags she’d packed were speeding down the highway with a low-down thief.

      The scenario that Wyatt had brought up was far worse. The thief with the stare that had made her skin crawl could be in Mustang Run, waiting for her and Jaci to arrive.

      More than likely, he was miles away by now, just as the sheriff had theorized. But what if the sheriff was wrong? She shivered at the possibility.

      “I think I will take your advice and stay at the motel tonight,” she said. “Even if they catch the thief, it sounds as if there’s little chance I’d get my car back right away. And without the sleeping bags, Jaci and I would be sleeping on the cold, hard floor.”

      “Good. That will save me having to sleep in my truck outside your house. Overnight stakeouts are the devil on a man’s back.”

      “The sheriff offered protection.”

      “You know the old adage. A cop on the scene is worth two in a roaming patrol car.”

      “I thought it was a bird in the hand was worth two in the bush.”

      “Now who would want a bird in his hand?”

      She smiled in spite of the tense situation. Wyatt Ledger was definitely nice to have around in a crunch.

      “I hope there’s somewhere I can rent a car early in the morning,” she said.

      “I kind of doubt there’s a car rental location in Mustang Run, but if there’s not, I can always drive you into Austin to pick one up.”

      “I couldn’t ask you to do that. There must be some kind of taxi or car service to the Austin airport. I’m sure the motel will know how to contact them.”

      “My fares are a lot cheaper.”

      “I’m sure you have better things to do than chauffeur me around.”

      “Not particularly. I’m unemployed. I could use the entertainment.”

      “According to Sheriff McGuire, you’ll be dining on a fatted calf.”

      “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

      “Ah, now I get it. You’re looking for an escape valve in case the pressure of family becomes overbearing.”

      “Darn. You figured me out.” He slowed to maneuver around a low spot where water had collected on the road. “Seriously, you’re having a run of bad luck, Kelly. It could happen to anyone, but I’d be a jerk not to offer my help and protection.”

      She’d like to believe that was the total truth and that all his intentions were good, but with what she’d been through the past year, it was hard to trust anyone.

      Kelly shifted and stretched, fatigue settling into her shoulders and neck. “How long has it been since you’ve visited Mustang Run?”

      “Nineteen years last September.”

      “You sound like my mother. She left Mustang Run and except for a few quick visits to check on my grandmother when she was ill, Mother never returned to her hometown.”

      “I’m sure she had her reasons,” Wyatt said.

      “If she did, she didn’t talk about them other than to say that the town was too small.”

      “Obviously, you didn’t agree with her since you’re moving here.”

      “I’m not sure how long I’ll stay. I’m in a regrouping phase of life.” She leaned back and let her head drop to the padded rest. “How long has it been since you’ve seen your father?”

      “Eighteen years, give or take a few months.”

      “There must be a story there.”

      “Yes, but it’s not the kind you tell to impress a woman you’ve just met.”

      If he was trying to impress her, he was doing a bang-up job of it. “Okay, let me guess,” she said. “Your family is a notorious gang of bank robbers.”

      He faked a shocked expression. “You’ve met them.”

      “You’re lying. Let me see … Second guess,” she said, playing along. “Your brothers are secretly vampires in cowboy clothing.”

      He produced a lecherous smile. “Did anyone ever tell you that you have a lovely neck?”

      “All the time,” she said. “My earlobes get a lot of attention, too.”

      “I don’t doubt it.”

      She closed her eyes as the knots in her stomach began to slowly unravel. She refused to let herself dwell on the idea of Wyatt’s lips on her neck or any other part of her body, but his easy banter was definitely helping to put things in perspective.

      Her car had been stolen. That was nothing compared to what she’d been through over the last twelve months. If she didn’t get her car back, she’d collect the insurance and buy another one.

      And the pervert who stole it was likely several counties away by now, using her cash to provide his next high.

      They passed the Mustang Run city-limits sign, and Kelly turned so that she could check on Jaci, though the rhythmic sounds of her breathing were proof she was still asleep. The doll she carried everywhere was clutched to her chest.

      “If I remember right, the house is only a few miles from here,” Kelly said. “Could we stop by there on the way to the motel? After the