The Barefoot Summer(56)

Suddenly, she realized that she didn’t miss the business. It was her turn to tense. Maybe Hattie was right and she was ready for a big change. Her hands went clammy and her chest felt like it had stones in it.

“You okay?” Waylon asked.

“Yes, why do you ask?” She’d admitted that she liked working on the ranch. She’d owned up to the fact that she loved Gracie. Jamie and Amanda could pick up and move, but she shouldn’t entertain such a foolish notion.

“You went all stiff and the air in the truck got heavy,” he answered. “So what were you picturing in your mind that made it hard for you to breathe?”

“I was thinking about work, and it hit me that I didn’t miss it. I’m a workaholic like my mother. I love my job. I hate change. I should miss being there at the office, right?”

“You are preaching to the choir. At least up to six months ago, when I sat down on a bar stool with a beer in front of me and my precinct friends around me and suddenly I didn’t want to be there. I wanted to be on the ranch full-time. I love my job, too, and I sure hate change, so I know where you are coming from.”

“So what is your goal?” she asked.

“To finish this case, get my paperwork all signed and sealed, freeze my retirement, and come home to the Double Back Ranch for good. The closer the time gets, the more I want that now that I’ve made up my mind,” he said.

“What about your partner? Is he quitting the force, too?” she asked.

“No, he’s still got ten more years before he gets to decide whether to stay or go. And besides, I know he secretly likes the woman who’s his new partner. She’s smart and has all the newest ways of doing things that get the job done,” he said. “And she’s a helluva lot better looking than his last partner.”

“That would depend on who was doing the judging,” she said.

“So you think I’m a little bit good-looking?” He smiled.

“Waylon Kramer, that’s the low end of the scale. You measure way on up past that.” She flirted.

“Well, now that chases away even more dark clouds.” He grinned.

“Speaking of dark clouds, look over there.” She pointed toward the southwest. “Think that might be bringing in some rain?”

“I hope so. The hay is all in, and the next crop could sure use some watering. Maybe we’ll get caught in it and have to spend the night up here in Wichita Falls,” he said.

“And now we have Luke Bryan with one of his top tunes from last year, ‘Strip It Down,’” the radio DJ said.

“Have you seen this video?” Kate asked.

“Yes, I have. The city boy knows he’s lost it with the country girl, and the country boy can’t forget the city girl,” Waylon said. “Which one am I? And which one are you?”

“At heart, you are a country boy, but you’ve been in the city too long. At heart, I’m a city girl, but I’m learning to love the country life. Where does that take us?”

“To a happy medium, I hope,” he answered. “What do you get from the video?”

She ran what she could remember from the video through her mind. “I see a young farmer who needs to take his woman to a nice place and let her get all dressed up. And then I see a corporate bigwig who used to be a cowboy and fell for a woman in cowboy boots. Now they’re both miserable and wanting another shot at love. Which one are you?” Kate asked.

“Both. I’ve worn the suit and the cowboy boots. Which one would impress you the most?” he asked.

“Neither,” she answered.

“Oh, come on,” he said, grinning. “Surely you know if you like a cowboy or a detective better.”

“Right now I’d like for all this crap to be cleared up, and I don’t care if a cowboy, a detective, or a big old tomcat does the job,” she said.

The grin faded. “A tomcat?”

“Like in those cozy mystery books,” she said.

“The cat really solves the case?”

“Sometimes. Maybe you’d better get a cat.”

He shook his head. “Okay then. With all the information you gave us, we do have some good leads, but you were in that cabin with Conrad after Iris died, and so were Amanda and Jamie. A good prosecutor would argue that one or all of you found those letters months ago and, individually or collectively, you all murdered him. Y’all are still at the top of the suspect list.” He grimaced. “Maybe even more than before. That’s what I wanted to tell you and didn’t want to tell you at the same time.”

“Well, shit!” she said. So that’s the reason he’d been so antsy that morning when he picked her up. Nothing was decided and everything was even worse than before. In all the scenarios she’d thought about, that one never entered her mind.

“Exactly.” He frowned. “I can turn this truck around and take you home if you want.”

“Hell, no. I want that big hamburger you promised me,” she said.

“Okay, then, but I’ll understand if you turn me down on the next news.”

“You mean that’s not all of the bad news?”

“This has nothing to do with the case, but knowing that the bunch of you aren’t in the clear by any means might mean that none of you want to cooperate. You’ve heard about the festival?”