confidant.
If only people could know the Luke she’d known almost all her life—kind, protective, sometimes overly protective. But saying she didn’t care about the people in her own home state of Texas—that was going too far.
“Jane, dear, how many times have I told you reading the papers will make you old before your time?”
She looked up from the paper to see a pair of kind gray eyes gazing at her.
“I know; I know.” She sighed. “I’m just working on my speech.”
“We have speech writers on staff for that. Use them.” Luke sat on the sofa across from her desk and placed a cup and saucer on the coffee table. “They’re the best in the field.”
“I’m sure they are. Announcing that I’m running for the presidency is very important to me. I want to get it right.”
“Even more reason to use a speech writer.”
“This is personal for me, Luke. I’m doing this because I truly believe I can make a difference. The American Federation party can make our country better for everyone.”
“Spoken like a true politician.” He grinned.
She rolled her eyes. “I mean it, Luke.”
“Then use what we have at our disposal. This is going to be a long campaign, and we’re fortunate to have plenty of financial resources.”
“That’s the problem.” She sighed as she picked up a newspaper from the stack in the middle of her desk and waved it at him. “How can I touch the hearts of the people in this country when the media portray me to be out of touch with Middle America? I have to figure out a way to make them see that what our party is doing is good for all.”
He tugged on the sleeves of his crisp white shirt. Small diamond cufflinks twinkled as the light hit them. “What are they complaining about now?”
“Fracking.” Jane searched through the pile of newspapers, pulled one out, and tossed it to him. “This one says that the fracking Prescott Oil is doing in North Texas is causing the earthquakes in the area.”
Luke laughed. “I was told on good authority that the seismic events barely registered. Besides, we have our own geophysicists,
She pursed her lips before continuing. “Then there is this paper.” She waved it. “They have a reporter doing an undercover investigation in Gardenville.”
She got up from her desk, sat in the seat across from Luke, and handed the paper to him. “He claims the wells aren’t safe and that chemicals used in the fracking process are seeping into the drinking water.”
“Absurd! There is absolutely no proof.” Luke tossed the paper onto the table. “Besides, Texas has some of the most stringent regulations in the country.”
“That may be, but I’ve received word that State Representative James Keith will be introducing a bill requiring companies to disclose the chemical used in the fracking fluid.”
Jane felt an eerie chill at the blank expression on Luke’s face. It wasn’t a look she’d ever seen on him before.
His lips slowly curled into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and she shivered. “It sounds like an environmental witch hunt to me.”
“I don’t know. What harm could come from disclosing the information? I plan on fully backing his bill, to show my support of transparency in the fracking done by Prescott Oil?or any company for that matter?involved in this type of business.”
“Ah, excellent political move, my dear. It also shows you’re environmentally friendly.”
Jane scowled. “It’s more than that, Luke.”
“Now, now Jane. Don’t be upset. I’m only teasing you. I know your discomfort with the politics of it all. However, I fear your support of this bill would do more harm than good for the people in Texas.”
“And why is that?”
Luke leaned over, picked up the cup of coffee, and took a sip before continuing. “If Prescott Oil were forced into full disclosure, then our competitors would have full access to our proprietary business information. This could severely impact our profits. We might have to pull out of Texas.”
He took another sip, his eyes observing her over the cup as if gauging her reaction.
She felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. Was he threatening her?
“What exactly do you mean?” She drawled the words slowly.
He carefully placed the cup back on the table and studied her for a moment. “Prescott Oil has brought many jobs to the people of Texas—to people who’ve been hit during these troubling economic times. It would be a shame if they lost their livelihood because the company had to look elsewhere for a more...amenable location.”
Jane’s stomach churned. She didn’t like where the conversation was going. In all the time she’d known Luke, he’d never interfered with her political work, and he’d never asked for political favors, which she knew were common in the world of politics. So far, most of what she’d done had benefitted the people in her state. The last bill she co-wrote had broken the red tape and allowed companies like Prescott Oil to expand fracking. She was proud of the fact that now it would be easier to bring fracking to more rural counties in the country and even to go international. It would mean more jobs and hopefully a better economy for all. While she was writing the bill, she got a lot of heat from the media, claiming her friendship with Luke had influenced her. It couldn’t have been further from the truth.
“Sir, may I have a word with you?”
Jane jumped at the sound of Sal’s voice. She looked over at the hulking body at the entrance, taking up the entire doorway. How could someone so huge not make a sound? She wondered how many conversations Sal had overheard between her and Luke over the years.
“What is it, Sal?” Luke’s voice sounded irritated. He continued to look at Jane expectantly.
“It’s about the Houston transfers in the job-training program. I have the report for you. You said you wanted it as soon as I received it.” He held out a manila folder.
“Job-training program?” She raised a brow.
Luke reached out to take the file from him. “It’s a program Prescott Oil started about a year ago to train men and women to be ready to work in the oil and gas industry. We have a few transfers from our Houston training site working in Gardenville.”
“Really? I’m impressed.” Relief swept over her. This was the Luke she knew and loved.
“Prescott Oil is not in it all for the money.” Luke glanced down at the report, and a look of disappointment crossed his face. “I have some business to take care of. Think about what I said?”
She looked into his eyes as they gazed back at her kindly. Those were the eyes she remembered from her childhood. Over the past year, she had seen less and less of them, and she wondered what was going on with him to have changed so much. He had always been on her side, and she wanted to trust him like she always had. But lately, she felt like it would be safer for her to keep her thoughts to herself. She couldn’t get rid of the nagging feeling that something was off. He was different.
“I’ll consider any avenues that benefit the people and our country,” she said.
He stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. It was cold.
“That’s all I ask.”
9
Naomi watched Megan climb out of the red pickup truck that was parked along a farm road. She looked exactly the same as when she’d last seen Megan?with her arms and perfect body all over Lash. Same silky blonde hair. Same flawless sun-kissed skin. Same dazzling smile.
Megan smoothed down her pastel yellow dress, flashing manicured nails and matching nail polish.
