I leaned forward slightly and said, “Sheriff, that’s exactly what we’re trying to do.”
Nevada
44
The Horseshoe Ranch definitely lived up to its name on the outside. The huge ranch sat at the end of a long road visible from the highway, and the driveway in front of the massive house was in the shape of a horseshoe. Unfortunately, I never got to see the inside, because there was a big sign in front that said: 21 YEARS OR OLDER, NO EXCEPTIONS. It wasn’t worth trying to sneak me in, because if we drew too much attention, we’d never get what we were looking for. So, Bob dropped me and Kia off at the Marriott, and he went back to the Horseshoe Ranch on his own.
“You think this is going to work?” I asked Kia. Bob had just left, and we were sitting in the hotel restaurant.
Kia sighed, stabbing her salad weakly. “All we can do is wait and hope Bob comes through.”
I nodded my head in agreement. “Kind of crazy, huh? We’re actually in Texas tracking down your sister.”
“Yeah,” she said warmly. “And I don’t know how to thank you enough for everything you’ve done.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“I can, and I will. I don’t have much, but if you think of something, it’s yours.” Kia’s voice purred, and something about the way she looked at me made my heart start racing.
“Bob’s not going to be back for a while,” she said.
I swallowed hard. I was pretty sure I knew what she meant, and a week ago, I would have jumped at the chance. But somehow, that wasn’t important—or what I really wanted anymore.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m good. I didn’t do this for that.” I sat up straight, picking up my milkshake and making a loud slurping sound with the straw.
“You sure?” Kia looked a little disenchanted by my response.
I nodded. “Yeah, but I do have a question.”
“Uh, sure. Ask away,” she said distantly.
“On our way here from Waco, Bob tried to kiss you and you pushed him away.”
“Yeah, so? What about it?” She seemed to have an attitude all of a sudden. I guess I’d hurt her feelings.
“Why’d you push him away?”
“Because I never kiss clients.” She sounded annoyed. Was she mad at me, or at the question?
“But that doesn’t make much sense. I mean, you do a lot of other things with him, don’t you?”
She cut her eyes at me, but I wanted to get to the bottom of it, so I pressed on.
“What’s wrong with kissing?”
“Nothing,” she snapped. “Kissing is emotional. It’s romantic. It’s what I fantasize about, Nevada.”
“And having sex isn’t?” I was totally confused.
“No, not for me.” She was on the verge of tears, but I had no idea why—until she dropped some harsh reality on me. “I’ve been raped so many times and had so many vile men inside me that there is no emotion left in sex.”
I was starting to understand. “Maybe that’s because you’ve only had sex, not love. You’ve been forced to give your body to people in a transaction. Maybe it just needs to happen naturally and not be traded. You need someone to give you unconditional love.”
“You never cease to amaze me, you know that?” she said, finally cracking a smile. “Yes, maybe one day a man will romance me and make me feel special, but for now, this is my situation, and kissing is one small thing I have control over. I’m not giving a kiss to anyone who pays me. If I kiss a man or a woman, it’s because I genuinely care for them.”
“So, do you think you’ll ever find that person?”
“Yes. I already have.”
“You have? It’s not Bob, is it?” I was going to be pissed if it was that loser.
“No, silly.” She laughed, hurting my feelings, but I tried not to let it show. “You’re the only person other than my sister I care about,” she said. “I’d die for you, because I know you’d die for me.”
“So, does that mean . . .”
Our eyes locked. I swallowed hard as she moved a little closer.
“Does that mean you’d kiss me?”
“That’s not something you ask a girl, Nevada,” She slowly leaned toward me, and like a magnet, my body drew closer to hers. I closed my eyes and held my breath.
“You just do it,” she told me.
“My, my, there’s a whole lotta people lookin’ for you two.” A loud, obnoxious Southern voice startled us away from each other.
I looked up, and there was a tall, fat man wearing a tuxedo and a black cowboy hat. Standing behind him were three cops also wearing cowboy hats.
“Is there a problem?” Kia asked.
“It would appear so. We’re gonna need to see some ID,” the fat man said.
Kia pulled out her ID right away, but I just sat there. I knew what this was about. My dad and grandfather had sent them. Grandpa worked with police a lot and was always making donations to their civic groups and unions, even playing golf with the police commissioner of New York City. He always joked that cops were some of the best employees he had.
“Did my family send you?” I asked.
“Come on now, son. You already know the answer to that question.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “Now, let’s see some ID. I don’t want Tyler here to have to cuff you two.”
“No.” Kia shook her head. “No need for cuffs. Nevada, give him your ID.”
Reluctantly, I handed him my driving permit. He showed it to one of the other cops, and they both started laughing.
“Nevada Duncan.” The fat man read out loud, smiling from ear to ear. “LC’s gonna be mighty surprised when I call and tell him you’re with me.”
“How about I give you a thousand dollars not to make that call?” I asked.
He laughed even harder. “Boy, you are definitely related to LC Duncan. But you’re worth a lot more
