“After those calls, I received a couple back. First, I heard from Connor Talbot. He and Mel received word that Brody Carp was on his way toward Waco. They, of course, managed to pick up his trail and sounded more than a little concerned that he drove through Wacon and was, apparently, on his way toward Lusty. I assumed that I was their second call—Adam being the first.”
“You’re right, there. Adam called me a half-hour before you did.”
“And my last call, just moments ago, was from Kat. She wanted to let me know she was following another rather odious man by the name of Douglas Vance, who seemed to be coming this way as well.”
“You do love your little intrigues, don’t you?”
“Well…y’all did ask me to stick around home instead of traveling the globe a few years back, if you’ll recall. Did you expect I’d stay home and retire to a rocking chair?”
Jake shook his head, but he was smiling. They’d meandered through town—she wouldn’t nag him about driving so slowly—and were approaching the final stop sign before the roadhouse.
“Grandma Kate, if I ever see you retiring to a rocking chair, I swear I’d invent some excitement, just to get you moving again.”
“You’re a good man, Jake Kendall, and a good grandson.”
Jake eased his car into a parking spot. He raised one eyebrow when he noticed the sleek silver Tesla roadster. Then he met her gaze, one eyebrow raised.
“Full disclosure, then. Your brother-in-law Peter, as well as Joe Grant, are inside, as it was their shift to keep an eye on our Jenny. Marcus and Jeremy have taken up position, as well. I couldn’t not include them, all things considered. Angela and Ricoh should be enjoying a nice lunch, as are Cord and Jackson, who brought Parker and Dale with them. And, of course, soon to join us are three licensed investigators. And Adam, I’m quite certain, by now is very close by, his finger on the pulse, and will be ready to move as soon as everyone’s here.”
Jake sighed. “And, I will assume that you’re armed, as well.”
“Well, of course, I am. One or both of those men could prove to be dangerous. We have to be ready for anything.”
“Well, all right then. What am I worried about?”
“You really are a good man, Jake Kendall. Now let’s go have something to eat and watch everything unfold.”
* * * *
Jenny couldn’t help but smile every time she saw Angela and Ricoh together. They weren’t given to overt PDAs. But there was magic in the way they looked at each other and in the smiles—soft, subtle and, yes, sexy—that passed between them. And in how, like now, he reached over and laid one of his hands on both of hers.
That right there is true love. Jenny had heard some more of their story. She didn’t know if she could wrap her head around that kind of love. They’d been separated suddenly, even violently, had been forced to live apart for thirty years, had even been fed lies, and yet…
And yet. Love stayed. Love endured. Love waited.
Unable to resist, she took a moment to gaze at her men, sitting with Jackson and Cord, clearly deep in discussion. She tried to look at them objectively, but that was a waste of time. She couldn’t be objective when it came to Parker and Dale Benedict.
Who knew what surprises life held? Who could say that the reason she’d been born, the reason she’d lived, hadn’t been to meet these two men at this place, and at this time, and to begin to build a life with them?
Jenny knew she wasn’t alone in believing that life happened as it was meant to, that things usually turned out as they should, but she wondered if that was always the case. Or did fate sometimes require a boot in the butt or a gentle nudge?
She headed into the kitchen to pick up a couple of orders. Her plates were up, and Patrick was humming along to the music that permeated the roadhouse as he worked.
Their newest hire, Nancy, stepped out of the locker room, tying her apron on as she headed for the order terminal.
“Hey, welcome aboard! I know you’ve been on staff a few days already…”
Nancy grinned. “But it’s our first shift together.”
“It is. How’s it going so far?”
“I really like this place. Thanks for putting in a good word for me.”
Jenny didn’t think she’d done anything deserving of thanks. But she said, “You’re welcome.”
She picked up her order and used her back to open the “out” door. The young couple sitting at the back of the dining room, a couple of tables away from her guys, were engrossed in their conversation. A folded area map lay on the man’s right.
“One loaded nachos, one burger and fries.” She set the meals down. “Do you need anything else?”
The man gave her a slight smile. “Is there any chance I could have some vinegar for my fries and sweet green relish for my burger?”
The roadhouse had enough tourists from all over the world pass through that there were a few condiments Angela routinely ordered in, especially with those tourists in mind.
“Yes, sir. I’ll fetch them for you now.” There were two opened boxes in the beverage service area—one of each of what this guest requested—in individual little cello packets.
Jenny grabbed three of each and took them to her guest.
“Thank you!” The man appeared happily surprised to receive those condiments. Angela knows what she’s about.
A young woman sitting at the next table, eating a sandwich and reading a book, looked over at the couple and smiled in response to the man’s enthusiastic pleasure as he put the green stuff on his burger. He made a happy-tummy sound when he bit into it.
Note to self. One of these days I’ll have to give that green stuff a try.
Jenny turned and saw that two men had
