Lone Star Burn: Taken by Surprise (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Free Page A

bullpen, he waved at the dispatcher, passed his secretary who handed him a stack of message slips, and detoured to the break room where a fresh pot of coffee sat waiting. Jack filled his mug and followed his boss to his office.
    “So.” Dean took a sip of his coffee and leaned back in his chair. “Six months here and you haven’t died of boredom, right?”
    Jack studied his boss, wondering if there was a right and a wrong answer.
    “Uh, no.” He grinned, figuring humor might be best. “Not yet, anyway.”
    “You know, I took a chance when I hired you because this is a one-eighty from crime in the big city. Not everyone can make the transition from the accelerated pace of a metro area. I hoped the fact you hadn’t always been a city cop might make a difference. As you’ve found out, we’re mostly brawls and speeders and helping with the occasional search and rescue.”
    “I think,” Jack told him, “that I was more than ready for a change.” He studied Dean. “Have I given any indication that I don’t like it?”
    Dean shook his head. “On the contrary, you’re about the best damn deputy we’ve got.”
    “Then what’s this about?” Jack took another swallow of his coffee.
    “I wanted to tell you first of all that you’re doing a great job and it feels right having you here.”
    “Thanks.” Jack grinned. “For a few minutes there, I thought I was being called into the principal’s office.”
    “Not at all.” Dean took another swallow of coffee. “Just wanted to fill you in on some things we’ve got coming up around here.”
    “Oh?” Jack lifted an eyebrow. “Like what?”
    Dean picked up a flyer from his desk and handed it over. “This, for one thing.”
    Jack lifted an eyebrow. “Rodeo?”
    “Uh-huh.” Dean nodded. “Randy Warren at the Flying W holds one every year. Raises money for the youth ranch on the west side of the county.”
    “I need to get over there and take a look at it one of these days.”
    “Yes, you do,” Dean agreed. “The place has been a godsend for a number of kids who could have ended up on the wrong path. Because of that, the rodeo draws a huge crowd. Really big.”
    Jack took another hit of his rapidly cooling coffee. “I’m guessing this means we’ll all be pulling double duty to police the event?”
    “We will. And we still have to cover the rest of the county.”
    Jack frowned. “Are you telling me we have trouble when the rodeo is on?”
    Dean heaved a big sigh. “So far, nothing more than nonsense, but there’s beer for sale and other alcohol, people coming in from out of town to compete and watch. The potential is there for trouble, and I like to be prepared.”
    “You can count on me for whatever you need,” Jack told his boss.
    “I knew I could. Next week, we need to ride over to Randy’s place together and meet with him. He can fill you in on all the details.”
    “Just tell me when.”
    Dean rose from his chair and extended his hand. “I’ll say it again. I’m real glad you decided to come back to your roots.”
    “Thanks. Me, too.”
    But as he walked back to the break room to rinse his cup and leave it, he thought how much nicer it would be if Jessie was here with him.

Chapter Two
     
    God, I hope this isn’t a disaster.
    Jessie had been repeating that mantra ever since she left Houston—and civilization—behind that morning. This was hardly what she’d seen as her future, but she had no choice. None. Nada. Zip. Whatever she found in Fort Mavis, she had to make it work. She was out of options.
    Maybe when she saw the restaurant and the house, she could contact a local realtor and sell them. But who knew how long that would take, and who on earth would even buy it? Besides, a relative had left it to her and relatives were scarce in her life. She wanted to know who this woman really was and why she’d left all this to her. If nothing else, it gave her a place to reorganize her life.
    She checked her watch. She’d been on the