Free Texas Lawman by Ginger Chambers

with him.
    “Where will you be?” she asked.
    He shrugged. “Around.”
    She fished in her pocket for his silver coin. “Here,” she said. “I’ll make my decision tonight. When you’re ready to meet again, put it out like you did before. If I agree to help, I’ll be here within the hour.” She cocked her head. “Did you do the same thing with Crystal? Leave the coin for her to find?”
    When he didn’t answer, she knew. He’d probably
     
    used that signal many times before her and after. It wasn’t anything special.
    She started for the maila doors of the barn. “Jodie?” he said, still keeping his voice low. “You won’t tell anybody until after you’ve et me know, will you? You’ll at least give me a head start?”
    She waited long seconds before replying. “You’re just going to have to trust me about that, aren’t you?”
    Then she walked away.
    SURPmSINGLY JODIE SLEPT soundly once she got into bed, and when she awoke the next morning, her mind was made up. She believed him. She would help. His feelings for the girl had rung true, and that was what had finally convinced her.
    Of course they had to continue to keep his presence a secret. That he knew the ranch and the ranch hands’ schedules like the back of his hand was an advantage. They would find some out-of-the-way place for him to stay while she. That was where her plans got a little sticky. While she what? How was she going to find this Joe-Bob? West Texas was huge. The ranch where this cowboy was employed could be nearer to El Paso than Del Norte. Or closer to New Mexico than the Big Bend area.
    She checked for the coin after awaking, and checked again after she’d showered and dressed. It wasn’t there. So it was with a mild start—part of her still wished his return had been a bad dream—4hat she saw it upon returning to her room after breakfast.
    For years she’d felt somehow inadequate because Rio had rejected her. She knew it was silly—she had
     
    nothing to feel inadequate about! —yet still she had. Then last night, in that odd reality in which she’d seen him stripped bare of artifice, her lingering doubts about herself had disa]bpeared.
    She retrieved the coin, slipped it into her pocket, then started off for a seemingly casual stroll near the work area.
    There was no need for stealth in the daylight. If anyone saw her, she’d stop and talk. Jodie, home from college and her year’s vacation, exploring her old stomping grounds.
    No one was about, not even Rafe in the office. From the sounds of activity in the corrals and pens beyond, some of the cowboys were there, but most were out tending cattle or seeing to the upkeep of the fence–both never ending activities. Still, she tapped lightly on the storage-room door, in case someone might hear.
    Rio was waiting for her, looking more exhausted than he had the night before, as if he hadn’t slept. He had a lot to think about, though he didn’t know the worst. From what Tate had said, Crystal was in worse condition than Rio understood. Besides losing the baby, she was in a fight for her own survival, and Jodie wondered whether or not it would be kinder to tell him.
    “First,” she said, handing back the coin, “I’ve decided to help you.” At his quick release of breath she cautioned, “Wait. You may not like what’s coming. You know the old adobe schoolhouse? That’s where I think you should hide. It’s out of the way, yet close enough I can get to it on horseback in under an hour. It’s in
    “It’s rubble!” he burst out.
     
    “It’s a place where no one would think to look. That’s what you want, isn, t it? Until you can turn yourself in when you prove yOur alibi?”
    “It doesn’t have a roof! And the walls” — “Forget it, then! I’ll call Tate and he” – “No, no. The schoolhouse’ll be fine.”
    “Next,” she continued, “you have to wait for me to contact you. No more of your coming here on your own. If you keep it up, someone’s