Free A Rich Man for Dry Creek / a Hero for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad Page B

Buckwalter asked as she handed the phone to Jenny.
    â€œShe will be if she’s not careful,” Jenny said as she took the phone and stepped behind the refreshment table where it was quieter.
    â€œI heard that,” Jenny’s sister said when Jenny put the phone to her ear. “And rest assured, I won’t need to be looking for a new job. My boss is very happy with what I’ve discovered.”
    â€œAnd what would that be?” Jenny kept her voice low so that no one else could hear. Six or seven of the teenagers had drifted over to the refreshment table and were staring down at the punch bowl trying to decide whether or not to scoop some of the watered-down beverage into their plastic cups.
    â€œWell, for starters, I know where Robert Buckwalter the Third is.”
    â€œAny number of people know that. It’s not a secret.”
    â€œWell, none of the other tabloids know where he is these days. And I know something’s up. I told my boss that the man was very touchy about talking to the press.”
    â€œHe thought you were a pudding salesman, for Pete’s sake. It had nothing to do with the press.”
    â€œStill, I think he’s hiding something. Some secret.”
    â€œWell, if he is, it’s his to keep. I, for one, am not going to ask him another thing about his life.”
    â€œOh, you’ve been talking to him?”
    â€œNo, I haven’t been talking to him.”
    â€œOh.” The disappointment in the voice of Jenny’s sister was more personal than professional. She was suddenly Jenny’s little sister again. “I’m sorry. I thought maybe after that kiss…”
    Jenny couldn’t help herself. She darted a quick look over her shoulder to be sure that no one was close enough to hear. “Well, he did ask me to dance.”
    â€œYou danced with him!” Jenny’s sister shrieked.
    â€œYou danced with Robert Buckwalter the Third! Wait until I tell Mom! You really danced with him.”
    â€œIt was a short dance,” Jenny was forced to admit. “The kidnapping sort of got everyone distracted.”
    â€œKidnapping! Somebody kidnapped him! Why didn’t you say so! Now that’s a newsbreak.”
    â€œNo, no, not Robert. It was someone else. He didn’t have anything to do with it. It’s all tied up with some rustling that’s going on.”
    â€œOh.” Jenny’s sister paused. “Rustling? You mean for cows? You’re sure the kidnappers weren’t really out for him and they just grabbed the wrong person or something. I mean if you were going to kidnap anyone, he’d be the one to pick. He’s got more money than the president of the United States. He certainly has more money than some cow.”
    â€œYes, I’m sure. He wasn’t the target.”
    Jenny sensed someone standing slightly behind her before she heard the man clear his throat. She looked up.
    â€œMake sure she knows I didn’t even know the kidnap victims,” Robert said firmly. Snowflakes were melting on his hair and he still looked as if he’d stepped out of the pages of a catalog. “Make sure she knows the kidnapping had nothing to do with me. It would have happened if I hadn’t been here.”
    â€œThat’s what I told her. I said you wouldn’t have even gone with the men if it hadn’t been for the bus. I mean your mother rented it and all.”
    â€œWell, I don’t know about that.” Robert frowned. How is it that he had never noticed Jenny’s eyes turned a snapping black when she was annoyed? Fascinating. He wondered if she was annoyed with her sister or with him. Maybe she thought he should have ridden to the rescue on a horse like the FBI agent instead of worrying about a big old bus. He guessed a bus wasn’t very dashing. If that was it, he needed to explain. “I would like to think I would go to anyone’s aid if they were being kidnapped.