Protector. Part 36

"They just do? What kind of answer is that?"

"I don't have to explain anything to you! s.h.i.t is going down here, Jane!"

"What about Johnson? Did you question him? Maybe he pinched the c.o.ke!"

"Ron had blow in his pocket! He was caught red handed! Deal with it!"

"You're enjoying this. What is it about Ron that you hate so much?"

"What is it about him that you like?" Jane turned toward the sound of the chugging coal train as it inched up the mountain to pick up the day's black harvest. "What in the h.e.l.l is that?" Chris asked.

"The coal train." With that, the train rumbled past The Pit Stop. Once it cleared the area, Jane continued. "Ron didn't do it, Chris. I don't care how much you try to convince me. He's innocent of that and of whatever else you think he did."

"Whatever else? What exactly do you mean by that?"

"You know exactly what I mean."

"You sure are one c.o.c.ky little b.i.t.c.h!"

"There are some things that you don't know. And this is one of them."

"Don't hold out on me, Jane! You called here for a reason. What do you know? Has that kid been talking?" Chris' tone was slightly intimidating.

"Maybe. But, if you think I'm telling you, you're more f.u.c.ked up than I thought."

Chris lowered his voice. "Let me pa.s.s on some friendly advice. Whatever you do, don't even think about sharing your information with Weyler."

Jane's ears perked up. It was completely against Chris' character to suddenly become so forthcoming after puffing himself up and dishing out the insults. "Why?"

"You talk to Weyler about anything you know . . . anything . . . and you'll have another dead kid on your hands. I'm not bulls.h.i.tting you, Jane. You can't trust him." Jane felt her heart skip a beat. "Someone's coming," Chris whispered. "I gotta go."

And with that, he hung up.

Chapter 23.

For the rest of that day and most of the night, Jane could not shake Chris' voice in her head. "You'll have another dead kid on your hands" played repeatedly in her mind. Of course, Chris was referring to Amy Joan Stover. Jane knew if she thought of Amy too much, the nightmares would start again.

By eleven o' clock that evening, Jane was still wired. Emily had fallen asleep in Jane's bed an hour earlier, leaving Jane alone to sort out the "what ifs." She paced back and forth in the living room, chain smoking with renewed vengeance. Occasionally, she stopped to look out the front window as the huge trucks pulled up across the street by the park to set up for the Peach Pit Days Carnival. By morning, the park would be transformed into a raucous kaleidoscope of colorful tents, food booths and carnival rides. She needed peace and quiet so she could think clearly. Something was very wrong at Denver Headquarters.

As much as she hated to admit it, she was grateful that Chris was able to squeeze out the warning about Weyler. Soon, though, that grat.i.tude was replaced with anger-anger that she was, once again, a sitting duck waiting to be picked off. The anger pa.s.sed and a sense of intense vulnerability overwhelmed her. It occurred to Jane that it was the same feeling that blanketed her that night sitting in the patrol car with Chris while they awaited the return of the Stovers in their SUV.

She thought back to those fateful moments before all h.e.l.l broke loose. Why did she feel vulnerable, Jane wondered. Maybe it was because Chris was so edgy and p.i.s.sed off at Bill Stover when he was told to stay put in his house. As they both watched Stover drive down the street accompanied by two unmarked police vehicles for protection, Jane suddenly recalled how Chris shook his head and said, "What an a.s.shole! He really wants to sign his own death certificate!" Up until that moment, Jane had forgotten Chris' comment. His voice had that same c.o.c.ky cadence when he picked up his cell phone and called one of the flank vehicles.

"Yeah, it's me," Jane remembered Chris saying to the driver on his phone. "I can't believe Stover was so stupid! He drives off with his family for ice cream so he can get thirty minutes in the outside world! Thirty f.u.c.king minutes! It looks all clear from here but hurry up!"

Whatever it was that triggered Jane's feeling of impending doom and vulnerability on that tragic evening just over six weeks ago, she found herself right back in the middle of the same anxious tension. There was too much going on-too many lies that she had to remember so she wouldn't blow her cover. It was enough pressure to pretend to be someone's mother. But now, she had to lie to the sheriff, and pretend that her "daughter" had a severe blood disease. At least, that hinged on whether Dan was able to successfully deliver the bogus message to the sheriff. It was beginning to feel like a bad soap opera.

By the following Sat.u.r.day morning, the park across the street teemed with carnival visitors. Jane awoke to the discordant sound of pipe organ music against the steady drone of the strident carnies. Emily was not in bed with Jane, a fact that was unusual since she spent every night there. "Emily?" Jane called out.

No response.

Jane dashed out of bed and sprinted down the hallway toward the living room. There she saw Emily perched in a chair, eagerly looking out the large front window at all the action across the street. "I called your name!" Jane said, irritated. "Why didn't you answer me?"

"I didn't hear you," Emily replied as the blaring sound of carnival activities grew more noticeable in the living room.

While she had always taken her job of protecting Emily very seriously, Jane felt a heightened sense of duty ever since Chris' disturbing comment. Jane sat on the couch, feeling the weight of the world press down on her.

Emily sensed that something wasn't right. "What's going on?"

"Nothing . . . Just the usual bulls.h.i.t."

"We're still gonna go to the carnival, aren't we?"

"It's just a small-town deal. Convicts put these rides together. Drunken convicts!"

"So we don't go on the rides. We can eat popcorn and, maybe go to the dance. I mean, I don't have to go, but you do." Jane regarded her questionably. "Remember? You owe Dan two dances for fixing the water pipe."

Jane leaned her head against the couch, in no mood to kick up her cowboy boots. "Fine! But we'll just go for the dance and maybe some popcorn and then back to the house. Deal?"

"Deal!" Emily said excitedly.

Emily had been dressed in her western attire a full two hours before leaving. Jane emerged from the bedroom dressed in a crisp black western shirt, blue jeans and her weather beaten, scuffed cowboy boots.

"You fixed your hair!" Emily said with a big smile.

Jane self-consciously tousled her hair. "I just washed it and fluffed it up."

"You look really good." Jane shrugged her shoulders and slid her pistol into her f.a.n.n.y pack. "Do you have to bring your gun?"

"What do you think?"

Emily stood up, smoothing her jeans. "Just make sure you don't b.u.mp into Dan too hard when you're dancing with him. The gun might leave a dent on him!"

The two of them strode through the park just as the sun set behind Strong's Mesa. Jane kept Emily close at hand as they wound around the throngs of people and made their way toward the sound of the country band that was playing "We're From the Country" inside the large center tent. After paying the entry fee, Jane lead Emily through the crowd until they found two folding chairs near the side of the makeshift, wooden dance floor. Couples of all ages two-stepped and scuffed their boots across the floor. In the far corner, Emily saw Heather and her friends doing their robotic line dancing turns and shuffles to the music. Kathy hovered nearby the girls, taking nonstop flash photographs.

Jane and Emily walked over to a long table filled with homemade brownies, cookies and tubs of red punch. The band wound up their song with a striking fiddle chord as the crowd hooted and applauded. Jane bought two gla.s.ses of punch and a brownie and retreated to a pair of folding chairs against the wall.

A road weary, middle-aged cowboy crossed over to Jane, holding out his hand. "May I have the next dance?" he asked, a wad of tobacco wedged firmly in his cheek.

"I'm not in the mood right now, thanks!" Jane replied.

"I'm the best two-stepper in town!" he said, licking his lips and blinking rapidly.

Jane was quickly tiring of the guy's incessant advances. "No, thank you!"

The guy reluctantly moved on to his next conquest. Emily, who hadn't missed one word or flicker of an eye, leaned over to Jane and spoke into her ear. "I don't think he can dance as well as he said he could. Did you notice his face?"

"I certainly did!" Jane regarded Emily with a sense of pride, realizing that her protege was quickly catching on to the veiled signs of deceit.

The band swelled into another toe-tapping country tune as Dan approached them. "Glad you two girls could make it!" he said, a broad smile filling his face. "We got ourselves a good band this year!" Dan turned to Emily. "Hey, darlin', would you mind gettin' me a punch?" He pa.s.sed her a five dollar bill. "You keep the change!"

Emily's eyes lit up as she raced toward the food table.

Dan turned to Jane, his voice becoming serious. "I did what you asked regardin' Sheriff George."

"How'd it go?"

"Okay, I guess. At least for now, I think some of the heat's off."

"Thank you."

"I can't guarantee how much time I bought you."

"That's okay, Dan. We're not gonna be here forever."

Dan's face fell somber. "I thought you were gonna try and make a home here."

Jane suddenly realized that Dan had feelings for her. "No. I'm sorry if I gave you that impression."

"Where are you headed after this?"

"I don't know." Jane looked over at Emily standing at the beverage table. "We have family in Cheyenne," she said, thinking quickly. "That's probably the next stop."

"Cheyenne, Wyoming? Aw, we got lots more to offer you right here! We got a good climate, excellent schools, small town livin' and we're just thirty minutes from a Super Wal-Mart!"

"You oughta work for the Peachville Chamber."

There was an awkward moment between the two of them that was broken when Emily reappeared with the punch. "There you go!" Emily handed the cup to Dan.

"Thank you, ma'am!"

Emily looked over to the dance floor where Heather and her friends were pounding out their moves. Emily yelled above the loud music. "It's just not right!"

"What's not right?" Jane asked.

"You and I are ten times better than they are!"

"We're a couple, Patty. Not a line!"

"How many does it take to make a line?" Emily asked.

"More than two!" Jane announced.

Emily looked up at Dan and tugged on his shirtsleeve. "Are you a fast learner on the dance floor?"

"Well, yes, ma'am!" Dan said proudly.

The band brought the song to a pounding end. Without missing a beat, they launched into a cover of the Dixie Chicks' "Some Days You Gotta Dance." Sensing the moment was right, Emily grabbed Jane by the arm and yanked her toward the dance floor. "Come on! Let's show them how it's really done!"

Jane unwillingly lurched forward. But once she was on the floor, she knew that turning back would only attract more attention. Emily shouted "Cowboy Hustle," and Jane nodded in agreement. They kicked off a series of synchronized steps that drew the attention of Dan and almost every other male in the place. Heather and her friends continued their tired dance steps, unaware that directly behind them, Jane and Emily were boot scootin' to a different drummer. After carefully watching the dance pattern, Dan sidled up along Jane and matched her step for step. He proved to be as good a dancer as Jane, shuffling and sliding in perfect rhythm. Kathy stopped taking photos of her daughter long enough to observe the trio that had taken over center stage. A look of dismay mixed with indignation fell over her.

An admiring group of onlookers circled around the trio, cutting off Heather and her friends. The crowd cheered on the impromptu troupe as Heather was forced onto the sidelines. The hooting and hollering reached a fever pitch as the singer belted out the last line of the song. In perfect sync, Jane and Emily along with Dan stomped on cue to the last beat of the music. The crowd erupted. Both Jane and Emily looked around, a bit overwhelmed by the out-pouring of appreciation. Emily caught Heather's jealous eye and smiled broadly toward the brooding brat.

One of the Festival organizers walked onto the stage and took the microphone. "I think everyone will agree," he said to the crowd, "that we have a brand-new winner of the line dancing contest this year! Come on up here, gals! You, too, Dan!"

Jane and Emily were shocked by the announcement. Dan backed off, wanting Jane and Emily to take the spotlight, but Jane urged him on the dance floor. The last thing she wanted was to be featured in front of all those people. Emily climbed onstage as the announcer brought out a twelve inch, gold plated statue that depicted a single line dancer in a distinctive pose. He handed the statue to Emily. "What's your name, darlin'?" the announcer asked, poking the microphone in her face.

"Patty," she said nervously.

"And who's this?" the announcer asked, pointing toward Jane.

Emily looked at Jane and smiled. "She's my mom. She taught me how to dance." The crowd let out a chorus of whoops and hollers. Emily looked out at the jovial crowd and saw Heather. If looks could kill, Emily would have been shot dead.

"Come over here, Mom!" the announcer said, beckoning Jane toward the stage. Jane waved him off, preferring to stay as far back as possible, but Dan nudged her forward. "You turn a mighty fine step out there!" the announcer proclaimed. "How 'bout if we give the floor to you and Dan for the next number?"

Jane wanted to decline the offer, but the crowd wouldn't have it. Dan leaned over to her. "You do owe me two dances!"

Jane took his hand as the drummer laid out an opening riff, followed by the guitarist and piano player as the singer jumped into "Watching My Baby Not Coming Back." Jane looked around the room for Emily. Once she caught sight of her on the side of the dance floor clutching her trophy, Jane mouthed "Stay there." Emily nodded.

Dan twirled Jane around the hardwood floor. In between synchronized two-steps, several complicated foot changes and a dizzying array of whirling, Dan and Jane looked as if they had been trading dance moves for years. The drummer skimmed his stick on the crash cymbal and suddenly the song was over. The surrounding crowd burst into a frenzy, chanting "One more time!"

"Let's stop while we're ahead!" Jane yelled above the din. Spotting Emily, she made a beeline toward her.

Emily glanced over to see Kathy closing in on the trio with Heather close at hand. Heather never took her eyes off Emily, shooting daggers of hatred toward her.

Kathy tapped Jane on the shoulder. "Well, my, my!" Kathy exclaimed, her plastic smile firmly embedded on her face. "That was quite the display of fancy footwork! Kathy turned to Emily. "And look at you! Little Miss Trophy Winner!" Kathy turned to Heather. "Heather, darling. Isn't there something you'd like to say to Emily?"

The wheels of revenge spun in Heather's head. Her pouty mouth twisted into a phony grin. "Congratulations! You've got moves I've never seen before. Maybe we can get together and you can show me what you know! I've got the new Tim McGraw CD."

"Really?" Emily said, enthusiastically.

"Well, girls, you'll have to make a play date with each other!" Kathy said.

"How about a sleepover?" Heather asked Emily, ignoring Kathy.

Emily could hardly contain herself. "Yeah! Sure!"

Jane bristled, dubious of Heather's intentions. "We should discuss that-"

"Mom!" Emily whined to Jane. "She's inviting me to a sleep over!"

Jane felt backed into a corner. "You know what happened the last time you went to a sleepover. You couldn't sleep. I had to come get you-"