Loving Justice (El Camino Real Book 2) (6 page)

*  *  *

Justice urged Cochise forward. He pulled his collar up around his face and headed toward the north pasture near the highway. This time of year, he opened the pecan groves to the cattle. The trees provided a measure of protection against the north wind. Lavaca Creek would probably be iced over. He hoped he hadn’t lost any cattle to the blizzard. At least the winds had died down. As he rode by Cave Canyon, Justice couldn’t help but smile. The wind whistling through the trees almost sounded like laughter. He’d spent many pleasurable hours running through the rugged landscape with Charlee.  

A pang of loneliness stung him in the chest. You’d think by now he would be over Charlee Parker, especially since they’d only been friends. Since she’d walked away from him almost eight years ago, Justice had dreamed about her, over and over again. She haunted him. It made no sense. Charlee had invaded his mind and heart. He’d thought of her more in the last eight years than he had when she’d been with him almost every day. The dreams tormented him, and he didn’t know why. Obviously, she’d made a new life for herself. Hell, he’d seen her in the car with the bastard as they drove out of town.

The howl of a coyote caused Cochise to shy, and Justice pulled him up short, speaking to him in a low, calming tone. What he needed was a woman. Oh, he’d dated off and on. Nothing serious. His libido was healthy and there was a woman or two around who shared his aversion to commitment. It wasn’t that he was against marriage, there was just something holding him back.

It was Charlee.

Which made absolutely no sense at all. 

The distant lowing of cattle told Justice he was nearing the herd. “Easy, Cochise.”

Odd, his horse and the cattle both seemed restless. Must be the weather.

Because of the cloud cover, the moon only made rare appearances. Everything was cloaked in darkness. He could see nothing clearly. Everything was obscured, out of focus, much like his life. That needed to change. Justice resolved that after the first of the year, he’d make a new start. Set some goals, get his personal life on track. All he’d been concerned about was business. It was time he looked for some personal happiness. Maybe he needed a vacation, anything to get his mind off the pass. Could he do it? Could he let her go?

Hell, what he needed was a sign.

Just then there was a loud rumbling noise, his horse lunged, dancing sideways. Hoof beats sounded on the earth as the cattle began to run.

What in God’s name was happening?

And then he heard it, a loud resounding roaring CRACK! His horse reared straight up, almost falling backward. “Down, down,” he commanded, scrambling in his saddle bag for a flashlight. Flicking it on, he slid off the horse, shining the weak light in front of him. What the fuck? He whistled out a shaky breath.

Justice was rendered speechless.

The earth had literally opened up in front of his feet. A sinkhole had formed that looked to be a dozen yards wide.

Talk about a sign…

About a hundred miles away, Charlee gasped and sat straight up on the couch, looking around her wildly. What had she heard? Her heart was pounding. She got up and looked around, confused as to what had awakened her.

She found nothing. Not one thing was out of place.

Funny, she’d felt as if her entire world had just shifted on its axis.

*  *  *

“I have never seen anything like this before in all my born days.” Jase stood with Justice and the other brothers, staring down into the rim of the hole. “How deep do you think it is?”

“I think I see hell down there,” Trevor said, shuddering a little as he stepped back from the edge.

“What are we going to do? Should we tell Dad?” Shiloh eased his mount back. He wasn’t about to take any chances with his beloved horse.

“No, not now.” Justice stared down into the abyss. “Let’s keep this to ourselves, we don’t want to spoil the wedding.” He was just trying to get his head wrapped around it all. There was some water in the hole and some black mud or sludge. Had he done this? “The oil field services group that we use has an impeccable reputation. I’m at a loss.”

“Fracking has got a bad rep lately. The state passed a bill in 2011 requiring companies to spell out the chemicals they used in injection drilling. Denton was the first city in Texas to ban fracking within its jurisdiction but there’s a bill on the house floor in Austin to require cities to reimburse the state for taxes, fees, and royalties they would have lost due to drilling regulations. There’s an opposing group who wants to ban it entirely.” Trace practiced his legal-speak on his brothers. He was pre-law.

“More than I wanted to know.” Justice held up his hand, stopping the younger King’s tirade. “Smith Drilling was supposed to be following all the rules and do nothing that would result in…this.” He waved his hand over the gaping sinkhole.

“So what are we going to do?” Shiloh repeated himself.

Justice dry-scrubbed his face, taking his hat off and beating the side of his leg with it. “Well, this wedding and Christmas is complicating things.”

“Well, excuse the hell out of me,” Jase quipped, laughing. “Let me go right in and cancel this shindig.”

“You wish.” Trace teased. Jase frowned at him.

“I’m going to call the county agent and get his opinion. That will be a good start.”

“Sounds like the right move to me,” Shiloh agreed. “In the meantime, we need to get this place cleaned up, repair what’s left of the fence and count cows.” He peered into the sink hole. “Wonder how many head we lost in this mess?”

“I don’t think we lost any. They stampeded before the hole even opened up.” Justice led Cochise off to one side. “I agree we need to build a barrier, and we need to do something about the road.” He pointed to the El Camino Real, which ran just on the other side of where the fence once stood. “All we need is this hole to eat the road and a couple of cars take a nosedive.”

Jase shuddered. “This is huge. I don’t see how we’re going to fix this shit.”

“You don’t have to worry about it,” Justice spoke to his brothers evenly. “Just continue on with the holidays, and I’ll do whatever it takes.”

His declaration seemed to ease their minds. They were used to big brother taking care of things.

A while later, Justice sat at the desk in his office and considered throwing the phone across the room. “I intend to cooperate, Dennis.”

“I’ll have to notify the state, Justice. If the State Attorney gets involved, we need to know what we’re up against.”

“What does that mean exactly?” Justice rubbed his eyes. Damn, he could feel a headache coming on.

“I’m not sure, but I know they’ll be concerned about water table contamination, instability and what the hell we’re going to do with the damn highway.” Dennis was obviously agitated.

“Do whatever you have to, just let me know what’s going on.” Justice hung up without saying goodbye and went to try on a damn stupid tux.

*  *  *

Charlee held on to the desk, reaching back to find her chair. She felt faint. “Bronco, you want me to go to Bronco?”

“Yes, is that a problem?”

Yes.

She tried to reason with her boss. “Isn’t there anyone else? I mean, it’s the holidays.” Like that made a whit of a difference. She didn’t even have a Christmas tree. No, the date wasn’t the problem, it was the town and who lived there.

“I’m sorry about the timing, Ms. Cortez, but this is an emergency. We have a major sinkhole that’s threatening the water supply of the town and residents’ ability to travel on their roadways.”

“All right.” That did sound serious. “When do I need to be there and where is the sinkhole located?” Maybe she could get in and out and no one she knew well would ever know the difference.

“I need you to head on up there and start gathering data. I’ll set up the meeting for the 27
th
. You’ll be meeting with Justice King. The sinkhole is located on El Camino land.”

Well, hell.

Charlee guessed it was time to face the music.

Here comes the bride, here comes the bride...there goes the bride, dum,dum,da-dum.

Justice paced in the anteroom, running his finger under his collar. “Damn, I hate this monkey-suit.”

“Why do we have to hide in here until time? Cade’s out wandering around somewhere. Why can’t we? It’s only bad luck if you see the bride before the ceremony.” Jase looked as comfortable as the rest of his brothers.

Shiloh glanced at his watch. “We have a half hour before we have to line up at the altar. I’m going to go mingle.”

No one tried to stop him. Trace glanced at Trevor. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving, let’s go raid the kitchen.”

“Don’t spill anything on your tux,” Justice cautioned.

“Yes, mama,” Trevor quipped and Justice popped him on the back of the head. He couldn’t help but grin as he watched the identical twins head out the door, both trying to get out of it at the same time, which resulted in a pushing match. Some things never changed.

In a few seconds, only Jase and Justice remained. “I think I have cold feet,” Jase said, smiling.

“Want a pair of electric socks?”

“Ha! I’m not sure that will do a lot of good.”

“Yea, what you’re feeling is normal.” Justice tried to imagine being in Jase’s shoes, about to tie himself to one woman for all eternity.

Maybe if it was the right woman it wouldn’t be so bad.

Jase shoved his hands in his pockets and gazed out the window. “The lake house has never looked more beautiful. Abby and Mom did a great job.”

“That they did,” Justice agreed. “Almost a thousand people have gathered to watch you tie the knot.”

Jase visibly shuddered. “Sorry, I have to take a walk. I’ll be back.”

“Sure, I’ll hold down the fort.” Watching him go, Justice took his place at the window. He wasn’t admiring the view, however. Justice was worried. That damn meeting on the sinkhole was in two days. Since talking to the extension agent, he’d done some research, trying to prepare himself for what the ‘fix’ for this damn situation could be. And honestly, he didn’t have a clue. Justice hated to admit when something was over his head. El Camino was liable as far as he could tell and the guy being sent to check everything out would probably agree. Justice just hoped he wasn’t going to be railroaded and sued for every dime they had. He wanted a chance to make amends and set things right without losing the ranch—literally. The sinkhole was going to turn into a money pit.

Hell, there wasn’t anything he could do about it now. He might as well take a walk. Guests were milling around, sipping drinks, laughing and talking, waiting to be called in for the ceremony. As he entered the reception hall, at least fifty women turned their heads at the same time to watch him approach. They looked like a group of meerkats. Justice swallowed. In a group like this, he felt like a lone antelope surrounded by a bunch of hungry lionesses. He loved women, and he craved sex as much as any man, but Justice preferred to deal with the female of the species on a one on one basis.

There hadn’t been anyone special in his life for quite a while and to tell the truth, he was lonely. Feeling like a salmon swimming upstream, Justice tried to distinguish faces but the women all looked about the same to him, just decked out in different colors of haute couture. Since he couldn’t distinguish a designer gown from one bought off-the-rack, he was more interested in what was wrapped up in all that finery. Funny, he thought, Charlee wouldn’t be caught dead in a frou-frou gown. More like a young filly, running wild and free than a peacock, she’d hardly ever worn anything but blue jeans. With all of the animal analogies running through his mind, he wondered at the wisdom of leaving the safety of the dressing room.

Again, a pang of loss hit him like a blow to the gut.

Hunkering a bit to make himself appear smaller, Justice aimed for the bar.

“Justice! Justice!” He tensed, turning to see which of the felines had honed in on his location. Whew! It was just Ms. Horne. She was seventy if she was a day. He’d be fairly safe with her.

“Hello, Ms. Horne. You look ravishing today.”

The old lady tittered. “I just wanted to speak to you. I have some news I thought you’d be interested in.”

Justice’s eyes were focused over her shoulder. He spied a waiter with bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos and his stomach was growling. “What news would that be?”

“Charlee Parker’s on her way home.”

Justice ceased breathing. “Really? That’s good news.” He was having a hard time forming words, his tongue kept getting stuck to the top of his mouth. Justice was about to ask for details, like when, where, how…but Abby joined them, and she didn’t look happy.

She hugged her old friend, then leaned over to whisper in Justice’s ear, “Have you seen Cade?”

“No, I haven’t. But I’m sure he’s around somewhere. We’ve never been able to get rid of that outlaw.” He was teasing but it didn’t seem to help. “Don’t worry, he’ll turn up.”

Someone called Abby’s name, and she and Ms. Horne turned away. Justice took the opportunity to escape, his appetite gone.

Charlee was coming home.

With his head spinning from the news, the next few minutes passed quickly. Soon he stood next to Jase with his brothers at the altar, awaiting the bride to come down the aisle. Justice was having a hard time keeping his mind on the ceremony. It was all he could do to stay in one place. He wanted to leave, get in his truck and drive, park in front of Charlee’s dad’s clinic and wait. Damn.

“It’s past time to start,” the preacher said, a little too loudly. “We’re missing a groomsman.”

“Cade will show. He got hung up at the airport. The caterer told me that a few minutes ago,” Jase whispered.

“Did anyone tell Abby? She was worried.” Justice joined the conversation.

There was a chorus of ‘nos.’ “Anyway, that’s not what’s holding up the ceremony. There’s something going on in the back.” Shiloh pointed to the door where the wedding party would make their entrance.

“You know how women are, it takes a long time to get all gussied up,” Jase joked. Clearly he had found the waiter who was serving champagne. 

Justice fidgeted. Everyone was staring at the groom and groomsmen as if it was their fault the processional hadn’t started.

“Hasn’t the organist played that same song three times already?” Jase whispered to Justice out of the corner of his mouth.

“Maybe, they all sound alike to me,” Justice returned his under the breath comment.

At his brother’s nudge, Justice surveyed the crowd. There was indeed something going on, people were whispering and looking over the shoulder. Finally, something started to happen! Everyone smiled when Cade walked in with an older woman. He saw her to a seat and raced up to the front to take his place. Justice watched Abby as she visibly reacted, her whole body going limp with relief.

That was just the beginning of the excitement. Soon, some of the wedding party began to make their way down the aisle. The flower girls came first, Pam’s cute little cousins and nieces, tossing rose petals along the way. Then a consecutive awwww went through the crowd.

“That’s my boy.” Scout came next, walking slowly, his joints stiff with arthritis. Harold had lost his position when he’d ruined his tux playing in a commode in the men’s restroom. Next came Pam’s sisters and then…nothing.

They waited and waited—the organist vamped and vamped—playing the expectant chord over and over again. Dum-dum-tah-dum. Dum-dum-tah-dum.

“What’s going on?” Trace asked.

“Hell, if I know.” Jase had lost his lackadaisical attitude. Now he just sounded worried.

When the doors opened in the back, Justice held his breath, thinking the bride was about to make an appearance—but it wasn’t. It was her mother.

“Pam’s changed her mind! She’s eloped. With another man!”

Then all hell broke loose.

*  *  *

“You made a beautiful bride.” Justice kissed Abby’s cheek. The last three hours had been mind-blowing. Pam had left Jase at the altar and his brother, bless his heart, had been gracious about it. As Sam was telling everyone that there would be a party anyway, even if there was no wedding, Cade Tallbull had bought himself a place in the Romantic Heroes Hall of Fame by proposing to Abby on the spot and inviting her to walk down the aisle and marry him—right there, right then.

And she had.

“Thank you. I’m so happy, I love him so much.”

Justice held his sister close, remembering the day she’d cried and told him that she could never marry, that Cade would never want her. “Do you need me to tell you ‘I told you so’?”

Abby snorted. “No, please don’t.”

“Be happy, baby sister, that’s all I ask.” They had come full circle. Justice wanted to feel happy, and he was elated for Abby and Cade, but he couldn’t help but wonder why his life couldn’t have been different.

“I will be. Cade will see to that.” Abby hugged him. “Did you meet his mother? He’s been looking for her for years. That’s why he was late, he went to pick her up. He’d left me a note, but the ceiling fan blew it off the dresser.”

“See, you worried for nothing.” He patted her back.

Abby pulled away a bit. “I heard Charlee’s coming home.” 

Justice stiffened. “Yea, I heard that too. In fact, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go and check that information out.” He hugged his sister long and hard. “Don’t leave on your honeymoon without saying goodbye.”

“I won’t, I don’t think we’re leaving today.” She giggled. “This has been so quick, I’m just trusting Cade.”

“Very wise. He loves you with all his heart.” Justice kissed her once more, then made his escape. He was able to slip out of the lake house and make it up to the main residence without anyone stopping him. Within minutes he was back in his comfortable jeans, shirt and boots. Setting his Stetson on his head, he pocketed his wallet and took off.

Curtiss Parker was about to get a visitor.

*  *  *

“I told you I don’t know anything, dammit!”

Justice clenched his fist. If the man hadn’t been instrumental in saving Abby’s life a few days ago, the temptation to knock him flat of his old ass would’ve been irresistible. “You’re telling me that you haven’t heard from Charlee? In eight years? Not even now that she’s coming home?”

The old man held his head in his hands. “How many times have I told you? She doesn’t call me. She just up and left, went back to where we found her.”

“And where is that?” He didn’t really expect an answer, he never had received one before, no matter how many times he’d asked.

“I don’t know. We dealt with damn lawyers. It’s been too long. The cheating bastard’s dead,” the old man yelled, getting up and walking to the fireplace. “If she’d wanted you to know where she was going, she would’ve told you. I guess she was running away from you as much as she was running away from me.”

Justice shook his head, not wanting to hear that. “So, why is she coming home?”

Doc Parker choked out a harsh laugh. “Not to see me, I can guarantee that. I don’t know why she’d want to see you either. I can remember the morning right before she left, when she came traipsing back through the woods right after daylight like some cheap little strumpet. I told her what I thought about her then, I showed her too, knocked her to her knees.”

Rage hit Justice like a semi-truck. Before he could stop himself, he had Parker against the wall, holding him by his throat. “What are you talking about? She didn’t come to see me. What did you do?”

“You’d better unhand me, King, before I press charges on you for assault.” His voice creaked from his throat. Justice wasn’t giving him much room to breathe.

“You want to charge me with assault?” Justice snorted. “You should have been convicted of child abuse a long time ago.”

Disgusted with Parker and himself, Justice let him go abruptly, and he slumped to the floor. Without a word, he left, walking to his truck blindly. There was something about all of this that he was missing. More had gone on the day Charlee left than he was comprehending. Jerking the truck door open, he crawled in and started the engine, gunning it out of the clinic parking lot.

Justice was so mad, he couldn’t see straight, much less think. If he ever did catch up with Charlee, she had some explaining to do.

*  *  *

Two days later…

Charlee Parker

Loves

Justice King

Bam! How could she have forgotten that eyesore? Charlee pulled her Jeep over and parked on the side of the road. The ten foot white letters were still plainly visible on the Bronco, Texas, water tower, sticking out like a sore thumb. Why hadn’t anyone ever painted over it? She could just imagine the gigantic graffiti drove Justice bat-shit crazy on a daily basis. Charlee smiled sadly, remembering the day they discovered Tobias’s masterpiece and the argument they’d had over it. Looking back, she knew that was the beginning of the end. Justice had been embarrassed and she’d been mortified because it was true and Justice didn’t feel the same way.