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Setting the glass on the table, she shook her head in quiet despair. “I can’t believe I’m even talking about this, Tori. You went through a divorce. And with a child. How on earth did you manage?”
The memory flickered in Tori’s mind. She blocked it. Will’s settlement had been more than fair, but still, the breakup of their marriage had been the most heart-wrenching experience of her life.
“Every divorce is different,” Tori said. “But no divorce is easy. I’ll help you any way I can, but before you go ahead with this, you need to look at what you’re facing and be sure it’s what you want.”
Natalie stared down at the dissolving ice cubes in her tea. “You’re right. I do need to be sure. Today I’m still in shock. A decision like this one needs to be made with a cool head.”
Tori nodded. “Talk to me before you do anything rash. And don’t push any boundaries with Slade while you’re alone with him. I know he’s got a temper.”
“I’ll be all right. Slade can get pretty loud when he’s mad, but he always cools down, and he’s never hit me.”
“You said he came close.”
“Don’t worry, I know Slade. I can handle him.”
“What about Beau?”
Natalie’s head came up. Color flamed in her pale cheeks. “Beau has nothing to do with this.”
“Evidently that’s not what Slade thinks. Be careful, Natalie. Don’t give Slade any reason to think there’s something going on between you two.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Natalie shook her head vehemently. “Beau can’t be a part of this. Not even if Slade and I separate. Slade threatened to kill him if he comes near me. Not that he would, but I can’t take that chance. I don’t want Beau hurt.”
“Do you still love Beau, Natalie?”
She stiffened in her chair, her chin squared. “When Beau joined the army, he asked me to wait for him. Like a fool, I did. I waited years, but he never came back. Never called. Never wrote.”
Natalie’s voice broke on the last few words. Looking flustered, she glanced at her watch and pushed away from the table. “I have a man bringing in a mare with hoof thrush at three. I’ve got to go.”
Tori rose with her, giving her friend a quick hug. “Be careful. If you feel threatened in any way, leave the house and call me. Or just come to my house. Day or night.”
Tori stood at the window and watched her friend drive away. Love was a bitch, she thought. Once you gave your heart, you never quite got it all the way back. She’d seen the tears in Natalie’s eyes as she walked down the church aisle to marry Slade. And she knew who’d put them there.
As for herself, she’d had plenty of men to choose from since her divorce from Will, including Congressman Garn Prescott. But Will was the father of her child, and somehow he towered above them all.
At least she had Erin, Tori reminded herself. Her daughter had been worth the pain a hundred times over. But Natalie had no children. She was miserable with Slade, and now, suddenly Beau had shown up again. As she turned away from the window, a dark premonition crept over her. Something bad was going to happen. And she couldn’t make that feeling go away.
CHAPTER 7
It was 8:35 p.m. when Beau ambled into the Blue Coyote and slid into an empty booth. Not wanting to stand out, he hadn’t taken the time to clean up after the roundup. His boots were scuffed, his jaw stubbled, his clothes caked with sweat and dust. He looked like any one of the two dozen or so cowboys who’d wandered in for a cold beer after a long day’s work. But he wasn’t fooling himself. Anybody who’d spent much time in the county would know the Tylers. And despite the layer of grit, they’d be aware of who he was.
The bar had been here for as long as Beau could remember. But the new owner had spruced it up some. Call it a woman’s touch. The autographed photos and retro country music memorabilia on the walls lent atmosphere, if not class. And for a weeknight, business looked pretty good. The bar stools were all occupied and the clickety-clack of pool balls blended with the blaring country music.
Jasper had filled Beau in on the woman who’d paid cash for the place two years ago. So Beau was prepared when she sauntered up to his table.
“I like getting to know my customers, cowboy.” She looked to be in her early forties, her voluptuous body stuffed into a den
im blouse trimmed with rhinestones and a skirt short enough to show off shapely legs clad in red cowgirl boots. Her wavy auburn hair was too bright to be natural, her makeup laid on with a too-heavy hand. Still, she wasn’t a bad-looking woman. The most attractive thing about her was her voice, husky-rich like a New Orleans blues singer’s.
“Beau Tyler.” Beau gave her a gentlemanly nod. “And I take it you’re Stella.”
“That’s right. And I knew who you were as soon as you walked in.” She flashed him an overtly sexy grin. Was it an invitation or just practicing good business? “I’d sit down and join you, but I’m doing double duty as hostess and waitress tonight. You know about poor little Jess, of course.”
“Heard anything new about the case?”
“No more than you. But I hope they catch the bastard who did it. I’d like to take a few whacks at him myself. She was a sweet kid.” Her green eyes narrowed. “I heard tell you’re DEA?”
“I’m on a leave of absence.”
