Page 30 of Cowboy’s Last Stand (His to Protect #1)

W ade headed toward his usual table at Luna’s restaurant.

After the scuffle with Jason, he’d checked in on Natalie.

She’d treated him like a friend, not a former lover, and he knew he’d lost her forever.

He’d gone home to wash away the remains of a shitty day.

His anger had faded, but the bitter taste in his mouth had lingered.

He couldn’t ignore Jason’s suspicions about Billy, as a brother or a law enforcement officer.

Billy wouldn’t admit to any wrongdoing, so Wade went straight to Gabe.

He preferred the back of the restaurant, where he could keep an eye out for trouble and make a quick exit if necessary.

In a small town like Last Chance, residents expected him to be on duty around the clock.

They approached him to chat about their problems, whether he was in uniform or not.

Wade didn’t want to talk about shoplifting or missing cats tonight.

So he hunkered down at a quiet table next to a Diego Rivera reprint.

Wade had always disliked the painting, which depicted a humble Mexican man struggling to rise from beneath an oversized basket of flowers.

The stoicism of the image made him resent his own burdens.

Halfway across the room, Gabe Luna was serving loaded plates to a group of well-dressed women.

He wore slim-fitting black trousers with a black shirt with red embroidery.

He was a good-looking kid, tall and dark-haired, with an easy smile.

Mike had been charming, especially with women. Gabe appeared to have the same gift.

“This looks wonderful,” one of the women exclaimed.

“No onions,” Gabe said, winking at a pretty redhead. “Let me know if you’d like another margarita, birthday girl.”

The young woman giggled and nodded. Tucking the empty tray under one arm, he left their table and approached Wade’s. His half smile and friendly attitude disappeared at once. “Deputy Hendricks,” he said in a formal tone, though they’d been on a first-name basis for years. “What can I get you?”

Wade ordered his usual, a carne asada plate and a Dos Equis.

“Coming right up,” Gabe said.

Although Wade was a regular customer, Gabe seemed uneasy about his visit.

Maybe he objected to Wade’s interference the other night.

Wade had embarrassed Billy in front of two pretty girls, and he’d ruined Gabe’s chances to get lucky with one of them.

It wasn’t fair to blame Wade for the incident—they were contributing to the delinquency of minors, not him—but life wasn’t fair. It never had been.

For the next thirty minutes, Wade watched Gabe hustle back and forth from the kitchen.

Wade finished his meal, which was excellent, and settled the bill.

He stayed for over an hour, long after his dishes had been cleared, and soon every table was empty.

A few old guys sat like permanent fixtures at the bar, where Gabe’s sister served drinks.

Gabe must have realized that Wade was waiting for him.

He pushed through the swinging doors and disappeared into the kitchen.

Wade wondered if the kid was making an escape.

He was about to follow when Gabe returned, his features taut with tension.

The front of his shirt was damp, and he smelled like alcohol.

“Is there a problem?” Gabe asked.

“Have a seat,” Wade said.

Gabe sat.

“How’s your mom?”

Gabe flinched at the question. His gaze shifted from Wade to the painting on the wall. “She’s hanging in there.”

“Is the treatment working?”

“They don’t know yet.”

Gabe’s mom had stomach cancer. She was undergoing chemotherapy and hadn’t worked at the restaurant in months. His dad had been staying home also, probably to take care of her. Wade hoped she would make a full recovery. The Lunas had endured too many tragedies. Mike’s death had hit them hard.

Wade didn’t pursue the subject. He glanced toward the bar, where Gabe’s sister was chatting with a customer. Zelda looked like their mother, slender and pretty. She smiled and tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear.

“I thought your sister went away to college,” Wade said.

“She did. She graduated over a year ago.”

Wade was surprised by this news. He couldn’t believe Zelda was old enough to finish college.

It seemed like only a year ago that Wade had been in college himself.

He’d been a quarterback at UT. Maybe he was stuck in those glory days before his knee injury.

Before his father had asked him to come home and help with Billy.

Across the room, Zelda bent to retrieve something from behind the bar. The male customer ogled her as soon as her back was turned.

“What do you want?” Gabe asked, sounding irritated.

Wade returned his attention to Gabe. “I have a few questions about Billy. Off the record.”

“OK.”

“Do you know what happened with Natalie last weekend?”

Gabe rubbed a hand across his mouth like he needed another drink. “I know what Billy told me.”

“What did he say?”

“He said she was having car trouble, and he stopped to check on her.”

“Where were you?”

“I went to the Boot Scoot with some girls.”

“They let you into the Boot Scoot?”

“I got turned away at the door,” Gabe admitted.

“Why didn’t Billy come along?”

“He wasn’t invited.”

“So you ditched him.”

“Yes.”

“Do you do that often?”

“I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”

“When you talk to girls, is he a hindrance?”

Gabe’s brow furrowed. “He’s not a help.”

“Why not?”

“He’s rude, aggressive, impatient—”

“Physically aggressive?”

“Sure.”

“Describe it.”

“He’ll grab a girl’s ass in a crowd or hold her arm to keep her from leaving.”

“What do you say when he does this?”

Gabe gave Wade a blank look. “I don’t say anything.”

“You don’t object?”

“I don’t encourage him.”

“You stand by in silence while he manhandles women.”

“Next time, I’ll make a citizen’s arrest,” Gabe said, sarcastic.

“Have you witnessed a sexual assault perpetrated by him?”

Gabe recoiled in shock. Wade didn’t think the reaction was feigned. “Hell, no.”

“Have you participated in a rape or attempted rape with him?”

“No way. I wouldn’t do that.”

“Would he?”

“How should I know?”

“You’re his best friend. He tells you things.”

Gabe shook his head in denial. “He doesn’t tell me that.”

“Why not? Would you report it?”

He avoided Wade’s gaze, seeming reluctant to answer. He looked thin and awkward and painfully young. Along with the smell of alcohol and nervous sweat, another scent clung to him, like cologne or body spray.

Wade changed the subject. “You’re a good waiter. Women like you.”

He shrugged, not denying it.

“Are you going to take over for your parents?”

“No.”

“What are you planning to do with your life?”

Gabe shrugged again.

“Your sister went to college.”

“So did you. And yet, here you are. It’s like you never left.”

Wade ignored the jibe. “You could join the sheriff’s department,” he said on impulse. “It’s not that different from military service. You have people skills, language skills. We could use you.”

“I’d rather die.”

Wade studied Gabe’s handsome features in annoyance. Then he surveyed the restaurant’s decor. The striped tablecloths were still bright, the chairs freshly painted. “Have you ever wondered why Billy hangs out with you?”

Gabe gave him a petulant stare. “No.”

“You’re under the legal drinking age. Your license was revoked after the DUI, so you can’t drive. What does he see in you?”

“Maybe I’m not a judgmental prick.”

“Do you believe everything he says?”

“No.”

“Are you interested in Natalie’s version of the story?”

“What did she say?”

“She said Billy and the Stoddard brothers attacked her boyfriend. It was three on one, with some brass knuckles thrown in.”

“The Stoddard brothers were there?”

Wade nodded. “Her boyfriend thinks she was the target, but they went after him first.”

“The target for what?”

“Sexual assault.”

Gabe absorbed this information with a sick-looking swallow. He wasn’t naive or stupid. He understood that Billy was a bad influence, capable of dark deeds. Maybe Gabe was too drunk or too jaded to care. “What’s this got to do with me?”

“She’s Mike’s widow.”

“So?”

Wade leaned forward, his voice low. “Natalie received a threatening note yesterday. Someone’s been following her.”

Gabe appeared concerned for a split second. Then his expression changed as he realized Wade hadn’t come here just to get dirt on Billy. Gabe was on the list of suspects. He took a deep breath and held it, as if he’d inhaled a puff of smoke.

“I’m assuming you weren’t involved.”

“Of course not.”

“You draw the line at bashing mailboxes?”

Again, Gabe held back his response. Wade had no proof of misconduct—Billy’s or Gabe’s. This was an informal chat meant to probe and provoke. Gabe knew better than to incriminate himself by talking.

“You smell like booze,” Wade said bluntly.

“I spilled tequila on my shirt.”

“I could haul you in right now.”

Gabe barked out a laugh at the empty threat. “Go for it.”

From the bar, Zelda slanted a curious glance at them. Wade wasn’t going to arrest Gabe for helping himself to the restaurant’s tequila. He could approach Zelda and tell her about his suspicions, but what good would it do? She wasn’t Gabe’s mother. Gabe was a grown man who made his own decisions.

Wade pushed back his chair and stood. “Stay out of trouble, and stay away from Billy. He’s on a crash course with the guy Natalie is dating.

It won’t end well.” He nodded at Zelda in polite acknowledgment.

She rested her forearms on the bar and smiled back at him dreamily. “Tell your sister I said hi.”

Gabe rose with him. He appeared alarmed by the information Wade had shared. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his skinny throat. “I didn’t follow Natalie. I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t threaten her.”

“Would Billy?”

Gabe didn’t answer, but his eyes said it all.

Yes. Of course, Billy would follow Natalie and threaten her with violence. The fact that Wade cared about Natalie and wanted her for himself was not a deterrent for Billy. If anything, it was a cherry on top.

Wade cursed his family name under his breath, tossed a few bills on the surface of the table, and left.