I was his girlfriend, and he’s the only one I know in town. You’ll see.
He’ll find someone else he likes the looks of, and he’ll toss you aside,
too, just like that,” she said, snapping her fingers.
“Whatever, sweet cheeks. He’s on his way.”
As Juliana sat listening to them, she cringed inwardly, thinking of
what the options were for Brenda when she went before a judge. Jail
time, community service, a stiff fine. Jail time and community service
meant the little crook would have to stay in the area.
Juliana wondered who this little thief would go to when it came
time to pay the fine. Hopefully, she had a rich daddy somewhere.
Having seen her in action, Juliana could imagine the ruckus she
must’ve stirred up at the ranch last night.
She heard the side door open, and then Ash walked down the
hallway, greeting Evelyn as he approached.
Juliana smiled at him but wouldn’t reveal how relieved she was to
see him for Brenda’s benefit. She didn’t rise from her chair but simply
looked over at Brenda. Brenda looked up at Ash, and her limpid-blue
eyes filled with tears, and her little chin quivered dramatically. She
hitched a sob, and it was all so damned “tragic” all over again as she
bawled her eyes out.
Spurs and Heels
121
Ash looked over at Juliana and rolled his eyes, shrugging. “I
called your daddy, Brenda. He’ll fly in to San Antonio and be here
late tonight. I don’t know why you called me when he’s the one
you’ve got to talk into bailing you out.”
“How did you find out how to contact with my daddy?” she asked,
shutting off the waterworks so suddenly it was almost comical.
“I used the same search engine you used to track me down. Some
people look up Google, and some people call my sister Donna. Mrs.
Warner asked me to tell you that after the stink you made last night, if
you set foot on the Divine Creek Ranch again, she’ll meet you with a
loaded shotgun.”
Hank and Juliana exchanged a big-eyed look, and Juliana did her
best to hide a wide grin. Curiosity got the best of her, and she had to
ask. “She pissed off Grace enough to say something like that? What
did she do out there?” Juliana didn’t miss the jealous glare Brenda
shot her.
“After Brenda was done screaming at me, she tore down the drive
in that gigantic, hot-pink dually pickup parked outside and took out
all of Grace’s newly planted crape myrtle trees by the ranch house.
Grace was fit to be tied.” He looked down at Brenda then frowned,
tilting his head in puzzlement. One eyebrow arched, and Ash smirked.
“Girl, what is wrong with you? Open your jacket and take it off.”
Hank looked at her expectantly. “Little lady, we were going to get
to the moment of truth eventually. Open your jacket and purse, too,
please.”
Brenda unbuttoned her jacket and a bright pink, crocodile-print
handbag fell out. Hank lifted the coordinating wallet that matched the
bag from the inside pocket, along with a couple of pieces of silver
jewelry from one of the locked counter cases. She must’ve distracted
the salesgirl that was covering for Teresa while she was on her
honeymoon because Teresa would never have fallen for it. Several
other accessories were discovered in the inner pockets of her coat and
a couple down her boots as well as several pieces in her purse.
122
Heather Rainier
“Miss Sanderson, you’re now looking at Class A misdemeanor
charges. I don’t know what you were thinking. But you’d better hope
the judge is feeling merciful today and that your daddy’s pockets are
deep enough because your fine just went through the roof. It would be
a good idea to remove any other stolen merchandise we have not
already found on you before I take you down to the jail. You’re going
to get searched there, too.”
By now, Brenda’s face was splotchy from crying, and her makeup
was ruined. She was no longer as pretty as she had been when they’d
first hauled her in and certainly no longer innocent or waif-like in
appearance. She cursed a blue streak at Ash as she pulled a long
package that contained a beaded necklace from her coat sleeve and a
red lace pushup bra from the back waistband of her designer jeans.
Ash smiled at Juliana and rolled his eyes again as Brenda continued
her tirade at him as if this were his fault.
“We’ll need your truck keys, ma’am. I’m impounding your truck
as well, at least until your father shows up. See how things shake out,
literally,” Hank muttered as he guided her to stand up from the chair,
turned her, and cuffed her hands behind her back, despite her protests