a song that stayed in his head long after the music had stopped. Now the music was hitting crescendo again.
But this was only about finding Trish and making sure she was safe. Old songs—like old feelings—couldn’t be trusted.
THE PLANNED FAMILY MEETING had dissolved, but a new one waited for Langston when he reached the kitchen, this one between him and his three brothers, who were all having beers and killing time until they could start interrogating him.
“What gives?” Matt asked.
“Do you remember Trish Edwards?”
“Yeah, I remember her.”
“Gina is Trish’s daughter, though the name’s not Edwards now. It’s Cantrell.”
“What’s her daughter doing here?”
“She thinks her mother’s in some kind of trouble, that she may have been abducted.” Langston filled his brothers in on the little he knew.
Zach straddled a straight-back chair. “So who is this mysterious Trish?”
Matt planted a hand on Zach’s shoulder. “A woman who dumped your brother years ago.”
“You’ve been dumped?” Zach asked. “Why have I missed out on this?”
“I was still in college,” Langston said. “You were a mere snotty-nosed kid at the time.”
“Exactly,” Matt said, his tone edgy. “Trish was a long time ago. You don’t owe her anything, and even if you did, this is police business. If there’s been an abduction, they’ll be able to handle it better than you.”
“Like I said, Trish doesn’t want police involvement, but I’ll call them if it seems warranted.”
“If you don’t want go to the police,” Bart said, “I know a great private detective in Houston. He does the legwork for Phil Caruthers and some of the other leading criminal defense lawyers in the city. There’s no one he can’t find.”
“Write down his name and phone number for me,” Langston said. “I may need him before this is over.”
“So what are you going to do?” Zach asked.
“Drive to Dallas and see if I can figure out what’s going on.”
“Why not fly up in the company Cessna?” Zach asked. “It would be a lot quicker.”
“I’ll need the car when I get there, and there won’t be that much traffic this time of the night. I can make the drive in under four hours.”
“I still say call the cops,” Matt said. “You don’t even know the woman anymore. She could be involved with drugs or wanted for something and on the run.”
“She owns a boutique. That’s not your typical criminal profile.”
“If I can’t talk sense into you, I’ll go with you,” Matt said. “Bart can handle the ranch a few days without me.”
“And if I can’t, I have CEO Mother to tell me what to do.”
Matt groaned. “That is not a joking matter.”
“I’d rather go this alone at first,” Langston said. “I can keep a lower profile that way, but I’ll call if it looks like I need assistance.”
Bart nodded. “What about Gina?”
“I’d appreciate it if you’d take responsibility for her. I don’t want her to leave the ranch unless you’re with her. And all of you will need to be on guard that no one comes looking for her and causes any trouble at the ranch.”
“That’s a given,” Matt said.
“Are you going to explain all of that to Mom?” Bart asked.
“That’s my next order of business. Then I’ll pack a few things and hit the road.”
“If you don’t have what you need, help yourself to my closet,” Bart said. “The jeans and shirts should fit. I don’t know about the shoes. I’ve got man feet, you know.”
“If the man’s a giant,” Zach mocked.
“I keep some old jeans and boots and such at the big house so that I don’t have to pack a duffel every time I drive out,” Langston said. “They’ll do.”
“Anything I can do to help, just say the word,” Zach said. “I’m your man.”
“How would you like to escort Celeste to a dinner party at Mayor Griffin’s tonight?”
Zach groaned. “Let me rephrase that offer. Anything I can do for you short of riding a maniacal bull or spending an evening with your charming fiancée, just let me know.”
“And she speaks so highly of you.”
“Yeah, right.”
None of his brothers were particularly fond of Celeste, but that would change when they got to know her better. He was sure of it. Langston headed off to find his mother and was already at the top of the stairs when Matt caught up with him.
“You’ll need a handgun,” Matt said. “You can take my Glock.”
“Thanks.”
Matt put a hand on Langston’s arm. “You don’t have to do this, you know.”
“Sure I do. When has a Collingsworth ever turned their back on a woman in distress?”
“Never, but I’m not sure that’s what this is about. If it’s about some kind of bond you think you have with Trish, just remember that the two of you were a hell of a long time ago. You’ve changed a lot in those years. She will have to. You can’t just go back and pick up where you left off, not even if…”
“I have no plans to pick up anything. I’m engaged. I just need to check this out. That’s all.”
“Sure.” Matt delivered a brotherly punch to the arm. “Just be careful, bro.”
“I always am.”
LENORA WAS IN SEMI-SHOCK by the developments of the meeting with Nigel and then with the idea of Langston rushing off to north Texas to rescue an old girlfriend. But she could see how Gina’s story would have gotten to him. The girl was scared to death.
“This will be your room,” Lenora said, leading Gina into the guest room on the far eastern end of the upstairs hall.
Gina looked around for a few seconds before dropping her one piece of luggage to the bed. “Did you know my mom well?”
“Not well, but I’ve met her. She wasn’t a lot older than you at the time.”
“Did she come here to Jack’s Bluff Ranch?”
“Several times.
