“Joaquin, what is it?”
“There is trouble at the gate,SeñorCain. The security guard called me. I am there now. People with signs are marching around. Some of them are giving speeches, some are singing songs.”
“Songs,” he repeated, his mellow mood darkening. Had to be the same bunch who had hassled him outside the courthouse.
“Sí, señor. I tried to get them to leave, but they will not go. Do you want me to call the sheriff ?”
“Not yet. Let me see if I can talk to them. I’ll be right there.” Ending the call he went back into the bedroom to grab a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, found Carly sitting up in bed.
Though his mood had turned foul, he smiled when he saw her. “Morning, sweetness.”
She shoved back her thick blond hair. “What’s going on?”
“Long story short? Those protestors I mentioned are out at the gate trying to stop Tex/Am from opening that tire rebuilding plant I told you about.”
“We use those rebuilt tires all the time,” Carly said. “Saves money and recycles the rubber instead of having to find some way to dispose of it.”
“Exactly.” The shower would have to wait . . . which might not be bad if he could talk Carly into joining him. “I’ve got to go. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Give me a minute and I’ll go with you. Maybe I can add something that will help.”
It wasn’t a bad idea. Drake Trucking had been a fixture in Iron Springs for years. “All right, but you better be quick. If we don’t get out there soon, they’ll probably tear down the gate.”
* * *
Five minutes later, he and Carly walked out the door. They climbed in the Jeep and he drove past the stone house to the big iron gates out on the highway.
Joaquin was right. Twenty some people paraded up and down the roadway carrying the same damn signs he recognized from the courthouse.SAVE MOTHER EARTH. PROTECT PLEASANT HILL. STOP POLLUTION NOW!Linc took one look at the group, felt the hostile vibes pouring off of them, and knew any sort of confrontation would only make matters worse.
“Call the sheriff,” he told Joaquin. “Let Howler handle this. Rousting a bunch of loonies might actually be something he can handle.”
“Sí, señor.”
They got back in the Jeep, turned around, and drove off to the soundof jeers and a fresh chorus of singing. One guy was playing a harmonica, a self-styled Bob Dylan.
“People can really be idiots,” Linc said as he pulled up in front of the ranch house.
“Maybe they aren’t idiots. Maybe they’re doing this because they want something. Someone could be stirring up trouble because he’s got some kind of agenda.”
Linc paused at the front door and gave her a look. She had Joe’s brains, too. “You could be right. I’ll have my people look into it, see if they can find out who their cheerleader is and what his motives are.”
“The plant would be good for Pleasant Hill and also Iron Springs. I hope you get it approved.”
He smiled. “So do I.”
They walked into the house and Carly headed for the bedroom. “I really need a shower,” she said as he walked down the hall behind her.
His eyes ran over her sweet little ass in the snug-fitting jeans. “Yeah, so do I.”
Carly turned and grinned up at him. “I’ve seen the size of your . . . shower. I suppose there’s room for two.”
Linc chuckled and followed her into the bathroom. For now, he’d leave the protestors to the sheriff. The trouble at the front gate could wait a little while longer.
Chapter Thirteen
An hour later Carly was dressed and ready to accompany Linc to Dallas. Last night had been a respite, hours of amazing sex and worry-free slumber.
Lincoln Cain was everything a man could be—at least in bed. The rest remained to be seen.
