“What legacy?” Colt asked. “Did he mention anything in particular?”
“That was about the time he started to realize the kids weren’t in the house. When I told him they went over to a friend’s after school, he got so mad he smashed the lamp and stormed out of the house. He said he’d be back and Tim had better be here when he showed up.”
Silence fell. Lissa slanted a glance at Colt, whose features looked set in stone. “What else did he say?” she asked.
“He said I still looked pretty. But that was before he got so mad. After that, he said I was still the same useless bitch I’d always been.”
“Nice guy,” Lissa said dryly.
“You think you can find him?” Colt asked her.
“I’ll find him.” She glanced at the broken lamp, thought of Ray’s violent temper, and hoped it was sooner rather than later.
“You find him, I’ll deal with him,” Colt said to her darkly. “When I’m finished, Ray Spearman won’t ever bother Julie again.”
One look into that steely blue eye and Lissa believed him. Unfortunately, as a former police officer, no way could she stand by and let this guy kill Ray. Though there was a very good chance that was exactly what Colt Wheeler had in mind.
CHAPTER THREE
COLTSATONthe sofa in the living room while Julie and Lissa cleaned up in the kitchen, an excuse, he figured, for Julie to give her friend a rundown of who he was and what he was doing in Dallas.
He looked up as the front door opened and Julie’s two kids burst into the living room, home from their time with the neighbors.
“Colt!” Timmy was eleven, a good-looking boy with reddish-blond hair and a gangly frame he was just beginning to grow into. Colt rose as the kid grinned and ran toward him. “Wow, I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Hey, Tim.” Colt clamped a hand on the boy’s shoulder and they leaned in for a hug. “I swear you’ve grown six inches since I was here last year.”
“I wish. I can’t wait to be as tall as you.”
He smiled. “Be patient. Someday you will be.”
“I hope so. Mom said you quit the army.”
“That’s right. I needed a change. I’m headed back to Denver to try something new.” Something that would challenge him the way the rangers once had.
“Are you gonna stay in town for a while?”
“Maybe a day or two.”
“Cool. I got basketball practice so I gotta go. I’ll see you when I get home.” Timmy took off just as his sister walked in. Megan was a year older, a beautiful young girl with the same fair skin, delicate features, and auburn hair as her mother.
“Colt! Mom didn’t say you were coming.”
“I should have called. I was driving through on my way to Denver and decided to just drop by.”
“I’m really glad you did.” Megan leaned over and hugged him. She felt slender and fragile as he hugged her back, but according to her mom, she was tougher than she looked.
“Since you’re here, maybe you can come to my school play tomorrow night.”
He smiled, lifting the dark blond mustache at the corner of his mouth. “If I can, I will. But there may be something I have to do.” With any luck he’d be having a very long, very painful conversation with scumbag Raymond Spearman. “Either way, I know you’ll be great.”
Megan blushed. “Thanks. I’ve got to change. Me and my friend Marsha are going to the mall for a couple of hours.”
He arched an eyebrow. “What, no homework?”
Megan smiled. “Finished it in study hall.”
“Good for you.”
