Ten-Gallon Tensions in Texas: A Kate on Vacation Mystery (The Kate on Vacation Mysteries Book 3) by Kassandra Lamb Page A

all on an empty stomach.
    They nursed their drinks for a few minutes. “Let’s go,” Kate said.
    Skip nodded and chugged most of the rest of his beer. Leaving a quarter inch in the bottom, he placed the glass on the table. They rose.
    She wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and he took her elbow. They skirted the edge of the dance floor. Suddenly Joellen Bradley was standing in front of them. “Y’all leavin’ already?”
    Skip frowned at her. “It’s been a long day.”
    “But I was hopin’ to get a dance with you, Skip.” Her smile was crooked, her eyes bright.
    Kate suspected she’d had a bit too much to drink.
    “Come on, Skippy. Dance with me.”
    Skip shook his head. “Next time, Jo.” She pouted but she let them pass without further comment.
    Out in the night air, Kate took a deep breath and let it out slowly. They walked in silence for a couple minutes. She glanced sideways. Skip’s jaw was tight, his shoulders stiff.
    I wonder what your mother fed the kids for dinner?” she said, to make conversation.
    “She said somethin’ about makin’ Billy’s favorite.”
    “Meaning hot dogs and baked beans.”
    “I guess.”
    “Two rounds of baked beans in one day. Doesn’t she realize that means we’ll have to fumigate his room?”
    Skip snorted, then grinned down at her. He took her hand. “Thanks, darlin’.”
    “I’m truly sorry that I pushed the idea of coming to the reunion.”
    He blew out air, then shook his head. “Mama wonders why I never came home after college.”
    “Sweetheart, I doubt she wonders. She just wishes it could have been different.”
    He sighed again. “Yeah, I wish that too. But then I wouldn’t have met you.”
    “True. It’s probably just as well that we can’t change history.”
    They strolled hand in hand down the block. Once away from the strains of music drifting from the community center, the night was quiet.
    At the corner, Skip stopped and tugged her around to face him. He leaned down and brushed his lips to hers. Then he pulled back a little. “I wouldn’t change a thing,” he whispered.
    She snaked a hand up behind his neck and pulled his face down. The kiss was long and delicious. Finally she broke away. “I love you, Mr. Canfield.”
    He wrapped his arms around her. “I love you too,” he breathed into her ear.
    The sound of breaking glass shattered the night.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Skip let go of Kate and bolted down the sidewalk.
    She raced to catch up as best she could in high heels. “Didn’t that come from Jimmy’s place?” she yelled.
    “Yeah, stay back,” Skip called over his shoulder.
    Kate kept running, pausing only to kick off her shoes and grab them up. By the time she reached the next corner, he was scaling the fence at Bolton Cars. The floodlights around the lot cast random shadows.
    She ran across to the fence.
    Skip dropped down on the other side. “Stay here,” he barked.
    She really didn’t have an alternative. Scaling a chain link fence in either high heels or bare feet did not have much appeal. Heart pounding, she fumbled her phone from her purse and dialed 911.
    “Beauford County Sheriff’s Department. What is the nature of your emergency?” a female voice drawled.
    “Please send Sheriff Gutierrez to Bolton Cars.”
    “What is the nature of the emergency, ma’am?”
    “I’m, uh, not sure yet, but we heard breaking glass. Just tell him that Kate Canfield said to get here as fast as he can.”
    “Ms. Canfield, what is the nature of your emergency?”
    More glass shattering, then pounding footsteps.
    “I don’t know, damn it! Just send José to Bolton Cars.” She plunged the phone into her purse, then dropped the bag onto the sidewalk. Grabbing the fence as far up as she could reach, she curled stocking-clad toes around a lower section. Pain shot through her foot. She dropped back to the ground.
    “Skip!” she yelled.
    Silence, except for the blood pounding in her ears.
    “Skip!” she called out again.
    He