The Reluctant Cowgirl by Christine Lynxwiler

she raised an eyebrow at Jeremy. “You don’t think I can?”
    He shrugged but she saw his glance go down to her stilettos. “I wouldn’t imagine you get a lot of ranch experience in New York City.”
    Okay, now he was getting personal. The way he said “New York City” reminded her of that old picante sauce commercial. She lifted her chin and gave him her most confident smile. “Well, whatever you think,” she said. “But I’ll handle things here until Mama and Daddy get back.”
    “What about old what’s-his-name?” Luke teased. “Think he’ll mind commuting back and forth to Arkansas to see you?”
    She met Jeremy’s gaze. “That won’t be a problem.” Let the family draw whatever conclusions they wanted to from that answer.
    Jeremy ducked his head. “I’ll help you take care of things if that’s okay.”
    Aaron shot her a silent plea. She knew him well enough to know he was reminding her of everything the man had been through.
    She gritted her teeth. “Thanks, Jeremy. That’ll be fine.”
    She sank back onto the couch as conversation continued around her. How had her whole life turned upside down in less than twenty-four hours?
    ***
    “An undercover cop thought he saw Lindsey in a little blues joint down on Beale Street in Memphis last night.”
    Jeremy’s heart thudded against his ribcage. “Did he take her in for questioning?”
    “He’s undercover,” Sam’s gravelly voice reminded him through the cell phone line. “And he’s not sure it was her.”
    “Did he see a little girl?”
    “No. But that’s not surprising. It’s hardly the kind of place for kids.”
    The thought of Beka being in a place like that, or worse, left at home in who knew what kind of rat hole to fend for herself, made his gut clench with anger and fear. “Give me the address.”
    “I can leave in a couple of hours to drive over and check it out.”
    Jeremy did some quick calculating. In Little Rock, Sam was about the same distance from Memphis as he was. “I’d like to go myself this time.”
    Silence. “You tried that before. Remember?”
    Jeremy ran his hand across his eyes. How could he ever forget those first few months? He’d jetted from possible sighting to possible sighting until he’d finally collapsed from exhaustion and despair. “I’m stronger now. And I need to do something.”
    “I understand.” Sympathy laced the deep voice. “Do you want me to meet you there?”
    “Thanks anyway, Sam. Just give me the address.”
    Sam rattled off the address and Jeremy wrote it down.
    The PI cleared his throat. “Listen, man, I know how upset you are with your ex-wife, but don’t do anything stupid if you find her. She’s the only one who knows where your little girl is.”
    Jeremy stared down at the paper clenched in his tight fist. He had enough restraint not to hurt Lindsey. But he felt pretty sure that when the police locked her up and threw away the key, she’d tell them where to find Beka. And then, as far as he was concerned, she could rot in jail for the rest of her miserable life.
    ***
    Inside the smoky room, Jeremy stopped to get his bearings. “Blues joint” was an overstatement. Up on the tiny stage, a woman sang, or tried to between coughing fits, to an almost empty house. He scanned the few occupied tables. Lindsey definitely wasn’t here tonight. He walked up to the bar and slid a twenty and Lindsey’s picture across the scarred surface. “Have you seen her?” he said quietly.
    The bartender, who barely looked old enough to get in the door, much less be working here, picked up the picture and ran his hand across his Mohawk haircut. “No.” He tucked the twenty into the front pocket of his baggy jeans.
    Jeremy scooted another twenty along with his card toward him. “Will you call me if you do?”
    The young man’s eyes lit up. “More where that came from if I do?”
    Jeremy nodded.
    “Fo’ shizzle.”
    “Does that mean yes?”
    The boy rolled his eyes and nodded.
    Jeremy