On The Texas Border. Linda Warren

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СКАЧАТЬ Hire an investigator or something.”

      Abby rolled her eyes. “Men. You’re all alike. Mr. Brewster is insisting that Jonas go with me.”

      “That’s good,” he said.

      “No, it isn’t,” she retorted. “I’m not putting up with Jonas’s arrogant attitude, and I intend to tell him so.”

      “Abby…”

      But Abby wasn’t listening. She got into her car and headed straight for Jonas’s office. They had to get a few things straight.

      CHAPTER FOUR

      STANDING AT HIS WINDOW, Jonas saw her drive up in a white Accord. She slid out of the vehicle in the graceful movement he was beginning to associate with her. She wore tan slacks and a tan sleeveless top. The slacks covered long gorgeous legs, which he had glimpsed several times during the past month. The top emphasized her slender arms, and rounded breasts that drew his attention like a magnet. The blond hair and green eyes completed a package that his hands ached to unwrap. As long as he knew that and no one else did, especially Abby, everything would be fine.

      Soon she’d tire of this absurd quest and go back to Dallas where she belonged. As the thought crossed his mind, he recognized it was wishful thinking. He’d already seen that stubborn streak in her and he knew she’d see this through to the bitter end. And now he was caught right in the middle of the whole blasted mess. A place he didn’t want to be…a place he’d sworn he wouldn’t be. But Brewster was in control—totally. Jonas had given him that control when he was fifteen, and he couldn’t change things now. He fought it at times, but he’d learned early on that fighting was futile. He wished he knew what Brewster was up to, though. There was little doubt in Jonas’s mind that the old man was up to something and Abigail Duncan was just a pawn. Trying to get her to see that was a waste of Jonas’s time, so he might as well accept the inevitable.

      ABBY WALKED INSIDE. The big room held three desks and rows of filing cabinets. There was an inner office that she knew belonged to Jonas. Every high-tech innovation was available—computers, fax machines, copiers and a few pieces of equipment she didn’t even recognize. In the way of decor, the place was sadly lacking—right down to the exposed concrete under her feet.

      Her eyes settled on the desk in the corner…the one her father had occupied for so many years. She felt a tightness in her chest. Someone else’s things were on the surface, but she could still feel Abe’s presence, his calmness, and she knew she was doing the right thing. No one could stop her now. Not even Jonas’s attitude.

      Glancing around, she spotted him at the window. “Could I speak with you?”

      “No” was the quick answer, as he turned and went into his office.

      Undaunted by the brisk manner, Abby followed. “We have to talk.”

      “I can’t right now. I’m real busy.” His voice was abrupt and final.

      She chewed on her lower lip. Immovable object. She now knew exactly what that meant. Well, she didn’t need Jonas Parker.

      “I don’t want or need you to go. I can do this by myself.” She eyed him thoughtfully, as he shuffled papers on his desk. “I’m just wondering how he got you to change your mind. Last night you were vehemently against it. And today, just like that—” she snapped her fingers “—you agreed to go.”

      He kept shuffling the papers as if she hadn’t spoken.

      “Mr. Brewster has something on you, doesn’t he?”

      He raised his head, his brown eyes so dark that she could feel their heat. “That’s why you take crap from him. That’s why you continue to stay under such unpleasant conditions.” She paused, then asked, “What does he have on you?”

      Jonas picked up a clipboard and came around his desk. “As I said, I got work to do.” The words came out curt, and she knew she wasn’t going to get anything out of him…today. She would eventually, she vowed.

      “I need the keys to the file room,” she said, before he could leave the room. “Mr. Brewster said you had them. I’m looking for Delores Alvarez’s family’s address.”

      He walked back, opened a drawer, threw keys on the desk and pointed down a hall. “Second door on the right and it’s not air-conditioned.”

      She picked up the keys. “Is that supposed to deter me?”

      “A hurricane wouldn’t deter you, Ms. Duncan.”

      So they were back to “Ms. Duncan.” It made her want to smack his face.

      What was wrong with her? She’d wanted to smack Earl earlier and now she wanted to hit Jonas. That wasn’t her. She didn’t like hitting. Even when Kyle had hit her, she hadn’t hit him back. Because she’d never hit anyone in her life. So why the sudden urges? Urges! That’s all they were. Urges brought on by the trauma of her father’s death and her divorce. Did that make sense? No, nothing made sense to her these days—especially her interest in Jonas.

      She favored men in tailored suits with manners and a sense of humor. Jonas was as far removed from that as one could get. He probably didn’t even own a suit, and his sense of humor was nonexistent. He did have good manners, though. Oh hell, she needed to get a grip.

      Without a word, she turned and hurried to the file room. She looked at the key ring. There had to be twenty keys on it. Which one?

      “It’s the third key,” said a familiar voice. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Jonas standing behind her with a chair in his hands. “You have to prop the door open with a chair. The lock is old, and if the door closes, you’ll lock yourself in.”

      “Thank you kindly for the information and the chair,” she quipped sarcastically.

      “No problem,” he snapped, and went into the warehouse.

      For the next three hours she searched cabinet after cabinet, looking for the name Alvarez. She had never realized how many people had worked at Brewster Farms over the years—thousands, all dependent on Mr. Brewster for a living. Some workers were permanent legal workers, some seasonal, some migrant. Most were Mexican, and she suspected a lot were illegals. Every name imaginable was in the files. She found several Alvarezes, but no Delores. She grew tired and hungry and decided to go home for a while.

      Jonas wasn’t in the office, so she locked the door and took the keys with her. She had a sandwich and iced tea, then wrote her mom a note saying not to wait up for her. Her mother was a schoolteacher and wouldn’t be home until later in the day.

      When Abby arrived back at Brewster Farms, she saw Edna’s car at the mansion. That was one woman Abby planned to avoid. When Edna, Jules and Darby found out what she was doing, they were going to be furious. A long-lost daughter could ruin their plans for the future.

      When she entered the office, Jonas wasn’t there. He must be working on the farm somewhere. Avoiding her, she decided, which she didn’t mind. She was sure he didn’t do the actual labor. He was the overseer who made sure all the vegetables and fruits were picked, packed and shipped on time. Again she wondered how he’d come to work for Mr. Brewster. He certainly didn’t want to talk about it. He’d made that painfully clear.

      She СКАЧАТЬ