Texas Lonestar (Texas Heroes Book 4) by Sable Hunter, Texas Heroes Read Free Book Online Page B

Morgan?”
    “What do I think?” George grunted. “I think someone is trying to hurt Lennon. Vandalism. Stealing. What’s happening is criminal, if you ask me.”
    “Did you see anything suspicious? Anyone hanging around that shouldn’t be?” Dallas could hear Lennon working in the kitchen behind him. She was humming in a soft, off-key sort of way.
    “Nope. I’m old. I go to bed early. Lennon takes care of me.” He waved his hand in an encompassing manner. “She does everything around here. We don’t even have any ranch hands anymore. Having to fork out cash to repair what’s been destroyed around here didn’t help. All of the extra money she gets goes to pay for that little girl. My pension barely pays the extra insurance I need for my treatments.”
    “What about insurance on the ranch. Has Lennon filed a claim?” These were questions Dallas had to ask.
    “Didn’t you ask her? I think you should ask her. This isn’t you accusing me, it’s you accusing her!”
    Dallas absorbed the old man’s gruff anger. “I call it investigating.”
    “You can ask her, but I’ll answer your question. No. She didn’t file a claim because she doesn’t have insurance on the ranch. When the choice came down to health insurance for Sally or coverage on the ranch assets, she chose Sally.”
    “Where’s Sally’s father?” Dallas asked lowly, leaning closer to George. He didn’t really know why he was asking this question. It wasn’t part of his investigation.
    George answered, equally quiet. He looked over toward the little girl, but Sally didn’t seem to be paying them any mind. She was happily coloring and watching cartoons. “Who the hell knows? Lennon doesn’t even know where her cousin is these days.”
    “Sally isn’t Lennon’s daughter?” Dallas was confused.
    George narrowed his eyes at Dallas. “Not that it’s any of your business. Sally is Lennon’s daughter in every way that matters, but her first cousin is the birth mother.”
    “I live with Lenny, she needs me.” Sally announced calmly from across the room.
    “Hearing like a little elephant, that one.” George chuckled. “Lennon took me in after my wife died and I had nowhere else to go but the old folks home. We have an odd little family here, Mr. McClain, but it’s still a family. You can do all the investigating you want, but all you’ll find is that little girl in there is as good as gold. Someone’s stealing from her and it’s your job to stop them.”
    “Dinner’s ready!” Lennon suddenly announced from the doorway.
    Dallas rose and handed Mr. Morgan his cane. The little girl scampered in ahead of them. His stomach rumbled as the aroma of the ribs wafted out to meet him. When he entered the kitchen, it was to find the table already set and filled with food, including a three-layer coconut cake–his favorite. Now, his mouth was watering.
    “Have a seat here, Ranger McClain.” Lennon held a chair out for him. “I hope you’re hungry.” He nodded, sitting across from George. Sally sat beside him and Lennon was to George’s left, seemingly as far away from Dallas as she could get. Was she hiding something?
    “Company first.” Lennon passed the ribs to him across the table.
    “We’re like a fambly,” Sally said with a smile.
    No one said anything. Dallas felt a sharp ache in his heart. The pain of his loss was great. Carly hadn’t wanted their child and this woman made room in her heart for someone else’s. I’m never going to have a family , he thought. It was safer. You couldn’t lose what you didn’t have.

CHAPTER THREE
     
     
     
    “You go on out and let Lennon show you around,” he motioned to Dallas, then pointed to the door. “Sally and I will clean the kitchen.” George rose slowly, holding on to his cane.
    “Leave them, I’ll do the dishes when we get back.” Lennon protested.
    “When you get back, you have to tuck me in and read to me!” Sally informed her loudly.
    “I can handle it all, I