Secrets In Texas. Carrie Weaver
“Very slowly, which I’m sure is one of the purposes.”
“Yeah, the other is to blind me.”
“You were right when you said your uncle was a cautious man.”
The guard remained in his shack, and a short, stocky Mexican stepped out of the shadows and waved them forward. Once they were in the gate, he gestured for them to stop.
It was then Matthew noticed the assault rifle.
He rolled down his window. “I’m Matthew Stone. My uncle is expecting me.”
“I know who you are,” the man said. “Get out of the car slowly. Raise your hands above your head. Then clasp them behind your neck and get on the ground.”
“Boy, your uncle really knows how to make you feel welcome,” Angel muttered under her breath.
“Do what they say.”
She glared at him. “Well, duh.”
He grasped her forearm. “It’s important you remember your place, Angelina. If you don’t think you can do that, I need to know now. We might still be able to say our visit was a mistake.”
“I’m sorry, Matthew. Of course you’re right. You’re always right.” Her mouth trembled as she slipped into her role. A tear crept out of the corner of her eye.
But Matthew wasn’t fooled. He knew Angel a lot better than she thought. Though her acting was excellent, he knew she wouldn’t go down without a fight. Ever. “Very nice. Let’s keep it this way. No mistakes.”
She lowered her face. “Yes, Matthew.” It was little more than a whisper.
“Get out, now!” the guard commanded.
Matthew opened his door slowly. Angel did the same.
He raised his hands above his head and carefully exited the vehicle. He glanced at Angel. She had her hands behind her head, her face lowered demurely.
“Toss the keys at my feet. Then kneel on the ground. There.” The guard kept the rifle trained on them while he jerked his head in the direction of the area in front of the car.
Matthew carefully tossed the keys and twined his hands behind his neck. Were they afraid he might be a suicide bomber, for goodness sake? His uncle had apparently gone from caution to outright paranoia. Or was he involved in something more dangerous than leading a polygamous community?
“Down.”
Matthew walked slowly forward and sank to his knees, keeping his hands behind his neck.
“Matthew? What’s this all about?” Angel’s voice quavered convincingly. “Surely your uncle doesn’t want us treated like common criminals?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart.”
“A thorough search of all visitors is required,” the man said. “On your knees next to the man.”
Angel obeyed.
A third man came forward and patted down Matthew, stopping to empty his pockets.
Enough was enough. “Where’s my uncle?” he asked.
“You will see your uncle soon. We take precautions first.”
Out of the corner of his eye Matthew saw a man approach with something that looked like an airport security wand.
Sure enough, the thing set off a tone when they reached his waist. Matthew bit back a protest when the man lifted his shirt to reveal his belt buckle.
“You’ll get this back later,” the man said. “We’ll search your luggage, too. Is it in the trunk?”
“Yes.” Sweat beaded Matthew’s forehead.
“Get up. Bring out your suitcases and open them.”
“Is this really necessary?”
“Si.”
Matthew clambered to his feet and went to Angel, extending his hand to help her up.
“Senor,” the man warned.
“She’s my wife. I won’t leave her in the dirt.”
The man opened the trunk. “Remove the luggage.”
Matthew bit back a curse. He set their suitcases on the ground.
“Open them.”
Angel stepped forward. “But—”
The guard trained the rifle on her.
“It’s okay, Angelina. We’ve nothing to hide.” Matthew placed the cases one by one on their sides. He unzipped the flaps and peeled them back.
The man pawed through Matthew and Angel’s belongings.
One of the men handed the laptop case to the guard.
“We’ll hold on to this for you. And we’ll take your cell phones, too. There are landlines you can use.”
“I need my laptop to conduct business and check on my investments.”
The man shrugged. “Talk to Jonathon. Now hand over the cell phones.”
Matthew reluctantly complied, as did Angel.
Once the electronics were in his possession, the guard seemed to lose interest in searching further. He said something in Spanish to the other man, who closed the suitcases and set them in front of Matthew. His buddy tossed the car keys to him and he got into the rental car.
“Where are you taking our car?”
“To the garage, where we keep most of the vehicles.” The voice came from the shadows to Matthew’s left.
A tall older man with a commanding presence stepped into the light.
Matthew sucked in a breath. Dad.
But he knew it wasn’t his father. His father was dead. And more than likely this man had killed him.
“Uncle Jonathon, what a pleasure to see you.”
CHAPTER FOUR
ANGEL KEPT HER EYES downcast, but surreptitiously surveyed Jonathon Stone. Though he was believed to be sixty-four, he was powerfully built and moved with athletic grace.
“This must be Angel.” He stepped closer, lifting her chin with his finger. There was a hint of steel beneath the softness of his tone. “What a lovely young woman. I can see why you wanted her, Matthew.”
Matthew pulled her close to his side. “I thought she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. And when the vision came, I knew she was the one for me.”
“Vision?”
“An angel trumpeting the news of our betrothal. It was ordained by god. A match made in heaven.”
Angel sucked in a breath. Matthew’s piety gave her the creeps. As did his talk of visions.
But apparently it struck the right chord with Uncle Jonathon. He slowly nodded. “It would certainly seem so.”
“Angel has much to learn about being a good wife, but I’m confident she will learn quickly with other godly women to teach her.”
“Yes, fellowship with the women of our community will show her how to be a loyal, loving helpmate. If she truly desires to embrace our ways.”
Angel nodded stiffly.
He released her chin. “Good. I’ll take you to your quarters. Follow me.”
He turned, his loose-limbed stride long.
Matthew picked up their suitcases and followed.
She tried to survey her surroundings as she walked behind Matthew but