Follow a Wild Heart: A Christian Contemporary Western Romance Series Natalie Bright (most popular novels .TXT) 📖

yet. He’ll probably go back to juvie for a while, but his big brother sprung him already.”

“Can I see her?”

“She’s only fifteen. I’m obligated to contact her mother, but in order to calm her down I promised we’d call you first.”

“Thanks, Sheriff. We will call her mother. Let me speak with Lexi for a few minutes first.”

Carli walked through the door a deputy held open into a small, secure room where Lexi sat hunched over a table, her head resting on her arms. The room was cold, bare, and beige. It was everything she could do to not burst into tears when she saw the young girl sitting there all alone.

“Lexi?”

Tousled hair, red marks on her face from leaning on her arms, and teary eyes, Lexi straightened in the chair but didn’t say a word. A flash of relief showed on her face, and then as if embarrassed, her eyes went downcast.

“Are you okay?” Carli walked closer.

“Yes.”

“I’m so glad you’re all right.” Carli dropped into the chair across the table. “We have to call your mother and let her know you’re okay. She must be worried. How long have you been gone?”

“I texted her yesterday, said I’d be spending the night at a girlfriend’s.”

“Lexi, remember the talk we had about life decisions?”

“Yes.”

“Where do you think you’ll end up after all the lies and hanging out with a guy who does drugs and gets arrested?”

“I dunno.”

“Here, Lexi." Carli raised her hands to point to the whole room. "This is where you’ll end up. In jail! Raven’s gone. Somebody paid his bail and you’re still sitting in jail. He left you here alone.” The situation made Carli furious, but then guilt washed over her as she saw a tear run down the girl’s cheek. She hated to nag someone when they were at their lowest, but reality is the pits and Lexi needed some real-world lessons. “I thought you liked horses and my ranch.”

“I do.”

“Well, you can’t do the things you love if you’re messing up like this. Your mother will never trust you if you keep lying.”

Lexi avoided Carli’s stare at first, looking all around—down at her hands, watching some speck on the wall. What in the world was going on in the girl's mind, Carli had not a clue. And then Lexi gazed into Carli’s eyes. Silence hung in the room like an awkward shroud, but Carli was not going to give her any sympathy. She just hoped and prayed Raven hadn’t turned her into an addict yet, if she was doing drugs with him.

Finally, Lexi whispered, “Okay.”

“Follow your heart and don’t let others lead you into something you don’t want to do. The right path is not the easy one. I need a promise from you, Lexi.”

“What?”

“No more Raven.”

Again, the girl’s eyes darted in all directions, thinking it over, what it meant. But then, in an almost inaudible sound, she said, “Okay.” That was good enough for Carli.

“Good decision. Welcome to the rest of your life.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Easing out of the parking lot Carli hated to leave Lexi sitting by herself in that cold and bleak room at the jailhouse. But she wasn’t the girl’s legal guardian. Lexi finally agreed she should call her mother to come get her, and Carli offered to wait but Lexi said no. She’d face her mom, which was surprisingly the most adult thing she’d done since Carli had known her. Still, Lexi’s wide, sad eyes haunted Carli and she thought about going back inside.

Without consciously thinking about it, Carli automatically pulled her pickup truck into a space in front of the B & R Beanery. At this late hour, she was surprised to see the lights on. She could really use a friend’s shoulder right now and hoped Belinda was working and not Christy, that annoying girl who apparently had a sharp memory when it concerned anything relating to Nathan’s past. With mind and heart weary, Carli hopped out of her vehicle and walked into the smells of roasting coffee beans plus a faint touch of cinnamon. The aroma always brought a smile to her face. Belinda appeared from the back and greeted her with a look of surprise and returned the smile.

“Carli! I’m so glad to see you. We haven’t visited in weeks and weeks. Sit right here.” She motioned towards a back table where papers and unopened envelopes surrounded a calculator and small laptop computer.

“I know.” Carli laughed. “I’ve missed you too. You’re here late.”

“Working on the books and roasting some beans, plus it’s Saturday night. This is my life. What can I get you?”

“Give me whatever amazing new concoction you're working on with a double shot of espresso. It’s been quite the day.”

“Oh, goody. Stories to tell.” Belinda bustled around behind the counter as Carli plopped onto a barstool at a high-top table.

“You have no idea.” Carli hung her purse on the back of the chair and scooted up closer to the table. She stretched out her legs on the stool next to her, crossing her feet at the ankles.

Within minutes Belinda set a Texas flag mug down, complete with lid and straw. “This is nice.” Carli should have said hot coffee, but a frappe might be good too. She leaned over and placed her lips on the straw, taking in a big draw.

“Mugs are new. That one’s on the house.”

Carli sat bolt upright, her cheeks puffed out from the icy cold drink that assaulted her mouth. She swallowed. “That’s not coffee!”

“No, ma’am. That’s a smoothie. Yogurt, berries, vanilla, and coconut milk. You really shouldn’t be drinking a lot of caffeine right now. And by the way, how is Buck?”

Carli made a face but took another drink. She was parched. “I hear Buck is doing really well. Comes home tomorrow. Lola’s making some lifestyle changes for him. That should be fun, watching those two work out his diet.”

“And the riding school?”

Carli let out a heavy sigh. “It’s growing, more slowly than I’d like. There is this one girl. I just