Heart of Texas Vol. 2 (6 page)

Wade took a forkful of the baked beans and nodded approvingly. “Mmm.” He chewed slowly, savoring every morsel. “There's a lot to be said for tradition, especially when it tastes this good.”

“She only bakes 'em once a year and it's always for the church.” Having cleaned his own plate, Cal pushed back his chair and folded his arms. Wade's gaze followed Cal's. Grady and Caroline stood in the dessert line with Savannah and Laredo. The four were engaged in conversation and appeared to be enjoying them selves.

“Grady and Caroline make a handsome couple, don't they?” Wade asked, testing the waters with the older Patterson brother. This couldn't be easy on him, especially after Cal's own un fortunate experience a few years earlier. His wedding had been canceled just two days before the ceremony. Cal had taken
the brunt of the embarrassment when his fiancée abruptly left town.

Wade and Cal had shared some serious discussions afterward and bonded as friends. But Cal hadn't mentioned Jennifer's name, not in all the time since. The subject of marriage appeared to be taboo, as well. More than once Wade had been tempted to remind Cal not to judge all women by Jennifer's actions. It might be a cliché, but time really was a great healer. When Cal was ready, Wade believed he'd date again.

“It's about time Grady opened his eyes,” Cal said, grinning.

“About Caroline?”

“Yeah. Those two have been circling each other for a year, maybe more. If one of 'em didn't make a move soon, I was going to rope 'em together myself.”

Wade chuckled, enjoying the image.

“Seems that every time Grady gets close to making a move, something happens and he takes off like a jackrabbit.”

Little Maggie Daniels raced past at that moment, and Wade caught her about the waist to keep her from colliding with Nell Bishop's son. “Whoa there,” he said, laughing. “What's the big hurry?”

Maggie covered her mouth and giggled. “Petey was chasing me.”

“Be careful, understand?”

Maggie bobbed her head, and Wade pointed to the corsage on her wrist. “Who gave you flowers?”

“Grady,” Maggie answered with such pride her entire face lit up. Her eyes fell to the pink and white carnations on her wrist. “He yells some times.”

“Does it bother you?”

Maggie had to think about that a moment before she shrugged. “He bought Mommy flowers, too. She was sur
prised and so was I, and when Mommy asked him why, he said it was 'cause we're special.”

“You are very special.” Wade smiled.

Maggie's return smile revealed two missing front teeth. “Mommy likes him,” she said, and Wade had the feeling that she'd decided perhaps Grady wasn't such a bad guy, after all.

Petey Bush approached. “Wanna hold hands?” the six-year-old boy asked.

Maggie looked to Wade for permission. “I think it'll be all right,” he advised.

She nodded solemnly and the two children strolled off hand in hand.

“It's a sorry day when five- and six-year-olds have an easier time getting a date than we do, don't you think?” Cal asked him.

A sorry day indeed, Wade mused.

 

C
AROLINE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME
at the dinner. A
perfectly
wonderful time, she reflected as they walked out to Grady's truck. Everything about the evening had been like a dream. Not once had she exchanged a cross word with Grady. Not once had they disagreed. Not once had he yelled at Maggie. There just might be hope for them.

Maggie, worn-out from the evening's activities, fell asleep between them in the truck. She slumped against Caroline, her head in her mother's lap. When Grady pulled up in front of the house, she was still asleep. It seemed a shame to disturb her.

Grady must have thought the same thing, because he turned off the engine and made no move to get out of the truck. The only light available was from a quarter moon set crookedly in the dark Texas sky.

Night settled about them. Neither one of them spoke. For
her own part, Caroline wanted the evening to last as long as possible. If it never ended, that was fine with her.

“I had a lovely time,” she finally whispered.

“Me, too.”

She assumed he'd open the truck door then and was pleased when he didn't.

“It was sweet of you to bring Maggie and me flowers.”

“It was the only way I could tell you how much—” He halted midsentence.

“How much…?” she prodded.

“I like you both,” he finished.

“Do you, Grady?” she asked, her voice low.

“Very much.” He brought his hand to the side of her face, and Caroline closed her eyes, delighting in the feel of his callused palm against her cheek. Smiling to herself at how far they'd come, she leaned into his hand.

“Do you think it'd wake Maggie if I kissed you?” he asked, whispering.

Caroline didn't know, but she was prepared to risk it. “I'm game if you are.”

Still Grady hesitated. “This is the first time Maggie's been willing to have anything to do with me. I don't want to ruin that.”

“If you don't kiss me
now,
Grady, I swear I'll never forgive you!”

He laughed softly and without further delay took her face between his hands. Once again Caroline shut her eyes, just for a moment, treasuring these rare moments of intimacy.

Slowly Grady bent toward her and she angled her head to accommodate his movement. His mouth was so close to hers. So close she could feel his breath against her skin. So close she could sense his longing—and admit her own. Yet he hesitated, as did she.

Caroline realized—and she suspected that Grady did, too—that everything between them would be forever changed if they proceeded with this kiss. It was more than an ordinary kiss. It was a meeting of two hearts, an ad mission of vulnerability and openness.

Caroline wasn't sure who moved first, but chose to think of what followed as a mutual decision. An in exorable drawing together.

The kiss was gentle, almost tentative. His hand drifted to the back of her neck, urging her forward.

Grady kissed her again, and this time his mouth was more demanding, more in sis tent. Within only a few seconds, Caroline felt as though she'd experienced every possible emotion. When he released her, his breath was ragged.

“I'm sorry, I—”

Rather than let him ruin everything with an apology, she kissed the corner of his mouth.

Maggie stirred and they both froze. Caroline prayed her daughter wouldn't awake, wouldn't unconsciously end these precious moments with Grady.

“Is she asleep?” he asked, speaking so quietly she had to strain to hear. His voice was more breath than sound.

“Yes…”

They waited breathlessly. When it seemed he wasn't going to kiss her again, Caroline took the initiative and leaned toward him. The strength of their attraction stunned her. It was as though they couldn't get close enough. Their mouths twisted and strained in a passionate desperate kiss, but that lasted only a moment.

Then sanity returned. Reluctantly they eased away from each other. Grady rested his shoulders against the seat cushion, tilted back his head and sighed deeply.

Caroline swallowed. “I'd better get Maggie inside,” she whispered.

“Right.” When he opened his door, the light blinded Caroline and she was grateful when he immediately closed it, making the least noise possible.

Coming around to her side, he opened the door, helped her out and then reached for Maggie, carrying her toward the house. Caroline had expected to carry Maggie herself. She'd always done so; she was accustomed to it. Grady's action brought to life a complexity of feelings—gratitude, relief, even a slight sense of loss.

“You get the door,” Grady said.

Caroline unlocked the door. With only a night-light to guide them, she led him to Maggie's bedroom at the rear of the house. She folded back the covers on the bed and Grady carefully set the little girl down. Caroline removed her daughter's shoes and put them aside.

Grady smoothed the hair from Maggie's brow, touched his fingertips to his lips and pressed his hand to the little girl's brow. The gesture was so loving, so
fatherly,
that Caroline had to turn away.

Grady followed her into the darkened hallway. She continued to the front door. She didn't want him to leave but dared not ask him to stay.

“Thank you again,” she whispered. “For everything.” The front door remained open and light spilled in from the porch.

Grady didn't move.

Slowly she raised her eyes to his. The invitation was there, and it was simply beyond her to refuse him. He held his arms open. Less than four steps separated them, but she literally ran into his embrace. He caught her about the waist, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. They kissed again with
an urgency that left her weak, an urgency that drained her of all thoughts save one—the unexpected wonder and joy she'd discovered in his arms.

Until that night, Caroline hadn't realized how lonely she'd been, how long the nights could be. In Grady's arms she felt whole and needed and beautiful.

When the kiss ended, she buried her face in his neck.

“I could hold you forever,” he whispered.

“I could let you.” She felt his smile.

“Don't tempt me more than I already am,” he warned.

It was heaven knowing he found her attractive. He held her close while she struggled to regain her composure. Caroline was grateful for those few quiet moments before he slowly released her.

He placed his hands lightly on her shoulders. “I want to see you again.”

“Yes.” It didn't matter when or where.

“Soon.”

She was almost giddy with the wonder of what was happening. “Please.”

He smiled and, as though he couldn't help himself, he kissed her again.

Their kissing only seemed to get better and better. “Why did it take you so long?” she asked when she'd re covered enough to speak.

“Because I'm a pig headed fool.”

“I am, too.” No need denying it. She was as much at fault as Grady. “No more.”

“No more,” she echoed.

“Tomorrow,” he suggested. “I can't wait any longer than that to see you again.”

“Okay. When? Where?”

“Can you come out to the ranch?”

“Yes, of course. I'll come after church.”

“Wonderful,” he whispered and kissed the tip of her nose. “Perfect.”

She slipped her arms around his middle. “Oh, Grady, is this really happening or am I dreaming?”

“Nothing gets more real than the way you make me feel.”

She smiled. Never would she have believed that Grady Weston was a romantic.

“About Maggie…”

He stiffened, and she stopped him by pressing her index finger against his lips. “Don't worry about her. Everything will work out.”

“I don't mean to frighten her.”

“I know.”

“Did she like the flowers?”

Caroline kissed the under side of his jaw. “Very much.”

“Did you?”

“More than I can say.” She trailed kisses toward his ear and reveled in the way his body shuddered against hers when she tugged on his earlobe with her teeth.

“Caroline,” he breathed. “You're making this impossible.”

“Do I really tempt you?”

“Yes.” His voice was low but harsh. “You don't have a clue.”

Actually she did. “Kiss me one more time and then you can leave.”

He hesitated, then gently captured her face between his hands and angled his mouth toward hers. The kiss, while one of need, was also one of elation, of shared joy. All this time
they'd wasted, all the time they'd let pride and fear and doubt stand between them.

Caroline needed him and he needed her. Savannah, a woman with real insight into people, had tried to tell her that. And Caroline knew she'd tried to convince Grady, too. She was aware of Savannah's match making efforts because her friend had told her; she was also aware that Savannah had been frustrated by one setback after another.

Caroline supposed she was as responsible for those setbacks as Grady. She'd always been attracted to him, but felt confused, unprepared. She'd been hurt terribly once and with that pain had come fear. For years she'd been afraid to love again. To trust again.

Deep within her, she recognized that Grady would never abandon her. Not Grady. He was as solid as a rock.

His final kiss was deep and long.

It took a moment for Maggie's voice to break through the fog of her desire.

“Mommy! Mommy!”

Grady groaned and reluctantly let Caroline go.

She turned to find Maggie standing in the dim light, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “What is it, sweetheart?”

Maggie ignored the question and, instead, glared at Grady. “What are you doing to my mommy?” she demanded.

S
UNDAY MORNING WAS THE ONE DAY
of the week Jane Dickinson—
Dr.
Jane Dickinson, she reminded herself—could sleep in. Yet it was barely six and she was wide awake. Tossing aside the sheet, she threw on her robe and wandered barefoot into the kitchen.

“Texas,” she muttered. Who would've believed when she signed up for this that she'd end up in the great state of Texas? The hill country was about as far as anyone could get from the bustling activity of Los Angeles.

Jane had
tried
to make a go of life in small-town America, but she was completely and utterly miserable. In three months she hadn't managed to make a single friend. Sure, there were lots of acquaintances, but no real friends. Never in her life had she missed her friends and family more, and all because of money. She'd entered into this agreement with the federal government in order to reduce her debts—three years in Promise, Texas, and some of her medical-school loans would be forgiven.

Maybe she should just admit she'd made a mistake, pack her bags and hightail it out of this godforsaken town. But even
as the thought entered her mind, Jane realized that wasn't what she wanted. What she wanted was to find some way to connect with these people, to become part of this tight-knit community.

The residents of Promise seemed willing enough to acknowledge that she was a competent physician specializing in family practice. But they came to see her only when they absolutely had to—for prescription renewals, a bad cough or sprain that couldn't be treated at home. Jane's one major fault was that she wasn't Dr. Cummings. The man had retired in his seventies after serving the community for nearly fifty years. The people of Promise knew and trusted him. She, on the other hand, was considered an outsider and, worse, some kind of Valley Girl or frivolous surfer type.

Despite her up-to-the-moment expertise, she had yet to gain the community's confidence. Everything she'd done to prove herself to the people of Promise had been a miserable failure.

Rejection wasn't something Jane was accustomed to dealing with. It left her feeling frustrated and helpless. In medical school, whenever she felt over whelmed and emotionally confused, she'd gone jogging. It had always helped clear her thoughts, helped her gain perspective. But she hadn't hit the streets even once since she'd come here. With a new sense of resolve, she began to search for her running shoes, re minding herself that
she
was the one who'd agreed to work in a small community. She was determined to stick it out, even if it killed her.

Dressed in bright yellow nylon running shorts and a matching tank top, she started out at an easy nine-minute-mile pace. She jogged from her living quarters next to the health clinic down the tree-lined streets of Promise. The community itself wasn't so bad. Actually it was a pretty little town with tradi
tional values and interesting people. Ranchers mostly. Down-to-earth folk, hardworking, family-oriented. That was what made her situation so difficult to understand. The people were friendly and welcoming, it seemed, to everyone but her.

Jane turned the corner onto Maple Street. At the post office she took another turn and headed up Main. A couple of cars were parked in front of the bowling alley, which kept the longest hours in town; it was open twenty-four hours on Saturdays and Sundays. It wasn't the bowling that lured folks at all hours, but the café, which served good solid meals and great coffee at 1970s prices.

Jane's feet pounded the pavement and sweat rolled down the sides of her face. She'd barely gone a mile and already her body was suggesting that she hadn't been exercising enough. She knew she'd ache later but didn't care; she was already feeling more optimistic.

She rounded the corner off Main and onto Baxter, running past the antique store owned and operated by Dovie Boyd. Dovie lived in a brick home just around the corner. Despite the early hour, she was standing in the middle of her huge vegetable garden with her watering can in hand.

Jane had often admired the older woman's lush garden. The pole beans were six feet high, the tomatoes bursting with ripeness and the zucchini abundant. Jane marveled at how one woman could possibly coax this much produce from a few plants.

“Morning,” Jane called.

Dovie smiled and raised her hand in response.

Jane continued down the street, full steam ahead. She'd gone perhaps twenty yards when she realized it'd happened to her again. She'd never been a quitter in her life and she wasn't going to start now. She did an abrupt about-face and headed back.

Dovie looked surprised to see her.

Jane stopped and, breathing heavily, leaned forward and braced her hands on her knees. “Hello again,” she said when she'd caught her breath.

Without a pause Dovie continued watering. “Lovely morning, isn't it?”

“Beautiful,” Jane agreed. Slowly she straightened and watched Dovie expertly weave her way through the garden, pausing now and again to finger a plant or pull a weed.

“Do you have a minute, Mrs. Boyd?” she asked, gathering her nerve. She rested her hands against the white picket fence.

Widening her eyes, Dovie turned. “What can I do for you, Dr. Dickinson?”

“First, I'd like it if you called me Jane.”

“Then Jane it is.”

The older woman's tone was friendly, but Jane sensed the same reserve in her she'd felt in others.

“What am I doing wrong?” She hadn't intended to blurt out the question like that, but couldn't help herself.

“Wrong?” Dovie set the watering can aside.

“What's wrong with
me?
” she amended.

“I don't think anything's wrong with you.” The other woman was clearly puzzled by the question. “What makes you assume such a thing?”

Attitudes were so difficult to describe. How could she explain how she felt without sounding snobbish or self-pitying? But she had to try.

“Why am I standing on this side of the fence while you're on that side?” Jane asked as she paced the cement walkway. “Why do I have to be the one to greet others first? People don't like me, and I want to know why.”

Dovie lifted one finger to her lips and frowned, apparently deep in thought. “You did greet me first, didn't you?”

“Yes, but it isn't only you. It's everyone.” Jane paused, struggling with her composure. “I want to know why.”

“My goodness, I'm not sure. I never realized.” Dovie walked toward the short white gate and un latched it, swinging it open. “Come inside, dear, and we'll sit down and reason this out.”

Now that Jane had made her point, it would have been rude and unfair to refuse, but to her embarrassment she discovered she was close to tears.

“Sit down and make yourself comfortable,” Dovie said and gestured toward the white wrought-iron patio set. “I'll get a pot of tea brewing. I don't know about you, but I tend to think more clearly if I have something hot to drink.”

“I… Thank you,” Jane said, feeling humble and grateful at once. The few moments Dovie was in the kitchen gave her time to collect herself.

Soon Dovie re appeared carrying a tray with a pot of steaming tea and two delicate china cups, as well as a plate of scones. She set it down on the table and poured the tea, handing Jane the first cup.

Jane felt a bit conspicuous in her tank top, sipping tea from a Spode cup, but she was too thankful for Dovie's kindness to worry about it.

“All right now,” Dovie said when she'd finished pouring. “Let's talk.” She sat down and leaned back in her chair, pursing her lips. “Tell me some other things that have bothered you about Promise.”

Jane wasn't sure where to start. “I have this…this sense that people don't like me.”

“Nonsense,” Dovie countered. “We don't know you well enough to like or dislike you.”

“You're right. No one knows me,” Jane murmured. “I need
a friend,” she said with a shrug, offering the one solution that had come to her.

“We all need friends, but perhaps you need to make more of an effort to give people a chance to know you.”

“But I
have
tried to meet people,” she said in her own defense.

Dovie frowned. “Give me an example.”

Jane had a list of those. An inventory of failures cataloged from the day she'd first arrived. “The party for Richard Weston,” she said. It was the first social event she'd attended in the area. Richard had been warm and friendly, stopping her on the street and issuing a personal invitation. Jane had been excited about it, had even told her family she was attending the party. But when she got there, she'd ended up standing around by herself. The evening had been uncomfortable from the start.

As the new doctor in town Jane appeared to be a topic of speculation and curiosity. The short news paper article published about her earlier in the week had added to the attention she'd garnered. People stared at her, a few had greeted her, asked her a question or two, then drifted away. Richard had been the star of his own party, and the one time he'd noticed her, she was sure he'd for got ten who she was. For a while she'd wandered around, feeling awkward and out of place. Mostly she'd felt like a party crasher and left soon after she'd arrived.

“You
were
there, weren't you?” Dovie murmured with a thoughtful look.

“Yes.” Not that it'd done Jane any good.

“You came in a suit and high heels, as I recall,” Dovie added.

“I realized as soon as I arrived the suit was a mistake,” Jane said. At the time she'd felt it was important to maintain a
professional image. She was new in town and attempting to make a good impression.

“And then jeans and a cotton top to the Grange dance.”

“I didn't realize it was a more formal affair.” She hadn't lasted long there, either. “I wasn't sure what to wear,” Jane confessed. She'd come over dressed for one event and under-dressed for the other. “But,” she said hopelessly, “I had no way of knowing.”

Dovie nodded, silently encouraging her to continue.

“I showed up for the Willie Nelson Fourth of July picnic, too, but no one bothered to tell me Willie Nelson wouldn't be there.” That had been a major disappointment, as well.

Dovie giggled and shook her head. “The town council's invited him nine years running, and he's politely declined every year, but we've never let a little thing like that stand in our way. This is Willie Nelson country!”

“Someone might have said something.” Jane didn't take kindly to being the only one not in on the joke.

“That's something you can only learn by living here. Next year, you'll know.”

If I'm here that long,
Jane thought.

“Another thing,” she said. “What's all this about a ghost town?” Jane asked next.

Dovie's expressive eyes narrowed. “Who told you there was a ghost town?”

Jane wondered at the swift change in her newfound friend. “I over heard two children talking. One of them mentioned it.”

“Don't pay any attention to those rumors, understand?”

“Is there one?”

“That's neither here nor there,” Dovie said, but not unkindly. “We have other more important matters to discuss.”

“Such as?”

Dovie's head came back. “You.” Her face was set, her voice firm. “You're right, you do need a friend.”

“Are you volunteering to take me under your wing?” Jane asked and hoped Dovie understood how very grateful she'd be.

“I'm too old.” Dovie's response was fast. “I'm thinking of someone more your age.” She tapped her index finger against her chin. “You and Ellie Frasier would get along like gang busters. Unfortunately Ellie's busy getting ready for her wedding just now, so you'll need to be patient.”

“Oh.” Jane's voice was small.

“Until then, you and I have our work cut out for us.”

Jane frowned, not sure she understood. “What work?”

Dovie's expression told Jane she'd over looked the obvious. “We need to find out what's wrong with everyone in this town. I've decided there's nothing wrong with
you,
Dr. Jane. It's everyone else, and I'm determined to find out what.”

 

“A
LL THE COMFORTS
of home,” Richard Weston said out loud. He stood in the middle of the dirt road that ran through the ghost town. “Bitter End, Texas,” he continued, “population one.” He laughed then, the sound echoing down the long dusty street littered with sage brush and rock.

Hitching his thumbs in the waist band of his jeans, he sauntered down the dirt road as if he owned it, and for all intents and purposes, he did.

For the time being Bitter End was his home. He was proud of the good job he'd done carving out a comfortable place for himself. He figured he'd be stuck here for a while. How long wasn't clear yet. A man on the run didn't have a lot of alternatives.

Everything was about to catch up with him. His brother already knew he hadn't paid that old coot Max Jordan, and he
wasn't going to be able to hide all the other charges he'd made, either. Although Grady's business account had sure come in handy. But he'd stretched his luck to the max in Promise.

Time to move on. Hide again, only no one would ever think to look for him here. He was as safe as a babe cuddled in his mother's loving arms. Richard had a sixth sense about when to walk away. He'd come to trust his instincts; they were what had kept him out of prison this long.

Richard kicked the toe of his snake skin boot into the hard dry ground. He'd arrived in Promise penniless, miserable and afraid to glance over his shoulder for fear the law—or worse—was hot on his tail. He'd decided to head back to Promise on the spur of the moment, when he awoke one morning and found himself outside El Paso without money or transportation. Hitch hiking, he made his way to the central part of the state.