Southern Comfort (11 page)

"I'll do it." Annie piped up. The way she saw it, it would give her a chance to talk to people and learn a little more about them and about Cotton Creek.

"Annie I can't ask—"

"You didn't. I volunteered. So tell me what to do."

"You sure?"

"Positive."

"Annie, honey, that's sweet as all get out, but we can't ask you to do that." Billy chimed in.

"I'd really like to, Billy. Where I come from isn't so different from here, I suspect and there we always help out a friend. So, please, let me help."

"Well, when you put it that way, we’d appreciate it, Annie."

She gave him a smile then stood and turned toward Cody. "Okay Boss, point me in the right direction."

After that, things were kind of a whirl for her. She took and delivered orders, refilled soft drink and beer pitchers and talked to what seemed like hundreds of people. She met the guys in the band with Riley, the local barber and the man who owned the feed store. She talked with the manager of the bank and his wife, and learned about their two teenaged kids and the one they had in college.

Annie got introduced to the woman who owned the local salon, or beauty shop as she called it, and the people who owned the hardware store, the grocery and the gas station. She even met a few guys who were roustabouts, and some hands from the different ranches.

What struck her was that down to a person, they all seemed to be good, hard-working people who were friendly and nice. Curious, as well. She answered her share of questions through the evening. By nine o'clock, her feet were starting to hurt and her arms were tired. She noticed the men setting up on the stage and as she watched, Riley turned, looked at her and smiled.

That moment froze her in place. Standing there with a laden tray from bussing a table in one hand and two empty pitchers in the other, she felt like Cinderella at the ball when the handsome prince noticed her. All she could do was stand there and look back at him, seeing the slow smile that rose on his face and the way his eyes never left hers. It hit her like the proverbial freight train. She was dangerously close to falling  for Riley Morgan.

The realization nearly staggered her and she felt the smile slide away from her face. She saw his expression change as well. His smile faded but his eyes never left hers. Annie had no clue how long they stood there, gazes locked. All she knew was that suddenly Cody was slapping her on the shoulder.

"Okay, time for a break, girl."

Annie jerked her head to look at Cody. "Huh?"

"Oh boy." Cody gave a low whistle.

"What?"

"Nothing. Get rid of that stuff, grab a beer and take a load off. Dad said to come over and sit with Mama and KC. The band's gonna start up any minute."

"I can still help."

"You've done more than your share Annie and I appreciate it, but we're good. No one much will be eating from here on in and Hannah and I can handle the bar. Besides you've never heard Riley sing."

"Is he as good as I think?  That video you sent was nice but there was a lot of noise."

"Oh yeah, he's good. Now scoot. Hannah has you a beer waiting at the bar."

Annie did as instructed, delivered the tray and pitchers to the kitchen and then went to the bar. "Here ya go, hon." Hannah slid a big mug her way. "We sure do appreciate you helping out, Annie."

"It was the least I could do. Cody's been so nice to me and you and your mama were so kind when I got here and – well you know."

"Actually I don't. All I know is Riley marched in the house like some hero out of a novel, with you unconscious in his arms. It was kind of romantic, to be honest. I thought you and he were – you know."

"Oh!  Oh no. We're just friends. That was actually the first time I ever saw him in person. Heck, at all. I had no idea he was – you know, famous."

"Oh yeah, Nate Bridges. He was something back in the day wasn't he?" Hannah's gaze moved toward the stage.

"He still is." Annie murmured and then turned to Hannah. "How much for the beer?"

"On the house, hon. And as many more as you want."

"Thanks, Hannah. I think I'm going to go sit and enjoy the show."

"Okay. Have fun."

Annie made her way to Stella Sweet's table. "Mind if I sit with you?"

"Not at all, honey."

Annie took a seat and looked at the stage. "So Billy is a musician, too?"

Stella smiled. "Oh yes, Billy loves his music."

"And so do you, I'm guessing?"

Stella chuckled. "I surely do."

Annie turned her attention back to the stage. Billy and Riley stepped up to the microphone and Riley spoke. "Hey, ya'll. First of all, a big round of applause for Billy and all the fine folks here at Billy's. That was some mighty fine barbecue."

Everyone clapped, cheered, stomped their feet and hooted and Annie joined in. When the noise died, Riley looked over at Billy and Billy leaned in to speak into the microphone. "Since it's my bar, we're gonna start out with a little something for the most beautiful, kind-hearted and perfect woman in the world, my beautiful wife. Stella Mae, this one's for you, honey."

The crowd went wild cheering and hollering and Annie added her voice to the mix, watching the way Stella smiled at Billy. The band kicked off, Billy and Riley singing harmony to a song the country singer Randy Travis made famous – ‘Forever and Ever, Amen’.

When they got to the chorus, the entire bar joined in. At first Annie just watched but by the second chorus she sang right along with everyone. When the song ended she clapped and cheered and was thinking what a wonderful time she was having. She couldn't wait to tell Katie about it.

The band played five or six songs and then Riley spoke into the microphone. "Okay, folks. We're gonna do one more and then take a break and put some quarters in that juke box so you people can get to dancing. This last one is an old one, but one of my favorites."

When he started singing "I'm so lonesome I could cry", Annie darn near did. The room erupted at first with cheers and yells and then fell completely silent. Riley's voice filled the bar, his presence filled the stage and she could tell from one look around that every woman in the place was just as mesmerized as she.

It was like something magical, something unreal, the power of his voice on the people was so strong. Then he looked at her, and what little reserves of strength she had fell away. She wasn't just close to falling for Riley. She was there. It was like she and he were the only people in that bar. All she could do was look into his eyes and listen to his voice and something so big swelled inside her, she felt she would burst from it.

It was the most profound moment of her life and the enormity of it brought tears to her eyes. When the last notes of the music died there was a couple of seconds of utter silence before the room erupted in cheers. Annie quickly swiped at her eyes and cheered along with everyone else.

"He's something isn't he?" Stella leaned over to say.

"He sure is."

"And a good friend. To Billy and all of us."

Annie heard the tone and recognized it. There was a warning here. She turned to face Stella. "He's seen his share of hard times, Annie. Made a world of mistakes and paid for every one of them. But he has made a good life for himself here. I think he's found peace, if not happiness. I'd hate to see anything harm that."

"I – I'd never do anything to hurt him. He's my friend."

The jukebox started up and people started filing onto the dance floor. Stella scooted over closer to Annie to kept from having to talk loud.

"I think he's a lot more than that, honey – even if you don't know it, it's right there on your face. So, if you don't mind, as a favor to me and the other people who love him – make sure your next step is taken for the right reasons. Hearts have a way of being broken and I'd hate to see that happen to either one of you."

Annie realized that Stella was not trying to warn her off Riley, but simply expressing her concern for a friend and she respected that. She knew Stella and all the Sweets were like family to Riley. "Thank you, Stella. I appreciate that. I don't want a broken heart either and I suspect if anyone has the power to do any breaking it's him."

Stella reached over and took her hand. "You've got a good heart, Annie. That's easy to see. I hope things work out."

Annie smiled and gave Stella's hand a squeeze. Just then Stella looked up, over Annie's shoulder and smiled. Annie turned her head to see Riley standing behind her. "Didn't you say something about dancing Wildcat girl?"

"Why yes I did, cowboy."

"Then may I?" He held out his hand.

"Indeed you may." She gave Stella's hand one final squeeze then stood and put her hand into Riley's. He whirled her onto the dance floor and for the next twenty minutes she was part of a country line dance party. Finally a slow song came on and Riley pulled her into his arms.

Annie looked up at him as he smoothly two-stepped her across the floor. He smiled down at her. "Having fun, Wildcat?"

She chuckled. "First you change my name to Annie and now it's Wildcat?  There might not be a smidge of wild in me."

"Oh I'm betting there's a bit."

She shrugged, trying to pass it off rather than let him see what kind of thoughts that statement inspired. "Well, I guess that's for me to know."

"And me to find out?" He leaned down and whispered in her ear, pulling her closer.

She turned her head and could feel his breath on her face, feel his hand tighten on her hip. He moved just enough to look into her eyes. Annie took one look and was lost. Here it was, the fantasy man she'd dreamed of, asking a question that both thrilled and terrified her.

"Riley." It was all she could manage.

Riley had heard his name spoken in many ways – in the throes of passion, in the heat of anger, in the grips of fear and in the laughter of a friend, but he'd never heard those two syllables fall from someone's lips like a prayer, a wish buried so deep that the vocalization demanded a giving that went beyond words.

It annihilated him.

Everything around them faded. The music dulled, the sound of voices diminished and there was only them. In this moment. Both of his hands raised, as if of their own accord to cup her face. His lips met hers, soft and slow.

At the touch he felt her body weaken, leaning into him in what felt like surrender. Her lips were pliant and soft against his, hesitant at first, and then they parted ever so slightly. It was the invitation he sought and he answered it.

Her arms crept up, circling his neck, one hand working into his hair as the other gripped the collar of his shirt. Her full soft breasts pressed into his chest, the warmth seeping through.. She tasted of beer and barbecue, sweet and tangy all at once.

It was a kiss unlike any he'd ever experienced. There was passion and there was excitement, but there was… what was it? A reverence to it, a kind of giving he had no experience with. This kiss. This was what he'd searched for his whole life and never realized until this moment.

And it was in that moment that Riley fell. Annie Becke had him. Whether she wanted him or not, he was hers.

Annie nearly fell when the sudden sound of hoots, cheers and clapping pulled them apart. It was then that reality returned and she realized the entire bar of people was focused on the same thing. She and Riley.

She could feel heat flood her face and had no doubt that she was scarlet. And yet Riley had not released her. She dared to look up at him and saw him grinning at the people around him and then he looked down and grinned at her.

"You okay, Wildcat?"

"I – I'm not sure my legs work."

"Bit weak in the knees?"

"Just a bit."

"Same here, sugar."

"So what do we do?"

"We either have a beer and dance some more, or I take you home."

"To whose home?"

"You tell me."

She didn't know where she found the courage, but she found it and answered honestly. "Yours."

"Let me grab my guitar and we're outta here."

He turned to look around at the still cheering crowd. "Okay, show's over. Night ya'll."

With that he took her hand, led her toward the stage, grabbed his guitar and made for the door. They had just made it to the truck when he backed her up against the door for another kiss. Annie felt like a character out of a movie or a book. Could this really be her?

She returned the kiss with all the passion that had been bottled up inside her for so long. When he pulled back and looked at her, she knew he was excited. She'd felt that part of him pressing against her and it thrilled her.

"Ready to ride, Wildcat?"

"You have no idea."

Riley grinned, opened the door and she climbed in. He handed her his guitar, got in and started the truck. Annie cradled the guitar, watching as he drove. It should have felt strange that they rode without speaking, but the silence was not uncomfortable. Every now and then he'd look at her and smile, or reach over and caress her arm or leg.