Stuck Together (Trouble in Texas Book #3) (14 page)

“I don’t even know what happened. We’ve talked a bit the last couple days. From the first word, from my first look at her, I was so drawn to her.” Jonas gripped the banister like he was going to stand, and then he just gave up and stayed on the step. “This morning I think all Missy needed was someone to stay with your ma while she ran to the privy. I came in, Missy thanked me and stepped out while I visited with your ma. Then Missy came back, and Virginia Belle said she was tired and she lay back down. Missy was worrying about how things were going to work out here, and we started talking. I was being a parson. I was trying to encourage her and cheer her up and help her see God’s hand in all of this.”

“Even though none of us have a single idea what God has in mind?”

Jonas jerked one shoulder in a shrug. “It was the most wonderful talk. She’s so sweet and . . .” Jonas shrugged again. “We just ended up in each other’s arms. It was the simplest, truest thing that’s ever happened to me. Like she belonged there. Like I’ve been waiting for her all my life.”

Jonas looked up. “I promise you, Vince, there’s been no disrespectful treatment of your sister. I’m just sure she’s
the woman God has set apart for me, and we’re supposed to be together. I know it’s unwise to rush into marriage, but right now I would gladly marry her. I’ll help her with your ma and support Melissa in whatever she needs to do. The reasonable side of me tells me we’re being rash. But everything in me who feels led by the voice of God tells me I’ve found my future, and I need to join my life with Missy’s without delay. I’m completely sure of it, and I don’t intend to refuse this gift the Lord is offering me.”

Jonas stood, his wobbly knees apparently restored now. Still, Jonas didn’t seem much interested in how upset Vince was. He was too focused on his own future. “I’m going after her. I don’t even like being separated from her for these few minutes.”

Heading for the door, Vince slapped a hand on Jonas’s shoulder to stop him.

Jonas frowned. “You’re not going to pretend like you have some say in Missy’s life, are you? I’ve known her every bit as long as you have, so don’t start acting like a protective big brother.”

“You’re right in saying that, but I think I’m more worried about you than Melissa. This isn’t like you to go off half-cocked, Jonas. You know nothing about her background. It sounds like her mother was no better than she ought to be, considering a lifelong affair with a married man—my father. Now Melissa found her way into the Yates family. It’s true, she treats my mother with kindness, but that’s also been her way to a comfortable home and money coming in.”

“Don’t you say a word against her.” Now Jonas’s fists were clenched.

Vince raised both hands, palms flat, like he was surrendering. “I’m not saying I know a thing against her. But the point is, I don’t know her and neither do you. And what’s more, that’s such a simple truth that you can’t possibly deny it.”

Jonas frowned, glaring at Vince. But no fight broke out. Finally, with a short, hard jerk of his chin, Jonas said, “I know you’re right. That is the simple truth.”

“So you’ll slow down and give this some more thought?”

Jonas drew in a breath so slow and deep his chest visibly rose and fell. At last he said, “Sure, but I won’t wait too long.” Jonas then stepped around Vince and pulled the door open, knocking Vince forward a few steps. He took off running, on his way to catch up with Melissa.

Vince stood at the door. Of his own house. A big house. A house with a mother living in it. A sister. Which raised the question: was Jonas going to live here, with Vince? He almost had to, because Vince couldn’t manage Mother without Melissa.

And if Jonas lived here, what about Tina?

Lifting his eyes to the top of the stairs, Vince looked at the row of four bedrooms. Melissa on the far left, with Jonas soon in residence, unless Melissa planned to abandon Vince to care for his mother alone.

Mother’s room was next, then Vince’s. He looked at that fourth door. Was Tina going to be moving into that bedroom?

Vince couldn’t let that happen, and yet, if Jonas moved in, then Tina would have to.

And if Vince wasn’t careful, before he knew it, there’d be another wedding, because Vince was mighty sure he
couldn’t live next door to Tina Cahill and not end up doing something as crazy as marry her.

And speaking of crazy . . . if he married her, he’d end up with children, because those things just followed like summer followed spring. And then there would be little ones who might be cursed with a madman for a father—if Vince took after his mother’s family.

And that was the kind of fate Vince could never bestow on a wife, to have a husband to care for year after year with only the burden of it.

Vince couldn’t do that to a wife or a child. Surely God would consider such a thing as the worst kind of selfishness.

Or maybe they’d have a tyrant for a father—if Vince took after his father. If that happened, then he was destined to ruin his children’s lives and have them leave him as soon as they were able.

And yet Vince’s eyes went to that fourth door. He saw no escape from Tina and the almost unavoidable result of being so near to her.

It was all Vince could do not to run for the hills like his father had done. So which one of his parents was he most like? His cruel, hot-tempered, arrogant bully father who’d raised a son to always be on guard, or the madwoman he had for a mother?

Both were a cruel fate to anyone foolish enough to join her life with his. And Vince wasn’t selfish enough to let that happen.

“Is Missy bringing . . . ?” Smiling, Glynna came into the kitchen—warm and savory with the aroma of roasting venison—but the smile vanished when she saw Tina. “What happened? Did Mrs. Yates run into trouble again?”

Tina shook her head and wondered what her expression must be for Glynna to sound so urgent. A notion came to Tina that was better than nothing. “I’m a good cook, aren’t I, Glynna?”

“Yes, you’re a wonderful help in the kitchen.” Glynna’s concern changed to flat-out worry. “Are you quitting? Are you getting tired of cooking for the whole—”

“I’m staying,” Tina said, cutting her off. “Don’t worry about that.”

Heaven knew this was no time to quit her job. Tina made decent money, and she could be a cook anywhere, too. It was just a big old shame that she hadn’t hopped on that carriage and left when Mr. Yates had snuck out of town. She could be a cook in Chicago. Of course, yesterday she hadn’t known she would become permanent unwanted baggage for her brother to tote around. “But I was wondering if I could move into the rooms upstairs.”

Glynna looked surprised. “You don’t want to live with Jonas anymore?”

“I want a place to call my own. I want to earn money and take care of myself and stop depending on the sufferance of others.”

“Sufferance?” Glynna blinked just as the door opened and Melissa stepped in with Mrs. Yates on her arm.

Tina saw that the women were alone, which meant Vince had collared Jonas.

“Hi, Missy, Mrs. Yates.” Glynna took a second to be polite, then went right back to quizzing Tina. “What do you mean by ‘sufferance’? Jonas likes having you live with him. You didn’t start another mud-wrestling match on Main Street when I wasn’t watching, did you?”

“Mud-wrestling match?” Melissa said, looking nervously at Tina.

“Why, whatever do you mean by that?” Mrs. Yates touched the collar of her dress with her fingertips.

“Never mind. It’s in the past.” Tina stepped sideways so Melissa and Mrs. Yates could join their circle. She arched a brow at Melissa. “There are far more interesting things happening around here than my picketing the tavern.”

Melissa shook her head. “Let’s all just sit down and discuss this. Tina, nothing is decided yet. And when it is, you’re still going to live with us.”

“No, I’m not.” Tina was determined. And
you’re still going to live with us
sounded very much like things were decided.

“Us?” Glynna’s voice rose.

“Melissa and Jonas are . . . are . . .” Tina’s voice trailed off, and she noticed her hands had formed fists, but not so
she could punch someone. It was to hold on tight to her nerves. “They’re courting, and if they end up married, it’s only proper to give the newlyweds their privacy.”

“Bless your heart,” Mrs. Yates said, and patted Tina’s arm. “You’re the most thoughtful girl.” She leaned closer to Tina. “Have we met?”

Glynna quit listening to Tina’s request for a roof over her head and turned to Melissa. “You only just met.”

Tina had that very same thought. So had Vince. So would anyone with a working brain.

“I know. But we’re not rushing into anything.” Melissa threw her arms wide and almost knocked Vince’s ma over.

Glynna dashed to Virginia Belle’s side and steadied her, the only one in the room able to think clearly enough to catch the sweet lady.

Tina had heard the excitement in Jonas’s voice when he’d nearly said wedding vows while watching Melissa descend the stairs. And she’d seen the way Melissa looked at him, affection in her eyes. She suspected there was some rushing coming.

“I don’t know how it happened. But Jonas is so wonderful.”

Tina had thought her brother was wonderful too, though she was less thrilled with him now than she had been an hour ago.

With a wild glance at Mrs. Yates, Glynna turned to Tina. “And you’re moving in here?”

Virginia Belle said, “I appreciate your kind offer, but I don’t want to move. I am quite fond of the plantation.”

Glynna gave her head a tiny, violent shake. Then, with her arm around Mrs. Yates’s waist, she said, “Let’s get you a cup of coffee, ma’am. Come in and sit down.”

Without waiting for much cooperation, Glynna guided Mrs. Yates from the kitchen.

As she left, Tina called after her, “So can I move in here?”

“Get the coffeepot.” Glynna snapped out the order just like she was the boss of this diner, which was highly questionable. “Then get in here and sit down. We’re going to talk this out right now.”

Missy followed Glynna, and the swinging door to the dining room slapped shut. Tina felt rejected for about the tenth time today, and it wasn’t noon yet.

Her shoulders slumped. She snagged four tin cups, slipping a finger through each handle. Then she hoisted the half-full pot, left from that morning, and followed Glynna out of the room.

Missy had abandoned her duty as caretaker to Mrs. Yates. She was sitting at the nearest long table with her head in her hands.

Glynna took care to get Vince’s mother comfortable on the bench seat. Tina poured the coffee. Glynna and Virginia Belle sat with their backs to the kitchen. Tina and Missy were side by side across the table—not overly close to each other—Tina’s choice, for Missy seemed beyond moving.

When they were all settled, Glynna said, “So, Missy, what happened?”

“I’m out of my ever-loving mind.” Missy spoke to the table, or maybe herself.

“And now you want to move out, Tina?”

Missy lifted her head at that. “Good heavens, Tina. I have no intention of throwing you out of your home.”

“You’re not throwing me out.” Tina sounded strong, steady. She was getting the hang of pretending to be com
pletely happy that her life had just been blown to bits. “I just need to get my own life in order. I need to stop depending on others.” And expecting them to love her. “I am a self-supporting woman. Glynna lived here as a single woman before she married Dare, and I see no reason why I shouldn’t live here.”

A woman needs to know how to take care of herself. Aunt Iphigenia had been absolutely right, the old bat.

“It’s not proper for you to live alone, Tina,” Glynna said. “I was a widow with two children. Completely different situation.”

Vince gathered his wits enough to rush after Jonas. There had to be a way to head off Tina Cahill’s moving in. Being stuck with her could turn into a trap Vince never escaped. A trap for Tina too, if she had the sense to realize it.

But keeping Tina out probably meant keeping Jonas out, and that meant kicking Melissa out, which left Vince to care for his mother, at least through the night. And with the personal needs of a woman, Vince wasn’t sure if that was even legal.

He needed to read over his volumes of Blackstone a little more closely.

Maybe he was the one who needed to get out. Leave them all alone in his place. He could move back to his tiny room over his law office and just help with Mother during the daytime.

Of course, she was his mother, so he probably needed to take responsibility for her by staying in the same house. Vince rounded the back corner of the diner in time to see
Jonas slam the door. The man was in a hurry to get on with his courting, the idiot.

Pausing at the door, Vince considered banging his head against it for a while before he went inside, but then decided he’d better not take the time. He needed to get in there before his whole life got rearranged without his consent.

He barged through the kitchen to see that Luke was coming down the stairs with Ruthy. Dare was pacing near the front door, looking at Jonas as if he’d lost his mind.

Vince was just in time to hear Jonas say, “You’ll always have a home with me, Tina. We’ll need to live in the boardinghouse to care for Mrs. Yates, but there’s plenty of room there for you, too.”

“No there’s not!” Vince said, panic in his voice.

“I’m not living there!” Tina spoke right on top of Vince, saying pretty much the same thing.

Everyone fell silent. Vince’s eyes locked on Tina. She was fuming. What was worse, she looked hurt. Jonas had hurt her. Vince had too. Blast the little pest, she was making him feel like the worst kind of lout for wanting to kick her out before she’d even moved in.

And he didn’t want to hurt her. He just didn’t want her anywhere near him. Which wasn’t hurtful; it was common sense.

“Well, we’ll figure all that out later.” Jonas broke into the deadly silence with all the sensitivity of a starving dung beetle. “For now, since we’re all here, I want everyone to know my intentions toward Melissa are completely honorable.”

“Can anyone tear themselves away to help me track down whoever shot at me and Ruthy?” Luke seated Ruthy
as if the tough little Irish redhead were made of spun glass. He yanked his gloves out from where he’d tucked them behind his belt buckle and appeared to be strangling them. “Vince, you’re the law in this town.”

Leaving town right now seemed like a top-notch idea. “Can someone watch my mother while I go do some sheriffing?”

Vince wondered if that question had ever before been asked in the history of the world.

“Mrs. Yates, how do you feel about pouring coffee?” Glynna asked. The woman had put everyone else in town to work for her, why not Mother?

Virginia Belle Yates, Southern princess and rich Chicago socialite turned waitress. Vince had never imagined such a day.

“Why, I dearly love pouring tea.” Mother acted like she’d be presiding over a refined ladies’ gathering. The woman was in for a surprise.

“I’ll see to her, Vince,” Glynna offered.

A hard rap on the front door showed a couple of men coming for the noon meal. Tug Andrews, who always looked like the image of a rough mountain man, pointed at the doorknob, scowling through his shaggy beard. He seemed to think they might have locked up accidentally.

A line was forming behind him.

Ruthy said, “I’d be glad to help get the meal on. You men can all go to—”

A door in the back of the diner slammed, and only then did Vince notice Jonas and Missy had left. Neither of them were going to be much help for a while.

Tina glared after the happy couple, her arms crossed, her
toe tapping in annoyance. “I’ll go mash the potatoes.” She stormed out of the room.

Glynna rested a guiding hand on Mother’s arm. “Come to the kitchen and I’ll show you how to make coffee.”

“Make coffee? Well, I declare,” Mother said, fluttering her eyes, “that would be lovely.”

Vince saw Sledge Murphy in line behind Tug Andrews. Sledge shoved Tug aside and banged on the door with the side of his fist. Tug shoved back. Words were exchanged that made Vince want to cover his ears.

Lovely
wasn’t the word that came to mind.

Mother and Glynna left. Vince looked from Luke to Dare. “Let’s saddle up.”

The three of them headed for their horses, unlocking the diner door for the noon rush on their way out. It was all Vince could do not to hop on his horse and ride all the way to Mexico.