The Texan's Bride (7 page)

“I’m a mess.” Nina wadded the tissue into a tighter ball. “No one understands.”

“Explain it to me.”

“Vernon’s a good man and…”

Jessie placed a hand on Nina’s forearm. “Look at Toby’s face. Do you see good there?”

“He got in the way,” Nina sobbed. “Vern didn’t mean to hit him so hard.”

Jessie squeezed her arm. “Vernon hit Toby. It wasn’t an accident. It’s all in the police report.”

Nina jerked her arm away. “He didn’t mean to. I thought you understood but you don’t. How could you? You’re rich and have everything you want.”

Jessie drew back. How did Nina know that? How did she know anything about her?

“Why do you say that?”

“Just look at the way you dress. And you have that refined air. I’m a big fat slob.”

Jessie let the first part slide. She wasn’t talking about her life. “Is that what Vernon tells you?”

“All the time.”

“Do you believe him?”

“Don’t you?”

Nina came from a troubled home. Her parents argued constantly. Eventually, the mother divorced the father and quickly remarried, as did the father. Nina was shuffled back and forth. When siblings arrived, Nina was left out in the cold. She got into trouble doing drugs at school and then got pregnant. After that everything had spiraled out of control. Jessie felt for her, but Nina had to face reality.

“I see a pretty and intelligent woman fighting to maintain her dignity, her pride. A woman who has
leaned on others, but now has to stand up and make the right choices for herself…and her children.”

“I’m not that strong.” Nina rocked back and forth.

“You have to be,” Jessie told her. “It’s not just about you and Vernon anymore. You can press charges or not. That’s your choice, but the state will step in to protect your children.”

“What do you mean?”

Jessie swallowed. “They’ll take them away.”

“What!” Nina stopped rocking and stared at her in disbelief. “No! No!” She grabbed Jessie’s hands. “Please don’t let them do that. You can stop it, right?”

“No,” she replied with honesty. “You’re the only one who can stop it. You have to show them you’ll not put your children in danger and you’ll provide a safe home for them.”

“How am I supposed to do that? I don’t have an education. My parents won’t help me. I’ve already tried that. They said I was twenty-one and could make it on my own.”

“How about the aunt you mentioned? The one who sends you something for your birthday and Christmas every year.”

“Aunt Lois?” Nina frowned. “She’s old and lives in Amarillo.”

“How old is she?”

“Fifty-something.”

Jessie sighed. “Call her.”

Nina glanced toward her children. Toby was pushing a toy truck around on the area rug, his gaze going to Nina every few seconds. “He looks so sad.”

“Call your aunt,” Jessie persisted.

“Aunt Lois’s never been married and she doesn’t have any children. I don’t even know if she likes kids. She’s a librarian and my dad said she was odd. Oh, God, I need a cigarette.”

“Child Protective Services and the police will be here to talk to you and the children. You need to have answers about your future when they do. I’m urging you to call your aunt.”

“I…I…”

“No excuses, Nina. Make the right choice.” Jessie patted her arm and stood.

“Will you be here tomorrow?” Nina asked.

“I’m not sure, but Wilma and Opal will be.” Jessie had no idea what her life would be like tomorrow.

“I can’t lose my children. They’re all I have.”

“It’s up to you, Nina.” Jessie walked down the hall to Fran’s office.

“How did it go?” Fran asked.

Jessie took the seat across from her, balanced Nina’s file on her lap and began to scribble notes. “She’s still making excuses for him.”

“Even after you told her she might lose her kids?”

“No. That was the stimulus that finally cleared her brain. Do you know anything about her aunt Lois?”

Fran shrugged. “When Nina first came here, she didn’t want her parents notified if anything happened to her. She listed an aunt on the form.” She turned toward her computer. “I’ll check.” After a few clicks, Fran added, “Yep. Lois Winslow from Amarillo. She may be Nina’s only hope.”

“If she calls her.” Jessie placed the file on Fran’s desk.

Fran shrugged again. “If she doesn’t, it’s out of our hands.”

“Yeah.” Jessie stood. “Sorry, I don’t have much time today.”

“That’s okay, Jessie, we appreciate your help.”

At the door, Jessie paused. She wanted Nina to have every opportunity. “Fran, I’ll pay for their airline tickets to Amarillo and new clothes and whatever it takes to make her feel good about herself. Anonymously, of course.”

“Jessie, you’ve donated so much to this shelter and it’s more than welcomed, but CPS and the police will have a lot to say in this.”

“Please let me know the outcome.”

Fran nodded.

Now they waited for Nina to make all the right choices.

Jessie sped home to wait for Cadde and tried to leave the sadness behind her. The truth was, though, her whole life was an album of sadness. Maybe, along with Cadde, a little happiness was waiting for her, too.

C
ADDE PACED IN HIS OFFICE
. It was barely four o’clock and he couldn’t concentrate. Nothing sidetracked his interest from the oil business.
But Jessie.
They had to talk and get their arrangement clear without either of them losing their temper. Maybe she’d changed her mind. Maybe that’s why she was hesitant. Maybe they could come to an agreement about Shilah.

Maybe, maybe, maybe wasn’t easing his frustration
or giving him any concrete answers. And that’s what he needed—answers. He grabbed his hat and headed for the door.

In his secretary’s office, he said, “If you need me, you can reach me on my cell.”

“You’re leaving?” Barbara asked in a shocked tone. “It’s just four o’clock.”

He stopped to stare at her and he didn’t have to say a word.

“Oh, oh, I’m sorry.”

“If Kid or Chance is looking for me, tell them I’ll see them in the morning. Early.”

“Yes, sir.”

The August heat was suffocating. Sweat peppered his skin and he turned up the air-conditioning full blast. The Houston traffic was crazy this time of day and it took all of his concentration to navigate through it. Finally he hit U.S. 290 and sped toward home.

He should have called Jessie, but he was sure she was there. What else did she have to do?

When he reached the entrance, he had a funny feeling in his stomach. He couldn’t explain it. It was just an uneasiness.

At the garages, he slammed on the brakes. Mirry shot out of the open doors and Rosa ran after her, shouting something. It was too late, though. The Dobermans were on Mirry.

Shit! Cadde reached for his Smith & Wesson pistol in the console. He never used the gun, but Roscoe had insisted he carry one. Jumping out, he jammed the clip in place. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a move
ment. Jessie was flying toward the dogs. One Doberman’s teeth latched around Mirry’s neck in a death grip. The other one leaped into the air, trying to snatch Mirry from him. Felix lumbered behind Jessie, firing a rifle. The loud blast didn’t faze them. The dogs never let go of their prey and Jessie never paused in her flight to save Mirry.

“No, Jessie, no,” he screamed.

The Dobermans had tasted blood. They’d kill her.

“J
ESSIE
!” A
S
C
ADDE SCREAMED
her name, a growling Doberman leaped for her, knocking her down, his teeth digging into her neck. Jessie struggled to get away, her arms flailing at the dog.

Cadde bolted forward, blood pounding in his ears. He had to fire without hitting Jessie. Seconds ticked by like minutes. The dog flung his head, snarling, trying to lock his powerful jaws into her skin, but was unable to because Jessie was fighting with everything in her. When he got a clear shot, he pulled the trigger at pointblank range. The Doberman writhed and lay limp. He swung to the other one and fired again. The dog jerked and then dropped backward. Dead. Mirry fell to the ground, unmoving, covered in blood.

An unnerving and gut-wrenching silence followed the gunshots. He quickly laid the gun on the grass and knelt by Jessie’s still body. Her face was so white, her scattered dark hair making it look even paler. Teeth marks oozed blood on her neck. “Jessie.” His voice came out sounding hoarse. Was she dead? She couldn’t be. She was fighting just a second ago. Oh, God!

Felix and Rosa fell down beside her.

“My
niña.
My
niña!
” Rosa cried.

Felix was silent, but his hands shook on the rifle.

Cadde reached for the soft skin under her hair, and in that moment, he knew Jessie meant more to him than a business deal. He didn’t have time to analyze the thought, nor did he want to. Like Felix, his hand shook, but he felt a pulse—a strong one. She was alive. Relief eased the grip on his heart.

“Rosa, let me have your apron.” He had to stop the bleeding.

Rosa whipped it off and he looped it around Jessie’s neck and applied pressure. The cotton soaked up the blood immediately. “Get some towels. We have to go to an E.R.”

Rosa flew to the house and Felix asked, “What can I do?”

“Pray.”

As he continued to apply pressure, Jessie stirred, muttering, “Mir-ry.”

“Lie still,” he instructed.

“Mirry.” Jessie pushed against him and sat up, looking at the dead Dobermans on the green summer grass. Her gaze searched for the little dog and then she found her. “Oh, my God! Mirry!”

“Jessie, no!” He tried to block her view, but Jessie tore away and crawled on her hands and knees to the bloody mess. Cadde realized he couldn’t stop her. He couldn’t shield her from the pain. His heart stopped at the actual thought that he wanted to.

She scooped up Mirry and cradled her against her chest. “Mirry, I’m sorry. Mirry.” She rocked to and fro and his heart took another hit.

Rushing back with an armful of towels, Rosa halted when she saw Jessie and Mirry. Tears welled in her eyes.

Cadde stood, taking them from her. He knelt by Jessie once again and looped a towel over Mirry in her arms.

Wrapping it around the bloody dog, Jessie said, “Call Gavin.”

He pushed hair from her face. “You’ve been hurt. We have to go to an E.R.”

“No.” She tried to pull away from him. “Felix, call Gavin.”

Cadde shook his head at Felix. He was sure the dog was dead, but how did he tell her? There were no words to ease her pain.

Jessie staggered to her feet and reached down for the phone that had fallen out of her pocket. Jerking it out of her hand would be too cruel so he let her make the call.

“Gavin, Mirry’s been hurt. I’m bringing her in.”

What? She wasn’t driving. He did the only thing he could. He lifted her into his arms and rushed to his truck.

“Cadde, put me down. I can drive.”

Oh, yeah, she was back and in full fighting mode. God, she was one stubborn woman.

Felix held the passenger door open. Cadde placed Jessie on the seat and buckled her seat belt.

Rosa wrapped more towels around the bloody dog in Jessie’s arms. She stroked Jessie’s face. “Listen to Mr. Cadde, please.”

“Rosa.” Jessie’s voice cracked.

“I’m sorry, my
niña.
Mirry was making those funny sounds when she has to go to pee. I opened the door to call you and she shot out. I couldn’t stop her. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Jessie murmured.

He closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. “Take care of those dogs, Felix.”

“Yes, sir. I will. Just look after Miss Jessie.”

Backing out, he glanced at her sitting there covered in blood and looking so forlorn. Mirry was something she poured her love into, just like she would a baby.
Someone to love.
She’d told him that yesterday. Had it only been yesterday? Seemed as if they’d more than discovered each other in a few short hours. But maybe they’d already known the important stuff—the stuff that counted.

“We’re going to Gavin’s,” she said.

“Jessie.”

“Mirry needs a vet.”

Once again he couldn’t tell her what he suspected. He had to pamper her so she could accept the truth.

“Okay. Okay.” He turned onto the blacktop road that led to U.S. 290. “We’ll take Mirry to Gavin and then we’re going to the emergency room.”

She didn’t answer and he recognized the tactic—the one that tested his patience. Every time he tried to talk to her about a board meeting, she employed the silent technique. And that meant Jessie was going to do exactly what she wanted. She might not know her mother, but she’d certainly inherited a lot of Roscoe’s traits.

“Oh, oh, oh,” Jessie squealed.

“What? Are you hurting?”

“I feel a heartbeat, Cadde,” she cried excitedly. “She’s alive!”

“Are you sure?” He didn’t think that was possible.

“Give me your hand.”

She took his right hand while he steered with his left and put it beneath the towel on the bloody, damp fur. “Just wait a second,” she said, and he felt a faint throb against his fingers.

“Hot damn, there is a heartbeat.”

“Yes! Hurry! Hurry!” Her eyes met his and a closeness, a newness passed between them. They’d connected. Out of this horrible dark day the glimpse of sunshine was blinding.

He swerved in and out of traffic as she gave directions. Gavin’s clinic wasn’t far from downtown in a renovated house on a corner off Montrose. Before he could turn off the engine in a parking area, Jessie unbuckled her seat belt and got out. He followed. A man with sandy-blond hair and blue eyes opened the door.

Gavin looked at Jessie covered in blood. “What happened?”

“The Dobermans attacked Mirry.”

“Oh, my God!” Gavin rubbed Jessie’s shoulder. That was just a little too friendly to Cadde’s way of thinking. Or he could be overacting.

“One attacked Jessie, too. She needs to go to an emergency room.”

“What!” Gavin paled, and Cadde could see there was more than concern on his face.

“Gavin, this is my…husband, Cadde.” She paused
before
husband
and he wondered why. Was there something between the vet and Jessie?

“Nice to meet you.” They shook hands and Cadde realized he was taller than Gavin. Why did that please him? He wasn’t in high school.

Gavin turned back to Jessie. “I’m sorry. I should have come out there today, but your…husband is right. You need to see a doctor.” Again with the pause before
husband.
What was it with these two?

“I’m fine,” Jessie said, and lifted the bundle in her arms. “But Mirry is not.”

“Bring her inside.” They made their way into a sterile-looking room with a stainless-steel examining table. Jessie laid her bundle on it. Her T-shirt was soaked with blood and Rosa’s apron was still looped around her neck.

Gavin partially removed the towel. “Oh, Jessie. That dog did a number on Mirry. Her neck is chewed severely and there are long gashes on her body that’ll need stitching. I’ll do X-rays and anesthetize her to deal with her injuries. There also might be some internal bleeding. I’ll have to keep her in the clinic for a few days to monitor her.”

“But she’s going to make it?”

“You know I’ll do my best.” Gavin patted her arm again. “Noel,” he called.

A young college student came in.

“Take Mirry and flush her wounds. I’ll start an IV shortly.”

“Yes, sir.” The boy gathered the bloody dog and disappeared into another room.

Gavin pushed the stained apron aside. “One of those bites looks deep. Go see a doctor with…”

“Her husband. Cadde Hardin.” The words came out before he could stop them.

Jessie glared at him, and it seemed as if Gavin had more to say. “I didn’t realize you lived with Jessie.”

“I do,” Cadde stated clearly, and a palpable tension crept into the room like a mosquito everyone wanted to swat.

Jessie stepped between them. “I don’t want to leave Mirry.”

“She’ll be out.” Gavin’s gaze slowly shifted back to Jessie. “She won’t know if you’re here or not and she’s in a lot of pain.”

“Oh.” Jessie put a hand to her mouth.

“I’ll sedate her to keep her comfortable,” Gavin assured her. “Now go.”

“I’ll call as soon as I get out of the E.R.,” Jessie blurted out as Cadde led her away.

In the truck, Jessie said, “Sometimes you can be rude.”

“And sometimes you can be stubborn. Damn stubborn. Over-the-top stubborn.” He sucked in a breath while darting through traffic. “How long have you known this guy?”

“Five or six years. I met him at a fundraiser for the Houston SPCA. I had a horse then and he came to look at her hoof even though he’s a small-animal vet.”

“I’ll bet. I’d say he has a thing for you.”

“We’re friends. That’s it.” He could feel her eyes
pinned on him like an AK-47 and she was fixing to fire off a few rounds.

“Then why did you pause before
husband?
”

“I…I…”

“What have you told him about me? About our marriage?”

“He knows it was an arranged marriage, okay?”

“If you wanted a child so much, why didn’t you ask Gavin?”

“I’m not married to Gavin!” she shouted. “If you want to fight, Cadde, we’ll fight.” She leaned her head against the headrest. “But I’m so tired.”

He felt like a heel. She’d been through a traumatic experience and he was grilling her like a jealous man.

The stress of the day was finally catching up with her. She deflated like a balloon, all her energy gone. He sped toward Ben Taub Hospital. It took about an hour in the emergency room. They called Gavin to get the immunization status of the Dobermans. Their shots were up-to-date so there was no rabies scare.

The doctor said Jessie was fine. Removing her bloody T-shirt and bra, she slipped on a hospital gown. Jessie was docile through the whole thing, which must have been a first. They cleaned the bites and the doctor reported the dog’s teeth hadn’t hit a vein and hadn’t damaged a muscle. But one bite was a gash that he was afraid would open. He numbed the right side of her neck and put a stitch in and added two strips of surgical tape, hoping it wouldn’t leave a noticeable scar.

He gave her an antibiotic injection and something to help her rest. He told her she needed to follow up
with her doctor so the wounds could be watched for infection.

Leaving the hospital, he could see the shot was already beginning to affect Jessie. She yawned and snuggled into the seat. Since he knew she would insist on seeing Mirry first thing in the morning, he took her to the apartment. It was closest. Jessie didn’t resist.

On the ride up in the elevator, she said in a sleepy voice, “I have to call Gavin.”

“Let’s wait a minute.” Once inside, he handed her his phone. Hers was either in the truck or on the ground at the house.

She punched in Gavin’s number. She knew it by heart so she must have called him often. That relationship still puzzled him. After a moment, she clicked off and gave him the phone.

“Mirry’s out of surgery and resting comfortably. Gavin said the Doberman almost bit off her neck. He had to do a lot of repair work and now we wait to see if she’ll survive. Oh, my poor Mirry.” She sagged against him and began to cry low pitiful sounds.

He held her. “She’ll make it.” He stroked soft unbelievably smooth skin through the opening on the back of the gown. Just when his emotions were spiraling in another direction, she pulled away.

“What am I wearing?”

“A hospital gown.”

“Where’s my T-shirt and bra?” She felt her breasts and he tried to look anywhere but at the rounded flesh pushing against the cotton. He failed.

He exhaled. “The nurse threw them out. They were ruined with blood stains.”

“Oh.”

“Come on. You’re asleep on your feet.” He led her down the hall and flipped on the lights. Pulling back the brown comforter and tan sheet, he guided her forward. She plopped onto the side of the four-poster bed, her chin bobbing on her chest.

He knelt in front of her and removed her blood-spotted sneakers.

She raised her head. “I’ve always wondered about the women you brought here.”

“Have you?” He glanced into her sleep-filled eyes.

“Mmm. Now I’m here.”

“You’re my wife,” he said, puzzling himself. But he never imagined she thought of him at all. Much less whom he dated before their marriage.

She scrunched up her face. “Does that make a difference?”

That didn’t require an answer because he had a feeling she wasn’t aware of what she was saying or asking.

“We have to get your jeans off,” he told her. “Lie down. It might be easier.”

“Okeydokey.” She leaned back, her arms above her head.

He meant for her to help him, but evidently that wasn’t going to happen. Undoing the button and zipper, he said. “Raise your hips.”

“Okeydokey.” She lifted her hips.

What was in that medication the doctor had given her? She wasn’t acting like prim and proper Jessie. He
yanked from the hem and they slipped off. She wore white bikini panties with a lace trim. Somehow he knew they’d be white, not that he’d thought about it. Much.

“Get straight in the bed.”

“Where’s the bed?”

He smiled, feeling cocky that he’d seen Jessie with her guard down, no defense or attitude anywhere in sight. “You’re on it,” he replied, and helped her to scoot under the sheet.

“Cadde,” she murmured.

He pushed her hair away from her face, his fingers lingering for a moment on the taped skin on her neck. Thank God he’d gotten there in time. “Sweet dreams, Jessie.”