The Texan's Secret (17 page)

Chance watched his brother. “You’re not that inconsiderate.”

He took a swallow of his iced tea. “Okay. I’m having a hard time with Jessie. When Roscoe made his wishes known, she’d didn’t object or get angry. She accepted the marriage. But now it’s very clear she’s upset.”

“Well, big brother, you need to talk to your wife.”

“Yeah.” Cadde twisted his plastic cup. “If she hadn’t signed off on the deal, I would have done something.”

“Mmm.” Marriage wasn’t supposed to be a business
arrangement. Cadde was going to have to bend, and Chance knew that would be hard for him.

“When are you going to find a place?”

Chance leaned back and stretched his sore arm. “A Realtor sent over some listings, but I haven’t had time to look at them.” His whole world had fallen apart and he couldn’t have cared less. But now…

They carried their iced tea into the living room. “Is it serious with Shay?” Cadde asked, easing onto the sofa.

“Very,” he replied, unable to keep the grin from his face.

“That was fast. You’ve only known her—”

Kid burst through the door, interrupting them.

“Haven’t got that knocking thing down, have you?” Chance asked.

“Don’t start with the manners lecture,” he told him, and stepped over Cadde’s long legs to sit on the sofa.

“There are bruises on my chest and legs,” Cadde commented. “The doctor said it was from the straps of the medical cage, that I’m guessing was tightened by the two of you.”

Kid bumped Cadde’s shoulder with his fist. “Yep. We made sure you weren’t coming out of that thing. You can thank us any time.”

“Have you seen these bruises?”

The phone connected to Cadde’s office rang, preventing him from displaying his boo-boos. Chance hit the speaker button. “What is it, Barbara?”

“There are two policemen here. They want to see the CEO of Shilah Oil.”

“What do they want?” Cadde asked.

“They didn’t say.”

“I’ll be right there.” Cadde stood and stared at Kid. “What have you done?”

Kid looked at Chance, who stared back. Confession time.

Kid ran his hands down the thighs of his jeans. “Now, Cadde, you’re going to laugh at this.”

“I’m not laughing now.”

“Okay.” He shrugged. “I landed the chopper in the hospital parking lot.”

“What?”

“You were bleeding to death and we couldn’t get clearance for the pad in time, so I landed it where I could. I’d do it again to save your sorry ass.”

Chance could see the laughter bubbling up in Cadde’s eyes. “You landed the chopper in a parking lot? A chopper that has Shilah Oil written on it bigger than Dallas?”

“Yep,” Kid answered.

Cadde burst out laughing, which was very rare. He was always so focused, so serious.

Sobering quickly, he added, “Well, boys, let’s go talk to the cops, and for Kid’s sake, I hope they’re both women.”

O
NLY ONE OF THE OFFICERS
was a woman. She stood six feet tall and looked as though she could bench-press Kid without a problem.

Cadde took a seat, but the officers in blue, Chance and Kid all remained standing.

“Mr. Hardin,” the male officer said to Cadde. “The E.R. people confirmed yesterday that you’d been injured. We went back to the hospital this morning to speak with you, but you had gone.”

“I was released.”

“The hospital doesn’t have a record of that.”

“Well, let’s just say I left voluntarily.”

The officer pulled a small notebook from his shirt pocket. “We have a report of a Shilah Oil helicopter landing in Memorial Hermann’s parking lot early yesterday afternoon.”

“I was piloting the aircraft.” Kid spoke up. “My brother was bleeding to death and I had to get him to a doctor. Since we couldn’t get clearance for the pad, I landed wherever I could.”

“That was very dangerous, Mr. Hardin.”

“I made sure no one was in the way and that I had room to land the craft.”

“It’s illegal to land in a business area parking lot,” the female officer told him.

“Ah, ma’am.” Kid walked closer to her and Chance groaned inwardly. “My brother was hurt and I didn’t know what else to do.”

He gazed into her eyes like a puppy waiting for a bone. How did Kid do that so easily?

“That’s understandable,” the woman replied, her eyes never leaving his.

“It’s illegal,” the male officer reminded her.

“You know what’s illegal?” Kid’s tone was sharp, and Chance knew a whole lot of attitude was about to fly out of his mouth.

Chance grabbed a fistful of his brother’s shirt from the back and squeezed, reminding him who he was talking to.

“It’s that killer smile of yours.” Kid switched gears and turned back to the woman, his charm on full blast. She seemed to wither.

“Stick to business, Mr. Hardin,” the male officer snapped, shoving the notebook back into his pocket. “Under the circumstances I’m not going to cite you for an unauthorized landing. Next time use the pad.”

Chance had the feeling Kid was going to salute, but he couldn’t, because Chance still held his shirt tight.

The two officers walked to the door. The woman smiled back at Kid.

“Now that would be an unauthorized landing,” Kid remarked when the door closed. “And let go of my damn shirt.”

All three brothers burst out laughing.

“I’m waiting for the day when you grow up,” Cadde said. “I’ve given up hope that it will be anytime soon.”

“He was all grown up on that derrick,” Chance said. “If you’ll look closely at the video, you might see a tear or two in his eyes.”

“There was not,” Kid exclaimed, flopping into a chair and resting his boots on Cadde’s desk.

There was silence for a moment, and then Cadde said, “I appreciate what both of you did. Thank you.”

Kid rubbed his eyes in jest. “Now I am going to tear up.”

“That’s a no-no,” Cadde reminded him. “Dad said men don’t cry.”

“Yeah.” Chance rubbed his hands together. “Another one of his senseless beliefs.”

“Let’s don’t talk about Dad,” Kid pleaded. “I get flashes of white anger when we do.”

“Let it go, Kid,” Chance said. “I have.”

“Have you, really?” He lifted an eyebrow in disbelief.

“I’m not living with that bitterness anymore.”

“We still don’t know who the woman was,” Cadde mused.

“What difference would it make?” Chance asked. A day didn’t go by that he didn’t think about the woman who’d torn his parents apart. He was getting better at pushing those thoughts away, though. He was happy with Shay and he didn’t want the past to invade their relationship.

Cadde’s phone buzzed and Barbara’s voice came on. “Mr. Hardin, Thaddeus Jones is here to see you.”

“Send him in,” Cadde said.

Kid jumped up and opened the door. “Thaddeus T-Bone Jones, where in the hell have you been keeping yourself?”

T-Bone was an old friend of their father’s. They’d both started working in the oil fields when they were eighteen, and had become friends, best friends. T-Bone had eaten at their dinner table many a night. The man was now a little older, a lot grayer, and a sight for sore eyes in worn jeans, a Western shirt and boots. He leaned heavily on a cane.

“Mostly at home in Giddings,” T-Bone answered. “I’m getting too old to traipse around those oil fields making money for the big man.” He glanced about. “Ain’t this something? I’m impressed. Ol’ Chuck would be proud. His boys are in the oil business.” He paused. “I saw Cadde dangling like hang down sausage on the TV, and I had to come and see for myself, since I was in Houston for a checkup. Had knee surgery a few months back.”

“How are you doing?” Chance shook his hand. “Have a seat.”

T-Bone squinted at him. “Is that you, Chance? My God, you’ve grown into a tall sucker. You were knee high to a grasshopper when I last saw you.”

“That was when you came to visit us at Aunt Etta’s after the funeral.”

“Yep.” T-Bone eased into a chair, placing the cane beside him. “Sad, sad day when we lost ol’ Chuck.”

“We lost our mom, too,” Chance reminded him.

“Yep. Didn’t make ’em better than Carol.” T-Bone
glanced at Cadde and Cadde stood to shake the man’s hand. “So you’re the big man now? You’re filling Roscoe’s shoes?”

“I’m giving it a whirl.”

“Chuck always said that you would make it one day, and Kid and Chance would follow you. Guess he was right.”

“Yeah,” Kid said with a smirk. “We follow him around like two little puppies.”

“Still quick-witted.” T-Bone laughed.

“Dim-witted is more like it,” Cadde said under his breath, and sat on the edge of his desk facing T-Bone. “We were just talking about Dad.”

Chance knew exactly where Cadde was going. T-Bone had known their father better than anyone, and if he’d had a mistress T-Bone would know. Why hadn’t Chance thought of it before? T-Bone could have the answers to all his tormented questions.

His stomach roiled with uneasiness. It was as if he didn’t want to know the truth anymore, which was ridiculous. It would give them some sort of peace.

“Fine man,” T-Bone muttered.

“Does a fine man cheat on his wife?” Cadde asked.

T-Bone drew back, affronted. “Why would you ask something like that?”

“Because Dad was cheating on Mom,” Chance told him, unable to hold the words in. “You see, T-Bone, I was sleeping in the backseat of the car that night, but Mom and Dad screaming at each other woke me up. He said he was in love with someone else and he was
leaving High Cotton and his family behind.” Chance took a breath. “Who was the woman?”

“Now, Chance, your father was a good man.”

“Who was she?” Chance shouted. “How did he meet her?”

T-Bone fiddled with his cane and then said in a low tone, “He met her in Giddings.”

“She was from around High Cotton?” Kid asked.

“No.” The older man shook his head. “She was from Houston, but she was working in the diner for some reason. I don’t know why.” He heaved a sigh and clasped his hands on the cane. “Chuck and I stopped in there for lunch one day. Your mom was busy doing something at the school for you boys. When the waitress heard Chuck was from High Cotton, she latched on to him, pressing up against him, asking questions. She was a pretty thing, blonde and curvy. I told Chuck he’d better be careful, and he said it didn’t hurt to look.”

“But it turned into something more?” Chance asked in a voice he didn’t recognize.

“Yeah. She wouldn’t leave him alone. She kept calling, and I know Carol was getting suspicious.”

That’s why his mom had talked to Renee. She knew her husband was cheating, but she didn’t want to face it. Son of a bitch! Anger coiled through him.

“Who was she?” he shouted again.

“Now, Chance, you’re getting angry for no reason. The past is done. Let it go.”

“Who was she?” he asked in a calmer voice.

T-Bone studied his cane for a moment. “Jack’s ex.”

Chance suddenly lost his voice. He couldn’t mean…

“Jack who?” Kid asked the question Chance couldn’t articulate.

“Jack Calhoun’s ex, Blanche Dumont.”

If the floor had opened up and swallowed him, Chance wouldn’t have been more shocked.
Blanche Dumont. Shay’s mother.
It couldn’t be.

Cadde watched him for a second, then turned back to T-Bone. “She was older than Dad.”

“By a few years,” T-Bone answered. “But she was still a looker.”

“What happened next?” Kid asked. “Did she have an apartment or something where he visited her?”

“In the beginning, I guess, but I went into the diner one day to see if I could talk her into leaving him alone. Ed said she didn’t work there anymore. Evidently Jack had sent her a message through his foreman, Harland. She could leave Giddings of her own free will or she could leave in a coffin. It was her choice. Ed said she left on a bus that afternoon.”

“Did Dad follow her?” Cadde asked.

“Oh, yeah, she made sure he did. She called and told him where she lived. Every chance he got he was at her house. He spent long weekends with her, telling Carol he was working overtime.”

“Why didn’t you stop him?” Chance yelled. “You were his best friend. He listened to you.”

“Don’t you think I tried?” T-Bone raised his voice for the first time. “She had her hooks into him and nothing I said mattered. He just wanted her.” T-Bone pushed himself to his feet. “I’m sorry, boys. I really am.”

“We know,” Cadde assured him. “It’s just a little hard for us to understand.”

“When Chuck met her, he changed into someone I didn’t know. He wasn’t the same ol’ fun-loving guy.” T-Bone shuffled to the door. “I’m real proud of you boys, and as I said, Chuck would be, too. Try to remember the dad you loved. The man who wrestled with you in the backyard, taught you how to throw a ball and helped you with your FFA projects. I mean, you don’t take a steer to the Houston Fat Stock Show and win grand prize without someone teaching you something along the way.”

“Somehow those moments don’t mean a thing when your dad runs out on you.” Kid spoke the words that were in Chance’s heart. “It tarnishes them in a way I can’t explain.”

T-Bone nodded in understanding. “Try to find some peace, boys, because you can’t go forward if you keep looking back. Good luck in the oil business.”

They shook hands and T-Bone left.

The three of them stood lost in their thoughts.

Chance shoved his hands into his jeans pockets, looking out at the busy metropolis of Houston. Blanche, Shay’s mother, was his father’s lover. He had a hard time grasping that.

“Chance.”

He turned to Cadde.

“Did you ever see Blanche when you were visiting Shay?”

“No. She’s bedridden. I asked once to meet her,
but Shay said she didn’t like people seeing her in her condition.”

“Or she was keeping you two apart,” Kid suggested.

“Shay doesn’t know,” he said. “If she did, she would have told me. She wouldn’t keep something like that from me.”

“Are you sure?” Kid pressed.

“Shut up, Kid.”

“You’re not sure. That’s why you’re angry.”

“Kid…”

Cadde got between them. “Leave Chance alone. He has to sort this out on his own and deal with it.”

“And I will.” He headed for the door and didn’t look back. He had to see Shay and couldn’t wait until six.

For years, not knowing the truth had tortured him. Now that he knew who the woman was, he was still tortured. Nothing seemed to ease the pain of that awful night. Would it haunt him for the rest of his life? Shay was the only one who could ease the turmoil inside him.

H
E PARKED AT
Shay’s house behind a white Honda Civic. Obviously, she had company. As he made his way to the door, it opened and a woman came out.

“Good afternoon,” she said pleasantly.

He tipped his hat. “Good afternoon.”

“I’m the Home Health attendant and I was just leaving. Are you here to see Blanche?”

“Yes,” he replied. It was time he met the lady. He walked inside and closed the door. Shay had to be still working, because the house was very quiet. He headed
down a hallway. Two bedrooms were on the left and a third on the right, the door was partially closed. Removing his hat, he pushed it opened and stepped inside.

A frail woman with white hair lay propped up in the bed, looking through a photo album. Oxygen tubing was fixed in her nose. Her beauty had long faded and her face was lined with smoker’s wrinkles. This wasn’t a seductress, a temptress. This was a dying woman. Chance wanted to say something but words failed him.

Blanche closed the album. “You look so much like your father.” Her voice was raspy.

“You knew him well?”

“Oh, yes. He was madly in love with me. All men are.”

Chance was taken aback at her boldness, and any sympathy for her vanished. “Why did you have to take him away from his family?”

“He was bored to death with that little mouse he was married to.”

Chance crushed the rim of his hat in his hand, almost wanting to hit the woman.

“My mother was a beautiful, loving, caring person—someone you could never be.”

“Oh, please. Her three-meals-a-day, clean-the-house type personality bored Chuck to death. He craved excitement, and that’s what I gave him.”

“Mom!” Shay stood in the doorway.

Chance saw the shock and the sadness in her green eyes. In that instant he knew that she knew. She’d known all along that her mother had been his father’s mistress. And she hadn’t told him. She hadn’t said a
word, just kept leading him on, letting him think they had a future. His heart stopped and it took a moment before he could catch his breath, a moment before he could accept that what he thought was real was as fake as the woman lying in the bed.

“Oh, Shay,” Blanche said. “Mr. Hardin has come for a visit.”

“Chance, please, could I talk to you outside?” Shay begged.

“No.” He shook his head. “You had plenty of time to talk to me before now. I want the truth and your mother has no qualms about speaking her mind.”

“Chance…”

He turned back to Blanche. “My dad wasn’t rich. What was it about him that made you take him away from his family?”