Rodeo Reunion (10 page)

Lorraine gurgled at her over Brant's shoulder as the elevator stopped, the doors slid open and Brant launched down the hall.

“Lorraine, tell your daddy to slow down so I can keep up.”

“Sorry, but we miss Mama. Don't we, Lorraine? We had three months—just the three of us—spending every moment together except for concert time. I can't get used to her being gone all day.”

“She loves this.” Raquel scanned the upscale office complex. “And she's only here three days a week.”

“I know. And I'm proud of everything she's accomplished. I'll get used to it.”

Tori's no-nonsense secretary looked up from her desk with a pleasant smile. “Mr. McConnell, how nice to see you.”

“Thanks, you too. Could you tell Tori we're here?”

“I'm sorry, but she left about half an hour ago.”

“She did? Did she say where she was going?”

“No, but she asked me to clear her schedule and said she wouldn't be back in until Wednesday.”

“Maybe she missed y'all, too.” Raquel shrugged. “And decided to meet us at the restaurant.”

“Maybe. I'll give her a call. Thanks, Carol.”

They headed back toward the elevator, but Brant stopped before they got there. “She's not answering.”

“Text her.”

“Can you? Somebody's getting wiggly.” Brant blew a zerbert on Lorraine's arm, sending the baby into a fit of giggles.

“Sure.” Raquel pushed buttons on her phone. “‘Still on for lunch? We're at your office.'” She read her message aloud.

Seconds passed.

“Nothing?” Brant frowned.

“Give her a minute.”

“This isn't like her.”

“It's her first day back. She's not in the swing of things yet. Maybe she forgot and took a client to lunch or something.”

“Maybe.” Brant vaulted back to Carol's desk. “Was Tori alone when she left?”

“Yes, sir.”

“She didn't mention meeting anyone?”

“Just you for lunch, but that was early this morning.”

“Did she meet with anyone who might have changed her plans?”

“There was that guy.” Carol's gaze dropped to her desk.

“What guy?” Raquel frowned.

“Let me find his name. I wrote it down.” Carol flipped through the pad on her desk. “He made me nervous.”

“Why?” Worry sounded in Brant's voice.

“Because he was nervous. He didn't have an appointment, but he acted like he was going to stay until she saw him. Here it is—Slade Walker.”

“Slade Walker was here?” Brant growled.

“I wanted to call security.” Carol winced. “But Tori agreed to see him. She told me to call and check with her in two minutes. I did, but she said she was fine.”

Why had Slade been nervous? Raquel's stomach tilted. Why had he insisted on seeing Tori? Could Raquel be wrong about him?

“She didn't leave with him.” Carol shook her head. “He only stayed in her office about five minutes and then he left. She left about twenty minutes later.”

“Did she seem okay?”

“She seemed—” Carol's eyes narrowed as she searched for the right word “—rattled.”

Brant wheeled back toward the elevator and Raquel practically ran to keep up.

“Where are you going?”

“To find my wife. I knew I was right about him. If he touched her, I'll rattle his teeth.”

Lorraine whimpered in his arms.

“If he touched her, I imagine she rattled his teeth. Now hush. You're upsetting Lorraine. Here, let me have her.” Raquel stopped him long enough to take the baby from him. “It's okay, sweetie.”

But even as she soothed her niece, her heart pounded. Had Slade made moves on Tori? Could Raquel really be that wrong about him?

Her phone buzzed as they stepped in the elevator with three men in suits. A message. She pushed the button to retrieve it. From Tori.

“She just texted me this. ‘I'm so sorry. Forgot all about lunch. Tell Brant not to worry. I'll be home in a while.'”

Brant jabbed buttons on his phone, pressed it to his ear and waited. “Where are you?” he barked.

The men in suits looked up at Brant.

Calm down
, Raquel mouthed.

“I was just worried.” Brant lowered his voice. “Carol said Slade was in your office today.”

Raquel's heart continued to pound.

“Okay.” Brant's jaw tensed. “Yeah. I'll see you at home. Yeah, Lorraine's fine.” He hung up and shoved the phone in his pocket.

The elevator stopped on the second floor and the suits got off.

“What?”

“She said not to worry about Slade. It wasn't what I think and that she'll tell me all about it when I get home.”

“So where is she?”

“Said she's at the grocery store and she'll be home soon. But we just went grocery shopping yesterday.”

“Maybe she forgot something.”

“Does Slade have a big dog?”

“Yes. Why?”

The elevator stopped and Raquel put it in high gear to keep up with Brant.

“Because I heard a big dog bark.”

“You don't think she's at Slade's?”

“That's exactly what I think.” They exited the building.

“Why would you think that?” Raquel whispered. “Tori would never cheat on you. She loves you.”

“I know that and I trust her, but I don't trust Slade. What if he lurked around until she left and took her against her will?”

“Okay, maybe I was wrong. Maybe Slade does have a thing for your wife. But he's no Russ Dawson. I think I'm an accurate enough judge of character to know that Slade wouldn't kidnap Tori.”

“Then why did my wife just lie to me?”

They reached Brant's truck and got in.

“Just because you heard a dog bark and Slade has one doesn't mean she's there. Maybe she was in the parking lot at the grocery store.”

“We'll see.” Brant started the engine.

And Raquel's pulse continued to race.

Tori would never cheat on Brant, and Raquel couldn't imagine Slade forcing a woman to do anything against her will. Besides, Tori knew self-defense. But what was going on?

Please, Lord, let Slade be the gentle soul he seems to be. Let this whole thing be a misunderstanding, and most of all, let Tori be okay.

A
gentle March breeze wafted through the air, fluttering the paternity test results as Slade handed them to Tori.

Sitting on his porch steps with his sister while Blizzard and Flurry roamed the yard. The sister he hadn't known he had until six months ago. Surreal.

“So you don't know anything about our father?” Tori handed the paper back to him.

“A little. Once I saw the lawyer and learned who my father was, I searched his name on Google and read a few articles. Mostly about his career—the highs and lows, the rehab, several comebacks.”

“And the fans rode the roller coaster right along with him.” Tori rolled her eyes. “They never gave up on him.”

“What about you? Did you give up on him?”

“Slim Easton may have been my father.” Tori's tone turned bitter. “But he was never a father. He was rarely home and when he was, he beat my mother mercilessly.”

Slade winced. “I didn't know. Did he hurt you?”

“Not physically. But words do hurt. He never had anything good to say about anyone—including me.”

“I'm sorry.”

“Yeah. Me too.” She cleared her throat. “I'm sorry you finally found out who your father was and you ended up with Slim Easton. What about your mom?”

“She was a drug addict and an alcoholic.” He tried to keep his tone matter-of-fact. Even after all these years, his mother's neglect still hurt. “My grandparents got custody of me when I was seven. She showed up every once in a while over the years, usually wanting money, until she overdosed five years ago.”

“Both your parents overdosed. I'm so sorry.”

“Yeah. Me too.” Slade shrugged. “We keep saying that.”

“Not much else to say when Slim Easton's your dad. I know as a Christian, I'm supposed to forgive him, but I'm still praying about that.” Tori blew out a big breath. “So how did you find out about me? Did Mr. Lancaster tell you?”

“No. When I was researching on the internet, I found our father's obituary. Your name was still Eaton then, so I did a Google search for you and found your wedding announcement.”

“So why did it take you so long to tell me the truth?” She plucked an Indian paintbrush and twisted the wildflower stem around her finger until the vibrant orange-red petals graced her hand like a ring.

“To be honest, I tried to forget it—at first.” He closed his eyes. “But I couldn't seem to stop thinking about you. So I took a break from my rodeo chaplain ministry and came here to Aubrey to see what would happen.”

“I'm glad you did.”

“Me too. I always dreamed of having a normal family—with a mom and dad and siblings. I always especially wanted a younger sister.”

“From the looks of those test results, I've got a year on you, so make that a big sister.” She playfully bumped him with her elbow. “What got you into being a rodeo chaplain?”

“God.”

“Duh?” Tori laughed. “But why not a church? Why rodeo?”

“I was drowning in self-pity after my shoulder injury.” He rubbed his shoulder. Why did talking about it always seem to make it ache? Was it in his head or did it always hurt and he never noticed except when talking about it?

“My baseball career came to a screeching halt and one of our associate pastors at my home church had begun a rodeo ministry, traveling the circuit as a chaplain. His wife had cancer and he needed a replacement. God called me.”

“So you travel Texas preaching at arenas and living out of motels?”

“Actually, I only travel one leg of the circuit in that camper over there. I learned real quick motels add up fast.” He plucked a bluebonnet and handed it to her. He needed to mow his yard soon, but he just couldn't bring himself to mow over the wildflowers just yet. “I've preached in indoor and outdoor arenas, sale barns and barns. I occasionally ride broncs in the rodeo so I can get acquainted with the cowboys and witness to them.”

“And you stopped to find me?” She fashioned the blue flower into a ring on her other hand.

“Partially. I was suffering from burnout—because I was distracted by thinking about you. The travel was wearing on me. My mentor lost his wife a few years ago. He's remarried now and he and his new wife were thinking about going back into the chaplaincy. So it all came together for me to take a sabbatical.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Not the travel part. I love the peacefulness here in Au
brey.” He closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh country air. “And I'm riding in the Stockyards rodeo Saturday night.”

“Really. I'll come watch you.”

“That sounds great. I've never had any family to watch my competitions.”

“Do you still see your grandparents?”

“I visit often. They still live in the Austin area.”

Blizzard finished sniffing and bounded toward them with a faded tennis ball in his mouth and Flurry in pursuit, then dropped it at Slade's feet. Thankfully, his new adoptee had bonded with Blizzard.

“You found your ball, boy.” Slade picked up the slobber-soaked ball and tossed it across the yard. Both dogs bounded after it. Raquel's tomcat shot up one of the crepe myrtle trees.

“Is that Tigger? I don't think I've ever seen him outside Raquel's barn.”

“He gets semibrave occasionally. None of the dogs bother with him, but he stays on high alert—just in case one of them should suddenly decide they want yellow cat for supper. What about you—do you have any family you stay in contact with?”

“My aunt Loretta. She lives in Ponder and took me in after my mom died. Mom was a wonderful, gentle soul, and she did everything she could to shield me from my father.” Her voice cracked.

“Why didn't she leave?”

“I guess he had her so cowed down she was afraid to. Afraid if she went to her family, he'd hurt them, too.”

Blizzard came back and dropped the ball at their feet again. Both dogs trembled as Tori reached to get it, but Brant grabbed her arm.

“It's slobbery. And once you start, it's hard to get him to stop. Let me.” He scooped the ball up.

She grabbed it from him. “I have an almost-six-month-old. I'm used to drool.” Tori threw and Blizzard and Flurry bounded after the ball again.

“At least you had one good parent and I had my grandparents.”

“They were good to you?”

“Wonderful.”

“I had my mom until I was fifteen.” She pinched the fabric of her skirt between her fingers. “She was a fabulous seamstress. All of my clothes were designer quality. In fact, everyone in school always begged me to tell them where I got my clothes. They never believed my mom sewed my clothes and thought I was holding out on some exclusive designer.”

“She taught you to sew?”

“My most treasured memories are with Mom and her sewing machine.” A tear slipped down her cheek and she swiped it away. “My dad came home for a few weeks before my sixteenth birthday.” She breathed out a harsh sigh. “What a gift. He beat Mom up worse than ever before. When I came home the next day, I found her in the bathtub with slashed wrists.”

“Oh, Tori.” Slade put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze.

A truck roared up out of nowhere and turned into his driveway.

“That's Brant.” Tori jerked away from him and stood.

Slade jumped up and hurried to meet his sister's livid husband as the passenger door of the truck opened and Raquel unstrapped Lorraine from her car seat.

Blizzard brought his ball back, but no one threw it for him. He gave up and played keep-away with Flurry.