The Texan's Christmas (10 page)

Kid then pulled Maddie to her feet. “Don’t you dare lick me,” she warned to no avail.

He licked her cheek anyway. “Ah, Maddie, you’re as sweet as a lollipop. I just had to.” She remembered Kid doing that when they were young. Most girls would have slapped him, but Maddie was so good-natured she took Kid’s antics in stride.

“You’re going to hell, Kid Hardin,” she said as they fast-stepped to the music.

“Ah, Maddie, as long as my body goes to heaven.”

The crowd guffawed that.

The song came to an end and Kid kicked the jukebox again. Maddie escaped to her husband. The sounds of “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” by Brooks and Dunn filled the room. Kid jerked Sky to her feet and they linked arms over each other’s shoulders and kicked and scooted to the beat. When Sky reached Cooper she let go and pulled her shocked husband onto the floor. Kid then grabbed Shay and Chance immediately cut in. As the music ended, Kid was left standing alone.

The group got to their feet. Judd slapped Kid on the back. “You were right. We needed some fun tonight.” He lowered his voice. “I’m just hoping I don’t have to sleep on the sofa.”

Cait wrapped an arm around her husband’s waist. “Don’t push it.”

As they made their way to the door, the jukebox came on again without anyone hitting it. Suddenly “A Fire I Can’t Put Out” by George Strait held everyone spellbound. Lucky stopped wiping the bar that was spotless.
Oh, no. Their song.
She raised her head and her eyes locked with Kid’s. His eyes were dark, his expression serious, no laughter in sight. Her stomach knotted and her hands were clammy.
No. No.
She forcefully tried to push the memories away, willing herself to go into the storeroom and lock the door. But all she could do was stare into the eyes of the man who had broken her heart.

“A fire I can’t put out.”

He walked over and held out his hand.

No, no, no!

“Come on, Lucky.” He smiled and without a sane
thought she placed her hand in his. He held her close and they slowly moved to the lovely music. Her body, her traitor, welded into his and everything she wanted to forget was there, raw and new. Powerful. Just like in the barn.

His roughened cheek rested against her forehead and she breathed in the heady scent of him. Unable to stop herself, her fingers stroked the taut muscles of his shoulder. His hand caressed her back. She sighed, and knew beyond a doubt that she was losing her mind.

But he would always be the fire she couldn’t put out.

The melody stopped but they kept moving for a second longer. Clapping broke them apart. The group at the door slowly filed out. Her cheeks burned in embarrassment. Just as she was going to say something, Wilma threw the remains of her beer at Thelma Lou.

“Stay away from my son, bitch,” Wilma screeched.

Lucky stepped between the two women. “Everybody calm down.”

“Momma, what are you doing?” Bubba was outraged.

“Let’s go, boy.” Wilma slid from the stool and staggered. “You need to get away from this trash.”

“I’m gonna punch her senseless.” Thelma made a move toward the older woman and Lucky held her back.

“Let it go.”

Bubba helped his mother to the door. “I’ll take her home and come back to help clean up.”

“I’ll do it,” Kid said. “Take care of your mom.”

Lucky didn’t say anything because she knew it was useless. She couldn’t keep protesting and then falling
into his arms like a besotted teenager. The three of them worked for thirty minutes throwing away cans and bottles, wiping down all the tables and sweeping the floor. She took the money and receipts and shoved them into her bag.

While Thelma Lou was getting her purse, Kid reached for Lucky’s hand across the bar and stroked her palm. Her whole body tingled in awareness.

“Kid.” She had to put a stop to this.

“Don’t say anything.”

She nibbled on her lip, trying to think of something to break the spell she was under. “Your hat’s at the house. Ollie chewed up the rim. Tell me what it cost and I’ll pay you for it.”

“Nah. No need.”

She took a breath and wanted to pull her hand away, but it felt so comfortable in his. “About…what happened in the barn…”

His dark eyes caught hers. “If you’re going to tell me it didn’t mean anything, you’d be lying.”

“Kid.” She sighed. “We can’t keep going down memory lane.”

His thumb gently rubbed against her palm and warm, tantalizing feelings flooded her. “I know you don’t trust me,” he murmured, “but the sentiment of the song we danced to is still valid. You’ll always be my first love and there’s nothing on this earth that will ever douse that.” He kissed her palm and walked out the door.

A tear slipped from her eye as she recognized the truth of his words.

F
OR THE NEXT WEEK
, K
ID
didn’t go inside The Beer Joint or attempt to see Lucky. He was busy helping Cooper and Uncle Ru keep a watch on High Five’s herd. He took the early morning two to six shift. Staying awake at night was no problem for him. It was his thing and that wasn’t something to brag about.

But he made it his business of being at The Joint at twelve to make sure Lucky made it home safely. She never saw him. He thought it best if they had some breathing room. Holding and kissing Lucky had awakened all the old feelings of first love. He didn’t want to hurt her this time and he had to prove to himself that he had the stick-to-itness of forever in him.

He had a lot of time to think—alone in the dark with his conscience and a few hundred head of cattle for company. He hadn’t been on a horse in years, not since he’d cowboyed for Dane, but he got the hang of it quickly. As long as Rusty, his horse, didn’t do any trick moves, Kid was fine. A couple of Cooper’s Australian Blue Heelers, Boots and Booger, followed him as he kept a close eye on the fences bordering roads. A couple of times the dogs shot out after an armadillo rooting in
the grass, but they were never away for long. Soon they were back on duty.

The moon was full and the night had an eerie calm as the ranch land was cloaked in iridescent shadows of darkness—and the unknown. A rifle was in his saddle scabbard and he felt like Clint Eastwood riding the range.

He stopped to listen. Sounds carried a long way out here, but he only heard an occasional cow bellow, a coyote howling, crickets serenading and unusual noises of the harmless nocturnal creatures—no trucks or clanging trailers.

As always, his thoughts turned to Lucky. For her, he had to look deep at his own character, his flaws. He liked the nightlife, the ladies. He couldn’t deny that. But lately he enjoyed spending time with his aunt and uncle, visiting his brothers and their families. The last time he had a date, hell, he couldn’t remember. Probably right before Jacob was born. Nah, it couldn’t be that long. Once his nephew had come into the world, though, a whole new realm of excitement opened up for him.

He could spend an hour watching the expressions change on Jacob’s face. And all the while his own son lay cold in a grave—a son he’d abandoned. He took a deep breath. He was never going to get over that. Another black mark on his soul.

The thing about the past—a person could never go back or relive it. It was done. Over. Now he had to find some peace with Lucky without seducing her.

Ironically, he’d never forgotten Lucky’s smile, her
laugh, her sweet disposition. He’d searched for it in every woman he’d ever dated, in every woman he’d been with. None were right for him because he’d left the perfect woman behind. He remembered telling Chance when he and Shay were having problems that if what Chance felt for Shay was the twenty-four-carat-slip-on-the-left-hand kind then he’d better think twice before throwing it away. Yet, Kid had done that very thing.

He was still blown away by their song coming on when it had the other night. In their teens Bud would sometimes allow them to do their homework in a booth before the bar opened. The songs on the jukebox were old then and Lucky knew how to make them play without putting a quarter in. They’d drink a Coke with peanuts in it and try to focus on their work, but when that song came on, and Bud wasn’t looking, they’d scoot closer. And he wasn’t the only one doing the scooting.

A fire he couldn’t put out.
Kid realized for the first time that he never had extinguished the flames she’d ignited in him. He’d tried. God help him, he’d tried.

His head started to hurt and he saw the sun creeping up over the trees, washing away the darkness with a soft yellow glow.

Kneeing his horse, he galloped toward the barn, the dogs following. He met Uncle Ru saddling up.

“Your aunt is waiting for you at the big house,” Ru said, raising his boot to a stirrup. “We appreciate your help. When you get ready to go back to Houston just say the word.” His uncle shot out of the barn.

Why did everyone think he was leaving? Maybe be
cause he hadn’t been home in years. And when he was, leaving was always on his mind. Like Chance had said, being around wasn’t his thing. There were too many sad memories in High Cotton. The good ones were all linked to Lucky and suddenly he didn’t want to leave—ever.

As he unsaddled his horse, Coop walked in. “Hey, Kid, see anything?”

“Nah, everything was quiet. I think the word has gotten out and the rustlers are lying low.”

“Yeah. I’ve gotten the cameras up and feel a little more secure. We don’t need to do night duty anymore.”

Kid slapped the rump of his horse and he trotted into the corral for feed. “To be honest, and please don’t tell Uncle Ru, but he’s not up for extra duty.”

“Yeah, try telling him that.” Coop squatted to pet the dogs. “Breakfast is waiting for you and thanks for all your help. Just let me know what I owe you.”

Kid leaned against a barn post. “Now, Coop, I’ve given up fighting as of about a week or so ago, but if you offer me money again we’re going to come to blows. Dane Belle was there for the Hardin boys and I’m gonna be here to make sure High Five doesn’t suffer a loss. Besides, I’ve got time on my hands as I try to figure out my messed-up life.”

Coop stood. “Sky told me about Lucky. I’m sorry, man, but you two seemed pretty tight the other night.”

“Just an illusion, my friend.” Kid headed for the house and food. He couldn’t talk about Lucky. Those
emotions were so complicated he had a difficult time explaining them to himself.

He had breakfast with Sky, the kids and Miss Dorie. Aunt Etta rushed around waiting on them. Sky tried to get her to sit down but that was like trying to move a mountain with your bare hands. Aunt Etta loved to feel needed. Kid wasn’t going to try and change her. He loved her just the way she was.

Afterward, he crashed and slept until two, got up, showered and dressed. He spent the afternoon visiting with Jacob and Cody. Then he put on his shorts and sneakers and ran through High Cotton. He stopped several times to talk to friends he hadn’t seen in years. Home was where everyone knew his name. He had never understood Chance’s need to stay in this small country town. He did now.

L
UCKY BRUSHED HER SHORT
blond hair into the stylish cut—the one Kid didn’t like. All week she’d waited for him to show up at the house or The Joint, but he’d done neither. She’d heard through the daily gossip that he was helping Coop to guard his cows. That threw her. That wasn’t like Kid. There was no fun, no party in such tedious labor.

She’d hoped he’d returned to Houston to his job. That way her heart would be safe, unscathed by Kid’s untimely interruption of her life.

Her cell buzzed and she grabbed it from the dresser. “Hi, Travis, any news?”

“Just a couple of calls about suspicious behavior. A
pickup was parked in a lane and someone called it in. Turned out to be a rancher’s daughter necking with her boyfriend.”

Lucky felt a familiar ache in her stomach. How many times had she and Kid done that? Too many to remember. Seemed young girls were still gullible and naive, or maybe just in love. And, like Lucky, they had no idea what love really was beyond the sex.

“The other call—” Travis was saying “—was called in by Thelma Lou Harris. Seems an elderly woman was parked outside her driveway for hours.”

“Wilma Grisley?” The old lady just never gave up.

“You know her?”

“She’s Bubba Joe’s mother.”

“Oh. I notified Walker and this is the third time he’s gotten a call about this. Ms. Harris wanted to press charges, but Walker talked her out of it if Mrs. Grisley stays away from her trailer. It took some doing, but Walker got the older woman to promise to visit her sister for a few days. If he gets another call, he’s going to arrest her.”

“I can’t believe he got her to agree. She’s so afraid Thelma Lou is going to take Bubba away from her. This is good, though. Everyone will have time to cool off.”

“These are not the kind of calls I was hoping for,” Travis mused.

“No news about the rustlers.”

“Not a peep. It’s so quiet it’s scary, but they have to move the stolen cattle and goods soon. I’m just worried
they’re a step ahead of us and they’ve moved the operation out of this county.”

“Mmm. The cowboys haven’t been in for the past two nights. Have you gotten any more information on them?”

“As I told you when I suspected them, they’re cousins. Melvin and Earl are brothers, both divorced and living with their mother in Cameron. Clyde’s married, but he seems to spend very little time at home.”

“Do they go back to Cameron at night?” she asked.

“They head out for U.S. 290, but I’m not sure where they actually go.”

“They said they work cattle for people and Mr. Wallace was in here the other night talking to them. They’d worked for him so that part of their story is true.”

“They worked for Mr. Barton, too. Everything seems legit.”

“We’re missing something, Travis.”

“Yeah. I just can’t put my finger on it.” He paused. “Has Hardin been back?”

Her hand froze on her cell. “No. Why?”

“That was spooky when he asked about undercover agents.”

She’d thought of little else since, except their heart-stopping dance. Kid couldn’t have figured it out she kept telling herself, but she had moments when she thought Kid was smarter than she was giving him credit for. That’s why she’d expected him to show up all week. But he kept surprising her. First, he wanted her to sign a lease. Next, he demanded his name on their son’s head
stone. Then he was back urging her to sign his papers. And to top that off he came into the bar for the cattle rustlers meeting asking pointed questions. Now he’d stopped all contact, which was a good thing, and she tried hard not to feel any differently.

“Don’t worry about Kid. He bores easily and will go back to Houston soon.”

“Lucky—”

“I’ll call if anything happens tonight.” She cut him off because she heard that caring tone in his voice. That gave her a big clue as to where her heart was and always would be.

Damn Kid!

In the living room she kissed her father’s cheek. “I’m going to work.”

“That old bat called,” he said in his grumpiest voice.

“Wilma?”

“Yeah.”

“What did she want?”

“She wants me to go down to The Joint and make sure Bubba doesn’t go home with Thelma.”

“What was your answer?”

“I told her I’m not moving from my chair and that her wig must be on too tight ’cause her damn brain is shrinking.”

“You didn’t say that?” She didn’t know why she was surprised. Her father said what was in his head uncaring of anyone’s feelings. Must be a right that came with old age.

“Sure did. She needs to get her nose out of Bubba
Joe’s life.” He waved a hand at the air. “Ah, what do I know? If I’d been stricter with you, maybe Hardin wouldn’t have crushed your heart like an empty beer can.”

“Dad…”

“I let y’all study at the bar and at the house and I knew you were stealing beer for him. I should have stopped all of that, but you were happy and that’s all I ever wanted for you.”

“It wouldn’t have changed anything. I would have found a way to be with Kid.”

Her dad shook his head. “Never dreamed the boy wouldn’t come back for you.”

She hadn’t, either.

“If he had showed up after the baby died, he would have been roadkill.”

“Dad, you told me not too long ago that I needed to let go and you were right. We both need to let the past go and live in the present.”

He stared straight at her. “But you’re not doing that, girl. You’re different since he’s been here. It’s like he’s lit your pilot light and you’re full of warmth and glowing.”

She touched her cheek. “I am not.”

“Remember when he’d drive up and you’d run through the house shouting ‘He’s here. He’s here’? You’re doing that now except you’re shouting it in your head and then you have to go up on the hill to remember the pain.”

Oh, my God! She was. She buried her face in her hands. “I don’t know how to forget him,” she muttered.

“Sign the damn lease and get him out of our lives.” Her father reached for her trembling hand. “Baby girl, don’t let him hurt you again.”

She sank down by his chair and he stroked her hair and she soaked up his comfort and support. For a moment. Then she came to her senses. How pathetic could she get? Slapping away tears, she got to her feet.

“I’m going to work.”

“Girl…”

“It’s okay, Dad. I’m stronger, a lot more mature and I can handle whatever happens.”

“If you say so.”

Ollie rubbed against her leg and she petted him. “I’m still mad at you.”

“Why are you mad at Ollie?”

“He chewed up Kid’s hat.” And put me in a compromising position. She didn’t think she’d mention that to her father.

“I trained him right.”

“I’ll see you later.” She headed for the door.

“If that old hag comes in tonight, just shoot her.”

Lucky told him about Walker’s intervention and Wilma leaving town.

“Humph. I don’t believe that for a minute. You better be careful she doesn’t come in there and shoot Thelma Lou.”

Oh, good heavens, just what she needed.

A
S SHE DROVE TO
T
HE
B
EER
J
OINT
, she noticed a neighboring rancher, Mr. Hopper, parked on the side of the road. He and a little boy were searching for something in the bar ditch. He was one of the church members, but was always friendly to her so she stopped to see if they needed help.

“Is anything wrong, Mr. Hopper?”

“Oh, Lucinda.” The older man turned toward her. “My grandson stuck his head out of the window and his hat blew off. We were trying to find it.”

“Grandpa, I got it.” The little boy who looked about eight came running with the battered hat jammed on his head.

“You sure did.” Mr. Hopper patted the boy’s shoulder. “This is Lucinda Littlefield and this is my great-grandson, John.”

John raised a hand. “Hi.”