The Texan's Christmas (12 page)

“That wasn’t on the table the last time we talked. I believe you threatened to have me arrested.”

“That was about the headstone.”

“Yeah. My name’s not on it.”

She heard the sadness in his voice and she weakened. “We’ll talk about it when we get back. Okay?”

“Works for me.”

Something else occurred to her. “Why were you there so early tonight?”

“Ah, my aunt and uncle were giving me suspicious looks. They can’t figure out what I’m still doing in High Cotton. I just needed some breathing room.”

“Why are you still here? Don’t you have a job in Houston?”

“Cadde keeps asking me the same question, but I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re safe.”

“Kid…”

“I know you don’t understand that, but it’s the only way I can make up for the bad stuff I’ve done. It’s the only way I can live with myself.”

She didn’t know what to say to that. He had to deal with his own demons in his own way and she had to let him. It was the only way they could get through the horrendous mistakes they’d made.

He reached for his cell. “I better call Chance and let him know where we are. Any idea where that might be?”

“The rail runs north and south through High Cotton. My guess is we’re going south.”

“Well, I have three messages from Chance and one from Cadde. Let’s see what the bros have to say. Chance’s messages are all the same ‘Where are you?’ Cadde’s is ‘What the hell are you doing?’”

She pulled out her phone. “I have three from Travis and they’re all the same ‘Call me.’”

He clicked a digit. “Let’s see how they feel about us hopping a train.”

The wisecracking Kid was back. The serious Kid
didn’t surface too often like it had a moment ago. But their son was a solemn subject for both of them.

“Kid, are y’all okay?” Chance came right to the point. Kid had the cell on speakerphone so she could hear. There was some static but the voice was recognizable.

“I’m not sure.” She could feel those dark eyes pinning her.

“I’ll put you on speakerphone. Travis, Walker and the sheriff are here.”

“Oh, dandy.”

“What happened?” Travis wanted to know.

Kid told them the story glossing over Lucky’s part. “We thought we’d follow this party to its destination. The cows and goods are going somewhere.”

“Let me talk to Lucky,” Travis demanded.

“I’m here,” she said.

“Get off that train. It’s too dangerous.”

Before she could say anything, Kid jumped back in. “Now, Trav, this train is going pretty fast and I’m not in a mood to risk my life or Lucky’s.”

She gave him a glare. She knew he couldn’t see her face clearly, but she hoped he felt it. “Travis, I’ll be careful and get off before anyone sees us.”

“Kid, you’ve been involved in some harebrained schemes but this is—”

“Hey, Cadde, I know I’m topping stupid this time, but listen up. I don’t want to use up all my battery. By our calculations we’re guessing the cows were kept on the old Wilkins place. This train is probably headed
south out of High Cotton. There has to be someone you can contact at Union Pacific to find out the stops and its destination. And the engineer of the train is also involved. He stopped that train in the middle of nowhere so they could load the cattle.”

“And they mentioned a boss who’s in charge,” she added.

“I’m on it,” Travis said.

“Girl, where’s my girl?” She tensed. She was planning to call her father as soon as they finished talking. What was he doing there?

“Lucky.” Chance’s voice came back on. “I had Uncle Ru pick up Bud. I knew you wouldn’t want him to worry.”

“Thank you, Chance. I appreciate that.”

“If you get any nicer, Chance, we might have to put you up for sainthood or something,” Kid wisecracked.

“Girl, are you okay?”

“Dad, I’m fine. Please don’t worry.”

“You’re on a train chasing criminals with that no-good Hardin boy and you don’t want me to worry?”

“Well, I guess they’re not putting
me
up for sainthood.”

“Shh,” she hissed at Kid.

“Dad, please.” Her composure shook at the pain she was causing him. What was she doing? Kid was right. This was insane. She needed to get off this train and deal with her messed up life instead of risking it.

“Tell Aunt Etta I’m fine,” Kid shouted as they lost
connection. He clicked off and nothing was said for some time.

As the train rolled, her emotions settled down. She would see this through to the end. It was her job and she wasn’t stopping now.

“Could we talk?” Kid asked.

The last thing she needed was to dredge up the past. “I’d rather not.”

He stretched out his long legs. “I’d like to try and explain.”

Maybe it was time for them to expose those raw feelings so they could finally heal. She scooted to face him. “I’m listening.”

“When I left, I was down all the way to Lubbock. I missed you. I was going to call the minute I got to my dorm just to hear your voice, but the phone wasn’t hooked up. I went down the hall looking for a pay phone and found a party instead. I was glad to make new friends and we partied to the early morning. When I woke up, about a day late, I had a gigantic hangover. You were the first thing I thought about, but I figured I’d wait until I could form a sentence before calling. Then there was another party and a week had gone by. I knew you were going to be mad so I kept putting it off.”

“Were there girls at these parties?” she had to ask, even though she knew the answer.

“Yeah, lots of them.”

She swallowed and wondered why she was going to ask the next question but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. “Did you sleep with any of them?”

The answer was a long time coming. “Not at first, but…”

“You don’t have to say anything else.” Her stomach cramped and she didn’t want to hear the rest.

“I called her Lucky,” came quietly through the darkness.

“What?”

“The first time it happened I called the girl Lucky. I knew then I’d screwed up big-time. I wanted to call and come home, but I couldn’t face you so I tried to forget you in every way I could.”

She licked her lips. “Did it work?”

“Not entirely. Someone would laugh or bite their lip and I’d think of you. Sometimes I’d see blond hair and you’d pop into my head. I avoided coming home because of you even when Dane and Aunt Etta begged me. I thought the best thing was for me to stay away.”

While she was searching for words to say, he continued, “Then there was the sadness. In High Cotton everyone knew about my parents’ deaths and the grownups never seemed to know what to say to me. They just looked at me with that ‘you poor kid’ look. In Lubbock no one knew about my parents and there were just happy, fun times. I know that doesn’t sound very nice, but I enjoyed that freedom.”

“And I would have tied you down.”

“I suppose. Aunt Etta said we got too serious too quick and I think she’s right.”

Lucky had to dig deep for the truth, but it was there and she had to say it. “We thought we were in love but
we weren’t. We were just two kids who needed each other at that particular time in life.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me.”

“I was, too, and I was angry for a long time. I’m not anymore.” Since they were being honest, there was something else she had to ask. “Did you ever fall in love?” She used to dread that someone would say, “Did you hear Kid Hardin got engaged?” or “Kid Hardin got married.” She didn’t think about it too much anymore, but she was still curious.

“Not even close.” He shifted against the wall. “I’m afraid I’m just like my old man and I’ll never be able to love any woman completely.”

She was startled for a moment. She had no idea he knew about his father. “He was not very discreet about his affairs.”

“You knew about Blanche Dumont?”

“Who? I just knew he brought women into The Joint not a mile from your house.”

“You saw him with other women?”

By his tone of voice she knew that he never had. “Yes. Sometimes if my grandma had a doctor’s appointment or something, the bus would drop me off at The Beer Joint and I’d do my homework in back until Grandma came. When Dad wasn’t looking, I’d peep around the door and I saw your dad several times with other women sitting in a booth on the same side being very friendly.”

“You never told me.”

“Why would I? You adored your father.”

“Yeah, he was quite a man.
Not.
The night they had the wreck he told my mom he was leaving her for another woman, who turned out to be Blanche Dumont. My mother started hitting him and he lost control of the car. Chance heard all of it.”

“Isn’t that Jack Calhoun’s ex?”

“Yes, and Shay’s mother.”

“What? Is…?”

“No. She’s not Jack’s daughter. It was a sordid mess, but luckily Shay is nothing like her mother. I pray every day I’m not like dear ol’ Dad, either. God, I can’t believe he met women in High Cotton.”

“I’m sorry, Kid.” She wanted to touch him, hold him, but refrained from doing so. She couldn’t get caught in that emotional wringer again.

“How about you? Did you fall in love with someone else?”

“No.” She watched the night whiz by. “I have a hard time trusting anyone.”

“But this ranger guy is interested, right?”

“Travis? I gather information for him. That’s it.”

He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Lucky…” Her name was a sultry breath against her skin. All her restraints broke free and her hand touched his roughened jaw.

He caught her hand and pulled her forward. Before her lips could taste his, the fast train clanged to a slower pace.

“We’re stopping,” she breathed.

“Show time.” Kid moved toward the opening as they prepared to finish the job they’d started.

But a part of her wanted to finish something else.

T
HEY STOOD AT THE OPENING
, feeling the warm wind against their faces and staring into the night’s darkness.

“I don’t see anything,” Lucky said.

“Me neither,” Kid replied, “but we’re slowing down for something. Wait a minute, there are lights. A crossing, I think.”

“We must be going through a town.”

“Yeah. Look for some sort of landmark or sign so we can figure out where we are.”

Suddenly a man flung himself into the boxcar and Lucky and Kid jumped back. It took him a minute to stagger to his feet, and at that moment he became aware he wasn’t alone in the car.

“Who are ya?” he growled. A foul odor emanated from him.

“Nobody,” Kid spoke up. “We’re getting off soon.”

“No, ya ain’t. You’re after my stash, ain’t ya?”

“I have no interest in your stash, whatever that is.”

“Ya lying. Ya been following me for a year.”

“I’m just riding the rails like you, man, and I don’t want any problems.”

“Ya not gettin’ my stash. I got a gun.”

For a brief moment a passing light reflected off the
pistol pointed at them. Kid pushed her behind him. “Whoa, mister. You can keep your stash. Just put the gun away.”

Lucky reached for the gun tucked into her waistband just as the guy charged them, knocking her against the wall. Her head spun as she watched Kid wrestle with the hobo, trying to gain control of the gun.

The odor became pungent as they tumbled around the car. Marijuana. That was his stash. Her head was fuzzy and she forced herself to focus on the two men. The hobo was trying to swing the barrel toward Kid.
No, don’t.
She tried to stand, but couldn’t.

Abruptly a gunshot ripped through the night and Kid and the hobo fell backward out of the car.

“Kid!” she screamed, crawling on her hands and knees to the opening. “Kid!” She was about to fling herself out when she realized the train was picking up speed, moving again. It would be suicidal to jump now.

Pushing up against the wall, she took several deep breaths and the dizziness eased. Was Kid shot? Was he dead? She had to get help. Pulling out her cell, she tried Kid’s number, glad she remembered it from the card he’d left at her house. If he answered, he was okay. It rang and rang and then went to voice mail. An errant tear slipped from her eye. She swallowed hard and poked in Chance’s number.

He answered before the ring even stopped. “Lucky.” Then there was nothing but static.

She waited and tried again. This time she got a stronger connection. “Some…something bad has happened.”

There was a slight pause. “What? Wait. Let me put it on speakerphone so everyone can hear.”

“I’d rather my dad didn’t.”

“He’s in the kitchen. Nettie fixed him something to eat.”

“Okay, then.”

“What happened?”

“A hobo jumped into our boxcar and he was nutty, rambling on about us not stealing his stash. Kid tried to reason with him, but he pulled out a gun and charged us. I hit my head and was a little dazed. Kid wrestled with him and then there was a gunshot and they fell out of the car. I’m so afraid Kid was hit and he’s lying out there bleeding to death.”

Static intervened and then there was complete silence on the other end.

She poked the number in again, afraid she was going to use all her power. Cadde’s strong voice came through. “What does the terrain look like?”

“I can’t see much. It’s dark, but I’ve noticed flat land with mesquites and we just went through some sort of crossing or small town.”

“We could follow the track with the chopper, but we don’t know exactly where Kid is and it’s dangerous at night. Kid’s very resilient, but if he doesn’t check in in the next fifteen minutes we’ll have to do something.”

Chance joined the conversation. “Travis and the sheriff are working with the railroad, but it’s difficult getting information at this time of the night. Hang in there and get off that train as soon as you can.”

“Is my dad okay?”

“Nettie’s keeping him entertained.” The connection went dead again. Damn!

She settled back, her head aching.
Nettie was keeping her dad entertained.
That was odd. Nettie was a very colorful, eccentric lady and her father was as down-to-earth as he could be. But she was glad he had someone to talk to.

She tried Kid again. Still no answer.
Kid, please answer.
Please. As the train moved through the night, she prayed he was all right.

K
ID HIT THE GROUND WITH A THUD
that jarred every bone in his body. He rolled to his feet like a stuntman and sprinted for the train.

“Bastard,” the hobo screeched, firing after Kid with wide shots.

Kid didn’t have time to think about the crazy man. The caboose came into sight and he had to run in cowboy boots to catch it. For a moment he thought his overworked lungs would explode. He made a dive for the tail end and leaped aboard. Then he half lay and half sat sucking in precious air.

He looked up and saw a ladder going to the top. He had to get to Lucky and that was the only way. He swung to his feet, wincing, and climbed up. He’d seen this done in movies so it should be a piece of cake. Finding Lucky’s boxcar would be the toughest part. He’d heard the crack of her head against the wall and he hoped she was okay.

The insanity of what he was doing flashed through his mind as he reached the top of the car, but that didn’t stop him. The trick now was to run across the top until he could pinpoint the right boxcar. He gingerly stood and the force of the wind almost sent him flying into outer space.

Damn it!

He took a deep breath. All he had to do was get his balance and it would work. The second time he was ready for the wind and ran the length of the car before he fell to his knees. Without thinking it to death, he jumped to the next car and the next trying his best not to be tossed aside like a piece of garbage. He was getting the hang of it. Hell, he could be a stuntman.

When the scent of the cattle reached him, he knew he’d gone too far. He’d passed the car Lucky was in. He had to go back several boxcars. This time the wind gave him a push and it was at his back so he had to adjust his balance. He squatted at one car and shouted “Lucky,” but there wasn’t an answer. He jumped to the next one and tried again.

“Kid!” she screamed, and he swung in and landed flat on his back.

“Kid, Kid, Kid!” She stroked his face, his chest. “Are you okay?”

“You keep doing that and I’ll be A-okay.”

She hit his shoulder. “Stop it. I thought that hobo shot you. We’ve all been worried. I have to call Chance.”

She grabbed her phone, poked in a number and put
it on speakerphone. “Chance, Kid is okay. He made it back to the train.”

“Yeah,” Kid piped in, “I’m thinking of joining the summer Olympics. I didn’t know I could run so fast.”

A loud sigh echoed. “Were you shot?”

“Would I be talking to you if I was? That old fool couldn’t hit the side of a barn. The authorities need to check into that guy—he reeks of marijuana and he’s dangerous.”

Static intervened again. “Wait a minute,” Kid shouted through the noise.

“Kid, when you get back here I’m going to kill you.” Cadde’s voice came on and then there was a pause. “Just stay safe and stop pulling stunts. My blood pressure can’t take it.”

“Will do, big brother. Have they found out where this train is going?”

“Not yet. Travis and the sheriff are working on it.”

“It’s not like we have a lot of time here. This train will stop before it reaches its destination and those cattle and stolen goods will be gone so fast that Travis will never catch the real boss behind all this.”

“As soon as it’s daylight we’ll take the chopper and follow the track,” Chance said, but before they could say anything else the phone went dead.

Lucky laid her cell on the floor. “Why didn’t you answer when I called you?”

“I lost my phone somewhere. That damn hobo is probably calling his weed dealer on it.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Hell, no. I’m bruised from head to toe. I’m tired and smell faintly of marijuana, but I’m back with you so I’m okay.”

“How did you manage to get back?”

“Fortunately, the fall didn’t knock me out. I rolled to my feet and dashed to the train while that crazy hobo was firing at me.”

“Oh, no,” she gasped.

“As I said he couldn’t hit a thing. I saw the caboose coming and I ran like hell to catch it. But I was a long way from you. I climbed to the top and ran across the cars until I reached you.”

“Are you insane?”

“Actually, the vote is in on that. Yes.”

“I think you’re high from smelling that guy’s weed.”

“Could be.” Suddenly he had to touch her. After this horrendous night he just needed her. He ran a hand through her hair to the back of her head and felt the knot. “Are you all right?” he whispered.

She wrapped her arms around him, her face in his neck. “My head’s a little sore,” she breathed against his skin. He pulled her closer and just held her, stroking her hair. Her soft yielding body and the scent of strawberries flooded him with memories of two teenagers whose hormones were out of control. They were adults now, but those feelings were there. Stronger. Powerful.

“Sometimes…”

“What?” He smoothed back her hair, just loving the feel of her.

“Nothing.”

“Come on, Lucky.”

“Sometimes…I just want you.”

His hand stilled. “Lucky…”

She kissed his neck, his cheek and he eagerly met her lips, renewing a fever they knew well. The kiss deepened and she moaned as they discovered all those little things they remembered about each other.

Leaning back, she unbuttoned his shirt, her hands splaying across his chest. Any sane thoughts he had were slowly leaving. “Lucky,” he groaned.

“Shh.” She slipped the shirt from his shoulders and kissed him all the way down to his jeans. He caught his breath and they quickly helped each other remove cumbersome clothes. He pulled her into his arms and turned until they lay in the cotton on the floor of the car, the heat from the rails warming his back.

“A comfy bed left just for us.” Tucking her into his side, he caressed and kissed her soft breasts. “They’re fuller,” he murmured.

“Since the pregnancy.”

He buried his face between them. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” Unexpectedly a tear slipped from his eye.

She kissed it away. “I know.”

Gathering her nude body against him, he found solace in the softness of her pressing into his hard planes. Their lips and hands renewed a vow of long ago; they would always love each other. He kissed her deeply, their tongues mingling and tasting as they discovered new delights—stronger than ever before. His
hands touched every inch of her and her hands were equally at work on him.

Butterfly touches and bold strokes drove him wild. He caressed the triangle between her legs and she sighed blissfully. When she rubbed against his hardness, he could stand it no longer and thrust into her, gently, securely, and the rolling of the train enhanced the rhythm of their bodies. She cried his name as she reached that pinnacle of unabashed pleasure, her nails digging into his back.

When his release came, he felt as if he were sailing off the train into clear blue skies, buffeted only by Lucky’s arms. It took a long time for him to come down. It was as perfect as he remembered. He cradled her in his arms and wondered again why he had left behind everything he’d ever cared about.

Maybe he was crazy.

W
HEN
L
UCKY WOKE UP
,
SHE
was lying on top of Kid, feeling rejuvenated in a way she hadn’t in years. His body had matured with hardened muscles and strength, but he was still a gentle, explosive lover. She wasn’t going to analyze what had happened. It would be futile to feel outraged. She’d wanted it as much as Kid. Maybe more. Now she had to decide what she could live with or live without.

She smoothed the hair away from his forehead. The brothers had the same dark hair and eyes, but Kid was strikingly different in looks. As his mother used to say, “Too handsome for his own good,” and he was. With
sculpted features, brown hair that curled into his collar, a smile that could move the weakest of hearts, he was a charmer, the life of a party.

She, on the other hand, was quiet and reserved, yet somehow they’d formed a connection. That was the past, though. She now had to concentrate on the future and what the night had meant. She’d never had a man risk his life for her as Kid had last night. But then no one had hurt her as bad as he had, either. How did she balance it with true emotions, true feelings?

But in her heart she knew it all came down to one thing—would she ever be able to trust him again?

Looking outside, she saw the night fading away to an early morning glow. They had to get dressed. She shook Kid. “Wake up.”

“Oh, crap.”

Lucky found her panties and bra and slipped into them.

Kid sat up, his dark eyes on her. “You know, I’m just going to get hard watching you do that.”

The train started to slow.

“Oh, hell, so much for being aroused.” He stood, wincing.

She zipped her jeans. “Are you hurt?”

“My body is a little bruised from my stuntman work.” A teasing glint brightened his eyes. “But you can kiss it better.”

“I already have,” she said, slipping on her sneakers.

“And it was much appreciated.” He hopped around trying to get his boots on.

She picked up her cell and gun and went to peep around the opening. From the dim morning light she could see clearly. “There’s nothing but mesquite and dry barren land.”

“Could we talk?” His breath fanned the top of her hair and she felt a weakness in her lower abdomen.

“Not now. Something is fixing to happen.”

“About last night,” he said as if she hadn’t spoken.

She turned to face him. “It happened. I’m okay. I’m not angry anymore.”

“You’re very nonchalant about it.”

“I’m more focused on what’s going to happen now and…”

Suddenly voices erupted outside. “Where’s your gun?”