The Southern Bride

by Leonra Worth

  Now her hair wrapped against his forearm like a rope, capturing him in a soft-as-silk tether that made him want to kidnap her and take her somewhere they could make peace with each other at last.

  Instead, Judson moved with Melissa in a slow dance and enjoyed how dainty and delicate she felt in his arms. When he drew back to stare down at her, her eyes met his, and he could see she hadn’t lost all of her feelings for him. He saw a lot in her pretty, exotic eyes. Hope, despair, longing, daring, and mostly... love. She still loved him.

  But... she ended the dance and took off toward the beach before he could point that out to her.

  Judson stood there watching her. She leapt like a gazelle over the sand. Did she want to be away from him that much?

  A slap on his back brought him around.

  Brodie Stevens. The man sure smiled a lot.

  “Ah, Judson, why don’t you come on over here with the men folk? Sam and Maddie are about to embark on their honeymoon and we need to prepare the getaway car. Might need your help.”

  Judson stared at the water and the lone figure standing there in the surf. Then he turned back to Brodie. “I—”

  “Should come with me,” Brodie said. “Don’t rush it, son. It’ll only make things worse.”

  Brodie was right. Judson hadn’t planned this trip out very well but he was in limbo and he didn’t know which way to go. “I miss her,” he said.

  “I know.” Brodie guided him with a slight shove toward where the men had a fire pit blazing on the stone-covered, open patio a few feet from the house. Someone handed him a soda and someone else placed him in a lawn chair.

  “Talk, kid,” Sam said. He didn’t speak much but when he did, people seemed to listen. Or spill their guts.

  “She hates me.”

  “She’s just fuming about how you treat her.” Brodie explained, a knowing gleam in his eyes. “We’ve all been there.”

  Easy for them to sit in judgment. “But y’all are both happily married now.”

  “All of two hours for me,” Sam said with a shell-shocked, goofy grin. “It’s real nice.”

  “Aren’t you afraid you’ll mess up?” Judson asked, wishing he had the kind of courage it would take to settle down. That, and a steady job, would help.

  “Every day,” Sam replied. “I did mess up with Maddie but we worked it out and now I’m about to take a long, slow road trip with her to Key West.”

  “Life is good,” Brodie said, saluting his friend with his drink. “I was drifting around and now look at me. I’m a bona fide homeowner with a beautiful, smart wife. Who would have thunk that?”

  Judson had hope but he’d goofed up so many times it was ridiculous. “That’s fine and dandy for you, both of you. But not so much for me. I don’t think she’s buying it this time.”

  “She didn’t kick you to the curb,” Sam said on a dry note.

  “That’s coming, I reckon,” Judson replied, glancing back toward the beach.

  Brodie shook his head and ran a hand through his sun-streaked hair. “Well, time is on your side, right? You can hang around here while she’s deciding whether to keep you or kick you out.”

  “I need to get back and find a job,” Judson admitted. “I’ve only known the rodeo and that’s pretty much over.” He rubbed his bum leg.

  Brodie moved a hand down his five o’clock shadow. “Sam, didn’t you tell me you needed somebody to help you around the Surf Shack, especially while you’re gone?”

  “Did I?” Sam asked, a sly look in his eyes. “I guess I did, at that.”

  Then Sam smiled at Brodie. “And you were just saying the other day how you needed a good, experienced hand to help with those ornery horses Michelle insisted on bringing down here.” Sam shifted and stared straight at Judson. “Michelle bought a small ranch, inland about twenty miles. You get there and you don’t even know you’re in Florida. But the place needs a lot of work.”

  “It sure does,” Brodie replied, lifting up, his boots hitting the patio stones with a definite thud. “First thing tomorrow morning, Judson. I don’t enjoy mucking the stalls. And the place needs to be cleared and cleaned up. You up for that?”

  Judson knew a dare when he heard one, but he didn’t even care. Whatever it took.

  “Are y’all offering me work?” he asked, knowing they were daring him. Knowing he could handle anything they might dish out. But his leg protested, just thinking about it.

  “Are you willing to work?” Sam asked, steel in his eyes.

  “Yes,” Judson said. “I can start first thing tomorrow.”

  “You can what?”

  They all pivoted to find Melissa standing there, her dress wet and weighted by damp sand, her eyes red-rimmed and wide open.

  “I’m staying in Driftwood Bay for a while,” Judson said, gaining steam and raring to go. He had some dare left in him, too.

  “Not if I have anything to do with it,” Melissa retorted before she stomped up the planked steps to the main house.

  “That went well,” Brodie said, his grin bigger than ever.

  Melissa held Spike and watched as Maddie and Sam drove away in Sam’s sleek, black Camaro, their laughter lingering long after the big engine’s roar had died down to a purr.

  “They’ll be back soon,” she told the anxious little dog.

  Michelle walked up and took Melissa by the arm. “How are you with all of this?”

  “The wedding was nice,” Melissa replied, not wanting to comment on Judson anymore.

  “Right. We all had fun but I’m not talking about the wedding. What are you going to do about Judson?”

  “I don’t know,” she admitted since Michelle would pester her until she talked. “I wanted him to go away and now he’s digging in his heels like he always does. Until something makes him mad again. I think I’ll leave in the morning and let that be my answer.”

  “But you have a couple of weeks of vacation left and you’re in charge of Spike,” Michelle reminded her. “We’re gonna play, remember?”

  Melissa had marked out three weeks to come down to Florida. Last week was all about getting ready for the wedding. This week and next, she’d planned to consider whether or not she wanted to move here permanently. Only her sisters knew she was thinking of this. She hadn’t told her parents yet.

  “I don’t think I can be here with him around,” Melissa said. “He’s doing this deliberately.”

  “No, my husband offered him a job.” Michelle reminded her. “And he needs one, according to what he told Brodie and Sam.”

  “He can go back to Louisiana to find a job.”

  Michelle scoffed at that remark. “We really do need someone we can trust to oversee the ranch. Judson knows horses; that’s for sure.” Then she slanted her head. “He’s still healing, too. They won’t push him. But this will give him some spending money and... a little bit of pride.”

  “He won’t like any pity parties.”

  “No pity here. We need the help. He needs some time to heal and get his life back together.”

  “But... you have to see how awkward this will be,” Melissa said, wondering if her family was conspiring against her.

  Michelle pulled her white wrap across her shoulders. “Maybe I can get Brodie to keep him so busy he won’t even notice you,” she said. But she didn’t sound very convincing. “I really wanted some down time with you, Missy.”

  Melissa set down the squirming dog and turned to face her sister. Michelle had tears in her eyes. Come to think of it, she’d seemed tired and kind of emotional all day long. “Are you all right?”

  “No,” Michelle said. “Yes. I’m so scared.”

  Melissa’s heart filled with dread. “Oh, what’s wrong? You and Brodie—”

  “We’re going to have a baby,” Michelle said on a low whisper. “I’m pregnant.”

  Melissa gasped and held onto to her sister. A baby? Shock mixed with delight in her question, but Melissa also felt a sure jolt of joy. “What?”

  “Yes,” Mic
helle said. “I didn’t want to overshadow the wedding but I’m about to burst so we’re going to tell Mom and Dad before we go to bed tonight. I want you here. I need someone to help me buy baby stuff and...”

  She stopped, her hand going to her mouth, her eyes wide with apprehension. “I’m so happy but what if—”

  “Nothing is going to happen,” Melissa said, hugging Michelle close. Michelle had lost her young son in a tragic accident. He’d wandered away and fallen into the river when Michelle was taking pictures near their home back in Spirit. His death had devastated all of them and cost Michelle her marriage, too. No wonder she was so scared. “You’ll be fine,” Melissa said. “Brodie will take care of you and the baby.”

  “But the water,” Michelle said. She turned toward the crashing waves. “It’s so big and vast out there. What was I thinking, moving to Florida?”

  Melissa held tight to Michelle. “You love it here and you love Brodie. So you’ll be okay. You’ll all be okay.”

  Michelle nodded and wiped her eyes. “I can’t be afraid. I want this baby so much. Brodie has promised me he won’t let anything bad happen, but that’s such a big promise.”

  “Of course you want the baby and you know Brodie will do everything within his power to protect your child.” Melissa put her arm around Michelle’s waist. “And, of course, I’ll stick around. We’ll have so much fun. But Judson doesn’t have to know I’m thinking of moving here.”

  “I won’t tell him.” Michelle promised.

  Melissa couldn’t leave now so she’d just have to put Judson Duvall out of her mind for a little while at least.

  “Let’s go find Mom and Dad,” Melissa said to Michelle. “You and Brodie are so blessed and our parents are going to be over the moon happy.”

  Michelle wiped at her eyes. “First, I have to talk to Brodie and make sure he’s ready to announce this.”

  “I see Mom and Dad,” Melissa said, wishing Judson would leave. “I’ll stall them for a while.”

  But in spite of him showing up uninvited and unannounced, this day had turned out better than she’d ever imagined. Even with the memory of being in Judson’s arms again lingering in the air like a fine mist over her head.

  Chapter Five

  Everyone cried.

  Melissa watched her parents’ faces when Michelle and Brodie told them about the baby.

  Ruby grabbed Roscoe and put one hand to her mouth. “Oh, my. Oh, I can’t believe it. Oh, I’m so happy.”

  They hugged each other and Roscoe wiped at his eyes. Melissa held back tears when she saw the pride on Brodie’s face. He had tears in his eyes and so did Michelle. Ruby hugged both of them and Roscoe slapped Brodie on the back.

  Melissa stood to the side but she felt a soft touch on her arm. Judson’s touch.

  “That’s great news,” he said, a knowing expression on his face. “She’s been through so much.”

  Melissa couldn’t stop the tears now. “Yes, she has. Brodie is so good to her. They love each other.”

  Judson didn’t say anything but he reached up and touched a finger to her tears. “You’ve had your share of heartaches, too.”

  Then he turned and walked away. Just like that. Judson had always been unpredictable but now Melissa couldn’t figure him out at all.

  Was he leaving again?

  She wanted to be happy about that but she also wanted to run after him and tell him not to go. She fought against taking him into her arms and holding him tight. She fought against telling him she could never let him go.

  But Melissa didn’t do any of the things she wanted to do. Instead, she hugged Michelle again and gave Brodie a tight squeeze, too. Then she stood with her parents while they all basked in the joy of the moment.

  When she glanced toward the street side of the house, she saw Judson leaning against his truck, watching the whole scene.

  Was that how his whole life had been?

  Always on the outside looking in?

  Something inside Melissa’s heart turned over and sprouted like a fresh flower coming to life. She’d been so busy fighting with Judson she’d never considered how lonely he must be. His aunt was good to him, but he only saw her between traveling from circuit to circuit. He lived the life of a nomad, moving from hotel rooms to trailers on the arena grounds to sometimes sleeping in his truck. Had he ever had a real home?

  Her heart was betraying her by making her feel sorry for Judson. But this was about more than just feeling sorry for someone else. She also felt ashamed of herself and the demands she’d made on him. Was she so needy she expected a man who was trying to do the one thing he knew to the best of his ability to give all of that up just so he’d be there when she needed him?

  Apparently.

  Melissa walked out toward the beach and stood near a cluster of sea oats, the sound of the ocean’s beating surf drowning out everything else around her.

  “Hey, you okay?” Roscoe asked from behind her, his beefy arm on Melissa’s shoulder. “Is he bothering you?”

  “No, I’m fine,” Melissa replied. “It’s just been an eventful day.”

  “You can say that again,” her daddy replied. “A wedding, a baby and a rodeo cowboy. Tears all around.”

  Melissa glanced over and saw the wry smile on her daddy’s ruddy face and then she smiled back. “Yeah, well, it wouldn’t be a Sonnier event if things weren’t happening. We tend to lean toward the dramatic, don’t we?”

  “Yep,” her daddy said. “But with all you girls and your mom, that’s what makes life interesting.”

  “And now, a grandbaby on the way,” she replied, giving him a kiss. “I’m so happy for Michelle and Brodie.”

  “Me, too,” Roscoe said. “Me, too, honey.”

  “I’m going to talk to Judson,” she said. “I hope he’ll find a room for the night, away from here.”

  “So he’s staying on a while?”

  “Yes,” she said. “Brodie and Sam both offered him jobs.”

  “Interesting,” Roscoe said. “As long as he toes the line, he’ll be just fine. Might be exactly what he needs right now.”

  Her daddy gave her one of his direct stares. “Might be exactly what you need right now, too.”

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’m not sure what I need.”

  Uncle Jaybo walked down the steps, his expression full of questions since he’d had to take a business call upstairs. “Why is everyone crying?”

  Melissa laughed and then Roscoe told him the reason. “You’re gonna be a great-uncle again. Michelle is having a baby.”

  Uncle Jaybo’s mouth fell open. Then he let out a hoot. “Where is the little mama? I need to give her a hug.”

  Her daddy and his brother walked off, chuckling and giving each other high fives.

  Melissa turned to go and find Judson.

  But he was already gone.

  Judson found a room down the road at an economy hotel on the other side of the scenic highway, near the Intracoastal Waterway. The place was aged but clean and he had a small balcony where he could sit and watch the barges moving along the big canal that stretched nearly three thousand miles around the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. It had always amazed him that something as big and heavy as a barge could glide so softly and quietly through the deep waterway.

  His heart was full tonight. He’d seen Melissa again so he could breathe a little better now. But things weren’t where they needed to be between them. He blamed himself. He’d been angry at the world for most of his life.

  Watching the happy scene after Michelle and Brodie had told everyone they were going to have a baby, Judson absorbed the loneliness and left. He wasn’t sure he was cut out to be a daddy but when he thought of Melissa holding a child in her arms—his child—his heart hurt more than ever.

  He could get drunk but those days were behind him. He had to turn his life around if he didn’t want to die too young. He still had a lot of life in him, according to his aunt.

  He couldn’t sleep
but he’d need to be up at dawn to go over what needed to be done at the ranch and at the Surf Shack. Grunge work, but Judson knew all about that kind of work.

  When his cell buzzed, he was surprised to see Melissa’s face showing on the phone screen. “Hi,” he said, wondering if she’d had a change of heart.

  “Hey.” She let out a sigh. “I wanted to check on you. You left pretty quickly.”

  “I was in the way.”

  “Did you find a place?”

  Suddenly, he didn’t want to talk. Fear clogged every pore in his body. Fear that this time, he’d lose her forever. “Yeah.”

  Her soft sigh moved over him with a quietness that left him shattered. He didn’t speak.

  “Okay. Are you sure about working for Brodie and Sam? Are you up to that kind of physical labor?”

  He stared at his leg, his expression hardened. “Yeah. I don’t have many options. Most people won’t hire me with this bum leg, even when I tell them I do PT every day to improve it. I’ll make a little money and... head home, I guess.”

  “But you’re better, right? Your leg will heal?”

  Would she be embarrassed walking with him? His limp was pretty predominate in spite of his daily therapy exercises. Only he hadn’t been doing those regularly lately. He’d been a lot better until he’d driven all day to get here. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

  “Okay. Get some sleep. Coco will be glad to see you. Blackbeard, not so much.”

  He heard the beep, beep of her ending the call.

  Coco was Michelle’s beautiful mare. A good quarter horse. He’d heard talk about Blackbeard. A rowdy stallion.

  He loved working with animals. They didn’t judge him the way people tended to do.

  Judson stood and hobbled inside, his leg numb in places and on fire in spots. Why had he come to Florida anyway?

  He turned toward the comfortable-looking bed, thinking it was time to take some pain pills and get some sleep. But he lay there in the dark, watching the flashing neon lights on the hotel marquee and wondered if he was trying to run to Melissa again to make things right between them, or if he was only trying to run away from everything that had been eating at him since he was a boy.