by Geri Foster
She darted out the door to her car, popped the trunk then dragged her two suitcases out. She hadn't spent a lot of time deciding what to wear, but after running into Lucas she wished she had. How did that man manage to get better looking? Maybe even a little taller, definitely broader in the shoulders and leaner in the hips. He still had that sexy swagger she loved so much. However, she'd willingly bite off her tongue before admitting how much he turned her on.
With any luck there’d be little contact between them during her visit. Rainwater was too small to avoid running into him period, but she planned to keep it to a minimum. Truth be told, she wasn’t sure how much of him she could take without capitulating, just a little, and making a damn fool of herself in the process...again. She couldn’t forgive him for what he did, but it had been a long time and he looked so good.
God help her if anything happened.
No, it wouldn't, because she'd never allow it. She only had to remind herself how he'd kept her dad’s imminent arrest from her and her family. How he'd refused her calls before she left Rainwater and after her dad had been arrested. Then, during the investigation, in front of the whole town he had turned his back and refused to speak to her.
She hated him for that.
Gritting her teeth, she hurried out of the cold and back into the comfortable surroundings of the house she'd been familiar with all her life.
Grandma's house.
She dropped her bags in the foyer and headed where she knew her grandma would be—in the kitchen, where she spent most of her time. If she wasn't cooking, she enjoyed sitting at the table gazing out her floor to ceiling window at the view of Clear Lake and her beautiful back yard. Seeing a steaming cup of coffee, Rachel quickly moved around the table, sat in her usual seat and picked up the mug.
"This smells delicious."
"Nothing like a warm drink on a cold day." Her grandma looked outside. "Wouldn't surprise me if it snowed."
She doubted that. "It's never snowed before January, Grandma. Even I remember that."
"Well, with all the global warming who knows what's going to happen anymore."
She put her cup down. "When did you become so political?"
"I'm not political. I've voted the same way since I was old enough to go to the polls, and nothing is going to change the way I feel. It's just that the world is changing."
"Not enough to make it snow in Rainwater before January," she said with a chuckle. "I always wished we'd have a white Christmas, but it never happened, and I doubt this year will be different."
"You had snow in Dallas one year. Remember, I was there."
"That was freaky. Even though Rainwater is further north, you don’t get a lot of snow."
The door opened, and she heard her mom call out, "Yoo-hoo, I'm here. Where is the wine?"
"She's a damn alcoholic," Grandma whispered. "We'll no doubt have to stage an intervention before you leave."
"I heard that," her mom called out just before entering the kitchen. "Aw," she closed her eyes, "Snickerdoodles. Yummy." Rubbing her hands together, she added, "I do want a glass of wine, but that coffee smells pretty good right now. Man, it's cold out there."
Grandma was on her feet before another word could be spoken. She took a mug out of the cabinet and filled it the rim. Her mom drank her coffee black, but Rachel liked cream and sugar, so Grandma always left a little extra room in her cup.
Her mom took off her coat, walked into the den and threw it across the back of the couch then returned to the kitchen. Coming directly from work she had on a slimming pencil skirt, a long sleeved white shirt with the collar up and a long gold chain necklace. And, of course, her ever present heels.
"You weren't raised to toss your clothes around like they were sports gear. Hang up that coat. There's a closet right in front of you."
After doing what she was told, Rachel's mom joined them, but not before rolling her eyes in frustration. "I might forget the coffee and go straight for the wine."
"Sit down and have a cup of coffee. The cookies are almost done."
Her mom obeyed with a scowl. "Good thing for you I like snickerdoodles."
"Good thing for you I taught you a few manners."
"Mama," her mom began, "I'm all grown up, in case you haven't noticed. I don't need to be told to hang up my coat."
"Appears you do in my house."
Rachel smiled. Mothers. Were they all the same? Imagining three generations sitting down at the seventy-five-year-old kitchen table, childhood memories swirled in her mind like smoke from a campfire. Vague, vast, and out of reach.
Some were good, others dreadful and hard to cope with. Before the bank incident, they were an all-American family with a dog, a goldfish, and a pool in the backyard. Now, nothing would ever be normal again. The incident at the bank had changed them forever.
Rachel closed her eyes at the pain slicing her heart and the regret coursing through her veins. She glanced over to her mom, who waited anxiously for the cookies to be scooped off the baking sheet. They'd never last long enough to cool.
Chapter 5
Lucas and Kendall entered the busy diner filled with the lunch crowd. Being tall, he was able to spot Candi Matthews, the tall, pretty, blonde waitress at the diner, right away. She pointed him to an empty booth in the back where he and Kendall could sit and talk privately.
He greeted several residents on his way down the aisle to their table but didn't stop to talk. He wasn't in the mood for neighborly chit-chat, not with his mind filled with thoughts of Rachel. No, he wanted to find a corner and hide.
All the talk about Rachel's dad being innocent had him once again questioning himself and, if he was honest, even the justice system. Yet, no matter how many times he went over it in his mind, there were no other suspects. Not a hint of a lead that might send him in a different direction.
He had nothing.
They sat down and before he could pick up the menu, Candi was there with a warm smile and easy manner. "Hi guys. What can I get you to drink?"
Candi, Kendall and Rachel had all graduated High School the same year. Her grandma, Faith, was Grandma Mercy’s sister. "Iced tea," he said.
"I'll have a diet Coke."
After scribbling on her order pad, Candi turned to leave. Watching her walk away, he noticed Aaron Travis and his hired hands, Buddy Morris, Richard Caffey, and Mosely Jackson sat at the counter, no doubt hassling her. If it got out of hand, he'd have to intervene. The way he felt today, he almost hoped Aaron pushed too hard. While he didn't want to create a scene, it didn't mean he wouldn't jump at the chance to put the man in jail.
"You want to go for a ride in my new pick-up, Candi?" Aaron called out across the café, his cowboy hat shoved back on his head. "Maybe we can find a nice place to park."
Candi ignored him and went about preparing their drinks. Lucas hated that she put up with Aaron's bull. Everyone in town knew that her young son, Tyler, was the illegitimate child Aaron didn't have the decency to admit to. He even allowed his daddy to go to great lengths to deny the possibility.
So far, it'd worked in their favor. After the lawyers were called in, finally fed up, Candi told Aaron he wasn’t man enough to be her son’s father. She legally refused to claim Aaron as the dad. Seemed, even after all that and like always, Aaron didn't know when to keep his mouth shut.
Lucas went to stand, but Kendall grabbed his hand. "She’s smart. She knows how to shut him down. No need for you to come to her rescue."
"That guy’s a real piece of work. Gets Candi pregnant then refuses to take responsibility. I've always encouraged her to sue his ass off."
"She doesn't want his money or for him to have any claim on her son. Smart lady, if you ask me."
Just then a loud scream shattered the usual quiet of the diner. Aaron jumped from his seat, his lap soaked. Candi stood on the other side of the counter with a pot of hot coffee in her hand, a smile on her face.
"Sorry about that," she said. "Can't imagine how I missed your c
up."
"I ought to come over that counter and teach you a lesson."
The cook turned around with a meat cleaver in his hand and a mean looking snarl on his lips. "Why don't you just try that?"
Annoyed, Aaron and his ranch hands left. Candi thanked the cook and came toward them with their drinks in her hands.
When she reached the table, Kendall said, "Hope you scalded him good."
Candi laughed. She was an attractive young girl with big brown eyes and a slender build. Pretty and popular. Her family never had much money, but they were good people. "I'm sure I did. He'd better keep his mouth shut or somebody might shut it for him."
Kendall took a sip of her drink. "I'd love a front row seat to the show."
"I wouldn't," Lucas said. "If you have a problem with him, file a complaint and I'll be glad to take care of him and his old man."
She put her hand on her hip and looked at the door the men had just exited. "Aaron Travis and his daddy are just pathetic people who have nothing. Since his mama died, he and his daddy have gone from bad to worse."
"They definitely have enough money that you and Tyler could live in style," Kendall said, looking around the small diner. "You wouldn't have to wait tables anyway."
"Tyler is just fine. Aaron doesn't want to admit he's his, and I'm okay with that. He's out of my life and he can keep his money and that damn old ranch, too. Hope it keeps him company on all those lonely nights they stay hidden out there with nothing but cattle."
"You're better off," he assured her. "But, if you ever need anything..."
"I know I can depend on you," she smiled. "Now, what do you want for lunch? Meatloaf is the special today and it's pretty good."
"I'll have that," he said. "Does it come with mashed potatoes?"
She nodded.
"Then extra gravy."
She looked at Kendall. "I'll have a burger with everything and a side of fries."
Closing her book, she smiled and headed back behind the counter.
"Let's get back to Rachel," he sipped his iced tea. "How does she plan to prove her dad's innocence?"
"With your help, of course."
He put down his drink and gripped the edge of the table. "No, that's not going to happen.” He shook his head, “There's not a single thing I can do for her and I refuse to get involved. If she finds any evidence that supports her theory and brings it to me, then it's my sworn duty to do something.” He released the table and held up his hands. “Until then, I'm out."
Kendall narrowed her eyes. "I love you, but you follow the book too closely," she accused. "Always playing it safe. Like leaving Rachel alone to face all the mess from the bank incident by herself." She gritted her teeth. "Why couldn’t you have just talked to her? What harm could it have done?"
After everything that had happened that day with Rachel showing up and tearing open old wounds, Kendall’s words sliced his heart deep enough for it to bleed all over the table. He was reminded for the millionth time that day that his choices eight years ago had repercussions he never could have foreseen, and it hurt enough to sting his eyes. Hurt so bad, he didn’t think he could take much more. He protected this town with his life on many occasions without hesitation, and it cost him greatly to be in the position to do so. It cost him the love of his life.
"You know it wasn’t that simple. That's a pretty rotten thing for you to say."
"I’m sorry, but it’s about time I said this, Lucas. I don't blame Rachel one bit for having nothing to do with you. The way you treated her after you hauled her dad off to prison was cold and heartless." She waved her hand in the air and her voice rose. "And what the hell has it gotten you?"
Aside from his career? Not much at all. A lot of lonely, sleepless nights. "I did what was expected of me. I had strict orders from the FBI and Sheriff Townson to stay away from her or I might have ended up being implicated in the crime."
"Did you think of calling and explaining that to her?" She crossed her arms. "No," she answered her own question. "You didn't lift a finger to salvage your relationship."
"What? Are you a couple's counselor now? I tried to call her a hundred times."
"Yeah, after everything was all over and the dust had settled. I didn't see you driving to Dallas and begging her forgiveness."
"The FBI watched her and her mom like a hawk. If they saw me with her I could've been pulled in and interrogated. Maybe even lost my job as a deputy."
"So, all that meant more than Rachel?"
He lowered his gaze, ashamed to face her. "As low as it sounds, at the time, I wasn't sure what it would mean for me, being engaged or married to a woman whose dad had embezzled from the bank."
When he looked up, her face had turned redder than the new firetruck. "That is low, Lucas. How could you?"
Shame and sadness had him unable to explain an action he could no longer recognize. "I was young. When I figured out I had been a fool and was wrong…I couldn’t face her. I called her, but when she wouldn’t pick up, after a while, I just focused on my job instead. I couldn’t bear to look into her eyes and see the disappointment. Work was all I had left."
"I'm surprised your dad didn't encourage you to make up with her. Your families are so tight."
"He and mom both let me have it with both barrels. Mom didn't speak to me throughout the whole trial. They treated me like a stranger in my own home."
"Is that why you moved out as soon as everything wrapped up?"
He looked at her. "Yeah, I couldn't face Rachel, and I didn't like what I saw in my parents’ eyes, either."
"But, now it's better. I know I sound harsh, Lucas, but I really am glad it didn't break up your family."
"It sure put a strain on things. My mom is good friends with Shirley. Dad continues, to this day, to visit Jim in prison. So, in some ways, I'm still treated like the outcast in a way."
Candi brought their food to the table and Kendall asked for extra ketchup while he started eating. After Candi brought the condiment and left, Kendall tossed him a watered-down smile. "Maybe that's a good reason to help me and Rachel out. Make amends, you know?"
* * *
Rachel enjoyed a nice afternoon with her mom and grandma before sitting down to a pot roast dinner. No one cooked like Grandma Mercy. Nothing grilled and no salad. Plain old meat and potatoes cooked like only someone with years of experience knew how.
Well beyond full, she shoved away from the table and patted her belly. "I'm stuffed. I haven't eaten so much since last Christmas."
"That's because your mama never learned to cook. Always too busy playing dress up and smearing on make-up, long before she was sixteen."
Shirley laughed. "You're right. I hated being in the kitchen. That was Laura's thing. Mine was being pretty and well-dressed."
No one could argue that she hadn't succeeded. Everyone in Rainwater thought she was the prettiest woman in town back then. Everything she wore looked stunning on her.
After checking her watch, Rachel stood. "I'm meeting Kendall later. We're going to do some catching up."
Pulling the curtains aside, Grandma Mercy commented, "It's dark out there. Be careful. Rainwater isn't what it used to be."
"Why?" her mom asked. "Isn't Lucas still the Sheriff?"
"Course he is, but that don't mean a few bad elements haven't moved into town." Grandma threw down the oven mittens she'd been using. "Besides, remember, you and your mama aren't the most popular people around."
"Mr. Avery at the donut shop was very nice this morning," she said. "I think I'll be fine. What are they going to do, run me out of town? Been there, done that."
"Don't put a damn thing past the idiots in this town. Some of 'em scare the living daylights out of me."
"I'll be fine. I have my phone with me." She reached down and pecked both ladies on the cheek. "I won't be long."
Nervous as a girl on her way to prom, she drove directly to Gert's Diner, where she'd made plans to meet up with Kendall. A far cry from Dallas, Rainwater wa
s quiet and the streets were mostly empty already. She'd love to live here again. There was something to be said about small town Texas.
There were only a few guests at the diner when she arrived. Two sat at the counter and most were having coffee and maybe a piece of pie. The dinner rush was well over. Catching sight of her, Kendall stood up and waved her toward the back. Avoiding the stares, she quickly made her way to the booth.
"Hi," she said. "I noticed they still roll up the sidewalks at eight o' clock around here."
"Yeah, big difference between Rainwater and Dallas."
A waitress came to their booth to take their orders.
"Hey, Betty. Do you remember Rachel? Rachel, this is Betty Townson, formerly Betty Shimer, from High School. She was a year behind us. Now she's married to Sheriff Townson's son, Gary."
"Hi," Rachel said. "I remember you now. You dated Cal Rayford for a long time."
The girl ducked her head and her long chestnut colored hair fell forward, covering half her face. "We broke up our senior year. Guess he got tired of me after he went to college and could have any girl he wanted."
Rachel’s heart hurt at the statement. "I'm so sorry. But Gary always was a nice guy."
She smiled brightly. "He still is and he's very good to me and a wonderful daddy to our daughter." She took the pad out of her apron pocket. "What can I get you?"
Rachel looked at Kendall, who said, "I had a big lunch, I'm just having a bowl of bread pudding and a diet Coke."
Rachel groaned. "Grandma fixed pot roast. I could bust." Looking at Betty, she requested, "I'll just have iced tea."
After Betty left, Kendall leaned closer. "I had lunch with Lucas."
She didn't know what to think of that. "Surely you didn't tell him our plan, did you?" It took one look to know that's exactly what she'd done. "Kendall, how could you?"
Her friend ducked her head. "I thought he might help us out."
"You should know better than that. He'd never lift a finger to help." She let out a big sigh as unexpected disappointment sunk into her stomach. "Now he's on to us and will do his job by keeping us under surveillance."
