Out of a Texas Night

by Phyliss Miranda

  “Remind me, if I ever find an error on anything you type for me, to redo it myself before asking you. I’d probably be through the window and over by the playground on the square before I could say please,” he gleefully said. “For Harris County to have you at a desk job instead of out in the field is their loss. Most men without training couldn’t have done what you did.” He wiped blood from an elbow. “I guess you don’t have a Kleenex?”

  “No, I’m sorry.” She dropped her arm to her side to make sure the medicine bottle was still intact. As much as she wanted to give him the tissue, she couldn’t. Not without disturbing the bottle and taking a chance of contaminating any evidence, if in fact there was something of significance. “Here, turn around.” She took his elbow—covered with a fairly good degree of road rash—and pulled her blouse hem up to help clean the abrasion.

  “If you start for my other wrist, I’m out of here.” Brody chuckled.

  “Don’t tempt me, but I’d have to have handcuffs on me and I don’t.” She lowered her blouse. At least that was the truth. “Okay, you can turn around. I do want to say I’m sorry. Living in a big, crowded city like Houston, I keep my eyes and ears open at all times. Plus, the tales the deputies tell don’t help either.” Suddenly she realized she’d dished out a little too much information, so she added, “I guess that’s the Texas Ranger blood that runs through my veins, having them as a grandfather and great-grandfather. This is private property, so I didn’t anticipate anybody following me.”

  “Let’s get things straight. One, I was not following you. I didn’t even see a car, yours or anyone else’s. And, secondly, I’m a county deputy and have access to every inch of Bonita County if justified.” The tensing of his jaw displayed his deep displeasure with her accusation. “This is also a crime scene area, if you didn’t notice some leftover yellow tape, which I pulled down and stuffed in my pocket, if you’d like to see it.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was you or I wouldn’t have been scared.” She put out her right hand. “Friends?” He took it and they shared a good ol’ fashioned Texas handshake.

  Before she realized what had occurred, he drew her to him. With one arm around her waist, he pulled her closer. With his other hand, he pushed back the hair from around her face, gingerly removed three or four pieces of grass, and lowered his lips to hers then pulled back.

  Avery looked into his eyes. They were the eyes of a dream, an emotion she had not felt until recently. Like the bright, strong, Texas sunshine raining down on them, her desire overpowered her resistance.

  His mouth swooped down and captured hers, leaving her mouth burning with fire. Shock waves rushed through her body. His moist, firm lips demanded a response. Something she was eager to explore. She returned his kiss, savoring the sweetness.

  Leaning back, she said, “Is that the last of the round of kisses from the festival or is this the beginning of another set?” She slid her arms from around his neck and settled her hands on his chest.

  “Whatever you want, Scarlett.”

  Her answer was simple. Standing face-to-face, she buried her forehead in his neck and breathed a kiss. Her lips found their way instinctively to his. Warm and sweet. She slid her hand over his chest then locked her fingers around his neck. Her answer was sealed with a fiery, passionate kiss.

  Brody released her and took her hand, no doubt reading her response exactly the way she meant it.

  “Can I buy you some lunch?” Brody asked.

  “I’m sorry, I really can’t. I’ve got to be in Amarillo to catch the late plane to Houston.”

  Before she could say anything else, he said, “I hope your next trip here is long before next year’s festival.”

  “I can assure you of that. I’ve got to run over and see Mesa before I leave.” She had to use her tip-toes to give him a kiss on the forehead. “I’ll see you soon, Mr. Blackbeard.”

  Knowing his truck must be parked quite a ways south of them, she began jogging north. At the first cattle guard, she slipped between a huge stand of cottonwoods and waited until she heard his truck engine fire up as he headed back to the highway. She began jogging toward the Jacks Bluff headquarters.

  Now it seemed she had a third equation in her decisions whether to stay or go.

  Go back to Houston and continue what she’d been doing for nearly ten years.

  Or...

  Stay in Kasota Springs with loving parents who still didn’t have all the answers as to why she needed time away from Houston.

  And probably the most sweet-sour of all...Brody VanZant. He was too professional to push her so much, but she wasn’t sure how many times she could be in his arms without blabbing the whole truth about what had brought her back to Kasota Springs for a few weeks.

  Once he learned what had happened in Houston, he wouldn’t want anything to do with her and she’d have another broken heart to deal with... both by her own doing.

  Chapter 11

  With only a towel wrapped around his waist, Brody sat on the bench in the sheriff’s department locker room, rubbing his neck while he rolled his shoulders. It was hard for him to believe it’d been two weeks since Deuce had been nearly killed and there had been no announcement of who would be named as interim sheriff, although rumors flew around town like fruit flies.

  With Chief Deputy Scott in charge, Brody stayed away from the sheriff’s department as much as possible, preferring to spend time out on the streets so he didn’t have to listen to Scott. He had had a meeting with the head of the joint task force in Amarillo about the changes needed, particularly Brody not taking on any new assignments until further word.

  In no time, he was dressed, and couldn’t help but take a second look in the mirror at his new clean-shaven look. He checked his watch. He needed to hurry to the hospital, see Deuce, and get back to town before his shift started. Allowing for the fairly long drive each way, he’d have about an hour or so to spend with Deuce and Rainey.

  He grabbed his keys and rushed to his county unit, where he headed toward I-40. The thought crossed his mind that typically after a good run he’d feel better, but for some reason he didn’t today.

  It’d been several weeks since Deuce had major surgery. Brody had seen him almost every day since the injury, but today compared to others was so different.

  Not only had the drive given him the opportunity to think about whether to continue honoring his commitment to Deuce, in view of the rumors that he’d be working for Danny Scott, but he also couldn’t help but think about his brother-in-law and that damnable brother of his.

  When Brody wanted to think good thoughts, he let his mind wander to Avery and the two weeks since he’d seen her. She had said she had to catch a plane for Houston the day of their takedown, which always made him laugh.

  Although it was her takedown, he out-maneuvered her, so he continued to think of the whole event as their takedown. No wonder it brought him out of a bad mood. Just the thoughts of Avery’s smile, kisses, and even her sassy, sexy mouth seemed to do the job.

  He also continued to visit with Lola Ruth Johnson to see what was going on with her and Mesa. Which, of course, translated into had Mesa heard from Avery? He got the same answer each time that Mesa was helping out on a horse rescue ranch. Lola Ruth promised to tell her he’d been by if she called.

  Usually while visiting Lola Ruth, he’d eat a peach-apricot fried pie and drink coffee. Lola Ruth always reminded him that she’d quit frying them in lard years ago. It always made a confession come to mind; one of the first signs of being guilty was letting the investigator know what they haven’t done. But Lola Ruth Hicks could convince a scarecrow he was human any day.

  The one problem? Every time he’d ask more about Avery, Lola Ruth would either change the subject or she’d act like she hadn’t heard, which he attributed to a tad of memory loss due to her age. Seemingly nobody at the sheriff’s department knew of an
Avery from Kasota Springs, since they hadn’t mentioned her. As much as he had a yearning to do so, he wasn’t ready to make an inquiry…not yet.

  Damn it, he still didn’t know Avery’s full name, and he was an investigator! Brody wanted to laugh aloud because he knew if Deuce could respond he’d let loose with some profanity-laced inside-joke.

  With all of his thoughts, good and bad, time flew by and before he knew it he sat beside Deuce, holding his friend’s limp hand and talking nonsense to him and Rainey.

  Rainey and Brody looked up as the door eased open and Deuce’s neurologist walked in and greeted them.

  “Oh, I hope you have some good news from the recent tests.” Rainey searched the doctor’s face with eyes that screamed she hadn’t had a wink of sleep in weeks, which Brody figured she hadn’t. She pulled out of her chair and straightened her back.

  “I am sorry, Mrs. Cowan....”

  Brody stood up, circled the bed, and stood close to Rainey, slipping his arm around her shoulders. Over his career, he’d been with people who had received bad news, and many types of unexpected reactions took over. He wanted to be there for his friend’s wife.

  The doctor took a few minutes to do the typical examination—checking the eyes, listening to the heartbeat, and looking in Deuce’s ears—while he talked.

  Once he was finished, the worst began.

  The words freak accident...possibly never using his legs again ran through Brody’s mind like a malfunctioning Taser.

  He tried to take in every word, while keeping an eye on Rainey who was becoming more pale by the second. She closed her eyes, grabbed Brody’s arm, and began to fall. He caught her and eased her into a chair.

  “As you will recall, I told you from the beginning that we would have to wait for the swelling to subside and him to recover from the surgery before we’d have any long-term prognosis.” The doc flipped up pages in Deuce’s chart. “Apparently his head took the blow precisely at the one spot that put all the force on the lower cervical vertebras, which were seriously damaged. He is paralyzed, but it’s from the waist down at this point. I am quite confident he will eventually regain usage of his upper body and possibly have full functionality of his whole body. Time will tell.” He flipped to another page. “We did not see anything that indicated he cannot recover from the medically induced coma, but unfortunately, I cannot promise a positive outcome. The last thing you need is false hope, but let’s just keep positive.” He closed the chart. “The other thing I want you to begin thinking about is what rehab center you want your husband to go to when it’s time. There is a lot of thought that needs to go into such a decision, so I want you to have plenty of time to think it through and check your options.”

  Deuce’s doctor shook Brody’s hand and laid his other on Rainey’s shoulder. “Mrs. Cowan, you know you can call me at any time. Night or day. The nurses know how to get in touch with me twenty-four seven.” He said a good-bye and walked out the door.

  After a few minutes of private reflection to allow the surgeon’s news to soak in, Brody said, “Rainey, let’s go downstairs and get some coffee. If I have to drink another cup out of that vending machine, I think I might toss my cookies.”

  All the way to the hospital cafeteria Rainey apologized for not being strong. He wanted to tell her that if it hadn’t been for his need to keep her from collapsing, he would have done so and she would have had one hell of a time picking him up off the floor.

  After he got Rainey settled, he purchased two coffees and Danish rolls. It ended up being futile as they both only picked at their food.

  Deuce knew she’d have a ton of time over the weeks to think about what the doctor just confirmed and she didn’t need Deuce’s I-know-how-you-feel lecture, because she’d get enough from other people.

  He felt sure she didn’t need his input into a rehab center because no doubt she’d want her husband at the Kasota Springs Rehab and Nursing Home where his mother resided.

  “You know, you guys had the best wedding this part of the country has ever seen?” Brody said, trying to lighten the mood by talking about good memories Rainey and Deuce shared.

  Her blank face lightened up a bit. “For sure. Not many couples are married in the Alzheimer Unit of a nursing home. I remember how good-looking Deuce was clad in his sheriff’s uniform.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “It was memorable for sure with me in a dress from the 19th century selected by my maid-of-honor, Sylvie, being hosted by my mother-in-law-to-be, and being presided over by a nursing home chaplain.”

  “Well, don’t forget how excited Deuce’s mother was that she could see her special young man and you get married while watching her son play football on the wide-screen television that you all donated to the Alzheimer’s unit.” Brody took a sip of coffee, then continued.

  “I can still see her sitting with her earphones on watching the DVD, which of course she didn’t know it was a fifteen-year-old game. And she sipped that strawberry soda like it was four fingers of Black Jack on ice.” Brody laughed to himself. “And you and Deuce were saying your I do’s in front of forty patients who were there for a dozen different types of parties, just depending on the day they thought it was.”

  They joined into something similar to a laugh but very lackluster. His heart had broken for the families and caretakers, but he’d never say that to Rainey. She had enough on her plate.

  Rainey stared ahead with a slight smile on her lips. “But that’s what we wanted. Having his mother and her friends there was very important to us. The ceremony was unusual, unforgettable. A wonderful day.” Tears overtook her and flowed down her cheeks. She wiped them away with a napkin. “And don’t forget we had the county deputies in uniform. Poor Captain Chalmers thought they were there for him as part of his unit during the Korean War.”

  Brody cut in, “I personally think he thought they were there praying that Deuce wouldn’t bolt because Captain Chalmers has had a crush on you since the day you all met.”

  They shared a genuine laugh. More tears ran down her face. Whether they were happy or sad tears, Brody didn’t know, but he did know the memories were heartwarming.

  Rainey continued to watch the entrance to the cafeteria.

  Brody couldn’t stand it any longer and as much as he hated to invade her privacy, he finally asked, “Who are you watching for?”

  “Sylvie. She called me a couple of hours ago. I told her of my fears that Deuce might never walk again from what I’ve observed.” She lowered her head, as she spread her fingers on the table. “Even if he can walk eventually the rehab will be very lengthy. Hey, let’s go back upstairs in case she gets here.”

  Rainey and Brody got up and walked toward the elevator. “Brody, you have no idea how much your friendship to Deuce and me means. I know if he could speak, he’d tell you the same thing. I’m so happy that he brought your friendship to Kasota Springs.”

  About the time they reached the floor, Brody’s phone rang. Once he saw the caller was Danny Scott, he mouthed an excuse to Rainey.

  She waved and went into Deuce’s room, while Brody answered the phone. “VanZant,” he said, while thinking that she probably needed time alone with Deuce anyway. “Slow down, Scott. I can barely understand what you’re saying.”

  He sat in a chair in a vending machine area near Deuce’s room and listened. If Brody had had privacy he would have flipped on the speakerphone so he could have kept count of the I’s and mines while Scott told him about everything the doctor had said. Rumors sure do run wild.

  “Okay, I’ll be back as soon as I can. I’ve got to make sure Sylvie or someone gets here to take care of Rainey. She shouldn’t be left alone right now.” He stopped and listened and knew Scott was rolling his eyes at the ceiling. “Okay, as much as I want to show total support for the department, if I don’t make the press conference, it won’t be the end of the world. I think the county commissioners can handle
putting the Heart of Bravery on you as the interim sheriff without my presence. Deuce and Rainey are my concern right now.” Brody started to hang up then thought to ask, “Scott, how did you hear that you had been named the interim sheriff?”

  Danny’s reply didn’t particularly surprise Brody.

  “Hum, Sylvie for one.”

  “Isn’t that sort of a rumor?”

  Scott countered rather loudly, “It isn’t rumor. The mayor’s secretary called and asked for me specifically to be there and to contact you and tell you what the final prognosis is on Deuce—”

  “I was with Rainey when she got it directly from the doctor—”

  “...and that he wouldn’t be back, or at least anytime soon, so they’d be naming an interim sheriff at one o’clock here in the office and hold a presser an hour later, so it can make the early news. She specifically said the commissioners don’t want a lot of rumors flying around.”

  “Makes sense—”

  “And I’m the next in line for the job, and I am the most qualified, and I’m...”

  “Hey, Scott, don’t think you can hear me because we’ve got a bad connection here in the hospital, but if you can, I’ll be back as soon as possible. Scott?” He waited, perfectly able to hear Danny Scott but not sure he could stand to hear another “I.”

  “If you can hear me, Scott, I’ll be back as soon as possible,” he lied.

  Brody ended the call.

  Damn, he hated to do something so unethical to a fellow deputy, but Brody was barely able to breathe, and no doubt his blood pressure was rising by the minute. Hell, fire and brimstone, if he could do something, anything at all for Deuce, he undoubtedly would feel better. A dense fog of uneasiness about the future shrouded him.

  Running came to mind. If he could run—run as far away as possible, and at the same time he wanted to protect Rainey since Deuce couldn’t. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t let go of the sensation that he was responsible for Deuce’s situation either directly or indirectly.