“So you and Jodie?”
“Are just really good rodeo buddies. Did you think we were involved?” His eyes twinkled.
“Wouldn’t care if you were. That’s your business. But she is my good friend and I’d hate for you to give her that line about ‘live with me and don’t ask for more’.”
“I don’t think any man with a lick of sense would offer Jodie that. She’d bust their head with her fist and then drag them off to some shallow grave,” he chuckled.
“That’s the truth. Jodie is . . . different.”
“Jodie is a wonderful friend but it would take a bigger man than me to approach her with romance. Let’s sit and eat.” He motioned toward two bar stools and set the skillet on a hot pad. “Plates or do we eat out of the pan?”
“Hand me a fork and forget the plates.”
“I also called a wrecker service out of Sulphur and they’ll be taking your truck home.” He said between bites.
“Thank you,” she mumbled.
If Rance hadn’t been going home to change his clothes she might have been stranded in the ditch for a long time. If she hadn’t been more than half mad at him she would have stuck around and talked to Dee longer and wouldn’t have left before him. Was there really such a thing as fate? Somewhere in the distant reaches of the universe, had it already been decided that they would meet and fall in love?
While he ate he wondered if she’d left the church in such a hurry and refused the invitation to dinner because she was jealous. And if so, did it mean she felt the same way about him as he did her?
He sipped hot coffee after he’d finished his half of the huge omelet. “So are you ready for the hot tub? I keep it filled up and ready.”
“Where’s a place I can change?”
“I’ll show you.” He led the way through the formal dining room and down the hall. “Spare bedroom right here. I’m right across the hallway.”
When they’d both changed into swim suits, they opened the doors at the same time.
“Ready?” He asked when he found enough moisture in his dry mouth to speak.
“Oh, yes,” she said. “Just lead the way.”
She shivered when he opened the door out onto a screened back porch. Steam arose from the six sided Jacuzzi. Water bubbled like it was a living thing, beckoning them to come in and get out of the chill. Outside, the rain fell harder. Limbs on the trees had begun to grow a thick layer of shiny ice. She lost no time getting inside the tub and submersing herself to the neck.
“A-h-h-h,” she moaned.
He joined her, the same sound escaping from his lips.
“Temperature all right?” He asked.
She leaned back into a head rest and shut her eyes. This was heaven in a nutshell. “Great.”
His cell phone set up a howl, the ring tone set to play Conway Twitty’s “Hello Darlin’.” He reached out to the white wicker tea cart setting beside the tub.
“Hello.” The smile vanished. His dark eyebrows knit down into a solid line forming a ledge above his blue eyes as he listened.
“Why are you calling me now?” His tone was as cold as the ice falling outside. “That wouldn’t be a good idea. As a matter of fact, it would be a crazy one. We are getting a ferocious ice storm. Stay in Dallas with your folks. It’s over Julie. It’s been for a long time. I haven’t even heard from you for more than a year. Why now?”
He listened and stared at the wall behind Stella’s shoulder.
As bad as she hated to, she crawled out of the tub, wrapped herself in one of the big fluffy snowy white towels on the tea cart and headed back toward the bedroom. He didn’t need the embarrassment of another woman in the tub with him as he discussed things with his ex wife. She completely dried her wet body and redressed in her old sweats then pushed the sheer white curtains back to look out at the freezing rain.
“Sorry about that,” he said so close behind her that she jumped. “I haven’t heard from Julie, my ex-wife, in more than a year. I can’t imagine what’s going on in her life but if she’s playing nice then she’s wanting something and I’ve got nothing to give her.”
Stella didn’t turn around but kept her eyes on the back yard. “I understand. I suppose you should take me home.”
“You got visitors coming tonight?”
“No. Not until morning. Oh, my gosh, I’d better call Maggie. If she goes home and finds my truck and no me, she’ll panic,” she said.
He handed her the cell phone and the lights went out at the same time. “Here’s the phone. Uh-oh, there goes the electricity. We’d better light some wood in the fireplace and turn on the oven in the kitchen. It’s run by gas.”
Even though it was mid afternoon, the house was as dark as night. She phoned Maggie who informed her that she’d already called the Inn and retrieved the messages. The party who’d booked the next week had cancelled and Maggie wasn’t about to try to drive in the sleet. She and Lauren were staying at Lucy’s until it thawed out.
“You are going home aren’t you? You’re not staying at Rance’s house are you? That could be dangerous. Mother is in the kitchen. I’m in the bedroom. She’d just die if she knew you were over there,” Maggie whispered.
“Don’t tell her,” Stella whispered back. “There’s nothing I could do if I did go home with no electricity. Here, I could at least help Rance with the chores and have warmth.”
“Be careful little sister. Be sure you’re not just rebounding.”
“Call me tomorrow morning and give me the update on what’s going on in town,” Stella hung up and went into the living room to warm her hands before a blazing fire.
Rance looked up from the end of the sofa. “Everything all right?”
“Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and there’s no way I’m going to get to Mother’s,” she whined.
“I was going to Grapevine to spend the holiday with my mother,” he whined right back.
“Oh well, we’ll get lots of experience won’t we?”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s one of Roxie’s old sayings. Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.”
Chapter Eleven
A countryside covered in a sheet of ice. A big house with all the rooms shut off except the kitchen, dining room and den. A fireplace with a blazing flame. An oven which stayed turned on whether anything was inside or not. All the things that people sang songs about on Christmas Eve, but it felt more like a prison than a happy, cozy place.
Rance had pulled out the hidden bed from both the sofa and the love seat and insisted she take the larger one since it was closest to the fire. She had plenty of blankets; a soft down pillow and the embers of a glowing fire but the total quietness was eerie. Rance’s soft breathing and occasional attempt at a snore was the only noise. It was still raining but so softly it couldn’t be heard, freezing on everything it touched by the time it landed.
There was no way to tell time. The electric clocks weren’t working. Her watch, along with a bracelet she’d worn to church, lay on the end table but there wasn’t enough light to see the numbers. She’d doze for a while, then awaken with a start and try to imagine how long it was until morning. Once she thought she’d get up and read a while. That usually worked at the Inn when she had a restless night. But then she remembered there was no electricity. That meant no lights to read so she watched Rance sleep by the fire light. He slept on his side with one arm hugging the pillow. An orange cat curled up at his feet and a black and white one shared his pillow. The look in their eyes said they were protecting him from the big blond woman.
Experience! I don’t want experience. I want to go home for Christmas Eve. I haven’t been there for five years and I’ve looked forward to this. It’s not fair. Nothing is fair. Most of all being in this room right now.
Sometime around morning the rain stopped and she fell into a deep sleep. She was disoriented when she awoke. After a few seconds she remembered where she was and why. She wanted to hit something,
anything. How dare God send an ice storm on Christmas Eve. It wouldn’t be gone by tomorrow either; she could feel it in her bones. If it weren’t for bad luck she’d have no luck at all.
She slung the covers back in a snit, hopped out of the sofa bed and stumped her toe on the recliner as she stomped toward the kitchen. She fell to the floor dramatically, moaning and groaning, holding onto the throbbing toe that felt like it had been bitten off by a wicked rattlesnake. Before she could get to her feet, Rance barreled into the room.
He gathered her up in his arms and held her while she cried. “Stella, what did you do? Did you break something?”
She pushed him away, and slapped his arm hard when he tried to touch her again. “Go away. I hurt my toe and it’s your fault.”
“I’m sorry you stumped your toe but it’s most certainly not my fault.”
“Yes, it is. You moved that rocking chair. It wasn’t there when I went to sleep,” she argued.
“Nothing was moved. You just stumbled and fell. Now, get over your hissy fit and come on in the kitchen. Breakfast is almost ready. I was about to bring it to you on a tray when I heard a crash.”
“Don’t you tell me what to do. I’m mad and you can’t do anything about it. I’m going to take a shower and get dressed and maybe then I’ll apologize for being a big baby but not until then.” She stormed off in the direction of the bathroom.
“You are a lucky woman this morning because the hot water tank is run by gas and not electricity so you can pamper yourself with a hot shower. I laid some of my flannel pajamas on the vanity. I’m bigger than you but we’re about the same height so you should be able to make do with them.” He chuckled but kept it quiet enough she couldn’t hear. She was so darned cute sitting there in a pout that he could have kissed her.
Ten minutes later she showed up at the breakfast table in his red plaid pajamas and a towel wrapped around her head. “I’m so mad I could spit. I haven’t been this mad in so long I forgot when the last time was. I want to hit something. I could even slap the fire out of you for getting up so early and fixing breakfast.”
“Then I’ll keep my distance. I’ll remember to never let you sleep late again if this is the way you wake up.”
“You can take me home. I’m in a Jesus mood.”
“And what is that?” He set a platter of crisp bacon and toast on the table. A pitcher of orange juice and one of milk was already there along with three kinds of jam and butter. Coffee bubbled on the back of the stove in an old blue granite coffee pot that had seen better days.
“A Jesus mood? Granny Molly said they attacked me periodically. It’s when I’m in such a bad mood even Jesus couldn’t live with me. You don’t need that kind of company so take me home.”
“If that’s what you want, I’ll take you home. But I’m eating first. It’s my reward for burning my hand on the skillet while I cooked your breakfast. So like it or not, I’m eating.”
“Good grief, Rance, I’m sorry. Is it bad?”
“No, it’s just a surface burn, but it hurt like the devil when I did it. You are upset because this ice has put a damper on your plans and probably the close brush with death yesterday is just now hitting your nervous system,” he said.
She folded bacon into a piece of toast. “It’s like I’ve got this big ball of anger inside me and it won’t go away. I could go outside and walk all the way home barefoot. If I breathed on the ice it would melt I’m so full of red hot rage.”
“Okay, then when you finish eating, we’re going to take a trip over to your mother’s place. I’ve got chains I can put on the truck tires to get you into town. We can drive slowly. It might take an hour but at least you’ll be there for the holidays.”
“You’d do that for me?”
He handed Stella the cell phone. “Sure. Just eat and we’ll go. Call your mother and tell her to expect us in a couple of hours.”
“Momma, how are things there?” She asked when she heard her mother’s voice.
“Frozen stiff. We have no electricity and this house is total electric. Lauren is reading a book under a ton of quilts. How are you?” Lucy said.
Stella pushed the mute button. “They have no electricity. All three of them are freezing.”
“Then I will go and get them. Tell them to get their suitcases packed and I’ll be there in a couple of hours. We’ll cook Christmas here tomorrow.”
“Mother?” Stella said.
Rance held out his hand. “Oh, give me the phone.”
“Mrs. Brannon, this is Rance. I’ve got a gas cook stove, gas hot water heater and gas heater in the bathroom. I’ve also got an enormous den and a fireplace. If you all don’t mind everyone bunking up in the den together, you are welcome here. At least we’ll all be warm and have a hot meal on Christmas day. What?” He paused.
“No, ma’am, I do not expect you to walk. I have chains for the truck. It’s a dual cab so there’s plenty of room. I’ll be there in a couple of hours and get you. Bring whatever you want. There’s lots of room in the pickup bed. Okay, then. Good-bye.”
He flipped the phone shut and went back to his breakfast.
“What did she say?”
“She said thank you.”
She smiled. “You’re a right decent fellow.”
“While ago I was the devil who made you stump your toe.”
“Well, your halo is a little crooked and I think I smell smoke on one of your wings but you’re an all-right guy.”
Stella yelled from the living room door. “Momma, where are you?”
“I’m right here,” Lucy said. “In the kitchen getting things put into boxes to take with me. I’ve got a turkey and a ham and things to cook for tomorrow. Where is Rance? I’ve got a huge favor to ask of him.”
“Oh, he’s loading Lauren’s suitcase and sleeping bag. I was horrible this morning and I think maybe he’s got a set of wings under that T-shirt, Momma. Either that or he’s crazy as a loon. I was so mean you would be ashamed of me.”
“Jesus mood?”
“Worse. I yelled. I kicked a chair. I threw myself on the floor and pitched a fit over a simple stumped toe and then blamed him for it. I’ve been awful.”
“I guess there’s a reason God sent an ice storm right here at the holidays but we sure don’t have to like it, do we?”
“No, we do not,” Stella agreed.
“Hello Rance.” Lucy said when Rance found his way to the kitchen. “I’ve got a favor to ask and you can surely say no and I’ll understand. You’re already going beyond your neighborly duty taking us in for the holidays and sharing your warm house.”
“And what would that be?” He asked.
“Junior, the man I keep company with, is in the same boat we are. Total electric home and he was planning to eat Christmas dinner with us. It was going to be a surprise so my family could meet him. Can I invite him to your house, too?”
Stella was shocked. “Mother!”
Lucy pointed her finger at Stella. “Hush. It’s taking a chunk of my pride to ask after the things I’ve said about Rance.”
Rance chuckled. “Of course, it’s fine. There’s room in the truck for six. Does he live far from here?”
“Right on the way. He’ll be ready, I’m sure. He’s as cold as we are. Amazing how the idea of warmth erases pride, ain’t it?” She put the last package of cranberries in the box and handed it to Rance.
Rance pulled the truck up in front of Junior’s house a few minutes later to find the tall, thin man sitting on the front porch. He threw his duffle bag and bed roll into the bed of the truck with all the rest of the gear and sighed when he slid into the back seat beside Lucy. “Ah, heat. It was as warm outside as inside so I just waited on the porch. Thank you, Rance, for this invitation. I’m in your debt forever.”
Rance nodded. “You are very welcome and no debt. I’m glad for the company.”
They made one stop on the way back to the ranch and that was at the Inn for Stella to go inside for shoes and clothing of
her own. While she was in the house she checked the water in the kitchen and bathrooms, left the faucets dripping just slightly to keep the pipes from freezing and hurried back outside.
By the time they reached Rance’s house and unloaded, it was time for chores.
“You ladies going to make supper?” He pulled a pair of insulated coveralls over his clothing.
“We certainly are,” Lucy said. “Potato chowder. Then we’re going to attempt to make a couple of pies for dinner tomorrow before we run completely out of light. You got kerosene lamps anywhere?”
“Every bedroom has one. Lauren, you want to put your coat on and go upstairs to get them?” Rance asked.
Lauren giggled. “That sounds funny. Put on a coat to go somewhere in the house, but yes, I’ll take care of it.”
“Got another pair of them coveralls out there?” Junior asked.
“Sure do.”
“Then drag them out. I can help with the choring and we’ll get it done a lot faster. Going to use the truck with the chains?”
Rance handed him the coveralls. “No, we’ve got a four wheeler that gets good traction on the ice with extra wide tires and a little feed trailer we pull behind it.”
Junior gave Lucy a dry peck on the forehead as he headed out the back door. “See you in a little while.”
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