Return Of The Prodigal Daughter [Wayback Texas Series]

by Marguerite Arotin

  For a brief second, Soledad met Sherrie's gaze. “Grannie told me about how you lost everything in that fire. I'm sorry."

  "Don't be honey. That fire brought me back to your brother.” Sherrie clutched Jake's hand. “It brought me home to my family and now it's given me a chance to help a pretty girl with bright green eyes show the town what she's made of. If I help you, will you think about entering the pageant?"

  Soledad sighed and rolled her eyes. “I suppose."

  "Good. I'll have Jake run me up to City Hall so I can get your application."

  Sherrie actually couldn't wait to get to City Hall. She hadn't heard from her friend, Jennifer Star, the city attorney, in a couple of years, but last she'd heard, Jen was still chairperson of the pageant committee.

  * * * *

  Jake pulled his truck up to a parking meter in front of city hall, and then kissed Sherrie on the cheek. “Don't be girl talking with Jennifer for too long there,” he warned. “I only have enough change to feed the meter once and I don't want any parking tickets from Ray."

  Sherrie had to laugh. “Ray Durmont is still passing out passing parking tickets. Why I thought he'd have retired by now."

  "Nope, he'll probably be on the police force until the day he dies. The old man's too ornery to ever retire."

  "Well, I'm sure Jennifer will get you off the hook."

  "I wouldn't be too sure of that. There's a lot of people in Wayback who didn't take too kindly to me leaving you in California.” Jake ran his fingers through his dark hair, turned to Sherrie, and grimaced. “Jen's one of them."

  Sherrie had never told Jennifer what really happened between Jake and her. They'd become as close as peas in a pod when they were part of the cheerleading team. Although Jen was two years older than Sherrie, they both hung out in the same crowd. Jen was also the one who convinced Sherrie to enter the Rodeo Queen Pageant, by talking up the scholarship money. They'd stayed friends for a long time, but she had lost contact with Jen in the last year or so. With a frown, she recalled how they'd once wrote each or called at least once a month. But then Jen got so busy with her new job and Sherrie had gotten even deeper into the whirlwind of modeling.

  "I won't be too long, Jake. Promise.” She kissed Jake's cheek and opened the passenger door.

  The clock tower, above the highest window on the building, sounded out a loud chime. It was four o'clock. Soon enough her big brother would be arriving home. Sherrie hurried up the grey stone steps, then through the double doors. The single courtroom was situated in the rear of City Hall.

  Sherrie wasn't surprised to see Jennifer's younger sister Heather at the front desk. The last time Jen had e-mailed Sherrie, Jen had mentioned that her sister was driving her crazy as receptionist for the town hall. Heather's emerald gaze widened as she shook her head, causing the ringlets of fiery hair surrounding her face to bounce.

  "My, my, my.... Why if it isn't Sherrie Porter?” Heather cocked her brow. “Or should I call you Chantal Maximus?"

  Sherrie laughed. “Call me Sherrie sweetie pie. Is Jennifer around?"

  "Sure.” Heather rose from her rolling chair. “Come on, I'll take you to her office. Boy won't she be surprised to see you. Normally, she likes me to announce all her visitors on the intercom doo-dad, but I want to see the look on my sister's face when you stroll into her office."

  As Sherrie walked beside Heather down the marble hall, Heather chatted about the town and her family.

  "What's your father doing now?” Sherrie asked. “How's retirement been treating him?"

  Heather laughed. “Papa's so-called retirement ended when a vacant seat came up the state congress. He decided to run for it. Election will be next month. I knew his retirement wouldn't stick."

  "What about your mother? She still teaching history at Wayback Central School?"

  "Yep. Mama will probably teach until the day she dies.” Heather pointed to a door with a glass window. “That's Jen's office.” Then she opened it and announced, “Hey, big sister, you have a visitor."

  "I thought I told you never to call me big sister while we're at...” Jennifer suddenly bolted up from behind her large oak desk. Her stormy bluish grey gaze carefully met with Sherrie, until recognition made those eyes flash. “Sherrie Porter? What are you doing in Wayback?” A half-grin turned the corners of Jennifer's lips. “I bet you drove all those movie stars and hunky models crazy and you came home to settle down with a cowboy."

  "Not exact—"

  Before Sherrie could continue, Jennifer grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug.

  Heather winked and said, “I'll let you two get caught up,” before backing out the door.

  When Jennifer finally let go, Sherrie glanced over her old friend's tall, slender frame. Jennifer was beautiful enough to be a model, with her wavy red satin hair, fine porcelain skin, and soft curves nicely accentuated by the gray slacks and black sweater she wore. Sherrie knew her old friend could have rocked the runways of Los Angeles, Paris, and Milan by her side, but Jennifer had chosen another path.

  "You look fantastic Sherrie,” Jennifer gushed as Sherrie took a seat on an old oak chair. “I always knew you'd go far. How's your life been in California? How long will be staying in town?"

  "Much as I would love to stay and get caught up, Jen, I just came here to get an application for the rodeo queen pageant. I promised Soledad Serrano I'd give her a hand with the contest."

  "Sure,” Jennifer replied with that familiar charm of a half-grin as she reached into a cubbyhole behind her desk to grab the application. Sherrie knew that smile all too well. Jennifer was a sweetie with a heart of gold, but when she wanted something, that southern charm oozed into overdrive. “But you know, the contest could really use a celebrity judge this year. You'd make a great role model for all those impressionable girls."

  "It wouldn't be fair to the other girls, since I promised to help Soledad."

  "So why is Soledad interested in the pageant all of a sudden? I hate to say it honey, but Soledad is a tomboy. It'll take a lot of work to get that girl gussied up for the pageant and you have less than a week. But you could do all those young ladies a favor. They all admire you Sherrie. You were once like them. Don't you remember? So full of hope and big dreams ... Don't you want the chance to help the contestants make their dreams come true?"

  Sherrie rolled her eyes. God, Jennifer still knew how to lay it on thick. “Look, I wasn't that different from Soledad once. Remember that skinny little blonde tomboy who used to follow Jake around and never backed down from one of his dares?"

  Jennifer laughed. “I suppose I do. What ever happened with you Jake? He never told me why he came home two years ago."

  On one hand, Sherrie didn't want to go into the complicated issue of Jake. On the other hand, Jennifer had been one of her closest friends since senior year. After the pageant the summer before, they'd been inseparable.

  Sherrie exhaled, and then blurted out the story of her and Jake in California. “We lived together for five years. Then one day Jake broke his leg during a movie shoot. He moped around our condo for weeks, complaining that his stunt man career was over, telling me I should just go to a photo shoot in Rio without him ... I snapped one day. I think I just got sick of his griping.” She frowned and then admitted, “Heck, I think I was sick of a lot of things. I mean when you live with a man for five years ... A woman needs some kind of commitment after putting up with a man for that long."

  Jennifer nodded.

  "So I gave Jake an ultimatum. Told him that if he didn't give me an engagement ring, or at least propose to me, I'd leave him.” Sherrie closed her eyes, trying to erase the image of how red Jake's face had turned as he reached for his crutches. “He told me he'd solve that problem by leaving himself. He didn't even fight with me. His solution was to grab his crutches, amble down the hall, and walk out of my life without another word. Now he's back in my life again. Jen...” She reached across the desk to touch her friend's hand. “I never stopped loving him. After sp
ending the day with Jake, I know he feels the same way. I made a promise not to give up on him, but how do I know that he won't give up on me?"

  Jennifer placed her hand over Sherrie's. “You don't. All you can do is keep your end of the bargain. Of course you could always make him squirm a little."

  Sherrie laughed. “I could, couldn't I? Oh I have some ways in mind to make that cowboy squirm. Now, promise you won't let any of this leak to the staff of the Wayback Journal? The last thing I want is to read a headline that says ‘Prodigal Daughter returns despite heartbreak'."

  "I won't. Provided that you're willing to help an old friend and judge a beauty contest."

  Sherrie cocked her brow, uncertain if her friend was joking or serious. “Resorting to blackmail now?"

  Jennifer laughed. “Just kidding. It's great to have you home, Sherrie. Here's Soledad's application."

  "Thanks.” Sherrie rose from her seat. “You know, I could have blackmailed you right back about the time I talked to Craig Kingston for you because you were too shy to ask the quarterback out. How is Craig these days?"

  Jennifer grimaced. “I'm still with Craig. Although God knows why sometimes,” she mumbled.

  "Honey, what's wrong? What did that cowboy do to you?"

  Jennifer waved her hand. “Forget it. Forget I said anything about him at all."

  Sherrie walked behind the desk and put her hand on Jennifer's shoulder. “Sweetie, if you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm staying with Max. You were always there for me in high school and I'm sorry we fell out of touch. I'm here for you now though. I don't know how long I'll be in town...” Sherrie glanced at the glove hiding her burns, a constant reminder that she might never smile in the spotlight again. “But I'll be there for you always. Okay?"

  Jennifer nodded, and then flashed Sherrie a strained smile. “Okay."

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Seven

  "So much for in and out,” Jake teased as he opened the truck door for her.

  "Well, you know how it is when old girlfriends talk. You didn't have to refuel the meter while you waited, did you?"

  Jake shook his head and started up the truck. “Nope. You got back just in time.” He glanced at the application in Sherrie's hand. Although he still wasn't quite certain if Soledad wanted to enter, he hoped his little sister was at least considering the idea. “I'll make sure Soledad gets the application and I'll hound her a bit about filling it out. I think she'd be the second prettiest rodeo queen ever.” He snuck a quick kiss to Sherrie's cheek before the light turned green. “You were the first."

  "You still know how to sweet talk me."

  Jake grinned. “I'm thinking I might sweet talk my boss into giving me the night off. Want to go dancing with me at the Blue Bug Saloon tonight? It's ladies night."

  Sherrie gave a very unladylike snort. “You probably want to take me there because the drinks are free for ladies tonight. Then you'll take me to your bed and have your way with me."

  He winked. “Nah, I was thinking more like the bed of my truck. That would be quicker than driving you all the way to my place."

  When she frowned, he draped his arm over her shoulder. “I was kidding. I'd much rather make love to you while you're sober. But tonight let's just start off with the dancing. We'll see how it goes from there.” He gave her a sly wink. “So what do you say? Can I take the prettiest girl in Wayback out to the Blue Bug tonight?"

  Sherrie grinned. “I'm not the prettiest girl in Wayback, but you can take me dancing anyway."

  "Perfect. I'll pick you up at eight."

  * * * *

  Sherrie rummaged through her suitcase trying to figure out what to wear for her date with Jake. The picnic at the farm had been no big deal, but did a date at a honky-tonk call for classy or casual? She glanced at the clock. Shit, it was already seven. She knew she'd better find something soon, since she still had to do her hair and makeup. Laughing, she lifted a black silk shirt out of her suitcase. Who would've thought that the girl who'd once had to bribed to wear a dress would have turned into such a fashion diva? She supposed it started in seventh grade during a makeover party with the cheerleading team. She would never forget the reaction on Jake's face when he'd knocked on Jennifer Starr's bedroom window to ask if she wanted to ditch the cheerleaders and come horseback riding with him around the farm. The fifteen-year-old boy couldn't seem to get his words straight and nearly fell of the ladder he stood on.

  After that, Sherrie decided that maybe wearing sexy dresses wasn't such a bad idea. She held the black satin shirt against her chest and smiled. Now, what to wear with it? She lifted a black fringed skirt from the bottom of her suitcase, and grinned.

  On her way to the bathroom to apply her makeup, she bumped into Max in the hallway. His eyes opened wide as he looked her up and down. “Isn't that skirt kind of short? Where are you going all dolled up like that?"

  Sherrie rolled her eyes. “Please don't play the protective big brother on me again. Jake'll be here in less than an hour. He's taking me dancing at the Blue Bug tonight."

  "Don't stay out all night little girl,” Max warned, pointing a stern finger in her face.

  "I won't. But who are you to tell me how late I can stay out? Not like I have anything to do tomorrow morning. Maybe I should start looking for a job here in Wayback. I'll never model again."

  Max put his hand on her shoulder. “Don't talk like that Sherrie. You never know what the future will bring.” He lifted her chin with his forefinger. “And you're a beautiful, intelligent woman with a good heart. You remind me so much of our mama."

  Sherrie closed her eyes, trying to picture Mama's face. She was so pretty ... Blue eyes like me and Daisy with just a sprinkling of freckles over her face. I wished I had freckles like Mama and Daisy. “No, Daisy looks more like her than I do. And you look so much like Daddy. You've always looked out for me too, just like Daddy would have. But I'm a big girl now Max and although I lost my way, I'll get by. I took care of myself in California and I can take care of myself here."

  Max flashed her a half-grin. “There's a difference between being dependent and relying on people who love you. You'll always be my little sister."

  She cocked her brow. “Well, can you let your little sister get ready for her date now?"

  "Sure. Just don't overdo it on the makeup."

  Sherrie laughed. “You're talking to a pro here, remember? I haven't overdone it in years. Or maybe I won't wear any makeup at all. Jake used to say there was no point in painting my face when he was gonna kiss it all away anyway."

  Max rolled his eyes. “Don't tell me stuff like that. Have fun, but let me know if Jake does anything to hurt you.” He cracked his knuckles. “I'll put the fear of God into that boy."

  * * * *

  The front porch light cast a soft glow around the angel dressed in black, waiting on the front porch swing of the Porter house. She wore a low-cut shimmering blouse that exposed a bit of soft cleavage and a short skirt with fringe that bounced as she walked down the porch steps.

  Even in the pale porch light, he could tell she didn't wear any makeup. He'd never thought she needed it. She'd grown up to be a true natural beauty and he wished he could kick himself in the ass for leaving her two years ago. He vowed not to make same mistake again. This time he'd hold Sherrie tight and never let her go.

  He offered his arm. A soft night breeze carried a familiar scent. Jasmine ... vanilla ... a twist of exotic flowers and spices. “Chanel No.5,” he whispered. “I remember holding you close at night with that scent all wrapped around you."

  "I remember too, until the day you left.” Her heels stopped clicking along the flagstone path and she refused to move. Sherrie's gaze met his own and she blurted out, “Why did you go? I thought you loved me. But you just walked out on me without a fight. I cried my heart out a week later when you left your key on the kitchen counter and emptied your closet."

  Jake stroked her cheek. “I was an idiot. I'll admit it now. A blind
, stubborn fool who...” He huffed out a breath and ran his fingers through his wild hair. “You really put me on the spot that day. I knew I didn't want to go back to stunt work. I mean let's face it ... I was no Colt Seavers."

  Sherrie flashed a small grin. “So the reality of living like your childhood hero from The Fall Guy didn't quite live up to your expectations?"

  He shook his head. “I didn't really like California that much either. Honey, after my mama ran away again, you were really the only thing holding me to the West Coast. Then that day when you demanded commitment, well I suppose I just figured you'd be better off without a broken stuntman in your life. I couldn't understand why you would want to marry me and I didn't want to fight with you about it. I still remember how you shouted that I was a coward down the hall on the day I left. You were right."

  She kissed his cheek. “And are you still a coward? Will you run out on me again if I push you between a rock and a hard place?"

  "No. This time I'll be a man and tell you everything. Now come on, darling. Let's go dancing."

  Neither one of them said a word as he drove to the Blue Bug Saloon. Of course, Jake figured that they'd said it all on the walkway outside her family home. The parking lot overflowed with cars, trucks, and a few RV's as the animated neon blue bug danced on the sign. He climbed out of the truck, opened the door for Sherrie and helped her out. A jolt of pure joy shot through him when he touched her hand and she smiled. He wondered if the current was because he still loved just holding her silken hand, or because God had blessed him with a second chance. Don't screw it up this time, cowboy.

  Barney, the big old man who'd been working the front door since long before Jake started coming to the Blue Bug, flashed a grin as he entered the foyer with Sherrie. “Did you finally come to your senses, boy, and go get your woman?"

  Jake guffawed and patted Sherrie's arm. “Nope. She came home to me. Though I should have never left her in California."