‘Sorry, folks, but I think we’re gonna call it a night.’
‘You lightweight,’ said Mikey, throwing a cushion at his brother.
‘Now you leave them be,’ Tex’s mother reprimanded her youngest son.
‘You tell him, Mama,’ said Tex, tossing the cushion back at Mikey before going over and giving his mother a kiss on the cheek. ‘Night. See y’all in the morning.’
‘Night honey.’ Then, much to Tex’s delight, his mom went over to Anna and gave her a kiss and a hug. ‘You pay them boys no mind. You must be exhausted. Get some rest now. Night honey.’
As they stepped out onto the porch, Tex pulled Anna towards him, putting his arms around her. ‘She likes you.’
‘Who?’
‘Mama.’
‘She said?’
‘No, but I can tell. In fact, they all like you.’
‘Well, that’s good, because I like them all too. You have a lovely family.’ She stood on tiptoe and gave Tex a quick kiss. ‘Anyway, what are we doing out here? I thought we were going to bed.’
‘We are. Come on.’ He led her towards Al’s pick-up truck and opened the passenger door for her. ‘We’re staying at my place.’
‘Your place?’
‘Creek Cottage. Just over the back of First Meadow, about half a mile away.’ He shut the door and nipped round the front of the truck, sliding into the driver’s seat. ‘We’ve all got our own place on the ranch. Creek Cottage is mine.’
A few minutes later, Tex was pulling up outside the small wooden cabin. He breathed deeply as he took in the traditional settler type construction. It felt good being home.
‘I feel like I’ve stepped back in time,’ marvelled Anna, breaking his thoughts.
‘Well, there’s no electricity, running water or inside bathroom,’ he said as he helped her down from the cab.
‘Seriously?’
‘Seriously.’ He paused, amused at the look of surprise on her face. ‘I am only joking.’
Inside, the cottage was simply furnished. A room to the right was the living area and a room to the left was the kitchen and dining room. All the furniture was traditional, rustic. The stairs were at the back of the kitchen and led up to a large double room, a small single and a bathroom.
‘This is really lovely,’ said Anna as she looked round the bedroom.
‘I'm glad you like it.’ Tex smiled as he put his arms round her and kissed her. A thought of Estelle flicked through his head. He had never brought another woman here in the five years since Estelle had died. Was it wrong to bring Anna? He raked around in his heart for some sort of emotion. Guilt. Regret. Sadness. But all were absent. It didn’t feel wrong. In fact, it felt right. Very right.
‘So what have we got planned for today?’ asked Anna, coming up behind Tex and wrapping her arms around him while he cooked their breakfast.
Tex’s mom had left what he termed as a Red Cross parcel outside the front door, packed with good old home-style provisions. Bacon, eggs, beans, bread, milk and coffee. She had even managed to produce some English Breakfast tea from somewhere.
‘Thought I’d show you the ranch. I meant to ask, can you ride?’ He gave the beans a stir and shook the bacon in the pan, sending delicious smells into the mid-morning air.
‘A bike. Well I haven’t ridden one since I was about ten.’
Tex laughed out loud. ‘Not a bicycle. A horse.’ He turned round to face her. The look of total horror on her face actually made him feel quite sorry for her. ‘I take it that’s a no. Okay, not to worry, we can take the quad. You just need to sit on the back and hold on tight.’
While Anna went upstairs to get dressed, Tex prepared a packed lunch for them for later, again courtesy of the Red Cross parcel. He was really looking forward to taking her out today, to showing her the Longhorn cattle, the bison, the lakes where he had fished as a child, the places for shooting, the stables and all the things he enjoyed about ranch life.
Anna came back down suitably dressed in jeans and a white shirt. She was looking at him with amusement dancing in her eyes.
‘So you really are a cowboy,’ Anna said.
‘What?’
‘The hat. You really must be a cowboy if you’re wearing a Stetson.’ She walked towards him. ‘Come here, cowboy.’ She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. Darn it, he could take her right back to bed there and then. She must have read his mind. ‘Don’t go getting any ideas. Come on, show me your ranch.’
He caught her hand. ‘Don’t think you’re getting away that easy. Gotta protect your lily white skin from the sun.’ From behind his back he produced another Stetson and dropped it onto her head. ‘Let’s go, cowgirl.’ He gave her behind a playful smack.
As Anna climbed on the back of the quad and shuffled forward, Tex was rather pleased that she couldn’t horse ride after all. Having her sitting so tight behind him, her arms wrapped firmly around his waist, he could feel every curve of her body against his back and enjoy the sensation of her thighs against his. What more could he ask for?
It had been a glorious day riding around the ranch. Anna couldn’t get over how vast it was, and how Tex seemed to be able to find his way around, despite it being over two years since he was last here.
That evening, dining up at Moonshadow Ranch House with Tex’s parents, she felt very much at home, and after sitting out on the porch, the relaxed atmosphere and conversation continued.
‘You know Buckler’s ranch has started farming olives,’ said his father.
‘Olives? I know there’s more of it going on these days round here. How they doing?’ Tex asked.
‘Okay, by all accounts. You ought to take a drive up there this week and have a look. Quite something to see row after row of olive trees instead of cattle.’
‘That’s sounds like a good plan for tomorrow,’ said Tex.
When they eventually made it back to Creek Cottage, Anna felt happy. Extremely happy. It was bliss just being in Tex’s company all the time. She had hardly thought of Luke, who was splitting his time between Nathan and his friend Jacob’s house. Anna dismissed thoughts of England, she didn’t want to start worrying, there was nothing she could do anyway. No, the two worlds of lover and family were securely compartmentalised. No overlap. She was here with Tex and that was all she wanted to think about.
The following day Tex took Anna out to Buckler’s ranch, which the sign at the gate now advised was called Olive Grove Ranch. Not exactly inspiring but hey, it was what it said.
Browsing in the ranch shop, Tex seemed to be taking a keen interest in the local produce. He picked up a couple of jars of olives.
‘Green or black?’ he asked, weighing up a jar in each hand.
‘Eww, neither,’ said Anna, wrinkling up her face. ‘I don't like olives.’
‘You can learn to like something, you know. Before you know it, you love something you once didn't.’ Anna gave him a sideways look but Tex carried on. ‘I'll challenge you not to fall in love,’ he paused before adding, ‘with olives.’
‘Okay. How do you propose I do that then? Fall in love with olives that is.’
‘Every day you must just eat a little bit of olive. Not a whole one, just a small bite. Do that every day for a month and I'll guarantee that you will love them. That is what they mean by an acquired taste. You have to slowly familiarise yourself with the taste, get used to it gradually, without rushing. A little each day and you will learn to love them.’
‘I accept your challenge,’ replied Anna cautiously. ‘I can't make any promises though.’
The week was slipping by too quickly. Anna thoroughly enjoyed their days out sightseeing, and the days spent relaxing at Creek Cottage and exploring the ranch. Tex had attempted to teach her how to shoot, but she didn’t even want to hold the gun, so he had settled on giving her a horse riding lesson, which she much preferred.
She was very impressed to watch him haul himself up onto a horse one afternoon, sitting in the saddle looking totally at ease. The thrill that sho
t through her when he had winked and tipped his Stetson at her was bad enough, but coupled with that seductive smile of his, she truly thought her legs would give way.
‘Are you sure you’ll be okay without me for a few hours? I don’t mind if you would sooner not be left on your own.’ He had checked with her earlier and double-checked several more times throughout the morning.
‘Of course I don’t mind,’ she told him again. ‘And, anyway, who am I to stop you having some time with your brothers. You go and enjoy yourself. I’ll be fine.’ To see him so happy and relaxed was lovely.
He gave the reins a tug to the left and immediately the horse responded. As it swung round, Anna saw Tex give a small but authoritative dig with his heels into the horse’s flank, a flick of the reins before galloping off with his brothers to help with the herding. She watched him disappear, swallowed up in cloud of dust, entranced at the way he took command so effortlessly and confidently.
It was their last full day before they had to go back to the UK. Tex couldn’t help feeling a bit downhearted at the fact. He had loved being home, spending time with his brothers and their families. They had all made Anna feel so welcome and she seemed at ease in their company too. He was grateful that his siblings’ wives and husbands were very laid back and easy to get on with. They had all made a special effort to include Anna in everything, yet at the same time managed to make her presence seem perfectly normal. He was particularly pleased to see Gabriella give Anna a big hug, the incident of going missing, forgiven and forgotten. He made a mental note to thank Gabriella in private when he got the chance.
There was a particular place on the ranch – a small cluster of trees by the edge of the creek up at the top pasture – that Tex hadn’t yet shown Anna. Creek Corner – his thinking spot. He hadn’t been sure until this morning that he would take her there.
After Estelle’s funeral, he had come home to mourn. At the time he hadn’t thought of it like that, but he had retreated into the heart of his family. It had been several weeks before he was able to face the world again, and for the most part of those long weeks he had spent them up at Creek Corner.
Taking Anna there now was a gamble, but he had to know whether she could weave her magic and cleanse the place of the blackness that he associated with it. Anna was thankfully totally oblivious to the effect she was having on the usual feelings of guilt and regret that plagued Tex whenever he was involved with a woman. It was something up until now he hadn’t wanted to share with Anna. With anyone.
As they reached Creek Corner in the late afternoon warmth, Tex felt his stomach churn over. Climbing off the quad and taking the rucksack from Anna, he paused for a moment to take a deep breath. This was it. This was the ultimate test.
‘You okay, Tex?’ Her voice was gentle, concerned. She was watching him closely, doing that thing where she really studied him, as if she could read the thoughts behind his eyes.
‘Yeah, sure I am. Come on.’ He took her hand and strode towards the cluster of trees and then along a small path that led to a clearing on the edge of creek. He spread the blanket out, a silence settling between them. He sat down, his knees drawn up, his arms resting on top. Anna sat down beside him and slipped her arm through his. Tenderly, she kissed his shoulder and then rested her head on his arm.
‘Is it difficult coming here?’ she asked softly.
She deserved an honest answer. ‘It was. But you know what? Now we’re here, it feels okay.’ He looked down at her and she met his eyes with a steady gaze. ‘How did you know?’
She shrugged. ‘Don’t know. I could just tell. As we got nearer and nearer I could sense something in you. A change.’
‘I never came here with Estelle.’ He swallowed hard. ‘I came here after… after she died. It was like a retreat. I could come here and let all my emotions out.’
‘To grieve.’ It wasn’t a question more an understanding. ‘We don’t have to stay if it’s too painful.’
Should he tell her that the pain had stopped? The deep wound left by grief now healed. He didn’t want to frighten her but at the same time, he wanted her to know. He gently stroked her cheek before he spoke. ‘There’s no pain, not today, not anymore.’
Tex was woken the following morning by Anna kissing him softly, her leg over his, her hand wandering up and down his body, the tips of her fingers like tiny shock waves as she touched him.
‘Make love to me,’ she whispered.
He didn't need asking twice. He loved loving her. As he pulled her on top of him, admiring her beautiful body with his eyes and his hands, he realised how true those words were. He really did love her. She leaned forward, covering his face in kisses, nuzzling his ear, giving him a moment to analyse this notion. He dug deep into his heart but there was no flicker of guilt. No feeling of betrayal to Estelle. Of course, he would always love Estelle, but that was a lifetime ago, a different lifetime. Not the lifetime he was living now.
Anna paused, looking at him with her mossy green eyes. For a moment he thought she was going to tell him she loved him, but she simply smiled and began working her kisses back to his mouth, before sitting up, her back arching, her eyes closed. Tex ran his hands up her thighs, over her hips and around to the small of her back, then pulled her back down on top of him.
Afterwards, he pulled her to him to lie contently in his arms, enjoying the moment of blissful, mutual satisfaction, of peace and tranquillity, making the most of every second, knowing they'd be back to reality all too soon.
That reality hit hard and fast like an intercity express train suffering brake failure.
Chapter Twenty Five
‘Where do you want me to put this?’ Tex called as he stepped inside 2 Coach House Cottages, Anna's holdall in his hand.
‘I'll take that.’
Tex looked up in surprise at the unexpected voice. He was startled to see Mark standing in front of him but tried not to let his surprise or annoyance show. He looked across at Anna, the colour completely gone from her face, concern in her eyes as she twiddled the rings on her finger nervously.
‘You okay?’ he asked, holding her gaze. She nodded.
‘Of course she's okay,’ said Mark. ‘Aren't you, Anna?’
‘Stop it, Mark. I'm fine, Tex. Just a little surprised to see Mark here, that's all.’
Tex felt a vice-like grip inside his gut. ‘Do you want me to stay?’
‘I'll be fine, honestly. Look, you'd better go. I'll phone you later.’ She moved towards the front door but Tex stood his ground.
‘I don't like leaving you.’
‘Please, Tex, I'll be fine. I promise.’ Anna gave a weak unconvincing smile.
‘Call me if you need me.’ He gave Mark a long hard stare.
Mark, looking totally unfazed and obviously lapping up Anna's dismissal of him, smirked.
‘Don't worry. My wife will be fine with me,’ called Mark, coming to the doorway as Tex got in his car. ‘Have a nice day, now.’
Anna slammed the front door closed as Tex drove off.
‘What are you doing here?’ She turned on Mark, who had now wandered back into the living room and, picking up his glass from the table, took a slug of the deep brown liquid.
He smiled at her as he topped up his glass from the bottle of Jack Daniels standing on the mantelpiece. Anna gulped. She knew this was coming but she had hoped it would take a lot longer than this.
‘I did try to phone you,’ carried on Mark, ‘but couldn't get hold of you, so I rang Luke instead. Just as well, really.’ He took another large swig of whisky.
Anna eyed the bottle. It was nearly half-empty. She could feel her heart quicken. Mark and whisky had always been a bad mix.
‘What do you mean by that?’ She tried to sound casual, keeping her tone light.
‘What do I mean? Huh!’ Mark scoffed. He picked up the copy of Surrey Life that was folded open at the charity event page, where amongst the many photos of guests, slap bang in the middle was a picture of Anna stood with Tex, Duncan
Hughes and his wife. ‘This!’
Anna shrugged. ‘I've been out. There's no law against it.’
‘But with him,’ Mark's lip curled as he prodded the picture of Anna and Tex, before tossing the magazine disdainfully onto the sofa. ‘You told me there was nothing going on between you two.’
‘There wasn't.’
‘Liar!’ Mark shouted, slamming the glass onto the mantelpiece with such force that the tumbler shattered, broken glass dropping into the hearth. As had so often been the case in the past when Mark drank whisky, the venom and aggression came from nowhere. No build up, no gradual mounting of anger, just a sudden outburst.
Anna recoiled. This wasn't good. But she’d be damned if she was going to let him bully her. She had to stand her ground.
‘At the time there wasn't.’ Anna could hear her voice wobbling slightly. She hated the fact that he could still unnerve her. She took a deep breath. ‘Anyway, it’s not really any of your business.’
‘Course it bloody is!’ The rage was bubbling. ‘You're shagging some bloke and not only that, but in my house too. Yeah, don't look so surprised. Luke told me that Yankee boy was here one morning.’
‘Mark, you're being unreasonable. I can see someone else if I like.’
‘Not if you're leaving Luke alone so you can have a dirty week away.’ Mark took several steps towards her as he spoke.
‘Luke is sixteen. He's old enough to be left. Nathan was keeping an eye on him.’ Anna took a step back to keep the physical space between them.
‘Might have known he'd be involved in your scheming. Helping you have your sordid little affair.’ Mark picked up the bottle of Jack Daniels and took a swig directly from the bottle. He began circling Anna with slow, purposeful steps. Eyes fixed on her the whole time.
Anna could feel her own anger rising. There was nothing sordid about her and Tex. How dare he come back and confront her as if she was having an affair?
‘If I want a week away, I can. Anyway, where is Luke?’
‘Gone to his mate's. I expect you're really quite disappointed that I'm here.’
Anna could smell the alcohol on Mark's breath as he stopped in front of her, their faces only inches apart. She turned her head away from his breath.
The Little Shop of Afternoon Delights Page 86
