by Debra Holt
“But anyone didn’t do it… you did. What’s so bad about saving a child’s life? Too often, help comes too late. It’s a great sadness when a little child is lost too soon. But when you manage to save one, well that’s really something. She’ll get to go to school, have a few beaus, get married and have her own kids… because you did something at a point in her life when she needed help the most. That’s why people think you’re special… because you did do something.” Ned spoke his mind and then shut up.
Stacy and Murph sat with mirrored looks of surprise on their faces while the man had stated his piece before finishing by jumping another one of Murph’s red checkers with his black one.
There wasn’t much she could say after that. Stacy hadn’t looked at it in those terms. While she still didn’t feel like a hero, she did realize that perhaps she had managed to make some sort of difference in the child’s life. That was a bright spot in the day and something to hold on to in the days to come. At least a few people might remember her fondly in this small town after she departed.
“You’re leaving us today?” Murph eyed her.
“Yes, it’s time I got back to my work and my life.”
“That’s why your fella looked lower than a worm’s chin when he passed by us earlier. You’re leaving. Yep, that explains a lot.”
Stacy looked over at Ned, but his gaze was on the board. “Fella? I don’t have a fella.”
The two men looked up at each other. One winked at the other. Then they went back to their game. Stacy looked at first one and then the other.
“What was that supposed to mean? Some silent code you two have between you?”
“You can tell yourself that all day long, but it won’t make it any more believable.”
“So, is this some more of your down-home witticisms?”
“Nope, just careful observations from a hell of a long time of living,” Ned supplied, with a grin.
“What observations would those be?” Stacy finally asked, almost afraid what would come next.
“Well, you take the look on the fella’s face that first day we met you. He was already hooked. Then we watched him flying around here when the news came that maybe you were taken along with that little girl. A West Texas tornado couldn’t have been any more wound up than him. And then today, there was the look in his eyes as he left the courthouse without you. He’s your fella alright.”
“Only neither one of you will admit it yet,” Murph supplied. “You’re just like two stubborn mules… pulling in opposite directions. But, sooner or later, one of you’ll get hit between the eyes with a two by four and then you’ll pull in the same direction.”
Stacy had now been compared to a mule. From hero to mule in no time at all. She stood and drew her bag over her shoulder. It was time to take her leave from the pair of philosophers.
“It’s been a pleasure, gentlemen. I’ll certainly miss these deep conversations.”
They smiled up at her.
“You’ll be back,” Ned stated as if it were a preordained fact.
Stacy was not going to argue with either of them. She gave them a final smile and nod. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she turned back and gave each a quick hug. It looked like she had made their day, but she had a sudden feeling she had just made the parting from the country town all the more difficult in her heart.
Chapter Twelve
Stacy’s slow but determined steps took her straight to the door of The Diner on Main Street. Pausing with her hand on the door, she took a deep breath, fixed a smile on her face and pushed through the doorway. The bell above her head tinkled as the door slid shut behind her. There were several pairs of eyes turned her way, but her gaze automatically went toward the booth in the back of the room.
She spied the familiar tall man seated facing the door. Her heart did its usual jumping jacks at the sight of him. However, he kept his eyes on the newspaper in front of him. Drawing in a calming breath, she headed toward the booth. As she moved across the room, pairs of hands began to go together while chairs scraped back across the floor. She looked up in surprise and her steps slowed as each person stood and began to clap, smiles on their faces turned in her direction.
Stacy took a step backwards, but Darcy came up beside her, placing an arm around her shoulders and stopping her retreat. One man stepped forward from the closest table, his hand extended toward her.
“Stacy, this is Mayor Jennings,” Darcy said as she introduced the pair.
Stacy’s hand was engulfed in a huge, weathered one. “It’s a pleasure, Miss Smith, a real pleasure. We all just want to say how we feel about what you did for little Lizzie Wellman. You are certainly always welcome in our community… anytime!”
There were other voices that chimed in after that. She met and shook hands with people and faces she would never be able to remember but their kindness and warmth was all the same.
She met Jim Ross, the owner of Ross’s Garage. He told her she had free oil changes for life in his shop. Chelsea Lanning, the proprietress of the hair and nail salon she had met earlier with Darcy, offered free pedicures for a year. There were more such offers and Stacy was overwhelmed.
They all made her feel welcome in their midst and almost a part of the town just in the few minutes they had taken to speak with her. She had a bemused smile on her face as Darcy finally extricated her and led their way to the booth where Davis still sat, eyes on the news in front of him, his jaw looking as though it were carved in its stony line.
“I’ve ordered lunch,” he said, without preamble. “What’ll you have?”
Darcy looked at her brother. She opened her mouth to say something, but the look he gave her made her pause for once. She looked back at Stacy then.
“I suggest the grilled chicken salad today.” Darcy prompted, a shadow of an apologetic smile in her eyes as she watched Stacy take her seat.
“I’m really not very hungry.”
“You best eat. We have one more stop to make before we get you back to Austin.” Davis’s voice was even and he could have been speaking to any casual acquaintance.
Stacy had just about had enough of trying to ignore his behavior. Not everything that happened was all her fault. He had used things to his advantage concerning that report.
“What stop?”
“Lizzie’s parents asked me to bring you by their ranch before you left. Lizzie wants to see you. That is, if you have time in your schedule for it.”
She bit back the swift retort that came to mind. There were ears and eyes watching them.
Instead, she gave a smile to Darcy. “The grilled chicken salad sounds perfect.”
They ate in an uncomfortable silence when their food came. Darcy stayed quiet as she served them and refilled their glasses. She tried her best to make small talk each time she stopped by their table. Stacy smiled her gratitude, but Davis kept his focus on his food.
“I saw you chatting with Murph and Ned earlier. Those two do love to talk a person’s ear off,” Darcy commented as she refilled their water glasses.
“Yes, they do. It was a deep discussion too, only I think lecture might be the better term. I was doing most of the listening and they did most of the talking. I think at one point they called me a mule.”
This did bring Davis’s gaze in her direction.
“A mule? Why on earth did they say that?” Darcy asked, amusement lighting her eyes and widening the grin on her face.
“Well, they also called your brother a stubborn mule, too.” That brought an outright laugh from Darcy then.
Her brother didn’t laugh. He scowled instead. “Just what brought on the discussion of mules?” Davis asked.
“You’ll have to ask them yourself,” Stacy replied evenly, a self-satisfied smile on her lips. Let him think on that.
“If you’re done, we need to get moving. I have an appointment to keep in Austin.” Davis grabbed his hat and stood up. It was obvious, she could follow or not.
Davis did have to stand wit
h his hand on the doorknob for a bit longer than necessary as Stacy bid each person a farewell and thanked them again for their kindness to her. The shrewd light in his eyes told her—when she ventured a quick glance at him—that he was well aware she was taking her time on purpose. He remained quiet and held the door when she finally decided to exit after another quick hug with Darcy, who reminded her of her promise to have another book to read soon.
The Wellman’s ranch was on the other side of Davis’s. They shared a common fence line on one side.
“Have you known the Wellman family long?” Stacy asked, as the imposing house with its modern rock and glass design came into view.
“Only since we all started first grade together. Jim and Tricia both were born and raised in this area. Now, Jim is chairman of the board of the town’s bank and owns the hardware slash feed store slash lumber yard and three of the gas stations, in addition, to the ranch. Tricia taught at the high school until Lizzie came along,” Davis replied, his eyes not leaving the road. “They were high school sweethearts. Two people who realized they belonged together… happily ever after.”
Davis had managed to insert one final splinter into the open wound where her heart was.
As soon as he cut the motor, the front door was thrown open and out came the trio. Stacy stepped out of the truck and shut the door behind her. Lizzie caught sight of her and immediately squirmed in her father’s arms until her feet touched the ground. She ran straight down the steps and into Stacy’s arms. Stacy swung the giggling child up and held her just as tightly. They stayed that way for several moments… holding onto each other for dear life… just as they had during that horrible night. They shared a bond that would not be broken.
Moisture gathered in Stacy’s eyes even though she fought to keep back the tears. She hoisted the little girl higher on her hip and looked down into her bright eyes. Lizzie seemed none the worse for her experience. For that, Stacy was immensely grateful.
“Stacy came to play,” the little girl spoke with a grin to her parents over her shoulder. “Come see my doll house.” She squirmed against her and Stacy knew that meant she wanted to be off in a hurry again. Even though she stood once more, the child still held on to her hand, pulling her forward. As they neared the porch where Jim and Tricia Wellman waited, Lizzie informed them, “Stacy came to play dolls with me. We’re going to have a tea party, too.”
“We see that, but remember your manners, Lizzie. What about Ranger McKenna?” Her mother whispered as she leaned down to her child.
Lizzie’s eyes widened and she turned to look at the tall man who stood a few feet away, watching the scene. She didn’t let go of Stacy’s hand but, instead, she pulled her along until she reached Davis. Her other small hand went out to claim his, too.
Stacy took note of how Lizzie’s smile, as she looked up at him, was one that had no problem melting any heart… even his. She watched as he bestowed one of his warmest smiles on the little girl. He squatted down beside the child at that point, accepting a quick hug. It went straight to Stacy’s heart. And with that simplest of gestures, came the blinding realization that her heart had become a traitor, also.
Somewhere along the way, she had let this one cowboy get too close, not just physically, but in every other way possible. Davis McKenna… cowboy and lawman… had found his way into her carefully guarded heart. With that realization, came another wave of something close to panic. There was no place to run… no place to hide. Her ivory tower was much too far away now. They had argued and said things that angered and hurt. She had pushed him away. She had no idea how to find a way to get back to where they were before. It might be too late. And it might have happened for the best.
“You can play, too.” Lizzie bestowed the invitation as a princess might bestow a favor on a commoner. Charm had a name and it was Lizzie.
Thinking the man would politely refuse, Stacy was surprised when he agreed. What an interesting trio they became… walking up the steps hand in hand with Lizzie as their common link. Her parents followed behind. Tricia left them to bring the pitcher of tea from the kitchen. Lizzie’s room was all a girl’s room should be… pink everywhere… carpet to ceiling to drapes. The canopy bed was certainly fitting for a princess.
Lizzie drew them to the huge doll house that stood in the corner of the oversized room. Once she had them seated on the floor, she began to hand out the dolls. Lizzie set the table so nicely with her best toy china cups and plates. Next, her guests had to be dressed for the occasion. She draped a purple feather boa around Stacy’s neck and gave her a huge purple glitter flower ring for her hand.
Stacy didn’t venture a look in Davis’s direction. She could just imagine what he thought of her latest couture. Then Stacy brought out a lime green glittered cape and tied it around Davis’s neck… or rather instructed him to do it, while she supervised. The hostess then handed him a huge pair of green sunglasses, minus the lenses. Stacy had to literally bite her lip to keep back the burst of laughter that came to her throat as she took in the picture he made seated across from her at the tiny table. This tough Texas Ranger outfitted in the glitter cape and huge glasses, knees almost under his chin, while he dined at a little princess’s tea party. It was almost too much.
The mirth subsided and Stacy wanted to cry at that moment. It wasn’t fair. One moment he was no better than those lying cowboys her mother associated with. The next moment, he was doing something totally the opposite and her heart ached to trust that was the real Davis McKenna. They both were upset and the chasm between them was widening by the moment. She needed to be back in her own world where everything made sense.
Lizzie distracted Stacy for the next few minutes and she was grateful. With a crown on her small head and a magic wand, the child reigned over their party, pouring imaginary tea and handing out imaginary cakes. Davis went along with it all as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do in the middle of his otherwise normal ranger duties. He would make a good dad one day.
After a few minutes, Lizzie’s mother called them downstairs. Removing their fashions, Lizzie escorted them both to the living room, once again their common link. Davis had a quiet, thoughtful look on his face when she ventured a glance in his direction. He looked up at that moment and caught her eye. Her heart skipped a couple of beats when he gave her a hint of a remembered smile… lasting only for a second or two… but it had been there. Then his gaze turned away from her and she was left feeling empty.
*
Stacy felt a larger stab of regret when Davis spoke up a few minutes later and said they had to be on their way. Lizzie clung once again to Stacy’s neck in her goodbye. Lizzie didn’t want Stacy to leave, and Stacy found she didn’t want to leave either. Davis’s friends had welcomed her into their home and had tried to put into words their gratitude for all she and Davis had done to bring their baby back home to them. Tricia Wellman stepped forward and hugged Stacy’s neck just before they went outside.
“Please come back soon. Lizzie’s birthday is next month. You must be here.”
Stacy doubted that would be possible, but it was something she wasn’t ready to rule out. She smiled and thanked her for the invitation and told her that she would certainly try to make it. Davis received the same invitation. He accepted on the spot. Of course, he would. This was his hometown and his friends. This was his life. Stacy was just a visitor passing through.
They finally headed east toward Austin. Once again, silence lengthened in the truck. Neither one of them made any move to break it. They were almost to her building when Stacy remembered her promise to send the copy of the book Darcy was missing from her collection.
“If you’ll give me Darcy’s mailing address, I’ll drop the book I promised her in the mail in the morning.”
“I can take it back with me, if you have it at your home.”
“That would be helpful.”
Pulling into the drive, he parked the truck but didn’t make any other move right away. Stacy cast a look
in his direction and his expression told her something was on his mind and weighing heavily in the moment. He turned toward her and caught her gaze upon him.
“Look, Stacy,” he began, seeming to use great care in his choice of words, “you’re going to believe what you want to believe about me and about the file you found. But I can’t let you walk away without saying one more time that I had nothing to do with instigating that report. I would never have participated in something like that while being involved with someone even remotely connected to the subject. It’s just not the honorable thing to do, nor is it professional.”
Try as she might, she wanted to harden her heart against the look in his blue eyes, but the level of sincerity tore at her. How could she still want to believe him so badly? Hadn’t she learned anything? Her stillness must have spoken more to him than she could. The blue eyes darkened and his demeanor changed. It was almost visible how the warmth of the man was replaced by the stoic manner of the ranger.
“While it’s not my case, I do need to ask that whatever you saw in that file remain confidential. Good people could possibly be harmed if any hint of that investigation is leaked to the wrong people.”
“You mean if I run to Donnie and tell him about the secret investigation of his family?” There was another barb inside her at the thought he might actually think she would do something like that. But then, he was doing his job and he didn’t really know her at all. Nothing personal.
“Don’t worry, Ranger McKenna. Whatever is going on or not with the Harringtons is none of my business. Your little secret stays secret.” She opened her door and left him to follow or not.
“Good evening, Miss Smith.” Gerard greeted her as usual as he held the door open. “Good evening, Ranger McKenna.”
Davis responded to the greeting as if he had done it many times before. He always seemed to fit perfectly into any environment he found himself in. Stacy envied him that ability. She was aware he followed closely behind her as she punched in the code and the elevator doors slid open. The sun was just about to set in the west and a golden cast fell over the buildings, reflecting off their glass windows and it glistened off the still waters of the river beyond. The view was one she never tired of as the glass elevator made its way to the top.
