On Lone Star Trail

by Amanda Cabot

  “Natalie’ll be at the grocery store,” Gillian said as they entered Dupree. Fortunately, there were no customers waiting for checkout when Gillian and TJ entered the small store. Though Natalie gave them a broad welcoming smile, the smile faded as Gillian explained about the note.

  “I don’t want to call the police yet,” she said, confirming Gillian’s thoughts. “Let’s see if we can find her and talk some sense into her. I’m going with you.” Natalie’s face was haggard as she realized her worst fears were coming true. Brianna was repeating her mother’s mistake.

  Though his eyes radiated sympathy, TJ shook his head. “I’m not sure that would be a good idea. I think Brianna might respond better to Gillian.” When Natalie started to protest, TJ continued. “There are times when a neutral party is the best idea.”

  Gillian looked around the store. Though no one was waiting for checkout, there were half a dozen people shopping. Natalie couldn’t simply leave them, nor could she close the store without the manager’s approval.

  “Can you get someone to take over here? We’ll call you as soon as we find Brianna,” Gillian promised. “Once we’ve gotten her away from Pete, you can pick her up. My guess is she’ll need you then.” And she wouldn’t want TJ and Gillian to listen to what her mother had to say. Gillian refused to consider the possibility that Brianna would refuse to leave the man she thought she loved. If everything went well, Brianna and her mother would be reunited within hours.

  “We may have to meet you at the main road,” she told Natalie. “TJ doesn’t think a sedan will make it all the way to the cabin.”

  Natalie bit her lip, then glanced at the back of the store. “My boss has an SUV. He’s running an errand, due back in half an hour.” Natalie gnawed her lip again. “When he hears what happened, he’ll take over here and let me borrow the SUV.”

  “Perfect.” TJ nodded his approval.

  “What else can I do?”

  TJ’s answer was simple. “Pray.”

  When they were back on the bike, Gillian expected TJ to continue straight down Lone Star Trail to the highway. Instead, he turned left on Cypress. The reason for the detour was clear a few seconds later when they reached the construction site.

  “I want to be sure Pete isn’t here,” he explained as he dismounted. “It’s unlikely, but he may have had a clearer head than Brianna and decided that eloping with a minor wasn’t a good idea. He told me he had no intention of facing a felony charge.”

  But there was no sign of either Pete or his truck.

  “It must be Pete’s day,” the foreman said when TJ asked to see him. “Everyone’s looking for him. ’Fraid you missed him, though. He left early. Said his missus burned her hand real bad. He was gonna take her to the doctor.”

  “His missus?” Though Gillian hadn’t intended to say anything, the words tumbled out. She had had concerns about Pete’s relationship with Brianna, but not once had she considered that he might be married. Did Brianna know that? Gillian doubted it.

  The foreman nodded. “Never met her, but some of the other fellas say she’s real nice. Got a baby due in a month or so.”

  “Do you believe that?” Gillian asked as she and TJ headed back to the bike. She was still shocked by the thought of Brianna running away with a married man. A bad situation had just become worse.

  “Do I believe that Pete’s married and expecting a baby? I’m afraid I do.” TJ touched the back of Gillian’s waist, a gesture designed more to comfort her than to help her onto the bike. It helped, but only marginally. Gillian didn’t want to think about Brianna’s reaction when she learned the truth about Pete.

  TJ climbed onto the bike and started the engine. “I don’t have a lot of trouble believing Pete’s got a wife, but I don’t imagine his wife called or that he went home to be with her. That sounded like an excuse to leave early with Brianna.”

  Wrapping her arms around TJ’s waist, Gillian leaned forward. “You don’t think he married her, do you?”

  “No. That was pretty farfetched from the beginning. Texas has a three-day waiting period after you get a marriage license. From what you said, as of yesterday, Brianna was planning to attend the party tonight. That doesn’t sound like she’s got a marriage license in her pocket. Besides, she’s underage. Natalie would have had to give her permission, and we know she didn’t.”

  “That’s what I thought.” Though Gillian shuddered as they turned onto the highway, her shudder had nothing to do with being on a motorcycle. The fear she had of being so close to a reminder of her accident had dissipated, replaced by worries about Brianna. “Pete’s planning to take advantage of Brianna’s innocence.”

  Gillian saw TJ nod. “I don’t understand what changed, but I’m afraid so. Hang on now. We’re going to go as fast as we can.”

  Though she knew she’d have sore muscles tomorrow, Gillian found the ride wasn’t as bad as she’d expected. It felt a lot like being on a bicycle, only much faster. The sound of the engine was somehow soothing, and the sensation of the wind on her face was pleasant. If their mission weren’t so serious, Gillian realized she might have enjoyed the bike. As it was, she took comfort from being with TJ and working together to find Brianna.

  The time went more quickly than she had anticipated, perhaps because TJ was paying little attention to speed limits. Once they turned off the main road, Gillian realized why he had insisted her car couldn’t handle the route. Instead of smooth macadam, they were on a deeply rutted dirt road. While a high-clearance vehicle would have no trouble and a motorcycle could travel in one of the tracks, a sedan would have hung up.

  The road, if it could be called that, led into a heavily wooded area, the cypresses so close together that they blocked the sun, making Gillian feel as if night had fallen. She tried not to shiver at the thought of what might be waiting for them at the end of the road. The love nest.

  Gillian almost laughed at the sight of the cabin that had earned that name. Little more than a shack, it needed a good coat of paint and more than a few roof shingles. A black truck was parked outside, and a light was on inside.

  “That’s Pete’s,” Gillian confirmed as she saw the faded flag decal on the left rear bumper.

  TJ parked the bike, then touched the truck’s hood. “It’s still warm,” he told Gillian as she attempted to regain her balance. Her legs were vibrating so much that she could barely stand. TJ put his arm around her. “That’s a good sign. It means they haven’t been here too long.”

  “Thank God.” Perhaps the prayers she’d been offering as she and TJ raced down the highway had been answered. They might have arrived in time to save Brianna from a huge mistake. Gillian looked at the front door. “Do we knock? I’m not sure of the etiquette in situations like this.”

  “Knocking never hurts.” But the knock TJ delivered was more like a pounding. “C’mon out, Pete,” he shouted as he gave the door another firm rap.

  The door flew open, revealing a shirtless, barefoot Pete and Brianna dressed in a pale pink negligee that revealed more than it concealed. Gillian saw anger on Pete’s face and shock on Brianna’s.

  The girl looked behind Gillian and TJ, as if expecting to see her mother. Gillian couldn’t tell whether she was relieved or disappointed that there was no sign of Natalie. All she saw was Brianna gripping Pete’s arm, clinging to him as if he were a lifeline.

  “You got no business here,” Pete snarled. He brushed off Brianna’s hand, then reached to the other side of the doorway to pull out a shotgun. Pointing the weapon at TJ, he said, “Better leave. You’ll be sorry if you don’t.”

  “We’re not leaving without Brianna.” Gillian kept her eyes on the would-be bride as she made the announcement. Though Brianna had said nothing, Gillian had seen the apprehension in her eyes when Pete grabbed the shotgun.

  “She’s here because she wants to be here. Right, sweetie?” Though the question was directed
at Brianna, Pete’s eyes remained focused on TJ.

  Brianna bit her lip, nodded, then shook her head. “I’m not sure.”

  That got his attention. “What do you mean you’re not sure?” Pete swiveled his head to glare at Brianna. “You were mighty sure back in Dupree.”

  To Gillian’s surprise, TJ said nothing, nor did his posture reveal any fear, even though Pete had a weapon trained on him. He stood next to Gillian, apparently relaxed, one hand on the back of her waist, as if he knew she still needed support. Her legs no longer vibrated from the motorcycle, but her stomach felt as if it were tied in knots. Though she hadn’t expected this to be a pretty scene, the shotgun turned ugly into terrifying. Gillian had read far too many accounts of injuries or worse when guns and tempers were involved. She had to get Brianna away from Pete.

  “It’s not too late, Brianna. You can leave now and put all this behind you.” Gillian infused her words with every bit of persuasion she possessed.

  Brianna’s eyes shifted from Gillian to Pete and then back to Gillian. “I don’t know what I want. He promised we’d get married this afternoon, but we didn’t.”

  TJ took a step forward. Though there was nothing threatening about his action, Pete’s grip on the gun tightened.

  “It seems like both of you have been keeping secrets.” TJ’s tone was conversational, as if it were normal for him to be facing a shotgun and a frightened teenager. Fixing his gaze on Pete, he said, “You probably thought this would be fun, but I don’t imagine that a statutory rape charge is going to sit well with your pregnant wife.”

  There was a second of silence as the words registered. Brianna reacted first. “Wife?” she squeaked, and her face turned red. In that instant, she looked far younger than fifteen, and Gillian suspected that if Natalie were here, Brianna would have thrown herself into her mother’s arms. Though Gillian longed to comfort her, Pete still blocked the doorway.

  “Wait a minute.” For the first time, Pete’s confidence seemed to shrink. “She said she turned eighteen yesterday.”

  TJ snorted. “Then she lied. I don’t know when her birthday is, but Brianna’s fifteen.”

  Pete slid the shotgun back on the rack, his face suddenly ashen. Gillian wouldn’t be surprised to see him running to his truck in an attempt to get as far away from here as possible.

  “Did he say wife?” Brianna stared at Pete, willing him to deny the accusation. “Is it true? Are you married? You’re gonna have a baby?”

  When Pete nodded, Brianna burst into tears and ran back into the cabin. It was time to act. Pushing her way past the burly man, Gillian entered the love nest. It looked like a cheap motel room, with a bed dominating one side and what was probably advertised as a kitchenette on the other. Though there was no stove, the kitchenette boasted a table with four chairs, a small cupboard, and a microwave-refrigerator combination.

  Brianna stood in the middle of the room, staring sightlessly at the door. Trauma. Recognizing the symptoms, Gillian took a few steps forward and wrapped her arms around Brianna.

  “Where are your clothes?” she asked. The sooner she had Brianna properly dressed and out of here, the better. When Brianna nodded toward the bathroom but still seemed frozen in place, Gillian propelled her to the small room. “I’ll be right here if you need me,” she said as the girl’s trembling increased.

  While Gillian stood outside the bathroom, TJ entered the cabin, forcing Pete to move aside. Though the man had not fled as Gillian had expected, he looked distinctly uncomfortable.

  TJ kept his voice even as he addressed Pete. “I’m not sure whether Brianna’s mother will press charges, but my advice is to look for another job site. If you do, this may all blow over. If you don’t, I’ll talk to Drew Carroll and ensure that you’re banned from his site and every other one within a hundred-mile radius.”

  Pete clenched first one fist, then another, and for a moment Gillian feared he would hit TJ. Instead, he grabbed his shirt and headed for his truck. Seconds later, the sound of a powerful diesel engine filled the cabin.

  TJ waited until they could no longer hear Pete’s truck, then turned to Gillian. “I’m going to find cell service and call Natalie.”

  Though she’d said nothing when Pete left without saying a word to her, Brianna burst from the bathroom, still buttoning her shirt as she shook her head violently. “No! You can’t tell my mom.”

  Gillian put her arms around the girl, trying to soothe her. “She already knows,” she said quietly. “You left her a note, remember?” As Gillian stroked Brianna’s back, comforting her as she would have a child, she nodded to TJ. Brianna might not want to face Natalie, but whether she recognized it or not, she needed her mother.

  Hanging her head in shame, Brianna nodded. “She wasn’t supposed to find the note until later. After we were married.” New tears joined the ones that had dried on her cheeks. “He promised me, Gillian. He promised we’d get married. He said it was too late to get a license today, so we’d have a weekend honeymoon, then get married first thing on Monday.”

  Knowing there was no point in mentioning the three-day waiting period or the need for Natalie’s permission, Gillian simply nodded and continued stroking Brianna’s back.

  “I was such a fool.” Brianna’s tears had resumed in earnest. “I believed him. I thought he loved me, but he didn’t.”

  There was nothing she could say to refute that. Instead, Gillian cupped Brianna’s chin and forced her to look at her. “Your mom loves you. I know she does.”

  “Yeah.” The thought seemed to comfort Brianna. “But what am I gonna say to her? She was right. I shouldn’t have trusted Pete.”

  “You’ve learned from your mistake. That’s all anyone can ask.”

  Before Gillian could say anything more, the sound of a motorcycle announced TJ’s return. He sprinted into the cabin. “Natalie’s on her way, but it’ll be half an hour or so.”

  Half an hour for Brianna to cry and worry. Desperate for something to take the girl’s mind off the way she’d been deceived, Gillian rubbed her stomach. “Let’s see what we can find to eat. Brianna, will you look in the cupboards?”

  When TJ raised an eyebrow, Gillian simply nodded, mouthing, “Trust me.”

  “Not exactly a feast,” Brianna said a minute later as she held up a jar of instant coffee, an unopened sleeve of crackers, and a fresh jar of peanut butter.

  “It’ll do.” Boiling water and spreading peanut butter didn’t require much effort, but it was the only distraction Gillian could find for Brianna.

  “I might have something in my saddlebags,” TJ offered. Returning a minute later, he held out some beef jerky and two energy bars as if they were shrimp and lobster.

  “You call that food?” Brianna demanded. “When I get home, my mom will make me a big steak and a baked potato.”

  Gillian suspected Natalie would give Brianna anything she wanted, at least tonight. In the meantime, she laid three paper towels on the table and pulled three more to serve as napkins. “Let’s eat.” Turning to TJ, she asked him to give thanks. And he did, thanking the Lord not just for the food but also for Brianna’s safety.

  The simple act of sitting at a table, eating crackers and sipping coffee, seemed to restore enough normalcy to Brianna’s life that her shoulders no longer shook, and her eyes lost their glazed look.

  In less time than she’d expected, Gillian heard a vehicle. Natalie must have broken every speed limit to get here this quickly, and Gillian couldn’t blame her. She’d have done the same had she been in Natalie’s position.

  Brianna started to rise, then sank back in her chair, as if her legs would not support her. Her eyebrows rose when she heard not one but two doors slam. Natalie was not alone. Perhaps the store manager had insisted on driving. But seconds later, Brianna’s mother ran into the cabin, followed by Todd.

  Gillian looked at the new arrivals, not sure w
ho seemed more upset, but Brianna had eyes only for her mother. As Natalie opened her arms, she rose so quickly that the chair toppled over. “Oh, Mom, I’m sorry,” Brianna cried as she wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist and began to sob. “You were right. Pete didn’t love me.”

  Natalie stroked her head, her eyes glistening with tears as she looked at Gillian for a second, telegraphing her gratitude. “It’s okay, honey. I love you. Nothing you can do will change that. I just wish you hadn’t had to learn about Pete this way. You had me mighty worried.” Natalie’s gaze turned to Todd. “You also caused this young man a lot of worry. He would have ridden his bicycle all the way out here if I hadn’t agreed to let him come with me.”

  Brianna turned a tear-stained face toward Todd, hope mingling with disbelief. “You still want to see me, even after all I did?”

  Todd shrugged. “We need to talk.”

  It might not have been the response Brianna wanted, but it was a beginning.

  46

  That was a close call,” TJ said as he closed the cabin door behind him and Gillian. Relief and a sense of rightness filled him. The relief was understandable. He and Gillian had arrived in time to save Brianna from Pete and the love nest. Love nest! TJ shook his head at the term. Love had nothing to do with it. The men should have called it their lust nest.

  The sense of the rightness surprised him, and yet he could not ignore how right it felt that he and Gillian had worked together in the rescue. They had been partners, and as was true in the best partnerships, they’d accomplished more than they would have alone. They’d protected Brianna and, unless TJ was mistaken, they’d helped mend the girl’s relationship with her mother and Todd. Without a doubt, it had been a good couple hours’ work.

  Gillian nodded slowly. “I can’t begin to thank you for all you did.”

  “It wasn’t what I did,” TJ said, wanting her to understand the depth of the feelings that had swept through him. “We did it together. You were pretty amazing back there, keeping Brianna as calm as you did.”