Shine On Oklahoma

by Maggie Shayne

  Kendra leaned forward and spoke softly. “Dax’s father died and left him a racetrack in Aurora Springs, New York. Law says it has to go to either family or the State Racing Association. Dax doesn’t want it. But Caine’s been using it to clean money and he wants to keep that going. I’m supposed to convince Dax to accept the inheritance and stay out of the books.”

  “And what about the widow, Caroline?” she said with a sidelong look toward the dining room.

  “Divorced. Half owner. Knows nothing about the creative accounting.”

  “She could do time,” Miss Dolly said. “She’d never survive.”

  “Even if Dax inherits, he’s gonna find out about the books, eventually. And he’s too honest to let it go on.”

  Dolly poured cream into her coffee, then stirred thoughtfully. “That would be bad for both of them.”

  “I agree. I think I’ve convinced Dax to accept it and let me run it for him.”

  Miss Dolly frowned. “That would be bad for you.”

  “I’m just trying to buy some time. I’ll figure out what to do about Vester Caine after I get Jack safe. Besides, I don’t really see another option.”

  “Young people,” Dolly said with a roll of her big eyes. “Do you really think if this got out among our own that there wouldn’t be hell for Caine to pay? What’s he got that makes him so scary?”

  “Gee, I don’t know. Automatic weapons and hit men and millions of dollars. And someone in his deep pockets from every branch of government from the cops to the White House. What’ve we got?”

  “Brains,” Miss Dolly said. She took a deep sip of her coffee, sighed in pleasure, and set the cup down again. “We’re smarter than he is. And that’s worth more than all the guns in Guatemala, baby.” She winked. Then her expression returned to wide-eyed wonder in absolute sync with the bell over the front door jingling.

  The upright women of Big Falls walked in. Sophie’s and Emily’s arms were loaded with gifts stacked up higher than their heads and over-stuffed plastic bags dangling from their wrists. Little Matilda Louise, Joey’s little girl, was carrying presents too, and she was more adorable than Kendra could’ve imagined, all goldilocks curls and chubby cheeks. They didn’t even notice Kendra and Dolly there in the back corner of the saloon as they all bumbled and stumbled across the bar into the dining room, laughing and talking all at the same time.

  “Eat honey. I don’t want Ned to be insulted.”

  “He doesn’t have any money, Miss Dolly,” Kendra said. She didn’t know anything about Ned, so she was making it up from whole cloth. He might be a secret billionaire for all she knew.

  “Maybe it’s not his money I’m wanting a piece of,” Miss Dolly replied with an innocent smile.

  #

  Ned came out the back door from The Long Branch’s kitchen, and caught Dax’s eye. Dax was standing beside a helium tank, inflating balloons for the party. Kendra said her sister would want lots of balloons. Some would float, while others would be filled with ordinary air so they could carpet the floor.

  When he spotted Ned trying to get his attention, though, he handed the balloon in his hand off to Joey McIntyre, and headed across the lawn to where Ned stood a few yards away.

  “How’s it going, Ned?”

  “It’s not going,” Ned replied. “It’s not going at all. That’s what I came out here to tell you.”

  “I don’t think I understand.”

  “Dax, you’re a friend. And I like you. But that woman in there is an angel and I can’t bring myself to eavesdrop on her private conversation, even if it is for the good of the family.”

  Dax sighed and let his chin drop. “I’m kind of relieved, actually. I think it was a mistake to ask you to. I’ve been feeling guilty about it all morning. But just so we’re clear, Ned, and for your own sake, I have to tell you, Kendra’s no angel.”

  Ned smiled. “Who said anything about Kendra?”

  Dax blinked. “You’re talking about Miss Dolly?”

  He rubbed his white and silver moustache, and lifted his bushy eyebrows. “That’s a woman, right there. A real woman. I intend to woo her and I intend to win her. And reporting her private words to you is no way to begin a relationship.”

  “Um, Ned, you just met her. Unless I missed something.”

  “A man my age knows what he wants when he sees it, and doesn’t waste time about going for it. Maybe you should take notes.” Then he turned and headed back inside, whistling a happy tune, an unprecedented bounce in his step.

  “Huh,” Dax said. He rubbed the back of his neck as he watched Ned saunter back into the kitchen. As the door swung closed, the whistle became a song.

  “What the—” Joey said, overhearing the gruff baritone. He came closer, a half-inflated pink balloon in his hand. “Is that Ned? Singing?”

  “Sure is,” Dax said. “I think he might be in love.”

  “Holy…. Miss Dolly?” Joe asked.

  Dax nodded. “Looks like.”

  “Well, I’ll be.”

  #

  After breakfast, Kendra joined her sister’s friends and relatives in the dining room. She set out centerpieces, straightened tablecloths, and arranged gifts on gift tables. Miss Dolly offered to help, too, but spent all her time flirting with Ned. Soon the room was ready, and all that was left to do was await the arrival of the guests of honor.

  Rob brought Kiley to The Long Branch right on time. The big red velvet curtains were closed, but as soon as Rob’s thundering pickup truck rolled in, Kendra peeked out between them. Everyone else bunched up, out of sight of the doorway so Kiley wouldn’t see them as soon as she walked in. In spite of herself, Kendra had butterflies. She was excited about pulling off the surprise. How goofy was that?

  They’d closed the saloon to the public for the shower, but Joey had thought to turn the OPEN sign back on just before Kiley was due to arrive. She and Rob walked in the saloon side, and they didn’t seem to notice anything amiss. It wasn’t empty. Several of the guests were scattered around like props, a few at tables, a few at the bar.

  It was the most childish, ridiculous thing ever, Kendra thought, as others whispered and giggled like six-year-olds. And yet, there was a little girl inside her practically jumping up and down in delight as she backed away from the curtains and waited and listened to their footsteps coming across the hardwood floor.

  Dax grabbed Kendra’s hand, and she looked at his face and he smiled. He was as excited as she was. God, what a pathetic pair of grownups they made.

  Rob pulled the curtain open, and walked Kiley through, his arm around her shoulders. Two steps in everyone sprang out.

  “Surprise!”

  Kiley jumped backward and would’ve fallen over, if not for her husband’s strong arm. “Holy smokes!” One hand on her chest, she blinked twice, then smiled broadly as she took in the decorations, streamers, balloons, and the big tables by the windows stacked up with more gifts than it should be able to hold, all of them wrapped in pastel, baby-themed paper and pink ribbons. Other presents were piled on the floor. A smaller table held three-tiers of cupcakes, white frosting with pink piping, all decked in purple and yellow Shasta daisies that looked too pretty to eat.

  That Sunny had a knack.

  “I can’t believe this,” Kiley said. Then, turning to look up at Rob, “Did you know about this?”

  “I had an inkling,” he said, and he sent an apologetic look at Dax. “You’re not a very good liar. I did good, though, not letting on.”

  Kiley smiled. “I knew something was up when you insisted we come out for lunch even though I told you I had a backache. Usually, that gets me a massage, not a meal.”

  Rob grinned. “Your sister did this,” he told her with a nod Kendra’s way.

  Kiley blinked as if he’d said the words in Swahili.

  Kendra said, “All the work was done before I even got here, thanks to Sophie and Emily, Miss Vidalia, and Allie, and Sunny did the cupcakes.”

  “No, Kendra, you did a lot,”
Emily said. “Besides, we wouldn’t have known to invite Miss Dolly without you.” Her little girl Matilda was just then tugging Dolly by the hand.

  “Miss Dolly’s here?” Kiley said it in a soft whisper. And then she saw her, and Kendra watched, holding her breath for the reaction.

  “Hello, Kiley, dear!” Dolly walked in staccato steps up to Kiley. She put both hands on her belly, patting it as if it was a puppy. “Hello, Diana! Ohhhh, you’re gonna be so precious.” Then she leaned in for a hug.

  Kiley burst into tears and hugged her back. She sent Kendra a watery smile over Dolly’s back.

  Kendra almost sagged in relief.

  “Let’s get you off your feet, babe.” Rob led the mom-to-be through the room to the big comfy chair they’d decorated just for her. She braced her hands on its arms, and lowered herself in, belly following like an attached beach ball. And she winced a little, and shifted position.

  Kendra looked at her. “You okay?”

  “Fine,” she said. “Just a little bit pregnant. It’s uncomfortable as hell, Kendra. I mean all the time.”

  “I bet.”

  “Thank you for this. You didn’t have to.” She held out her arms, and Kendra leaned in and hugged her, and whispered. “I didn’t buy her any boy toys after all. I went with all things Wonder Woman instead.”

  Kiley laughed softly and let her go. “Good choice.”

  “Girl power,” Kendra said, raising a fist. Then she had to move aside to let the rest of the guests take their turn greeting her twin. She went to Dax, because that was pretty much where she always went these days. “I think she really loves it,” she told him.

  “Was there any doubt?”

  “Yeah. A lot.”

  “I’ll tell Ned we’re ready for the food.” Dax leaned over and said it close to Kendra’s ear, so close his warm breath tickled her there, and made her shiver against her will. His lips almost touched her earlobe. “You did really good. That was sweet, bringing Miss Dolly. You you’re your sister happy.” Then he turned to go.

  Her cell phone vibrated in her pocket.

  She pulled it out, saw the number and answered while walking quickly out of the big room. “Jack?” she whispered.

  “Yeah, it’s me.”

  “Thank God! When I told them it would be another week, I was afraid they’d—”

  “Don’t worry about your old man. When have I ever not been able to take care of myself?”

  She blinked, not liking the sound of that as she found a quiet corner where she could talk. “They’re not gonna wait, are they?”

  “Everything’s fine, at the moment,” he said. “What’s going on there? Sounds like you’re having a party.”

  She lowered her head. “Baby shower for Kiley. I was hoping you’d be able to come.”

  “Your idea? You get strippers?”

  She laughed softly, “Same wavelength, you and me.”

  “Always,” Jack said. In her mind’s eye, she saw the dimples she loved so much. If Vester Caine hurt her old man, he was going to suffer.

  “There’s a chance this could go sideways on me Kendra,” he said. “I figure you should know that.”

  “It’s not gonna go sideways. Don’t say that.”

  “If it does, I don’t want you feeling guilty. You did the best you could.”

  “Stop it, Jack.”

  “Yeah. I’m being melodramatic, right? Impending grandfatherhood will do that to a guy, I guess. Listen, get back to your sister. Worse comes to worse, you tell her…tell her I’m proud of the way she outfoxed her old man. Tell her I don’t hold a grudge. And that I…you know.”

  “Love her.”

  “And you,” he said. “And the kid. Diana. That’s something, isn’t it?”

  “It’s something, all right.”

  #

  Jack hung up the landline phone.

  “Anything new?” Phil was the one asking. Ace was too busy blowing his nose. Had been all through the phone call. All day, in fact. And for some reason, he’d stopped popping a Benadryl every few hours. He hadn’t run out, there were still three boxes in the medicine cabinet.

  “No change.”

  Phil shook his head. “Boss doesn’t like it. He thinks your daughter’s just stalling.”

  “Why the hell would she be stalling?”

  “I don’t know,” Phil said. “Maybe to give whoever she’s sending to save your sorry ass time to get here.”

  Jack said, “I thought you were the smart one. Look, this was my idea. I don’t need rescuing.”

  Phil averted his eyes. “She doesn’t know that.”

  “True enough, but that’s why you agreed to let me talk to her. To reassure her I’m safe as long as she gets Russell to accept his damn inheritance. And that’s exactly what she’s doing.”

  Phil shrugged. Ace wiped his nose and tossed his tissue at the wastebasket. They were on the sofa, watching college football. The wastebasket was two feet further than he could reach from there, so he tossed each wadded-up bundle at it, and missed nine out of ten. Little white puffs surrounded the wastebasket like snotty snowballs.

  “Boss says you’re slick as a snail and twice as slimy,” Phil said. “He thinks you might be running a game on him, instead of on her.”

  “Right,” Jack said. “Look, he only pays me if I succeed. So what am I conning him into? Putting me up here in this cable-free farmhouse with you two saints, straight through my favorite holiday? Boy, am I clever.”

  Ace laughed a little, and it turned into a cough.

  Jack was lying, of course. Thanksgiving wasn’t his favorite holiday. It used to be, though, back when the girls were just toddlers and their mother was still with them. Damn, that woman could roast a turkey that would tempt a vegan.

  “What’s going on, Phil?” Jack looked into his eyes and he didn’t like what he saw. “Tell me the truth, come on. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

  “Nothing’s going on. Caine’s just getting impatient.” Again, he averted his eyes.

  “Right. So why can’t Ace take his Benadryl anymore?”

  Ace said, “Makes me too sleepy. Mr. Caine’s gonna bring some non-drowsy allergy tabs with him when he comes back tonight.”

  Phil glared at him, but by the time Ace noticed, he’d finished the revelation. He looked at Jack, and he knew that Jack was aware that his situation had changed.

  “I’m not a guest here anymore, am I boys?”

  “Sure you are, Jack,” Phil said.

  “Then I guess I’ll go. Maybe I’ll have better luck getting Dax Russell’s cooperation myself.” He got up, and moved toward the front door.

  They both jumped up and stepped in front of him. He lowered his head. “Shit.”

  Ace was looking nervously from Phil to Jack and back again. Ace liked him.

  “I probably oughtta thank you. I hated lying to my daughter. Even though I owed her one. Now I don’t have to.”

  “It’s not a big deal,” Ace said. Phil elbowed him, but he went on anyway. “Nothing needs to change. We just can’t let you leave.”

  “And Caine’s coming back tonight?”

  Ace nodded. Phil said nothing.

  “He’s gonna off me, and then he’s gonna try to strong-arm Kendra himself.” He sank down onto the sofa again, shaking his head. “Look, don’t feel bad,” he said. “I understand, Caine’s a scary guy. You gotta do what you gotta do.”

  He pretended to watch the game for a few minutes, while his con-man’s mind worked overtime to figure a way out of this mess. There was always a way out. Always. And he came up with a plan.

  During a time out, he said, “You know, even on Death Row a guy gets to eat whatever he wants before he takes the long walk to nowhere. Can you do that much for me?”

  Ace looked at Phil like a kid looking at a parent for permission.

  Phil shrugged. “Sure,” he said, sounding relieved, because honestly, they’d bonded, too, as much as Phil could bond with anybody. Sort of the way a killer whal
e bonds with its trainer before turning around and biting him in half. “If we have it here, it’s all yours.”

  “I make the best chili in the country.” Jack had pulled his plan together out of thin air, recalling what he’d seen in the kitchen while having free run of the place—a situation he figured was over with now. “I saw beans in the cabinets. Tomatoes, too—canned, not fresh but they’ll do.”

  “We got some frozen peppers and onions, too,” Ace said. “I’m real sorry this didn’t go better, Jack.”

  “I’m sorry, too, pal. I’m sorry, too. Hey, before we cook, I need a drink. Is that still allowed?”

  “Sure as hell is.” Phil got up to pour.

  “I gotta drain the snake. Be right back,” Jack headed into the bathroom. He wasn’t in there too long. He did what needed doing, quickly and efficiently. Then he washed his hands and headed back out.

  Phil handed him a glass, then tinked his against it, and downed the whiskey in a single gulp. Jack sipped his and retreated to the kitchen with all the Benadryl from the bathroom cabinet in his pocket. Ace came with him, said he wanted to help, but it was clear he was supposed to be keeping an eye on Jack.

  They chopped and sautéed frozen vegetables, and simmered tomatoes with beans and an butt load of spices. Jack cooked both ground beef and sausage. Then he mixed it all together and got it bubbling in a big pot on the stove.

  He kept hoping Ace would get bored and leave the room, but he never did. Apparently, the guy was an assistant chef in the making. So Jack had to send him digging through the little pantry for another can of beans. “Pinto beans,” he said. “Kidney beans are fine, but a can of pintos would really make this pop.”

  While Ace had his head in the floor to ceiling, curtain-draped pantry, Jack scooped out a bowl of the chili and hid it under a haphazardly tossed dishtowel. Then he added the final ingredient to the pot, the contents of all those Benadryl capsules, shaking the white powder from its toilet paper bundle.