by Webb, Peggy
When his muse finally quit talking, Tyler climbed back into his sleeping bag. His angel murmured softly in her sleep and turned so that she was facing him. Moonlight kissed her skin and gleamed on her hair, giving her a halo.
Tyler ached to cross the rope, lie down beside her and take her in his arms.
“Catherine,” he whispered, loving the sound of her name on his lips. “Catherine.”
She didn’t stir.
Soon she would trust him. Soon she would come to him. Then she would tell him about Billy Joe. Then she would purge herself of the hurt and rid herself of the past forever.
He wondered if he was right in waiting for her to bring up the subject. Quickly he decided he was. If he brought up the past before she was ready to deal with it, it would put her even more on her guard.
He took one last look at his sleeping angel, then fell asleep and dreamed of her.
o0o
At first Catherine thought she was in a meadow, hearing a swarm of bees. She lay very still, with the sun on her face and the sound in her ears. Then slowly she opened her eyes and turned over.
She was not in a meadow at all. She was in her sleeping bag and Tyler was the source of the racket. He lay on his back, his sleeping bag pushed down around his hips, snoring.
“Tyler,” she called softly.
He didn’t stir. Apparently he was a sound sleeper. Catherine sat on her bag and watched him with unabashed pleasure. She didn’t necessarily like to touch, but she still enjoyed looking. And Tyler West in his sleeping bag was something to look at. Obviously he was naked. Either that or he was wearing the tiniest pair of shorts known to man. And she didn’t believe that was true. Tyler looked like a boxer-shorts kind of man to her, one of the good solid ones who knew what he wanted out of life and earned it the honest way.
It surprised Catherine how much she enjoyed the sight of Tyler sleeping. She was even enjoying the sound of his snoring. There was something appealing and even innocent about his snoring.
Grabbing her laptop, she tiptoed to her trailer so she wouldn’t wake him up. Inside, she switched on her TV, then sat at her little kitchenette table and emailed the Dixie Virgins.
From: Catherine
To: Molly, Janet, Bea, Clemmie, Belinda, Joanna
Re: My Sit-In
OMG, I don’t believe the TV is making such a commotion of this! Thank God I was wearing my Big Bird pajamas instead of my ratty old sleep shirt that says Save a horse. Ride a cowboy! The mayor would have dropped dead on the spot!
A media blitz is a great idea, but there’s no need to organize a Dixie Virgin Sit-In. Tyler West is keeping me company. Right now he’s sound asleep. Naked! I took a good look, and believe me, the sight of that hot bod is enough to make a girl give up cute shoes – or go racing to the nearest store to find some really sexy silver heels that scream take me, I’m yours!
There’s still nothing on the news about Angel’s whereabouts. If she had simply run away, there would have been sightings everywhere. It’s not easy for a thousand pound elephant to hide! I believe she was stolen, and I’m going to make my case to the sheriff.
Later!
Cat
From: Bea
To: Catherine, Molly, Belinda, Janet, Joanna, Clemmie
Re: Whose bed?
Whose bed was Tyler naked in? Listen, after all you went through with Billy Joe and now your sweet stolen elephant baby, you deserve to go ahead and turn Virginia loose. I hereby revoke Rule Four!
Keep us posted on Angel!
Bea
From: Joanna
To: Catherine, Molly, Belinda, Janet, Bea, Clemmie
Re: Rule Four
Angel, my foot! Keep us posted on TYLER WEST, NAKED! Did you break Rule Four? OH, I HOPE SO. Send details!
Joanna
From: Molly
TO: Catherine, Belinda, Janet, Joanna, Clemmie, Bea
Re: CNN
Daddy said CNN was sending a crew to Ocean Springs to cover the elephant escape. The Big Bird pjs were cute, but if I were you, Cat, I’d be wearing something stunning for the CNN bunch, not to mention Tyler West! It sounds as if he’s a delicious possibility! I’m so happy for you, Cat.
Molly
From: Clemmie
To: Catherine, Molly, Bea, Janet, Belinda, Joanna
Re: My news
I missed my period! It’s too soon yet for the pregnancy stick test, but I just feel pregnant! Does that make any sense, Belinda?
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you, Cat, on all counts, and everybody, please keep your fingers crossed for me. I haven’t told Michael yet! I want to be sure.
Clemmie
From: Belinda
To: Catherine, Clemmie, Molly, Bea, Janet, Joanna
Re: Fingers crossed
It makes all kinds of sense, Clemmie! It’s like you’ve finished your bowl of ice cream but still feel as if you’re eating it. You know, that delicious feeling of fullness and satisfaction! Fingers and toes crossed for you!
Cat, that is so exciting about Tyler West. Not the naked part, though that’s really fun, too, but the part about him staying there with you. That is so sweet! Do not let this man go, Cat! You hear me?
Belinda
From: Janet
To: Catherine, Clemmie, Molly, Bea, Joanna, Belinda
Re: Tyler West
Ditto, what Belinda said about the writer, Cat! After that jackass, Billy Joe, you deserve a good man. There’s a ton of material on the internet about Tyler West, and I haven’t seen a thing about him that would sound an alarm.
I know you’re worried about Angel, but I want you stop it right now! With all the sophisticated technology in police departments, there’s no way somebody can steal an elephant and get by with it! Just try to relax and enjoy your celebrity!
Janet
Cat shut off her computer and the TV, then dressed and went back outside.
Tyler was still sleeping. She fed her elephants to the oddly soothing sounds of his snores.
She had just finished her morning chores when she had a caller, Mr. Rodney Wakefield, owner of the pasture where she was camped.
“Good morning, Mr. Wakefield,” she said as he climbed down from his truck. A small prickle of apprehension ran down her spine. Mayor Tittle had promised trouble. She just hoped this wasn’t it.
“Good morning, Miss.” The old farmer took off his hat and fanned. “Hot as the devil’s hind foot this mornin’, ain’t it?”
“It certainly is.” Catherine glanced toward Tyler’s sleeping bag. He hadn’t moved. The sounds of his snores rose on the morning breeze.
“Ah, beggin’ your pardon, Miss, but I can’t seem to recall your name.”
“Catherine DeChello.”
Mr. Wakefield twisted his straw hat in his hands and looked down at the ground. He looked about as uncomfortable as it was possible for a man to look. Catherine’s spirits sank.
“Well, you see, Miss DeChello, it’s like this...” Mr. Wakefield paused, shuffling his feet and clearing his throat. “Mayor Tittle paid me a little visit and explained as how it would be doin’ the town a mighty big favor if I asked you to leave.”
Catherine fought both temper and tears. She didn’t see how she could handle one more setback.
“Do you own this land, Mr. Wakefield?”
“I sure as shootin’ do.”
“I’m sure you make most of the decisions regarding what happens on your very own land.”
“Wouldn’t have it no other way.”
“Mr. Wakefield, I appeal to you.” Catherine held her hands palm up in a gesture of supplication. “My elephants and I need a place to stay. If Angel can get away from the people who stole her, she’ll come back here to her herd. I promise you that I will not cause any trouble, either to you or to the people of this town.”
“Well, I sure would like to be accommodatin’ and all, seein’ as how you’re such a sweet-seemin’ little woman, but you see, it’s like this... I owe the mayor a big favor.” Mr. Wakefield shifted
his feet once more and looked past Catherine’s shoulder at the vast and kindly blue sky. A miraculous solution to his problems didn’t seem to be forthcoming from the sky, so he turned his attention back to Catherine. “I’m afraid there ain’t no other way around it, Miss DeChello. You and your elephants are going to have to leave.”
Tyler made a soft grunting sound and stirred in his sleeping bag. Mr. Wakefield turned and pointed a finger at him.
“You’d better take your boyfriend with you. This is a real upright town. Some of the citizens might not mind, but the mayor and the preacher would have my hide if you two were to be cuttin’ up shenanigans in my pasture.”
Chapter Nine
Tyler opened first one eye, then the other. A grizzled old man was pointing a bony finger at him. Catherine stood behind him, her face a careful mask. She was either fighting back tears or anger. He couldn’t tell which.
“Why didn’t you tell me we had company, Catherine?”
“Tyler West. Mr. Rodney Wakefield, owner of this farm.”
“Say...” Mr. Wakefield lost interest in his hat and squatted to get a better look at Tyler. “Ain’t you that Yankee celebrity that moved down here? That writer feller?”
“I don’t know as you could call me a Yankee,” Tyler drawled in his best Southern accent. “I’ve been here long enough to call Ocean Springs home.”
“Well, button my britches. If I’d a knowed it was you down here sparkin’ Miss DeChello I’d at least have given you time to put some clothes on.” He chuckled. “I ain’t used to carryin’ on conversations with naked men.”
Tyler sat up, pulling the bag back over his chest. “It puts me at a slight disadvantage, too. I like to address a man with my boots on.” He tried to look as imposing as it was possible for a naked man to look. “By the way, what is our topic of conversation this morning?”
“Mr. Wakefield came to inform me of the mayor’s decision to toss me out of this pasture,” Catherine said. She had her jaw tilted at a stubborn angle. Tyler thought she looked beautiful.
“I see.” Tyler rubbed the beard stubble on his chin. “Is your position negotiable on that, Mr. Wakefield?”
“Nope. Ain’t nothin’ negotiable where the mayor’s concerned. And I wouldn’t be accommodatin’ him except that I owe him this big favor for gettin’ my boy Roy out of that godawful fix down at Skinny Minny’s Bar.”
“I certainly understand your position, Mr. Wakefield.”
“I don’t,” Catherine said. “Why should that little toad order everybody around?”
“Little toad?” Wakefield scratched his chin.
“The mayor,” Tyler explained.
“That’s a good one.” Wakefield hooted with laughter. “I ain’t never heard him called that. Shoot, I might start callin’ him that myself. He does put me in mind of a toad frog now that I think of it. All puffed up.” He chuckled some more, then turned to Catherine. “I tell you what, if you can find someplace else to stay I’ll be glad to bring out a load of hay for them big old elephants of yours.”
“I don’t have...”
“She’ll stay with me at my farm just past the river.”
“I will do no such...” Catherine struck a defiant stance with her hands on her hips; then all the bravado went out of her. “What I mean is, such a kind invitation coming in my time of need is very much appreciated.” She turned to Mr. Wakefield. “Moving two elephants is not an easy task. If you will give me the rest of the day, I promise to vacate your premises.”
“Well, shucks...I kind’a hate to see you go.” Mr. Wakefield brightened. “Anything I can do to help?”
“I could use another driver. I’ll have the two elephant trailers and my house trailer, plus all my training equipment.”
“Shoot, we’ll get started right now. Just tell me what to do.”
“The first thing—”
Tyler interrupted Catherine. “The first thing is walk off down by the haystack so that I can climb out of this damned hot bag and get my clothes on.”
Wakefield left, chuckling. Catherine stood her ground.
“This changes nothing, Tyler.”
“Did I say anything?”
“No, but you have that look on your face.”
“What look?”
“The cat-that-cornered-the-mouse look.”
“You’re not a mouse, Catherine. Unless you’re the mouse that roared. And I don’t plan to corner you. I plan to bed you.”
“Are you always this arrogant?” Color rose in her cheeks.
“Sweetheart, as much as I would love to continue this discussion, I would like even more to get my pants on.”
“You mean you actually are naked under there?”
“Want to see?”
She whirled around and stalked toward her trailer, her eyes blazing.
Tyler was still laughing when he buttoned his last button. He went to Catherine’s trailer and knocked on the door. “You can come out now.”
“Are you decent?”
“Sometimes. Mostly I’m crazy and ornery.”
She came out laughing. “Besides all that, you snore.”
“I do not.”
“Why do men always deny the truth?”
“Why do women always look so beautiful when they’re mad?”
“I’m not mad.”
“Good. Let’s kiss and make up.”
That set her to laughing again. “Tyler West, you are the craziest man I know. I don’t understand why I like you.”
“It’s fate.”
o0o
The sun was setting by the time Catherine got her elephants moved to Tyler’s farm. It had been a monumental task, one she could never have done without the help of Mr. Wakefield and Tyler.
Her elephants had taken the move in stride. They were standing in their new quarters—a beautiful enclosure usually reserved for training horses—enjoying their evening meal. Three of Tyler’s beagles stood outside the fence watching, their ears forward and tails lying limp.
Catherine was the one who wasn’t adjusting well to the change. Tyler was a perfect host, charming, witty, thoughtful. That was the trouble: he was too perfect. More and more, Catherine found herself laughing with him, watching for his return when he left her to do some small errand, hoping he wouldn’t stay away too long and wishing that when he came back her lingering distrust of men would vanish. Then she could relax. Then she could let him hold her hand or caress her cheek or kiss her, without wondering when he would change.
She enjoyed kissing Tyler. There was no doubt about that. The problem was, she enjoyed it too much. When she was in his arms she forgot about her past, and forgetting her past was dangerous. Billy Joe had been charming during their courtship, almost as charming as Tyler. Almost, but not quite. She didn’t think anybody could be more charming than Tyler West, or more passionate.
Just thinking about his passion made her warm inside. She leaned against Elvira and sighed.
“Being a woman is hard.” Elvira didn’t answer, but she seemed to understand. She nuzzled Catherine’s cheek with the end of her trunk, the elephant version of a kiss.
“Catherine.” She whirled at the sound of Tyler’s voice.
“Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Catherine was immediately contrite. Tyler wasn’t the kind of man to sneak.
“Forgive me. I’m just jumpy, that’s all.”
“You have every right to be.” He leaned on the fence, backlit by the sun. It gave him a golden haze, as if he were a hero in a Western movie. She wondered what it would be like to ride off into the sunset with him. But the thought was fleeting. She wouldn’t be riding off into the sunset with anybody.
“No, I don’t. You’ve been very good to me. The least I can do is show you some manners and some courtesy.”
“Cat, you don’t have to put on a front with me. These last two days have been very hard on you. If you want to kick and scream, d
o it. If you want to cry, I have broad shoulders for you to lean on—and if you feel like taking a punch at somebody, hit me. I won’t break.”
She joined Tyler, keeping the fence between them. One of his hands was resting on the top railing. It was a large strong hand, capable of lifting heavy objects and smashing them into walls or of knocking the wind out of a woman with one blow. But she had never known anything except gentleness from Tyler’s hands.
She reached out and covered his hand with her own. “Thank you for being good to me.”
A darkness, almost like rage, crossed his face, then he smiled at her. “You deserve to be treated with respect and caring, not only from me, but from every other man, as well.”
“Tyler...” She paused, studying him. How much did he know? Billy Joe’s name was on the tip of her tongue. There in the tranquility of Tyler’s farm, with his strong hand holding hers, she felt an urge to share the burden of her past, to unload at least a part of it onto Tyler’s broad shoulders. But the moment passed. What would be accomplished? She didn’t want to show any weakness, not to Tyler, not to any man.
“Let’s go back to the house.” She spoke with false gaiety, although going back to the house was one of the last things she wanted to do. Already she had allowed Tyler to become an important part of her life. He was her protector, her friend, her ardent suitor. What else would he become before this sorry business was over? Would he become necessary?
“That’s why I came out here—to take you back to the house. There’s someone to see you.”
“Who?” She climbed over the fence and they started back to the house.
“The sheriff.”
“How did he know where to find me?”
“Word travels quickly in Ocean Springs. We have a very efficient grapevine. By this time tomorrow everybody in this county and the four surrounding ones will know that Tyler West has a gorgeous woman living with him.”
“Not living with you. I have my house trailer.”
“You’ll stay in the house. That trailer is cramped and uncomfortable.”
