Twilight, Texas

by Ginger Chambers

  Nate Barlow, the caption read, with Valued Friend in the same crude carving underneath. Karen looked at it closely. Why didn’t she remember it? Her aunt hadn’t allowed her to play in the cemetery out of respect for the dead. But she had helped to clear it of weeds once or twice. Bette had said the headstone had fallen and John had righted it. Still, she had no memory of it, either up or down.

  “Nate Barlow...Valued Friend.” Lee Parker’s voice broke the stillness from close behind her.

  She whirled around to glare at him. “Stop sneaking up on me! Either that or wear a bell!”

  He had the audacity to grin. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  “Look where we are!” she complained, grasping at any straw to explain her reaction.

  “Did you think I was one of them?” He seemed to find that prospect even more amusing.

  “No! Just—” She turned back around, more willing to face any number of ghosts than this living, breathing man.

  “It’s the respect for the dead thing, right?” he ventured.

  “I didn’t know you comprehended that.”

  “Oh, yes. The Parkers have a cemetery very similar to this. Not far from ranch headquarters. Only everyone buried in it is family, one way or another.”

  “I don’t care what you Parkers have on your ranch.”

  “You’re the one who brought it up.”

  Karen tried to walk away. Why did he have to keep showing up? Did he have some kind of internal radar?

  He caught her arm just outside the cemetery boundary. She broke contact as quickly as possible. “I don’t want to talk to you,” she said tightly.

  “Because of what happened yesterday?”

  “Nothing happened yesterday,” she maintained.

  “Now, that’s a lie,” he said softly.

  “Just leave me alone!”

  He sighed in frustration. “Look. Is there any possibility the two of us could just start over? You don’t hold me responsible for what my brother did, and I won’t—”

  “What?” she asked suspiciously. “You won’t what?”

  “I won’t hold you responsible for the fact that your parents didn’t invite anyone from Twilight to your wedding.”

  Karen’s breath caught audibly.

  “I thought so,” he murmured.

  “They didn’t—my parents—” she stumbled.

  “Why was that?” he demanded. “Because they thought the people here were too much like rabble? Or because they thought my mother would think they were...and they didn’t want that to reflect badly on you and them?”

  CHAPTER TEN

  KAREN FELT HER WORLD shift slightly. That her parents had refused to let her invite her friends from Twilight to the wedding had been a huge bone of contention between them.

  “At least let me ask Bette and John!” she remembered saying.

  “You can’t invite them without inviting everyone else!” her mother had retorted. “And that I just will not allow! There are too many people coming as it is. Our friends, our relations, our colleagues...not to mention the people Jessica Parker wants to invite. The church will be packed already. Twelve more...” She’d shaken her head in complete vexation. “No. It’s just out of the question.”

  “But they’re my friends, Mother. And this is my wedding!”

  “We can’t afford another person! Now, if you want to retract the invitations to twelve of your friends from here or to twelve of our family members...or tell Jessica that she has to strike twelve people from her list...”

  With that her mother had won, as she usually did back then. Karen knew she should have fought harder, but this had been before she’d learned to stand up for herself. At barely twenty-one, she’d seen only one avenue of escape. After she and Alex were married, maybe they could come to Twilight and see her old friends, introduce Alex to them. A trip that could easily be made during the visit Alex had said they’d soon be making to the Parker Ranch to introduce her to his other relations, who’d been unable to attend the wedding.

  Karen blinked, moving from past to present. “I—I—” she stammered. Through Lee Parker’s eyes she could see what she hadn’t seen before. The real reason her mother, supported by her father, had refused to issue those invitations. They did think the people of Twilight rabble. Fit enough for their daughter to interact with during the summers, but not at any other time. Especially when they were on a campaign to impress someone as grandiose as Jessica Parker.

  “This is news to you?” he asked incredulously.

  It embarrassed Karen to have him be the person to point out this fact. Why hadn’t she thought of it herself? In their own way her parents had acted with just as much snobbery as the Parkers had. She wasn’t good enough for the Parkers and the people of Twilight weren’t good enough for her parents.

  Still she clambered for some kind of defense. “They—My parents—They were limited in what they could spend. The wedding cost so much. They—”

  “I freely admit my mother’s a snob,” Lee said. “She’s more impressed with being a Parker than most born Parkers. That doesn’t mean I love her any less. I just weigh her actions on that scale. My dad is her complete opposite.”

  Karen had a vague memory of Alex and Lee’s father. He had similar looks to theirs, of course, and was very quiet, staying mostly in the background.

  “He took what Alex did pretty hard,” Lee said. “He didn’t talk to him for several years.”

  “Your mother didn’t mind, though, did she?” Karen retorted, reliving the pain.

  Lee’s answer was honest. “She didn’t approve of his method. But she was relieved the wedding didn’t take place. Now I’m not sure how she feels. Alex has put her through a lot.”

  Karen couldn’t muster much compassion for Jessica Parker. But knowledge of her own parents’ complicity forced her to look at the entire affair in a different light. How could she continue to blame the Parkers for what her own parents had done, as well? She thought of Bette and John, of Carmelita and Juanita, of Hank and Pepper—all of the others. How would they feel if they knew? When they’d learned about the failed wedding, had they wondered why they hadn’t been invited? Especially Bette and John, whom she’d been closest to?

  “I don’t want anyone here to know about this,” she said emphatically. “I don’t want them to think—”

  “That you’re a snob?” he asked softly, with a little half smile.

  Karen met his gaze and couldn’t look away. Without actually having said it, he was showing her what it felt like to be the accused when the act you were being blamed for wasn’t your fault. Exactly what Bette had been trying to get her to see about him, and what Diane had attempted, as well!

  “Yes, that,” she admitted. “But mostly...I don’t want them to be hurt.”

  “I won’t say a word,” he promised, and lightly tapped a finger to his lips.

  Karen continued to look at him, caught in a sudden wave of intense feeling. The way he moved, the way he looked, that little half smile. She had an almost irresistible urge to lean forward and supplant his finger with her mouth. To once again taste those lips that had set her on fire, that had left a trail of liquid pleasure as they moved across her skin....

  “Some people got nothin’ better to do than stand around doin’ a lot of nothin!” a gruff voice grumbled from nearby.

  “Pete!” Karen cried, startled out of her bewitchment. She jerked around to face him.

  “Yeah, it’s me,” Pete said. He stomped closer, a pack over his shoulder, the black dog trailing tiredly behind. He gave them both an irascible look, his keen old eyes missing nothing.

  Karen felt her cheeks grow hot, perturbed by thoughts of what he might have interrupted if his return had been delayed several seconds. “You’re back!” she exclaimed. “I’m so relieved. I didn’t want you to go, Pete. That wasn’t what I was asking you to do.”

  Pete looked Lee up and down. “So you’re that TV fella,” he charged.

  “Lee Park
er,” Lee said, extending a hand.

  Pete ignored it. “You go around interviewin’ people.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Then when you gonna interview me?”

  “Whenever you like,” Lee replied without missing a beat. “You’re back to stay?”

  “I s’pose. Dog got tired. Can’t keep up like he used to.”

  All eyes moved to the dog, who’d gone to his favorite spot just off the shack’s doorstep and had already curled up in a tight ball, ready to sleep.

  Karen thought Pete, too, looked tired, but knew he wasn’t about to admit it.

  “How about tomorrow around noon?” Lee asked, seemingly careful to keep the moment casual.

  “Sounds all right to me,” Pete said, then without another word, he crossed to his shack and disappeared inside.

  Karen wasn’t about to remain where she was, standing in the lingering dusk with Lee. After everything that had happened—was happening—between them, she was afraid to trust herself. Her emotions were too unsettled.

  He fell into step beside her as she walked away. “You mind if I come along?” he asked. “I’m heading for the saloon.”

  Karen shrugged. What else could she do? Say, No, I need you to walk ten paces behind me? What would that tell him? She wasn’t going to make further conversation, though. They’d already done enough of that. She’d probably be awake for hours tonight thinking about it. About the way her parents—actually, her mother—had behaved. Her father, like Lee’s, tended to stay in the background when Gemma was on a tear about something. Then there was that disturbing moment Pete had interrupted. That would be good for another couple of hours of restless thought. Why did it keep happening?

  “Do you believe the dog story? He did look pretty tired.” When she didn’t answer, he said, “I guess they both did. Why did Pete come back so soon, do you think? To make more trouble?”

  Karen shrugged again.

  “John sure isn’t going to like it,” Lee persisted.

  “No, he won’t,” she agreed shortly.

  She sensed his smile. “You do still speak.”

  They were almost to the stairs outside the antique shop. Karen quickened her pace, and once she’d managed to mount the first step, she paused to say, “Don’t push your luck, okay?”

  “I thought we were going to start over.”

  “I let you walk with me, didn’t I?”

  “Well, that’s something.”

  “Like I said...don’t push your luck.”

  Then she ran upstairs, let herself into the apartment and assumed what had fast become her favored position since returning to Twilight—bracing herself against the door to keep Lee Parker outside.

  Only, how did she keep thoughts of him from invading her mind?

  EARLY THE NEXT MORNING Karen awakened to a loud, deep rumbling. The continuing vibrations seemed to permeate the air, dragging her from what little sleep she’d finally settled into late in the night.

  Then the knocking started. Loud, rapid, unceasing. Karen slipped into her robe as she stumbled to the door.

  Bette stood outside on the landing, her bright red hair in curlers, her face shiny with applied night oils. She, too, was in her robe. “They’re here!” she cried excitedly. “The movie workers! In four big trucks—huge things—all on the near side of town. Most everyone’s out there. I thought you might like to see, too.”

  Karen glanced at her attire. “Like this? I’ll change.”

  “Almost everyone’s dressed this way. No one expected them to come so early. John says they probably drove through the night, since it’s cooler.”

  “Still, I’d—”

  “Come on!” Bette said, grabbing her hand and pulling her downstairs. “We don’t want to miss a thing!”

  They hurried past the saloon and the empty buildings on its other side, until they were at the edge of town, where four massive eighteen-wheelers were lined up one after the other along the road. All were stopped but had their engines running. The noise would be ungodly at any hour.

  Karen tried to cover her ears as Bette drew her into the assembled crowd. Most, as Bette had said, were in their nightwear. Some had robes, some didn’t. John looked as if he’d leaped straight out of bed with just his pajama bottoms on. His thinning gray hair was every which way. Carmelita’s robe barely covered her round body, Juanita sleepily held on to baby Jesse, while Diego had managed to pull on a pair of jeans. Hank and Pepper, Joe and Rhonda, Isaac Jacobs, even Mary and Benny were trying to take in what was happening. The only town member who wasn’t there was Pete.

  The driver of the lead truck climbed down to consult with John. Exaggerated hand motions accompanied shouted questions and answers as John suggested an area for them to park. While this happened, a large van, filled with some of the actual workers, drove up as well.

  Karen was trying her best to at least tie her robe at the waist when the “Western Rambles” crew came into view outside the line of trucks, Manny, as usual, taping what was going on.

  Howls of protest came from the crowd as the camera turned on them, but Lee, grinning, shouted for them not to worry. He wouldn’t use the footage.

  Somehow, the crew had managed to dress, or at least partially dress. Manny was barefoot but had on jeans and a T-shirt. Diane wore a pair of shorts, a wrinkled shirt and plastic thong sandals. And Lee—Karen wished she hadn’t seen this!—was in his lowcut jeans and a check shirt. But the shirt was hanging loose and open, and as he worked, she had a full view of a nicely muscled chest, flat stomach, trim waist and a fine sprinkling of dark hair that started just beneath his throat to disappear beneath the button flap of his jeans.

  Karen. swallowed and tried to drag her eyes away. She was tingling at seeing him that intimately. Of wanting to see more. His body was like a beautiful work of art—strong and sensual and highly appealing.

  Her heart thumped erratically, her breaths were shallow... this time, for all the right reasons.

  No. No! No! she castigated herself. It was Martin she should be having these feelings for! Not—

  She continued to feast on what was so freely given. Lee didn’t seem to know that she was watching him. And if that was so, what did it hurt?

  Then he turned to look straight at her.

  Caught, she broke her gaze away. What was wrong with her? Had anyone else noticed? She was relieved to find that no one had.

  Karen didn’t want to look back but had to in order to see what he was doing, where he was. To ensure that he wasn’t coming toward her. She wasn’t sure what she’d do if he was—run to him or from him.

  She didn’t need to worry, though. Manny had stopped shooting and, of necessity, the crew members huddled together before hurrying to tape the workers exiting the van.

  “I wish our shipment of souvenirs was here,” Mary lamented loudly.

  “I wonder where they’ll sleep.” Pepper also had to raise her voice to be heard.

  “And eat!” Carmelita shouted.

  The consultation about parking ended and the lead driver climbed back into his truck, used a radio to talk with the other drivers, then, after goosing the engine a few times, pushed into the proper gear. The truck rolled forward, swinging out to make a wide turn. As the other trucks mimicked the actions of the first, the crowd fell back into the town proper to allow the drivers all the space they needed to maneuver.

  Little Jesse started to cry at the added noise and Benny protested loudly that he didn’t like it, either, because it hurt his ears. Pepper and Rhonda declared they’d had enough, and echoing them, Karen told Bette she, too, was leaving.

  She’d only managed a few steps before John caught up with her. He looked a new man, charged with excitement, completely oblivious to his state of undress or the fact that his hair was in wild disorder.

  “It’s all startin’, Karen!” he said, leaning close. “I was beginnin’ to wonder if it ever would—if it was all some kind of crazy dream—but here they are! It’s no dream!”

>   Karen smiled at his happiness.

  “There’s only one problem.” Some of the glow left his face. “Pete’s back. Would you mind goin’ to talk to him again? I’m real worried that he’ll start messin’ things up again. Playin’ his little tricks on us is one thing. Playin’ ‘em on this Hollywood crowd is somethin’ else. They won’t hesitate to call the law down on him. No two ways about it. So for his own sake... You got him to listen to you once. Surely you can do it again. Whatcha say? Will you do it?”

  “I’ll try,” Karen promised, cupping her hand close to his ear so he would hear.

  He grinned and nodded and patted her on the back.

  WHEN THE DEAFENING ENGINE noises finally stopped, the resulting quiet was almost startling. With the return to normal levels of conversation, the “Western Rambles” crew came together to see what their next steps should be. They were accustomed to working on the run, to sudden bursts of opportunity, to being asleep one minute and up, dressed and moving speedily and efficiently the next. It wasn’t remarked upon that Manny had no shoes or that Diane wasn’t as well groomed as she normally was. Or that Lee’s dark hair was rumpled and his customary T-shirt missing.

  “They’re going to set up their own place,” Manny said. “So they’ll be independent of Twilight. That’s the way they usually do things, the guy I was talking to said. They try not to disrupt the status quo for the people in the area any more than they have to.”

  “Sounds reasonable,” Diane said, finally getting a chance to run a comb through her hair.

  “Might disappoint a few people,” Lee murmured.

  He was having a hard time getting Karen out of his mind. But then, it seemed he’d been having that trouble for years. Only it was worse now—when he could talk to her, when he could see her with little effort. God, she’d looked good earlier in that long T-shirt she’d obviously slept in and the silk robe she kept trying to tie. And the way he’d caught her looking at him. It made his blood course just to think about. Those big brown eyes, those wonderful curls that tumbled to her shoulders. The face of an angel, he’d decided last night as he lay awake, thinking. She hadn’t looked at him like an angel this morning, though. Not an angel in the accepted sense of the word. This heavenly spirit could lift a man until he thought he was in heaven.