by Sylvia Nobel
At the mention of food, sudden hunger gnawed at my belly. I’d probably missed a great dinner at Angelina’s. “I’m sure the party is over now. Don’t worry about it. Get packed and get some sleep. What time were you planning to leave?”
“Around seven. It’s close to a four hour drive.”
“I’ll be here.” I started towards my car, but stopped and turned when a thought struck me. “By the way, where will we be staying overnight? Should we reserve a motel room?”
An indulgent grin creased her lips as she slowly shook her head. “I can see you have never been to Sasabe. It is a very small place. Sister Goldenrod let me stay in one of the rooms she keeps ready for her um…unexpected guests, or maybe you would want to drive back and find a motel in Green Valley.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Not fancy at all,” she said with a little shrug.
“Well, I’ll bring my sleeping bag in case I have to rough it for a couple of nights.”
She thanked me again and I headed to the restaurant nursing my own pangs of guilt. Crap! Just as I feared. There were only a few cars remaining in the parking lot when I arrived and Tally’s truck was not among them. I groaned aloud and goosed the car down the road towards Ginger’s place, dread pooling inside me as I imagined the impending confrontation—one provoked by my own impulsive actions.
When I approached her driveway and saw Tally’s truck parked beneath the streetlight, my heart did a nervous little dance. He was leaning against the door twirling his hat in his hands. Not a good sign. Gravel crunched under the wheels as I braked, jumped from the car and started walking towards him. Might as well get it over with.
I was filled with regret. It should have been a night for romance. The soft breeze caressing my face carried the dusky-sweet scent of desert plants and felt surprisingly cool. Was this the weather change I’d been waiting for, the one that would herald an end to the sweltering summer heat?
Silvery moonlight, more brilliant than any I had seen before in my life, beamed down on me like a spotlight, exposing all my weaknesses. I flashed Tally a sheepish grin designed to diffuse the situation, but his response sent my spirits plummeting. The mosaic of light and shadow playing across his rugged features revealed the tight set of his jaw and the agitation smoldering in his hooded gaze. Why did he have to look so tall, so imposing and so damned sexy? Before I could utter one word in my defense, he said coolly, “It’s really comforting to realize that on your list of important things, I rank somewhere below Ginger’s dirty dishes and Lupe’s personal problems.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“Really? You could have fooled me.” He made an exaggerated point of staring at his watch then lifted his gaze to me. “All I know is that it’s past ten o’clock and I’ve spent exactly five minutes with you all evening.”
“I’m sorry. I had every intention of coming to Angelina’s after…”
Tersely, he interjected, “After cooking up your little scheme with Ginger. Shame on both of you. We waited at the restaurant until poor old Nona finally fell asleep in her chair.”
I sighed heavily, pressing one hand against my forehead. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say. But, I was right. Lupe does have a serious problem and I, unfortunately, am going to have to deal with it.”
He seemed unimpressed by my explanation and his lips flattened into a hard line. “Sorry is not going to cut it. I know you’re accustomed to using deception to wheedle information from other people, but I don’t appreciate you using it on me and I sure as hell don’t like being put on the spot.”
Although I probably deserved his wrath, I stuck my chin out and shot back, “Before you get your shorts all in a knot, I did try to call you, but the battery on my cell phone died so...” I winced inwardly as the words left my mouth. Even I knew how lame it sounded and my face flamed with embarrassment.
He arched one dark brow. “I see. And apparently Lupe’s phone wires were also cut?”
I squirmed under his accusing glare for a moment before saying, “That’s a little bit overly-dramatic, don’t you think?”
“You’re the one who gets off on drama and duplicity.”
“That’s not fair. Besides, you forced me to do it that way.”
“I forced you?”
“Yes! You made it very clear you didn’t want me going over there tonight and I’m not accustomed to asking anyone’s permission to do my job. I didn’t want to have an argument with you in front of everyone, so…”
His gaze softened marginally. “What kind of trouble is she in?”
“Well…I can’t say.”
Grimacing, he squeezed his eyes shut. “Why does this sound familiar?”
I knew he was referring to my first assignment when I’d arrived in Arizona last spring. On Tugg’s request, I’d had to work undercover and been unable to tell him why. “This is nothing for you to have a freckled cow over. I agreed to go with Lupe down to the southern part of the state for just a couple of days to check some things out.”
He quit twirling his hat and jammed it on his head. “I see.”
“No, you don’t see. Lupe’s gotten herself involved in…well, something pretty awful and she begged me to help her. She also swore me to secrecy.”
“This is exactly why I didn’t want you to get yourself involved. Can’t this wait until after our trip?”
“I don’t think so.”
His sigh of exasperation filled the space between us. “I know you’re not that excited about the horse show….”
I cut in, “Don’t assume things. Lupe said that if she can’t resolve this problem, she’s not coming back to work.”
He cocked his head to one side. “At all?”
“At all. And since Tugg and I agreed that we wouldn’t leave each other in a bind, if Lupe takes off I won’t be able to go with you anyway because we’ll be short-staffed.” I explained the bargain I’d made with Lupe, concluding with, “You’re going to have to trust my judgement on this one.”
He shot me an incredulous look. “You mean like your last two assignments? In case you’ve forgotten, I had to save your beautiful butt the first time, and the second time I was the last one to know that you’d almost gotten yourself killed.”
“So that’s it. I thought we weren’t going to have this discussion again. Admit it, you’re not really upset about tonight. You’re still pissed at me over that Morgan’s Folly story. How many times do you want me to apologize? I was wrong. I should have told you sooner. This time I’m telling you right up front. Lupe’s in big trouble and I’m going to do my best to help her if I can.”
He shook his head slowly. “Do you have any idea how aggravating you can be?”
“Me?” I hoped my beguiling grin would thaw his anger. “I don’t mean to worry you but this is…this is what I do.”
His eyes were luminous with disappointment. “I guess I was hoping that things would settle down, and that maybe you’d develop a little appreciation for what I like to do, but I guess ranching doesn’t hit your hot button.”
“Tally, I love you, but please don’t try to corral me like one of your wild horses. I’m not ready to be put out to pasture just yet.” Oops! His face closed up and I regretted the words the moment they left my lips. Why, oh, why couldn’t I stop and think things out before saying them? I rushed to slide my arms around him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.” I laid my cheek against his neck. “You know you’re the most important thing in my life.” I cherished the feel of his strong arms around me and I thought again how we seemed a testimony to the opposites attract theory. The fact that he appeared to have a clear vision of who he was and where he intended to go in life had a steadying influence on me. And compared to my impetuous ways, his dependable disposition was like a buoy in the rough uncharted waters of our still evolving relationship.
He stiffened and held me away from him, his eyes searching mi
ne. “Kendall, I know I can’t change you any more than you can change me, but I hope you’ll think this through before you go running off chasing UFOs or some nonsensical thing.”
I blinked my innocence. “Who said anything about UFOs?”
He dropped his hands from my shoulders and jerked the truck door open. “I’m not stupid.”
“I never said you were.”
“You think I haven’t figured out that this must have something to do with Walter’s crazy story? I have eyes. I saw how Lupe reacted. Why in the hell you have to insinuate yourself into this I don’t know but if you insist, I hope you’ll watch that pretty ass of yours this time.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Much to my dismay, he did not respond to my coquettish grin. “Please don’t worry. I’ll be careful.” I held up two fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
He looked unconvinced. “Where did you say you were going?”
“Sasabe. Isn’t that near the…what ranch was it you were telling me about?”
“The Sundog. Champ Beaumont’s spread.” A thoughtful expression softened his features. “Actually, I have some unfinished business there. Maybe I’d better come along to protect you from yourself.”
“Tally, you can’t. I promised Lupe I wouldn’t tell anyone about this.”
He clamped his mouth shut, wheeled around and climbed into the driver’s seat. Simultaneously, he slammed the door shut and started the engine.
“Wait a minute,” I shouted, running towards the open window. “Aren’t you coming over to the house?”
Staring straight ahead, his jaw line resembled granite. “Not tonight. But while we’re on the subject of promises, I hope you’ll remember yours.” He shoved the truck into gear, then turned and leveled me a look of warning. “I’m leaving for California at five o’clock Tuesday morning with or without you.”
4
Tally’s abrupt departure left me standing in the moonlit road choking on a pearly cloud of dust. Indignation tightened my chest. I hadn’t suffered from an asthma attack for weeks, since that last time we’d had words. “Damn it, Tally!” As the taillights on his truck winked out and the roar of the engine faded, hot tears stung my eyes. No matter how I tried I couldn’t seem to stay in his good graces. Leave it to me to damage his masculine sensibilities again by mouthing off without thinking. Ruefully, I decided that perhaps I should think about registering my tongue as a lethal weapon. But at the same instant a shadow of remorse wrapped around my heart, another part of me rebelled. Was this my future with him? Was I going to have to sacrifice my dreams to make this relationship work?
A slight thumping sound from behind startled me and I whirled around to find Ginger standing near the trash dumpster shaking her head sadly. “I told you he was gonna be madder than a cornered badger.”
I fisted my hands on my hips and glared at her. “Ginger King! You were eavesdropping.”
She wrinkled her pug nose and waved away my protest. “Oh, Flapdoodle. I just happened to be taking out the garbage. How could I help but overhear y’all yapping at each other like a couple of angry coyotes?”
She was right, we’d hardly been whispering. I kicked up a puff of dust and blew out a weary sigh. “Just once, I wish he’d stay put and finish a conversation like a mature adult. But no, he always quits right in the middle and drives off in that damn truck!”
“Men don’t like confrontation.”
“I don’t know what to do with him. We just can’t seem to see eye to eye on some things. You know he hasn’t come right out and said it yet, but I’m getting the sense that he’d be happier if I never took another assignment. Out of town, anyway.”
Ginger leaned back against the fence post and studied me for a second before saying, “Well, my stars and garters! How’d you expect him to react? It ain’t like you been taking a walk in the park. You’ve gone and gotten yourself into some pretty tough scrapes these past few months.”
I hitched my shoulders defensively. “Maybe, but I didn’t plan it that way. Things…just happened.” I stared up at the moon as if the answer to my dilemma lay hidden somewhere in the dark craters. “I can’t win. I adore Tally, but I don’t want to sit around the Starfire knitting potholders all day like Ruth. It’s hard to explain, but it really gets my blood running to chase down an interesting story.” In my mind, I was already projecting ahead to the possible intrigue awaiting me. Strong intuition convinced me that this feeling of cold excitement in my gut could not be wrong.
Ginger’s unusual silence drew my attention back to her. Our eyes locked and I was surprised by the expression of suppressed anticipation in her honey-colored eyes. “What? Why are you staring at me like that?”
“I’m not staring. I was just thinking that…well, I know you two’ve got some big-time differences to overcome, and I’m sure you ain’t in the mood for another lecture, but dang it, girl, wake up and smell the coffee! Guys like Tally don’t come down the pike everyday.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
She flicked me a doubt-laden look. “Sometimes you don’t act like it. Look, Doug and me don’t always see eye to eye, but nine times out of ten I can get him to come around to my way of thinking.”
“I don’t think compromise is part of Tally’s nature.”
She mulled that over a few seconds and then tipped her head sideways. “You suppose it might be the fact that he’s so much older than you?”
I gawked at her. “He’s only thirty-four! You make him sound ancient.”
“You know what I mean. He just seems so much more…settled, more set in his ways.”
“Is that a euphemism for saying that I’m immature and flaky?”
“Of course not.”
She looked hurt, so I reached out and touched her shoulder. “I know you mean well, but cut me some slack, would you? I think he’s still got some serious issues to work out about his first wife, and I went through this same drill with my ex-husband ragging on me to quit my job and raise a bunch of kids.”
Ginger stared at me as if I’d lost my mind. “So? If Doug popped the question tonight, I’d be ready to get hitched in the morning.”
“Well, that’s you.”
“I think you’re missing the big picture here, sugar.”
I glanced sharply at her. Not only was she unusually serious, her inexplicable expression of feigned innocence indicated something was up. “Okay, Ginger, out with it. What are you not telling me?”
She bit her lower lip and jammed her hands into the food-splattered apron. “Nothin’.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s just that…well, you should’ve been with us at dinner tonight instead of gallivanting around town after Lupe. I was watching Tally’s face real careful when he was playing around with Harry’s kids. He looked happier than a frog on a lily pad, if you get my drift.”
“Subtle you’re not. Why don’t you just come right out and say it? I know what the score is.”
“I don’t think you do,” she muttered.
“Hey, why should I rush things? One divorce and a broken engagement in the span of three years is not a track record I’m proud of. I intend to proceed at my own pace, thank you very much.”
She looked positively pained. “I still don’t think you ought to go running off like a spring filly when the stallion’s in the barn. Excuse me for living, but I thought he really rang your bell.”
Ginger was priceless. “He rings my bell just fine,” I said with a wide grin. “But I think you’re both overreacting. I’m not going to jump the Grand Canyon on a motorcycle for Christ’s sake! I’m just going to help out a friend and maybe get a good story while I’m at it. And we weren’t going to get to see much of each other until Tuesday anyway. He’s driving up to Prescott to get that new horse and I’d planned to run a thousand errands and clean my filthy house. But, as it turns out, I’m going to have to deal with something rather important that’s come up.”
/>
Her eyes turned crafty. “I heard. So, what’s all this about Lupe being abducted by space aliens? Come on, I promise I won’t tell anybody.”
“Of course you won’t, because I’m not going to tell you.”
“Girl, you’re making a big mistake if you ask me,” she said, her voice rising shrilly. “You’re going to fool around and spoil things with Tally if you ain’t careful.”
Her urgent tone made my heart skid to a stop, then restart with erratic thumps. “What makes you say that?”
She reflected on her fingertips a few maddening seconds before blurting out, “If you weren’t so danged pigheaded you’d see things real clear like me. Instead, you’re so all fired busy thinking up ways to provoke the poor guy you ain’t seein’ what’s right in front of you.”
“Ginger, what the hell are you talking about?”
She said nothing, just stared at me wide-eyed with her lips pinched shut. Her chest heaved as if she were about to burst. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on with Lupe?”
“Nope.”
Pouting, she looked away, folding her arms. “Then I ain’t tellin’ either.”
Waves of exasperation pounded at my temples. Mindful of my short temper, I bit back the host of barbed retorts that leaped to my tongue, saying instead, “Well then, I guess it’s a draw. I won’t know your secret and you won’t know mine.” Even though I was burning to know what she was concealing, I stomped to my car and flung the door open. “I have to pack and get up early. I don’t have time for games.” I broke a fingernail jamming the key into the ignition and the engine purred to life as she rushed up to the open window wailing, “Sugar, please don’t be mad at me.”
Keeping my own bruised feelings at bay, I surveyed her anxious expression. “I don’t get it. I’ve known you for six months and I love you dearly, but never once during that time have you ever been able to keep a secret. Why are you starting now?”
