The Texan's Return

by Karen Whiddon

  * * *

  Once inside the bathroom, Hailey eyed herself in the mirror. Yep. She looked exactly the way she felt—like a woman who’d been thoroughly made love to.

  She felt slightly sore but very well-loved. Hurriedly, she cleaned up, wondering how her newly tender body would feel on a motorcycle seat but willing to try.

  Spending the rest of the day with Mac was a gift she wasn’t going to pass up.

  Just as she emerged from the bathroom, another clap of thunder sounded, so loud the entire house shook. She hurried back to her bedroom to find Mac at the window, peering outside.

  “Looks like a storm’s rolled in,” he said quietly.

  Immediately she thought of the kids, out at the lake with Aaron. She reached for her phone and called the number of the cell phone Tom and Tara shared. The call went straight to voice mail. “Great, just great.”

  Mac put his arm around her. “Don’t worry. I’m sure Aaron’s got enough sense to head home with a storm coming. They’re probably on their way right now.”

  Though she nodded, telling herself it was just a little rain, she jumped two feet in the air when her cell phone tornado alarm sounded.

  Tornado Warning! A Tornado Warning has been issued for your area. Take shelter immediately!

  “Oh, no.” After silencing the alarm, which came from the app Tornado, she hit redial to try the twins again.

  Once more, the call went straight to voice mail.

  Heart in her throat, she swallowed.

  “Cell phone service might be messed up due to the storm,” Mac said.

  Outside, a loud shrill wail sounded. The tornado sirens.

  “I’ve got to find them.” Though she tried to keep back the panic, it took over. “Let’s go. In my car.”

  “Shh.” He turned her into his chest, stroking her hair. “Aaron has your car, remember. We’ve got to take shelter. Now.”

  “Not without them,” she began, wrenching out of his grasp.

  “Come on.” Half carrying, half dragging her, he pulled her along the hallway to the bathroom. It was their designated “safe” room since it was interior with no windows.

  She allowed herself to be led along, mechanically, while very fiber of her insides screamed for her sister and brothers.

  “I can’t...” she gasped.

  “Hailey, they need you. What good will you be to them if you’re dead? In the tub. Now. Tell me where I can find a radio.”

  “In the kitchen.”

  “Thanks. Now get in the tub, please. It’s the safest place right now.”

  Once she’d climbed inside, Mac retrieved the old radio, plugged it in and turned it on. Then he grabbed one of the kids’ twin mattresses and pulled it over them.

  Huddled together, she couldn’t stop shaking. Several imaginary scenarios—each more awful than the one before—flashed through her head. The kids could be in danger, and she couldn’t help them. She said this out loud.

  “Or they could be perfectly safe,” Mac put in, his voice dry. “What’s the point of worrying about something before you know it’s even happened?”

  “You have a point,” she conceded. “But I can’t help myself.”

  “A tornado has been spotted on the ground five miles northeast of Mineola, moving east,” the reporter said on the radio. “Everyone in that vicinity should take immediate shelter.”

  Hailey winced. “It’s heading right toward us.”

  “And nowhere near the lake,” he pointed out. “I’m sure they’re fine.”

  The tightness in her chest eased somewhat. She could handle being in danger, as long as the kids were okay.

  Then she remembered Gus and Dolores. “What about your dad? Your house is in the path, too.”

  He nodded. “Dolores is an experienced caregiver. The hospital bed has wheels. I’m sure she got him into the main bathroom.”

  Some of his calm penetrated through her haze of fear. He kissed the side of her neck. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

  They stayed huddled in the bathtub for thirty more minutes, just to be safe. Periodically, Mac pushed up the mattress, told her to stay put and went outside to check the sky.

  The second time he returned, he told her that the sirens had stopped blaring. The radio station had gone back to playing music and only interrupted one other time to talk about damage to another small town west of them.

  When he removed the mattress and carried it back to the bed from where it had come, Hailey stood and stretched. Immediately, she called the twins’ phone. This time, Tara answered, sounding worried.

  “Is everything okay?” Tara asked. “We heard there was a tornado out by the house.”

  “We’re all fine. What about you?”

  “Oh, we’re good. We’ve been fishing. Tom and Eli both caught catfish. Aaron says there’s enough to feed all of us for dinner tonight.”

  The note of happiness in her baby sister’s voice wasn’t lost on Hailey. “Are you having a good time?”

  “We were, until it started raining. But Aaron got us back to the car, so we only got a little bit wet. He borrowed money from Eli to buy some ice for his Styrofoam ice chest. He has this really cool knife he used to cut up the fish. He called it filleting it or something.”

  “Borrowed money from Eli?” Appalled, Hailed swallowed.

  “Only two dollars. Chill out. We’re fine, you’re fine, and the storm’s gone. We’re going back out to fish some more. Eli and Tom really like it.”

  “What about you?”

  Hailey could almost see Tara rolling her eyes. “It’s okay. I brought a book, so I’m good.”

  “When will you be home?”

  Tara sighed. “I guess when we get done. Aaron seems okay. Stop worrying and go have fun yourself. Call Mac or something.”

  “He’s here with me right now.”

  The high-pitched squeal coming from Tara made Hailey wince and hold the phone away from her ear. “There you go,” Tara exclaimed. “You enjoy your date. We’ll spend our time getting to know Aaron. Everything worked out in the end, right? It’s a good day.”

  How was it possible that her fourteen-year-old sister sounded as if she was the oldest one? Shaking her head, Hailey agreed that it had been a good day and hung up. When she looked up, she saw Mac watching her.

  “Hailey thinks we’re on a date,” she said, smiling.

  He raised a brow. “Aren’t we?”

  Though she didn’t answer, the thought sent a little thrill of pleasure through her. Was this a date? She didn’t have enough experience to even realize what a date should be like. “How are things at your place?” she asked.

  “I checked on Gus. Dolores says everything there is good. They just got a little rain and wind. Nothing to worry about.” His smile sent warmth through her. “How about we continue on our date?”

  “Is that what this is?”

  He went still. “If you want it to be.”

  She couldn’t help but laugh. “We just made love. If that constitutes a date, then by all means let’s continue.”

  At that, he came over and kissed her. Slow and deep and long and moist, until she could barely even remember what they’d been talking about.

  When he came up for air, his gaze gleamed with wickedness. “It’s the best kind of date, Hailey. But we’ve got more to do before this day is over. Let’s not waste any more time.”

  Riding on the back of Mac’s motorcycle was exactly how she’d imagined it would be. The rumble of the powerful engine underneath her, holding on to Mac’s muscular body and having a reason to sit as close as possible. Even wearing her helmet, the wind in her hair. She found it exhilarating, fun and sexy as all get-out.

  As they rode the winding back roads through the woods, she saw her home with
fresh eyes. Sometimes, when one lives so long among great beauty, it’s taken for granted and no longer appreciated.

  Now, without the metal walls of a car separating her from the landscape, she saw this had happened to her. She felt more alive than she had in years, more present. Happy.

  She thought of what her too-wise-for-her-years sister had told her. Grab some happiness for yourself.

  And so she had. Even though Mac couldn’t hear her, she threw her head back and laughed out loud.

  * * *

  While he drove, Hailey molded against his back, Mac thought of all the places he wanted to take her. His heart felt full. Surely now, after the way they’d come together, body to body, combusting when they touched, Hailey would finally understand what Mac had known ever since he’d come back to town.

  They never should have let each other go.

  Ahead he knew of a popular fruit and vegetable stand. He’d never been able to forget Hailey telling him that day in the grocery store that she couldn’t afford to buy much fresh produce. Today, it would be his treat. At least as much as he could fit in his saddlebags, which he knew from experience would be a good-sized bag.

  As they rounded the curve in the road, he saw the sign up ahead. After pulling into the parking lot and killing the engine, he took off his helmet and waited while Hailey did the same.

  “What’s this?” she asked, looking around.

  “A local farmer’s market.” Once he’d dismounted, he held out his hand. “They have amazing produce and reasonable prices.”

  Anything and everything Hailey even remotely appeared interested in, Mac bought. He never told her any of this was for her and the kids, just gathered it up in bags and placed it in the little basket. By the time they’d finished walking the rows, he had a basketful of perfectly curved yellow squash and zucchini, plump red tomatoes, apples, carrots, lettuce, onions and red potatoes. He’d added a nice cantaloupe, too, wishing he had room for a watermelon but knowing that would never fit in his saddlebag.

  Once he’d paid, he’d stowed everything away, still not telling her that all of it was for her family. After that, they drove into Mineola, stopping at East Texas Burger Company and chowing down on juicy burgers and fries for a late lunch.

  Watching Hailey eat brought him pleasure. She took dainty bites at first, almost as if she was afraid to get her lips dirty. Then, after that first taste, she dug in with gusto, devouring half her burger with an intensity that made him think of sex.

  When she looked up to find him watching, she blushed. “I was hungry,” she said.

  “Me, too.” He indicated his clean plate. “I beat you.”

  His comment made her grin. “Just barely.” And she finished off her meal, leaving only a handful of fries on the plate.

  After he’d paid the check, they wandered outside. “What’s next?” she asked, glancing up the colorful main street with its numerous shops.

  “We can ride the back roads some more,” he told her. “Or we can walk around here and shop. It’s up to you.”

  Her beautiful blue eyes lit up. “Do we have time to do both?”

  Offering her his arm, he smiled. “We do.”

  After they’d spent a couple of hours roaming through the stores, Hailey only looking but not buying of course, she proclaimed herself all shopped out. They got back on the motorcycle, and Mac glanced at his watch. The day had gone by too quickly.

  “We still have time to do a little riding around, if you want,” he told her. “I thought we might stop for a drink at that bar on the way to your house.”

  She nodded. “Let’s go ride. After we’re done, we’ll see.”

  So he took her down roads where the houses were few and far between, where huge leafy live oaks made canopies over the road and the pine trees filled in the spaces between them. He took her past the old cemetery where his father’s parents had been buried, and his mother in a little plot decorated with a headstone. Gus Morrison’s name had already been inscribed there. All that needed to be added was the date of death.

  Since the thought definitely brought a black cloud to the day, he pushed it away.

  Finally, he judged it time to head back to Legacy. He knew just the place he wanted to take Hailey for a drink. Whether or not she remembered it, as teenagers they’d often eyed the elegant Trinity Room. They’d made plans to go there after their senior prom. But when Brenda died, neither of them had gone to prom. Heck, Mac had barely graduated at all. Luckily, even though his mother had dragged him away to Huntsville before the end of the school year, he’d had enough credits to get his diploma.

  But he’d never forgotten his promise to take Hailey to the Trinity Room. He’d even scoped it out a week or so ago, noting the decor had changed, probably out of necessity. Though the place had kept the name, the interior of the restaurant and bar had been remodeled sometime in the last decade. To his regret and relief, the atmosphere was now casual. Since he’d seen a row of motorcycles parked there once or twice, he figured he and Hailey would go unnoticed.

  When they pulled up and parked, he stood, removed his helmet and turned to give Hailey a hand with hers. She got off the bike slowly, her gaze trained on the old building. When she finally faced him, she had tears in her eyes.

  “Do you remember?” she asked.

  He held out his hand. “Yes. I’ve spent ten years regretting that we never got our evening here. Now we will.”

  Looking down at her jeans, she grimaced. “We’re not dressed for the Trinity Room. Maybe we could come back another time.”

  “It’s changed.” Gently, he tugged her toward the door. “They’ve redone the place. It’s more of a sports bar now.”

  She dug in her heels. “Seriously? That would be a shame.”

  “Maybe,” he allowed. “But places and people change. We certainly have. We can still have our moment here, if you’re open to it.”

  A ghost of a smile flitted around her mouth. “I so wanted to be wearing a formal gown. And see you in a tux.”

  “Maybe someday.” Keeping his tone light so he didn’t frighten her, he led the way toward the door. “One drink, your choice, and then we’ll head home. You can even have some frothy frozen concoction if that’s what you want.”

  Inside, the dimly lit atmosphere was broken up by several strategically placed TVs, all tuned to various sporting events. The back corner booth was empty, so he took her there.

  Once they were seated, the waitress brought menus. Though he was still full from the earlier burger, he asked Hailey if she wanted to share an appetizer. She shook her head no. “I’m looking to see what kind of mixed drinks they have.”

  “Right there,” the waitress said, pointing to a long list on the back side of the menu. “I’ll leave you alone to decide.”

  Once the waitress was gone, Hailey looked up from the menu. “I don’t normally drink alcohol. What kind of drink is sweet and fruity, where you can’t taste the liquor?”

  “Those are the kind you have to be careful of,” he told her, grinning. “They go down smooth and way too easy.”

  She snorted. “I’m only going to have one. Now, which ones would I like?”

  Turning his own menu over, he read through the selections. “Texas Tea, Bahama Breeze, Pina Colada. All of those should meet your criteria.”

  When the waitress returned, Hailey ordered the Bahama Breeze. Still grinning, Mac ordered a beer.

  “Nothing to eat?”

  After he declined, the server gathered up the menus and promised to bring their drinks shortly.

  Mac leaned across the table and took Hailey’s hand. “So we finally get to have our drink here.”

  She nodded, about to speak. But instead, something across the room caught her eye. Her smile slipped, and she swallowed, hard. “Brace yourself,” she murmured. “A group of
the PTA ladies from the twins’ school is headed this way.”

  PTA ladies? He didn’t even have time to question this statement before they arrived. Five women, two of them unsteady on their feet. A tall, stocky woman with short dark hair, clearly the leader, stepped up to their table. Carefully avoiding Mac’s gaze, she locked on Hailey.

  “What are you doing here with him?” she demanded, her small, close-set eyes going from Hailey to Mac and back again. “I would think even you would have more pride than to be seen around here with a murderer!”

  No doubt bewildered, Hailey could feel her mouth fall open in shock. Then, she made a show of looking around, standing to peer past the group of women as if searching for someone in the bar. “Where?” she gasped, putting her hand to her chest for dramatic effect. “I don’t see a murderer, but if you say he’s here, maybe you all should leave before someone gets hurt.”

  It took every ounce of restraint Mac possessed to keep from laughing out loud. Of course the beady-eyed woman found no humor in this whatsoever. Pale skin mottled, she glared at Hailey. “I’m serious. I personally find it insulting that you—of all people—are hanging around this man.”

  Hailey shot Mac a look that clearly told him to stay out of it. Facing the larger woman, she shook her head. “Stop it, Betty Sue. Mac’s not a murderer, and I think you know it.”

  “I heard he—”

  “Stop it.” Cool, calm and collected, Hailey interrupted. “You should know better than anyone how untrue gossip can be. Now I’ll kindly ask you to leave me and my friend alone to enjoy our drinks.”

  Which had just arrived. “Excuse me,” the waitress said, shouldering in between the women. Placing Hailey’s drink in front of her, she winked at her before delivering Mac’s beer to him. “Enjoy,” she said. “Let me know if you need anything, you hear me? Anything at all.”

  After she’d left, the leader of the women appeared uncertain. But one of her friends, one of the ones who had clearly been drinking, pushed her way in front of the others. “You can’t talk to Betty like that,” she said, huffing. “Who do you think you are?”