by Rikki Dyson
The caravan arrived at the castle in the afternoon. When Richard saw the mansion, he asked, “Is this how ordinary people live in Texas?”
Lora gave him a warning look and said, “Don’t be factious, you know it isn’t. There’s a perfectly good reason why my brother and his family live here.”
From the back seat, Cody said, “No, please Aunt Lora, I beg you, not the story again. Everybody that comes here has to hear, ‘the story.’ It’s so boring.”
Richard turned to Cody and said, “Now young man you have truly sparked my interest. I shall be keen to hear, the story.”
Troy from the back seat said, “I’ll be keen to jump in the swimming pool. You do have one, don’t you, Cody?”
“Of course,” Cody and Robbie replied at the same time. They were barely in the house when the young people headed for the pool. Much later, after coffee and tea, Lora saw Richard talking with Bradley. She felt sure Richard had heard the story by now.
Lora sometimes got the feeling that Bradley felt as if he should apologize for living here. That was such nonsense to her way of thinking. Mr. Barrington knew what he was doing when he left the house and grounds to Bradley and Jackie. If Daniel and David didn’t live here too, they wouldn’t be financially able to pay for the up-keep and the taxes. Thank goodness, the twin’s oil well fire fighting business was doing very well, especially in the Middle East and South America.
It was dangerous work, but paid extremely well.
Around eight p.m. Sir Richard asked Lora, “Could you see your way clear to drive me to a hotel?”
“Sure,” Lora said. “If that’s what you want.”
“I assure you dear lady, it is. I have already canceled my reservations and I now need a reputable hotel,” he informed her.
Richard thanked the Flemmings for their hospitality and told the Foley’s and McLeod’s he would make it a point to see them again, back home.
Lora got a sinking feeling, in the pit of her stomach with just the thought, of him leaving. She took him to one of the best hotels and waited for him to be checked in and get his room number. Lora started to leave, then turned and said. “I have to go to work tomorrow, however, I’ll take off early and show you around Houston, if you’d like. I’ll give you a call.” She shook hands with him, then turned and walked away.
Monday morning, Sir Richard Heath asked the concierge to call him a taxi and direct him to the nearest bank. One hour later, Richard was in a fine men’s store buying himself apparel more indicative to the Houston climate. He had lunch in the hotel dining room and had now just returned to his room when Lora called.
“Hello Richard, this is Lora, I’ll be off at three and can meet you at the hotel around five. Is that convenient for you.”
“Yes, absolutely, dear lady. I’m at your disposal.”
When Lora arrived, she parked across the street in front of the hotel. In the lobby, she told the young clerk at the desk, “Please inform Mr. Heath, that I’m here.”
The young man called Richards room, then asked, “Ma’am, would you care to go upstairs?”
“No, absolutely not. Tell him to come down; I’ll wait for him in the lobby.”
Richard came down immediately. They shook hands and Lora asked, “Where would you like to see?
“Dear lady, you’re my guide, you tell me.”
They were in the middle of the lobby as he said this. Lora stopped, put her hand on his arm and said, “If you don’t stop calling me, ‘Dear lady,’ I’m gonna’ take you to the alligator swamps and leave you. My name is Lora.”
This struck Richard funny and he chortled all the way to the car. When Lora unlocked the Camry, he asked, “What happened to the Daimler?”
“The Daimler is Jessie’s gas guzzler. This little car is mine,” she told him.
Lora drove down close to the gulf and Richard asked, “Where are we going?”
Lora smiled at him and said, “I told you, to the alligator swamp.” Now it was her turn to laugh: As they drove around Lora told him some of the history of Houston. Later, they ate at a ‘Turf and Surf’ restaurant. Richard asked her about her parents. He was surprised when she told him they were from England. That her father was from Leeds, in Yorkshire and her mother was from Wales.
“Have you been to England?” he asked.
“Yes, we have, but we found no relatives. Of course, that was when Stacey was little. Maybe I should put her on the trail; she seems to have a knack for uncovering ancestors.
“What about you?” Lora asked.
“I have no family,” Richard said dejectedly. “My sister died childless a few years ago. My mother died when I was in my forties. My father died six years ago with a brain tumor. That’s how I met Doctor McLeod.”
“Is that how you met Stacey, through Shane?” Lora asked.
“Yes, as a matter of fact it was.”
“Well,” Lora said. “I know they both think highly of you. Stacey told me, they think of you as family. Therefore, since you have none and as you have seen, Stacey has more than enough to go round, you may think of us as family.”
“Thank you in deed that means a lot coming from you.” Then quickly he added, “Now tell me, surely you don’t take relatives to the alligator swamps and leave them, do you?” That brought the laughter on again. It was almost twelve a.m. by the time Lora dropped him off at his hotel.
Richard had a hard time going to sleep. His mind was full of Lora. He had never dreamed he would meet someone like her. She was so beautiful and full of life. He assumed she was around Jessica’s age, therefore she would most likely not be interested in someone his age, but he would enjoy her company as much as she would allow.
Tuesday at noon, the phone rang in Lora’s office. It was Sir Richard. “How did you get this number?” she asked.
“It’s on the wall in front of me,” he said.
“Exactly where are you?” Lora asked.
“I’m exactly in the downstairs lobby,” Richard answered. “May I come upstairs?”
“Yes, of course,” Lora said. Her door was open when he arrived and she was on the phone. Whomever she was speaking with, she asked, “Can we talk about this later? I have something else to deal with right now.”
“Am I intruding?” Richard asked.
She shook her head, smiled and said, “No, you dear man, you’re a life savor. Let’s get out of here before I’m caught in my own web.” On their way down the stairs, Lora asked, “How did you get here, anyway?”
“A taxi conveyed me. Why do you ask? Is my mode of transportation important?”
“No, of course not,” she said. “Come this way, my car is in the parking lot.”
They went to eat at a Mexican restaurant a few blocks down from the hospital.
Richard had never before eaten ‘Tex-Mex,’ food. Lora told him, “I think you need to learn about Southwest cuisine before we let you go back to England.”
Richard smiled at her and said, “I assure you pretty lady, I’m in no hurry to leave. I give myself over freely to your propagandizing.”
Lora smiled at him and said, “Ha, you say that now, but wait until the catechizing starts, you may cry, ‘uncle.’ We’re a very determined people.”
“Yes,” Richard said. “Remember, I know and admire your niece.”
Lora became very quiet. After a few minutes, she used her cell phone and called the hospital. “Hello George, this is Lora Flemming. Something has come up and I’m going to need a few days off to attend to it. Sandy, my assistant can handle whatever comes up.
Yes, yes, I’ll let you know. Thank you.
Lora turned to Richard and asked, “Would you like to see more of Texas?”
“Absolutely,” he said. “I would be delighted.”
My niece Suzanne lives in Beaumont. We’ll take a drive over there. She has new set of twins, I’m sure she’ll be happy to see us.” Lora called Suzanne and said, “We’re on our way.”
When they arrived, Suzanne said, “Oh, thank god
Aunt Lora. How did you know I needed someone today?”
“Just female intuition darling. You know the women in our family have second sight,” Lora said laughing.
This sparked Richard’s interest. He casually asked, “Do you really have perceptivity?”
Lora shook her head and said, “No more than most women. It doesn’t take a clairvoyant too know a woman with twins can always use help.”
“You know, I’ve never been around children much, so you must imbue me in the ways of child care,” Richard said.
“Not to worry, these two are only two months old. Mostly all they need is a bottle and their diapers changed. I really don’t see you doing either of those.” Lora bit her bottom lip and thoughtfully said, “What I’m about to ask is rude, but my curiosity out weighs my rudeness. Why have you never married?”
Richard smiled at her and said, “I don’t consider you asking as being rude. I will quite honestly tell you, it’s because I have never been in love.”
“Never?” she asked.
“No,” he said, “and you?”
“Yes,” she said. “I can’t tell you about it now, but I promise I will soon.”
Richard put his hand over hers on the steering wheel and said,
“Anytime you’re ready, I’m here.”
Lora smiled at him and said, “You certainly have a beguiling way about you.”
“Thank you in deed,” he said. “How could I be any other way in your charming company?”
Chapter-16
Truck Stop Roughens
When they arrived at Suzanne’s both babies were crying. Lora asked, “Where’re the girls?”
“They’re both helping their grandmother Livingston,” Suzanne said. “Things were fine when they left at noon,” Suzanne said. Remembering her manners, Lora said, “Oh, I’m so sorry Suzanne, do you remember Sir Richard?”
“Yes, of course,” Suzanne said. “So nice to see you again, sorry about the mess.”
“I don’t see a mess,” Richard said. “I see a young woman who needs assistance, and here we are. What can we do to help?”
Suzanne brought a baby to each of them. “I’ll get their bottles,” she said. She handed a bottle to Lora then took the other baby from Richard and started feeding him.
Richard watched for a bit, and then told Suzanne, “I believe I could do that, will you let me try?” Suzanne handed him the baby and the bottle. He watched Lora put a cloth and a baby on her shoulder to burp him, so he did the same.
Suzanne said, “I see my boys are in good hands, so I’ll put a load in the washer and fold what’s there.”
The twins were full and dry, therefore Lora and Richard took them up to the nursery. When they came downstairs, Lora said, “We’re here and can take care of the babies. What would you like to do for yourself?”
Suzanne said, “Oh, that’s an easy one. Go soak in a tub of hot water. I haven’t had a leisurely bath since the twins were born.”
That’s were she was, soaking leisurely in the tub when Paul came home. He was surprised to find Aunt Lora and Sir Richard in his living room. His first reaction was concern, but Lora assured him all was well.
Paul told Lora and Richard, “We were so happy about having twins that we didn’t consider our age might slow us down a bit. Of course, Ashley and Jackie have been magnanimous with their time. Sorry I’m forgetting my manners, would either of you like a glass of wine or more coffee?”
“No thank you,” they both said.
Suzanne came from the bath about the same time the girls arrived home. They brought supper with them.
Lora kissed the girls, ‘hello’ and said, “Now that your help is here, we’ll be running along. We’re touring a bit of Texas before Richard returns to England.”
Suzanne thanked them both and told Richard, “We hope to see you again, before you leave town.”
“Thank you, my dear; I’m sure you will, I’m in no hurry to leave.”
As they were leaving Paul asked, “Have you seen Sam’s clinic in Rawhide?”
“No, I haven’t,” Richard said. “I must put that on my agenda. I liked Stacey’s parents very much. Shane had told me, I would need to see all this to believe it. He was quite right. This country is beautiful, even the alligator swamp.”
“The what?” Paul asked.
“Never mind,” Lora said as she pushed Richard out the door.
It was, late evening when they returned to Houston. They had stopped at a truck stop for supper. Lora was getting a kick out of watching the expressions on Richard’s face as he tried to decipher the language he was hearing.
“Lora, are you absolutely sure they’re speaking English?”
“Yes,” she said. “I remember my trip to England. Our taxi driver was cockney. We understood very little of what he was saying.”
Lora excused herself to go to the ladies room before they left. Richard went to the cashier to pay their bill. When Lora came out of the restaurant, Richard was conversing with two truck drivers and a rough looking motorcyclist. They were laughing and slapping him on his back. All four of them had a bottle of beer in their hands. Lora didn’t like the looks of the situation. She was afraid for Richard, thinking him to be out of his element.
“Are you about ready to go Richard?”
“Yes darling, I am,” he answered.
The rough motorcyclist asked, “Is this your little lady?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact she is,” Richard said.
The cyclist looked at Lora in a way she didn’t like. Common sense told her to get the hell out of there, but Richard seemed in no hurry. The cyclist said after looking her up and down, “You sure gotcha a looker there. I bet she’s good in bed too.”
Richard had taken her arm and was stepping away from the group when the cyclist said this. Richard turned a little and waved his hand side to side, as if saying, “So-so.”
Lora hit Richard on the arm real hard and said, “For that remark, you’ll sleep on the couch tonight.” As if in a huff, she hurried to the car, unlocked it, got in and started the motor. As Richard was getting into the car, he yelled back to the group, “Now see what you lads got me into.” The group was laughing and hitting each other on the back as Lora drove away.
“You certainly have a cool head in a hot situation,” Richard said, full of admiration.
“What brought that on?” she asked.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I was paying the bill when the young woman at the cash register made a remark about my being English. Then one of the ruffians asked, if that good-looking redhead was my old lady? I didn’t believe he thought you to be my mother, so I assumed he meant my wife, therefore, I said you were. They seemed unsavory types, so I thought it better to make a stand there, rather than farther down the way where we would have been at a disadvantage. I believe they had designs on you.”
“You do, why? What did they say?”
“They asked if I was a limey, bloke.” I told him, “Yes, if you consider yourself a Yankee bastard? In Vietnam, you yanks and us Brits fought shoulder to shoulder. That was when they insisted I have a beer with them.”
“I must tell you that was a gutsy thing to do, Richard.”
“Not really,” he said. “I recognized a tattoo on his arm of the brotherhood.” He pulled his sleeve up and showed Lora a small tattoo.
“Well, it was still dangerous,” she insisted.
“Right you are, Miss Flemming,” Richard said. “If the situation had gotten out of hand, what would you have done?”
Lora reached into her shoulder bag, pulled out a gun and said, “I would’ve shot their ugly asses dead.”
Richard visibly shocked said, “Good god woman, put that firearm away.” Most intrigued at the same time, he asked, “Why do you carry a gun?”
“For safety,” Lora said. “In nursing school you work a lot of late hours, and my dad insisted I learn to use it for my own safety. I’ve carried it with me most of my life. I just wish he had done t
he same for himself, maybe he would be alive today.”
“What happened?” Richard asked.
Lora told him about the night her dad was closing the drug store and how a thief robbed and shot him.
“Did the police apprehend him?” Richard asked.
“Yes, eventually,” Lora said, “But that didn’t bring my dad back.”
Chapter-17
Trip to Rawhide
As Lora and Richard entered the city limits of Houston, they both became quiet, thinking their own thoughts. Lora knew she really liked this man. He was dauntless and had a way about him as smooth as silk. Lora knew she had to be cautious. She couldn’t survive another broken heart.
Richard watched as the lights of the city sped by as they drove into Houston. This had been a lovely day, even the near tussle with roughens had been exhilarating. He had held and fed a baby, something he had never done before or had the desire to do. Richard smiled to himself: as he, remembered Lora pulling the revolver from her handbag. Everything she did intrigued him. He had never before met a woman like her. He remembered, Shane telling him about Stacey and how their coming from two different worlds added spice to their relationship. He had told Shane, nothing that exciting had ever entered his life. Now it had and he knew he never wanted to relinquish it. Richard knew he had to be cautious, he didn’t want to scare her away. He remembered Shane telling him about his extended trip to Paris and Stacey’s unorthodox handling of the situation. They had laughed and talked late that evening. It was obvious the pride and love Shane felt for Stacey.
Richard admitted, he had been envious of Shane that night, now here he had met a woman much like Stacey. Richard made up his mind, there and then, that when he left Texas, Lora would leave with him or he would not leave. Richard knew he was falling hopelessly in love with this woman.
“Are you asleep?” Lora asked. Then she reached over and touched his arm, “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yes, yes,” he answered. “I must have dozed off for a minute. Please forgive me, I know that was terribly rude. Thank you in deed, for sharing your family with me today.”
