by Toni Leland
“God, Eddie, how could I have been so stupid?” she whispered.
Removing the ring from the case, she hesitated, then slipped it over the tip of her finger. The small circle resisted at the knuckle, then slid home. The delicate ring looked foreign on her work-hardened hands, but memories of the first time she'd worn it took precedence. That night had been magical, her ticket to the secure future Ed promised. She smiled, wiggling her finger and watching the glitter move through the gem. He'd looked so handsome in his uniform, his body fit and ready for duty, his eyes filled with love and hope. Her shoulders sagged and she felt the smile fade. She wouldn't ask herself why again.
She grasped the ring and pulled, but it wouldn't budge. She exhaled sharply. “Oh, crap.” Wiggling the small circle toward her knuckle, she pulled and seesawed, but the ring stuck. She raced into the bathroom and soaped her hands, working the ring painfully against the now swollen joint. She stopped the futile effort and leaned her hands on the counter. She'd either have to wait until the swelling subsided, or have the ring cut off. But right now, she had a parade to attend.
Thirty minutes later, she checked her appearance in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed and a light film of perspiration crawled beneath her heavy turquoise and gold shirt. She adjusted the old-fashioned cowboy hat, heavy with the elaborate sparkling tiara. Suddenly she felt like a fool.
“I don't know why I let Sara talk me into this,” she muttered. Light flashed through the diamond on her finger and she groaned. “What the hell am I going to do?”
She pulled at the ring one more time, but it was there to stay.
From down the hall, Sara called out. “Mom! Sheriff Campbell's on the phone, but hurry, we're gonna be late!”
Kellie twisted the ring upside down, then slipped her hands into a pair of soft buckskin riding gloves. With one last glance at the woman in the mirror, she hurried down the hall.
Anger rumbled through Ed's voice. “Did you tell Frank where Travis Mack works?”
“No, I haven't seen him since yesterday after the horse show.”
“Well, he showed up this morning at the ranch in Perkins, carrying a gun.”
“Ed, I honestly don't know anything about it.”
His tone softened. “Okay-sorry.”
She gazed at her left hand, feeling the circle of love against her skin beneath the leather glove. “See you at the parade?”
“Probably not. I have to take care of this mess right now.”
~ ~
On the drive to Guthrie, Travis tuned out Tina's mindless chatter and focused on the latest change in plan. Going back to work today was out of the question. By now, the sheriff would have been to the ranch and his anonymity was blown. Good thing he'd picked up his few personal belongings before he left for the shindig in Guthrie. He probably should have dumped the specimen jar, but the ones that were left would be dead in a day or two. He glanced at his throbbing hand. Good enough for 'em.
A billboard appeared ahead and Tina squealed. “Are we going to Guthrie? It's 89er Days, and I love parades!”
He glanced over at her. “I grew up there.”
Her jaw dropped and she blinked. “No shit? Why didn't you ever say so?”
He focused on the highway. “Bad blood, bad memories.”
She reached over and stroked his arm. “I'm so glad you want to show me...” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I love you, Travis.”
Ice slithered through his veins. Such a declaration had seldom been made during his life, mostly when he was a kid, only by his dad. Never a woman.
Tina withdrew her hand and looked out the truck window, obviously waiting for his response. For a moment, he wondered if he was acting prematurely, if he should wait and see how things progressed. The idea passed. He couldn't afford to get close to anyone.
Turning off the highway, he drove the pickup down one of the section roads, and Tina's tone returned to conversational.
“Hey, this is the way to Rockin' S.”
“Really? You'll have to show me where it is.”
Tina laughed. “I oughta know...I drove this road at the crack of dawn every morning for months.”
“Why'd you get fired?”
“For being late. Big deal, huh? Kellie Sutton's a friggin' control freak-oh, there's the gate to the ranch.”
Travis looked in the direction she pointed, a surge of hatred boiling through his head. “Big place.”
A mile and a half down the road, he turned right onto a numbered gravel road, then slowed down. Childhood memories swirled through his head, early mornings and the sweet scent of freshly mown hay. The mockingbirds calling to one another, and cattle bawling in the distance as the day opened up-a low chorus of comfort sounds. Another world, a lifetime ago.
“Boy, talk about being in the middle of nowhere-what's out here?”
“Home. Haven't been back in a long time.”
Another right turn put them on a rough red dirt road and the house came into view.
Tina exhaled softly. “It looks empty.”
“Yeah, I've been savin' it for a rainy day.”
~ ~
People jammed the staging area at the old train station, excited chatter and laughter resounding through the cool morning air. Several workers were putting the finishing touches on a huge float decorated with thousands of red, yellow, and white blossoms. The 89er Royal Court in their beautiful satin gowns waited nearby to take their places on the elaborate rig. Farther down the block, a flatbed truck was stacked with bales of hay and decorated with crepe paper streamers. The Little League baseball players chased each other around the truck while their coach tried to maintain order. The Guthrie High School marching band stood in formation, their smart royal blue and black uniforms neat and crisp. A soft breeze ruffled the black feather on each hat, and the sunlight reflected off brass instruments.
Sara was fairly bouncing on springs while she brushed Juicy's flashy coat.
Kellie laughed. “Careful, honey, you'll wear away his color.”
The child's giggles sent a surge of love through Kellie's heart and, for the first time in days, her problems and anxiety faded.
“Mommy, Belle has dust on her ankles. Aren't you gonna clean her up?”
Kellie smiled and took the offered brush. “My, aren't you the fussy one all of a sudden.”
“Well, everyone in town will be here and see us. Shouldn't we look real good?”
A light brush of pink dusted Sara's cheeks and a hint of rose bloomed on her lips.
Kellie narrowed her eyes. “Young lady, have you been into my makeup?”
Sara's face fell. “Just a little. I wanted to look pretty for my first parade.” Her gaze flitted toward a group of youngsters nearby, and more color rose to her cheeks.
Kellie followed her gaze to the young riders and immediately spotted a boy with dark red hair staring at them. Aha! First love.
“Okay, but you ask next time.”
A brown truck pulling an eight-horse trailer eased into a spot at the corner of the parking lot. The gleaming rigs were emblazoned in gold with the Logan County Sheriff insignia. The sheriff's posse in full regalia had been Kellie's favorite part of the parade for as long as she could remember. Sadness crept into her thoughts. As kids, she and Ed had always ridden side by side in the horse club contingent and, in those days, Ed had been adamant that one day he'd be part of the posse and have a silver-studded saddle and wear a beautiful white Stetson. And she'd always thought she would be part of those future plans.
She had been riding in the parade for years, but today would have been Ed's first time.
Half an hour later, the mounted segment of the parade began moving up Oklahoma Avenue toward the center of town, with Kellie as Grand Marshall leading the contingent. She turned in the saddle to check on Sara, and a twinge ran through her heart. The red-haired boy rode next to her beaming daughter, the two of them deep in conversation. Seeing Sara so poised and grown up brought the realization that time was passing
too quickly. Kellie couldn't afford to miss a minute of it. Time to put her priorities in order and make sure that enjoying life with Sara was at the top of the list.
Heavy iron horseshoes rang against pavement and she turned toward the sound. delight filled her heart as Ed trotted across the intersection and joined the posse behind her. He threw her a quick self-conscious smile, and she settled back into the ride, warmed by the past.
Belle responded to the excitement, snorting and arching her neck, sashaying almost seductively beneath the saddle. Kellie leaned forward and patted the mare's neck, delighted by the horse's response to the outing. As the parade approached Second Street, more people crowded the sidewalks and she eased into the festive mood, waving and tossing wrapped candies to the children sitting along the curb. The town's senior citizens smiled from their folding chairs in the shade, and a clown pestered a group of teenaged girls, making them squeal. Somewhere toward the back of the parade, the fire trucks cranked up their sirens, then the band began to play. Kellie gazed at the wonderful old buildings that fronted the street of this most historic town. The arched windows, fancy facades, and elegant brickwork made testament to the dreams of her ancestors. Her speech at the opening ceremonies had grown from a new slant on that history, and her right to preserve it.
At the corner of Division, someone shouted her name. Scanning the crowd, she spotted her twin brothers, grinning and waving. She waved back, but the joy of the moment dimmed.
~ ~
Travis drove the truck around behind the house and parked.
Tina tilted her head, puzzlement creasing her forehead. “Is this part of the Sutton property?”
“Uh huh. A hundred and sixty acres, to be exact.”
“And you lived here? You bought it?”
Travis grinned and opened the truck door. “Not exactly. C'mon, I'll show you around.”
For as dense as she'd seemed earlier, Tina's sudden wariness put him on alert. He'd have to tread carefully. She walked slowly around the front of the truck, doubt shadowing her face.
He slipped an arm around her shoulders and nuzzled her ear, his voice husky. “I've never had sex here...no one was good enough. But now I have you.”
She immediately relaxed and giggled. “Ooh, that tickles!”
He ran his hand over her butt and squeezed, savoring his growing erection. “Right this way, milady.”
On the previous day, he'd jimmied the lock on the back door. It opened easily, and they stepped into the dim kitchen.
Tina wrinkled her nose. “Smells musty. Why haven't you been living here?”
Anger tightened his throat. “I already told you! Bad memories. Jeezus, pay more attention!”
Her anxious expression returned and he shook his head. “Sorry. I just need me some time to get used to being here again.”
Moving out of the kitchen, they entered a small living room filled with furniture draped in white sheets. The memories swirled around him, nibbling at the periphery of his brain, taking big bites out of his breathing. This room, this house, this property...his, but untouchable. All because of that bitch and her brothers. Anger raced through his chest like a freight train.
Tina stepped up close and brushed her fingers over his stubbly cheek. “Baby, I know you're hurtin'-let me help.” Her eyes reflected sincerity. “I do love you. I could make you happy again.”
Again? Had he ever been happy? He leaned his face against her hand, relishing the warmth of the caress for a moment, then pulled her tight against his rigid yearning.
“You can start right now. Let's inaugurate this place.”
She slid her arms up around his neck, pressing her breasts against his chest and offering her full, wet mouth, her tongue teasing the inside of his upper lip. Lust obliterated all sense of caution and he pushed her down the hall toward the bedroom while he grappled with her tight pants. She moaned and pushed his hands away, then swiftly skinned out of the garment. He stared at her fleshy body while he opened his fly and released his friendly weapon.
Her eyes were feverish with desire. “God, Travis, you make me so damned hot!”
She lay back on the bed and he pushed between her thighs, lifting her up, and pounding away the past in a deadly whirlpool of abandon.
~ ~
The big palomino gelding shifted, pawing the pavement, and Ed leaned forward to pat the horse's neck. From his vantage point in the shade beneath a spreading pecan tree, he watched Kellie swing down from the saddle and loop the reins over her mare's neck. The temperature had risen quickly, and her face glowed beneath the brim of the sparkling red hat. She pulled a stirrup up and draped it over the seat of the saddle, and Ed urged his horse forward.
“You look great, Kellie. Been a long time since I saw that crown.”
She whirled around to gaze up at him, unveiled delight sparkling in her green eyes. “You made it!”
Her reaction sent happiness racing through his head and he nodded. She was beautiful, more so than he remembered, bringing back the recent sensation of their brief embrace. How good she smelled, how right the intimacy seemed. There were so many things he wanted to say, but would the opportunity ever come? He couldn't wait for Fate to intervene-he'd have to make it happen. And soon.
Kellie's smile turned self-conscious. “I think I'm a little old for rhinestones. Sara dug it out and insisted I wear it.”
They should be diamonds. “Beauty never ages.”
He dismounted and fiddled with some fittings on the ornate Spanish saddle, avoiding her gaze.
“I'll call you later. We need to talk about some things.”
~ ~
Travis led Tina across the back yard, glancing sideways at her. “Now I'll show you something really cool.”
She giggled. “Better'n what we just did?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Nothin's better'n that!”
They walked through the long grass and, as they neared the barn, another wave of fury assaulted him. For one second, he wanted to go inside, drawn by the past to confirm his existence. He cast a sidelong glance at Tina's flushed face. Her puppy-like adoration was a new experience for him, and he kind of liked the attention. When his plans were complete and he had what was rightfully his, it might be nice to have her willing body around for the taking, anytime he wanted.
He stopped in the shadow of the barn, staring at a large gap between the boards. Through that opening lay his past, a history he could never share with Tina. He knew absolutely nothing about her. He couldn't take the chance that her adoration would fail him.
Her soft voice intruded. “What's in there, Trav?”
“A lotta blood and bad memories.”
She gasped. “Oh, babe, I'm sorry-I forgot this was where you found your dad.” She stepped up close and slipped her arm around his waist. “You can talk about it to me, if it'll make you feel better.”
And just where would that conversation end up? Travis steeled himself against the urge to push her away.
He pointed toward the middle of the field. “See the windmill? I used to climb clear to the top. Caught hell for it too.” He guided her toward a large pile of boulders flanked by two small scrubby trees. “Ninety-one tornadoes came through here when I was five years old. The next year, my old man built this shelter.”
Tina looked around. “What shelter? I don't see anything.”
“Under the boulders.” He pointed, then grabbed the edge of a piece of rusty corrugated metal.
Pulling it up, he motioned Tina forward. The morning sun illuminated a flight of concrete steps descending into the hole. “Come on...I'll show you my secret hideaway. I spent a lot of time here when I was a kid.”
At the bottom of the stairwell, the air was cool and smelled of earth, triggering a memory. Travis lifted the latch on a heavy wooden door, then reached inside. A moment later, he switched on a flashlight and ushered Tina into the room.
“Wow! I've never been in one of these. We always went to the public shelter in town.”
“
No time to get to town from way out here!” He gazed around at the cinderblock walls and low concrete ceiling. Folding chairs, camp cots, jugs of water, packs of paper plates and cups. “This place is big enough for eight people. We kept enough supplies to stay down here for a week.”
Tina approached a stack of boxes. “Looks like it still does. This stuff must be ancient!”
Travis leaned over and peered at the side of one carton. “Twenty-four cans chili. Whew, that could be a problem in such a small space!”
She laughed out loud, then twirled in a circle. “What a great hideaway. I'll bet you loved being down here.”
A memory moved through Travis's head and a band crushed his chest, making it hard to breathe. Tina moved toward a wooden crate in the corner, and his heart thumped as she lifted the lid.
“Aw, look at all your toys.” She reached into the box and withdrew a naked doll, then chuckled. “Looks like you had some secrets down here.” She looked closely at the doll, and the smile faded. “Crap, what'd you do to her? What are all these slashes and nails?”
He took a quick step forward, and snatched the doll out of her hands and tossing it back into the crate in one motion. “I went through a phase where I believed in voodoo, thought I could torment my teacher.”
Wariness flickered across Tina's expression and he took charge again.
He wiggled his eyebrows and reached for her. “Maybe we should inaugurate this place too.”
Her eyes sparkled with relief, and she sighed. “I can see I'm gonna need to take my vitamins every day!”
He reached down and unzipped his jeans. “Hold that thought, and I'll be back in a minute. Gotta pee.”
He winked and walked out the door, closing it behind him. He stood outside, listening to the silence, then slipped a padlock through the latch and snapped it shut.
Chapter 15
Kellie patted Belle's rump. The horse had been the model of obedience all morning, no small accomplishment for a broodmare who'd spent her adult life in pampered pregnancy, un-beholden to bit or spur. She eagerly snatched a mouthful of hay and dropped her head to chew, and Kellie's thoughts turned to images of Ed at the parade. His uniform shirt smooth across his chest, the sleeves sharply creased, the collar straight and crisp. The sun glinting off the badge over his heart reminded her of the ring, sending a whirlwind of thoughts spinning through her head. He was the only man she'd ever wanted, but she hadn't followed her heart. Given a second chance, would she make the same mistake? Her avowed priority list shuffled in her head and, in that moment, she knew things could be different if she wanted them to be. And she did.
