Lone Star Joy

by Kathleen Ball

  "I don't want any trouble. I just wanted to send you a message. Don't think about opening your mouth. Your boss is snooping around and I'd hate to have to burn him out," Wood said, in a singsong voice.

  "Get off this land," Joy warned.

  Benji jumped off his horse and marched menacingly toward Wood. Wood ran for the ATV and sped off. "I'm sorry, Joy."

  "Benji, you were magnificent. You had my back just like a cowboy should. I'm proud of you."

  "So you're not mad?"

  "No, let's make tracks for home. I'm hungry." She tried to sound light hearted. Inside she quaked. Her heart beat fast and she became light headed. What should she do? The best thing, she decided, was to discourage Stamos from looking into her case.

  The sweet memory of his kiss tore her in two. Somehow, Stamos had gotten past her stone cold heart. What if something happened to Dillon? She would never forgive herself. With a heavy heart, and broken dreams, she rode for the ranch house.

  Stamos watched as the pair as rode in. Benji looked pleased with himself and it made Stamos smile. "How'd it go?"

  "I done scared me a varmint," Benji said, excitedly.

  Stamos shot Joy a look of askance but she looked away. "What happened?"

  "A man on a tractor came and said mean things to Joy so I stomped him," Benji told him, jumping down from the horse.

  Stamos turned to Joy, who stood unmoving next to Franklin. "Tell me that there is not an injured person on my ranch," he thundered, taking a step toward Joy.

  "No. Unfortunately Benji didn't get that close." Joy tried to brush past Stamos.

  Stamos grabbed her arm. "You, my dear, are not going anywhere until you explain to me what happened."

  Joy looked down at his hand on her arm. She tried to pull away, but Stamos held firm. He knew that if she wanted, she could get away. Fighting in prison was dirty.

  "Benji, take care of the horses."

  "Sure, Boss." He took the reins from Joy. "Don't forget to tell him how I saved the day."

  Joy smiled at him." I'll tell him what a hero you are, Benji. Thank you for taking care of me."

  Benji puffed out his chest and led both horses away.

  "Let's go to the house where I can interrogate you in peace." He reined in his temper making his voice sound a let's go have tea cordial.

  "Well at least you're a straight shooter. Interrogate. Yep, I do believe that is what you'll do."

  Stamos was silent as they walked to the house. He noticed that Joy tried to seem calm, but she wasn't. He could tell she was agitated.

  He motioned for her to sit in the chair in front of his desk as he sat in the one behind it. Taking a deep breath, he studied her. She had her tough badass look on her face, but he knew better. In fact, her eyes had a look of hurt in them.

  "It was my father. He drove up on an ATV. He had a message for me, Benji jumped off his horse and my father left. Not much to tell."

  Stamos shook his head amazed. "Not much to tell? Sounds to me there is a whole lot to tell."

  "Not really," Joy countered.

  "Yes really," Stamos replied. He was enjoying himself.

  Joy's eyes narrowed. "It was just my father."

  "Do you mean the one who never visited you in all eight years you were in prison?"

  Joy looked away. "The very same."

  Stamos didn't know what to make of Joy. She didn't want to talk about it, but hell it happened on his land and someone could have been hurt. "I have a right to know everything that happened out there."

  Joy got up and went to the window. Stamos could see her body shaking as she stood looking out. "I'll just call the authorities and have them sort it out."

  Joy turned and gave him a wild, wide-eyed look. "No. Please, Stamos, you have to stop looking into my case. I did it. I'm guilty, so leave it be."

  Stamos backed off. He could see the terror in her eyes. "I'll leave you be. I have to go pick up Dillon."

  Stamos grabbed the keys to his truck and walked out of the house. He was more determined than ever to find out what happened the night her stepmother was killed.

  Joy held Dillon and stared out the window. A car drove up the drive and Joy hoped it had the new housekeeper in it. Stamos hadn't said much to her. He barely looked at her last night and this morning he put Dillon in her arms and ran out saying that he had a meeting in town.

  Joy held her breath, waiting to see how the other woman looked. To her immense relief she was a wonderfully rounded person. Her gray hair made Joy relax. A nice difference from Bailey. Joy felt optimistic.

  Joy opened the door and before she knew it, Dillon was in the other woman's arms babbling at her, telling her the story of his life.

  "Call me, Bea. What a charmer this little one is. Oh, love, what is your name?"

  "His name is Dillon," Joy responded, feeling more comfortable by the minute.

  "I meant your name, love."

  "I'm Joy."

  The blue-eyed woman smiled. "Tis a beautiful name for sure. I'm glad to meet you, Joy. I'm hoping that this works out for all of us. I just know I could be happy here tending this grand house and taking care of this little tinker."

  Joy wondered where she was from. Her lilting accent was one that Joy wasn't familiar with. Joy wasn't about to ask. She'd learned not to.

  "Well, love, do you think you could give me a wee tour and then I'll be right at home," Bea said, kissing Dillon's head. "A more beautiful babe there never was."

  Joy liked Bea immediately. Hopefully there would be no tension with Bea in the house. Joy showed her around. Bea oohed and aahed at the littlest things. Joy became enchanted with her.

  "Is Mr. Walker out working?" They ended the tour in the kitchen.

  "He went to Lasso Springs."

  "Well, love, why don't you entertain little Dilly here while I whip up lunch? I can't have you leave until I get the Mister's okay. The easiest way to find yourself without a job is to presume things you shouldn't."

  Joy smiled, advice to live by. The more she knew Bea, the more she approved of her.

  Dillon smiled and smiled. He liked Bea too, but soon enough he was looking at Joy saying, "Ma Ma, Ma Ma."

  "The little darling knows his Ma that's for sure." Bea placed grilled chicken and a salad in front of Joy.

  Joy's face grew red. "I'm not..."

  "He thinks you are." Bea poured sweet tea into a glass.

  Joy's heart opened and she needed to slam it shut, but before she had the chance Stamos walked into the kitchen giving her a slow, sexy smile. The door to her heart wouldn't quite close.

  "You must be, Bea. Welcome," Stamos greeted.

  The older woman smiled. "Mister Walker, you have a fine house and a fine family."

  Stamos didn't correct her. Joy waited for his denial that she was a part of his family, but it didn't come. He gave her a happy smile instead. She didn't know what it meant. Smiles were not her specialty.

  Joy didn't know what to think, but she'd had enough of Stamos' smiles and overall happiness. The happiness that Bea added to the house was infectious, but Joy didn't think that Stamos' secret smiles had anything to do with Bea.

  If he smiled at her one more time, she was going to pull his tongue out. That would stop his slow, sexy grin. He'd been so obvious that Bea started shooting Joy her own special smiles. Only Dillon's smiles seemed genuine.

  The sun had set and darkness' shadows had come out. Joy raised her face to the heavens and sighed. It became a constant fear that each night in the free world, would be her last. Despite Stamos' promise, Joy still anticipated she could be imprisoned at any moment.

  Joy heard his distinctive footsteps behind her. She didn't move, she still stood with her head tilted back looking at the night sky.

  "Pleasant evening," Stamos commented.

  "Yep."

  "Joy, do you think you could look at me?"

  Joy whipped her head around until her eyes met his. "Why? So you can smile at me?"

  Stamos laughed a deep r
olling laugh. "So that's it. I was wondering if you had a burr under your saddle."

  "Bea's a fine woman," Joy stated, trying to change the conversation.

  "She's a gem. I think that the wait was worth it. Dillon seems to adore her. I'm not fond of her calling him Dilly, but other than that I feel lucky to have her."

  "I like her."

  "Joy, do you like me?"

  Joy's eyes narrowed at his honeyed voice. He was up to something.

  "I had a meeting in town, as you know. You were the topic of conversation."

  Joy gasped. "I already know what you have to tell me. I'm going back."

  Stamos stepped forward and took her hand. "You're shaking. Joy, look at me. I found a way to keep you here at the ranch."

  Joy studied him. He seemed earnest, concerned even. "Alright I'll bite, what do I have to do?"

  Stamos glanced away. He looked as though he searched for the right thing to say. Joy grew frightened as the silence lengthened.

  "It's no big deal. It seems Bailey took exception to the fact that I asked her to leave. She called the parole board. They didn't know you were the only woman prisoner on the ranch and I guess it brought up a ton of ethical questions. They wanted you back tonight." Stamos took her into his arms. "It's quite simple really. Everyone agreed. Umm, you see..."

  Joy broke away from him. "Spit it out cowboy. What's the catch?"

  Stamos gave her one his slow sexy grins that she disliked. "It's easy, Joy. We get hitched and it all goes away."

  "We have to get married?"

  "Yep."

  "Pull the other one."

  Stamos looked puzzled.

  "The other leg. Please, Stamos, don't fool with me," Joy pleaded, not believing for a minute that he told the truth.

  "Joy, I'm serious. We are to be at the courthouse tomorrow morning for one of two things. Either we get married or you go back to prison."

  Joy closed her eyes. This could not be happening. Going back to prison was not an option. Her father had said she'd used seven of her nine lives. There was still a hit on her life, she just knew it. Slowly, she opened her eyes. "I want you to see something first."

  "What do you need to show me? Just say yes," Stamos said, his impatience clear.

  "I'll have to show you inside." She bit her lip.

  Joy followed Stamos into the house and then to his office. She closed all the curtains and turned to face Stamos. She didn't want to see the horror on his face when he viewed her scars. He deserved to know. Slowly she raised her shirt up and over her head, standing before him in just her white bra.

  She heard his sharp intake of breath. She didn't dare look at him. She already knew what she would see in his eyes, disgust.

  "Joy, oh, Joy." Stamos moved closer to her. "How you must have suffered."

  Joy looked into his compassionate eyes and nearly lost it. No one had given a damn about her suffering before.

  "Prison?"

  Joy nodded, her eyes misting. She tipped her head back to prevent the tears from falling, to no avail. "I have so many stab wounds. I'm not pretty, or pleasant to look at. Without my shirt, I'm the bride of Frankenstein."

  "Oh, Joy. I have scars too. Two bullet wounds and I have a scar that runs the length of my abdomen."

  Joy studied his face. Stamos was a complex man. "I don't know if I could be a good wife to you. You deserve more than what I could possibly give you."

  Stamos moved closer and cupped her face with both of his hands. "We get along, Dillon is crazy about you, and I can't send you back to that place. Please, Joy, we'll work all that out later. Please just agree to be my wife."

  Joy nodded and was instantly drawn into his embrace. Her tears stopped and she held on to Stamos for dear life. "We'll work it out."

  Joy stared at the ceiling, she stared at the wall, she paced, and finally she sat on the window ledge. The night seemed never-ending and at the same time, morning approached too quickly.

  Marriage was something she had dreamt of, but it was a young girl's dream. Recent years had taught her not to hope for much. Stamos' kisses made her melt, but she knew that he would want more. A large part of her fear had ebbed since showing him her scars.

  She wasn't a pretty sight, but Stamos didn't even flinch. Perhaps he never intended to see her that way again. She wanted to grab his offer and not let go. What happens after her parole was up? Would she be expected to leave?

  So many unanswered questions and the sun began to make its presence known. A soft knock on her door made her hesitate, but in the end, she decided to open that door.

  "Are you getting ready?" Stamos studied her face.

  Joy turned her head away. "You still want to marry me?"

  "Yes. Get dressed, we'll eat then go."

  Joy watched him close the door as he left. There were no soft romantic words. Somehow, it hurt even though she knew the score.

  Stamos and Joy were on their way and Joy felt pensive. "It'll be fine, Joy." Stamos took her hand. "I know this isn't the way it should be. I should be bringing you flowers and taking you out dancing or something, but, honey, this is what we have."

  "I know. I'm grateful, just, I don't know, it's all so fast. Will you expect me in your bed tonight?"

  Stamos laughed. "Nervous and blunt. No, I'll leave that up to you."

  Joy gave him a look of disbelief. "Really?"

  Stamos parked the truck in front of the courthouse. "Joy, I want this to work out. We can make our own rules okay?"

  Joy looked at him and looked some more. Finally, she nodded. "I'd like to make my own rules for a change."

  The judge's chambers made Joy itch. Bad memories were all she had. There were a few people she didn't know, hell the only person she did know was Stamos. He'd been her rock during the unplanned fiasco.

  Joy wanted to bemoan the fact that she wore jeans and a tee shirt, but she bucked up and pretended that it didn't bother her. She declined the plastic flowers the court clerk tried to hand to her.

  A firecracker of a woman named Ida Perkins introduced herself as Joy's caseworker. She was from the parole board and she intended to make Joy her special project. Joy didn't appreciate the wording or the look on the old biddy's face. Ida had the look of a woman who went to the beauty salon and had her hair done. Joy had thought that the beehive look was out, but what did she know? Ida seemed to think it was the fashion.

  Her heart tugged painfully as the ceremony commenced. There were no long looks of love, no secret smiles between them. Stamos looked handsome in his black western shirt and tight black jeans. Joy looked at him, but he didn't look back.

  She knew what she'd signed on for, a way to stay out of prison. There were no promises of happiness. She knew the score. She always knew the score.

  The ceremony ended with an awkward peck on the lips that Joy could have done without.

  The door to the chamber flew open and a panting, red-faced Bailey stood in the doorway looking wide-eyed and panicked. "You married her?" she screeched. "You married a murderer? Oh my God. I never thought you'd marry someone so below you. She's the scum of the earth. She's a murderer."

  Stamos stepped in front of Bailey and murmured to her. Joy watched as tears fell down the other woman's face. Bailey kept shaking her head in denial. Joy looked away when Stamos took Bailey into his arms.

  "He didn't defend you," Ida Perkins needled.

  Joy made no response.

  "Took that beauty into his arms fast enough. Am I missing something? This is a real marriage isn't it?"

  Joy took one long look at Ida and grasped her reason for being there. She wanted to prove that the marriage was a sham and send Joy back to prison.

  "Of course it's real. Stamos and I will be very happy on his ranch."

  "You didn't mention the child. What does your so called husband think about having you as the baby's mother?" Ida asked, maliciously.

  "I married Joy because she is the perfect mother and she is the perfect mate for me." Stamos put his arms around
Joy's waist. "I've already had one disastrous marriage. This one is permanent."

  Joy wanted to smirk at the way Stamos practically growled at the nosey woman. It did surprise her that Stamos had been married before.

  Stamos didn't put off Ida. In fact, she stepped closer to the couple. "I will be watching your every move. Have you ever heard how intense the INS can be about sham marriages to keep illegals in this country?" She waited for them both to nod. "Think of me as your own special agent, intent on proving that this is all a lie. Joy should be in prison. A murderer should never have gotten work release, but I am confident that she'll be back behind bars soon."

  Stamos pulled Joy closer and kissed her cheek. "Bring it on lady. We have nothing to hide."

  They both watched the brassy blond walk away. Joy started to shake, and Stamos embraced her. "Smile, we don't know the friendlies from the unfriendlies."

  Joy nodded into his shoulder. "I know how to play act," she said as she laughed, pulled away from Stamos, and smiled into his eyes.

  Stamos took her hand and held it tight. "I'll call George when we get home."

  She must have let her emotions shine.

  "Yes, home, Joy. Our home."

  The warmth that flooded Joy's heart amazed her. "Well can we go home now?"

  "Yeah let's blow this joint." He led her around the room toward the door, stopping to thank one person after another.

  Joy focused on the door and to her great relief they walked out of it.

  Driving up to the ranch house, they noticed a car that wasn't familiar. "Stamos, they're here to take me away."

  Stamos parked the truck and took Joy's hand. "I won't let it happen. It's our wedding day, let's try to make it a good one."

  Joy could tell he was worried. "A good day or good marriage?"

  Stamos let go of her hand and opened the truck door. "Both."

  Joy managed a slight smile. He didn't sound convincing. She climbed down from the massive pickup truck. This wasn't a time to get her feelings involved. She was fighting for her freedom. Looking toward the porch her heart dropped into her stomach. Ida Perkins stood there with her arms crossed. Taking a fortifying breath, Joy walked toward her. She'd survived six attempts on her life, she'd survive Ida too.