The Long, Hot Texas Summer

by Cathy Gillen Thacker

  Chapter Five

  Amanda raced after Lamar, her heart pounding. The dogs were running back and forth across the deck at the rear of the lodge. The unpleasant smell of something burning scented the air. “What happened?”

  “You’ll see.” Lamar darted up the steps. Amanda followed him through the lodge and into the kitchen.

  A grim-faced Justin stood next to the stove. In front of him were two big charred pieces of still-smoking meat. Aghast, Amanda could only stare.

  His expression hardened. “I didn’t hear the timer go off.”

  “Now what are we going to do?” Lamar cried, acting as if this were a disaster of the first magnitude.

  “What we’re not going to do is panic.” Amanda turned back to Justin, who was still standing there looking like he wanted to punch something. Preferably himself.

  “How long before guests arrive?”

  His dark gaze got even darker. “Less than an hour.”

  Still shoving his hands through his hair and racing back and forth, Lamar reported, “And the main part of dinner is all burned!”

  Amanda knew how much was riding on this—for the ranch, the prospective kids and Justin personally. Not to mention the fact that Lamar needed a “win.”

  “Now, now, let’s stay calm,” she soothed, moving closer to inspect the charred beef. Her many years in the kitchen had given her lots of experience in fixing unexpected culinary mishaps. Ignoring Justin’s bleak expression, she switched on the exhaust over the stove. “Lamar, can you open a few windows and go to the bunkhouse and bring in one of the big floor fans? We’ve got to get the smoky smell out of here.”

  “Sure.” Glad to be part of the solution, Lamar dashed off, opening windows in the dining area as he went.

  His body tense with disappointment, Justin opened the heavy window above the kitchen sink and then turned to her. “Look, I appreciate you coming over,” he told her, with a shake of his head. “But there’s nothing you can do to rescue this. It’s my screwup. I’ll be accountable.”

  A wave of unexpected empathy wafted through Amanda. This was one time when her history of cleaning up after her own failures, of which there were many, would come in handy. One time when she could show Justin a thing or two...

  Refusing to be dragged down by his sour mood, she mugged at him playfully. “Oh, ye of little faith!” She cut a deep slit in the center of the scorched beef tenderloin and checked out what was left. “See?” She elbowed him, prompting him to look. “Inside, the meat is still quite edible. All we have to do is cut off the burned part and see what we have to work with.”

  Justin reluctantly stripped down one hunk of charred beef, while she did the other. By the time they had finished cutting off the barklike crust, they had a good two pounds of nice, tender high-quality beef that smelled as if it had done time in a smoker, not such a bad thing when it came to Southwestern-style cuisine.

  Justin studied the remains and rubbed a hand across the tense muscles at the back of his neck. He saw the value in salvaging the edible meat. “Unfortunately, that’s not enough to feed fourteen people.”

  Amanda set the burnt pieces aside for later disposal. “It is if we turn it into something else, like beef barbacoa enchiladas.”

  Justin gave her a steady look that sent heat spiraling through her. She had the feeling that if the situation hadn’t been so dire he would have swept her off her feet and kissed her. Suddenly, hope glimmered in his eyes. “Do you know how to make that?”

  Amanda pushed aside her earlier decision not to get involved with this dinner. The future of the ranch—which could help a lot of boys like Lamar—was at stake. She thought about all the times she and her gran had cooked for her granddad and his buddies when they gathered to play poker or watch sports on TV. “I do. Plus, I have all the ingredients we need in my kitchen.”

  While Justin worked on shredding the beef into bite-size pieces, Amanda and Lamar strode back to her trailer. They returned with their arms full of groceries and two large glass baking pans. Using dried chiles and chicken stock, she quickly whipped up a red sauce.

  While Lamar stirred the bubbling sauce, she softened the tortillas and diced two onions. She showed both guys how to put a spoonful of meat into the center of the softened tortilla, and add a teaspoon of onion, before rolling them and putting them seam-side down in the baking pan. She covered the rolled enchiladas with the red sauce and a sprinkling of crumbled queso fresco.

  “What are we going to serve with it, though?” Justin asked.

  Good question. “What were you going to have?”

  “Roasted vegetables.” Justin pulled baking sheets out of the fridge, and showed her the sliced squash, zucchini, onions and baby carrots, all ready to cook. “And field greens with buttermilk dressing.”

  “That’s all good. It’ll work nicely with the enchiladas.”

  Justin breathed a sigh of relief, as did Lamar. Amanda smiled. Whether the two guys knew it or not, they really were becoming a team.

  “Any appetizers?” she asked.

  Justin opened up the fridge again. He brought out several nicely prepared serving platters. On them were water crackers with blue cheese and walnut spread, stuffed mushrooms—which had yet to be baked—and chilled shrimp with cocktail sauce.

  “All would have been perfect as a prelude to beef tenderloin,” Amanda observed thoughtfully.

  “That’s what the book on entertaining said.” Justin paused. “But none of that goes with enchiladas, does it?”

  “Let me think.” Amanda studied the repast. “The shrimp will be okay if we add a little lime juice and cilantro to the cocktail sauce. We can quickly make fresh guacamole and pico de gallo to top the water crackers, or substitute chips for the crackers, if you prefer. What’s in the stuffed mushrooms?”

  “Cream cheese, breadcrumbs.” Justin looked at Lamar, who dutifully supplied, “Other stuff...”

  Amanda laughed. When Justin produced the recipe, she glanced at it. “I think this will probably be okay.” It wasn’t Southwestern, but it was neutral enough in flavor to accompany the spicier dishes.

  “So we’re good?” Justin asked.

  Amanda nodded. “I think so.”

  With less than twenty minutes to go before the guests arrived, Lamar chopped up the burned meat and carried it out to the dogs, who were delighted with their savory treat. Justin worked on cleaning up the lodge kitchen, and Amanda returned to her trailer to prepare the pico de gallo and guacamole.

  By the time Justin came over to assist, she was done. Noting once again how small and intimate her space seemed with the big, handsome Texan in it, she handed him large bowls of both dips, along with a fresh bag of tortilla chips. With a tingle of awareness sifting through her, Amanda gulped in a bolstering breath and kept her mind on his goal—which was to entertain successfully that evening.

  She flashed a brisk smile, meant to demonstrate just how emotionally uninvolved she was. “Here you go. You should be all set. Oh! And I wrote down the temperature and time for the enchilada bake. You’ll want it to finish about ten minutes before you plan to serve the main course, so it will have time to set.”

  A mixture of tenderness and gratitude dominated his handsome features. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  Aware she had to find the strength to keep her guard up now that the crisis was averted, she swallowed and moved away. “I realize this was a singular occurrence.”

  He tracked her with his eyes. “It doesn’t have to be.”

  Oh, how she wished that were the case.

  The sound of a car motor—make that multiple motors—could be heard coming up the driveway.

  “I hope it goes well.”

  Justin caught her wrist. “Come to dinner.”

  A jolt of electricity coursed through her as his warm
fingers grazed her skin. But, out of an increasing need for self-preservation, she slipped from his light, beseeching grasp and stepped away. She held the door open for him to exit her trailer. “I couldn’t.”

  Reluctantly, he moved to leave, strong arms full. “Even as my guest?”

  Amanda knew he wanted her there. Obviously, as culinary backup, to help with the dinner. To make sure all went smoothly with the rest of the cooking and serving. And yes, he was grateful for her assistance and happy with her now. But one day, he might not be. Especially if his family—who were pillars of the community—did not approve of him getting involved with a woman from the wrong side of the tracks.

  “You have to go,” she said urgently, telling herself that if they were lucky they could one day be casual friends. And only casual friends.

  Justin gave her another look that indicated there would have been a lot more persuading on his part were the guests not already parking their cars and trucks. Then they heard the sounds of doors slamming, voices filling the air.

  “And good luck tonight.” Amanda would be thinking of him—and Lamar—whether she wanted to or not.

  * * *

  AMANDA WAS TRYING to figure out how to make her getaway—not an easy feat since the driveway was filled with a dozen vehicles—when her cell phone rang. She picked up, happy for the distraction. The last thing she needed to be doing was standing here thinking about how it would have felt to be Justin’s cohost—or date—on an evening such as this. “Hey, Granddad.” Amanda smiled.

  “Hey there yourself, sweetheart,” A.B.’s voice rumbled over the phone. “I haven’t heard a lot from you the past few days, so I thought I’d check in, see how the job is going.”

  “Oh. Great,” Amanda was able to say truthfully.

  “You need any more help? I can always come out to assist.”

  Amanda knew that bored tone. Her grandfather was feeling hemmed in. Unfortunately, there’d been a role reversal in their relationship. Now, she was the one looking out for him. “Doc Parsons said no more traveling jobs, remember? You’re supposed to be phasing into retirement. Which means you can continue to run your business as long as you don’t do the carpentry work, too!”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah...” Granddad harrumphed. Moving on, as always, when the talk got too uncomfortable, he said, “So, you’re good?”

  Was she? Talk about a loaded question! How all right could a woman be when she spent all her private time yearning for a man who was off-limits to her? But leery of letting her granddad know that, Amanda adapted her usual cocky attitude. “I’m fine. That foster kid I told you about is helping me part of the time.”

  “How is he working out?”

  “Nicely,” she reflected fondly. “Lamar seems to have a natural talent for carpentry.”

  “Maybe you can recruit him to apprentice with you, once he graduates from high school.”

  If Lamar graduated from high school, Amanda thought. To her grandfather, she admitted, “I’ve been thinking the same thing.”

  “Then?”

  “I’ll talk to him about it when the time is right.”

  “Everything else okay?”

  She felt herself getting defensive. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “You tell me. I have a feeling you’ve got something on your mind.”

  Make that someone, Amanda thought, looking out her trailer window and watching the guests move from the lodge over to the bunkhouse, en masse, the dogs bringing up the rear. Finally, she said in the most offhand manner she could manage, “There’s a fund-raising thing going on at the ranch tonight.”

  “Ah.” A.B. knew how uncomfortable things like that made her, especially when they involved the movers and shakers of Texas society.

  “If you need a break, why not do what I suggested earlier and come on home tonight? I’ve already made plans to go out and play poker this evening, but we could have breakfast tomorrow. Maybe see a movie in the afternoon.”

  That sounded good. Anything to get her mind off Justin. And Lamar. And whether or not this dinner would help raise the funds the ranch so desperately needed to continue expanding.

  The truth was, she missed her grandfather. Missed his steady, reassuring presence. Amanda smiled, already feeling better. “Okay, Granddad, I will. I’ll see you later, okay?”

  “Travel safe.” A.B. ended the call.

  She slid her cell phone into her purse. She’d just found her keys when a rap sounded on her door. It was Lamar. He was grinning from ear to ear this time, clearly in the flush of victory. “Amanda! You’ve got to come over to the bunkhouse and tell them all about the stuff you’ve been teaching me. The reporters especially are really impressed.”

  Amanda could have passed on the opportunity to sing her own praises, but she wasn’t about to let Lamar lose the chance to feel good about himself and what he had accomplished. She looked down at her sleeveless navy blouse, knee-length khaki walking shorts and flats. Thought about changing into something more on par with the dresses and sport coats the guests were all wearing, and decided what the heck. She was who she was. And she wasn’t a guest. There was no sense in pretending she was one of them.

  She set her purse, phone and keys aside, and walked out with Lamar.

  * * *

  “AND LAMAR HELPED you with all of this?” Wade McCabe asked, clearly impressed, as he and the other guests examined the quality of the kitchen cabinet installation.

  Glad Wade seemed to be coming around to what his son was trying to accomplish here, Amanda nodded. She had seen how much it meant to Justin to have his father’s approval. “Lamar also helped cut and add the trim that gives the cupboards a more custom look. And, of course, all the woodwork in the bunkhouse will be finished with stain and a finish that will feel silky to the touch.”

  “I’m going to help with that, too,” Lamar proclaimed. Catching himself, he said, “That is, if Amanda agrees.”

  Catching Mitzy’s knowing glance, Amanda smiled and added hastily, “I’d welcome the help if it’s okay with the boss.”

  She didn’t want anyone—especially the social worker in charge of Lamar’s case—thinking she was undercutting Justin’s supervision of the teenager.

  Justin nodded his approval. “As far as I’m concerned, the more Lamar learns, the better.” His customary confidence back, he winked at Amanda. “Especially since he has such a great teacher.”

  “I have a great student,” she replied. Lamar beamed. The group was all smiles as they headed back toward the ranch house.

  Libby fell into step beside Amanda. “Have dinner with us,” she urged.

  Amanda looked at the chairwoman of the board. “Thank you.” She appreciated the sincere invitation. “But I’m really not dressed.”

  Libby glanced at her own cotton sheath, then back at Amanda’s knee-length shorts and blouse. “Nonsense! You look great. And if we’re to make this ranch all it can be, we really need your input, as well as Lamar’s.”

  * * *

  JUSTIN WASN’T SURPRISED that Amanda had been asked to dine with them. He’d issued the same invitation for all the same reasons. He was surprised she agreed, but once she did Lamar felt comfortable enough to join them, as well.

  Both fielded a lot of questions throughout the meal. Amanda talked about learning the art of carpentry. Lamar discussed how much he liked being at the ranch and learning a trade that might someday turn into a job. The ranch was much different than school.

  There, it was all about grades, the future and the pressure to get stuff done. At the ranch, when he was with Amanda, it was all about being in the moment. He admitted he was hoping Justin would let him keep on working there, even after his community service was finished.

  Justin spoke about their plans to expand the facility one bunkhouse at a time. Costs were discussed next. Justin det
ailed the various ways they had been able to limit building and construction expenses, without sacrificing comfort or quality.

  By the time the reporters and most of the board members, including his father, had left, Justin was certain the project would be getting positive press, as well as donations from the charitable foundations present that evening. Best of all, he’d begun to feel like he could finally put what had happened with Billy completely behind him.

  The board members were pleased, too.

  “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you doing so well here,” Mitzy remarked to Lamar as she helped to clear away the dessert dishes.

  Libby nodded agreement. “I never saw the ‘before’ attitude, but you are obviously thriving in your community service here.”

  “It’s pretty easy with Amanda—and Justin—around,” Lamar said shyly.

  “That’s good to hear.” Mitzy put the plates in the dishwasher and smiled again. “Dinner was great, by the way. Although I am curious.” She turned to Justin. “Why did you change your mind about the menu? We thought you were cooking whole beef tenderloins.”

  “He was until he screwed up and burned the meat,” Lamar blurted out. “But then Amanda saved the day and showed us how to make enchiladas and change around the other stuff so it would go with it, and... Uh-oh.” Lamar turned pale. “Was I not supposed to say that?”

  Justin held up a hand, not the least bit upset. “Lamar’s right,” he said. “Amanda did save the day.”

  Flushing self-consciously, Amanda shook off the praise. “It wasn’t that big a deal.”

  Justin was determined to give her the accolades she deserved. “Nonsense.” He turned to their two remaining guests. “Dinner would have been a disaster had Amanda not stepped in at the last minute to help us.”

  Libby and Mitzy exchanged approving smiles. “Well, then, thank you again for being so charitable,” Libby told Amanda.

  She wished more credit was going to Justin—after all, he was the one who had founded the ranch and worked so hard to make it happen. “I’m all for good causes. And the boys ranch is definitely one of them.”