Texas Pride

by Gerry Bartlett

  “I’ll carry the message. Now move along. My lady and I are leaving before the cops get here.” Billy smiled. “Of course, maybe you want to have a talk with them.”

  Shannon looked back at the two women. “Thanks for the fashion advice.” She took her helmet from Billy, relieved that no one tried to stop them, and pulled it on. “Come on, let’s go.”

  Billy had managed to get the bike up and was frowning at the bent tailpipe and a scrape along one fender. He gave the group around them hard looks.

  “Get on the damned bike, Billy.” Shannon shoved his helmet at him and got on the back. To her relief, he did just that as the rest of the bikers backed out of the way to watch them leave the parking lot. They hadn’t gone far when Billy pulled into a convenience store parking lot and jumped off the motorcycle.

  “Shit! Come here, Shannon.” He pulled her off the bike and into his arms. “Are you crazy? Taunting those bikers?”

  Shannon pulled off her helmet and stared up at him. She let her lips tremble then couldn’t help herself, she laughed out loud. “Billy, I’ve never been so insulted in my life. Those women disrespected my fashion sense.”

  “Laugh all you want, woman, but we could have been in real trouble.” He had pulled off his own helmet and kissed her hard. “I give up. I wanted to show you I still have a wild side but I’m too conventional now. All I could think about when I was talking to those assholes was that I never should have brought you where someone could hurt you.”

  “Stop it. I’m fine. Nothing happened, except I may have a bruised wrist. Goldie is strong. I was going to run to your defense and she kept trying to hold me back.” Shannon held up her hand and Billy examined it in the light from the parking lot.

  “You’re kidding. You were going to help me fight off the enforcer from the Skeleton Cruisers and his three thugs?” Billy kissed her wrist. “What a woman.”

  “Hey, we were in a public parking lot. I didn’t think it could go too far. I saw a security guard cruising the area and figured he’d be around soon. You know I lied about calling the cops.” Shannon took a breath. Adrenaline still spiked through her. Danger, excitement from the rides, and Billy pressed against her body had her stirred up. She was tempted to make a reckless decision.

  No, she needed to take her time with Billy. Rushing into something wasn’t smart. He might look like a hot, dangerous biker right now, but he still wanted to make decisions for her and she had to remember that.

  “Take me home, Billy. We both have work tomorrow, you know.” She saw his mouth droop with disappointment that the evening was going to end.

  “I do know.” He started to say something when his phone rang. When he saw the number, he frowned. “I’ve got to take this. Sorry.”

  “No, I get it. You’re always on call for your clients.” She stepped away so he could have privacy. Good. She needed to cool down. Because she was so very tempted to kiss Billy and let their chemistry make her decision for her. Again.

  “Shit. I’ve got to go.” He pulled on his helmet. “I’m sorry, Shan. I’ll take you home.”

  “It’s okay. I had a good time.” She smiled and touched his cheek. “And, look, I’m stone-cold sober.” She shook her head and climbed on the back of the bike. He was solemn, not even cracking a smile as he started the engine. Whatever the call was about, it was serious. Of course, he was a criminal lawyer. Someone might have landed in jail.

  Shannon sighed and leaned against him. She could think of a dozen reasons why starting things with Billy again was a bad idea. But holding him as they drove through the night, it was easy to forget them. He still wanted her, even after all the mess they’d been through. There was something very seductive about that. Very seductive.

  Chapter 4

  Billy thought he’d done a decent job of hiding how that phone call had him tied in knots while he was with Shannon. Now he had to arrive at the county jail on the back of Albert’s motorcycle since he hadn’t planned to get his car back until morning.

  When he climbed off the bike, he got some looks from the cops clustered in front of the glass doors of the massive jail near downtown Houston. It was time for a shift change so there were more men standing around than usual. A few he recognized.

  “Pagan.” A sheriff’s deputy stepped into his path. “Not your usual ride. Where’s the rest of your gang?” He nudged one of his buddies and they cracked up.

  Billy knew better than to start something. He just smiled. “Even lawyers like to cut loose now and then. But the bike isn’t mine. I’m sure Slash would take it really hard if something were to happen to it here.”

  “Yeah, I bet he would.” The deputy eyed the bike. “I’m a veteran too. Slash is all right, though some of his crew needs a firmer hand. I’ll make sure nobody touches the bike, though it looks like somebody already did.” He frowned at the dent in the tailpipe. “Good luck in there. I heard she’s been making quite a lot of noise.”

  Billy winced. “Thanks for the warning.” He’d been afraid of that ever since the phone call. Now he knew his connection to the perp was common knowledge. Shit. When the deputy stepped out of his way, Billy headed on inside and passed through the metal detectors after emptying his pockets. He knew this place too well. By the time he got to the women’s lockup, his stomach was churning. Damn it. Tonight of all nights, when he’d been feeling so good, she’d pulled this.

  “Sally Marie Winthrop.” He gave the name to the clerk and showed his identification. “I’m her lawyer.” He sat and waited while they sent for her. The smells and the sounds were always the same. It wasn’t a place he wanted to ever visit, much less come to see a woman he knew and was supposed to love. He heard his name called and headed for the room the clerk indicated. He found Sally slumped at a table. What the hell was she doing in an orange jumpsuit? It didn’t suit her and was a bad sign. Her dark hair was matted and she looked like she’d washed off her usual makeup. When she raised her face, he could see her eyes were bloodshot.

  “Billy, sweetheart, you’ve got to get me out of here.” She didn’t bother saying thanks for coming. Of course. He was always going to be there for her. He’d promised his mother on her deathbed to take care of Sally.

  “Aunt Sally, I’ll do my best.” He sat across from her and took her shaking hand. His mother’s sister. If ever there was a reason for him to hate drinking, it sat right here. Sally was only forty-six years old, his mother’s baby sister because of what his grandmother called a “change of life” accident. She looked closer to Gran’s eighty-four.

  “They won’t let me smoke in here. Nazis. And this is all a big lie. I only had a few belts. Was driving home from bingo when that cop pulled me over. I know I wasn’t going over the speed limit. Didn’t do a damned thing to make him stop me.” She squeezed his hand. “He made me get out of the car when he saw I was driving on a suspended license.”

  “You still had a couple of months to go on that last DUI, Sally. The arrest report says you were weaving and hit a construction cone.” Billy dropped her hand and sat back. How the hell was he going to get her out of jail this time? Third strike and it was a miracle this was only the third time she’d been caught driving when drunk. At least she hadn’t hurt anyone. Yet.

  “I can’t just sit at home, Billy. I go crazy. The bingo hall is only a few blocks away.” She ran a hand through her hair and seemed surprised when it got tangled and she had to jerk it free. A few dark strands came with it and she cursed. “Look at me. The guards were so mean. Just because I threw up when I got here. Ruined my outfit. They gave me no privacy. Stuck me naked under a shower. The water was cold, Billy.” She started crying, big heaving sobs.

  “Sally, honey.” Billy got up and walked around to hug her thin shoulders. His heart broke for her. But, damn it, why the hell couldn’t she pull herself together? He stopped when a thought struck him. “Gran wasn’t with you, was she?”

  “No. It
’s her night for Dancing with the Stars. She likes bingo but you couldn’t blast her out of her recliner on a Monday night when that show’s on. She bitched at me for driving but I got the car keys anyway.” Sally wiped her eyes and grabbed a tissue from the box on the table to blow her nose. “She’d hid them in a coffee can.” She snorted. “Like I didn’t know that trick.”

  “It’s her car, Sal. And she was only doing what I told her to do. You weren’t supposed to drive. If you want to get out, call a cab or Uber.” Billy sat across from her again. Damn it, what now? He’d paid for her to dry out after the last DUI and yet here she was again, reeking of alcohol. A couple of drinks? Not if the way she smelled was any indication.

  “I can’t afford to pay for a ride. Renee was supposed to pick me up, but she forgot.” She grabbed another tissue. “She’s got a new boyfriend. Me? I’ve got nothing, Billy. Can you blame me for wanting to have a little fun?”

  “I blame you for getting behind the wheel after you drank too much. You could have killed someone, Sally. Then what? You want that on your conscience?” Billy leaned forward, sick of what had become a familiar scenario. “I’ve a good mind to leave you in here. Let you sweat this shit out of your system in jail.”

  “No, you can’t. I’m sick. The doctor said so.” She reached for his hand again. Her skin had a yellow cast he recognized. Her liver was failing. Her doctor in rehab last time had warned them she had cirrhosis. She was flirting with the need for a liver transplant. Except she wasn’t a good candidate. Not if she wouldn’t stop drinking.

  “You’ve got to get me out of here, Billy. I’ll go to rehab again. I swear it. And never drink again. But I can’t do jail. The women in here are hard. You should see the way they look at me. Mean eyes.” She leaned against him. “I’m scared.”

  “You got yourself into this situation, Sally. It won’t be easy to get you out this time. I saw you failed the field test for sobriety.” He didn’t take drunk driving clients as a matter of principle. Family was the sad exception.

  “I explained why I couldn’t stand on one leg to that cop. Inner ear problems. Would he listen? No. I told you. I only had a few drinks. And they were weak. That bingo parlor waters down the booze and charges an arm and a leg for it.” She stared at him, pleading.

  “You’re drunk. I doubt you weigh more than one-twenty soaking wet. Three drinks and you’re over the limit, Sally. Honest to God, I can smell the alcohol on you from here. If that’s from three weak drinks, I’m Superman.” He leaned back, looking away from her welling eyes. “Face facts. You can’t drive. I’m taking the car keys this time.”

  “Who will take Mama to her doctor appointments? The grocery store? You know how she likes to shop and pick out her produce.” Sally swayed in her chair.

  “Gran can drive, you can’t. But I’ll make sure she gets where she needs to go. If you’re in rehab, what difference will it make? First we need to see if I can keep you out of jail. The only good thing going for you as far as this infraction is concerned is that you were close to home and no one got hurt.” Billy looked around the dingy conference room. “And that you’re one of hundreds of DUIs on the Harris County rolls each month. If I can work a deal for rehab and community service, a judge will be glad to get you off his over-crowded docket.”

  “I love you, Billy. Your mama would be so proud of you.” Sally dissolved into tears again then noisy gulps and sobs.

  Billy hardened his heart. Sally had made a mistake bringing up his mama. He’d worked his ass off to become successful so he could rise above a life where three generations crowded into a run-down two-bedroom house, living on food stamps and charity. He’d made it too late to help his mother, who’d died early from her own alcoholism and the cancer that had taken her fast at the end.

  As he saw Sally being led away by a hard-eyed guard, Billy realized this was just one more chapter and verse of what he’d lived with all his life and what would probably be in his future. Maybe he was being selfish, asking anyone to take on the misery his family represented. Shannon certainly had no idea what kind of baggage he brought with him.

  He had plenty of time to think while he worked his way through red tape during the rest of a long night. Wait for a judge, file a paper, wait for a court time—it was a game he’d played many times—but it was necessary so he could get Sally out of lockup and into rehab.

  Of all the women in the world, why did he think he had to have Shannon Calhoun, a party girl who thought she couldn’t have fun without a drink in her hand? Maybe he was the sick one. Why was he drawn to a woman with the same problems he’d resented since he’d been old enough to understand them?

  She didn’t drink tonight. That thought made him unclench his fists a little. He was so crazed about this issue, he was going to drive Shannon away if he wasn’t careful. Was that what he wanted? It had happened before. He’d make demands and she’d run like hell. Who could blame her? He sure didn’t let anyone dictate to him. Shit.

  If he didn’t get his shit together and soon, he was going to lose her. And this time, he didn’t think he’d get another chance.

  Chapter 5

  “Happy Birthday, sis.”

  Shannon threw her ugly tennis shoes across the living room at the shadowy figure sitting in the dark. “Ethan! You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing lurking like that?”

  “Couldn’t sleep. I came down here for a night cap. Want one?” He got up and walked over to the built-in bar next to the bookcase and snapped on a light. Ethan had her father’s dark hair and stocky build. The youngest of the Calhoun kids, he was handsome and should have looked relaxed at this time of night. Instead, she saw worry lines between his dark brows.

  “What?” Shannon realized her mouth was watering. Oh, God, did she have a drinking problem after all? “No, just water. I have to get up early and go to work tomorrow. So do you.”

  “Yeah. How’d your first day go?” Her brother poured water into a crystal tumbler and handed it to her then splashed some bourbon into his own glass before settling into his chair again. “Sit. Tell your little bro all about it.”

  “I survived.” Shannon studied him. Was he all right? Maybe he was just as bummed about working as she was. Except he got to use his computer skills, something he was really into. “My feet hurt and my new boss clearly resents having to take on a Calhoun. How about you?”

  “The same. Except at least I didn’t feel the need to put on high heels.” He laughed and sipped his drink. “Believe it or not, my boss Amanda is hot. She’s older, of course, has been with the company for years, but a real brain. I think I can learn a thing or two from her. We were actually getting along until Cass barged in and hit her with the news that I was on a ‘special project’ for the family and couldn’t do anything else. That didn’t go over well. Now Amanda treats me like I have leprosy.”

  “Tough luck. But she can’t know what you’re doing for us. You have to find all those people our daddy defrauded and keep it a secret, or we’ll be sunk before we can even try to make things right.” Shannon drank her water—ugh, it had no taste or zing—and fell into a chair across from him. Flats tomorrow. “How’s it going?”

  “Too well. So far I’ve found eighty-five people or their descendants who we owe a ton of money. It’ll be up to your pal Billy Pagan to figure out how to get them to sign off on a settlement that won’t put us into bankruptcy. That was him I saw riding away on a hog a few minutes ago, wasn’t it? I didn’t take him for the biker type.”

  “You’d be surprised.” Shannon leaned back. “He took me to a carnival. We rode a roller coaster.” She sighed. “I love those things.”

  “You and Daddy. I never got it, wanting to be scared until you screamed or barfed.” Ethan stood and stretched. “After midnight, sis, so now you’re thirty. Ancient.” He laughed and walked over to kiss her cheek. “Big plans for tonight? With the company in trouble I’m afraid those awesom
e birthday party days are over.”

  “You don’t have to tell me.” She got up and gave him a hug. “It’s really bad, isn’t it?”

  “Millions of dollars so far and I hit a real pothole today in my research.” He rubbed his forehead and, for a moment, Shannon wondered if he was going to cry. “Shan, you know where the Patagi Indian reservation is located?”

  “Vaguely. Is it in Louisiana?” What fresh hell was this? Surely their daddy hadn’t cheated them too.

  “No. Livingston. East Texas. There’s oil around there, of course. East Texas is full of it.” He ran his hand through his hair, making it stand on end. “I swear to God, if Daddy were here now, I’d knock him on his ass. Why did he pull this fraud crap when there were good, honest ways to make a buck in the early days of wildcatting? There were plenty of decent leases available without having to forge signatures, lie to folks, do all the underhanded things Daddy did to take advantage of people who didn’t understand what in the hell they were giving away when they signed his bogus contracts.”

  “There have been a lot of problems lately in other parts of the country with pipelines crossing Tribal lands. None in Texas that I know of. You sure we even found oil there?” Shannon looked longingly at the bar. A drink would relax this coil of tension that was beginning to knot at the base of her neck. No wonder Ethan couldn’t sleep. No, she’d made it this far tonight without drinking. It would be stupid to cave into a craving now. She’d show Billy Pagan she could resist the call. But Ethan. She worried about her brother as he polished off his drink and headed back to the bar.

  “We found it all right. Nine wells are still pumping. Good, producing wells. But there’s something strange about the numbers. Like maybe he put in more wells than they know about or is doing slant drilling.” Ethan picked up the decanter. “You know this is new to me, Shan. I’m still learning the lingo. All I see are figures that don’t add up. Wouldn’t surprise me if Daddy didn’t pull a fast one. I did enough research to know that these Indians are very particular about the environment. I’m scared the extra wells Daddy authorized go against Tribal policy. We’re sending them royalties, but it’s not nearly enough as far as I can see. I’m surprised they haven’t snapped to it before now.” He started to refill his glass but Shannon slapped her hand over it.