The Texan Quartet (Books 1-4) Omnibus

by Claire Boston

  All the restraint she’d built up around herself during the day crumbled at her friend’s gentle question. Tears sprung to her eyes. She tried blinking them away but they were coming too fast. “He broke up with me,” she said. She wiped her eyes and turned to pour the wine.

  “Why? What’s wrong with him?” Libby asked.

  Piper smiled a little. She swallowed down the lump in her throat and handed the wine to Libby and Elle. “First he said it was because of the article I wrote. Did you see it? Geraldine changed the whole damned thing and it was garbage. Then when I went to explain and he didn’t listen, I realized it was actually because I’m not part of the tribe. Membership passes down through the mother’s side so if we had children they wouldn’t be Queche. To him it was just a fling all along.”

  “Oh, honey, that’s awful,” Libby said.

  “He never mentioned it earlier?” Imogen asked.

  Piper shook her head.

  Elle frowned. “Is there any way they can change it?”

  Piper stopped with her wine glass halfway to her mouth. “Eyota did say she’s been trying to change the law for years.” But she hadn’t said what the problem was.

  Did Tai know? Did he even care?

  Piper thought about the way Tai had greeted her after they’d been apart for a few days. She’d been sure he cared for her. But the Tai who had sat across from her at the restaurant was not the same person.

  She shook her head. “I told him I loved him and he just sat there. If he loved me, he would have thought of changing the laws rather than just giving me up.” She took a big gulp of her wine to numb the pain.

  “Maybe he doesn’t know he can change it,” Imogen suggested. “He might come to his senses.”

  Or he might move on.

  She didn’t have a lot of choice. She’d told him she loved him and he hadn’t seemed to care. She’d seem pathetic and desperate if she kept trying. She wasn’t going to throw herself at someone who didn’t love her.

  “It’s hard,” Libby said. “I was a wreck when Adrian broke up with me. I was sure I’d never see him again. But the interview you did with Emily showed him I cared and he’d been wrong.”

  She didn’t think anything she did would overcome Tai’s commitment to his tribe and, if she was rational about it, she could understand his point of view. If the roles were reversed, she’d want her children to inherit her culture.

  But perhaps he would reconsider if she helped with the finishing touches of the concert and auction, if she wrote the best damn history of his tribe and if she took Bradley to the concert like she promised. If none of that changed his mind, then she would have to move on.

  However hard it would be.

  Right now though, she wanted a distraction. She grabbed a piece of pizza. “Tell me how the wedding plans are going,” she said to Imogen.

  Imogen hesitated. “We don’t need to talk about it, Piper. You’re hurting and I don’t want to be insensitive.”

  Piper shook her head. “I insist. I want proof happily ever after does exist,” she said. “Tell me everything.”

  After a little bit of cajoling, Imogen smiled. “All right. It’s like this.”

  ***

  Tai felt like a bear with a sore tooth – cranky and aching all the time. He snapped at his staff, fought with Adahy and even yelled at Rayen.

  All the while Piper haunted him.

  People would mention her name or something would happen that would remind him of her. In the restaurant he’d occasionally forget and look for her in the break room because he had something to share.

  Her spirit had infused itself in every part of his life. His three favorite places – the restaurant, his home and the reservation – now all reminded him of her.

  But that didn’t mean they could be together.

  He shook away the thought. Today he needed to be focused. His mother was out in the restaurant with her friend, Hugh, and Adahy. Though he hated going out into the seating area, he had to.

  He’d arranged for them to sit at one of the most secluded tables. It was the same one Piper and Rayen had sat at when they’d gone out together.

  Damn it. There she was again. Would she ever leave his thoughts?

  At the table he kissed his mother’s cheek and shook Hugh’s hand. The man was in his mid fifties, with short dark hair and a slim build.

  “Nice to finally meet you,” Hugh said. “Your mother talks about you so often, I feel as if I know you.”

  That surprised him. “Likewise,” he lied.

  He didn’t know a lot about Hugh, but his mother liked him. He would have to invite them both around to the house for a meal soon.

  “Have you read the work Piper has done on the book for Eyota?” Jackie asked. “She emailed me a copy yesterday. It’s wonderful.”

  He hadn’t told his mother they’d broken up. “No.”

  “Oh. You’ll have to ask her to see it. She’s even done a marketing plan. She has a friend who’s in the publishing industry, I think.”

  “I’d better get back to the kitchen,” he said, desperate to escape. “I’ll leave you to enjoy your meal.”

  His mother looked a little worried about his abrupt manner so he bent down and kissed her cheek, forcing a smile to his face. “Duty calls. Let the waiter know if you need anything.” He left.

  Why was it he couldn’t escape Piper as easily?

  Chapter 19

  The Friday before the concert, Tai drove to the reservation. He’d agreed to chaperone the excursion and that included the bus trip into Houston. They were leaving early on Saturday morning in order to arrive in time to watch the sound check and do a little bit of sight-seeing.

  When he arrived at his grandmother’s house he found Bradley packing an overnight bag. “Where are you off to?” Tai asked, giving him a hug.

  Bradley’s eyes were wide with excitement. “After the concert, I’m staying at Piper’s place and she’s taking me to the Space Center on Sunday and then bringing me home.”

  Tai flinched at the mention of Piper’s name. “When did you organize that?” he asked.

  “Yesterday. We were talking about my science class and the planets, and she said I had to go to the space center.”

  Why was Bradley talking to Piper? “Did she come to the rez to go over the book?”

  “No. She calls me a couple times a week.” Bradley zipped up his bag and carried it to the front door.

  Tai frowned. Why would she?

  His grandmother came out of the kitchen and greeted him. “I’m glad you’re here. I want you to read over Piper’s manuscript. I’m pretty happy with it, but I’d like another opinion.”

  It was the last thing he wanted to do. He didn’t want to read her work, but he couldn’t escape. Better to get it over with. “Where is it?”

  “In the kitchen.”

  Tai sat down and began.

  The writing was easy to read. It was a casual, conversational style – like someone was talking to him rather than like he was reading. The introduction described where the tribe was at currently. Then the following chapters were broken down into sections of white man’s history and when the land had been theirs, as well as including the myths and legends of the tribe.

  It was written with sensitivity and compassion. He flicked through, only reading passages. In sections he felt her anger at the treatment of his people and her respect for how they had overcome it.

  Overwhelmed, he pushed it aside. “It looks fine,” he said to his grandmother who had been sitting at the table weaving a basket.

  Eyota raised her eyebrows. “I thought it was better than fine,” she said. “I thought it was excellent.”

  “She has a way of writing what you want to see.” That’s all it was. That’s all he could let it be.

  “What did you see?” his grandmother asked.

  He looked up at her then. She watched him steadily, with those eyes that could gaze into his soul. He couldn’t lie to her, much as he wanted to. �
�She respects our tribe,” he said. It made it so much more difficult.

  Eyota nodded. “I also felt her anger at our experiences and her joy at our stories.”

  Tai didn’t want to listen. “She’s good at what she does.”

  Eyota put down her basket with a sound of disgust. “I didn’t believe Adahy when he told me you were behaving like a child, but I see now he was right. Since the two of you broke up I’ve heard nothing but tales of your anger. If you miss her so much, you should win her back.”

  Tai pushed to his feet. “I don’t want her back.” He’d never told a bigger lie in his life.

  “Nonsense. You’ve been moping around for weeks.”

  “I broke up with her,” he said, the anger building. “I wouldn’t have done it if I wanted her.”

  Eyota’s mouth dropped open, then she scrutinized him. “Why did you?”

  It was none of her business. It was none of anyone’s business.

  But he always felt he had to explain himself to his grandmother. She deserved it.

  He just had to come up with an excuse she would believe.

  “We have nothing in common. My focus is on helping my tribe and my people and she wrote an article that betrayed all that.”

  The disbelief on his grandmother’s face had him dropping his gaze. “I know you don’t believe she wrote that. She showed me her articles. Besides, you just read that manuscript, didn’t you?” she asked. “She is interested and not because she was paid to be. That girl is fascinated by our culture.”

  “But she doesn’t fit in,” he said desperately.

  “Of course she does. I’ve had numerous people ask when she’s coming back and when the book will be finished.”

  Eyota was right. He closed his eyes, his heart sore. He had to tell the truth.

  He said, “If we had children, they wouldn’t be part of the tribe. Tribal membership is passed down through the mother.”

  Her eyes widened. “If you’re considering children, she must mean a great deal to you.” She was silent for a long moment, before she said, “An official recognition by the tribe doesn’t make any children you have more or less Queche in my eyes or in your own. You will bring them up to respect our history, to learn our language, to honor our traditions. They will be our family and they will be our tribe.”

  She made it sound simple.

  Did it really matter whether it was official? Would it matter to his children?

  Before he could speak, she asked, “Does a marriage certificate mean you are more committed to your partner than you were the day before?” she asked. She shook her head. “Of course not. If you love her, you can’t let her go. Love is much too important.”

  “But the tribe …”

  Eyota waved her hand. “You have done your share for the tribe. Besides, I’ve been trying to get the tribal council to change those rules for years. There aren’t enough of us now to keep going with old ways that limit our growth. They’ll make us extinct. It’s just Stan dragging his heels.”

  Tai stared at her. Could there really be an opportunity to change it?

  He didn’t know what to do. He’d been so dedicated to his people for so long. He’d done everything by the book, but Eyota was suggesting the book could be rewritten.

  “Are you scared of love?” The question came out of nowhere.

  He blinked but didn’t answer.

  “I know your father’s death affected you greatly, and your mother fell apart, but it wasn’t because she loved too much – it was because she didn’t know how to cope.”

  Tai had never consciously considered that. He’d always sworn to himself he would never abandon his children if something like that happened to him, but he’d never thought he was scared of loving.

  When he said nothing she said, “Why don’t you go for a walk? Clear your head. But don’t forget, our history is full of intermarriage between tribes and between races. That should not be your deciding factor.”

  Eager to escape, Tai almost ran out the door.

  He avoided the lake. It was early evening and there’d still be some swimmers down there. He didn’t want to speak to anyone, see anyone. Everyone was so sure he should be with Piper, but they didn’t know his heart. Only he did. Was she right for him? They were so different.

  He loved to cook; she preferred to buy her food.

  She was messy; he was neat.

  He was of the Queche people; she was white.

  She had a very happy family with parents who loved each other, and his was recovering from dysfunction and his father had committed suicide.

  He didn’t drink alcohol, but she always had a bottle of wine in her fridge.

  He rode a motorcycle; she drove a car.

  Tai arrived at the stream and sat down. He sighed and closed his eyes.

  Focusing on his breathing, he listened to the noises of the forest around him. He needed a few minutes to center himself, loosen the tightness in his chest and ease the pain in his heart. Somewhere to the right of him a crow squawked.

  Piper’s image came unbidden to his mind’s eye. She was beautiful, but it was her smile that really got him. It was as if she was having the time of her life.

  He grinned at the image.

  What did he know about her? She worked hard. When he’d asked for her help with the recipe book he never imagined she would do it so quickly, but she’d embraced the challenge and run with it. She liked to be challenged.

  She liked to bring issues to the public’s attention. She wanted to help people. She was determined. He remembered her persistence in getting that first interview. Thank goodness for it.

  Her writing was beautiful and she had a way of presenting the information that made him want to read on. And she had sensitivity and a knack of knowing when there was more underneath.

  Piper loved her family and her friends. She’d fit in easily with his own. She liked people no matter their race, their background, their circumstances. She felt responsible for those around her. She had been devastated when Rayen had been assaulted, had blamed herself. She’d been there for Bradley when he needed someone to talk to. Hell, she’d been there for him as well when he’d despaired over Jerry’s death.

  He loved that she’d known something was wrong and had come to help.

  He loved her.

  Tai opened his eyes as the thought reverberated in his consciousness.

  That was the key.

  He did love Piper.

  But there was still the issue of tribal membership. Eyota said she was trying to get the council to change it – could she?

  He ran a hand over the rock he was sitting on, allowing the surface to rub his skin. He had to talk to Stan, had to ask him if there was a possibility.

  If the law could be changed he would choose Piper in an instant.

  And that was his answer.

  He got to his feet and headed to Stan’s house.

  ***

  Stan answered the door almost immediately. “Quit your pounding. What’s the emergency?”

  Tai blinked and un-fisted his hand. He hadn’t realized he’d knocked so loudly. “Sorry.”

  Stan grunted. “What do you want?”

  Tai swallowed heavily and took a breath. “I wanted to ask you about a matter of law,” he said. “Tribal membership.”

  “What about it?”

  “It’s passed down the maternal line. Are there any plans to change this?”

  Stan squinted at him. “Is this about your girl?”

  He couldn’t call Piper his girl any more. “Yes.”

  “You’d better come in.” Stan held the door open and Tai followed him into the living room. “You planning on marrying her?”

  His heart clenched. “I want to, but the law …”

  Stan sighed. “Tai, I’m an old man. I’ve experienced more abuse by the white man than anyone should ever have to. I was sure Piper would be another to take advantage of us. That article seemed to prove it.”

  Tai didn’t
say a word. He didn’t want to interrupt Stan.

  “If you’d asked me a month ago if the laws should change I would have said no. I didn’t want anyone diluting our tribe.” He grasped his braid. “But that girl is different. Eyota showed me her manuscript – she has recorded our history beautifully.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it. “She and her friends arranged that concert and the auction. Eyota told me the preliminary figures yesterday. It will help our tribe tremendously.”

  Tai held his breath.

  “And then there’s you to consider.” Stan nodded at Tai. “Don’t think the council doesn’t recognize everything you do for our tribe. I saw your passion for her when you defended her to me. We would hate to lose you.”

  Tai didn’t tell him he’d chosen the tribe over the love of his life.

  “Plus Eyota’s been nagging me about that law extra hard since you first brought Piper to the rez. That woman is like a dog with a bone when she wants something.” Stan slapped both hands on his lap. “I will propose changing the law at the next meeting. I was the one vetoing it all these years, so I think it will get approved.”

  His heart stopped. “Really?”

  “Yes, really.” Stan scowled at him and got to his feet. “Now go and do what you need to before I change my mind.”

  Tai walked out of Stan’s house in a daze, hope swelling in his chest. There was a chance any children he and Piper had would be accepted into the tribe. And if it didn’t happen this time it was tabled at council, he was optimistic it would get approved some time in the future.

  But after all the things he’d said, would Piper be willing to take him back? He’d been cruel, dismissive, had pushed her away. But he’d make it up to her. He’d explain, she’d listen and she’d forgive.

  Piper always listened to the facts before she made a decision; she was logical, balanced and willing to listen.

  He had to believe it.

  Because he couldn’t bear to consider the alternative.

  ***

  The moment Tai stepped on the bus to head to Houston, his stomach started to churn. In a few short hours he would see Piper. He would speak with her, apologize and find out if she would forgive him.