by June Faver
Beau had been telling him some story about Mamie Moore lying to her daughter, but surely the girl should have checked it out for herself. How could she have believed that Beau and the entire Garrett family would deny responsibility? And even worse, how could she have ripped the heart out of her own father’s chest by taking off and not looking back?
But she had been so young. He felt a muscle in his jaw tighten. That was then, and this is now.
It was time to move on and support his son’s decision to forgive past injuries and accept the good that had resulted from their teenage coupling.
Ava…
Big Jim and Tyler had changed places several times, but now Big Jim was rolling through Corpus Christi and heading south.
Leah’s chortles and frequent giggles emanated from the backseat, giving evidence of the joy she was creating while taking Spanish lessons from the two sisters. For their part, the two young ladies had relaxed considerably.
Big Jim found himself smiling as he drove, and when he looked over at Ty, he had a big smile spread across his face too. As they headed south, the elder Garrett noticed how flat the terrain was, much like his beloved land in north Texas.
“They call this the Coastal Plains,” he said. “King Ranch is coming up. One of the largest ranches in the world.”
Ty nodded. “I read all about it when I was in college. There’s a larger ranch in Hawaii. Parker Brothers Ranch, I think it was.”
“Well. Ain’t that nice. Good to know we’re in such good company.”
Ty gave his head a little shake. “Everybody’s gotta eat, and we gotta feed ’em.”
“Good attitude, Son.” Big Jim reflected that he had thought his beloved middle son might abandon the ranch and not look back when he left to pursue his singing career. Big Jim had been rabid. In an effort to be fair to Colton and Beau, who were solidly bonded to family and to the land, Big Jim had gone to his lawyer, Breckenridge T. Ryan, and changed his will, cutting Tyler completely out of the inheritance.
Big Jim glanced at Tyler again, happy that he had asked Breck to tear up that document and that Ty had never known he had almost been cut out of the will.
The best thing was that Ty had been the first of his sons to choose a mate, and the woman he chose was the lovely Leah and her daughter Gracie. Good deal. He gave Leah full credit for taming his rebellious middle son and for her gracious ability to see the good in people. One in a million.
So the miles sped past. Big Jim was feeling pretty mellow, having mentally reviewed his family members one by one. Now he realized how truly blessed he was to be so rich in family. He felt a pang that his dear wife, Elizabeth, had not lived to enjoy it.
* * *
Dixie considered herself lucky.
Beau was grilling chicken legs and ground-beef patties. He also had some corn on the cob seasoned, wrapped in foil, and ready to throw on the grill. The man was a prince among men.
Anything that could get Dixie out of kitchen duties was a blessing indeed. She was quite realistic about her limitations in the kitchen. Huffing out a breath, she recalled that she had spent much more of her time being her father’s little tomboy and had turned her back on learning the feminine arts from her mother. Of course, Mamie had always been on hand to cook for her and, later, for Ava.
Now Dixie was struggling to determine which side of the toast to butter. Fortunately, Ava was not complaining…nor was Beau.
For this meal, her task was to arrange potato chips on paper plates and pour drinks for the diners.
Right up my alley.
Since she was determined not to forgive her mother, she figured she would have to learn to cook at some point. Maybe Leah could teach her…or maybe she would just marry Beau, and he could keep on grilling.
In a short time, she and the girls were seated at the table, while Beau served up hamburgers and chicken legs. She thanked him and set about arranging lettuce, tomato, pickles, and thin slices of onion on her burger. The girls were happily following her lead.
“I’m making my own hamburger,” Ava crowed.
Dixie saw that tomatoes were oozing out of the burger but didn’t want to rain on her daughter’s parade. “It looks delicious.”
Beau was in his element. He acted as host, leading both girls in conversation. It seemed Gracie wanted to be a teacher when she grew up, but Ava wanted to be a fairy princess.
They finished the meal and tossed the disposables. Only a few dishes to wash.
“I hope you’re okay if I go back to help Colton for a couple hours. With Dad and Ty on their way to Mexico, I need to step up.”
She nodded. “Sure. I understand. That’s what families do.” She was actually a little disappointed but didn’t want to voice any negativity when Beau and the girls were so happy.
She followed him outside to receive a toe-curling kiss culminating in a grab of one butt cheek.
He grinned. “Good stuff.”
“Only the best for my cowboy.”
When he had driven away, she went inside and locked the door. She had just settled the girls at the now-cleared dining table, Gracie with her homework and Ava with some coloring pages, when she heard a knocking at the front door.
She figured that Beau had forgotten something and threw the door wide open, the grin freezing on her face. Swallowing hard, she drew in a breath.
“Mother! What are you doing here?”
Mamie Moore pushed past her. “Are you kidding? Why wouldn’t I be here? This was my home too.” She whirled around dramatically. “I have been going crazy. Why won’t you answer my calls?”
Mindful of the girls happily working in the rear of the house, Dixie kept her voice down. “Are you kidding?” Her chest felt as though a tight band had suddenly been drawn around it. “You lied…and then you lied some more. You caused me to hate my father…and to hate the boy who loved me.”
“I did no such thing,” Mamie asserted. “You listen to me, young lady. I sacrificed everything to give you a chance at a decent life.”
A mini-explosion went off in Dixie’s chest. “You didn’t sacrifice anything. What you did was take everything away…from me…from my dad…and from Beau. We were so much in love. Having a baby would have been the frosting on the cake.”
Mamie’s eyes narrowed to slits. “You have no idea what I sacrificed. I gave up my life, and it was for you.”
Dixie made a scoffing sound in the back of her throat. “What did you sacrifice? You and your lies took everything away from me. I hate that you hurt people I love.”
“Nonsense! I was just looking out for you. I wanted to save you from a life squandered in this wasteland.”
“Mother! Are you crazy? I had the best childhood imaginable.”
Mamie’s mouth drew into a tiny bow. “You are an ungrateful child. You have no idea what I gave up just to give you life.” She huffed out a sigh and fisted her hands on her hips. “You have no idea.”
Dixie leaned back against the door. “Well, why don’t you explain it to this ungrateful child? Just what did you give up for me?”
Mamie sniffed and raised her chin. Her expression was one of exquisite suffering. “I—I was a college freshman. It was my first time away from home.” Her hand fluttered to her face. “I was so naive. Vern was the first boy who had ever paid any attention to me.” She paused, pressing her lips together. “To make it short, I got pregnant. Vern impregnated me.”
Dixie was rooted in place. This was the first she had ever heard about her mother’s college experience and how she met her dad. The idea that her mother, not exactly a bundle of passion, had engaged in a love affair hit her hard.
“My—my parents were horrified. We had to get married, and I was hustled off to this godforsaken place to live my life in a cultural desert.” She was wringing her hands together now. Mamie turned to Dixie, her eyes wide. “I gave up every
thing nice to live in this crude and rustic structure.” She spread her arms and turned around in a circle, as though the sight of the living room made her stomach roil.
Dixie swallowed hard but remained silent. In their many mother–daughter conversations, Mamie had spilled no hint of how she really felt. Indeed, Dixie was shocked to hear the venom in her mother’s voice.
“I gave up my tennis lessons and shopping at decent stores. I never got to go to the Dallas Museum of Art again or to Dallas Orchestra performances.” Her eyes looked haunted, as though these memories were extremely painful. “Instead, Vern took us to rodeos and livestock shows. That was his idea of culture.” Her voice took on a strident tone. “And the worst thing was the women around here. They wanted to bond over Bible studies.” She threw her hands up, rolling her eyes. “We had nothing in common. In Dallas I had friends with brain cells who could converse about world affairs, about art and culture.” She blew out a frustrated sigh. “Don’t you understand? I gave my life to raising you. You, Dixie, were the only beautiful part of my life. I devoted myself to you. To preparing good, nutritious meals for you. To reading to you and making sure you had pretty clothes to wear, even if I had to order them from catalogs.”
Shaken, Dixie tried to find words. “M—Mother! I had no idea you felt this way. I thought you were happy.”
“I was happy that I had you. You were truly the ray of sunshine in this squalid wasteland. All I wanted was to get you raised and out of here. I knew that if I could raise you and get you to a decent university, you might have an opportunity for a better life. Travel, arts, culture…” Her voice trailed off as she seemed to fold in on herself. She sank down onto the rose-velvet chair she had favored during her tenure as lady of the house. “I just couldn’t bear to sentence you to a life in this hellhole with some rustic farmer.”
“Oh, Mom. I had no idea you felt this way.” Dixie perched on the edge of her father’s leather recliner. “I—I can’t believe you had all this bottled up.”
Mamie shook her head. “I was just trying to save you…and then our dear Ava.” Her lips twitched into a faint smile. “She was so beautiful…so much like you. When she was born, I realized I had a chance to make things right. If I could give Ava the life I had envisioned for you, everything would be all right.” She reached to take Dixie’s hand. “I’ve been working with Roger, that dear man. He pulled some strings and managed to reserve a space for our Ava to be enrolled in a lovely private school in the fall. I know it’s just kindergarten, but it’s a start. She can go to the best schools and be around the best people.”
Dixie stared at her sadly, realizing that there was an ocean of difference between the future she envisioned for her daughter and her mother’s version. “We’ll have to talk, Mom.” She stood and gestured for Mamie to follow. “Come on out to the kitchen. Ava has a houseguest. Her first sleepover.”
Mamie rose unsteadily. “I can’t wait to see my girl. I knew you’d understand when I explained things to you.”
Dixie rounded on her. “No, Mom. I cannot forgive you for all the pain you’ve caused. But it’s late, and it’s too late for you to return to Dallas tonight, so you might as well spend some time with Ava.” Her mouth tightened. “But let me warn you not to make any negative remarks about Beau or anything related to the Garretts.”
Mamie’s spine stiffened. “The Garretts! I can’t stand—”
“Stop it! I am in love with Beau Garrett. He is the father of my child, and she loves him as much as I do. If you don’t want to permanently end our relationship, you will keep any antagonism toward the Garrett family to yourself. They’re all Ava’s family…and they’re my family too.”
Mamie’s color rose, and her jaw tightened. “Very well.”
Dixie led the way to the kitchen where a very excited Ava greeted her grandmother. Dixie stood apart, watching the woman who had given birth to her and who thought she had sacrificed the world to stay with Dixie during her formative years. She had difficulty believing that anyone could hate living in this house with Vern as a loving husband. But she was giving her mother the benefit of the doubt. Now, if she could just keep her mother from infecting Ava with her skewed view of the world.
Chapter 19
“So this is Brownsville?” Leah was peering out both side windows as the truck rolled through the border city. “Everything looks so lush and green.”
“We’re quite a bit closer to the equator,” Big Jim responded. “No harsh winters. While we’re slogging through snow, these folks are sunning themselves.”
Ty let out a snort. “They call this area of the coast the Texas Riviera.”
“Well, it certainly is beautiful,” Leah said. Indeed, there were flowering shrubs and trees lining both sides of the street along with a vast number of very tall palm trees.
Sofia and Ana had certainly perked up. They appeared to be almost giddy.
Leah fished out the phone number for the girls’ parents and punched it in on her cell. “Hola!” she greeted them before handing the phone to Sofia.
A rapid conversation in Spanish followed, punctuated with squeals and a few tears. Ana got to contribute to the conversation as well.
“Ask them where we can meet them,” Leah said.
A few more words in Spanish, and Sofia said, “Bridge. Mama say the bridge.”
“The bridge?” Big Jim asked.
When Leah checked on her phone, she found there were three bridges, but Sofia pointed to the one where they were to meet her parents.
“La Internacional,” she insisted.
“The International Gateway Bridge.” Leah read aloud the address and programmed it into her phone.
Big Jim followed the directions, and soon they were in a long line creeping toward the bridge spanning the Rio Grande. When they got closer to the approach to the bridge, a uniformed officer placed his hand on the driver’s-side door, and Big Jim lowered the window. “Good evening, Officer,” he said pleasantly.
The officer leaned in to look at the passengers, his gaze falling on the two young girls in the rear seat. “Could you step out of the truck, sir?” The officer’s expression was stern.
Big Jim’s expression could best be described as grumpy. He climbed down, muttering under his breath.
“What’s that, sir?” The officer motioned for one of his coworkers to join him.
Ty’s brows drew together. “I wonder what that’s all about.”
The girls were wide-eyed, saying something that sounded like “lameegra.”
“They’re saying la migra—immigration. Are they ICE agents?” Leah asked.
“I’m going to find out.” Ty opened the door and stepped out, only to be ordered back into the truck by the agent. “Wait a minute,” he said. “That’s my dad you’re taking off there.”
The first agent had escorted Big Jim inside the building, where they could see he was talking to two men in uniform.
Knowing her father-in-law’s temper, Leah stepped out. “You stay here.” She hoped her tone conveyed that she was not to be disobeyed, which would be a difficult concept for her very strong-willed husband.
“Ma’am.” The first agent approached her, his hands raised in a “stay back” motion.
“I want to know what’s going on.”
“Ma’am, we noticed you were transporting two young girls who do not appear to be related to you. We were just trying to find out what’s going on, but the gentleman is not cooperating.”
Leah surprised him with a grin. “I’m sure he’s not. Mr. Garrett is not used to being questioned. He’s as good as his word.” She extended a paper to the agent. “Actually we’re transporting these two young ladies to meet their parents. They were kidnapped and were being transported north by a human trafficking ring.”
The agent looked in at the girls again. “What are you doing with them?”
“They wer
e rescued in Langston, Texas, and were in a juvenile detention facility. The parents could not afford their bus tickets, but we were worried that they were too young to go on a bus unaccompanied…so my wonderful father-in-law offered to drive them to meet their parents.” She pointed to the paper she had given him. “That’s the sheriff’s number. He’s the one who set it up for us to bring them here.”
The agent gave her a stern look and told her to wait by the truck. He went inside to confer with the other agents.
Leah looked back at Ty and the girls, noting that all looked more than a little worried. She flashed a broad grin and gave a double thumbs-up. Sofia responded, returning the gesture.
Leah hoped she could defuse whatever situation Big Jim was adding fuel to.
The agent returned to the door of the enclosure and motioned for her to come closer.
Leah sucked in a breath and plastered a confident smile on her face. She thought about calling Breckenridge Ryan and telling him to stand by for trouble.
* * *
Beau was ready to take a couple of Tylenol and jump in a hot shower. His muscles and joints were screaming from his extreme exertion. He had worked so hard with Colton, and he knew he had overdone it just to prove that he could take the place of Big Jim and Tyler too. Yeah, big tough guy.
He turned onto the farm-to-market road leading to the Moore ranch. He pulled up in front, surprised when he realized that a very shiny Lincoln Navigator was parked next to Dixie’s burgundy SUV.
The hair on the back of his neck was standing at attention. Whose car was this? He tried to control the churning in his gut as he opened his door and pocketed his keys.
He winced as he climbed out of his truck. Dixie would have to take it easy on him tonight. Yeah, right. If little Miss Dixie didn’t have other plans. He wondered if this visitor was another of her “best friends” from Dallas.
He approached the entrance, not sure if he should knock or let himself in with the key Dixie had given him. When he twisted the doorknob, the door swung open with an eerie squeak. “Um, hello? Dixie?” But there was no response.
