Twelfth of Never (Book 3 of the McKay series)

by Hestand, Rita

  When he returned, he handed her a cup of coffee and some coffee cake. She set it down on the end table. She took a sip of the coffee and slumped on the couch, not sitting, not laying, just slumping.

  "Okay, I know you are upset about something, but I don't know what. So why don't you take a deep breath and then go on with your story." Mike set his coffee down and waited.

  "I know I asked you to get involved in this, and I know it wasn't the wisest thing I've ever done. But, Wendy has changed. I never noticed until today. It's partly my fault and partly your fault and we've got to change her back. Before it's too late…" Sandy cried out, as real tears fell against her cheeks.

  "Honey, you need to calm down first. I can see you are upset. I don't know why, but we can talk this out and maybe come up with something. So what's happened? I don't understand."

  "Well, for starters, Wade kissed her." Sandy glanced at him now.

  "And that's bad?" Mike twisted his head, waiting for her to explain. "I kind of thought that was what we were aiming for."

  "Yes it's bad. And yes, it was sort of what we were aiming for. But you just don't understand. If you could have heard her talk…"

  "What exactly did she say that upset you so?"

  "She said she wanted more. She wanted…." Sandy shook her head and cried out. "She wanted much more…" Sandy stopped talking and slipped her shoes off so she could fold them under her on the couch.

  Mike sat back in the chair, trying to relax so he could think clearly. He liked the fact that Sandy felt at home enough with him to relax and take her shoes off. But, it was the middle of the night and his head was fuzzy, and she looked more than a little charming, sitting there in her jeans and t-shirt that was a little shorter than what she usually wore. Thinking this time of night was not his best virtue.

  "What brought all of this on? Did you talk to her or something?" Mike asked, not putting the puzzle together yet.

  "Yes, of course I talked to her. If you'd have seen her, her face…was raw from kissing him so much. Raw. They weren't just kissing, they were making out. If you could have seen her, you'd have talked to her too. She came in late this evening. She had stars in her eyes. She said everything was great between her and Wade. I asked her if he told her how he felt. She said no…he hadn't. And so I asked how she knew everything was alright. She said he kissed her. Not just kissed her, he made out with her by the corral in plain sight of everyone. And that she wanted more and so did he."

  "She actually said that?" Mike jumped up and started pacing the floor. "Good grief, she's just a kid."

  "Yes." Sandy nearly smiled at how protective Mike was. "She is. I don't understand. Did you encourage this?"

  Mike's head flew around to stare at Sandy. The words she uttered hurt to the bone, but he realized how upset she was. He had to overlook his own feelings right now. Sandy had every right to be upset with her sister. "Of course I didn't. But today, she did act a little strange. Instead of waiting for me to make the move, she made it. And I don't know where she practiced but she was definitely better at it, today. And when Wade came to get her, she was more than ready to run off with him. I thought it all a little strange, but that was what she wanted all along. To have him, be with him. Wasn't it?"

  "Yes, but not like this. I mean, she doesn't realize what she is doing. She can't. The big lug never even told her how he felt. He just manhandled her. She's young and she doesn't know enough about life to know how to handle someone as bold and foreboding as Wade. If I had the nerve, I'd fire him for this…" Sandy stood up too now.

  "Now wait a minute. Stop and think about this. Wendy has been a little tart since we started this and you know it. She's been basically asking for it."

  "My sister isn't a tart! Or at least…she wasn't." Sandy grabbed her head and frowned.

  "Well, she's been wearing some pretty far out clothes. She's flirted up a storm and tempting the man. A man can only stand so much of that. He was bound to go for the bait."

  "He's older. He has to be the strong one. Besides, I'm the one responsible for her clothes, so you can blame me there. I thought if she wore something other than cowboy boots and jeans he might pay attention to her. Only I probably went overboard with the sex appeal."

  "Okay, okay, let's slow down and think about this a little bit before we go off the deep end. Wade has been the foreman for a long time. Your father trusted him with everything. You can't go firing someone like that. He does his job and well. It's your little sister you need to take in tow."

  "My father couldn't have seen this coming. And I'm almost glad he isn't around to see this side of his baby daughter," Sandy cried. "And Wendy is too young to see what's happening. This has all gone on too long. We tried to talk some sense into her years ago about Wade, but she had no part of it. She insisted he'd see her as a woman someday. That was her goal, for him to see her as a woman. Well, he's darn sure seen her."

  "There's something you aren't considering here, Sandy." Mike came toward her.

  "What?"

  Mike squatted before her.

  "Your sister is willing. She's not under age any longer, and if she is flaunting it, she is liable to reel in some fish on her hook." He wanted to comfort Sandy, so she wouldn't worry so much. "She wants this as much as he does. And she is grown. You know I went along with this charade because I felt sorry for her. I knew her intent was getting Wade, we all did. But she is of age; she can make up her own mind. You can't live her life for her, honey. No matter your good intentions."

  "She is barely of age. And maturity wise she's got some way to go…"

  "I agree with you. But still. They have evidently been messing with each other's heads for some time. Wade has wanted her all along. Or this would never have happened. The minute he realized she was old enough, and she wanted the same thing he did, well…it was inevitable. Despite the fact that she's young. She is a grown woman. And I don't think kissing is anything to get upset about…I mean…hey, I kissed her too."

  "Obviously."

  "I kissed you too, if you remember. Nothing happened between us, did it?"

  Sandy blushed. "I kissed you…" she began.

  "Yeah, but I kissed you back, in case you didn't notice. But I can tell you one thing, I didn't kiss Wendy like that…" He stared into her eyes and saw tears.

  "Like what?" Sandy barely uttered, staring into his face.

  "Like I meant it, I guess…"

  The room went very quiet.

  "We were talking about Wendy," Sandy directed him away from the subject of them.

  "Wendy's so inexperienced. I'm afraid she might do something foolish, Mike. I'm afraid she might do something like Julie did, years ago. She isn't like most girls. She hasn't dated men. She has no experience with men. She's had such a crush on Wade, she never bothered with anyone else except at her high school prom. She couldn't very well take Wade to that! And anyone could tell nothing happened that night, anyway."

  "Maybe so. But look Sandy, you may have to turn her loose and let her make her own mistakes is what I am saying," Mike encouraged. "She's the baby of the family and obviously you aren't willing to let her grow up yet. But it's bound to happen."

  "That mistake could be one of a lifetime. She could get pregnant. And then what?" Sandy let a tear escape. "What if he's just stringing her along like she did him? What if he's finally called her bluff and decided to take the advantage of what she's offering?"

  "Wade wouldn't risk his work for that. Of that I'm sure. Maybe he does have feelings for her that he just can't, or isn't ready to admit. I could understand that. Maybe the age thing is still in the way…"

  Mike glanced at Sandy but determined not to console her too much. It could lead to other things and he knew it. Sometimes a man had to put away his feelings, if he knew what was good for him. "Wade is an honorable man. If he got her pregnant, he'd marry her."

  "Trapped in a loveless marriage…with a child?" Sandy shrieked. "That's not the life we all want for Wendy."

  "
Despite everything you are saying, I don't think that it would be a loveless marriage. Wade does care for her. I haven't seen him protect anyone on the ranch but her and his guests. That must mean something. Look, you know Wade…he's a tight lipped cowboy," Mike reasoned.

  Sandy closed her eyes and sank into the couch. "Why do men not want to commit if they know how they feel?"

  "Sometimes those feelings aren't mutual. And sometimes there are other things that get in the way of it."

  Sandy sighed heavily. She was laying her head on one end and stretching out. "So there's nothing we can do?"

  "Not right now, there isn't. Except keep talking to her. Keep trying to make her see that this isn't what she wants in the long run."

  "Sometimes…a woman doesn't know what she wants…"

  "I have to tell you I admire Wendy for going after what she wants. I just don't know if she is mentally equipped to handle the whole truth though."

  "Yeah…" Sandy's voice drifted off.

  Mike went on talking.

  "I think we ought to just hang back and watch what unfolds. Wendy was raised right; she knows she could get pregnant. Julie is an example. Even though it worked out for her. Wade knows that too. Or maybe you should talk to him…feel him out about it."

  But despite better intentions, Sandy had gone to sleep and Mike waited to see what she would say next, but there was nothing. He nudged her, and realized she had gone to sleep.

  Mike stared at her. "Hey…"

  He should wake her, send her home, but for the life of him, he didn't want to. He leaned over, kissed her softly on the cheek and smiled at her. That's when his eyes traveled her slowly, taking her in.

  Sandy didn't stir; in fact, her body was limp as a hand hung off the side of the couch.

  Mike went to get a blanket to cover her with. He straightened her out on the couch and covered her with a blanket. She moaned a little, but didn't wake up. Turning the light out, he crept back to bed. He didn't want to leave her there, but he had no choice. He wasn't about to take her to his bed; he had better sense.

  It was mid-morning when Sandy awoke; the sun streaming in through the window had her grabbing her eyes and trying to focus. She glanced around and saw the blanket, then looked at the room. My God…she'd slept in Mike’s apartment. How could she be so lame?

  Straightening her shirt and running a hand through her hair, she got up and searched for Mike. He wasn't there. He was gone she soon discovered.

  He'd left a note for her on the kitchen table.

  "Help yourself to some coffee and whatever else you can find. I have some things to do this morning. See you later…Mike."

  Her first reaction was to run home immediately and never set foot in Mike’s apartment again. But that was pure panic hitting her. Nothing happened, and he had merely thrown a blanket over and let her sleep rather than waking her and taking her home. She was an adult and she knew nothing happened. That was all that mattered. Although, Wendy might make something of it.

  She needed coffee. She couldn't think without that first cup of coffee in the morning.

  She searched the cabinets in the kitchen and managed to find enough to make a small pot and a few minutes later after she checked herself in the bathroom; she came out and poured herself a cup.

  She sat on the couch and looked around. The cups of coffee he'd made last night were nowhere in sight. He sure was tidy, she thought with a grin. She sipped her coffee and tried to wake up.

  Then the doorbell rang. Sandy froze.

  Should she answer? She had on a rumpled blouse, her hair was a mess and she wasn't sure she should. What would they think, whoever it was? However, it could be important, so she tiptoed to the door and looked through the peephole. It was an older woman and Sandy again wondered if she should answer it.

  Curiosity got the best of her and she slowly opened the door.

  The older woman grabbed her chest and stared. "Good morning, I was trying to catch Mike Tobin before he left this morning. There is a car parked out front and it's taking up someone's space, it needs to be moved, but I think the battery is dead as the door was left open all night…" The woman eyed her from head to toe.

  "Umm…Mike's not here. He had an errand to run…" Sandy's voice sounded husky and the woman stared at her harder. She seemed to be looking past her into the apartment. "Are you the manager?"

  "Yes, yes I am. Can you move the car…?" she asked, giving her a peculiar look.

  "Yes, of course, I'm sorry." Sandy ran a hand over her face. "Just give me a minute and I'll take care of it."

  "Thank you…" the woman said and backed away, still staring at her.

  Sandy immediately went into the bathroom again, this time to look at herself. She did look like she'd just slept through a cyclone. She found Mike's comb and combed her hair. She straightened her blouse and shook her head. "I must have been crazy to come here last night. What was I thinking?"

  After finishing her coffee, she went outside to move her car. She didn't remember leaving the door open, but if the woman said she had, she guessed she was right. She got in and put the key in the ignition but the motor didn't turn. The interior light didn't come on. The battery was dead, she concluded.

  That means she was stuck here at Mike's apartment. She tried the ignition several times but nothing happened, just a clicking noise.

  She put her hand over her eyes and leaned her head on the steering wheel. The older woman approached her again. "Can't get it started?" Her voice was flat and not amused.

  "No ma'am, I can't. I am so sorry. I need a jumper cable. You wouldn't happen to have one would you?" she asked, barely looking up at the unhappy woman in front of her.

  "I'll check…" the woman snapped and disappeared around the corner.

  A few minutes later she reappeared with a man of about forty, carrying cables.

  "This is Mr. Harper, he'll give you a jump, and then I expect you to have your car out of here."

  "Yes ma'am." Sandy nodded.

  What a mess. Sandy waited until Mr. Harper jumped her off and then told him she was leaving and was sorry for the inconvenience. The older gentleman smiled and told her he'd tell the manager.

  Sandy went home and soaked in the tub for an hour before she came out. She certainly hadn't used her head last night. And Mike might get into trouble with his landlady because of her. She wished she had been more composed. The woman probably drew all kinds of conclusions.

  Trying to remember everything Mike had said, she wanted to dispel this feeling of doom.

  "Julie…I'll call Julie," she said as though it just occurred to her.

  Chapter Twelve

  Julie listened to Sandy and sat quietly at the kitchen table for a long moment. Her eyes were trained to the yard where her dog was milling about.

  "The Weston's are a hard bunch of cowboys. And Wade is the hardest. We've all been watching this unfold for a lot of years. We knew it would boil over some day. Wendy's loved him all her life, Sandy. I can't say I blame her, she's definitely frustrated. But I've got to say I never thought she'd get this crazy. I saw how she was dressing."

  "That was my fault, I thought it might garner her some attention from Wade. I asked Mike to help her. And he agreed. I even picked out the sexy clothes for her to wear; I mean come on, most men can be lured by one thing or another. So I am guilty, the blame is with me." Sandy ran her finger around the cup of coffee that Julie had offered her.

  "It isn't your fault. Mike was right, she is grown, and she's got to make her own mistakes. She is no longer just the baby of the family. But maybe if I talked with her, maybe I can calm her down. I'm getting pretty good with kids. I can bluff this." Julie stared out the window. "I know what I'm talking about. Playing games with men is not a good idea. But you know, sometimes you just have to learn it the hard way for it to sink in right."

  "I was hoping you would talk to her." Sandy glanced at her. "I feel like you know more about what to say."

  Julie's house was immaculate,
and she looked so happy. She and Cade had made a wonderful life together.

  "Wendy has been the little saint around here for years. The darling daughter. Dad thought she did no wrong. We all catered to her. But that has got to stop and now we must make her understand that whatever happens, it will be on her and Wade's shoulders." Julie sighed.

  Sandy scrunched up her nose. "We kind of spoiled her, didn't we?"

  "Oh yeah, big time. I mean, I saw that the minute I walked into the den and the lawyer was about to read the will. She acted as though she was the only one entitled to be here. And it's kind of funny, I was the bad girl of the family for a long time. Now that title is falling on Wendy. But I can point out some pitfalls for her, if she'll listen." Julie smiled wanly.

  "Mike pointed out to me that all they did was kiss, not a sin, but it could lead to it. Especially if they don't do the right thing. And if you'd heard the way she was talking, as if she suddenly wanted to be a little tart."

  "What is the right thing?" Julie asked with a soft sad chuckle.

  "I don't know…getting married."

  "That's only right if they both want it."

  "Maybe we should be talking to Wade?" Sandy glanced at her.

  "Oh no…it's way too soon for that. Let me talk to her, see what's going through that little mind of hers. I mean, after all, she is the one that is pushing this. Then we'll know if we have a real problem or not," Julie insisted. "Just be prepared for an attitude."

  She got up and put the dirty dishes in the sink.

  "What are we gonna do if Wade doesn't love her?" Sandy's glance landed on Julie with wide-eyed shock.

  "Hopefully make sure he doesn't have his way with her. But I want to warn you, if she tells me to butt out of her business and Wade says the same, then we have to butt out. And let them settle it. She really does have the right to make her own decisions. Even if they are all wrong."

  Sandy studied Julie a moment. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

  "Yeah…let's hope." But Julie didn't look too sure.