After the Rain (The Callahans) (19 page)

Later, when all was quiet and everyone had gone to bed, Kylie lay awake listening to the wind howl outside. The rain was pounding, the thunder was sounding and she was alone.

Trey had come back in after helping Dusty and Joe secure things outside and told her he would be sleeping downstairs on the couch. His reason had been that he wanted to keep an eye on things. Even though his reason seemed perfectly logical, given the fact that Matt Clyde was still on the run, for some reason she had the feeling he was pulling back from her. That idea hurt. They had gotten so close so fast and now he was backing off and she wasn’t sure why.

She jumped at another loud clap of thunder. She hated thunder. This thunder was louder than any storm she’d been through in Montana. She burrowed deeper into the covers, feeling a little like a child scared of the dark.

Unable to fall asleep, she thought about what Faye had told her about Trey and Shayna. Knowing something about his past made it a little easier to understand him. She just wished it had been Trey, himself, who had opened up and told her.

She sighed, turning over and looking at the clock. It was one in the morning. Why was she wide-awake? Of course, she knew the answer; because she couldn’t stop thinking about Trey. Things had been so good that morning. Then Matt Clyde had shown up and ruined everything.

She sat up abruptly, unable to stand lying there anymore. She tiptoed from her room and headed for the stairs, careful not to wake anyone. All the bedroom doors were closed tightly and everyone was obviously sleeping. Everyone but her.

She took the stairs slowly, wincing as her feet hit the cold hardwood at the bottom of the stairs. She could still hear the wind whistling against the wind chimes outside. It almost sounded eerie.

She looked into the family room and saw that Trey was indeed stretched out on the couch, stomach down. He had a pillow under his head, and a blanket tossed over his bottom half. His back was bare. She watched him for a while, deciding it was probably better to let him sleep. All the same, she didn’t want to go back upstairs by herself. She walked into the family room and curled into an easy chair in the corner. Tucking her legs under her, she rested her head against the cushions and stared out the front window.

Eventually, she must have dozed off because when she awoke there was sunlight coming in through the windows. The rain had stopped. When she looked over at the couch, she noticed that Trey was gone.

Sitting up, she stretched her legs out and yawned. The blanket covering her legs fell to the floor. Had he put the blanket there?

“About time you woke up. Weather’s beautiful now,” Faye said, stepping into the room with a cup of coffee. She was still wearing her pajamas and some pink fuzzy slippers. “There’s fresh coffee in the kitchen.”

“That was some storm last night.”

“Yeah, I warned you about those things.” Faye leaned against the arm of the couch. “So we got a call a little while ago. Matt Clyde stumbled into Mercy Emergency this morning. He was arrested on the spot.”

Kylie couldn’t hide her relief. “That’s great.”

“Yeah, we’re all relieved. Now we can concentrate on the carnival and the wedding.”

Kylie yawned again. “Is everyone already gone?”

“Dusty left for the restaurant. Joe’s still sleeping.”

“What about Trey?”

Faye looked surprised. “I assumed you knew where he was. He was gone before we all got up.”

“Oh. He must have let me sleep.”

Faye took a slow sip of coffee. “He probably got called pretty early, Ky—about Matt and all. I’m sure he just dashed off in a hurry.”

“Probably,” Kylie agreed, standing up. Somehow, she knew there was more to things than that. “I’m going to go get dressed.”

“Hurry up. I want to take you to meet Mamaw today. She’s got some ideas about the wedding.”

“Mamaw? You mean Trey’s grandmother?”

“Yep, she’s great. You’ll love her. She’s very traditional in the ways of her people. She’s heard all about you. She’s been asking me to bring you by for days.”

“I don’t know, Faye.” Kylie felt the beginnings of panic at the idea of meeting Trey’s mother and grandmother—especially when Trey was acting so strangely himself.

“I already told her we’re coming. Go change.”

Faye disappeared before Kylie could protest.

20

Trey rubbed his temples, doing his best to calm the pounding inside his head. He should be relieved. They had captured Matt Clyde. He was sitting in a hospital near Scottsdale, recovering from a gunshot wound, before he would be on his way to jail. Kylie was okay. That should make him happy.

But he wasn’t happy. He was in over his head with her and he knew it. Looking into her eyes last night, hearing her say how she’d fought back when Matt had jumped her, he’d realized just how vulnerable she was—and how much she’d been through in her life. These facts only reminded him of how little he had to offer her.

She was the kind of girl who deserved the world. There was no way he could offer her that. Therefore, he’d turned his back. He had slept downstairs, avoiding the sex he knew would happen if he stayed in her room with her. When he’d woken that morning and seen her sleeping in the chair, he’d felt guilty for being such an ass. She’d been through a traumatic experience that morning and he’d left her alone to deal with it. She’d obviously gotten scared and come downstairs and she’d clearly read the signals he was giving her and decided not to bother him. So instead of waking her up and talking things out with her, he’d laid a blanket over her and taken the chicken’s way out for a second time; he’d left before she woke up.

He felt like a shit. Hell, he knew he
was
a shit. Still, he didn’t know what to do about it. No matter what he did, he was setting her up for a fall. If he walked away, she would get hurt. If he stuck with it and waited to see where things would go, she would get hurt. He would never be able to marry her. It just wasn’t in the cards.

“Coffee?”

He looked up as Dusty walked into the office, two cups of coffee in his hand.

“Thanks.” Trey took the offering and leaned back in his chair. “What’s up?”

Dusty shoved some papers aside and sat down on the now empty chair across from Trey’s desk. “Just stopping by to check in on my little brother—and see what the latest is on Matt Clyde.”

Trey raised a brow. “I told Faye on the phone, he’s in the hospital under guard. He’ll be going to jail in a day or two. Why are you really here?”

“No real reason. I had some spare time.”

Trey snorted. “What’s on your mind, Dustin?”

“You left awfully early this morning. I know it wasn’t to drag in Clyde because he’s near Scottsdale. Not your jurisdiction.”

“I had things to do.”

“You slept on the couch.”

Trey met his brother’s gaze. “What’s your point?”

“My point is that I’m not buying the protecting the family thing. We’re all armed, Trey. You’re avoiding Kylie all the sudden, aren’t you?”

“You’re overreacting.” Trey took a long sip of coffee. “I had work to do. I didn’t want to be distracted last night with that lunatic on the loose.”

“Okay,” Dusty said, tossing his empty coffee cup into the trash. “For the sake of this discussion, say I believe your reasons. You’re in over your head here, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m talking about you and Kylie. I’m talking about you spending every waking minute together—sleeping together. You told me the other night that you had this under control. I’m a little worried that you don’t.”

“Well quit worrying. It’s none of your business.”

“Then why are you pushing her away?”

“I left early for work this morning, Dusty. I didn’t push her away.”

“I don’t know what
she
sees but
I
know you too well, little brother. You’re getting ready to run. That is a shitty thing to do to a person like Kylie. She deserves better than that. You told me you two have an understanding. So, why the cold shoulder shit?”

Trey slammed his coffee cup down on the desk, spilling the liquid over the top and onto a pile of papers. “Damn it, Dusty, don’t you get it? I did not plan any of this. I didn’t even give her a second thought when she first got here. It just happened.”

“That’s the way it usually works, man. Hits you right between the eyes.”

“Quit with that bullshit. I didn’t get shot by Cupid’s arrow. Yesterday showed me that she’s more vulnerable than I realized. I don’t want to crush her, man.”

“Then be honest with her. Don’t just turn your back. She won’t make heads or tails of that. She’ll just think you’re a dick.”

“Maybe I am.” Trey wiped the mess up and tossed the rest of the coffee into the trash. “I like spending time with her. I care about her. But that’s it. It will never go any further than that. Even though we’ve pretty much left things open because she’s going back to Montana in the next couple weeks, it feels like she’s going to expect more, the closer we get.”

“She knows she’s leaving, Trey. She’s the one who lives in Montana and has a life to go back to.”

“Yeah, I know.” Trey was thoughtful. “I guess she dug her heels in a little bit. I haven’t had that happen since before Shayna. I vowed I wouldn’t let it happen again.”

“You can’t just walk away, that’s all I’m saying. It took a lot for her to learn to trust you.”

“I know.”

“So don’t run like a coward.” Dusty stood up and looked Trey in the eyes. “I don’t think it’s her heart you’re worried about breaking, little bro. I’m pretty sure it’s your own heart you’re concerned about.”

In spite of her misgivings, Kylie went upstairs and showered. She dressed casually in shorts and a T-shirt and then pulled her hair up in a ponytail. It wasn’t the most glamorous look but it would do. Fortunately, the fat lip she’d been sporting the day before was pretty much gone. With a little lip gloss she was able to completely conceal the injury.

When she got downstairs, Faye was rearing to go. They drove to the reservation in silence. Kylie felt anxious the minute they entered the iron gates. It had only been a couple of days since she’d been here with Trey. Of course, she hadn’t even gotten out of the car then. Now she would have to.

“That’s where Elle and Leo live,” Faye said, pointing to a cute little rambler on the corner of a nicely manicured street. “And Leo’s parents live over there.”

Kylie listened while Faye pointed out this and that. She took in each detail and mulled it over. This reservation was nothing like the one Benji had lived on. It had been dark and dreary—dangerous. This place was open and sunny. People were out in their yards gardening or playing with their children. The community looked comfortable.

Faye pulled the car to a stop in front of a good-sized bungalow style house. It was red with white trim and several rows of colorful flowers out front. “This is where Mamaw and Arshia live.”

Kylie took a deep breath as she climbed out of the car. She didn’t have time to think much because the front door opened and a small, old woman came out onto the porch, her arms outstretched. “Faye Louise, you made it. I have been so excited all morning.”

Kylie studied the woman carefully, amazed at the fact that she did indeed appear to be wearing authentic Indian clothing. She had jewelry on, made of beads in all different colors. There were even jewels entwined in the long braid that flowed down her back.

“Hi Mamaw,” Faye said, smiling as she hugged the old woman.

“And you,” Mamaw said, a smile on her face. “You must be Kylie. I have heard so much about you.” Mamaw reached forward and clasped Kylie’s hands in hers. “You are so pretty.”

“Thank you,” Kylie said, smiling. “Your yard is beautiful. I’m not really good with flowers. How do you make them look so perfect?”

“I have special herbs I use. I can let you in on my secret. But first we must talk, get to know each other.”

“Where is Arshia?” Faye asked, as they walked around to the back of the house where there was a table set up with some lemonade and several glasses.

“She is upstairs going through a few things. She asked me to send you up when you got here.” Mamaw looked at Kylie with a smile on her face. “This will give Kylie and me some time to get to know one another, yes?”

“That would be nice,” Kylie said, unable to deny that Faye was right, Mamaw was easy to like.

“Sit, sit,” Mamaw said, when Faye had disappeared into the house. “I hope you are not disappointed that I asked you to sit out here with me. Wedding stuff—on and on.” Mamaw waved her hand and laughed. “Arshia loves this planning. Dustin is the first to let her be a part of things.” Pouring some lemonade, Mamaw smiled, wistfully. “Such happiness weddings bring.”

Kylie took the glass she offered and sat down across from Mamaw at the table.

“You teach, yes?”

Kylie nodded. “First grade, in Montana.”

“Ah, Montana. I have not been there. I don’t venture away from home much. My Omja was very much a homebody. When he passed, I just didn’t have the heart to do any traveling without him.” Mamaw leaned back in her chair. “Tell me about your home, my dear. I am very interested in far off lands.”

“It’s nice. Small. I only have two bedrooms. I have a nice backyard. I’ve been thinking about getting a dog but I haven’t done it yet.”

“Animals are nice. We had some when the children were small. Did you know that
Trey Mapiya
had a little dog named Moon until he was seven?”

Kylie shook her head.

“Yes. That one loves animals. Moon got hit by a car. It was tragic for the little guy. He had a couple more dogs after that but none as special as Moon.”

Kylie tried to picture Trey as a little boy, playing with his dog. It was a hard thing to envision.

“
Mapiya
means sky, you know.” Mamaw took a sip of her lemonade. “Blue eyes that one had. The minute he came out, we were all stunned. The others? Brown from the get go, but not
Trey Mapiya.
He got his eyes from his papa. His temperament too. Stubborn, that one. But he has a good heart.”

Mamaw stopped talking and looked at Kylie closely. “You have no brothers or sisters?”