Lone Heart Pass (22 page)

“Where were you headed?” he asked as he straightened and pulled an inch away.

“I'm taking notes to the Lubbock sheriff's office. Then I thought I'd find an all-night pancake house and eat my weight.”

“Mind if I tag along?”

“Only if you have money to pay.”

“I've got money.” He slid his hand down her arm and laced his fingers with hers. They walked to the elevator as if the whole world hadn't washed between them since they'd touched.

He drove her to the sheriff's office and stood waiting, silently, while she explained what she wanted to print off for the sheriff. He took her to an all-night pancake house near the university.

They talked about their hometown. They shared each other's meals. She told him all about what had happened to Pop since he'd been at the hospital and how he hated being hurt. She cried when he simply reached across the table and held her hand.

She told him how it felt to be graduating. They even discussed what Tim O'Grady was doing with his life. She never remembered talking so much to one person, and the way he kept smiling told her he loved listening to her.

Finally, when nothing but dirty dishes and coffee were left on the table, they talked about the shooting and how frightened she'd been when she got the call.

The first pink of dawn was glowing in the sky when he drove her back to the hospital and walked her across the parking lot.

“You want me to stay with you today?”

She shook her head thinking of her mother in the room. Thinking of what a scene it would make if her mother thought she'd spent her free time with Lucas Reyes. To her mother she was still sixteen and Pop was still raising her wrong.

As they drew closer to the doors, Lucas held her hand tighter and neither said a word. They'd covered every subject she could think of except neither had mentioned the kiss. The night at the Two Step had been carefully avoided.

When he crossed in the shadows of a walkway over the street, Lucas stopped and turned to her. “I know this isn't the time or the place, but I need to say that I can't stop thinking about you.” He seemed to be holding himself statue-still. “I feel like you've been in the back of my mind all my life. You're the person I've always thought of as a someday friend. A someday love maybe. But lately with the caseload I'm carrying and the ladder I seemed to be trying to hang on to, I realized it wouldn't be fair for me to ask you...”

Lauren's mind put the pieces together. “Are you breaking up with me before we even start dating?”

He laughed. “We almost dated once, but you were too young. Then in college I was three years ahead of you and in too much of a hurry to have time. And now, I've got to give this career a chance. In five years, maybe ten, I might run for office and...”

“You are breaking up with me, Lucas.” She would have liked to have had one date before she got dumped. “This is ridiculous.”

“But, you make me feel so...”

Anger made her straighten. “I don't want to be someone you pass in the night and dream about. We've already had that relationship when I was sixteen and you didn't even realize it.”

“But the way you kissed me?”

It was out in the open finally. One mind-blowing, great, hot kiss that neither of them would probably ever forget.

“It was just a kiss, Lucas. We're just friends and at the rate we're moving that is probably all we'll ever be. I'm not your sky. Go back and fight for what you want but don't expect me to be waiting in the shadows for the one moment we almost had.” How could she explain that she wanted to matter to him now? She didn't want to be the second choice. The someday person in his life.

She respected him for being so driven. She'd never let him know how he hurt her. It wasn't his fault. She was the one who obviously thought there was something more.

“I have to get back. We only have a few minutes.” He stopped, then tried again. “But there's something that needs saying now.”

“No, Lucas,” she whispered. “There's not.” She ran toward the doors, fighting back tears.

When she stepped inside, she wasn't surprised she was alone. He hadn't followed. Lauren shoved the dreams of a girl away with her tears.

She'd aged again, she thought, just as she had the night of the accident at the old gypsy house. There she'd grown up, not in little steps but in a leap. Now, she glanced back and saw Lucas walking away. The girl inside had vanished, and a woman walked into the elevator.

By the time the door opened on her father's floor, Lauren knew what she had to do.

The room was still in shadow when she made it to Pop's side. Her mother was asleep by the window. Mr. Clifton stood when she entered and hugged her, then insisted she curl up in the chair beside her dad.

He covered her with a blanket. “Sleep, dear,” he said. “Everything will be better tomorrow, you'll see.”

She closed her eyes and listened to Mr. Clifton wake her mother.

Margaret didn't bother to say goodbye. They just seemed to vanish.

Lauren's thoughts were dark and broken. Nurses came in and out, checking on Pop, but she acted as if she was asleep. One nurse even whispered to another that it was a blessing the sheriff's daughter was finally sleeping.

Lauren mourned the might-have-beens with Lucas. She felt her heart turning cold, drying up like a flower covered in the first snow.

By ten, when she finally opened her eyes, she saw her Pop smiling at her.

“Don't cry, baby girl, I'm not going anywhere for a long time.”

The joy of seeing him awake made her smile. “I love you, Pop.”

His voice was raspy, but his eyes were clear. “I love you, too.” He scratched the whiskers on his chin. “I had the strangest dream last night. I thought your mother was here complaining.”

Lauren laughed. “She was, Pop. I should warn you, she's mad about you getting yourself shot. She flew back to Dallas saying she had a presentation to get ready for Monday, but I wouldn't be surprised if she came back soon to finish yelling at you.”

“Let me guess. She thinks I got shot just to irritate her.”

“Something like that.” Lauren shoved her broken heart deep into a corner. She had her pop back. Lucas was someone she'd mourn another day. She tried to act as though his visit the previous night had never happened.

“I'm starving,” Pop whispered.

“Me, too,” she lied.

They ordered two breakfasts and Pop ate them both. Then, when he dozed off, she opened her laptop and began to write her feelings down as if they were someone else's. Slowly a character formed, stronger than Lauren, braver. An adventure danced through her mind, taking her away from her own feelings, giving her something to think about in the hours of waiting.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Charley
April 7

D
AWN
WAS
JUST
peeking into his window when Charley woke. He rolled over slowly and found Jubilee still in his bed. The fourth night in a row.
Man, this could be a great dream if she hadn't set down the rules that first night.

They'd had Thatcher in the house recovering and decided they both needed to be near, so sharing the bed, him on top of the covers and her beneath, seemed the only solution. Charley thought of mentioning that she could have slept with Lillie. It might be a small bed, but Lillie didn't take up much room. But he wasn't about to suggest something she might consider doing.

He liked Jubilee right where she was. Minus the covers between them, he decided, but he'd never suggest such a thing or she'd be heading back to the big house, even with all the guests staying over.

Destiny, with all her army of help, was still refusing to leave the main house, but the good news was Jubilee was still next to him. Working beside him all day and sleeping beside him all night.

He wrapped his fingers around a strand of hair on her pillow. He could never remember loving to watch a woman move as much as he loved watching Jubilee. She had a grace in motion unlike anything he'd ever seen.

She opened those big brown eyes and stared at him, looking as if she could read his every thought. “Don't even think about it,” she whispered.

“What?” He tried to look innocent. “I was just wondering what was for breakfast.”

“Right.”

“Cinnamon rolls.” Thatcher's voice came from the living room.

Charley and Jubilee scrambled out of bed and ran to where Thatcher sat on the couch. Charley plowed his fingers through his hair, thankful that he and Jubilee had both slept in their clothes.
For the fourth night in a row
, he reminded himself.

“You all right, That?” he asked. The kid had had a few rough nights.

“Sure. I've been up an hour. Just before dawn, some lady tapped on the door. I hopped over and let her in the minute I saw she was carrying food. She said she was the new cook and wanted to bring us breakfast before the people at the big house woke up and started their daily round of screaming.”

Charley glanced over at a tray of rolls, each bigger than the palm of his hand.

“I already ate two. They taste better than any I've ever had from a package.” Thatcher lifted his empty plate. “Wouldn't mind having another couple.”

Jubilee took his plate as he added, “I didn't know we had a cook. I've been here wounded for four days and she's just now showing up.”

“We don't have a cook. She works for Destiny. When Destiny leaves, so will the cook.” Jubilee stared at Charley. “Right?”

“Right,” he answered, but he didn't sound very convincing. “I heard Mason's calling several times a day. She's bound to think he's suffered enough, or you're beyond help.”

“Could she leave the cook?” Thatcher asked.

“No,” Charley said. “I've been trying my best to get them out but they're worse than a mattress full of bedbugs. All of them. The yoga instructor told me yesterday that she wasn't in the mood to talk to me.”

Charley looked over at Jubilee, who didn't seem to think that was odd at all.

Jubilee made coffee while Charley got down plates and cups. Every morning they started out with the same conversation: how to get Destiny off the ranch.

Thatcher seemed to be studying them while they moved around the kitchen, both frowning. “You two sure do wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Might want to think about swapping sides.”

Both of them glared at him.

“Just one more question. Are you two common-law married now? 'Cause it's been my observation that condition can start a lot of fights and I'm too lame to run fast.”

“No,” they both answered.

“Okay, just checking. Think I'll take a little nap before I eat another breakfast.” Thatcher leaned back and closed his eyes.

Charley moved over to Jubilee and lowered his voice. “How are we going to explain to the kid that we're not sleeping together?”

“We
are
sleeping together,” she answered.

“You know what I mean.”

“Of course I know what you mean. I'm the one in bed with you, remember?”

They both smiled and began to talk about all that had to be done before dark. Before Thatcher got shot, they'd decided to bet it all on the ranch, but Charley knew money was already getting tight. The only money she took off the table was his salary. The rest, including her own money, went in.

Charley thought it a little mad, but they'd need every dime, maybe even his salary. Right now the more they put in to kick things off, the better the return in the fall.

Only if he gave up his salary, which mostly went into saving for his own land, he'd give up his own dreams. He'd spotted a small piece of land down the road that would be a great starter place. Natural springs, good grass. No, he wouldn't give up his chance. He'd just have to work harder. Put in more hours. He doubted she'd let him work for free anyway.

As he ate, Charley started the list of what he had to do today. Every day he added
make sure Thatcher is safe
to the list in his mind even though he never wrote it on paper.

Before they finished breakfast, a deputy Charley had talked with in the emergency room knocked on the door. He was so big he blocked most of the sunlight with his tall frame.

The deputy nodded a greeting to Jubilee and Charley, and then went straight to Thatcher.

“How are you doing?” Officer Weathers asked, while Charley watched. “You getting around all right?”

Thatcher shaded his eyes. “Could you sit down, deputy? All I can see is the light bulb when I look up so high.”

Weathers sat on the trunk that had seemed so big when Lillie sat on it. “Lauren Brigman wanted me to drop by and tell you the sheriff may be coming home tomorrow. I'm heading up to Lubbock pretty soon to be part of the escort. I've been covering for Brigman here in Crossroads for a few days and plan to stay on until he can take over.”

Weathers made Thatcher straighten with pride when he added, “I understand you've been working with the sheriff some.”

Thatcher nodded, looking as if he didn't know how to talk to the young deputy. He couldn't be more than twenty-four or -five, but he was so big he obviously made Thatcher nervous.

“Where you staying in town?” Charley moved into the conversation with a silent offer of a cup of coffee.

“Over at the new bed-and-breakfast,” Weathers said as he took the cup and thanked him with a glance. “Eating most of my meals at the diner. Great food but small portions.”

Thatcher leaned closer as if studying the man. “You eat out much, deputy?”

“Nope. My mom taught all her sons to cook. If I stay here much longer, I plan to talk those two Franklin sisters who are fixing up the place into letting me have use of the kitchen.”

Thatcher nodded again as if he'd figured out something. The kid relaxed back on his pillow.

Weathers reached in his pocket and pulled out a small phone. “Lauren said you didn't have a cell phone. Some of the guys in my office got together and decided to get you one. I've already put in my number. All you have to do is hit five and it speed dials me. Lauren's three. Sheriff Brigman will be four.”

Thatcher didn't accept the cell. “You're kidding.”

“No. We think of you as one of our team now. A cell is standard issue.” He lowered his voice. “If you'd had a phone that day, maybe someone could have got to you. You and the sheriff wouldn't have been so alone.”

Thatcher took the phone. “What about numbers one and two and six through nine?”

Weathers smiled. “I'll show you how to use it. You can call anyone you want, but you'll want to speed dial the most common numbers. Might want to make the first one your parents and maybe the number two could be your girlfriend.”

The kid stared at the phone. “My mom don't have a phone, but my girlfriend might. I'll ask her. Only I don't understand what she's talking about half the time. If I called her, more conversation might just clog up my brain.”

Weathers nodded. “I know what you mean.”

“One question, Deputy. Why'd you make yourself number five?”

Charley moved closer wondering the same thing.

“My first name's Fifth.”

“You're kidding.” Thatcher looked as if he was fighting down a laugh.

“No. My folks thought since I was their fifth son, Fifth would be a good name.”

“Anyone ever tell your folks that when they run out of names maybe they should stop having kids?”

Fifth shook his head. “You should meet my brother, Eleven. He plays pro for the Dallas Cowboys. Fullback. I'm the runt of the Weathers litter.”

Thatcher passed his cinnamon roll to the deputy. “You know, Fifth, I think we're going to be friends. And don't you worry. If anyone makes fun of your name, you tell me. I've got your back.”

Fifth glanced at Charley as if to say no one had ever made fun of him, but to Thatcher he simply said, “Thanks.”

Charley picked up a list with items needed from the vet. “If you'll be here a while, Deputy, I think I'll go to town and spend some time with my daughter before she goes to school, then I'll pick up Thatcher's medicine. Should be back by eight thirty.”

“All I have to do is make it to Lubbock today. They won't be releasing the sheriff until after ten tomorrow. When I came down, I only brought uniforms. I plan on stopping by my apartment and picking up clothes to wear when I'm off duty if any of that time ever comes along in this town.”

Charley didn't like leaving them, but he had a few things to do and they'd seen no one suspicious around. He'd probably bring Lillie home tonight.

After all, sheriff's departments for three counties around were watching the ranch. Weathers would be back tomorrow and the two trusted men he'd hired would be in to start work by eight every morning. They all knew to be on the watch.

On impulse, Charley leaned over and gave Jubilee a kiss on the cheek as he walked past her. He figured she wouldn't try to kill him in front of a deputy.

To his surprise, she just stared at him as he walked out.

He got to Fred and Helen Lee's home in time to talk to Lillie while she ate breakfast. Then, he took her to school. It felt good to laugh for a while and let the worries go. She wanted to come home with him after school and for the first time in three days, he agreed.

A little after eight he stopped by the bank. He went in just as they opened, and five minutes later he was back in the truck.

What he'd just done made him question his sanity, but he'd had to do it. In one swift move he'd transferred his entire savings into Jubilee's ranch account. Almost forty thousand dollars. Not much money toward buying land, but it might be enough to get her through until Lone Heart started paying.

Since the day his father kicked him out, he'd been saving what little money he could, hoping, planning for someday when he could buy a few acres and start his own place.

Now he was gambling it all on Jubilee's place.

But he'd figured out that Jubilee wouldn't have enough money to make her ranch run if he didn't do something. She wanted this dream and she mattered too much to him to have it fail when he knew he could have helped.

He wouldn't tell her. If she found out in the fall, she could pay him back. If they still failed to make a go of the ranch, his dream would go down with hers. Lillie would probably be in high school before he saved enough for another shot at buying a ranch.

Charley started his truck and drove to the vet. He felt good about what he'd done. Scared, but good.

Jubilee had asked him once if he'd ever been in love. He'd said no. Now, for the first time ever, he knew he'd fallen truly and completely in love and he'd just proved it to himself.

No matter how it turned out with Jubilee and her ranch, he'd know, once and for all, what it felt like to love someone. He'd thank her for that, even if she never wanted their relationship to go beyond a few great kisses in the shadows of Lone Heart Pass.