Loving Lauren (17 page)

“Can't this thing go any faster?” Alex sat next to her, checking the mirror on the back of the truck’s visor. Lauren knew that her sister's makeup was perfect. After all, she'd spent the last two hours getting ready. Lauren had spent a quarter of that time and thought she looked just as nice. She quickly checked herself in the rear view mirror and smiled at her reflection.

“Sit back. We'll get there in time for you to get up on stage.” Thursday night at The Rusty Rail was karaoke night, and Alex loved to get up on stage and sing. And for the most part, everyone in town loved to hear her sing. Alex was the only one of the sisters that had gained their mother's sweet voice.

Lauren could remember her mother singing in the kitchen as she baked or while trying to put Haley down for a nap. Alex's soothing voice reminded her so much of her mother, sometimes it hurt to hear her singing in the house.

She glanced over at her sisters. Haley sat in the middle, quietly gazing ahead. She wore a pretty green dress and boots. Lauren knew that her sister liked to dance as much as she did and she started really looking forward to having some fun for once.

Alex's coat covered whatever she was wearing underneath. Lauren knew it was probably something she wouldn't approve of, but years ago, she’d stopped trying to fight her sister on her wardrobe choices. Alex was going to wear whatever she wanted, and all Lauren could do was try to keep her from going too far.

The short jean skirt she wore was probably the most modest thing she was wearing that night. She was also wearing her bright white cowgirl boots. Lauren thought about her own long white skirt and simple blue top. She was never one to dress fancy, but she did like dressing up a little every now and then. Her brown boots were her finest and she only wore them for special occasions, like tonight.

She knew Chase was going to be at the Rusty Rail and wanted more than anything to dance with him again.

Finally, they pulled into the packed parking lot of the old barn building. The Rusty Rail sat right next to the old railroad tracks. In its earlier days, it had been a stock room for unloading animals off the railways. In the early sixties, BJ, the current owner's father, had purchased the old place and had turned it into a country bar. Once her daddy had passed on, BJ had turned it into what it was today—a town gathering place where music played and families gathered, where you could grab a cold beer.

When they pulled up, Travis Nolan, Alex's long-standing boyfriend was standing out front, smoking. When he saw them drive up, he flipped his cigarette across the sidewalk and slowly started walking towards them. Alex met him halfway and jumped into his arms and gave him a long kiss.

“Looks like they’re back on again. I don't like him,” Haley said, sitting beside her still.

“Me either, but if we say anything, it'll only make her want him more.” Lauren and Haley sighed and got out of the truck together.

Inside the music was loud and the place was crowded. The first Thursday of every month was always like this, especially in the summer and fall months. People wanted to wind down after a long, hot day’s work.

“I'll see you later.” Haley waved towards some of her friends and quickly disappeared, leaving Lauren standing at the door all by herself.

“Well, hello there, beautiful.” His voice sent heat down her entire body. How could a man have so much power over her?

She turned and smiled up at him. He wore dark crisp jeans and a pressed white shirt that showed just how tan he was. When he smiled, his teeth shined in the dim light. Not even his belt buckle seemed that shiny. He pulled back his black Stetson in a gesture of respect and grabbed her arm lightly. The dimple near his mouth looked very inviting.

“I was hoping I'd run into you.” She smiled up at him as they walked towards the dance floor. Already the small floor was packed. Everyone was dancing to the loud music that pumped out of the big speakers. When they got to the dance floor, Chase pulled her close and started smoothly moving across the old wood floor. It was a simple dance that they'd danced plenty of times before. She loved dancing, but she especially loved it with Chase.

While his hand rested on her lower back, the other holding hers gently, she remembered the first time he'd pulled her onto the dance floor. It had been in sixth grade. She'd been taller than him, then, which was a fact that she remembered so well because she’d had to look down into his eyes as they learned the movements in gym class. She also remembered holding his sweaty hand and wanting nothing more than to let go and wipe the moisture off on her jeans. Now she looked up into his smiling eyes and marveled at the warmth of his dry hand and how his touch made her feel. So much had changed since that first dance. They had both changed. She smiled up at him and let herself be carried across the floor smoothly.

Less than an hour later, she made her way to the crowded woman’s restroom and was surprised to see Alex there, crowded by several of her friends. She had a large smile on her face and she was showing off a ring.

“What?” Lauren pushed her way through the crowd. “What's this?” She grabbed her sister's hand and barely noticed as everyone quickly left the small room.

“Travis proposed. Isn't it wonderful?” Her sister beamed down at the small ring.

“No.” She shook her head and grabbed her sister’s hand and looked into her eyes. “No, it's not.”

Alex yanked her hand away and frowned at her. “Why can't you just be happy for me?”

“Because you don't belong with someone like Travis. Everyone in town knows he's no good. That you're not good together.” She wanted to take her sister's shoulders and shake her to make her understand that she was making a huge mistake.

“I don't care what you think. You're just jealous.” Her sister crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her just as Haley walked into the small bathroom.

“I heard...” she started to say, but dropped off when she saw what was going on.

“Tell her, Haley. Tell her what a mistake she's making.” Lauren motioned towards Alex.

“Lauren, it's not really my place.” Haley started to back out the open door.

“Oh no, you don't.” Lauren turned on Haley. “I've listened to your opinions of Travis for years now. It's high time you told your big sister what your thoughts are on Travis Nolan. Why don't you tell Alexis about the time Travis cornered you in the barn? Or the time...”

“Shut up!” Alex yelled, and Lauren spun around and glared at her. “I can't believe you are going to stand here and ruin the happiest night in my life.” Alex walked over and stuck her face in front of Lauren’s. Lauren could see her sister was mad. Alex had such pale skin that when she was upset, she turned a dark red, which caused her brown eyes to look like they had a hint of red in them. “I'm going to walk out of this room and this will be the last time I expect to hear a negative word about me marrying Travis. Is that clear?” Alex looked between Lauren and Haley. Haley quickly nodded and Alex turned back to her.

“I can't make that promise,” she said and crossed her arms over her chest. “I'm responsible for you and I don't approve. I'll do what it takes to prove to you that this is all a big mistake.”

“You are not responsible for me or for Haley. I don't know why you think you have to take everything on all by yourself—the ranch, the house, us. You don't. We don't want you butting into our lives. We're actually quite sick of you running everything. Just step back and get off our backs for once.” Alex stormed out of the bathroom, leaving Lauren gazing at the spot where her sister had just been. She didn't realize she was crying until Haley walked over and pulled her into a hug.

“I'm sorry she said that.”

“Is it true?” She pulled back a little and looked at her youngest sister. Haley was taller than her and she had to look up slightly.

“No.” Her sister shook her head. “Lauren, you've done so much since mom died. Then after dad...” She shook her head more and closed her eyes. “I know Alex and I haven't been very much help, but we try. We love the ranch as much as you do. I think if you'd just give us a chance, you'd see that we can help out more. We want to help out more. Alex will see through Travis sooner or later. Don't worry.”

“I just hope it's sooner rather than later. I can't let her marry him.” She turned and looked at the door, trying to figure out how to prove to her sister that the town's bad boy was not husband material for anyone.

When Haley and Lauren walked out of the restroom, they both stopped and listened. Alex was on stage singing Patsy Cline’s, “Always,” while Travis stood close by, smiling. The crowd was eating it up, with the exception of Haley and Lauren.

Before the song was over, Lauren turned and marched out of the crowded building, slamming the door behind her. The cool night air hit her and she wrapped her arms around herself. There was less than a month to go before the leaves would be changing colors and falling. Looking off to the dark southern sky, she could tell they were in for a storm soon.

She walked a few yards over to the old log fence that separated the walkway and the train tracks. Leaning against it, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had been standing out there for a few minutes before she realized the sound had changed. She looked around and didn't see anyone, but the feeling outside was different. Like she was being watched. She turned to go and saw Chase walk out the front door. He stopped and looked around and when he saw her, he started walking towards her.

“Hey?” he said as soon as he got close enough. “Are you okay?”

She blinked a few tears away, then nodded.

“I heard about Alex and Travis,” he said.

“And?” she sighed.

He shrugged his shoulders and put his hands deep into his jean pockets. She turned back around, disgusted. Travis Nolan was no good. Just because his daddy was the town’s mayor and had been for as long as she could remember didn't mean he was anything like his father. Actually, Travis was the farthest thing from it. He'd been arrested twice on drinking and driving in the past two years. Both times, he'd walked away the next morning after his father had marched in and bailed him out. She was sure he'd been arrested a few more times, but didn't know all the particulars. But what had really set her opinion of Travis was when she'd walked in on him once when he'd cornered Haley in their barn. He'd had his hand on her sister's breast, squeezing it. She'd grabbed up a pitchfork and had threatened him with castration if she ever found him on her land again. Since then, he'd made excuses to Alex about why he couldn't come out to the house.

“He's no good for her,” Lauren said under her breath.

“I know it and you know it. Hell, the whole town knows it, but that's not going to stop them from making their own choices.” He put a hand on her shoulder, gently rubbing the tension in her muscles.

She enjoyed it for just a second before she turned on him. “I'm in charge of them. There ought to be something I can do to stop this.”

He shook his head and bent down and placed his forehead on hers. “They need to cut their own path. Hopefully, they'll wake up before it's too late. I mean, it's not like they're going to go down to the courthouse and get hitched tomorrow.”

She winced, knowing that's exactly what they had done seven years ago.

“Travis' mother will want the biggest wedding the county has ever seen, which will take a while to plan.” He pulled her back into his arms. It felt too good to pull out of his warmth, so she stood there with his arms wrapped around her, looking off at the star-filled sky, listening to the music stream out of the building behind them.

Chapter Ten