On The Texas Border (13 page)

“What woman?” Abby asked.

“A prissy thing who thought she was better than the Mexican girls.”

“What was her name?”

Delores shrugged. “Don’t remember her name. It’s been too long.”

Abby laid her palms on the table and leaned in
close to Delores’s worn face. “How would you like to make ten times that amount?” She gestured to the hundred in Delores’s hand.

Delores’s eyes widened.
“Sì, señorita.”

“You come to Texas and tell this story to Mr. Brewster, and I’ll give you a thousand dollars.”

Delores frowned.

“You have a Green Card to go into Texas, don’t you?”

“
Sì,
I’ve worked in Texas.”

“All you have to do is tell Mr. Brewster your story, and I will handle it from there.”

“I don’t want trouble. Someone paid Rios to keep you from me. That means trouble.”

“When I get back to Texas, I’ll find out who paid Rios, everything will be out in the open and you’ll be a thousand dollars richer.” Abby glanced around the seedy room. “That beats twenty dollars a night here, doesn’t it?”

“Sì.”

“All I want is the truth from Mr. Brewster, and I can get it with your help. Please, Delores.”

Delores eyes darkened as she thought it over. “How do I know you’ll pay me?”

Abby reached into her pockets and drew out a handful of twenties. She laid five in front of Delores. “You come to Texas, and I’ll give you the rest.”

“
Sì,
I’ll come.” Delores made up her mind.

Abby let out a long breath and straightened. “Nine o’clock tomorrow morning at the Brewster mansion.”

“
Sì, señorita,
I be there.”

Jonas stepped closer. “And if you don’t show, Delores, I’ll come looking for you.”

Delores’s smile broadened. “I might like that,
gringo.
”

“No, you won’t,” Jonas assured her. “You just be there.”

With that, Abby and Jonas walked out of the bar. The town was coming alive. Vendors and patrons were spilling everywhere. Jonas and Abby didn’t speak. There was too much noise and activity. Through the turmoil in her head, Abby thought of the old lady who’d sold her the jacket, then realized she didn’t have it. She stopped in her tracks and faced Jonas.

“I dropped my jacket when those men accosted us.”

“We can’t go back,” he said practically. “We have to get out of here.”

“I know.” She sighed. “But I loved that jacket.”

“Maybe we’ll see the lady again and buy another one.”

They didn’t. The old woman was nowhere in sight.

Soon they spotted the international bridge, and Abby forgot about the jacket. She was eager to set foot on Texas soil. They paid the toll and went through Customs without a problem. Within minutes they were at Jonas’s truck. Abby breathed deeply and looked around. The flat landscape was basically the same—mesquite, cactus, fields of crops, and several fruit and vegetable stands. But this was home, and she felt safe. Still, she couldn’t shake an eerie feeling of foreboding.

Jonas paid the man in the booth and they got into the truck. They sat for a few moments in silence.

“Jonas, I don’t understand any of this.”

He glanced at her. “I don’t, either, but Brewster
is up to something. I knew that from the start. He took an interest in you too quickly, seeking you out to write his memoirs almost as if he was taunting you.” He paused. “And why did he want you to hear Delores’s story? He knew what she was going to say. What does this have to do with your father?”

“Nothing. Maybe he’s just playing a game like you said, getting a kick out of seeing me run through hoops to get the truth, which he had no intention of giving me. I wish I had realized that a couple of days ago.”

Jonas started the engine. “This isn’t over, Abby. Brewster may think he’s won, but he’s in for a surprise.”

“What do you mean?”

“If he’s toying with you out of spite, I’m walking away…something I probably should have done years ago.”

“Do you mean that?” She couldn’t keep the shock out of her voice.

“Of course, I mean it,” Jonas replied. “I’ve put up with a lot from Brewster, but I’m not putting up with his hurting you for no reason.”

Abby wanted to snuggle against him, but she knew the time wasn’t right. Still, they were making progress, and soon she’d be able to tell him how she felt. She consoled herself with that thought as they drove toward her house.

Jonas parked at the curb and switched off the engine. “I don’t know about you, but I need a shower and some clean clothes.”

She smiled. “That’s my number one priority.” Her face sobered. “Do you think Delores will show tomorrow?”

“We’ll have to wait and see.”

“I suppose,” she mumbled, knowing there was nothing she could do now but wait. Her eyes caught his. “Thank you, Jonas.”

That special grin lifted his lips. “Why don’t you come over here and say that?”

He didn’t have to ask her twice. She moved to his side, her eyes never leaving his. “Thank—”

He smothered the words against her lips, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, giving herself up to his kiss. She ran her hands through his sun-bleached hair and realized he didn’t have his hat on. He’d lost it, too. The thought was only momentary, as urgent desires swamped her. His lips moved over hers with an expertise that left her aching for more.

His mouth trailed to her neck and warmth suffused her entire body. All she wanted was Jonas. “My mother’s at work. We could take that shower together,” she whispered without shame.

“Abby,” he groaned, kissing her nose, her cheek.

“Don’t say no,” she begged.

“I’m not, but I…” He stopped, and she brought her eyes to his. “Isn’t that your mother’s car?” He was staring toward the garage, and Abby could see the back of a car.

“Yes, it is,” she admitted with a groan. She sagged against him. “She probably took off from work because she’s worried about me. I’m sorry, I’ve got to go, but we’ll finished this another place, another time.”

Before she got out, he said, “Wait,” and handed her her purse. Then he added, “My place tomorrow night, and I’ll have lots of hot water.”

“I’ll be there.”

W
HEN
A
BBY ENTERED
the house, silence greeted her, and she thought that maybe her mother had ridden to school with someone else. Then Gail appeared from the kitchen, a concerned frown on her face. A pang of guilt hit Abby. Her mother obviously had been sitting here worrying ever since Abby left.

“Sweetheart, you’re back,” Gail cried, and ran across the room to envelope Abby in a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

Abby drew back. “Why aren’t you at school, Mom?”

“School?” Gail shook her head. “I couldn’t concentrate with you gone on this ridiculous trip so I took a couple of days off. I wanted to be here when you returned. I was so scared.” As she talked, she scowled at Abby’s appearance. “Why are you so dirty?”

“It’s a long story, and I’ll explain later. Right now, I want a bath and some food.”

“Okay,” Gail said. “You get cleaned up, and I’ll fix us something to eat. Then we’ll talk.”

Abby was glad of this reprieve to get her thoughts together. If she had to hear another
I told you so,
she wanted to be clean and fed. She stripped off her clothes and turned on the tap. As she waited for the tub to fill, she noticed several bruises on her body.
Lesson learned,
she thought, and slipped into the hot water. Oh, it felt like heaven. There was just one thing missing…Jonas. How she wished he was here, massaging her aching body. Then she’d massage his and… Damn, her racy thoughts were fogging up the room. That was the way she felt about him, though—hot, eager and excited.

She reached for the shampoo and washed the dirt
out of her hair. Her thoughts veered in another direction. If Delores showed up—and Abby knew that was a big if—how would Mr. Brewster react to being caught in a lie? Would he admit to pulling a hoax? No, he probably wouldn’t, she decided. He’d try to turn it to his advantage. However, she wasn’t taking any more from him. If she didn’t get the answers she wanted, she’d leave…as she should have done when he’d first mentioned his fictitious daughter. Admitting defeat wasn’t easy, but tomorrow Mr. Brewster might get a taste of his own medicine.

Abby crossed her fingers and whispered, “Please, Delores, don’t let me down.”

She quickly dried herself, slipped on a white terry-cloth robe and headed for the kitchen. Her mother had the table set, and Abby couldn’t believe her eyes. Gail had prepared a full meal of meat loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans and salad.

“When did you do all this?” Abby asked as she took a seat.

“This morning,” Gail replied. “I had to keep busy. When you didn’t come back last night, I couldn’t sleep, so I planned a meal. I made peach cobbler for dessert.”

Abby picked up her napkin and placed it in her lap. “I’m sorry you were worried.”

Gail brought iced tea to the table and sat down. “That’s a mother’s job.”

“But Mom—”

“Eat, Abby, then we’ll talk.”

Abby did exactly that. She couldn’t ever remember being this hungry, and for a while, not a word was spoken. As she ate, she thought of Jonas.

“I wish I had known you had all this food cooked. I would have invited Jonas in.”

“I’m sure Jonas is more comfortable going back to…”

“To where?”

“Abby, I don’t want to argue.”

“Then, don’t say anything disparaging. Jonas doesn’t deserve it.”

Gail pushed the food around on her plate with a fork, but she didn’t say anything. Abby was grateful. She didn’t want to get into an argument about Jonas so soon. There would be plenty of time later for her and Gail to talk.

“Did you find Delores Alvarez?” Gail enquired quietly.

“Yes, after a long ordeal, we did,” Abby answered, and went on to tell her mother what had happened.

“Oh my God, Abby, you could have been killed,” Gail muttered in shock, her face a grayish white.

Abby patted her hand. “I’m fine, Mom, so don’t get hysterical.”

“I get so angry when I think of what Brewster has done to my family.”

“Me, too, but Jonas and I are hoping that tomorrow Mr. Brewster will tell us what this whole thing is about.”

“He’s an evil old man,” Gail said, gathering dishes and carrying them to the sink. “I wouldn’t believe a word he says.”

“I want to know why he sent us on a wild-goose chase, and if he had anything to do with paying Rios to keep us away from Delores.”

“It’s all too horrible to think about.” As Gail
picked up more dishes, Abby noticed her hands were trembling.

“Mom, I’m fine, really,” she tried to reassure her.

Gail sank into her chair. “He’s playing with your life the way he played with Abe’s.” Her eyes met Abby’s. “I wish you’d go back to Dallas and your job and forget about Brewster. Then, he couldn’t hurt you.”

“I can’t do that.” She tried to make her mom understand. “I started this and now I have to finish it.”

“Why do you have to be so headstrong?”

“Because that’s the way I am.”

“Yes, you’ve always been that way. Once you got something in your head, I could never change your mind.”

“I have a head like cement.”

Gail frowned. “What?”

“Jonas said I have a head like cement.”

Gail fiddled with her napkin. “You and Jonas seem to have gotten very close.”

“Yes, we have,” Abby said without hesitation.

“I know it’s useless to tell you to be careful, because you’ll do exactly what you want…as you did with—”

“As I did with Kyle?” she asked shortly.

“I don’t want to discuss that.”

“Then, why are you always alluding to my marriage?”

Gail didn’t say anything, and Abby went on. “My marriage is over—accept it. And I wish you’d give yourself a chance to know Jonas. He’s more of a man than Kyle will ever be. He will never degrade or hit me. He’s loyal, dedicated and responsible.”

Gail jumped to her feet. “This isn’t about Kyle or Jonas,” she shouted. “It’s about Brewster and the hold he has over us. I want him gone—completely out of our lives.”

Gail was visibly trembling again, and Abby got up and put her arms around her. “After tomorrow, we never have to see him again.”

“Are you sure?” Gail brushed away a tear.

“Yes. If Delores shows up, we can get this whole thing straightened away. Then I’ll tell him what I think of him.”

“What about your father?”

Abby took a breath. “Mr. Brewster just used him as bait. I’ve accepted that he’s not going to tell me a thing.”

“And the letter?”

“I don’t know. Earl said it was authentic, but he wasn’t allowed to read all of it, so it’s probably another lie.”

“Then, why do you have to see Brewster tomorrow? Don’t give him any more satisfaction.”

“Because I plan to meet Delores at the mansion in the morning. And because I’m curious. I’m sure Brewster has all his bases covered, but it will give
me
some satisfaction.”

“Why would Delores come here?” Gail asked skeptically.

“Because I offered to pay her.”

“Oh, Abby, she’ll say anything for money.”

“I’m just paying her to tell Brewster that she didn’t have his child—that’s all.”

“I wish this was over,” Gail said, and started with the dishes again.

As Abby helped her mother, she remembered
something Delores had said. “Mom, do you remember any women that worked for Brewster thirty years ago?”

“No, why?” Gail wrapped the meat loaf and put it in the refrigerator.

“Delores said he had an affair with some woman who worked in his office.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. She didn’t know the woman’s name, but I thought you might.”

Gail shook her head. “No, I can’t recall anyone, and I wouldn’t put too much faith in what Delores Alvarez says.”

“I guess, but Jonas can check the employment records. That should tell us something.”

“You’re doing it again,” Gail said.

“What?”

“Getting caught up in Brewster’s lies.”

Abby opened the dishwasher and began to put the dishes inside. Maybe she was, but she couldn’t help herself. There were so many unanswered questions. Abby had told her mother that after tomorrow, she’d let it go. Now she was wondering if she’d be able to keep that promise.