Texas fury (8 page)

Sawyer sipped at her wine. "If I drink any more of this stuff, I'll have a good buzz on." She tried for a light tone. "Who's driving?"

"I am, and I'll get you home in one piece. And it won't be the first time I've had to sober you up."

{44}

"That's unkind, little brother. Circumstances ..." she let her voice trail off.

"I think she's stringing Riley along. I also think she talked him into picking up her father's oil leases."

Sawyer's face set into hard lines. "If he did, that's his problem now, isn't it? Riley's all grown up and has to take responsibility for his actions. He's not as fast track as you, but he's got to learn how not to be taken. If that's what's happen-ing.

"Aren't you being kind of hard on him?"

"Ah, to your cousin's defense. I like that, Cole. I can't get used to the idea that Riley would pick up your leftovers. I'm sure he was flattered when she came on to him, but engaged .. .Come on!"

"It's none of our business," Cole said flatly.

"Was it your business when she came on to you this evening? I wasn't spying, but I couldn't help overhearing."

"Then you know my response. It's over. I'd never do anything to offend Riley. We trust each other."

"Then somebody should tell Lacey before Riley gets downwind of his intended's intentions."

"I already did."

"Let's change the subject. Did you see the look on Thad's face when that Saudi sheik asked Grand to dance?"

Cole hooted."Yeah, but the look on Grandmam's face was what got me. It was the first time I've ever seen her at a loss. Dancing with a guy in a dress!"

"Robe. He was doing some serious talking to Mr. Hase-gawa. Thad said he ordered thirty million microchips. Just like that. We're in the wrong business, little brother."

Cole wanted to tell her she was right, in regard to himself, but he kept quiet. He wished he had more of Sawyer's blase attitude toward life.

"Well, I'm off to the ladies' room to powder my nose, providing I can find it. Hold down the table," Sawyer said.

"Don't fall in," Cole cracked.

"I'm not drunk, not even close to it. I feel good. Any time you want to talk some more, I'll listen. I've known for a long time that something's bothering you, and it isn't the Lacey thing, either."

Cole's face was serious. "I'll keep it in mind. Go on, before you wet your pants."

Sawyer squawked. "How—"

{45}

"Because you're hopping from one foot to the other. If you don't think you can find the ladies' room, I can show you where it is."

Cole laughed when Sawyer wobbled off. When she came back her hair would be combed, she'd have on fresh lipstick, and there would be a serious expression on her face, and she'd look every inch the professional aeronautical engineer that she was. His sister. And he loved her.

Tess Buckalew fought her way across the crowded room, jabbing and poking with her bony elbows. She had to find Lacey. She'd just heard one of the photographers say they wanted pictures of the family. Lacey was soon to be family, and if Lacey was family, so was she. She could already see her picture on the front page of the Crystal City Times, standing or sitting next to the Coleman family. When she'd told Coots to head toward the Coleman table, he'd disappeared. Maybe it was just as well. He looked like he'd been rode hard and put up wet. Drink did that to Coots.

"Lacey honey, there you are." Tess made her way to Lacey and Riley a few steps away, champagne goblet in hand. "The photographers sent me to fetch you two. They want to take some pictures of the family," she said. Riley groaned as she grabbed their glasses and set them on the nearest table.

"Come on, Riley. Mama wants to have her picture taken. Don't you want to see yourself on the front page tomorrow?"

"Not really. I must have posed a hundred times today."

"That many?" Tess cried in dismay. That meant they'd sift through the best for the front page. Her spirits drooped, then brightened. Surely, though, the last picture of the evening would be the one they'd choose.

"Stay behind me and I'll plow through," Riley grumbled.

"Mama, where's Ivy? I haven't seen her all night."

"She went home," Tess said curtly.

Riley stopped and turned. "Why? Why did Ivy go home?"

"For heaven's sake, Riley, I don't know," Tess shrilled. "I suppose because no one paid attention to her. You know Ivy; she has two hundred reasons why she does things."

"How did she get home?" Lacey demanded.

Riley stood rooted to the floor. "I promised to dance with her."

"Riley Coleman, you can dance with her at your wedding.

{46}

Move along, now. I can see the photographers from here and they look impatient."

"You don't suppose she walked home, do you, Lacey?"

"It would be just like her. Or else she hitched a ride. Ivy is very self-sufficient. Don't worry about her."

"Someone should—it's freezing outside," Riley said curtly.

As soon as he reached the table, Riley stepped over to Thad. "Thad, have you seen Ivy?"

"Not for a long time. Why? Is something wrong?"

"Probably not."

"I saw her talking to your grandfather," Cole volunteered. "I think he arranged for one of the Saudis to take her home. Check with him—but first, smile pretty, we're news tonight."

Riley fixed his face into a grimace. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Tess Buckalew push Lacey next to Sawyer. It annoyed him, but what annoyed him more was the look on Lacey's face as she stared across at Cole.

The moment the photographers departed, Riley sought out his grandfather. "Did you arrange for Ivy to get home, Grandfather?"

The old man nodded. "I offered to go with her, but she declined. She's a remarkable young woman. She says what she thinks. Very down-to-earth. A pity there is no one to show approval."

"She is outspoken," Riley agreed. "What did she say?"

"She said"—the old man pursed his lips into a round O—"that this affair... sucked." Riley burst out laughing. "It was obvious to me that you hurt her feelings by promising to dance with her and then ..."

So he was to be charged with neglect on top of everything else. "I'll make it up to her. Ivy and I have been friends for a long time."

"No, my grandson, this you cannot make up for. The slight was too real to Miss Ivy."

Riley swallowed past the lump in his throat. "I'll still try. Tell me, Grandfather, how do you like Lacey? Doesn't she look beautiful?"

The old Japanese was quiet for so long, Riley thought he'd dozed off. "My preference," he said quietly, "runs to ugly ducklings."

Riley winced. Then anger shot through him. "You barely know Lacey."

{47}

"I was going to say the same thing to you, my grandson. What looks beautiful on the outside isn't always beautiful on the inside. One doesn't have to live many years to know this simple truth." The old man rose with difficulty. "Thad is trying to gain my attention," he said. "I must leave with them."

"I'll see you back at the house, Grandfather. I have to take Lacey home."

"Say good night for me," the old man said softly.

Riley watched his grandfather make his way around the table. He didn't approve. Somehow he'd known he wouldn't. None of the family approved. Jesus, what had he gotten himself into?

Cary and Amelia walked around the empty ballroom. "What do you think, babe? Was this a party to end all parties?"

"That about sums it up. All I want to do is go upstairs and take off my shoes."

"Everyone had a good time. I don't know about you, but I think those Saudis made the night. When they came trooping in, all eyes were on them. And when Billie danced with one of them, I couldn't believe it. That's the picture that's going on the front page. You wait and see."

Amelia yawned. "I wouldn't be surprised. I'm just grateful we don't have to clean up this mess." She looked at her watch. "It's two minutes after twelve. It's history now. Don't look so forlorn, darling. There will be other projects for you to work on. You deserve a rest."

Cary swept his wife into his arms. "Tonight, my darling, you get a free ride, and I'm going to carry you over the threshold. Hang on!"

Amelia squealed with delight. A perfect ending to a perfect evening.

{48}

UiUiiU CHAPTER THREE ))»))}»

The overpowering stretch limo pulled into the long drive of Buckalew Big Wells. Ivy didn't wait for the turbaned driver to step out and open her door. She scrambled out and muttered a breathless "Thanks." The driver frowned. The young lady was supposed to wait. These Americans, they were all so impatient. He bowed low and offered his arm to escort her to the door. Ivy giggled and then sobered when she saw a look of horror spread across the man's face at the sight of the reindeer on top of the roof.

Ivy was mortified. "It's... it's an advertisement. This is fine; you don't have to walk me any further. I can manage from here on. Listen, would you mind... What I mean is, oh hell, what do you guys wear under all those white sheets?"

The driver grinned, his teeth as white as the turban on his head. "As little as possible."

"Uh huh, that's kind of what I thought. Thank you for driving me home. I really appreciate it. I know you must want to get back to the party and all...."

"Yes, the party. I will sit in the car and wait. You are the wise one to leave so early. It sounded like a... rousing party."

"It was rousing all right. Thanks again."

Ivy grinned in the darkness when she saw the driver glance back over his shoulder at the garish Christmas display on the roof. She laughed aloud when she saw him shake his head in disbelief.

Ivy closed her bedroom door and stripped off the ugly brown dress, a defiant purchase made years ago to annoy her mother. It had backfired, though, when Tess said, "It suits you."

Snug in a beautifully tailored mauve robe with satin piping down the front, a Christmas gift last year from Lacey, she settled herself in a chair by her bedroom window. She stared into the black, cold night waiting for the first sight of Riley and Lacey's return.

{49}

She'd been so sure Riley would ask her to dance. She'd boned up on the latest steps so she wouldn't appear awkward and nervous in his arms. Not only didn't he dance with her, he didn't come near her all evening. Three times she'd fought her way to the banquet table, and then to the bar when she saw Riley heading that way, but she'd been stonewalled by the crowds. The highlight of the evening was her dance with Cole, and their serious conversation, and her meeting with Riley's grandfather. She loved the old Japanese on sight.

Damn Riley Coleman!

The evening wasn't a total loss. Shadaharu Hasegawa had liked her, she could tell. She'd made him laugh aloud and she'd made him smile and she'd made him talk. When he arranged for her to get home, he'd patted her on the head and then clasped both her hands in his frail ones. "We have something in common, little one: my grandson." She'd blushed furiously and the old man had pretended not to notice.

Ivy hated formal, stiff good-byes, so she threw her arms around the old man and kissed him soundly on the cheek. He'd beamed his pleasure while, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lacey glaring at her. "Thank you," she'd said, "for making this evening bearable. I really enjoyed our talk. Have a safe trip home. If I ever get to Japan, I'll look you up," she'd said breezily, to cover her awareness of the old man's condition.

And that was the end of her evening.

Ivy dozed but jerked awake at the sound of the Bronco's engine and the headlights arcing onto her bedroom wall. She peered out but couldn't see a thing beyond Riley's high-beam lights. What had she expected? Absolutely nothing. What she wished was for Riley to jump out of the Bronco, minus Lacey, and have him throw a pebble at her window. Real Romeo and Juliet stuff.

Ivy dropped to her knees, something she did every night before sleep. She offered up several prayers and then asked the same thing she asked for every night: "Please God, don't let me hate Mama and Lacey, and if you can, make them stop hating me. I work so hard, God, trying to be nice to them, but I always get whacked in the face. I can't turn the other cheek anymore. I know You must have a reason for making me hurt like this, and it would help if I knew what it is. Bless them all, and if You can fit Riley into my scheme of things, I'd really appreciate it. Sometimes, God, you just know certain things,

{50}

and I know I'm meant for Riley Coleman. He doesn't know that yet, so if You could intercede a little on my behalf, I can do the rest. And while you're working at that, try to make Lacey happy, but not at Riley's expense. If You decide to help, that is."

Lacey Buckalew was annoyed, though she tried not to show it. Riding in a Ford Bronco while wearing a Fisher mink wasn't her idea of class. That was for starters. Riley wasn't with her mentally, which probably meant he was ticked off because she'd been talking to Cole. Her mother had been on her back all evening to make more of a show of togetherness with Riley. Her father had managed to get a gibe in twice during the course of the evening. Then the business with Ivy. Leave it to Ivy to screw things up! It was amazing the way Riley had come to Ivy's defense, but then, he'd always had a soft spot for her.

She'd been dating Riley now for almost seven months. Her parents expected an engagement announcement over the holidays. She'd pressured Riley, backed him into a corner, aware instinctively that his honor would be in question if he didn't come through. Not that he'd gone to bed with her. It was another kind of honor, something she sensed but didn't fully understand. She doubted if Riley understood it himself. When she asked him if he was going to give her an engagement ring, he'd blinked and said, "Is that what you want?" She'd nodded, even though that wasn't what she wanted at all.

What she wanted was an engagement ring from Cole. Just hours ago Cole had told her to get away from him, not to make a fool out of both of them. He'd hissed the words through clenched teeth. She wondered now if any of the other guests had been aware of her flaming cheeks and her shame. And his final insult as she was trying to gather her dignity: "You'll do anything to get into this family, won't you?" Somehow or other she'd managed to smile because her mother was looking at her and the message was clear: Cole Tanner was not in the best interests of the Buckalews; Riley was.