The Reluctant Cowgirl (15 page)

Her cell phone chimed in the sewing room and, still clutching the Bible, she hurried to answer it, relieved to leave her uncomfortable thoughts. “Hello?”

“Crystal, it’s Mia. Honey, I have fantastic news. That new Broadway play we heard was opening?
Sisters?
You’ve got a private audition for a supporting role.”

Crystal’s legs went weak and she sank to the bed. “Really?”

“No, I’m kidding. Of course really. You audition first thing Monday morning. They faxed over the information, and I need you here early tomorrow to meet with the audition coach I’ve lined up.”

“Tomorrow?” Her mind raced. She could eat lunch with Jeremy and his family right after church then rush to the airport...

“Call the airport and get booked on the first flight out in the morning. I want you well rested for this audition.”

Crystal considered arguing, but she knew Mia was right. She sighed. This opportunity was too important for her to give a less-than-peak performance. “Okay. See you tomorrow.”

She slipped the Bible into her overnight satchel and turned to the dresser. Apparently, she’d been a little premature in her unpacking.

“So you’ll call me and tell me what time to pick you up Tuesday?” Luke handed her the overnight bag and glanced around the busy terminal.

“Yes. Or I can get a rental car if you’re working.”

“Elyse or I will pick you up. And don’t worry about the ranch. I’ll get Slim and the boys started in the morning and go into work a little late.” He grinned. “I can do that since I’m the boss.”

Crystal smiled, but she knew the truth was that he worked harder and longer hours than his crew. “Right.” She hugged him and watched him walk away then got into the ticket line. She glanced at her phone: 7:30a.m. She’d put off this call as long as she could.

She pulled up Jeremy’s number and hit SEND.

She could hear the happiness in his voice when he answered.

“Hi,” she said softly. “I’m sorry to call at the last minute, but something’s come up. I won’t be able to eat lunch at your mom’s.”

“What’s wrong?” The concern in his tone tugged at her heart. “Anything I can help with?”

She shook her head even though he couldn’t see her. Nothing he could help with. “No. I just have to fly back to New York for a couple of days to take care of something.” She’d decided not to advertise the fact that she had an audition until she knew something for sure. It was just easier that way. “So I’m at the airport.”

He didn’t speak and she pulled the phone away from her face and looked at the screen to be sure the connection wasn’t broken.

“You’re at the airport right now?” He sounded bewildered.

“When I found out last night it was too late to call you. Would you tell your mom I’m sorry?”

“Sure.” Was it her imagination or was his tone cooler? “I’ll tell her.”

“Thanks, Jeremy. I really am sorry.”

“No problem. Have a safe flight.”

She disconnected, and an uneasiness crept into her bones. Maybe she should have told him why she was going back to New York. Or maybe that would have made things worse.

“Where’s Miss Crystal?”

Jeremy froze in the act of passing the green bean casserole to his mother. He’d hoped Beka wouldn’t even notice that she wasn’t here, or at least wouldn’t be curious enough to ask about her.

“Crystal had to go out of town today. For work.” As soon as he said the words, he realized that he really had no idea if it was for work. The trip could be purely personal. Maybe Brad had talked her into giving him a second chance. He winced. Some thoughts were better left unthought.

“Oh...” Beka picked at her broccoli. “Like Mommy.”

Jeremy’s breath whooshed out of him. He wanted to protest that Crystal’s trip, whatever the reason of it, was nothing like Lindsey’s disappearances. But he picked up the basket of garlic cheese toast instead. “Here, honey, have some toast.”

Beka wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like that.”

“Yes, you do. It’s your favorite.” Which was precisely why his mom had fixed it, even though they had a whole kitchen full of food, already prepared.

Beka shook her head. “Nuh-uh.” She stuck her bottom lip out slightly. “It stinks.”

Jeremy set the basket down and fought to get past the surge of anger at Lindsey. Even the simple things weren’t simple anymore. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up into compassion-filled eyes.

“It’s just going to take a while,” his dad murmured.

Jeremy nodded. With his head, he knew that. But patience had never been his strong suit. So with his heart, he wanted everything to be back to normal. Now.

His mom and dad engaged Beka in conversation and he just concentrated on getting through the meal, listening to her chatter with one ear.

He should be thankful that she was as unchanged as she was. And he was. He knew enough about kids to know that even if she’d lived with him for the last ten months, she could have easily changed her preference for garlic cheese toast.

When they were finished, he pushed back from the table.

“Is Mommy coming today?” Beka asked as she climbed down from her chair.

His mom gasped then covered it with a cough.

“No. No, she’s not, honey.” Jeremy stood and put his hand on Beka’s head, lightly ruffling her hair. “Let’s go in the living room and talk for a minute.”

Beka skipped ahead of him into the living room and clambered up onto the couch.

He sank down beside her, praying silently for the right words. “Do you remember Ralphie?”

The barn cat had been a fixture on the farm when they’d bought it. Last year, right before Lindsey had taken Beka, Ralphie had gone off to another farm exploring and apparently gotten into some rat poison. Beka bobbed her head up and down. “Um-hum. He died.”

Jeremy nodded. “And we were sad.”

Beka twisted around and looked up at him. “I cried.”

“And that’s normal. Because when animals or people die, we’re sad.”

Beka’s eyes were wide as if she knew what he was going to say. “The lady on the TV said Mommy died.”

Jeremy sucked in his breath, shaken that she’d heard that and not said anything. He put his arm around her. “That’s right. She did.”

Beka rubbed her eye with her fist and sniffed. “So I won’t see her anymore?”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry, honey. But it’s okay to be sad.” He pulled her onto his lap and she didn’t resist.

She buried her head in his shirt and cried.

He stroked her hair and looked up at his parents standing in the doorway. His mom wiped at her eyes and disappeared into the kitchen. His dad followed her.

“Why don’t we pray about it?” Jeremy whispered.

“Amanda says...” Beka stopped to choke out a shuddering sob. “That God cares when we’re sad.”

“She’s right.” Not for the first time, Jeremy thanked God silently for Amanda. “Amanda’s pretty smart.”

He held Beka tight and prayed aloud for peace and comfort for her. When he finished, she climbed off his lap and pulled some books from the wicker basket at the end of his mom’s couch. She held them out to him. “Read me a story?”

He nodded and took the books, a grin teasing the corner of his mouth as he saw the title of the top one.
Sleeping Beauty.
“I’d love to.” She reclaimed her place on his lap and snuggled against him.

After the third book, Beka wandered into the kitchen to help her grandma make some cookies. He pulled out his phone. No missed calls. No text messages.

He opened Crystal’s last message.
SWEET DREAMS.
Should he text her to be sure she made it safely to New York? It was odd knowing he wouldn’t be seeing her for the next couple of days. Unsettlingly odd.

He flipped his phone shut. When he saw Crystal by the river that first day, he’d known she was a complication waiting to happen. And now he couldn’t quit thinking about her. Somehow the fact that he’d been right gave him no satisfaction at all.

“So y’all are really getting married?” Crystal tucked the sheet under the couch cushion and stared at Tina, unsure the Texan wasn’t pulling her leg.

“Unless I chicken out.” Tina smoothed out the sheet on the other end and spread a blanket across it. She picked up a pillow and tossed it to Crystal. “When this temp job ends in a couple weeks, we’re supposed to fly down to Texas and tie the knot.” She smiled. “Too bad we’re not taking the bike. We could buzz by Arkansas and see your ranch.”

“I’d love that.” Crystal laid the pillow on the couch and sank down beside it. “I’m so happy for you.”

Tina sat down in the small armchair. “Me, too. God has really blessed us. So how did it go with the audition coach today?”

Crystal moaned. “It went fine, but I’m so tired I can’t wiggle. When I think about Mia saying she wanted me to come today so I could be rested for the audition, I feel like laughing. Or I would if I had any energy.”

“Poor you.” Tina motioned toward the couch. “It’s fun having you sleep over.”

“Thanks, but I’m a little worried about coming back in three weeks. I don’t know how long it’ll take me to find a place.”

Tina frowned. “I said it’s
fun
having you. What part of that didn’t you understand?”

Crystal sighed. “But will you still feel that way when you swap your roommates for Zee? I can’t really see me bunking with newlyweds.”

“Get real, girl. We’ll have a couch just the same as I do now. You’ll be welcome to stay with us for as long as you want. And if we’re in Texas when you come back, you can stay at Zee’s until we get back.”

“A place to myself in New York.” Crystal pretended to swoon. “Maybe you could just extend your honeymoon a little bit.”

“Very funny. Other than being tired, are you excited about the audition tomorrow?”

Crystal picked at the blanket. “Sure.”

“Uh-oh. What’s wrong? Did you fall in love with a cowboy while you were in Arkansas?”

Even as Crystal shook her head, she felt her face burn. “Nothing’s wrong.”

Tina squealed and scooted closer. “Ohh ... tell me about him.”

“There’s nothing to tell.” Crystal could see from Tina’s animated expression that her protests were useless. “I’m not in love with him.” She thought about their kiss yesterday in the kitchen. Was there any way that could have been just a thank-you? In as few words as possible, she told Tina about Jeremy, ending with his daughter’s coming home.

Tina ran her hands through her pink highlights and collapsed back against the armchair. “Wow. You’ve been busy since you left the city.”

“Hey, I’m not the one getting married.”

“Not yet.”

Crystal shivered and pulled the blanket up around her arms. “Not for a long time to come. Right now, I’ve got one thing on my mind.” Her heart beat faster as she thought about the audition and all the implications of the outcome—good or bad. “Broadway.”

Tina pushed to her feet. “I’m going to go to bed and let you get some rest.” She bent down and hugged Crystal. “See you in the morning.”

“Night, Tina. Thanks again for letting me stay.”

When Tina was gone, Crystal stretched out on the couch and listened to the city noises. Honking horns, motors zooming by, the occasional trill of laughter, and from somewhere close, probably the club the next block up, she could hear the faint sounds of reggae. The city didn’t sleep. It just moved from morning to night. Daytime folks gave way to nighttime folks and the cycle moved on.

Amazing how quickly she’d gotten used to the quietness of the ranch. She used to think she couldn’t sleep without tires squealing, horns honking, and basses thumping. But she’d learned to.

She stared at the dark room. She’d learned to get used to talking to Jeremy Buchanan every day, too.

Some things she was just going to have to unlearn.

Crystal had been to Broadway auditions before, but they’d been open auditions—mile-long lines and a very short time to impress. This was a definite step up from those cattle calls—a private audition for a supporting role. Apparently the director was close friends with Herman Lowder, the writer and producer of
Making a Splash.
He’d caught a showing and been impressed with Crystal’s performance. So when Mia contacted him about an audition, doors had opened.

The play focused on four sisters, and Crystal was auditioning for the part of the best friend of one of the sisters. Not the lead, but a lot of stage time. On Broadway.

It was a start. And if she was lucky enough to be offered the role, she’d definitely take it. But first she had to get that far.

She was supposed to be reading a scene with her friend, the sister. The burly bored-looking man holding the script didn’t look like anyone’s sister. Crystal groaned inwardly when she saw him.

When they were in high school, Cami had read in one of the acting magazines that she subscribed to that the worst thing you could do was to assume that your reading partner in an audition cared whether you got the part or not. The two of them had practiced together, one of them reading in a flat, distracted monotone while the other one auditioned.

For years, Crystal had counted on that early experience in situations like this. She tried her best to view the burly man as her friend and respond accordingly, but the director kept stopping her and asking her to try it again a different way. She almost got the feeling that she was a disposable experiment in figuring out what they wanted the role to be like. When she finished, the casting committee gave her a polite thank-you and no emotional response whatsoever.

She smiled and thanked them profusely for allowing her to audition, but her feet felt like lead as she trudged toward the exit. What a waste of time and money.

As she pushed the glass door open, she called Mia.

“How’d it go?” Excitement bubbled in her agent’s voice.

Crystal stepped out into the bright spring sunshine and hurried down the sidewalk to the subway station. “Awful.”

“Oh no. What happened?”

“I think I was too bubbly ... or too subdued ... or too
something
for the part. They had me do it a hundred ways.”

“So they were just using you to figure out what they were looking for.”

Crystal ducked her head and watched her feet as she walked. “Yep.”

“Crys, I’m sorry.” She could hear the genuine sympathy in Mia’s voice and it did make her feel some better. “That’s no reflection on you as an actress. The play’s not supposed to open until July. Apparently they’re still in the preliminary stages of auditioning.”

“I know. And there’ll be other auditions...” Or would there? Even as tired as she was, she’d read a little in her Bible last night. Maybe God had decided that Broadway wasn’t for her. “Probably.”

“Probably?” Mia sounded panicked. “There’s no probably. There
will
be other auditions. Other
Broadway
auditions. Just hurry home and I’ll show you.”

Hurry home? That’s what she wanted to do right now. But she knew Mia meant hurry back to New York. “Okay.”

“Listen, why don’t you let me take you out to dinner?”

“Thanks, but I can’t. I have an early flight back to Arkansas in the morning.” The aroma of freshly cooked hotdogs wafted to her, drawing her over to the rolling cart. Crystal shifted her phone to the other hand and fished some dollar bills from her pocket. “Talk to you later.”

As soon as she hung up, she ordered a hot dog from the vendor. Some moments called for comfort food. And this was definitely one of them.

Dog in hand, she made her way to a bench and took a big bite. When she and her brothers and sisters were in junior high, they used to have wiener roasts down by the river. In all the years she’d lived in New York, she’d never had a hot dog that compared to those. But that didn’t stop her from trying one about four times a year.

She took another bite.
Wonder if Beka and Jeremy would like to have a wiener roast?
When the dogs were gone, they could bring out the marshmallows.

She glanced over at the vendor. Maybe she should tell him that’s what he was missing—roasted marshmallows. He’d probably think she was crazy. And if this sudden longing to see Jeremy again was any indication, he might be right.

“Luke McCord here.”

Jeremy smiled in the rearview mirror at Beka and spoke into his cell. “Hey, man, it’s Jeremy. Beka and I are on our way to Memphis today to get her things from Amanda’s. I wondered if you needed me to pick up anything for y’all while I’m in town.”

“You have perfect timing.”

“Great. I can haul whatever you need in the bed of the truck. What do you need me to get?”

Luke laughed. “My little sister. But I won’t tell her you were going to throw her in the back. Seriously, though, you could save me a trip and pick Crystal up at the airport. Her flight should land in about four hours. I was just about to leave to go get her.”

“So she’s in the air now?”

“Yep.”

Jeremy considered the fact that Luke wouldn’t be able to make sure it was okay with Crystal for him to pick her up. He hated to force himself on her. On the other hand, the thought of seeing her in a few hours made it worth taking a chance on her being unhappy with the chauffeur switch. “We’ll be there when she lands, then. Do you have the flight info?”

Luke told him which baggage claims conveyor belt they were supposed to meet at. “Thanks a lot. She wanted to rent a car. I told her I didn’t mind driving to Memphis. Still don’t, but no sense in it if you’re going.” He laughed. “Especially with you having plenty of room to haul her in that empty pickup bed.”

Jeremy laughed. “Why do I have the feeling I’ll never live that down?”

After he hung up with Luke, he thought about the phrase “
never
live that down.” Crystal had said something similar after he’d found her asleep on the porch. Never was a long time. He had a brief flash of him and Crystal, old and gray, her blue eyes still sparkling, as she teased him about hauling her in the bed of the truck or blushed about falling asleep on the porch.

“Why are you smiling?”

Jeremy glanced in the mirror at Beka, who was watching him intently. “I’m just happy, I guess.” He winked at her. “Are you happy?”

“Um-hum. I can’t wait to see Amanda.”

“She’s supposed to be there when we get there. But she won’t have long to visit before she has to go to school.”

Beka beamed. “I can tell her I’m going to school tomorrow.”

“That’s right.”

“I hope my new class has a goldfish.”

“If they don’t, we might have to ask your teacher about getting one for the class.” Jeremy had debated sending Beka to school with only three weeks left in the school year, but she needed normalcy in her life. And this way when she started first grade at the small Shady Grove Elementary School, she’d already know several kids from kindergarten.

“I bet Miss Cindy will be sad that I’m leaving.”

“I bet she will, too.”

Their first stop in Memphis was going to be the preschool/day care Beka had attended there. She should have been in kindergarten, but Lindsey had enrolled her in Miss Cindy’s Day School near Amanda’s house and told the teacher that she was going to homeschool after this year. She’d neatly sidestepped the lack of records by procrastination. He’d spoken to Miss Cindy, and she’d assured him that Beka would have no trouble adapting to kindergarten. When they left the preschool, they’d head on to Amanda’s.

“Maybe she’ll let me feed the goldfish today since it’s my turn.”

“We’ll see.”

To Beka’s delight, Miss Cindy did let her feed the goldfish and read a good-bye story to the class.

And Amanda, thankfully, kept things upbeat when they got to her place. She opened the chipped-paint door with a big smile. Beka squealed and ran into her arms. While they were hugging, he glanced past them. What he could see of the tiny house was rundown but neat, the threadbare carpet clean.

Amanda stood and followed his gaze. “It’s not much, but it’s home.” She motioned to a stack of plastic tubs next to the door. “I have Beka’s things all packed.” She hefted the tub nearest her and started out to his truck.

When they’d loaded everything, Amanda turned to Beka and held up a stuffed bear. “I thought you might want to keep Booboo Bear out to keep you company on your trip home.”

Beka scooped the bear out of Amanda’s hands. “Thanks, Amanda.” Both she and Booboo kissed Amanda good-bye. Beka scampered cheerfully into her seat.

In the driveway, Amanda looked at Jeremy. “She seems happy.”

He nodded. “She’s really well adjusted, considering what she’s been through, thanks to you.” He pulled out several bills. “I’d like to pay you a little toward the income you missed this year. Your friend mentioned that Lindsey didn’t always pay you.”

Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “Thank you, but that’s not necessary.”

He grinned. “Actually it is necessary. I really appreciate your being here.” He shoved the bills into her hand.

She shrugged and smiled. “Thanks. You know college students. Always broke. And of course I’m job hunting this week.”

As he and Beka drove away, he made a mental note to speak to his parents about the three of them setting up a scholarship fund for Amanda.

Crystal leaned against the side of the escalator, clutching her carry-on bag. Somewhere over Kentucky, defeat had given way to exhaustion. She wanted to get back to the ranch and sleep for a year.

As she stepped off, she scanned the crowd in front of the conveyor belt for Luke. She froze. Even from the back she recognized the cowboy holding the hand of an adorable little girl.

Hoping they wouldn’t turn and catch her backtracking, she made a beeline for the ladies’ room, fumbling to get her cell out of her bag as she went.

“Luke McCord.”

“What is Jeremy doing here? Where are you?” She glanced in the mirror at her travel-ravaged face, sleeplessness showing in every line.

“The phone sure is echoing. Are you in the bathroom?”

Crystal stomped her foot and growled. The woman at the sink next to her gave her a strange look.

“Yes, I’m in the bathroom. Did you ask Jeremy to come pick me up?” As she remembered the coolness in Jeremy’s tone Sunday when she’d called to cancel lunch, she cringed.

“No. I was just about to leave when he called to say he was going to Memphis and did I need him to pick up anything.”

“Oh.” So he hadn’t actually offered to come to the airport and get her. But at least he was going to be in town anyway.

“Yeah...” Luke laughed. “Ask him if you’re going to have to ride in the back of the truck.”

“The back? What are you talking about?”

“Just ask him. Or better yet, just climb up in there.”

Crystal looked down at her gauzy black pants and stilettos. “I don’t think so.”

“You’re no fun. See you tonight. Tell Jeremy thanks again for me.”

Crystal held the phone out and looked at it. She’d offered to rent a car. But no ... Luke had insisted on coming to get her. She put the phone back to her ear. “Bye, Luke.”

“Bye, kid.”

She disconnected and pulled out her makeup bag. Lip gloss and under-eye concealer might not make a big difference in how she looked, but they’d make her feel better. Years of theatre experience gave her speed, and in less than two minutes, she was walking across to greet Jeremy and Beka.

They were facing her this time, and unless she was seriously delusional, Jeremy’s face lit up when he saw her. Of course, more likely, he was just tired of waiting. Still clutching Beka’s hand, he pulled Crystal to him in a loose embrace and kissed her cheek.

Her heart, bruised and weary as it was, skittered at the closeness.

She bent down and hugged Beka, almost overbalancing as her carry-on bag shifted forward.

Jeremy reached and slipped it off her shoulder. “Let me get that.”

She grinned up at him. “Thanks.”

Beka bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. “I fed the goldfish.”

“You did?”

“Um-hum. And we went to see Amanda.”

“Oh, honey, that’s great. Sounds like you’ve had a busy day already.”

“You’re going home with us.”

Jeremy stepped forward. “If you don’t mind.”

Crystal smiled. She didn’t mind at all. While she was in New York, she’d remembered the excitement of their kiss. She’d forgotten how comfortable he always made her feel. “As long as I don’t have to ride in the back.”

Jeremy put his palm to his forehead. “Luke has a big mouth.” He winked at her just as the buzzer went off to signal that the conveyor belt was starting to move luggage out to be picked up. “I’ll explain that later. Right now, we should probably find your suitcases.”

She glanced up just in time to see her big duffle bag come into view. “I only have one and there it is.”

He put his hand on the handle and looked back for confirmation. At her nod, he hefted it off the belt. “Ready?”

“Let’s go.” She felt a little hand slip into hers and looked down. Beka, seeing her daddy had his hands full, had apparently decided that Crystal would be an okay substitute for now.

Crystal smiled at her, but when she glanced back up at Jeremy, her breath caught in her throat at the tender look in his eyes. “Thanks for coming to get me,” she stammered.

Jeremy stepped back to let her and Beka get on the escalator first. “It was my pleasure.”

Why did that sound so much better than “You’re welcome”?

They didn’t speak again until they were in the parking garage, walking across to the truck. Jeremy glanced over at her. “How did your trip go?”

“Fine.” She wrinkled her nose. “Not really. It was kind of a bust.”

“I’m sorry. Personal or business?” He grimaced. “Or personal and none of my business?”

She laughed. “It was business. But it turned out to be nothing worth talking about.” Someday she might tell him. But for today, she didn’t feel like sharing her humiliation with anyone. Let what happened in New York stay in New York.