“Thanks.” Cora took the medicine from Rex. “What am I taking?”
“Just some aspirin. It’s all I have here. Sorry I couldn’t offer you something other than water, but I don’t have anything in the fridge.” Rex’s eyes clouded.
“That’s okay. I’m so glad you found me. How did you know where I was?” Cora tried to shift into a more comfortable position.
Rex sat on the end of the sofa and put Cora’s feet in his lap. “I didn’t know where you were. I was out this way, and something told me to come toward home. I’m not usually here. It’s a miracle I found you. Luckily I got to ya before you dehydrated or a snake got ya.” Smirking, he brushed dust from her boots.
“Please, don’t get your hands dirty.” Cora ignored his comment about the snake, although it did send a shiver up her spine.
Rex removed her boots. “There, that’s better.”
“Rex, you’re impossible. Why didn’t the doctor want me to come to his office?”
“I told him I didn’t want you to be moved. I felt like you need to rest.”
“Thanks. Again.” Cora drank her glass of water and reached to set it down on the coffee table. She winced.
“Here, give it to me. So, we have some time to talk. Whatcha wanna talk about?”
“How did things turn out with Matt and Clarice?”
“Be glad you left when you did. Matt was furious with Clarice for not coming home. Clarice was angry because neither of us took up for her. I don’t know what to do with either of them.” Rex ran his finger along the top of Cora’s socked foot.
She shivered again. “What do you mean? Why is what they’re doing so wrong?” She tested Rex.
“Because they shouldn’t go home with strangers. Or with anyone, for that matter.” Rex blushed.
“Oh?”
“What do you mean?”
“No offense. I just thought...” She looked away.
“What? Veronica and me? No way!”
“Really?” Glee shot through Cora. Was it glee? Yes, yes, it was.
“No, never! What gave you that idea?” Rex shifted to face her.
“You did stay out all night with her that one night, so I assumed…. And you didn’t exactly deny it that morning at the pool.”
“You got me on that one. I guess I was too prideful to admit what I’d really been doing. Let me set the record straight.” The sun popped out from behind a cloud and beamed in through the windows, casting its rays on Rex’s tanned face. His dark eyes were like deep pools.
“Wait! You don’t have to explain anything to me. Really,” Cora interrupted.
“Yes, I do. I like you. And I want you to know the truth about me. I came across cocky in the beginning, and I meant to. You see, when I first met you at Ms. Lottie’s, I thought you were the prettiest thing I’d ever seen. Not just because of your looks, but your personality as well. I came home and told Mom about you. I don’t know why, but I did.” Rex paused.
“I’m shocked. I didn’t think you even noticed me.”
“Oh, yeah, I noticed you. What’s not to notice? When Mom and Dad brought you home, I knew they were trying to match-make. It made me mad that they were interfering in my life, so I rejected the very thought of you. I could tell right away the type of woman you were, respectable and all. So I pretended to be a stud so you wouldn’t like me.”
“And that was all an act?” Cora snickered.
“No, not all of it. I am a stud.” Rex smirked.
“Go on with your story, before I kick you.” Cora snickered.
“What else do you want to know?” Rex glanced around the cabin at the display of memories.
“The rest. The part about you and Veronica. I thought you were serious with one another.”
“No way. That’s what she wanted you to think. She was jealous of you from the start.”
“I knew that much. She acted too insecure for me not to figure that out. So, you didn’t bring her here?” Cora pushed.
“No, why do you ask?”
“I wasn’t going to say anything to you, because I didn’t want you to think I was eavesdropping. One night, right after I came here, I went out on the back porch—hoping to find you, actually—and I heard voices in the pool. It was you and Veronica.” Cora looked away from Rex.
“And? What’s the question?”
“I heard her asking you to bring her here, and when you said ‘no,’ she...”
“...tried to get me to be with her in the pool?” Rex completed her thought. He closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Yes.” Cora continued to look away, knowing she’d caught him in a lie.
“You obviously didn’t stick around to hear what happened after that.”
“No. I got out of there as quickly and as quietly as I could.” Cora peeked back at Rex.
“I told her I wasn’t ready to be with her. I said I hadn’t completely gotten over Patricia, and I felt marriage should come before sex.” Rex stared directly into Cora’s eyes with such intensity it made his eyes water.
“Really? You’re not just saying that?”
“Believe me, if it wasn’t true, I wouldn’t say it. This is too embarrassin’ for me to talk about.”
“Why embarrassing?” Cora inquired.
“Because I’m a man. Real men are supposed to get right back in the saddle, if you know what I mean.”
“I’m a fool. I thought the worst of you. I’m sorry.” Cora reached for Rex’s hand.
Taking her hand in his, Rex accepted her apology. “That explains why you pulled away from me in the pool last Sunday. You thought...oh, I’m so sorry.”
“I thought you were a gigolo.” Cora chortled.
“Well, I’m not. I even have a confession to make. When you saw me that mornin’ at the pool, I was returnin’ from Ms. Lottie’s. I wasn’t out all night with Veronica.” Rex colored. “I go there a lot to get away from the ranch.”
“You’re her boy.”
As the doctor suspected, Cora had only bruised her ribs. He wrapped her and told her she should rest for a week. When she asked about her duties with Susie, he told her someone else would have to tend to the child. Rex reassured Cora he’d watch after Susie. She’d made an impact on Rex’s life, after all. He was finally becoming a better father.
When she was alone in her room, Cora blew out a frustrated grunt for thinking romantic thoughts of Rex. Only two weeks had passed since Clark’s funeral, and she seemed to have forgotten, practically overnight, about him. Starting a relationship with Rex, as nice as he may be, wouldn’t be a good idea at this time. When she was better and had enough money, she’d hightail it out of there and head home to Florida.
* * *
Per the doctor’s orders, Cora stayed in bed to rest the next day. She hated to miss church since she’d done so the week before. A heaviness fell on her heart. Had she made the right decision in coming to the ranch? She’d made it out of defiance to Mom and Dad, after all. If she’d stayed with Ms. Lottie, she wouldn’t be developing a potentially destructive relationship with Rex, and she’d at least be closer to church. She couldn’t change things now.
As Cora lay in her bed, reading a book, someone knocked on her door.
“Come in.” She straightened her covers, pulling them up over her chest.
“Good mornin’. Here’s your breakfast.” Rex carried a tray of food.
“Rex? What are you doing? You don’t have to pamper me like this.” Cora’s breath caught in her throat. Those dark eyes, that tanned skin, those tight jeans, and leather boots played havoc with her resolve. She swallowed hard. This was nothing more than lust, and she had to stop it now. Or was there more to her feelings for him?
“It’s my pleasure. Someone has to take care of you. Mom and Dad are gettin’ ready for church, and so is Jimmy. So that leaves me.” Rex grinned and set the tray over her lap.
“But you need to go to church with Susie. What about Clarice or Matt? Or...or...Juanita?”
“Cora
? What’s wrong? You don’t want me here?” The sparkle left his eyes.
“No, it’s not that.” She shook her head.
“It must be somethin’, if you’d rather have Clarice or Matt take care of you. And Juanita has the day off anyway.” Rex waited for her excuse.
“I feel funny being alone in the house with you. What will people think? What will your family say?”
“I don’t think anyone will think a thing since you’re in the condition you’re in. Nobody’s around for miles. Now, eat!” He nudged the tray closer.
Cora surveyed the silver tray Rex had brought to her. “The food does smell good.” She noted the bud vase with a pink rose in it. “Thank you, Rex. The rose is lovely too.”
“I thought it’d be a nice touch. I picked it from my mom’s rose bush underneath the kitchen window. Is something else botherin’ you?”
“No. I guess not. Maybe it’s the pain medicine.”
“I’m goin’ downstairs. I’ll be in the office for a while. I’m workin’ on a few plans for the ranch. Dad and Matt want me to come up with a design for the workin’ ranch.” He groaned.
“That sounds so cool.”
“I’m not thrilled about it, but they’re forcin’ my hand.”
“I hope you get some work done.”
“Me too. I’ll be back in about thirty minutes to get your tray, okay?”
“Thanks.” Cora smiled as Rex left her room.
After her breakfast, she stretched out in the bed with her cell phone between her ear and shoulder and called Anne.
“Hey, Cora. What are you doing?”
“I’m in bed.” She ran her fingers through her messy hair, combing out the tangles.
“In bed? What for?”
“I got thrown from a horse on the ranch yesterday and practically killed myself.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just sore and bored.” She yawned.
“Have you got anyone there to take care of you?” Anne teased.
“You’re so funny. Yes, Rex, Susie’s dad, is here. In fact, he’s home playing nurse today.” She sniggered.
“Very cool. Life gets better and better for you, huh?”
“Yeah, having an injury after being thrown from a horse…that’s a real treat.” The two laughed until Cora’s sides ached.
“Are you going to be okay, though?”
“Yeah. The doctor said my ribs were bruised, and I need to chill out for a few days.”
“Did you call your mom?”
“No way. I don’t need her rushing up here taking over. I’ll call them soon. I can’t go there right now. Hey, listen, I hear Rex coming up the steps. I’m going to let you go and call you later, okay?”
“Sure thing.”
“Bye.” Cora closed her cell phone and quickly pulled herself to a sitting position in the bed.
When Rex returned for her tray, Susie trailed right behind him. “I want to stay home from church so me and Cora can play.”
“No, not today, girl.” Rex patted her on the top of the head.
“Please, Daddy?” Susie begged.
Cora interjected, “Susie, I can’t take care of you until my ribs are better. You’ll have to go to church with your gramma.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Susie leaned up and kissed Cora on the cheek before leaving her room.
“I’ll see you later, honey.” Cora stuck her bottom lip out at Rex and then grinned.
“Okay, dear.” He hooted and winked at her.
“I meant Susie!” Embarrassed, she slapped the air.
“Do you need anything else?”
“No, I’m fine. Thanks.”
“Get some rest. I’ll be back in a while.”
Cora’s mind swirled with thoughts about the decision she must make. She fluffed her covers, fidgeted, flipped through her Bible. What else besides taking care of Susie could she do to help out if she stayed at the ranch? She turned on the television only to see a report of another missing woman—this one from Lewistown. The woman’s description was similar to hers: dark hair and green eyes. Hold on. Was there a pattern here?
The pieces of the puzzle were coming together.
Chapter 11
Cora carefully moved herself out of her bed, unable to stay there any longer, and ambled to the terrace outside her bedroom. She chose a wicker chair as far against the wall as she could, so she could hide from anyone returning home from church. She listened for Rex coming up the stairs, too, so she could sneak back into her bed if she had to. Rex would scold her if he caught her out of bed.
The loud noise of a car racing down the driveway, spinning its tires as the gears changed, alerted Cora. She started to jump up from her seat but winced. A second glance revealed Veronica’s car. Before she had a chance to try to move again, Rex flew out the side door of the house and onto the driveway to meet Veronica. Cora pushed herself as far back into her chair as she could, trying to remain quiet.
As Veronica squealed her car to a halt, missing Rex by only a foot, he called to her, “What are you doin’ here?” The stiffness in his neck said he didn’t want to see her.
Veronica got out of the car, one long leg at a time, and removed her dark sunglasses. “Boy, what a way to greet your girlfriend. I’ve tried to call you, but you never return my calls. I assumed you weren’t getting my messages. I knew everybody would be at church, and we could be alone.”
Cora closed her eyes and tried to block out the entire conversation.
“You’re not welcome here.”
“What?” Veronica stomped over to Rex.
“I mean it, Roni, go home!”
“Why? It’s that...that...woman, isn’t it? She’s turned you against me.”
“Look, leave Cora out of this. She didn’t turn me against you. She’s an innocent party in all of this. After the way you acted Friday night...well, put it this way: you turned me against you with no help from her.”
Cora opened her eyes and peeked through the rails. Rex turned to enter the house, but Veronica grabbed his arm. When they disappeared under the terrace, Cora could no longer see them. She ducked into her room but allowed the French doors to remain open. She still wanted to hear if she could.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Veronica, you chased me away,” Rex insisted. “You held on to me so tight I couldn’t breathe. You were too pushy when it came to certain things. You’re rude to others. You refused to give me time to get over Patricia.”
“Oh, Patricia, Patricia! I’m so sick of that woman’s name. What was so great about her anyway? You act like she was a saint, when we both know she was a tramp.”
“You shut your mouth.” Rex’s voice was coldly angry. “You don’t talk about Patty like that. She was the mother of my child. She wasn’t a tramp.”
“How do you really know you’re Susie’s father? I suppose you’ve forgotten about her little affairs with the men at Wild Bill’s. And that she drank so much because of her guilt that she ran off Connors Peak and killed herself? Forget about her. You’re wasting your life worshipping her memory. And, might I add, a memory that’s seen through rose-colored glasses,” Veronica hissed.
Cora couldn’t believe it. Was this true about Patricia? How could it be? Rex acted like she could walk on water.
Rex spoke with tears dripping off his voice. “Roni, you’ve hurt me for the last time. If you loved me, you wouldn’t talk about my wife like that. You’d forgive her as I’ve done. I want you to leave, and don’t ever come back.”
“What do you know about love? You worked day and night on this stupid ranch until Patty was bored out of her mind. That’s why she’d go to Wild Bill’s. That’s why she looked for someone to love her. You didn’t meet her needs.”
“You’re such a liar! Get off my property! Get out of my life!” Rex yelled.
The door slammed shut. Veronica got in her car and zoomed down the drive. Cora’s heart ached for Rex. If only she could go to him and comfort him, but she could
n’t. She couldn’t let him know she’d overheard his fight with Veronica.
Then Rex knocked on Cora’s door. She still stood by the terrace door when he entered. “Can I come in?”
“Yes.” Cora sat on the chaise at the foot of her bed. Rex sat beside her. He buried his head in his hands and wept like a lost child. Cora said nothing. She only stroked his hair and waited patiently for him to speak.
“Cora, my life is such a mess. I’ve made a disaster out of everything. I can’t please Dad or Matt. I’m a bad father. And now…Veronica was just here.”
“I know.”
He looked up at her. “You know?”
“I couldn’t help but hear the two of you. I’m sorry.”
Rex gazed into Cora’s eyes and then collapsed in her arms. She groaned under his weight against her sore ribs, but she reached out to him anyway. “Did you hear everything?”
“Yes.”
“Then I don’t have to explain.”
“No, you don’t. You don’t have to talk at all.”
For more than ten minutes, Rex rested in her arms. He shook with emotion, and Cora’s heart opened to him. She couldn’t go if Rex needed her.
“It’s all true, what Veronica said.” Rex sat up straight and wiped his eyes. “I wasn’t home enough for Patty. She did start goin’ to Wild Bill’s. She became a drunk and didn’t come home every night. She usually came back the next morning. It was no secret. One night, after we’d had an argument about her lack of work around the house and caring for Susie, she left. That night she didn’t return. The next morning, I got a visit from the sheriff sayin’ she died at Connors Peak. She was drunk, and her car went over the cliff. We don’t know whether she planned it, or if it was an accident. People at Wild Bill’s said she was pretty rowdy that night, complainin’ about marriage and motherhood.” Rex rubbed his face vigorously and then looked up at Cora.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say.” Cora placed her hand on his shoulder.
Rex stood and walked over to the terrace. “You’re sayin’ everything I need to hear.” He turned and faced her. “You’re just bein’ here for me. You aren’t passin’ judgment.”
Song of the Meadowlark (Intertwined Book 1) Page 11