Moving away for college had been expected, but she was adamant about coming back. Why hadn’t she come back to Salt Creek sooner? This was where she had always wanted her children to grow up. Tony gulped. Their children. The ones he told her he never wanted.
Main Street stretched out in front of him. One red light marked the town’s only intersection. A bank, a grocery store, an auto repair shop and an antique store marked each corner. Did teenagers still hang out in the bank’s parking lot on Friday and Saturday nights? Aside from being the only place in town with paved parking, it had the added advantage of a view of everyone who drove through town. When he was a teen, it had been the best place around to hang out after all the stores closed.
He turned right and headed a half block toward the train tracks, where Montoya Hardware was located. Papa’s truck was in its usual spot, so Tony parked next to it and turned off the engine. He enjoyed helping Papa around the store. It kept him from going stir-crazy when he wasn’t at Little Mountain. And the work wasn’t challenging. It would give him time to devise a plan to see Sabrina again.
Two hours later, he glanced at the clock. Again. Where was Kyle? The store closed at five. Would he even show up?
Tony was in the back room when Papa stuck his head through the door. “Mijo, there’s someone here for you.”
“Thanks, Papa. I’ll be right there.” He rounded the corner to see Kyle standing in the middle of the tool aisle. “Hey, Kyle. Thanks for stopping by.”
Kyle shrugged. His shaggy brown hair hung well past his collar in the back and almost covered his eyes in the front. “Mr. Anderson didn’t give me much choice.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Tony nodded toward the door. “You’re free to go. I don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t want to be here.” He headed back to the storeroom.
“Wait. Hire? You got a job for me?”
Tony wiped the smile off his face before turning around. “Does that mean you’re interested?”
“Depends. What is it?”
He motioned for the teen to follow him through to the warehouse portion of the building. He flipped on the fluorescent lights and Kyle let out a loud whistle. Tony walked around the old car. “She’s a beauty, ain’t she?”
“What year is she?” Kyle’s eyes sparkled as he ran a hand along the faded blue paint of the hood.
“A 1972 AMC Javelin.” Teenage boys loved muscle cars. But if he was right about Kyle, it would go much deeper. “I’d let you drive her, but she’s not running too good. That’s where you come in.”
Kyle froze, his brown eyes widening. “Me?”
“Rumor is you’re a pretty good mechanic.” He leaned his elbows on the roof of the car.
“My old man was a good mechanic, not me.”
“You mean you didn’t pick anything up from him?”
Kyle’s chin lifted in the air. “Yeah. I mean... I helped him sometimes.”
“So you think you can get her running again?”
“I don’t have no tools.”
Tony arched an eyebrow. “Any. You don’t have any tools. But I do. What I don’t have is a mechanic.”
Kyle chewed on his thumbnail, his eyes never leaving the car. “I could try, I guess. What do you pay?”
“Fifteen dollars an hour. And you keep the tools you use.” With his own tools, Kyle would be able to create his own future. He could almost hear the wheels spinning in Kyle’s brain as he thought about it.
“I get to keep the tools?” Kyle looked skeptical.
“Yeah.” Tony nodded. “There is one catch, though.”
“I knew it.” Disappointment filled the boy’s face.
“I can’t give you a paycheck.”
Kyle glared at him. “You said fifteen dollars an hour.”
“And that’s what I’ll pay you.” Tony pulled a paper from his wallet and handed it to him. “This is a savings account that I’ve set up in your name. I’ll deposit the money into that account. The money’ll draw interest until you turn eighteen and then you’re free to do what you want with it.”
“Aw, man.” Kyle shoved the paper back at him. “I need money now.”
“I’ll give you twenty percent of your paycheck in cash. But the rest goes in the bank.” Where Travis Anderson couldn’t touch it. “That’s my offer. Take it or leave it.”
Kyle’s attention drifted back and forth between Tony and the car, clearly weighing his options. “When can I get started?” Kyle’s fingers ran over the hood, as if he was itching to lift it up and gaze under it.
“Right now. But first, let me show you something.” Kyle followed him through the door to the main part of the building where Tony pointed to a clipboard hanging on the wall.
“What’s this?” the kid asked.
“Your inventory sheet.” Tony pulled a metal key from his pocket and handed it to him. “This is a key to the back door over there. Feel free to work whenever you want. Just write down whatever tools you take here. If you need something we don’t have in stock, mark it here, as well, and I’ll get it for you.”
Kyle stared at the key. “Are you serious?”
Tony nodded. “Is there a reason I shouldn’t be?”
“You’re placing a lot of trust in someone you don’t know.”
“I do have one condition.”
“Here it comes,” Kyle muttered under his breath.
“If you fail a drug test, the deal is off.”
Kyle’s eyes widened. “I don’t do drugs.”
Tony ignored the denial. He’d made his point. Kyle knew that Tony was placing trust in him when no one else would. “I have to get back to help my grandfather. Don’t let me down.”
In a flash, Kyle was opening the hood and inspecting the belts. Tony paused on his way back into the store. “Can you have it done by the end of the summer?”
“I don’t know.”
“There’s an antique car show at the Harvest Festival in October. You have it ready by then and we’ll split any prize money we win.” He hadn’t attended the town festival in years, but he had the feeling he’d be visiting a lot more often.
“Fifty-fifty?” Kyle looked up from his inspection.
“Yes. Don’t forget to log your hours on that clipboard, too.”
“Yes, sir.” Kyle’s voice followed him as he went back into the main store.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Papa’s voice was low when Tony resumed his inventory checklist.
“I’m just giving him the same chance you gave me, Papa.” Tony reached up to clasp the old man’s shoulder. “I’ll keep an eye on him, but I have a good feeling about this.”
Papa smiled. “I’m proud of you, mijo.”
* * *
“LEVI,” SABRINA YELLED, as loud as she could. In the dim light of the setting sun, she couldn’t see any movement from the barn. Her toe still hurt from her run in with Tony that afternoon. The thought of putting her shoe back on to look for the boys made her cringe.
“Dad. Levi and Bradley aren’t back yet. Can you go check on them? Marissa will be here any minute.”
Dad looked up from the news program he was watching. The screen door slammed shut as he stepped outside and off the porch. A loud whistle pierced the air. When he came back inside, he was grinning. “They should be along any second now.”
“I forgot about the whistle that can be heard around the world.” How many times had that sound beckoned her home when she was roaming the pastures?
The two boys appeared a few minutes later and sat on the front porch, huddled together. Sabrina watched them through the window. “What do you think they’re up to?”
“Trying to concoct a plan to get Marissa to let Bradley stay the night, most likely.” Dad settled back in his recliner.
“He has a dentist appointment in the morning, so he can’t.” She hoped Levi wouldn’t attempt to change Marissa’s mind. It drove her crazy when kids pestered their parents to try to get their way. Although she was hoping to entice Marissa to stay for a while. She needed to find out how Marissa’s husband knew Tony.
Headlights flashed through the window, and when she arrived Marissa was greeted by two sad boys with overemphasized puppy-dog faces. She laughed. “Not going to work. The answer is still no.”
Sabrina chuckled. “You shot them down before they even got started. They’ve been scheming for the last fifteen minutes.”
“Dang. I should’ve waited to see what they’d come up with. Bradley’s famous for his plotting.”
“I was looking forward to watching it. Would you like to come in for some tea?”
“Make it a glass of wine and you’ve got yourself a deal.”
Sabrina shook her head. “Sorry. I don’t have any wine. I think Dad may have some beer in the refrigerator, though.”
“Tea will be fine.” Marissa let out an exaggerated sigh and slumped her shoulders. “You boys play a little longer so I can have some girl time with Sabrina.”
In a flash the boys were speeding down the path to the barn.
Sabrina poured two glasses of iced tea and carried them outside. “Let’s go to the porch swing on the other side of the house. Dad’s watching the news and I don’t want to disturb him.”
Once they were settled, Marissa said, “It’s so quiet out here.” She pushed one sandaled foot against the floor, sending the swing into a gentle rhythm.
“Does your husband know about Tony and Levi?” Sabrina got straight to the point.
“No. Why?”
“I ran into Tony at The Eagle’s Nest today. Then your husband walked by and stopped to talk to him. I didn’t know they knew each other.”
“I didn’t, either. Jarrod hasn’t said anything to me about him.” She reached out and squeezed Sabrina’s hand. “I haven’t told anyone your secret. But do you really think you can hide it forever?”
The lack of judgment in Marissa’s voice washed over Sabrina. She took a deep breath. “I wasn’t trying to be vindictive, you know. He left me. One day things were fine and the next day he said he was leaving and there was nothing I could do to keep him here. Then I found out I was pregnant. Was I supposed to use a baby to make him love me?”
Marissa shrugged. “Of course not. But he didn’t read your letters. His grandparents could’ve found him for you.”
Her stomach tightened. “I did go to his grandparents. They were so busy telling me how good he was doing and how proud they were that he got out of Salt Creek and was trying to make something of his life, I couldn’t tell them.”
Marissa ran a hand through her short blond hair and fluffed it. “Do you think Mr. Montoya would’ve forced him to come back?”
Sabrina pushed the swing a little harder. “He wouldn’t have had to. Tony would’ve dropped everything, rushed back here and insisted on getting married.”
“And that would have been a bad thing?” Marissa cocked her head.
The worst. “He didn’t love me and I wasn’t willing to settle for anything less.”
“Marriage is hard, even under the best circumstances. But raising a child on your own is harder. At least he could’ve helped financially.”
“Tony wouldn’t have settled for being an absentee dad. And getting married would’ve doomed us both to a life of misery.” Him for being stuck in Salt Creek and her for loving someone who didn’t love her back. She toyed with the diamond on her left hand.
Unable to meet Marissa’s gaze, she stared at the pasture beyond the yard. “After a few years, I told myself it didn’t matter anymore. I was fine on my own.”
“Levi thinks his father is dead.” Marissa arched one eyebrow. “Are you going to tell him now that Tony’s back?”
“I don’t know. I know I should, but the other part of me says it’s too late. Levi and I don’t need him.”
“Speaking from experience, I can tell you it’s not too late.”
Sabrina heard pain in Marissa’s voice. “What do you mean?”
“I have a stepson.” Marissa shrugged. “Jarrod had a child with his high school girlfriend.”
“And she didn’t tell Jarrod?”
Marissa took a long sip of her sweet tea. “She did. They got married, but they were too young and it ended within a couple of years. Jarrod wasn’t much of a dad in the beginning. He rarely saw Scott. He thought the child support check he sent every month was enough.”
“A lot of men feel like that.” But not Tony. Not after being abandoned by his own father. It was the reason he’d never wanted kids. Don’t bring them into the world if you’re not going to take care of them, he’d said. And he didn’t want to take care of anyone but himself.
“When Bradley came along, Jarrod realized how important it was to really be a dad. By then, Scott was almost twelve years old and he wanted nothing to do with Jarrod.”
Twelve. Three years older than Levi was now. How would her son react if Tony suddenly appeared in his life? Would he be angry at Tony? Or her? “How long ago was that? How’s their relationship now?”
“Almost five years ago. Things are still touch and go. Amanda really ran Jarrod down to Scott, and since Jarrod had never been around to defend himself, Scott believed her.” Marissa tucked a strand of gold hair behind her ear.
“So you think I should tell Tony.” It wasn’t a question.
Marissa smiled. “You should do what feels right. I’m not here to judge. I pushed Jarrod to build a relationship with his son, but I have to admit, there were times the drama became too much. There were days I just wanted Scott to go away.”
Sabrina’s mouth dropped open. “You don’t mean that.”
Marissa pressed her lips together and nodded. “I’m ashamed to admit it, but it’s true. The kid was so angry at everyone that he made life miserable for all of us. Don’t let that happen to Levi. Either tell them both the truth soon, or don’t tell them at all. If they accidentally find out, you’ll all get hurt.”
* * *
TONY AND KYLE were busy under the hood of the car when Papa popped into the workshop. Without a word, he jerked his head, signaling for Tony to follow him.
He wiped his hands off on a rag. “Be right back,” he said to Kyle.
Why was his dad on edge? As he rounded the corner he realized why Papa’s eyes had been conveying a silent warning.
The sight of the man at the end of the aisle caused the hair on the back of his neck to stand up.
“I heard you were back in town.”
“Hi, Kurt.” Tony placed one elbow on the shelf and assumed a casual position. “Can I help you?”
“I didn’t think you’d have the guts to show your face around here again.” Eyes so dark the pupils were hidden glared at Tony.
“Is there something you need?” Tony took a deep, cleansing breath. What a way to have his good mood shattered.
“I read about a hotshot cop in the paper a few weeks ago.” Kurt glanced around the room. “I came by to see for myself if it was really you. You sure managed to pull the wool over a lot of people’s eyes.”
Tony silently counted to ten. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“My wife told me you were volunteering at Little Mountain.”
“I am.”
Kurt looked around the room again. “Anderson thought he was being sneaky, putting a cop in the home to spy on the kids. I told him there wasn’t nothing going on, but he fired me, anyway.”
Something about his movements didn’t sit right with Tony. “I’m not here to spy on anyone. Why’d you get fired?”
Kurt ignored his question. “Maybe you just get your kic
ks being around a bunch of little boys. Don’t get too comfortable. As soon as I talk to my brother, you’ll be out on your ear.”
Tony refused to let Kurt bait him. It was obvious the man was there to start something. “I’m not on staff. I’m a volunteer. And I’m only in town for a few more weeks.”
The man’s glazed eyes narrowed. “Well, that’s rich. You helping out with juvies. Do you tell them about your own life of crime?”
“I don’t hide anything from them.” Tony popped his knuckles. What he really wanted to do was to knock the man on the floor and search him for drugs.
“How many times were you arrested?” Kurt clearly enjoyed needling him. “Was it six or seven? I forget.”
“Actually it was four.” Tony had had enough. He stepped closer. The intimidation factor worked. Kurt moved away. “All but one of them were before I moved here and charges were dismissed the last time. It seems someone tried to set me up. You don’t know anything about that, do you?”
Kurt shifted uncomfortably. “You were caught red-handed but somehow convinced your little girlfriend to lie for you. That’s the way I remember it.”
“I remember it differently.” That evening would forever be etched into his memory. “I remember seeing a blue truck speeding away from the parking lot behind the school where I was parked. When I got to my truck, I found stolen tools in it. Didn’t you used to drive a blue truck?”
Kurt refused to look him in the eye. “It’s a good thing your girlfriend was able to vouch for you.”
His patience reached its limit. “What do you want, Kurt?”
“To warn you. Stay away from Little Mountain.”
Tony struggled to keep his voice calm and not betray his temper. “And let me warn you, if I find out that someone is using those kids for their own personal gain, I will use every available resource I have to lock that person behind bars.”
Kurt grinned. “You won’t find much help around here. You’re nothing but a punk with a shiny badge.”
Her Texas Rebel Page 8