Redheaded Stranger: A Cowboy Love Story (Bluebonnet, Texas)

by Amie Stuart

  "At dance." One eyebrow quirked in question, she looked me up and down. "Is this a bad time, Kei?"

  Connie and John were our best friends and not just because they were also an interracial couple. I’d never ask them to get in the middle of my marriage. I bit back a hysterical giggle at the thought of Alex coming home to find her tied up in the middle of the kitchen, a dishtowel in her mouth.

  Behind me, Darrach squawked, making my decision for me. I had less than thirty to get gone...if I was lucky. Probably less.

  "I’m leaving Alex," I announced, swinging the door wide for her to enter.

  She stepped inside, eyes wide, and I closed and locked the door. "What? Where is Alex?"

  "He thinks there's a work emergency. I don't have long, Connie."

  She reached for me. "Do you want to talk about it? I thought you two were so happy?"

  "It's temporary." At least I hoped it was. "Help me load the Tahoe and hold Darrach for me and we can talk, otherwise I’ll have to leave you tied up in the kitchen." Then I did giggle, my hysterics bubbling over. I loved my husband and son more than anything, but damnit, enough was enough.

  She stepped into the living room and plucked Darrach up before turning to face me. "Walk and talk, woman."

  She followed behind me as I explained and continued to load the SUV. With her to hold Darrach, I even managed to squeeze in the porta-crib and his exer-saucer.

  Once I was finally ready, I stood in my sunny little blue and white kitchen, my purse and Darrach's diaper bag on my shoulder. I refused to allow myself to think too hard about what I was doing.

  Connie handed Darrach to me. "After three years of waiting, I can't say I blame you, honey."

  "Thanks." We stood staring at one another for way too long, until I swallowed the tears that threatened. The clock was ticking. I had to go. "Are you going to stay here and tell him?"

  "You couldn't pay me to have that conversation." She shook her blond bob for emphasis. "Besides I have to pick up the girls in twenty minutes. Are you going to leave a note or anything?"

  "Nope. He’ll know where I’ve gone. If he doesn’t, then he needs to turn in his badge."

  I had about three hours until Darrach wanted to nurse again and it was a five-hour drive to Bluebonnet, Texas, home of the Rockin’ B Ranch and my in-laws—who I’d finally meet today come hell or high water.

  She chuckled and we hugged quick and hard. "I’ll turn the lock on the front door behind me. Go!"

  * * *

  Once I hit the highway, I shut off my cell phone and didn't look back until we stopped at a fast food restaurant in San Marcos. I ate while I nursed Darrach, then fed him some of the food I'd packed. I’d done everything but think about Alex. And stop shaking.

  As the traffic outside of San Marcos lightened up and the highway straightened, my mind drifted back to the first time we'd met. I’d seen him around the Atlanta field office plenty of times, and he always struck me as so with it and collected. That only made our first meeting all the funnier. He'd stood right behind me in the cafeteria line, followed me out and stood next to the table where I'd joined some friends. We’d giggled like schoolgirls at his lovesick expression as he'd finally asked if my name was Carolina, which brought another round of giggles. I’d corrected him, telling him my name was Keilana, and he’d flushed beet red, made only more obvious by his redhead’s complexion. It took a lot for Alex to tan. I’d discovered that tidbit on our wedding/honeymoon/trip to meet the folks in Oahu five months later. How we got there still makes me shake my head.

  After our first date I’d complained to my friends that he was a perfectionistic, anal-retentive jerk. He wasn’t, but he is conservative, a creature of habit, very private and, well, somewhat rigid. Lucky for him, he had me to keep the rigor mortis from setting in, and normally, he'd be the first to admit it. He also wasn’t afraid to laugh at himself, in private, and said my biggest selling point was that I kept him from taking himself too seriously. And I made him laugh. And I was good in bed.

  I took a deep breath and glanced in my rearview mirror at Darrach who was sound asleep. My hands shook a bit again as I wondered how his family would feel about having a "new" daughter-in-law and baby grandson show up on their doorstep unannounced—for Christmas no less. I probably should have at least called my father-in-law, but still hadn't worked up the nerve to tell him about the baby.

  I was too nervous to even review what I knew about them but scolded myself. I’d graduated high school early—with honors—I had two bachelor's degrees and a master’s, for goodness sake. I still couldn’t quell the tremors as the Tahoe sped past the sign announcing the next three exits were all for Bluebonnet.

  Fifteen minutes later I was turning onto the Rockin’ B Ranch. The Tahoe crept up the gravel road as I took it all in. Fenced fields with horses and five houses. A modest, older two-story sat to my left with an SUV parked in the drive. In the furthermost corner, tucked under a group of large oaks, sat a very old, pink two-story. A group of three more sat dead ahead—one at the end of the road and one on either side.

  I eased into the driveway/parking area of the largest and oldest looking. A beige two-story affair with dark green trim and shutters. A swing and some chairs were scattered across the deep porch. It didn’t have much yard to speak of past a few feet or so in front of the house. Behind me, Darrach mewled again. He’d had enough of the car seat and I didn’t blame him.

  "Relax, buddy. We’re almost there and you can meet your grandma and grandpa," I crooned as the Tahoe came to a stop.

  Do or die time. Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea. Maybe I should—no.

  No calling Alex!

  I blew out a long, slow breath and checked myself in the rearview mirror, fluffed my curls and took another deep breath. There was no way I could turn back around and drive five hours home. I had to make a stand with him and this was it.

  I grabbed the diaper bag and my purse, then slid out from behind the wheel. A stiff north wind hit me, sending a shiver up my spine. This was not the time to linger. I slammed the door and ran around to get Darrach out of his seat, then darted for the front porch. I debated for all of three seconds before another stiff wind hit us, forcing me to ring the bell.

  Darrach grabbed the collar of my sweater and babbled, a smile on his face announcing he was just as happy as I to be out of the Tahoe's confines. Until now, I’d deliberately given little thought to our actual reception. I kissed my son's soft baby neck and hugged him tight as I shivered. Either from cold or nerves or the cloud cover moving in, there was no telling for sure. Who was I kidding? My sweaty hand clenched into a fist, I knocked and waited, listening to the sound of booted feet coming closer and closer until the door swung open.

  "Well, Keilana—"

  "Hi." I smiled hesitantly up at my father-in-law as the crinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out and his mouth turned downward at the sight of Darrach in my arms. "I couldn't tell you the day we met. I’m sorry. Not after hearing about Betti."

  He nodded thoughtfully. "I can imagine."

  "I’m sorry," I said again. "This is Darrach, your grandson."

  "I see." In thirty years, Alex would look like this—except for the hair color. "Other than Maggie, I didn't tell anyone about you," he sighed.

  After living in Atlanta for so many years, I was well aware that some people had huge issues with accepting the more colorful branches of their family trees, not to mention interracial marriages. I’d been raised in an interracial home, but in Hawaii few people thought twice about it. And it wasn’t often that people commented on Alex and I within our hearing, but when they did, it stung. I wasn't sure if this was the case with Jerrod, but I'd handle it and him just as I'd handled his son.

  "I’m sorry for just showing up, but I believe it's time things got settled and the air got cleared—once and for all."

  "Why am I not surprised to see you?" He smiled again, a gentler smile as he held open the screen door, and my heart ached for Alex
, who I already missed. Deep down inside, I wished we could have done this together.

  "Zander?" he asked.

  "For now, it’s just us." I slipped past him, glad to be out of the wind, my eyes glued to a huge Christmas tree and the wall of family photographs across from me. Alex and his three brothers at various ages stared back at me. I clutched Darrach tighter and swallowed the tears that threatened. I wanted my son to be a part of this. "I left him," I rasped out, my throat thick with emotion.

  "It’s okay." He shut the front door and gently nudged me further into the room. "Maggie! We have company."

  A woman appeared at the kitchen doorway, an apron wrapped around her waist, her faded auburn hair pulled away from her face. "Who’s this?"

  I glanced up at Jerrod, then turned back to my mother-in-law, feeling the teeniest bit intimidated despite her friendly smile. "I’m Alex’s wife."

  Her red eyebrows slowly rose and drew together as I began to sniffle, unable to contain myself any longer. Pure adrenaline had pushed me all morning, and there was no stopping the crash.

  "Zander?" she asked with a frown as she looked us over.

  "Not here." Swallowing the lump that threatened to choke me, I bit my lip, refusing to give in. "But hopefully not too far behind, if he knows what's good for him."

  She gave a slight nod and looked me up and down. I doubt she’d find fault with my broken-in jeans and the oversized, cream-colored sweater stolen from Alex’s closet.

  "I’m...Kei." I took a deep breath and tried again, "Keilana. And this is your grandson."

  "Darrach," Jerrod said from behind me. He rested a comforting hand on my shoulder.

  I didn’t dare turn around, but my shoulder’s unconsciously straightened, and underneath my coat I could feel sweat begining to form.

  "Did he send you?" She solemnly waved a hand toward my son. "Is this Alexander's attempt to make up for what happened?"

  "No." I shook my head for emphasis, but before I could say more, a chair scraped in the kitchen and there were more footsteps.

  "What about Zan?" a voice boomed from the kitchen. A chair scraped the floor, and then a blond giant appeared at Mrs. Boudreauxes side.

  I found myself staring into the angry green eyes of a man who could have almost been my husband's twin. I glanced from him to his mother, and wet my lips with the tip of my tongue, not sure who I should be more afraid of. Jerrod’s hand on my shoulder was the only comfort I had.

  "Did he send you here thinking somehow this—" Again she motioned toward Darrach, "—could make up for what happened?" Arms crossed over her chest, she waited.

  Darrach began to fuss in my arms and I shushed him, realizing that my breasts had begun to ache. It was almost time to feed him.

  "How do we know she’s even telling the truth?" the blond asked.

  "I met her, that’s how," Jerrod replied from behind me.

  "But she’s..." He waved a hand in my direction.

  Dark, black, cocoa-skinned, mixed, a mutt, café au lait. I raised my chin a notch, suppressing the urge to make a face at him. "Not what you expected?"

  "Ty!" Maggie glared up at him.

  "Alex and I were married three years ago in Oahu." I didn’t add to the day.

  "And then what? He didn’t tell us cause he thinks we’re a bunch of redneck, racist assholes?" Ty crossed the room until only mere inches separated us.

  Behind me Jerrod growled a warning. "He didn’t tell us to punish me."

  His cheeks now a deep red, Ty’s gaze briefly fell to the floor as understanding dawned. "Tell your husband I burned the flowers." Before I could ask him what flowers, he shoved past us and out the door. "My son," Mrs. Boudreaux began, "has a lot to atone for, and sending you as a peacemaker just doesn’t cut it."

  I nodded. "I’m not here as a peacemaker. I left him."

  "I see," Maggie said.

  I didn't know about Betti's miscarriage until your husband came to see me. And I didn’t have the heart to tell him about Darrach then."

  "We haven't told the family about you," she said. "As I’m sure you can imagine, there's been enough excitement around here the last few weeks."

  "I understand and I apologize for just showing up unannounced, but like I told your husband, I think it's time some things got settled."

  Darrach’s flailing arms distracted me as he grabbed his cap and tugged. His efforts were unsuccessful though since it was tied under his chin. I focused on taking it off for him and smoothing his curls to buy time to calm my nerves and figure out what to say next.

  "Maybe we should all have a seat," Jerrod murmured with a wave of his hand. He motioned toward a large, comfy-looking couch on my left.

  Against a far wall stood a china cabinet and matching pine table that could have seated at least ten. Matching flower-patterned area rugs covered the living and dining area floors. I maneuvered around the green- and white-checked couch and sat, leaving the two other chairs for Mr. and Mrs. B. I’d clearly underestimated my father-in-law though as he decided to sit beside me. And Darrach, deciding he was fascinated with a new human toy, squirmed and crawled over to investigate. I barely got his coat off before he took command of his grandfather’s lap.

  "You take your coat off, too. You must be burning up in that thing." He held out his arms for Darrach to balance on.

  I shrugged out of my heavy suede coat, and ran a nervous hand through my curls before laying my jacket beside me and placing Darrach’s on top. Hands folded in my lap, I waited. Darrach decided to use his grandfather’s legs as a trampoline and bounced up and down, laughing and gurgling. I couldn’t hold back my own grin, or my comment. "He does the same thing to Alex."

  "Forgive me if I have trouble picturing him as a father." My mother-in-law pursed her lips and crossed her arms, settling deeper in the dark green recliner she’d commandeered.

  "I’m sorry. I know this must come as quite a shock—"

  "That’s not what I meant. I meant after the hateful scene he created at Thanksgiving." She frowned, her eyes on Darrach. Deep inside, I felt the first stirrings of regret. "There isn’t a person in this family he didn’t insult. He owes all of us an apology."

  "I know. He told me."

  "Everything?" Her auburn eyebrows shot up and disappeared under her bangs.

  "Well, the bruised ribs would have been difficult to hide," I countered. He’d also come home with a busted lip. Maybe he’d deserved it, but he was also my husband. I didn’t like seeing him hurt. "And what he left out, your husband told me."

  Jerrod chuckled but she only frowned more. "Relax, Maggie. Just relax a minute." Turning to me, he added, "Why are you here? Besides needing to punish my son. Tell her what you told me at the door."

  I blew out a deep breath before meeting his gentle blue eyes. Darrach continued to hop up and down and blow bubbles at him. "Because of him. Because of those pictures on the wall." I pointed over his shoulder to the wall of photos. "Because I had hoped when my husband came home for Thanksgiving that he’d tell you about us, not blow his cool like he did, and leave such a God-awful mess in his wake."

  "Mess would be an understatement," Maggie snapped, drawing my attention back to her. "He sent you here because of Betti didn’t he?"

  "Ma’am, I swear to you he didn't send me. I left him." And how many times would I have to say it before she believed me? "He has no clue I’m here. I mean, I’m sure he’ll figure it out, but this was my idea and mine alone. After your husband came to visit, I asked Alex to tell you all about Darrach and I, to bring us here for an anniversary present, but he refused and gave me some garbage about it being too soon after Thanksgiving. I gave him every opportunity to tell me about Betti and the miscarriage, and he didn't. He lied, repeatedly. I am very disappointed in my husband, just as I know you both are."

  She nodded, as if she was finally satisfied, then stood and crossed to where Mr. Boudreaux sat. "Well, are you going to share that baby or not?"

  "He needs to nurse soon," I cautioned.
/>   Mrs. Boudreaux sat and then turned to face me. "Young lady, I’m going to be blunt." Beside me, her husband chuckled. Obviously not a rare occurrence. "After everything my children and husband, forgive me Jerrod," she added with a nod, "have put me through this year, your showing up here unannounced is the least of my problems. But I had hoped for a quiet Christmas. With Alexander on the way, I can see that's not going to happen."

  My face felt as if it were on fire. I’d been well and truly chastised for my impetuousness.

  "Isn't your anniversary soon?" Jerrod asked.

  "Today."

  "Well, you are most welcome to spend the holidays with us, as is this baby," she added gently as Darrach leaned over and patted her cheek.

  "I'll call him. Make sure he's coming," Jerrod offered. "I think Keilana is right. I think it’s past time we cleared the air once and for all. And frankly," he added, his eyes on Darrach, "I have a few bones to pick with him myself."

  He stood up, Darrach firmly entrenched in his arms. "I’ll be right back."

  "Are you going to share that baby or not, Jerrod?" Maggie asked as he stepped past her.

  "Not."

  I couldn’t hold back a snort of relieved laughter as he disappeared around a corner. My mother-in-law just shook her head and grinned. "He loves his grandbabies. You watch, he’ll have that one on a horse inside of twenty-four hours."

  "Oh, dear God."

  Chapter Five: Alex

  The minute Alex hit the kitchen door, he knew Keilana was gone. Some of the cabinets had been left open, the pantry door hung open, and Darrach’s baby food was out of order. And, of course, his Tahoe was gone. He’d frantically searched their townhouse, every horrible thing that could go wrong running through his head on a perverse loop.

  The townhouse wasn’t just quiet, it was dead. As if the very life had been sucked from it.

  Quick calls to their credit card companies assured him she hadn’t taken off for Oahu without him. Another to her cell phone and he left a message after it automatically went to voicemail.