Navarro Or Not

by Tina Leonard

  “He is the most annoying man I ever met,” Nina said. “Valentine, are you hearing all this?”

  Valentine laughed, seating herself next to Crockett on the porch. “Want some lemonade?”

  “I would. Thank you,” he said kindly, and Nina groaned, realizing her sister’s way worked best, cozying up to these men who were stubbornly determined to have their own way.

  “After all the trouble I went through,” Nina said. “It makes me mad that Navarro outwitted me.”

  “He’s crazy like that,” Crockett said. “We all sort of admire that in him.”

  Nina had to admit, though it went severely against her grain, that she admired it, too. “But we’re missing everything! Don’t you want to see what happens?”

  “What I really want to see is you getting out of that outfit,” Crockett said, “before my brother comes home with the hard-won prize for his lady fair. Wouldn’t that be a shame if he went to all that trouble and came home to find a man?”

  “HE DOESN’T LISTEN,” Nina said, tossing her suitcases into the taxi while Valentine looked on. For the moment she’d eluded Crockett by sending him to the big house for some “decent” food for Valentine. The truth was, after Navarro’s latest stunt, Nina was more determined than ever to catch her plane and go home to Dannon. “Navarro thinks he’s invincible and that little women are ornaments on the fabric of his life.”

  “You make a pretty ornament,” Valentine said, “but I can see it’s not exactly your style.”

  “No, it’s not. Now I know why you were always irritated with me trying to do everything for you in ‘your best interests.’ Feel free to point out this learning experience to me the next time I slip up.”

  Valentine smiled. “Having you look out for me wasn’t all that bad. Sometimes it was really good. Let’s face it, Nina, I’m not you. You’re far more independent than I am.”

  Nina closed the door. “Tell Crockett I’m sorry I had to mess up his guard duty. I hope Navarro won’t be too mad at him. Be sure he knows it was all my fault.”

  Valentine frowned. “But what about the bed? What if it he wins it?”

  “Call the movers and have them ship it home. They’ve already got the address since I was planning on winning it myself.”

  “What if Navarro doesn’t win?” Valentine said worriedly. “What if he gets hurt?”

  “That’s what he gets for trying to be a hero. And a sexist pig.” Nina leaned out the car window to kiss her sister goodbye. “I’ll miss you. Call me when you’re close to your due date. I’ll come to be with you if you want me to.”

  “Of course,” Valentine said, starting to sob. “I’ll always want you with me.”

  They hugged tightly again.

  “I love you, Nina. You’re the best sister anyone could have. I’m so sorry—”

  “Shh,” Nina said. “No more sorries. You concentrate on my niece or nephew, because, quite frankly, it looks like you’ll be having the only baby in the family.”

  “Nina,” Valentine whispered, so the cabdriver couldn’t hear. “Call me, okay? Tonight? Tell me you’re safe.”

  “I will,” Nina promised. “Goodbye.”

  Valentine let go of her sister reluctantly. The driver backed the taxi up and drove down the road. Nina held back her tears, then leaned out the window to wave goodbye.

  Valentine stood in the road staring after her, her long dress hanging awry at the hem, looking forlorn. Nina sighed, pulling her head back inside and rolling up the window to keep out the Texas dust.

  “Babies having babies,” the taxi driver said.

  Nina shut her eyes. It was the road to paradise that led a woman to take the wrong fork in the road. Once a man loved you, all you could do was follow the call of the wild.

  “Thankfully, I’m a common-sense librarian,” she said to the back of the taxi driver’s bald head. “I may have deviated from the ivory tower, but I’m locked up tight again.”

  “Whatever,” he said. “You young girls think you know it all.”

  She did. It wasn’t the charmed bed that made all things possible; it was a woman’s respect for herself.

  “Did ya hear about the big rodeo?” the driver asked.

  “Just a little,” Nina said crossly.

  “Heard it got postponed to tonight, on account of the bull getting sick.”

  “Sick?”

  “Yeah. The showcase bull, which was to participate in that wacky Cowboy Bed Check, came down with a case of the runs. Pardon me for saying so, but it was cowpie central, if you know what I mean. Heard the owner was fit to be tied and threatened to make chair covers out of her marquee bull. Guess she was shouting that her sister was up to her old tricks again, but her sister had been out of town. Turned out some kids coming through had tossed a bunch of animal crackers into the pen. Not good for a bull, all that kiddie fiber, I guess.”

  “Eww.” Nina grimaced, then leaned forward to grab the seat back beside the driver. “Does that mean the contest will be tonight?”

  “That’s what I just said, right? BadAss Blue’s owner had to borrow a bull from her sister, of all people. And the replacement bull’s the meanest one in Texas. Delilah made Marvella promise that all the proceeds from the bed event go to charity before she lent out her bounty bull—and Marvella has to do ten hours of community service in Lonely Hearts Station. Her sister said Marvella needed to get to know some of the folks who’ve lost their jobs and some of the families who stay in town despite the hard times. I imagine that stuck in Marvella’s craw pretty good,” he said with a chuckle. “Ever heard of Bloodthirsty Black?”

  “No.” Nina thought quickly. She had no disguise. But she also didn’t have Crockett shadowing her every move. Valentine would have to admit that Nina had made a clean getaway. They’d be looking for her at the airport.

  “Now, Bloodthirsty Black is no ringer,” he continued, oblivious to the fact that she wasn’t paying attention. “That other bull was kind of a lightweight, but this one is power on hooves. Mean son of a gun. He’s never let a man hear the buzzer, not yet. Those cowboys are crazy to enter. Must be some hot dames for prizes,” he said, laughing. “Not to mention a fine heirloom piece—if there’s anything left of it.”

  Nina blinked, her mind racing. Maybe there was a way to win back her self-respect. “What do you do when your wife’s mad at you?” she asked the driver.

  “Buy roses. Candy. Write love letters. Anything to get off the couch.” He grinned. “Young folks today are only interested in being right. They don’t understand the only way to win in marriage is not to care who’s right. Me? Sorry’s my favorite word. Comes out of my mouth real easy. Kind of like your sister back there. Saying sorry is a bond between friends and family. I love saying sorry to my wife. Making up is my favorite thing to do.”

  “What does she do when you’re mad at her?”

  “Now, there’s the key to a good marriage,” the driver said. “I don’t get mad at her. It’s a waste of time and a circular maze. The lady is always right, even if she’s wrong. Now that may sound to some folks like I lack self-respect, but you see, I’d rather sleep in my bed next to my soft woman and be wrong than sleep on the sofa with a spineful of springs and righteousness.”

  Nina smiled and leaned back against the seat. “Take me to the rodeo, please, sir.”

  “What about your plane?”

  She looked out the window. “There’ll be another plane tomorrow, and a fifty-dollar transfer fee is a small price to pay to get back what is mine.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the driver said, grinning at her in the rearview mirror. “The lady is always right.”

  Chapter Ten

  Navarro waited anxiously for the event to be called. The bed was in the middle of the arena, the subject of the packed crowd’s great interest. Instead of the pretty white linens Nina used on the bed, a red satin bedspread graced the mattress and red-satin pillow-cases covered the pillows. A few lace-edged, heart-shaped throw pillows were scattered on top and
pinwheels had been placed along the headboard and footboard. Air from the old wall fans turned the pinwheels, guaranteeing that if the cowboys didn’t make Bloodthirsty take notice, the pinwheels would be sure to grab his attention.

  Marvella had overbooked the event. Generally four cowboys “played cards” at the table, each trying to be the last one seated. There were ten cowboys participating in this event. Navarro figured that was due to the take Delilah had gotten out of her sister for charity, but it didn’t matter. He was ready to rock. Flexing his fingers, Navarro smiled, thinking about his little librarian safe and sound under Crockett’s auspices. It was nice to have a twin to help when things got rough. They’d started out watching Nina together, and before this day was done, they’d have Nina and her possessions at Malfunction Junction—where they belonged.

  “Scoot over, hero,” a little cowboy next to him said.

  He would have taken offense at the snippy tone except he was in too good of a mood. Moving away from the window, he went to peruse the Jefferson box. Full of family and friends as always, he spotted newly shaven Last, Archer, Bandera, Calhoun and Delilah and Jerry. Most of the Union Junction stylists were there, as well as several of the girls from Delilah’s salon.

  It was great to be a hero in front of the hometown crowd. They’d watched many a Jefferson brother test his mettle on this sawdust floor—always good to walk away, winner or loser, knowing there was family waiting to applaud his efforts.

  He loved being a Malfunction Junction cowboy.

  “Which makes it double unfortunate that I fell for a gal who has no intent to settle south of Kentucky,” he muttered, squaring his hat on his head.

  However, Nina was at the ranch, safe and sound, where she belonged—for the moment—so he could focus on the business at hand. He walked over to join the other cowboys hanging alongside the rail, checking out the competition.

  “Heard Bloodthirsty knows he’s getting cowboy stew for dinner,” one said. “Said he passed on lunch so he’d get his full share of a meal.”

  “I heard it was more like cowboy margarita, shaken and stirred,” another said.

  One cracked his knuckles.

  The shortest cowboy—who’d called him hero—merely remained at the rail, staring out at the bed. Obviously new to rodeo, since he didn’t talk to anyone and was wearing new jeans. He even had his hat facing the wrong way. Navarro thought he spied a price tag poking up from the side of the jeans.

  Dimestore cowboy—poor devil probably thinks rodeo is child’s play. Bang, bang, shoot-’em-up, walk away rich.

  Navarro put his boot on the rail next to the other cowboy and braced his forearms over the wood. “Nervous?”

  “No.” The little cowboy walked away.

  “Hmm.” Navarro glanced at the man standing next to him, who’d seen the huffy cowboy walk away from Navarro’s friendly overture.

  “Short man syndrome,” the blue-shirted, older cowboy said kindly. “Rather Napoleonic of him.”

  “Yeah,” Navarro agreed. “It’s always the little ones who have all the attitude.”

  They laughed congenially for a minute, then reached over to shake hands. “May the best man win,” the man said.

  “The best man,” agreed Navarro. Still, he glanced after the short cowboy, who’d found himself a corn dog to eat.

  “Whew, wouldn’t eat that before an event.” Still, he admired the cowboy’s grit. Amazed, he watched the small cowboy polish off a large paper cup of tea and then a plastic bowl of fruit. “Maybe he’ll grow,” he said to his companion.

  “Probably he’ll bow out when he sees Bloodthirsty coming at him,” the man said. “And I don’t envy the cowboy standing next to him when he blows.”

  Navarro laughed. “Good point. I’ll be sure to stay away.”

  He heard the announcer call the event. “Gotta go, man,” Navarro said. “Let’s cowboy up.”

  “I’m only in it for the glory,” his companion said. “I call the backside of the bed, ’cause I ain’t hanging around long.”

  Navarro had figured his new friend might be a bit old for such a daredevil sport. “What’s the point, then?”

  The man grinned. “Lady friend thinks the bed is beautiful. Says she’ll marry me if I win it. Ain’t gonna win it, but figure I’ll get points for trying. I sure would like to get my girl to the altar.”

  “Ouch.” Maybe I should have thought to drag that promise out of Nina.

  The announcer began introducing the event and the cowboys filed toward the bed, each staking a claim where they thought they might be able to perch the longest. The little, food-stuffing cowboy ambled out last, just as Navarro settled into his spot.

  Navarro chuckled to himself. “Short man syndrome,” he muttered, and the little cowboy turned to stare at him defiantly for just a second from his spot front-and-center on the bed. Just like a novice. Any greenhorn should know the worst spot to be was closest to the bull and dead in its sight.

  “Angry little cow-elf,” the friendly cowboy whispered to Navarro. “Probably last on the stack, if you know what I mean.”

  Navarro nodded, uneasily looking over to Bloodthirsty’s chute. The cowboys were struggling with loading the bull. There was bucking and kicking going on. Someone yelled and suddenly the gate burst open.

  Navarro’s blood seemed to curdle as his eyes focused on the bull. Never had he seen anything that bent on destruction running straight for him. It was as if Marvella had whispered in its ear, “Get my money’s worth out of those cowboys,” and the bull was obeying, to the crowd’s delight. Images of Roman coliseums ran through his mind as the people cheered the bull, and suddenly, the friendly cowboy next to him said, “I’m outta here.” He escaped, jumping up on the rail before the bull ever made it to the middle of the arena.

  Navarro tensed, knowing he had two more seconds before the bull rushed the bed. The little cowboy stood, waving his thin arms at the bull.

  For a small man, he had a great ass. Kinda round and—

  “Get down!” he yelled at the greenhorn, jerking him down by the back of his shirt. The two of them tumbled to the center of the bed for just an instant—long enough for the little cowboy’s hat to fall off, revealing blond, bunned hair, a dirt-smeared cheek and eyes he couldn’t forget if he wanted to.

  “Nina,” he breathed. “You little witch.”

  She shrugged away from him so she could get back to the front of the bed. Navarro felt the first rush of air as Bloodthirsty went by, following a fleeing cowboy. Navarro grasped for Nina’s shirt collar again, but she flung her arm back. He caught her, giving her a good jerk, but she fell back into the bed.

  “If you don’t get the H. A. Rey outta here, I’m gonna be awful mad when this is over,” he shouted. “Go on!”

  With all her might, Nina shoved Navarro back onto the bed. The last two remaining cowboys moved to the rail, realizing Bloodthirsty was heading their way, hooves and horns flying.

  “Why is Navarro fighting with that little cowboy?” Archer asked, munching popcorn. “It’s not sporting to pick on such a little ’un. Plus, you’re not supposed to thrash your opponent so you can win the event.”

  “Is he fighting, or is there something we should know about him?” Bandera asked, peering down. “Seems they know each other pretty well.”

  “Huh,” Calhoun said. “He musta taken Nina’s leavin’ harder than we thought he would. Look at him trying to drag that little thing into the middle of the bed with him. If I didn’t know my brother better, I’d think he’d lost his mind.”

  “That’s not a little cowboy,” Last said. “That’s a little fake cowgirl.” He sat down, dumbfounded. “No wonder Navarro’s out there losing his mind! It’s the Curse of the Broken Body Parts—getting injured means he’s really in love.”

  “He’s gonna take a blow to the pants if he doesn’t look sharp.” Bandera jumped to his feet, cupping his hands to his mouth. “Navarro! Look out!”

  It was too late. Bloodthirsty hit the bed wit
h a huge whack heard through the arena. Everyone gasped. Flailing, Nina and Navarro fell into the center of the bed, him on top of her, knocking the breath from both of them.

  The bed collapsed.

  “That curse didn’t hurt like I thought it would,” Navarro said.

  “Damn,” Last said, eating Bandera’s popcorn as the clowns ran to try to turn Bloodthirsty away from the wreckage on the floor. “Now I remember jumping on that bed. It’s all coming back to me.”

  “Stupid-head!” Calhoun said to Last before hurdling the rail to the floor to help Navarro.

  “If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t even be here, dunce,” Bandera said to Last, following Calhoun.

  Archer sighed and headed over the rail after his brothers.

  Last put his popcorn down as he watched his brothers.

  After the bull pranced once around the ring, snorting and seeming to take his applause from the audience, Bloodthirsty was shooed into the breezeway by the clowns.

  Delilah brushed Nina’s hair from her face. “Are you hurt, honey?”

  “I’m fine, thank you,” Nina said, staring at Navarro. “I would have been better if he hadn’t landed on me.”

  “I would have been better if she had stayed at home where she belongs,” Navarro replied.

  Nina gasped. “You’re crazy.”

  “And no librarian worth her Dewey decimals would ever do something this zany. Have you lost your mind?”

  “Maybe. Maybe I did. But I’ve got it back now,” she snapped, putting her hands on her hips.

  He gave an exasperated sigh. “I should have seen right through that disguise. There’s so much blue in those jeans, your skin is probably dyed. No self-respecting cowboy dresses like that.”

  “Well, you didn’t see through my disguise. I was under your nose the whole time!”