Next to Trey, Taggart quickly added, “I can tell you that Blake has his hopes up, too. We all do.”
“Yes,” Holt agreed with the ranch foreman. “For years we’ve had a cloud hanging over us, and we’re praying that Ginny Patterson is finally going to help shine some light.”
Trey started to question Holt about what this so-called meeting with the woman was going to involve, but the food suddenly arrived and everyone turned their attention to eating.
For the remainder of the party, the subject of Joel’s death and the hope to solve it wasn’t mentioned again, until much later when Trey and Nicole were driving back to Wickenburg.
“The whole thing is so—well, just thinking about it makes me shiver,” Nicole said. “Who knows if this Ginny woman can be trusted? She might lead Joe and Connor into a trap?”
“We don’t know if Joe and Connor will actually be in on the meeting or if the Phoenix police will handle the whole thing. Either way, they’re professionals. They’ll know how to deal with the situation.”
She pondered his words for a moment before she finally said, “Yes, I suppose so. I wonder if Chandler and Roslyn know about this plan. Has he mentioned anything to you about it?”
“Yes, they know. The whole family has been waiting anxiously for Ginny Patterson to finally agree to a definite date for the meeting. Now it looks like that’s finally in the process of getting done. I only hope it gives them answers.” He looked over to see her head resting against the back of the seat, her eyelids lowered to sleepy slits. Just looking at her made his heart ache with feelings so strange and strong that he could never begin to understand them. “Have I told you how gorgeous you look tonight?”
A faint smile touched her lips. “Maybe two or three times. And you’re changing the subject.”
“You are my subject.”
“Is that why you’ve been so distracted tonight?” she asked. “Even when we were dancing, I had the feeling you were somewhere else.”
To add to the festivities, Maureen had hired a small three-piece band and pushed aside the living room furniture to make space for dancing. Trey had hoped having Nicole in his arms and moving to the music would help soothe the uneasiness that had come over him during the evening. Instead, it had made him even more impatient to get her alone.
“I was somewhere else,” he admitted. “I was in bed making love to you.”
She leaned across the console and reached for his hand. “We’re almost home, darling.”
Home. Yes, something about tonight had changed Trey’s definition of that word. To have a real home, it took two people loving each other, working together, laughing at the good times and crying through the bad. It meant making roots together. And that meant he had to believe Nicole would never want to go back to Texas. He had to put his trust in her and truly believe she was different than the women who’d hurt him in the past.
Hours later, Nicole lay curled against Trey’s warm body, her head pillowed on his arm as she gazed past the open curtain of the bedroom window. A moment ago, she’d heard the distant sound of a rooster crowing, and even though she couldn’t see the clock on the nightstand, she knew that daylight would soon be pushing away the moonlight.
The party at Three Rivers had lasted for hours, and Nicole had enjoyed it immensely. Still, she’d been relieved when Trey had finally suggested they leave. He’d not been himself tonight. Even while they’d made love, she’d felt a part of him was far away.
She’d hoped that sleep would blot out her nagging thoughts. But instead of sleeping, she’d lain wide-awake, listening to Trey’s even breathing and wondering what was in his heart. Why couldn’t he share his feelings with her?
Maybe because his feelings for you aren’t worth sharing, Nicole. Did you ever think of that? Just because he’s in your bed doesn’t mean he loves you, or anything close to it. You’re dreaming. Hoping for something that is never going to be.
The mocking voice going on in her head caused tears to fill her eyes, and she prayed the salty moisture wouldn’t roll down her cheek and onto his arm. Not for anything did she want him to wake and find her crying.
“You should be asleep.”
The unexpected sound of his voice caused her to rapidly blink her watery eyes and attempt to swallow away the lump in her throat.
“You should be, too,” she murmured. “We’re going to be red-eyed when we go to see your grandmother later today. Do you still want to go?”
His cheek rubbed against the top of her head. “Sure. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I thought—you might be out of the mood.”
His hand slid gently down her arm to rest on the curve of her hip. “I want us to go. I don’t know why you’re thinking my mood is off.”
With her back still to him, she drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes. “I’m sorry, Trey. I guess I’m just being a woman and getting the feeling that—” Turning to face him, she rested a hand in the middle of his chest. “Maybe you’re getting tired of me.”
“Tired?” His laugh was incredulous. “That’s not going to happen.”
The moonlight slanting through the windows illuminated his face. She carefully studied each rugged feature before she finally asked, “Do you remember after we went to the Wagon Wheel and I asked you what you would do if a woman got serious about you? You said you’d probably run. You’ve never explained why. Did a woman hurt you?”
He was silent for so long that Nicole had given up on an answer, but then he sighed and turned his gaze toward the ceiling.
“I really don’t want to talk about it, Nicci.”
Rejection washed over her, and she quickly sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the mattress. “Oh. Okay.”
His hand was suddenly wrapping around the side of her waist. “Where are you going?”
“To the kitchen. To make coffee.” Anything would be better than lying next to him and thinking about things that made her want to burst into tears.
“You’re angry with me,” he stated.
“No. Just disappointed. That’s all.”
Suddenly he was sitting behind her and his hands were on her shoulders, drawing her back against his warn chest. “Doc told me that if I was honest with you, then you’d never be disappointed in me. I guess maybe I’d better be honest with you now.”
Frowning, she twisted her head around to look at him. “I don’t want you to do or say anything just because you feel I’m pressuring you. That’s not good. So let’s forget this. Okay?”
She started to rise, but he held her fast.
“It’s not okay. I should’ve told you in the beginning that I—well, let’s just say I tried the serious thing a couple of times before. Both of them ended in a bad way. For me, that is. Not for the women.”
After Loretta and Roslyn had hinted about his past romances, she’d been thinking it would help her to understand him better if she knew what had happened. But now, the deepest part of her was revolting against the image of him loving another woman.
Trying to brace herself, she asked, “Serious? Like considering marriage?”
He nodded. “I was only twenty-one back then. Rhonda worked as a farrier’s assistant. I thought we’d make a perfect match and so did she. Until she got the chance for a high-paying job on a ranch near Reno. She lit out and never looked back. I heard later that she’d found herself a sugar daddy.”
“I’d say you made a great escape.”
“That’s true enough,” he said ruefully. “But I doubt you’ve ever been deserted like that—it bruises the ego, Nicci.”
She couldn’t imagine any woman walking away from Trey. Not if she’d really loved him. “Your ego must have healed over time.”
“It was a couple of years or more before I met Lacey. She was my age and the single mother of a little two-year-old girl. She worked hard as a waitress, while tryin
g to take college classes on the side. I thought we matched up just fine. And I grew darned attached to the little girl.”
“What happened? The baby’s father showed up to make trouble?”
He shook his head. “No. He was out of the picture. It was Lacey’s family that caused the problems. They were a dysfunctional group, including her parents. Always begging for money or help of some kind. Their interference finally got to be too much.”
He was practically describing what Nicole had been going through with her own parents. Had Trey noticed the parallel? Was that why he’d not wanted to take their relationship a step closer to love and marriage?
Trying to quell her runaway thoughts, she asked, “Did you break up with Lacey?”
“No. She packed up and moved her and the baby to California. Ironically, after Lacey left, her family moved away, too. But whether they followed her, I never heard.”
“You could’ve gone after her.”
He shrugged. “She obviously didn’t care enough to stay with me and try to make it all work, so I didn’t see any point of putting up a fight to keep her.”
It didn’t sound like he’d put up a battle for either woman. In some ways Nicole was glad he hadn’t. It could only mean that deep down he hadn’t loved enough or cared enough to fight for what he wanted. Only, somewhere along the way, those bad experiences had pushed him into believing he never wanted to be a family man. If that was the case, she might never change his mind.
“I see,” she murmured thoughtfully.
A look of disbelief crossed his face. “That’s a surprise. I didn’t expect you to understand why I’d basically given up on women—until you came along.”
She practically stopped breathing as she waited for him to say more. Like how much he would always need her. How much he would fight to keep her in his life. But the silence in the room began to stretch as far as the lingering shadows. And after a while Nicole decided the best and only thing to do for the moment was to show him that she honestly did understand.
Nestling her cheek against the curve of his shoulder, she said, “Before I ever moved here to Arizona, I had promised myself that I wasn’t going to look at another man. At least, not anytime soon. Then you walked into Chandler’s office and made me break that vow.”
His chest shook with a chuckle, and the sound brought a smile to her face. “What’s funny about that?” she asked.
“Be honest. I caught your attention because you’d never smelled a man who was covered with cow manure.”
She hugged him tighter. “Better than any designer cologne.”
His fingertips drew lazy lines upon her cheek as he bent his head and touched the tip of his nose to hers. “And you’re better than an armful of paradise,” he whispered.
“Mmm,” she purred. “Then we’d better not waste the rest of the morning.”
“I thought you wanted coffee.”
She angled her lips against his. “We’ll have plenty of time for that—later.”
* * *
The waning afternoon was spreading long shadows over Virginia Lasseter’s vegetable garden as Nicole followed the woman through rows of snap beans, tomatoes and corn.
Pausing, the tall, slender woman with long dark hair pointed to a portion of the garden to their right. “I normally have cantaloupe and watermelon growing there, but with Harley raising acres and acres of melons, he told me not to bother with those—he’ll keep me supplied. So I planted more onions, carrots and radishes instead of melons. Trey hates radishes, but he’s rarely around to eat.”
Virginia looked at her and smiled, and not for the first time this afternoon, Nicole thought how much Trey’s grandmother reminded her of Maureen Hollister. Not that the women’s appearances or lives were similar in any way. Maureen was an incredibly wealthy woman and the owner of one of the largest ranches in Arizona. The family’s holdings raked in more money in a single year than Nicole could imagine. As for Virginia, she lived in a very modest old house on a small acreage. She worked as a waitress to support herself, and yet she had that same regal quality that Maureen possessed, that same youthful beauty that was timeless. Both women’s eyes shone with strength and wisdom. The two important qualities that Nicole often prayed her mother would find.
“I love radishes,” Nicole said. “Actually, there’s not a vegetable in your garden that I don’t like.”
“Good. When everything is ready to pick, I’ll call you. I’ll have plenty to share with you.”
“I’d like that.”
Virginia’s gaze moved from Nicole to where Trey was sitting on the steps of the back porch, playing with one of the woman’s several cats.
“I think my grandson disapproves of my decision to marry Harley,” she said. “When I showed him my engagement ring, he looked like he’d swallowed a few fence steeples.”
Not long after Nicole and Trey had arrived at his grandmother’s house, she’d sprung the news of her engagement on them and showed off the hefty sparkler that Harley had slipped onto her finger.
Nicole felt incredibly happy for the woman and had given her a sincere hug and well wishes. As for Trey, he’d mostly remained quiet about the news.
“I wouldn’t say he’s unhappy, Virgie. I think the word marriage just makes him feel a bit squeamish.”
The older woman sighed as she tucked a strand of black hair threaded with silver behind one ear. “That’s understandable. His parents were always at each other’s throats. Our son Amos was, still is, a good man in his own way. But he’s the sort that never should’ve gotten married or been a father. Not that he ever was much of one,” she admitted. “When he and Emma divorced, it was a blessing all around. After that, James and I hoped our marriage would be an example for our grandson. But then Trey had some bad tries at romance.”
“Yes. He told me a little about them. But I believe he’s over that now.”
Virginia batted a hand through the air. “Over those women? Pooh. He didn’t love either one of those gals in the first place.”
Nicole wondered how Virginia could be so certain of her grandson’s emotional state. “What makes you think so?”
Smiling, she patted Nicole’s shoulder. “I never saw hide nor hair of either one of them. But I’ve seen you.”
Was this woman implying that Trey might possibly love Nicole? Just because he’d brought her here today? No. She’d be foolish to let her hopes go that far.
Nicole was trying to think of some sort of appropriate response when Virginia nudged her shoulder toward the house.
“Let’s go in,” she said. “I have something to give you.”
They strolled back to the porch where Trey still sat with the black cat.
“What are you two doing?” he asked. “I thought you were going to gather the eggs.”
“We have plenty of time to do that before dark,” Virginia told him. “You just stay put. We have some girl business in the house to take care of.”
Trey arched a skeptical brow at his grandmother. “Are you filling Nicci’s head with stories about me?”
“I don’t want to scare her off,” she answered sassily, while gesturing for Nicole to follow her onto the porch.
Trey winked at Nicole. “Okay. You two just go on and leave me all alone. At least, Cleo likes me.”
“Cleo likes anybody who’ll rub her belly. And by the way, all the cats need their vaccines. Think you can take care of them the next time you come? That’s much easier than me hauling seven cats into the clinic.”
“I’ll bring all the vaccines next time,” he promised.
The two women entered the house, and after walking through the small kitchen, Virginia guided her to a small bedroom at the back.
“This used to be Trey’s room while he was living with us. That was years ago, before he went to work on the Johnson Ranch. Now I mostly use it to store things,”
she explained.
The small room had a linoleum floor printed to look like river rock. A single long window covered with sheer priscillas was located next to the side of a full-sized bed made with a wooden bookshelf for a headboard. A matching chest stood across from the bed, and on top of it was a framed photo of Trey that appeared to be taken at his high school graduation. Everything was simple and neat and spotless.
“Trey has confessed he’s not much of a housekeeper,” Nicole said. “Was his room messy back then?”
Virginia chuckled. “It was usually a disaster. But I didn’t clean it up for him. I made him do it.”
She moved to the head of the bed where a cedar chest was pushed up against the wall. After removing a small lamp from the top and setting it aside, she pushed up the lid.
Nicole was wondering what the woman could possibly be wanting to give her when Virginia pulled out a handmade quilt.
“I made this many years ago. It’s done in a double wedding ring pattern,” she said, her hand smoothing over the calico. “For a gift for Trey whenever he got married. I’m giving it to you now.”
Nicole’s mouth fell open as she handed the quilt over to her. “But Virgie, I can’t take this!”
“Why not? I’m giving it to you.”
“But Trey is—”
“Trey nothing. He’ll come around. Just like I did with Harley,” she added with a coy grin.
Nicole was virtually speechless. The mere fact that Virginia Lasseter had accepted her as Trey’s girlfriend so quickly and without question was amazing in itself. But to give her such a keepsake was more than she could grasp.
“I don’t know what to say, Virgie,” she murmured, and then before she could stop them, tears sprang to her eyes. “This is—the most beautiful gift anyone has ever given me.”
“Oh, I doubt that. Trey said you were a city girl and wore fancy high heels. I figure you’ve had lots of nice gifts before.”
Was that the way he’d described her? Thought of her? Maybe when they’d first met, she’d seemed materialistic, but surely he’d learned differently now.
His Forever Texas Rose Page 17