Texas Strong

by Jean Brashear

  Again, however, Tank answered her son. “I haven’t, and I hope to heaven I never do. I sometimes deal with violent people, and I’m charged with protecting others, so I carry a weapon, but any good peace officer does everything possible to avoid having to use it.”

  “I’m sorry,” she began. “Thad, you shouldn’t be asking Tank these questions.”

  “It’s okay,” Tank said. “They’re honest questions, and the boy deserves answers.”

  “I didn’t mean to do the wrong thing, Mom.” Thad’s distress was clear. “I’m sorry, Big Theo.”

  Tank scooped up the boy and held him on his lap. “It’s really okay. Don’t worry over it.” He glanced up, his eyes telling her the same thing.

  Laura dipped in with another diversion, this time asking about his plans for his land. Tank answered her, and the discussion ranged from there over a variety of topics.

  The warm day and their full stomachs began to have an effect, and she soon noticed that Thad was falling asleep against Tank’s broad chest. He held the boy secure with one big hand, while Becky leaned against Laura, her own lids drooping.

  “I guess we should go,” she said, with a pointed glance.

  He looked down, and the tenderness in his gaze made her heart ache. “He’s a good boy, Chrissy. They’re both sweet kids. You’ve done a wonderful job of raising them.”

  “Hear, hear,” Laura agreed. “She focuses too much on what she wishes she could do and not enough on her accomplishments. And she’s lousy at accepting help.”

  Tank smiled a little. “I noticed.”

  “Thank you for being there for her,” Laura said.

  “Oh, well, I didn’t—” He tried to shrug off what he’d done.

  “Someone else appears to be uncomfortable taking credit for doing good things,” she noted.

  Tank rose in one smooth move of his powerful muscles, holding Thad to him without disturbing the boy. “I’ll just take him to the truck, then I can help with Becky.”

  “Thank you,” Chrissy said to her sister as she gathered up the picnic supplies. “It kills me how he feels so apart from everyone.”

  “You’re right. He’s a good man. And fortunate to have you on his side.”

  “He doesn’t think so. He’s too busy backpedaling, trying to protect me from his reputation.”

  “Which only makes me like him more,” Laura responded. “Don’t give up on him.”

  “I’m not the one running away.” Chrissy sighed. “But I have to think of the kids first. It’s not the right time in my life for a man, especially one who’s so complicated. I’m just trying to be his friend.”

  “Uh-huh,” her sister replied.

  “You know my track record. My judgment can’t be trusted.”

  “Your heart can, though. That’s a man who needs love.”

  “But he doesn’t want it. Fights it with every breath.”

  Laura shook her head. “Not how it looks from here. He may fight it, but not because he doesn’t want it.”

  “I can’t hope for that. I’ve already made a fool of myself. The ball is in his court now.”

  Tank neared, and Chrissy busied herself clearing their picnic site, unable to look at him, now cradling her daughter in his strong arms, while her heart was in her eyes.

  But she couldn’t help hoping that today might be a sign that he was thawing. That he could see himself in a new light.

  Chapter Twelve

  Bridger walked around the newly-finished clinic space, amazed and delighted by all he saw. For now he couldn’t staff it on a regular basis, but whenever he was at the fire station, it would be open, and he’d meet people here for emergencies. Then maybe one day Molly would be finished with her residency, and he could convince her to join him. Or maybe Jake Cameron or one of the nurses he’d given his card to would be interested in small town living or—

  His cell rang. “Bridger Calhoun.”

  “Jake Cameron here.”

  Bridger’s eyebrows flew. Had he turned psychic? “Hey, there. How’s it going?”

  “Good, good—” Jake sighed loudly. “Actually, not so good. I need your help.”

  Not what Bridger had wanted to hear when his hopes had soared at the identity of his caller. “What can I do?”

  Another hefty sigh. “I seem to have lost my wife.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, well, I know where she is, but…”

  At least Bridger wasn’t put in the position of lying to a man he’d love to lure here. He’d met Chrissy’s sister at the final work day. Not a word had been said, though, about her being more than a visitor. “But…?”

  “Okay, look, remember how we talked about all those shifts I’ve been working?”

  “I do.”

  “The thing is, I missed a very important day for us as a couple, and now she’s left me.”

  If anything Bridger’s brows flew higher. “Oh.”

  “Yeah. I screwed up, big-time. I love that woman like no one else on earth, but damn it, I thought she understood how important—”

  Bridger couldn’t stem his chuckle. His Penelope had been like this about her job in D.C. “You’re indispensable, right?”

  “I’m needed here. We’re perpetually swamped—you saw it yourself.” Jake’s pique showed in his voice.

  “Did she always come second in your life?”

  “Whoa, now—it’s not like that. It’s just—”Jake heaved another sigh. “Yes. It’s exactly like that. Only I didn’t notice.”

  “How long have you been married, Jake?”

  “Twenty-six years.”

  Bridger fought his smile. “I haven’t even been married a year yet, and I’m real clear on how badly you screwed up. Were you always like this?”

  “No. Just since I switched to trauma from plastics.”

  Jake’s disgruntled tone had Jake shaking his head. “So you had this nice nine-to-five life doing plastics, plenty of time off, boatloads of money, right?”

  “So what? What I’m doing now is more important.”

  “I’m not arguing that. I’m grateful as hell that you chose it. But how old are you, Jake?”

  “Fifty-one.”

  “So, what, a good twenty years older than the rest of your staff?”

  “What of it?”

  “No point at all,” he backtracked. “What can I do for you?”

  “I need to seduce my wife.”

  “Whoa there—” Bridger shook his head. “I think that’s all on you, dude. You need help with that after all these years of experience with her?” Man, oh man…

  “No! What I need is someplace around there to take her. Got any honeymoon suites?”

  Bridger snorted. “We don’t even have a motel. Got one B&B, but you do not want the Benefields listening in while you…you know.”

  “I don’t know that I can kidnap her and get her back to Austin without being armed.”

  Bridger grinned. “Hold on.” He did some rapid thinking. Jackson had built himself and Veronica a little getaway on a plot of land on the way to Fredericksburg. His buddy said that with all their children and all his geeks in town, he and she could never get time alone, so he’d created them a little escape cabin almost no one knew about. “I might have something in mind. It’s not for rent, but you might be able to borrow it.”

  “Seriously? I would so owe you, man.”

  “I know exactly how you can pay me back.”

  “How?”

  “If this works out, come put in a day at the new clinic we just finished.”

  “Just one day?”

  I’m betting we can hook you on more. But he wouldn’t push. “Yeah. One day. You can help me test drive it.”

  “That was fast work.”

  “The whole town pitched in last weekend.”

  “Sort of like the old-fashioned barn-raisings?”

  “Exactly like that. We pull together around here.”

  “That’s impressive. So will you let me know soon about t
he cabin?”

  “I’ll call my buddy right now and get back to you.”

  “Thank you. Man, I miss that woman.”

  “I hear that.” All he had to do was remember walking away from Penelope because she was convinced their worlds could never mesh.

  The day she strolled into his fire station, coming to claim him, on those long, long legs, wearing her red cowboy boots, was a memory he’d hold close forever.

  Tuesday was busier than Monday had been, and Henry gratefully accepted her help. Laura thought she’d gotten pretty good at the grill, though mostly she was doing prep work for him.

  Then the air around them changed. A voice spoke from behind her. “So you’re the one who’s pitching in?”

  Laura turned to see an older woman with bottle-black hair studying her. She was barely over five feet tall.

  “I hope you don’t mind. I love to cook, but I’ve never cooked on restaurant equipment before. Henry was kind enough to show me some tricks on the grill, and I wanted to repay him by doing prep work. You must be Mrs. Howard.” Laura started to hold out her hand but realized she had tomato juice all over it and quickly cleaned it off with a rag. “I’m Laura Cameron. Chrissy’s sister.”

  “And Dr. Jake’s wife, I hear.”

  With a lump in her throat, Laura nodded. “Yes.” For now, at least.

  “We’re mighty fond of Dr. Jake around here.”

  “I heard. He saved your granddaughter and her baby.”

  “He did. We owe him so much.”

  “He loves his work,” Laura managed to say without choking up. “He’s taken care of a lot of people.”

  “So you’re here visiting? For how long?”

  Laura’s eyes burned. “I’m not sure.”

  “Oh?”

  A change of topic seemed overdue. “Chrissy and the kids have fallen in love with this town. Thank you for hiring her.”

  “We needed the help badly. She’s a good hand.” She studied Laura again. “So tell me again how it is that you changed from being a visitor to working in my kitchen?”

  Any answer was a minefield, since Jeanette and Spike had said Ruby and Scarlett were so invested in this place. A look at the little woman before her told Laura that Ruby thought of herself as nowhere near feeble. “People are always asking me if I’m going to open a restaurant, but I have no experience beyond throwing big parties and catering for friends. I guess Chrissy had mentioned that, so Jeanette thought maybe I could—”

  “Jeanette!” Ruby called out. “Get yourself in here.”

  Jeanette and Laura exchanged worried glances when the waitress entered.

  “So you’ve turned my cafe into a training school?”

  Jeanette towered over Ruby, but her shoulders still rounded like a chastened child before she forced them straight again. “You should taste her cooking. She’s got the gift.”

  Ruby seemed to be winding up, so hastily Laura intervened. “Is there any chance you’d share that biscuit recipe, Mrs. Howard? Those are absolutely amazing.” Spike had been making them, but it wouldn’t be fair to get it from her without Ruby’s permission.

  “Call me Ruby,” the woman snapped. “Everyone does. And no, I won’t share the recipe, but you can watch me make them in the morning.”

  “That would be great.”

  “Be here at four.”

  Laura nearly choked. “Four…”

  “Got to let them rise a bit. Folks show up by six. You think a restaurant is fun? It’s hard work, girl.” She turned back to Jeanette. “And you, missy, you thinking I’m not coming back to take the reins again?”

  “I never thought that, Ruby. It’s your place. But Scarlett can’t work yet, and you were cutting back some.”

  “I ran this place when you were barely a twinkle in your daddy’s eye, girl. I still run this place.”

  “I know you do, but Scarlett—”

  “Get over here, young lady, and bend down so I can hug you.”

  “Hug?” Jeanette echoed. But she did as she was ordered.

  “Hug.” Ruby did so, then turned to Laura. And winked. “Henry—”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Finish that order, then get over here and let me hug you, too. I appreciate how you’ve stepped in and handled the grill.”

  Henry complied, blushing while Ruby hugged him.

  Then she turned to Laura. “Well, you get over here, too. I’m grateful to you for pitching in. We can put you on the payroll. You might just be a gift from above, arriving here when I was worried sick about how to keep my granddaughter resting a little longer. Girl lost a powerful amount of blood, and she’s still not got her energy back. But she’s worrying over me, and when I can tell her that we can manage fine without her for a while longer and not make me work as hard as I once did, well…” Ruby’s eyes filled as she hugged Laura fiercely. “If you could even give us a few days, there’s no way I can thank you enough.”

  Laura’s heart warmed with the feeling of being needed. Even if it meant being here at the terrifying hour of four a.m. “You don’t have to pay me. Jake makes good money, and what I’m learning is payment enough.”

  “Be that as it may, you will get paid. Every woman needs some mad money, if nothing else. Now let’s go sit down and work us out a schedule I can go show my granddaughter so she’ll relax.” She grinned. “Ian’s going to want to thank you, too.” Ruby shook her head. “I’ve been half out of my mind trying to figure out how to convince Scarlett not to rush back. Ian’s about ready to tie her to a chair.”

  “Bet that went over great,” Jeanette drawled.

  Ruby laughed, the worry gone from her features. “You got that right. Okay, let’s start finagling. Henry, you get over here, too.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Tank didn’t know what he was doing at the cafe. He didn’t belong. He’d never belonged.

  But Chrissy was here, and she drew him, moth to her bright flame. He kept picturing her on his land, spreading sunshine with her smiles, her joy, her gentleness with her children. Everywhere he looked, he caught the imprint of her behind his eyes, a double exposure over every view, a hidden ghost in every image.

  He was so tired of his demons. Exhausted from holding them at bay. She made him want to step into the sunshine and find a way to live there. To simply…be. No constant fighting himself and his knowledge of whose blood flowed through his veins. Who he was fated to be.

  Somehow she and her children, the sweet faith they placed in him, made him want to believe he could be more.

  “Want some coffee?” asked the voice he’d been hearing in his head.

  His eyes rose. “I would. Thanks.”

  She poured so expertly. “You look tired.”

  He felt tired. Soul-deep worn out. He merely shrugged. “Just a day. How has yours been?”

  “Busy, but I’m enjoying having my sister here. She’s been helping Ruby and Henry, and she looks as happy as I’ve seen her since she arrived.” She shook her head. “Men.”

  He glanced up. “All of us?”

  She touched his shoulder, and he was warmed clear through. “No, you get a pass. It’s my brother-in-law I’m disparaging. Idiot man.”

  He frowned. “What’s wrong with him?”

  “He messed up pretty big, and now he wants me to help set her up so he can kidnap her and whisk her away to some romantic spot.”

  “That’s bad? You don’t like him?”

  “I adore Jake. But Laura’s my sister. She practically raised me. And he hurt her.”

  Tank tensed. “Physically?”

  “No. Oh, no, never.” Another graze of her fingers. “He just lost sight of her for a bit, that’s all, really. He’d never intentionally hurt her, not even her feelings.”

  He had no concept of that kind of relationship. “Love complicates things.” At least he guessed it did. His mother always said she loved his father, made constant excuses for a violent man who felt free to use his fists on those he supposedly loved. />
  He glanced toward the kitchen, seeing Laura laughing with Henry. “So she walked out on him?”

  “She’s playing high-stakes poker.” Chrissy shook her head. “I don’t get taking risks like that with someone who adores you. I’ve never had anyone love me the way Jake loves Laura.” Her eyes were wistful. Then she shook her head. “Sorry—you ready to order?”

  He studied her. “Someone should have loved you. You’re so sweet.”

  Her forehead wrinkled. “I don’t want to be sweet. I want passion. I want someone to make me crazy, make me desperate the way those two are.”

  “No, you don’t—” he snapped.

  She recoiled.

  “Sorry.” He felt naked now under her look, but he couldn’t help thinking about the woman in the trailer park, who let love debase her. Or his mother, who allowed love to make her meek, and he couldn’t stand the thought of Chrissy being cowed like that. “Don’t ever let love make you weak. Don’t ever give anyone that power over you.”

  Her curious look made him want to leave. “I need to go.” He started to rise.

  She touched his shoulder again. “Do you have to? I’m due for my break. If you want, I could sit with you while you eat.”

  He frowned. “That’s not—”

  “Don’t tell me it’s not a good idea, Tank. Can’t you get it through your head that I’m not listening? I’m not afraid to be seen with you. People need to know you better.”

  His insides clenched. “I don’t want anyone knowing me.”

  “Too late,” she said blithely. “I already do.”

  “You don’t have a clue.” He glared. “Don’t make me into some project, Chrissy.”

  “I’m not,” she stated simply. “I’m being your friend.”

  Friend. He didn’t want her to be one of those. Well, not only. He wanted… He shook his head. Wanting was wrong. It would come to no good end.

  Her small hand rested on his shoulder once more. “Stop worrying and trying to protect me, Tank. Just give me your order, so I can get off my feet.”

  He glanced upward. “For someone so small and sweet, you sure are bossy.”

  She grinned. “I know. Deal with it.” Then she flounced off, stopping here and there to refill coffee as she made her way to the pass-through to order his food.