by Joanna Wayne
Grandma Pearl was delightful. Tague clearly had inherited her smile. Tommy took to Pearl instantly, or at least the second she’d found out he’d already eaten and presented him with a homemade peanut butter cookie.
A chocolate square and cookie. He’d be hyped tonight, but after Scott’s phone call, a one-night sugar high seemed a minuscule concern.
Within minutes of entering the house, introductions had been made and they gathered on an air-conditioned back porch that had been glassed in and furnished with comfortable chairs and sofas. Baskets of magazines and books were scattered about the area and the fragrance from a large basket of daisies perfumed the air.
Belle had the seat of honor, a play chair placed so that she was in the middle of all the action. The baby girl was absolutely precious, and Carolina and the rest of her family clearly adored her.
If they were that enamored of a foster child, perhaps it wasn’t that unusual for the Lamberts to take in people who needed help. Alexis definitely qualified tonight.
“How about some raspberry iced tea?” Tague’s Aunt Sybil asked as she handed Alexis a tall glass wrapped in a napkin to absorb the condensation. “It’s perfect for these hot summer evenings. But there’s regular iced tea if you’d prefer.”
“Raspberry tea sounds delicious,” Alexis said truthfully. Her throat was so dry it was practically raspy.
“There’s sherry, too,” Pearl said, smiling and holding up her etched crystal cordial stem to expose her beverage of choice.
“Grandma’s a loyal sherry drinker,” Tague said.
“It’s good for the body and the soul,” Pearl said with a sly wink.
“And here’s a regular iced tea for you, Tague,” Sybil said as she handed him a glass. “Fresh brewed and strong, just the way you like it.”
“Thank you. Real men don’t drink raspberries.”
“Can I get your son something to drink?” Sybil asked Alexis. “We have milk and orange juice.”
“No,” Tommy answered for himself as he scooted closer to Alexis. He’d settled back into his bashful-around-strangers mode now that he had his cookie.
“No, thank you,” Alexis corrected him. Tommy ignored the etiquette prompt.
She envied him that he could emotionally pull away and shut out the roomful of strangers. In spite of the warm hospitality that filled the cozy space, she was becoming increasingly nervous. Her secrets seemed less safe by the second. Too many people. Too much friendly chatter.
Far too little anonymity.
They engaged in a few minutes of small talk about the ranch and the weather before Carolina voiced the question they likely all wanted to ask.
“Tague mentioned a carjacking and a car chase. Is that how you injured your eye?”
“I’ll explain it later,” Tague said. “Not the best time to get into it.” He nodded toward Tommy as if to remind them that he was present and didn’t need to hear any more talk of the danger.
“I understand,” Carolina said. “But perhaps Alexis needs an ice pack for her eye.”
“I’ll take you up on that later,” Alexis said. “I’ve been treating it with ice for most of the afternoon.”
Tague’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he gulped down half his glass of tea. “I promised to take Tommy out to see the horses. We should probably get on it before dark. Alexis, do you want to come along?”
“I doubt he’d go without me.”
Carolina blotted her wet lips on a napkin and turned to Alexis. “Maybe I should see if Blake will drive over and take a look at your eye and that bump on your head.”
“Yep,” Tague agreed. “Just what Alexis needs, a horse doctor.”
“He’s a veterinarian whose ranch borders ours,” Carolina explained. “He’s also a family friend. I’m sure he’ll tell you if he thinks you should see a regular M.D.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I did see a doctor today,” Alexis said. “I really am fine.”
“Then by all means, go with Tague and Tommy to the horse barn. I’ll show you to your suite when you get back.”
“Actually, I’d love the chance to freshen up a bit before I do anything else,” Alexis said. “It’s been a long and very chaotic day.” And she’d do or say most anything to delay a trip to see giant, stamping stallions.
“I’m sure the day was quite stressful, but the worst is over now. I’m really glad Tague brought you to the ranch to spend the night.” Carolina smoothed her skirt with the palm of her hand. “Have you two known each other long?”
“Tell you what,” Tague said, running interference. “Aunt Sybil, why don’t you get the ice pack and show Alexis and Tommy to the guest suite? I’ll fill Mother in on all the details before her curiosity spins totally out of control. I already put Alexis’s luggage in the room.”
Sybil preened as if she’d been granted a prize. “I’d be delighted to assist.”
Alexis stood and followed her, grateful to escape the family confab and to at least wash her face and dab some gloss on her lips.
Her appearance had been the least of her worries before they entered the house. Now she was embarrassingly aware that compared to the others, she looked as if she’d been delivered by a trash truck.
Her white shorts were streaked with the dust she’d collected digging clothes from the back of her closet. Worse, she hadn’t had time to shower since she’d chased her disappearing Honda through the supermarket parking lot. Perspiration was no doubt embedded in her skin and clothes.
Add the swollen, black eye and the knot on her head that made her hair lopsided, and it was a wonder she hadn’t frightened poor Grandma Pearl into a heart attack, or at least sent her running for another glass of sherry.
On the bright side, looking as she did right now, it was incredibly unlikely that anyone in Tague’s family would recognize her from her short and lackluster movie career. So all she needed was for Tague’s memory to fail him for a few more hours.
Actually, he may not have seen her movies, either. So few had. Perhaps she just reminded him of an old friend.
In the morning, she’d be on the run again. Maybe north this time, to the Canadian border and beyond. Actually, Mexico would make more sense since it was much closer. But the thought of going anywhere hotter than Dallas in July was a major turnoff.
But first things first. Before she crossed any border, she needed a new fake ID. She had no idea how to come by that in Texas.
She was still thinking about escape options when Sybil opened a door and ushered her and Tommy into a charming room that was nearly as spacious as Alexis’s entire apartment.
A king-size mahogany four-poster bed was positioned so that it looked out over the countryside through a wide window. The painted shutters were open to let in slanted rays of a sun that was flirting with the horizon. The sun didn’t fully set these evenings until somewhere around 8:30.
Two comfy oversize chairs sat near the window. Framed still-life and landscape paintings hung on the walls. A bouquet of fresh-cut flowers filled a crystal vase that rested on one of the bedside tables.
Even the bed covers were pulled back, tempting her to shimmy beneath them.
The bedroom was far less opulent but ten times more inviting than the bedroom she’d shared with Scott in his massive beachfront mansion. Here the focus was on comfort. There, it had all been for show.
Sybil opened a door on the far side of the room to an adjoining bedroom. “This isn’t as large or as comfortable as the main guest room, but it’s big enough for the boy. And he’ll be nearby so you can hear him if he gets up during the night.”
Alexis stepped into the room. There were two twin beds with arched iron headboards. Both were covered in beautiful matching quilts, the patterns similar but not exact. A mahogany French sleigh armoire took up most of one wall.
The
wall-mounted TV was the only real reminder that they were living in the twenty-first century. That and the air conditioner that had managed to keep the entire house at a comfortable temperature in spite of the record-breaking heat.
“Come see your room, Tommy,” Alexis said. He sidled past her for a peek.
“You’ll have your own bed and you can watch your videos.”
He walked over and ran his finger along the stitching in one of the quilts. “Blue and yellow,” he said, naming the colors.
“Yes. Blue and yellow and some green, too.”
He started to climb onto the bed. “Wanna watch TV. Okay, please.”
“Okay. I’ll see what I can find, but take off your shoes before you get on the bed.”
He kicked out of his brown leather sandals and crawled on top of the quilt.
Alexis found a cartoon channel for him and then returned to the larger guest room.
Sybil opened another door. “This is the bathroom for both guest rooms, so you’ll have to share with Tommy.”
“I’m sure I can handle that.” She did it every day.
“I readied the suite for you myself right after Tague called and said you were coming. I put out fresh towels and my special honeysuckle bath oil and soap. I buy it at a gift shop/tea room in Oak Grove. It smells just like the honeysuckle that grows on the fence out by the swimming hole.”
“Thanks, Sybil. I’m sure I’ll love it.” Alexis put the ice pack back against her bruised flesh.
Sybil stepped out of the bathroom. “That’s about it. If you need something you don’t see, just ask.”
“I will, but I can’t imagine what it would be.”
Sybil stood by the door to the hallway but didn’t leave. “It may not be any of my business,” she said, “but exactly how did you get that black eye?”
There was no use not telling her, now that Tommy was in the other room and engrossed in a noisy cartoon. If she didn’t, Carolina surely would once she got the full scoop from Tague.
But Alexis would go light on details and make her version short and to the point.
“My car was stolen today, carjacked from a supermarket parking lot with Tommy in the backseat. I tried to fight the thief off and he punched me in the face.”
Sybil looked horrified. “Oh, my God. Tommy was in the car with a thief. You must have been terrified.”
“I was. I’m still shaking inside from the incident.”
“Well, at least you had the good sense to fight the man off. What happened then?”
Alexis gave a skimpy synopsis of the chase and the wreck, trying to keep the drama as low-key as possible. The look of horror never left Sybil’s face.
“It’s incredible that Tague was there for you. I mean, what were the odds he’d show up at the exact moment you needed him?”
“I’m not sure of the odds, but he definitely came through in a crunch.”
“You can always count on Tague to do the right thing without thinking of himself.”
“I’m finding that out.”
“Where’s Tommy’s father?”
“We’re divorced.” It was a lie Alexis had told many times over, yet this time it tasted metallic on her tongue. The Lamberts had welcomed her into their home as if she were an old friend and she was betraying that trust.
“I guess he’s mighty upset tonight, too, knowing his son could have been badly injured. I’m surprised he didn’t rush right over and take you and Tommy with him.”
“He doesn’t live in the area.”
“Then I’m glad Tague brought the two of you out here tonight. No one should be alone after something like that.”
“I tried not to involve Tague,” Alexis said. “He insisted I come here for the night, but I’ll be leaving first thing in the morning.”
Sybil poked the fingers of her right hand into her wig and scratched. The raven moved as if it were about to spring back to life.
“We’d be glad to have you if you decide to stay a few days. And you’re in good hands with Tague. He can handle anything that comes his way. All the Lambert men can.”
But they’d never run into Scott Jeffery Hayden before. And they wouldn’t now. Alexis would see to that.
Once Sybil left, Alexis returned to the second bedroom to check on Tommy. His eyes were heavy and he’d snuggled beneath the quilt. In spite of the sugar overload, she was sure he was down for the count. There would be no visit to the horse barn tonight.
Alexis whispered a heartfelt hallelujah for that.
To make sure he didn’t wake and yell to go see the horses, Alexis opted to skip his nightly bath for once. She retrieved a warm, wet cloth from the bathroom and wiped the day’s grime from his body. He whimpered and squirmed but didn’t fully rouse as she changed him into his pajamas.
“Good night, sweet Tommy,” she whispered as she tucked him in and kissed the top of his head.
She tiptoed to the door and then stopped to look back at him. So innocent. So trusting.
I’ll never let your father get you back, Tommy. I’ll keep you safe no matter what it takes.
Unexpectedly, her eyes filled with tears. She might be able to keep him from Scott, but at what price? What kind of life could she give Tommy if they had to keep running forever?
* * *
TAGUE FINISHED THE explanation and then took an orange from the fruit bowl in the middle of the kitchen table. He peeled it while his mother digested the information.
Replaying the events for her had been a potent reminder of how tragically different the situation could have turned out.
Carolina sat quietly for a few moments and then leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Poor Alexis. It must be difficult enough to raise a child as a single parent without having to deal with something this frightening. I’m glad you were there for her.”
“So am I.”
“Things happen for a reason. God put you there. There’s no other way to explain how you’d be in that exact spot at that exact time. At breakfast, you were still trying to decide if you were going to pick up the saddle today or wait until tomorrow.”
“No argument from me,” he said.
“How long has Alexis been divorced?”
He swallowed a bite of orange. “Couldn’t tell you.”
“It can’t have been too long. Tommy’s barely two. Does she have sole legal custody of him?”
“I don’t know that, either.”
“A boy needs his father unless there’s a very good reason why he shouldn’t be in his life.”
Like physical abuse. Tague didn’t really want to get into that with his mother tonight. Besides, it was up to Alexis to decide how much of her life story she wanted to share with his family. He was fairly sure there were key elements about her problems with her ex that she hadn’t shared with him.
He pulled off another orange segment. “I’m sure Alexis is doing what’s best for Tommy.”
“I am, too, but I’m just surprised she didn’t call his father after the carjacking attempt. You’d think she’d have explained more to you. After all, you were with her all day.”
“Yes,” Tague said, “but it wasn’t what you’d call a social affair.”
“It was social enough that you invited her and Tommy to stay with us instead of one of her friends. And she accepted. She wouldn’t have if she hadn’t warmed up to you.”
“‘Warmed up’? I don’t know where you’re going with this, but it best not be toward one of your matchmaking schemes. Alexis is here for one night and one night only. It’s no big deal.”
“I’m not scheming, but Alexis does seem like a very nice young lady. And she’s quite attractive.”
More than attractive—she was downright hot and she pushed all his buttons. Not only did she inc
ite sexual arousal, she stirred protective instincts so strong they overwhelmed him.
Excellent reasons for him to keep his distance and ignore any misguided attraction. He planned to get married and have kids one day, but that was several years down the line for him.
He had a lot more living to do and dozens more young ladies to two-step around the dance floor before he settled down to one woman and the responsibility of fatherhood.
Carolina shifted in her chair, but didn’t get up. “Say what you will. I’m just glad Alexis and her son are here with us tonight. I want us to do whatever we can to help her.”
Tague finished his orange and then leaned back and stretched his legs beneath the kitchen table. “If you’re gung ho to help Alexis, she did mention that she needs a job. Maybe you should talk to Durk about finding a spot for her in the company.”
“That’s an excellent idea, and I’m sure he can,” Carolina said. “If nothing else, he always needs temporary workers to replace women going on maternity leave. I’ll call him right now.” She stood and then abruptly sat back down. “I guess I shouldn’t. He’s in Saudi Arabia on business.”
“On very important business. You can talk to him when he gets back.” Not that there was any guarantee Alexis would even be in Texas then, much less in the Dallas area.
“I have an ever better idea,” Carolina said.
“It is never a good idea when you get that conspiratorial gleam in your eyes.”
“There is nothing conspiratorial about my gleam. It’s just the glow of pure genius.”
“So let’s hear your plan.”
“I’ve been thinking of hiring a personal secretary.”
“Since when? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
“Since I agreed to head up the annual drive to fund the inner city youth programs last month. That with my other charity responsibilities and sitting on the symphony board is very time-consuming. Either I hire help or I have almost no time at all for myself and Belle.”
“You do realize how long the daily commute would take Alexis?”