Meeting Her Match

by Debra Clopton

  “Can I ask you something personal?”

  She nodded when he turned serious eyes toward her.

  “Why are you so dead set against getting married?”

  Not what she’d expected. She raised an eyebrow. “Why? Are you asking?”

  He chuckled. “You know what I’m asking.”

  This wasn’t really what she wanted to talk about right now. It was too beautiful a moment to waste talking about her past. He dipped his head and cut his eyes to her. She gave in.

  “You’ve seen my yard, haven’t you?”

  “Yup. Never seen so many do-dillys and sparkly things in all my life.”

  “Then there you go.”

  His thick, dark brows knit together. “I don’t follow.”

  “It’s simple. I’m project-oriented, I love projects. Did you see all my different rabbits? I’ve got about six of them out there. I painted them all, while I was on a rabbit kick. Then I got on a fat frog kick. Right now I’m on the tree-decorating kick. I saw that in a magazine, thought it looked cool and so I started stringing ornaments up there.”

  “Whoa, mind telling me what all this has to do with why you won’t get married?”

  “I do the same thing with boyfriends. Don’t look at me like that. Going to the movies does not make me a floozy.”

  Seeing his confusion she told him about her parents’ habit of getting divorced. She wasn’t sure why she started telling him everything, but she did. She spilled her whole sordid childhood out right there. It could have been a very romantic moment until she opened her mouth, but it was as though once she started talking she couldn’t stop. Maybe it was because he listened well, or because she felt safe with him. Whatever the reason Sheri found herself opening up to Pace. She told him about the nine divorces and all the shuffling that she’d gone through as a kid. How she’d never known from one day to the next which parent’s home she was going to be at. She’d been hauled between homes and seen more boyfriends and girlfriends come and go than she had sparkles hanging from her trees. Since her parents lived in the same vicinity, whoever had time for her at the moment was where she ended up.

  Pace gallantly listened to her story without comment. When she finally stopped the sun had gone down, and she must have killed any romance that might have been in the air because he wasn’t speaking. Sheri figured he’d gotten more than he bargained for.

  After a minute he let out a long breath. “What a way to grow up. That’s really tough, Sheri. I’m so sorry.”

  She could see his eyes in the twilight and was instantly furious at herself for rattling on. After all, the last thing she wanted from anyone was sympathy. Here she was trying to get away from the whole “poor-poor-pitiful-Sheri party” that the posse had been having, and she’d gone and opened her big mouth.

  “You know,” she said, grimacing, “could we rewind over all of that and forget I ever said it?”

  He scowled. “It’s a little hard to forget. Your parents sound like lost people who need the Lord.”

  That made Sheri laugh. Leave it to straight-shooting Pace to cut to the heart of things. “Well, yeah, I guess they do.”

  “It’s not a laughing matter.”

  That made Sheri laugh again. “No. It’s not. But the way you delivered that line was funny. You’re so black-and-white. For you there are good guys and there are bad guys and no place in between.”

  He nodded. “That’s exactly how I am. Especially when it comes to a parent’s responsibility to their children.”

  “I agree with you one hundred percent on that.”

  “But not on other things. It’s not always so simple.”

  Sheri stared at him and suddenly felt as if she were under a microscope. A mosquito landed on her arm and she slapped at it, glad to have somewhere else to focus her flash of irritation. “Can we head back in? These little bloodthirsty monsters love me.” She stood and walked toward the horse. It was now dark, the ground illuminated by the moon. Still, she looked around for snakes. She hadn’t taken two steps before Pace reached out and snagged her arm.

  “Sheri, I didn’t mean to make you mad.”

  Sheri looked at his hand on her arm then looked at him. “You didn’t.”

  He stepped close and she could see his eyes flash in the moonlight. “You’re madder than a hornet.”

  She yanked her arm but he held on. “Okay, so I’m mad.”

  “About what?”

  Sheri lifted her chin and huffed. “You know perfectly well what.” She jerked on her arm again, wanting to get away from him. “You think me wanting to teach the posse a lesson is somehow underhanded or selfish, just like my parents.”

  He cocked his head to the side. “I didn’t say that.”

  She glowered at him. “Yes, you did.” She jerked her arm hard and almost stumbled when it came free from Pace’s grasp.

  “Would you listen?” he snapped, yanking her back, saving her from a fall and slamming her against his chest in the process.

  Pace had gone stock-still and she could feel his heart pounding against her hand that had come to rest over it. When she looked up he looked dazed. As if he, too, had felt the sudden change in the tension between them. As she stared at him, his eyes cleared and his gaze settled on her lips just before he lowered his head to hers.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Pace Gentry’s grip on her arms tightened as his lips met Sheri’s. She stood there, stunned by the intensity of his kiss. Her hands immediately moved to clutch his elbows, needing somewhere to hold. Her head was swimming.

  Then, as quickly as it had happened, Pace dropped his hands, stepped back and looked at her as if he couldn’t believe what had just transpired between them.

  “That shouldn’t have happened.” Pace’s expression transformed into a blank canvas in the night light.

  Sheri wasn’t sure why he’d looked at her the way he had, but it wasn’t an expression she was likely to forget anytime soon. He certainly wasn’t going to know that he’d rocked her world with that kiss. She’d been kissed, and she liked kisses, but something had happened to her heart with this kiss that wasn’t anything she could explain. With the way he was looking at her now she’d be a fool to let him know it had meant anything.

  She plastered on her own mask of indifference and laughed. “It was just a kiss. Don’t get all choked up about it.” She flipped her hair off her shoulder and headed toward the horse. “How about that ride home?”

  Without a word he swung up into the saddle and helped her up. She’d gotten used to the feel of the horse and only had to hold on to him with one arm as they made the journey. He didn’t say anything and she let him have it his way. She was confused about his reaction. Obviously they’d had polar opposite experiences.

  It was the longest ride she’d ever taken. She’d never been so happy to see the lights of her house in all of her life. After he’d helped her down he didn’t even bother to dismount and walk her to her door, which was fine by her. Her confusion had quickly given way to anger.

  What was the cowboy’s problem?

  It took everything she had not to call him to the carpet on it.

  She turned to go up the steps when she just couldn’t stand it. Swinging around she glared at his back as he began to ride away.

  “Wait just a minute there, Pace Gentry.”

  He pulled the horse to the side so he could stare back at her. The light from the porch light bounced off his dark eyes as he met her gaze.

  “What exactly is going on in your head? That was the weirdest thing that ever happened to me.”

  “Thought you said it was just a kiss.”

  “Well, what was I supposed to say? You looked at me like I was a leper or something.” She plopped her hand on her hip. “Not exactly the reaction I was expecting.”

  “Look, you’re right. It was just a kiss, and I should have never grabbed hold of you like that. That was inexcusable on my part.”

  That still didn’t answer her question. She was a
s confused as ever, but at least she hadn’t wimped out and said nothing. Sheri stepped back into the shadows so he couldn’t see the effect he had on her.

  “Forget about it,” she said, shaken. “Good night, cowboy.”

  Turning quickly she walked up the steps and inside her house. If there was one thing Sheri had learned when it came to men, it was to leave them guessing. It used to be fun.

  But tonight, as she leaned back against the door and listened to the muted clomp of Pace’s horse disappearing down her drive, she wasn’t having any fun.

  She glared at her empty kitchen, hearing the quiet of it loud and clear. “I’m happy with my life. I am!” She flung her voice toward the empty walls. Her words just bounced back.

  After tossing and turning most of Thursday night, Sheri carefully avoided Pace all day Friday. Now it was Saturday and Sheri was running late. The rodeo had already started when she walked up to the entrance of the huge new covered arena that Clint Matlock had recently built at the edge of his ranch. It was a wonderful asset to the entire community, big as a football field, give or take a few yards. There were chutes for the horses and pens near the side for the cattle and bleachers for the onlookers. He even had a kitchen built on one side, which Lacy was using as a concession stand. The proceeds would help No Place Like Home.

  Sheri paused just inside the entrance. The place was hopping with a good crowd. Many out of towners had driven in, but Sheri realized that the majority of onlookers were Mule Hollow residents. Looking at all the familiar faces gave her sour mood a boost. It was really nice seeing how the town had grown since that first day she and Lacy had arrived.

  Still, Sheri was struggling with her emotions. All morning she’d had to pump up her flagging determination to follow through with her plans. One minute she was fired up and ready, the next she was a coward. She was late because she’d actually pulled over onto the side of the road three times on the way to the arena. Three times she’d thought about turning around and going home.

  She hadn’t seen Pace in two days. She’d skipped her jog the night before. Her original plan had been to get the posse to think she and he were an item by the time the rodeo rolled around. That was exactly what she still planned to do. The ladies were almost hers, hook, line and sinker. They’d dropped by the salon yesterday, wanting an update, and she’d told them about the moonlit horseback ride. She didn’t mention anything else. Norma Sue immediately started talking about how she and Roy Don had taken many a romantic ride themselves.

  Sheri wasn’t sure what to call what had happened between them but calling it romantic just didn’t seem to fit. Disaster, now that worked better. But that wasn’t something the posse needed to know.

  The sound of the crowd bounced off the metal sides of the large arena, and Sheri swallowed, trying to ease the feeling of trepidation wrapped around her neck like a vise. She wasn’t sure why she was so nervous. She pushed away the thought of running back to her Jeep and took a step inside. She had a plan and she was going through with it. Why not? It wasn’t as though it was going to matter to Pace one way or the other. After all, he was the one who said the kiss of all kisses shouldn’t have happened. She felt her irritation rise just thinking about his words.

  “Hey, Sheri, you need my hearing aid?”

  Sheri looked at Applegate and Stanley, who were staring at her. They were sitting behind a table over by the steps next to the bleachers.

  “Oh, hey, guys.”

  “We called yer name three times. You sick? You look like ya just ate bad fish,” Stanley said, which was ironic because that’s how Sheri would have described him.

  “If yer sick turn around and go on home,” Applegate said, his lips drooping. “We don’t need no bug loose in here. That’s how epidemics start. A person won’t stay home when he’s sick and before ya know it everybody’s sick—”

  “Applegate, I’m not sick.”

  “Ya look sick. Kinda green around the gills.”

  “I’m not sick. I promise.” At least not with anything catching.

  “In that case, do you want to buy a raffle ticket?” Stanley held up a silver belt buckle that resembled a hubcap. The overhead light reflected off it and almost blinded Sheri.

  “You guys could have gotten a bigger buckle, couldn’t you?” she asked wryly.

  “See?” Applegate said, glaring at Stanley. “I told ya we needed a bigger one.”

  “We didn’t need it no bigger,” Stanley answered.

  “She said it was too little—”

  “Guys, I was just joking. Really. Believe me that one is plenty big. A family of four could eat lunch on it.”

  Stanley and Applegate turned matching frowns on her.

  “Okay, okay, sorry. The buckle is lovely. Perfect.” For a sled, she thought. Tugging a few bills from her pocket she handed them to Applegate. He took the money with two fingers and placed it inside the cardboard cigar box as if trying to avoid “the bug” she might be lying about having.

  Sheri heard Roy Don’s voice crackle over the loudspeakers letting everyone know the bronc riding event was about to start.

  “Thanks,” she said. Taking her raffle tickets she headed toward the concession stand. She was feeling queasy despite her denials, but it had nothing to do with a bug. Except maybe a pesky mosquito named Pace.

  “Hi, Sheri,” Lilly said from across the counter when she spotted Sheri approaching. Lacy was behind her in the doorway to the kitchen storeroom looking like the Pillsbury dough girl. Behind her a smokelike plume of flour hovered.

  “What happened to you?” Sheri looked from Lacy to Lilly.

  Lilly was biting her lip, openly trying not to laugh.

  “Hey, no giggling. I could ask the same thing about you,” Lacy volleyed, then coughed. “You’re kind of green.”

  What was it with the green remarks! “And you look like you just had a fight with a hundred-pound sack of flour. And lost.”

  Lilly finally let the chuckle escape. “It was a ten-pound bag.”

  Lacy dropped her ghostly white hands to her hips and huffed, stirring up a new plume. “Hey, so I learned that dropping a bag of flour can be a health hazard. It’s all good.”

  Sheri watched Lacy beat flour off herself. “Lilly, do you need my help back there? Lacy could be at that all day.” Sheri really wished they’d make her work so she couldn’t go through with her plan. “You know I offered before, but Lacy said no.”

  “It’s still no, Sheri,” Lacy said firmly. “I already told you that we can’t afford for you to work the concession stand. Remember, we are trying to make a profit to help the shelter. If you come back here, all of that—” Lacy waved a hand toward the counter where Sheri had already spotted the mouthwatering array of fudge, candies and cakes waiting to be sold off “—will be gone.”

  “I wouldn’t eat all of it,” Sheri grumbled in self-defense. True, she would start with Dottie’s peanut butter fudge and then have a cluster or two…and of course there was the to-die-for peanut brittle—

  “But you would try.” Lacy broke into her thoughts with a knowing look.

  “So sue me if I happen to be crazy about Dottie’s candies.”

  “Crazy is right. Just do yourself and us a favor and buy an assortment. Then have a seat in the stands and enjoy the show. We know you want to watch Pace ride.”

  Sheri frowned at that. She should have been happy. Her goal was basically accomplished. She was linked to Pace in everyone’s minds. All she needed to do now was make the posse see sparks and within days she’d be done with her charade. Her farce.

  “Yep, yep, yep, word’s out,” Lacy quipped in her signature tone—the one she used when she was really excited about something. “Everyone knows about you two. Esther Mae and Norma Sue have been busy little bees.”

  “I think it’s really nice,” Lilly added. Walking over, she set a bag of candy on the counter for Sheri. “It’s about time for you to find someone else. J.P. wasn’t for you.”

  Sheri’s consc
ience pricked. These were her friends, and Pace was right. She was deceiving them. “Is that for me?” she said, feeling like a weasel.

  “Yes. I put all your favorites in there.” Lilly smiled.

  Sheri dug a twenty from her pocket and handed it over. “No, keep the change for a donation,” she said when Lilly held out three fives. Feeling the need to get away as quickly as possible, Sheri waved and headed toward the stands.

  Lacy stopped her before she’d gotten too far. Walking around the counter, a trail of white trailing on the floor with every step she took she asked, “You okay? Really?”

  Leave it to Lacy to know her. In the beginning this seemed so easy. Now she felt like a heel.

  “Fine. I’m fine,” she managed, avoiding her friend’s eyes. Lacy was funny, fun and about the most intuitive person Sheri had ever met. Sheri knew it wouldn’t take much for Lacy to see through her.

  “You know I’m just teasing you,” Lacy said. “Remember, I’m rooting for when or if you’ve met your match.”

  Met her match…the thought of it made Sheri feel greener than everyone was telling her she looked.

  Pace Gentry did something to her. Every time she was around him the man sent her world spinning. That kiss that “shouldn’t have happened” had been different. She’d tried not to think about it. Tried to convince herself it had just been a kiss. But it had reached her heart.

  She took a bite of fudge to hide any expression that might alert Lacy to the turmoil churning inside her.

  “I gotta go.” Sheri was suddenly desperate to get to the top of the bleachers away from everyone. With effort she smiled then sidestepped Lacy and took the bleachers two at a time.

  She didn’t miss Lacy’s chuckles behind her.