by Lois Kasznia
"This is my last drink," exclaimed Ally as she finished it off. "I can't wait until my parents get here. But I'm not telling my dad about the snake. He'll lock me up in a suitcase and take me to Houston."
"Remember, you're going to introduce me to your parents. I've got some things I want to discuss with your father."
"Things to discuss with my father?" repeatedly Ally. "Why? What type of things?"
"Just a couple of house things I think he should look at when he's here."
"It's my house," replied Ally curtly. "You can tell me."
"Okay. I'll start." Caleb ordered another drink. He leaned on the table and studied Ally intently. "Number one; what kind of tools do you have? I didn't see anything in the garage that you need to live in this house. No shovel, ladder, duct tape, nails, pesticides and the list goes on. Jeb and I can help out when we can, but, Ally, we're really busy too."
"Oh," said Ally as she sat back in her chair and looked at Caleb apologetically. "I didn't mean to take advantage of you. I'm sorry." Tears sprang to her eyes.
"Ally, don't start the water works." If it was one thing that could humble Caleb it was a woman crying. "I could've easily said no." He used his thousand-watt smile on her. "It's a good thing you're kind of pretty."
"It's not what I meant to do," replied Ally, her face red with embarrassment "I don't normally do things like this." She started to get up, but Caleb caught her arm and sat her down. "I've got to go. I'll pay for my share."
"You sit down." Caleb remained firm. "I asked you to dinner and you're staying." Ally looked at him with her big blue eyes and Caleb melted. "I didn't realize you were so sensitive about your looks."
"It's like no one takes me seriously," explained Ally. "I have to work harder for people to know I do have a brain."
"You do have a Master’s degree, so I know you got a brain."
"Where did you…never mind. You read my biography." Ally gestured with her hand.
"I'm just interested." He tried to gauge Ally's guarded expression.
"How interested?" asked Ally curious at what he would say.
"Very." Caleb gave her hand a squeeze and then let go. "Now back to the list. Your fence? It has some bad boards in it, which needs to be replaced. Jeb can do it, but you need to find someone who can do it for you. What about your furnace and AC? Do you know how to change the filter?"
"I can learn."
"What are you going to do about your lawn? I see you have no tractor, are you going to buy one? And your pool?" asked Caleb, on a roll.
"Kat told me to hire someone. She said I'd be too busy with the business. Oh jeez, I forgot to call Kat. I was supposed to call her when I got home and I never did because of the snake. Excuse me a minute?" Ally got up and went into the ladies' room to make her call.
"Kat, I'm okay. Caleb took me out to dinner tonight."
"You two are getting rather friendly," commented Kat.
"It's not what you think. I'll tell you when I get home."
"I worry because things happen to you," replied Kat. "Who knows what Caleb will do with you?"
"Nothing, we're neighbors and that's all." Ally ended the call and went back to their table. The hostess flirted with him again and it looked like they were more than just friends. Summoning her courage and indifference, she sauntered back to the table and sat down. The hostess then gave her an unfriendly look.
"You must be Ally Duncan. What brings you to our little ole town?"
"Family," Ally answered coolly.
"Didn't know there were Duncan's around here."
"Ally's sister lives here, but she's married," answered Caleb in a reproving tone. "Her parents live in Houston."
"Oh." She dismissed Ally and focused her attention back on Caleb. "Call me if you get some free time. Don't be a stranger." She left and Ally stared at Caleb while he shrugged.
"What can I say? She's hot for my body." Caleb smiled broadly.
"What a curse to have such good looks," retorted Ally.
"You think I'm good looking? You never told me so. I'm flattered." Caleb once again teased Ally.
“Oh please." Ally stood up and Caleb took her lead. In an exaggerated move, he put his arm around Ally's shoulder as they walked to the truck. Out of the corner of their eyes, they watched as the hostess glared at them and shared a good laugh once in the truck. "She going to track me down and kill me." Ally couldn't stop laughing. "Way to make friends, huh?"
"Nature of the beast," said Caleb in agreement. They were silent as he drove Ally home. When they reached the house, Ally started to get out, but Caleb had killed the engine. "I'm checking up on you. I don't want to get any hysterical phone calls in the middle of the night telling me something is wrong. I mean if you want to call me in the middle of the night about something else, I don't mind." He grinned at Ally.
"You are a terrible flirt," said Ally good-naturedly.
"That I am," laughed Caleb and then he turned serious. “But I like to get what I want."
"I see." Ally had stopped walking and faced Caleb. "What happens if you don't?
"But I will," said Caleb dead serious.
"Let's take a walk around," said Ally, shaken by Caleb's intensity. "I'm sure nothing is amiss." Caleb took the keys from her shaking hands. His touch sent shivers down her spine.
"You're scared?" asked Caleb. He engulfed her small hand into his and they walked around checking rooms carefully. Tank followed them throughout the house and seemed anxious to go outside when they did. Things looked normal and Caleb did see a squad car on his property in the back of Ally's yard. They walked back into the house and as Caleb started to leave, Ally touched his shirt sleeve gently.
"Thanks," she said softly.
"You're very welcome, ma'am." He grabbed her hands and kissed them softly, making Ally almost moan out loud because of the sensuous touch of his lips on her skin. Caleb stared at her for a long moment before he left.
Ally trembled as she watched him leave. This couldn't be happening to her.
Chapter Ten
After making the appointment for her car's inspection, Ally looked up on Mapquest the best way to get to the dealership. She then entered the address in her iPhone. The directions gave a time estimate, which proved to be quite far from where she lived, but the dealer had promised they were in the process of building another dealership closer to Argyle..
Ally slipped on a nice skirt, high-heeled sandals and felt pleased with the effort. For the last couple of days, she had had on nothing but jeans. As she stepped out into the garage, she grabbed a bottle of water for the ride. Because she hadn't worn heels in a long time, she stumbled on the steps and twisted her ankle. "Great," she muttered and looked at the heel of her shoe. It appeared to be okay, but didn't feel right not to start the day by almost breaking her ankle. Once again, she stumbled on her heels as she exited the car at the insurance agency and attributed it to being clumsy. Everything appeared fine, but it amazed Ally the cost of driver's insurance in Texas.
"It's the way we drive," explained the agent. "You'll learn soon enough."
Ally laughed politely at this remark and left the office with some hesitation. Even though she had a New York license, most of her time had been spent in a cab. The only time she drove was down to Pennsylvania for her pistol lessons. She thought she could handle Texas. As she followed the directions on her phone, she soon learned the agent had not been kidding. Drivers were doing at least ten miles above the speed limit while talking on their cell phones. The other difference occurred at the intersections where it became a game of chicken of who could cross the intersection first.. What really did her in happened on the highway when the pickup truck behind her couldn't wait for the traffic. He went off the highway, down the ravine and merged onto the service road. By the time she had reached the dealership, she definitely had been unnerved.
As she walked into the dealership, Ally tripped again, only to find the base of her sandal had separated from the top. She stopped in frustra
tion as options ran across her mind. She couldn't take off her shoes and walk barefoot into the office and she didn't have another pair of shoes. This day had gone from bad to worse. Thinking quickly, she shuffled her way slowly hoping no one would notice her.
"You must be Ally," commented the representative as she walked into the office.
"Yes, that's me," said Ally.
"Have a seat while I go through this paperwork." Ally sat quietly as he copied information from her insurance registration and title. "How has Texas been treating you?"
"It's been an adventure." Ally didn't know quite how to respond.
The agent looked up at her. "An adventure?"
"Never a dull moment, that's for sure."
He smiled and beamed with pride for his home state. "You'll love it here. Stay put and I'll be back with the keys for your loaner." He disappeared leaving Ally alone. The minute he left, Ally looked at her shoe and at the scotch tape on his desk. She quickly tried to tape the soul of the shoe back to the top. She just finished as he came back with the keys.
"It's this black vehicle right out there. This is what we drive in Texas."
"It's so big," commented Ally as she looked at the gigantic SUV. "Don't you have anything smaller?"
"Not for a loaner," he replied. "Let me show you how this works because it's different than your car." He demonstrated how Ally could give the vehicle voice commands to do what she wanted it to do.
"That's it?" Ally felt a little, well, a lot, intimated by this huge vehicle but she came from New York, right? She wasn't going to show any fear. "How long will you have my car?
"Could be a couple of days," he replied with a smile. "Now you do know where you're going?"
Ally patted the phone and stepped into the vehicle with false bravado. "Drive." The car took off like a shot and Ally screamed, "Stop!" The vehicle came to a halt and Ally stepped on the brake at the same time. Her broken sandal went flying into the passenger seat.
"Are you okay?" The representative came running over.
"I'd like to try this manually," commented Ally calmly.
"Sure." He leaned over and pushed a button. "You're all set."
"Thanks." Ally could tell he snickered and she would probably be the joke of the day. She glanced over at her broken shoe and hoped she wouldn't get stopped. With her luck, they'd fine her for driving barefoot. She reprogrammed her address into the phone and asked for another route to avoid the highway. It took over an hour and a half to get home, but she wanted to avoid getting stopped.
As she pulled into her driveway, she noticed Caleb's truck parked outside her garage and he talking to a couple of men while gesturing to Ally's landscaping.
Caleb heard the unknown vehicle drive down the driveway. He glanced up and realized it belonged to Ally. He broke into a wide grin and waited for her to get out of the car.
Mortified, Ally shook her head. Why oh why did he have to be here when she looked like a bedraggled, homeless woman? She held up her chin and exited the vehicle in bare feet; the broken sandals swinging in her hand.
"Ally?" Caleb burst into laughter as she walked up to the group. "Honey, what happened?"
"It has not been one of my better days," she said stiffly.
"Only you," said Caleb trying hard to control his laughter. "Ally, this is Max, the landscaper I recommended to y'all? He said he'd be happy to have you as a customer."
"Hello, Max," said Ally politely and shook his hand.
"He doesn't speak English," whispered Caleb into Ally's ear.
"Hola," replied Ally and Max smiled widely revealing gold crowned teeth that sparkled in the sunlight.
"Muchas gracias, senorita," replied Max.
"I'll take it from here," explained Caleb and he and Max went back and forth in Spanish. They finally came to an agreement and Max left.
"What did I just agree to?" asked Ally. She felt tired, hungry and frustrated.
"You look like you could use a drink," said Caleb as he put his arm around her shoulder and walked her to the house.
"You've got that right," grumbled Ally. She went straight for the liquor cabinet and pulled out a bottle of wine. Caleb opened it up and poured a glass for her while he poured some whiskey. Ally went to the refrigerator and got some grapes, cheese and crackers. She arranged them on a plate and sat down at the kitchen table.
"Well?"
"Well, what?" Ally nibbled on a cracker.
"What happened?" Caleb asked.
"Here I am being responsible, trying to get these moving chores done. I knew something wasn't right with the shoe before I left the house, but didn't think anything about it." She stopped and ate some grapes while Caleb assembled quite the cheese cracker sandwich.
"Don't you carry another pair of shoes in the car in case it breaks down?"
"No. That's too sensible, right?" Ally looked at Caleb, not at all amused he had been trying not to laugh. "It's not funny."
"Ally, you are priceless. My life has been so boring until you came along." Caleb leaned over and gave her hand a playful squeeze. "Now, go on."
"I went to the insurance agent and when she told the rates, I just went through the roof. She said they base their rates on the way people drive around here. It's terrible, Caleb, people talking on their cell phone and cutting other drivers off? I thought I was going to get killed."
"You've gotta get used to it, Ally. It's a way of life. Now, when did the shoes break?"
"I'm not done yet." Ally took a long sip of wine. "When I got to the dealership, I realized one of them had broken and I tried to use scotch tape to fix it. And did you see that monster out there? You can talk to it to tell it what you want it to do. We don't speak the same language."
"Ally." Caleb's eyes watered because he could no longer stifle the laughter.
"When I slammed on the brake, the bottom part of my shoe came off and landed on the passenger seat. They put in on manual for me so I could drive home. I'm the laughingstock of the day. Caleb, it's not funny."
"I can't help it. You sound like Lucy Arnez."
"Well, I'm glad I made you laugh today." Ally started to smile and then the giggles came and she demonstrated how everything played out.
"What are you going to do about dinner?" asked Caleb once they had stopped laughing.
"This is dinner," said Ally as she pointed to the bottle of wine. "Since I've moved to Texas, y'all have made me into a drunk."
"That's not funny." Caleb was somber. "I have friends who are struggling to stay sober."
"I'm sorry." Ally stood to get something out of the closet and Caleb stood right behind her.
"Ally?" Caleb put his arms around her and turned her to face him. "My brother had been an alcoholic and it killed him."
"I am so sorry." Ally met Caleb's gaze and once again melted into his green eyes.
"It’s hard and I think that's what killed my dad." Caleb noticed Ally staring at his lips.
"If there's anything," Ally stopped as Caleb brought his lips on top of hers. Caleb's hold on Ally tightened and the kiss deepened. Ally's tongue met Caleb's. They sensually danced, teased and taunted. Caleb's hands tightened in Ally's hair willing her to be a part of him.
"Ally?" Kat opened the door to the house and Caleb and Ally pulled away quickly, but not before Ally shivered at the sensual look Caleb had given her.
"In here, Kat." She turned to Caleb and looked flustered. "I usually don't behave this way with someone I've just met."
"You just did and I loved it." Caleb grinned at Ally. I'm leaving because I do have work to do." Caleb finished off his drink and turned to Kat. "Hey, Kat."
"Caleb?" Kat turned to Ally and then back at Caleb again. "Now what did my sister do?"
"It's a good one, but I'll let her tell it. I've got work to do before the sun sets." He turned to Ally."What's tomorrow look like"
"The plumber's company called and said I get a free inspection on the plumbing and the AC. They're coming over in the morning."
"S
o, you'll be staying out of trouble?"
"I believe so." Ally felt a little hurt, but Kat started to laugh.
"Never say never where Ally is concerned. Thanks for taking care of my little sister." Caleb left and Kat turned to Ally. "Well?" Ally just shook her head.
Caleb and Jeb finished off the chores and settled in for the evening, but both of them were concerned. Two of their cattle were missing and couldn't be accounted for. The TSCRA, Texas Southwest Cattle Raisers Association, had warned of increased cattle theft during these tough economic times, but Caleb thought he would be immune. The loss of two cattle seemed insignificant but under current law, theft of less than ten head of cattle, horses or exotic wildlife is a state jail felony. A new proposition stood in the works that would change current law to allow for a third degree felony.