by Tina Leonard
“No!” Never in his dreams would he have thought of cutting her beautiful hair off. “Absolutely not. I’ll be with her! There’s no need.”
“I like to cover all the bases,” Hawk said. “If you’re going to ask me to assist you, you should hear my words. Perhaps Marvella will not come to find Cissy. But if she does, wouldn’t you feel better knowing your wife had those few extra seconds of surprise on her side?”
Tex just didn’t want to hear it. Her hair! It was so much a part of her.
“Tex, it’s hair,” Cissy said. “It’s not that big a deal.”
“It is to me.” He adored many things about her, and certainly that was one of his favorites.
“But it makes sense to err on the side of caution. I think I’d feel safer. But maybe that’s because I worked in a salon. Hairstyles change often, but not the person.”
They were making sense, but he didn’t like it. “I’ll think about it,” he said, trying to be stoic. “Maybe you’re being overcautious.”
“You’ll like my overcautious side if I find her family,” Hawk told him, rummaging through a black duffel at his feet. “You wouldn’t have hired me if you hadn’t expected results.”
True. Tex scraped at his chin, imagining Cissy without that long beautiful hair. “It’s your choice, babe,” he said.
And that was all he could say without his throat closing tightly.
AT THE RIVERBOAT, Jellyfish and Hawk greeted each other like old friends. Jellyfish was clearly delighted to see Cissy, too, picking her up like a doll and whirling her around. “I have a surprise for you,” Jellyfish told her.
Hannah and Ranger met her on deck.
“Hannah!” Cissy exclaimed, running to hug her friend.
“You made it back,” Hannah said. “I knew Tex would find a way.”
They hugged again. “Thanks for sending him,” Cissy said. “I’m Mrs. Jefferson now, too!”
“You are?” Hannah pulled back to look at her friend.
“For three months, anyway,” Cissy said with a laugh. “Tex thinks that’ll get me out of my contract. Marriage, apparently, is good for something.”
“So…it’s not forever, then?” Hannah blinked at her, then glanced over to where Tex was talking with Hawk and Jellyfish and Ranger.
“No. I wouldn’t want that.” Cissy smiled at her friend. “Our lives are so different.”
“I know. But it’s weird how these Jefferson men grow on a woman.”
“Hawk’s going to go look for my brother and sisters,” Cissy said, her tone becoming serious.
“I know. That’s why we’re here. Jellyfish called me. He wants to take the riverboat up the river, so that Marvella can’t locate you easily. He’s going to teach Tex how to run it, so Tex can operate it while he’s gone. There won’t be any customers, because he’s shutting down. It’ll be you and Tex,” Hannah said with a smile. “How does that sound for a honeymoon?”
“Um—” Cissy wasn’t certain about the plans that had been made on her behalf. “I don’t know what we’d do together for that long, alone.”
Hannah winked at her. “You’re with a Jefferson male. Trust me. You’ll love being alone with him.”
Cissy laughed. “Maybe they’re not all alike. This one has some very specific hang-ups.”
“It’s all going to work out.”
Hannah’s confidence made Cissy feel better. “I have a favor to ask of you,” she said, and with a careful glance toward Tex, she dragged Hannah off to her room.
“I CAN’T DO IT,” Hannah said, staring at Cissy. “Tex will kill me.”
“I think I’d better take Hawk’s advice.” Cissy held out the scissors.
Hannah ignored them. “You don’t understand. Those aren’t even decent scissors!”
“It doesn’t matter. They’ll do. I bought them at the drugstore when we made a pit stop, along with hair dye, condoms and a fingernail file. The necessities.” She smiled reassuringly at Hannah. “You can do it.”
“Could you have bought hair color any darker?” Hannah balked, examining the shade. “You’re going to look like Cher in her younger days.”
“No, I’m going to look like Meg Ryan with Cher’s hair color.” She held the scissors out again. “Please, Hannah. Hair grows back. Dye wears off. Peace of mind will do me good.”
“All right.” Hannah took the scissors from her friend. “Did you say this marriage was supposed to have an expiration of three months? After Tex sees what I do to you, he may not hang around that long.”
TWO HOURS AFTER THE WOMEN had disappeared, Tex thought he had the workings of the engine room. Fortunately, they’d be parked in a safe and distant location while Jellyfish was gone, and there was always Hannah to call and question. She knew a lot about the boat. Ranger had been listening and learning as well. Tex felt pretty certain he could handle the task ahead of him.
But then a dark-haired hottie walked on deck, and he wondered if she was lost. She was staring at him as if he should recognize her, but he’d never seen her before in his life. He started to ask Hawk, Ranger or Jellyfish if they knew her, and then she smiled. His heart dropped into his boots. “Cissy!”
The look was exotic, and somehow highlighted her fragility. He would never have wanted her hair so short, but the strands saucily touched her earlobes, framing her face. Tousled bangs emphasized her magnificent aquamarine eyes. The look was perfect.
“Dang!” he exclaimed. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to quit at Once,” he told her. “And I have to admit that I had no idea what I was talking about when I said you shouldn’t cut your hair.”
The men looked at him strangely, but Cissy laughed, knowing exactly what he meant.
“You’re safe now,” Tex said huskily, going to touch her hair. “From everyone but me. It’s trashy. Very elegantly trashy. I can easily see you in a lingerie catalogue.”
Hannah came out on deck, skulking. “Are you going to kill me?” she asked Tex.
“You get to live another day, sister-in-law,” he said cheerfully. “Do you have a French maid’s costume on this bathtub?”
CISSY LOVED THE FACT that Tex still found her attractive. Maybe it shouldn’t have mattered so much, but his reaction had pleased her. Didn’t every woman want to know that the man she liked fancied her no matter how good or how bad she looked?
And the fire that had lit in his eyes had made her feel so good. For a woman whose husband had never noticed her, except at his cocktail parties, she’d loved changing her look and finding that Tex still admired her.
He was very, very sexy, she decided. She liked him watching her the way he was now, when he was supposed to be paying attention to Jellyfish’s instructions.
She wasn’t certain she could quit at Once, either. For a moment, she considered whether or not they could live together forever, and came up with a vote of no. Then she wondered whether they could have sex for three months in lieu of the sparse marriage they’d agreed on. But that might not be enough.
She was stuck somewhere between three months and forever.
The men walked over to join the women. Jellyfish wrapped Cissy in a giant bear hug. “Now, listen, because this is important,” he told her. “Brother Hawk and I are going to do our darnedest to find out something about your family. Do not worry about this. And most especially, do not worry about this boat, should Brother Tex screw up.”
The menfolk all guffawed at that.
“We understand he may have other things on his mind,” Jellyfish continued. “The truth is, I’m going to be selling this riverboat, so it’d be no loss if he floats it out to the Gulf or something. If you need to abandon ship, do so. Safety first, my friend,” he said to Cissy.
“I really appreciate this,” she told him. “You have no idea how much.”
“I do. Believe me, I do. Ask Hannah about our childhood in the commune, and how we understand one another. We know all about family ties and other matters that bind. Now, I want you to go get some sleep.”
And that raised an excellent question. Were she and Tex sleeping together?
Since everyone on the boat knew the situation, there was an awkward pause.
“Well,” Hannah said after a moment, “Cissy can sleep in my room like she did before. Ranger and I can take another cabin.”
“You know,” Cissy said softly as she glanced at Ranger, “if you don’t mind, I think tonight I’ll sleep under the stars on one of those lounge chairs.”
“That doesn’t sound comfortable at all,” Hawk pointed out. “I’ll take a cabin.”
But Tex grinned at her. “I find lounge chairs quite comfortable,” he said to Cissy. “Come on. Let’s go bunk down.”
THEY PUT TWO LOUNGE CHAIRS together and laid a big blanket over them. Then Tex took his bride in his arms and held her tight as the boat floated quietly upstream. “Hey,” he said to her. “Are you counting stars?”
She sighed contentedly, and he liked the sound. “I’m counting stars. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy, in spite of everything.”
“I was thinking that the kids would like this riverboat a lot.”
“What kids?”
“Your kids,” Tex said. “All nine of them.”
She rolled over to face him. “Have you lost your mind?”
“I don’t think so. Why?”
“Since when do you think about my nieces and nephews?”
He tried a shrug but he was holding her too close and not about to give an inch. “Since I’m thinking of you,” he said simply.
“Please stop,” she said softly. “You’re making me fall in love with you, and I don’t want to.”
“Well, I’d tell you to stop, but Brother Hawk said we weren’t being honest with ourselves, and so I have to let you do whatever you want to do.”
“This is a serious matter. I want us to stay within our original terms. Hearts intact, missions accomplished.”
“It sounds good on paper, doesn’t it?” He yawned in her ear. “Okay. We’ll strive for that. Don’t fall in love with me.”
She pinched his arm. “Are you falling in love with me?”
“No. I’m too emotionally stunted to fall in love. Remember? I’m the surface guy.”
“Whatever. I’ll miss you when you’re gone.”
He yawned again. “Where am I going?”
“Divorce court, dummy?”
“Oh, yeah. That’s right. Three months and counting from today. I’ll be there. Will you?”
“Of course,” she replied, her tone light.
“Reality would wear us down, you know. I’ve got to get back to work. I can’t float on this crick forever.”
“No argument here.”
“And where would we live? You’d never survive at Malfunction Junction.”
“Again, no argument.”
“And those little children are probably going to need you more than ever, when Hawk gets back.”
“I know.”
He heard the sadness in her tone. “I’m sorry I’m not the perfect rescue. If I could be your prince, I would be.”
“It’s cool,” Cissy said, her voice sleepy. “If I could be your princess, I might. But for now, do you think you could hush? I want to listen to the water and the engine and the crickets on the banks.”
“Sure. I can be quiet,” he said, and then he was, but his mind and body were in an uproar he had never experienced before.
IN THE MORNING, JELLYFISH showed Tex how to dock the boat. Last questions were asked, and then Jellyfish and Hawk said goodbye.
“Do you want us to stay another day?” Hannah asked, clearly worried as she saw the tears gathering in Cissy’s eyes.
“No. You’ve got all that driving to do. But thanks.”
Hannah hugged her. “All right. Call us if you need anything, because driving’s all we do on our version of a honeymoon. At least for this first year, we’re touring, and touring can be interrupted.”
“All right.” Cissy bit back tears as she waved goodbye to everyone, and then she and Tex were alone.
And then the tears flowed.
“It’s all right,” he said. “Let’s go fishing. Skinny-dipping. Something.”
“You’re very brave to be trapped on the water with a worried female.”
“It’s a hardship, but I can manage.” Tex dragged her over to the side. “And anyway, I have a little surprise for you.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Surprise?” Cissy asked. “Last time you surprised me, I think you jumped out my window.”
“I’m not jumping anywhere this time.” He tapped her lightly on the nose. “And you’ll see soon enough.”
They heard footsteps on the boat, heavy feet. “That must be Ranger,” she said, turning, only to hear the sound of male voices.
Tex waved her downstairs. Quietly, she faded into a corridor, waiting under the stairwell in case Tex needed her help. She couldn’t do much, but she wasn’t going to leave him.
“Well, hello, Officers,” she heard Tex say. “If you’re coming aboard for lunch, I’m afraid the boat is closed for a week or two.”
“We’re looking for a female by the name of Cissy Kisserton.”
Cissy gasped, then covered her mouth.
“Have you seen her?”
“What would you want with her?” Tex asked.
“We need to turn her over to the authorities in Dallas. Apparently, she’s accused of theft by her employer. Have you seen her, sir?”
“She’s my wife,” Tex said, and Cissy closed her eyes.
“Hmm. This paperwork doesn’t say anything about a husband. Single female, white, blond hair, blue eyes—”
“That’s Cissy,” Tex said, “but she wouldn’t steal anything. What’s she accused of taking?”
“We can’t answer those questions. She needs to come with us, so that we can give her over to the proper authorities in Texas. They can tell you anything you need to know.”
“But she’s been with me,” Tex argued. “How could she have stolen something?”
Cissy clasped her hands together. She could go out the back door and escape, but that would put her on the run. She was tired of running. She could stay and face whatever charges Marvella had brought against her—which wouldn’t stand up in court.
On the other hand, it could take a long time to resolve.
“When were you married?” an officer asked Tex.
“Yesterday.”
“But this says Miss Kisserton left her employer’s house yesterday. How could you have gotten married? Had the marriage license been applied for previously?”
“We don’t have a marriage license. We were married by a medicine man.”
The officers laughed.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to turn her over to us. We’re sorry.”
After a moment, Tex called down to her. “Cissy?”
Slowly, she went up the stairs.
The officers stared at her.
“You’re not a blond female,” one pointed out. “You have very short, extremely dark hair.” He glared at Tex as if there was a joke being played on him.
“Are you Cissy Kisserton?” the other officer asked.
“Yes,” she said softly.
“Hey, Marvella,” he called. “She’s here.” And they began stripping off their officer’s uniforms. “Dang, that’s hot,” he said. “How do those cops wear those stupid things?”
Cissy clutched Tex’s hand as Marvella came into view.
“They’re not married,” one of the fake cops said. “Unless you count a voodoo license.”
But Marvella wasn’t listening. Disbelieving, she approached Cissy, touching her hair with one finger. “Your hair,” she said. “Your beautiful hair. What have you done?”
And then Cissy remembered the Ugly Clause in the contract that Mimi had mentioned. “I cut it off. It’s gone forever.”
“Sexy, isn’t it?” Tex said cheerfully. “She’s got that trashy kind of thing going now, doesn’t
she?”
Marvella rubbed a strand of Cissy’s hair between two fingers. “Tell me this is dye that washes off.”
“Permanent,” Cissy said. “Blondes do not have more fun.”
“You’ve ruined yourself,” Marvella said. “Who do you think will ever want you like this? It would take two years for your hair to get that long again. Maybe three!”
“And that’s past the term of the contract,” Tex said cheerfully.
“You’re damaged goods,” Marvella stated, suddenly wrathful. “All that elegance down the drain. This is all your fault!” she said to Tex.
“Actually, I’m the innocent party here. I didn’t want her to change anything, either. But it’s what she wanted, and you know, I like her doing what she wants.”
But Marvella could only shake her head. “You’re worth nothing to me now.”
Cissy touched the strands of hair at her neck, staring at her employer.
“If she’s worth nothing to you, how ’bout you leave, then?” Tex suggested. “And take your goons with you. Because we’ve got some serious plans.”
“How about I have my goons take care of your smart mouth?” Marvella snapped. “Out here, no one would know what happened to you. And then I could let them have Cissy for all their hard work.”
Fear ran through Cissy, until the sounds of truck doors slamming and kids running toward the boat, yelling “Aunt Cissy! Aunt Cissy!” caught her attention.
Four Jefferson men ran toward the boat to keep up with the kids. “How-dee!” Navarro called. “Boy, is this some setup or what?”
Last skidded to a halt when he saw Marvella and her goons. “What’s going on here?” he demanded.
When they didn’t reply, he put his fingers in his teeth and whistled sharply. “Boys! We got ourselves some trouble!”
Instantly, the Jefferson men jumped onto the boat, heading with whoops toward Marvella’s hired guns. Cissy shooed the children downstairs so they wouldn’t get caught in the melee. She heard a splash and a shriek as they were heading down the stairs.
“What was that?” the children asked.