by J. M. Madden
Jack walked up as she put her phone in her pocket. She was about to tell him about speaking to Connor when Tag came through the door. Grabbing Jack by the shirtsleeve, she brought him with her to greet the older man.
She hugged Tag close and then asked, “You had us worried, where’ve you been? Sheriff Farley said you’d left the station a while ago.”
“I was going to leave, but I decided to make some phone calls, catch up with folks. Sorry I added to your stress.”
“You’re here now, that’s all that matters.”
“Tag, I heard about the coach. Man, I swear, when I changed the oil the other day, there was nothing wrong. I don’t know what could’ve happened.” Tucker shook his head. “I mean, Chase always follows up behind me.”
“We’re trying to figure that out,” Jack interjected. “Care to tell me how you boys got yourselves locked in a shed?”
Lilah had been wanting to hear this explanation, too. The three of them had been known to follow each other off the beaten path more than two or three times. Tucker’s eyes darted sheepishly between Jason and Pete and then around the gym. But, then, this was nothing new. They always acted this way when they’d gotten in trouble or tried to get away with something. They all hovered around the age of twenty, but it was like she had twelve year old triplet brothers. A little squirrely, but loveable none-the-less.
“You see, we were playing pool there in that place called, The Way Station, and Chase came over all excited. He said he’d cornered an armadillo in a shed and closed it up in there so we could go out and get our picture taken with it.” He looked at his cohorts and nodded. “We’d had just enough beers to corrupt our thinking and that sounded like fun.”
Jack appeared to listen intently without ridiculing their hare-brained story. “So you followed him and he locked all of you inside?”
“No, not right away,” Pete explained. “We talked it over first and had a few more beers then we went out there.”
“Holy crap.” Tag reached up and thumped Pete on the forehead. “You three have got to be the most talented dumbasses I’ve ever seen. You can pick up and play any instrument with music you’ve never heard, but you ain’t got one working brain between you.”
Lilah couldn’t stand their hang-dog looks a second longer. They took everything Tag said to heart and he’d crushed them. “Come on boys, let’s find you something to eat and a spot to crash for the night. We’ll tackle our dilemma in the morning.”
They followed her like little puppies over to the remnants on the buffet table. She didn’t pat them on the head or tuck them in, but she was tempted.
* * *
Jack was afraid he had to agree with Tag on this one. Freakin’ crazy bastards were lucky to have Tag and Lilah looking out for them. He wondered if they knew that?
The hour was late and he decided he wanted some alone time with Lilah, so he grabbed their sleeping bags and moved them to a classroom down the hall. When she came out of the restroom behind the bleachers, he waved her over.
“Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“Down the hall for some privacy.” He opened the door and led her inside to where he’d spread out the bags. “Is this okay with you?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t it be?”
“I just wanted to be sure.” He waited for her to sit then he stretched out beside her. Capturing her hand, he said, "Lilah, I'm sorry for not getting you to Fort Worth. I know performing is important to you."
"Yes, it’s important or at least I've convinced myself it is."
“What do you mean?”
"I wish I knew.”
“Well, that explains it.”
She swiped invisible sweat from her brow. “Oh good, I thought I was still confused.”
“Who have you talked to about this?”
“Nobody. The only ones I can talk to are directly affected by any decisions I might make.”
“Talk to me, then.” When she started to protest, he stopped her with a squeeze of her hand. He was directly affected but wouldn’t tell her. He didn’t want to scare her off. “I’ve been where you are, Lilah. Sometimes you just need a sympathetic ear.”
“Okay, why the hell not? If I can't be honest here, where can I?” Withdrawing her hand from his, she took a deep breath, and began, “When I left here, after my parents kicked me out for wanting to chase a dream they thought ridiculous, I was devastated that you didn’t come with me to Nashville. I’d convinced myself we’d go together, you riding the rodeo and me singing. Obviously nothing would happen overnight, but, at least, we’d have each other. Then 9/11 happened and you went into the Army, not that I wasn’t proud of you, I was. But I thought if I waited, I might lose my chance to be on stage. I was pretty selfish back then.
“Turns out, I was luckier than most and met the right people fairly soon. Performing was fun, fans started following me first, then later on our band. Each place we played was new and exciting.
"Then, five years ago, playing wasn't fun anymore. Too many depended on me. I lost my folks and ties to Mistletoe. I was tired. The divorce was the final straw.”
“I read a couple of the stories. They weren’t kind. What made you want to turn it all around?”
“Taggert Swift.” She turned around and stretched out beside him. “I was a real mess. I’d stopped sleeping, staying up for days at a time—I started drinking— the top gigs didn't happen as often and it didn't seem to matter as much. He helped me get back on track. This trip meant either we’d breathe a little life into my career or I was going to hang it up."
“Honey, I'm sorry."
“It’s okay.” She yawned and said, “Thanks for listening.”
“Yeah, I hope it helped.”
When she didn’t answer, he realized she’d gone to sleep. If nothing else, maybe using him as a sounding board had cleared her mind to help her make the right decision.
He pulled her close and wondered if he and Callie could ever play a part in Lilah Canfield’s future. He knew it was a longshot they could have a half decent marriage with her lifestyle, but he’d discovered some hope was preferable to none at all.
TEN
The next morning arrived long before Lilah was ready. She pushed against an immovable force that wiggled beneath the covers, exposing her backside to a rush of cold air. She cracked one eye open and spied a brown eyed, mop-haired beauty staring back at her.
“Callie, when did you get in bed with me?”
“A little while ago,” she whispered. “Daddy said I could sleep with you as long as I didn’t wake you up.”
“I see.”
“I didn’t, did I?”
“No,” she assured the child. “My inner alarm clock just went off.”
“I didn’t hear any alarm. Where is it?” Callie systematically checked under the covers, Lilah’s hair, and beneath the sleeping bag. “Are you teasing me?”
Lilah held up three fingers. “I promise I’m not teasing you. You just can’t see it because it’s inside my head.”
“Callenda McCommas.” Jack stood in the doorway.
“Daddy, I promise I didn’t wake her up. It was her head alarm that did it.”
He grinned. “Head alarm, huh?”
“I’m afraid it’s the best I could do on short notice.”
“Mrs. Dickens is getting ready to start an art class. Go on out there and grab a good seat, okay?”
Callie, popped up. “Don’t forget to come see me and my picture.”
“I won’t.” She promised, as the blur disappeared into the hallway and her sneakered footfalls grew fainter with the distance.
“I told her not to wake you.”
“Stop, Jack, she’s delightful.” She sat up, straightened her shirt and stuck out her hand for him to help her up. “Excuse me while I make a trip down the hall?”
“Yeah, when you’re done, meet me in the gym. I have updates on our situation.”
Fifteen minutes later, Lilah joined Ja
ck, Tara, Riley and the boys in the gym. They were quite the rag-tag looking crew. Even though she’d splashed her face with cold water, she was in no better shape. She’d give her eye teeth for a hot bath.
Jack greeted her with a cup of coffee. “Here, you look like you can use this.”
She accepted the steaming elixir and sat beside him. “You said you had updates. Is any of it good news?”
“Nothing to jump up and down about but, early this morning, the van was involved in a traffic pile up further down the highway. The weather’s tracking south faster than they can drive. No way were they going to escape it.”
Lilah drew in a quick breath. She’d seen pictures of highway accidents on the news and knew there could be injuries. “Is anyone hurt? What about Chase and Charley?”
“So we’ll get our instruments back?” Pete asked.
“I don’t know specifics, but a number of people have been taken to a local hospital.” Jack directed his next statement to the band members and their singular interest. “Report said a white van fitting our description is currently accordioned between two eighteen wheelers. I don’t know if anything can be salvaged but it sounds doubtful.”
“I don’t wish bad things on folks, but Karma’s a bitch.” Tag shook his head, stood, and glanced toward the upper windows on three sides of the gym. “Sun’s out, ladies and gents. This may turn out to be a good day after all.”
Lilah followed his gaze. While it did appear some brighter outside and through the window she could see a break in the clouds, she doubted the weather could change enough to turn this into a good day. Maybe she should take the events of the last few days and turn her lemons into blah, blah, blah. She’d seen Tag do it all the time.
It was time to pull the plug on Lilah Canfield and her band for this gig. She should get Tucker, Pete, and Jason back to Nashville as soon as possible so they could hire into another band. She’d heard of some openings and they’d be snapped up pretty quickly.
Tag was another story. She loved him like a father, and would find it difficult to not have him around, but he deserved better than she had to offer for the future.
* * *
Jack followed Tag outside. But, by the time he stepped onto the front steps of the high school, the older man had disappeared from sight. The old guy was a likeable sort, but he was up to something. This was the second time he’d gone off somewhere in less than twenty-four hours. Whatever was going on, Jack was fairly convinced the man had only Lilah’s best interests at heart and would do nothing to harm her. But where the hell was he?
Riley came up behind him. “I wish I had an ace up my sleeve to help Lilah. I mean, how many more hits can she take?”
“I don’t know, but, at some point, things need to turn around.” He didn’t know what was developing between them, but something was there. He liked the thought of having her around, but also didn’t want her to fail. He snapped his coat closed against the chill. “She understands you’ve done all you could.”
Riley stood there staring with a grin on his face. “I’ll be damned.”
“What the hell’s wrong with you?”
“She got under your skin, didn’t she?” Thumbs hooked into his back jeans pockets, Riley laughed and gave him a sideways look. “Poor SOB, you don’t even know what’s hit you.”
Jack wasn’t ready to admit anything to his friend, but Riley was too perceptive for his own good, right now. “I think I hear Tara calling your name. Why don’t you go check on her?”
Riley laughed again, slapped Jack on the back and turned to go inside. When he did, Lilah stood behind them. He elbowed Jack. “Hey, Lilah. I’m headed in to see about Tara.”
“That’s a really good idea.”
Odds were she’d heard their conversation or, most likely, the last part with Riley being a goof ass. Should he worry or apologize? Probably neither since she knew Riley and his humor or lack thereof. He didn’t need to make things anymore awkward than they were.
“What’re you doing out here?” Her soft voice broke into his thoughts.
“I thought I’d walk over to the office and see if there are any updated reports.”
“It’d be great if the electricity would come on. Everyone’s ready to go home and Tara’s back is killing her this morning.”
“Do we need to get the Doc to check her out?”
“She says all she needs is a night in her own bed.”
“We could all use that.” He almost added his bed would be better off with her in it. That was a topic to be saved for another time. “Okay, I’ll go on over. You should go in out of the cold.”
She shivered as if on cue. “It is chilly. Jack, when we have longer than five minutes together, can we talk?”
“Yes, soon.”
He watched her go in the building and then walked the two blocks to the Sheriff’s office. He found Tag in Hal’s cubicle.
Hal waved him in. “Looks like we’ve caught a break in the weather pattern. They’re saying we should have clear skies by about noon.”
“That’s good, how about electricity?”
“Crews are headed this way from Amarillo as we speak.”
Finally, when the old guy continued to sit there in silence, Jack’s curiosity got the better of him and his patience deserted him. “Tag, just what in the hell are you up to?”
* * *
While Lilah waited for Jack to come back to the high school, she rolled up sleeping bags and helped Callie pack all her things into her small suitcase. Tara waited none too patiently for Riley to take her home. Since the power had been restored about thirty minutes ago, they’d all been excited to get out of Camp Mistletoe. The majority of the residents had already left.
She really wished they’d hurry up. After Jack had left her this morning, she’d had a hard talk with herself and come to a decision. As much as she loved to perform, the time had come to hang up her guitar. Most of the time things went well, but some days were treacherous and, like this week, completely out of her control.
Her age was another factor. She was only thirty, but the hot tickets these days were teenagers with more energy, no wrinkles and higher boobs. If she continued, she’d have to ingest more caffeine and put a Hollywood surgeon on retainer. She truly didn’t know if she was up to the challenge anymore.
She’d considered asking Tara for advice, but dismissed the idea. She needed someone to talk her into leaving Mistletoe, not staying.
Suddenly, Jack pushed open the double doors and strode purposely over to her. Cupping her elbow, he said, “Come on, let’s go.”
“Go where? To Tara and Riley’s?”
“No.”
“I don’t understand, what’s the rush?” She glanced over to Tara and Callie, who were grinning and waving. “Jack?”
He ushered her around the outside of the building to the football field where a helicopter sat, its blades whoop-whooping overhead. Tag stood beside the door, Pete, Jason and Tucker waited by the goal posts and Riley ran toward them, from the opposite end, carrying the bag she kept in the coach with her stage clothes inside. Stopping mid-run, she pulled against Jack’s grip.
"What’s going on?" she shouted, loud enough to be heard over the ruckus of the helicopter’s blades.
Jack leaned in close to her ear. “Tag has a surprise for you. Let’s not keep him waiting.”
Riley hugged her after passing off the zippered bag and said, “Give ‘em hell, Kid.”
The boys gave her three thumbs up as Jack propelled her forward.
At the helicopter, Tag shouted, “Get on, we’ve got to go!”
Once seated inside and buckled, with Jack beside her and Tag up front with the pilot, she said, “Okay, I’m smart enough to figure out we’re on our way to Fort Worth, but how’d you manage this?”
“Called in a favor owed me from back in the day.” Tag shook his head. “And before you ask, we couldn’t get a copter big enough for the boys, but they’re happy for you and they’ll be ready next time.”<
br />
“But what about—”
“A band. Lilah, trust me, I got this.” He glanced over his shoulder at Jack. “Son, are you sure?”
“Sure about what?” she asked as she fumbled with the seat belt.
Jack chuckled. “Babe, just look out the window and enjoy the ride.”
“But what about Callie? You’re going to miss spending New Year’s Eve with her.”
“I’ve talked to her and she’s okay as long as I send pictures and maybe a video.”
Enjoy the ride, surely he was kidding. Her senses were in overdrive, and once again her life was out of her control. But the sun was shining and the snow sparkled beneath them like it had been sprinkled with glitter. It was the whole lemon thing again. This was going to be fine.
She’d be fine.
Fine.
Three hours later, Lilah stood in front of the mirror in the motel room putting the finishing touches on her hair and makeup. Luckily, she had naturally wavy hair and enough tricks of the trade in her arsenal that she could make do with blush, eyeliner, and mascara. Not too bad.
This had turned out to be the most eventful day in her life. While still in the air they’d found out Chase and Charley were among the injured taken to the hospital. Sheriff Farley assured her they’d be taken into custody as soon as they were released.
On a happy note, Riley had texted Jack that Tara was in labor and they were at the hospital in Mistletoe. He’d keep them posted.
One of the best things of the afternoon had been the hot shower. After they’d landed at a small airport just north of the city, a limo had brought them to a motel close to Billy Bob’s Texas in the Stockyards. The first thing she’d done was jump in the tub. You never knew what you missed until you didn’t have it.
That thought brought her back to her earlier musings about leaving Nashville and country music. Could she really do it? She and Jack had something going, but could they make a commitment? Would he want to? Did she want to?