by Verna Clay
Harris sipped his coffee, stood, and said to his mother, "Some things are meant to be; some aren't."
Tooty only smiled. "And sometimes life gives us what we think we don't want, but really need."
Harris returned her smile, didn't respond, and politely excused himself. There was an awkward silence and then Freckles blurted, "I've designed a new line of sweaters for poodles that's called Poodle Pizzazz."
The conversation was effectively changed, but Lucinda wanted to cry. She now understood exactly what was going on. Tooty had forgiven her and was trying to get Harris to do the same.
Chapter 13: Cortez
"Lucinda, could you come to my office for a sec!" called Ward from his office door.
"Yes, sir," said Lucinda from the copy machine. She had just put the final touch on an article about the town's oldest resident, Molly Tucker. After Ann Martinez had told her about her grandmother at the coffee klatch, she'd been inspired to meet the energetic and beloved lady. And for Lucinda the interview had been a breath of fresh air. Molly was spry, hilarious, and answered all of Lucinda's questions without reservation.
Lucinda lightly knocked on Ward's open door. He glanced up and motioned her in. She handed the draft of her article to him. "Here's the Molly Tucker article."
"Thanks. I'll read it this afternoon. Have a seat."
Lucinda sat in the orange plastic chair and waited for what she presumed was her next assignment.
Ward set Molly's article on his disorganized desk and glanced back at her. "Your next assignment will be out of town."
She nodded and waited.
"It's in Cortez and it's covering an award ceremony for Harris. He's receiving a prestigious honor on Saturday."
Lucinda's heart kicked into overdrive as she waited for more information.
Ward picked up his coffee cup and swallowed a mouthful of the tar colored liquid. Inwardly, Lucinda cringed. The coffee at the office was so bad that she had developed the habit of stopping by Dixie's Cuppa Joe every morning for their exceptional breakfast blend. Ward continued, "The ceremony begins at six in the Montezuma-Cortez High School auditorium and the mayor of Cortez, as well as Paxtonville's mayor, will be there. Lieutenant Governor Clarke will present the award."
"What's the award for?"
Ward smiled "Oh, yeah, I guess that's an important piece of information. Harris is receiving Montezuma County's Cowboy of the Year Award for his rodeo accomplishments and charity work. It's a pretty big deal. The only other cowboy in our town to receive that award was Dirk Branigan several years ago."
"Okay. I'll look up the particulars on the internet and put it on my schedule."
Ward swallowed some more of the awful coffee. "One more thing. Tooty has offered to drive you to the event and back."
"What?"
Ward frowned. "Is there a problem? I thought your apology article was exceptional, as was the Tanner Vet Clinic write-up. And from what I've heard, Lulu Fitzpatrick is over the moon about your inclusion of Chica in the piece, and if you can win her over, you can win the town. In fact, it was Tooty who insisted you ride with her."
Composing herself, Lucinda said, "There's no problem. I guess I'm just surprised. I figured the family would want to drive there together without an intruder."
"I see your point, but Tooty said Harris is leaving early and the rest of the family is taking their van. She's driving her own car later because she's in charge of the Adopt-a-Pet program at Hank's Feed and Seed that day. She said she'd enjoy your company and you'll arrive in plenty of time."
"All right. I'll call her to get the details."
Ward nodded and turned his attention to shuffling through the mess on his desk. "Now where is that Newsweek magazine?"
Lucinda pointed to the corner of a magazine peeking from beneath a legal pad and Ward said sheepishly. "I think whatever lies beneath this disaster must be fossilized. I'm just afraid to look."
Although Lucinda was disconcerted by her next assignment, his remark made her grin.
Chapter 14: Ya Think?
Although unsettled at first during the drive to Cortez with Tooty, the kind woman soon put Lucinda at ease and after a few miles, Lucinda said, "I can't believe you're being so nice to me after what I did to Harris and your family? You visit my home; invite me to coffee with your friends, and now this."
Tooty glanced at Lucinda, grinned, and returned her gaze to the road. "I'd like to tell you something." She again glanced at Lucinda, but this time her expression was serious. "Rather than hate you, I believe I should thank you."
"What!"
While Tooty edged smoothly into the passing lane to overtake an eighteen wheeler, she explained, "Your first article and then your apology forced my family to examine our hearts and make choices. We could either forgive once and for all, or let resentment continue to fester."
"But–"
Tooty lifted a hand. "Let me finish." She exhaled a sigh and after a moment said, "Follow my logic." She returned the car to the right lane. "If not for Lucky Larry, Harris wouldn't have been born. If Harris hadn't been born, it's likely I would never have met the love of my life, Miles Brightman. If I had never met Miles, my other children wouldn't have been born. If they hadn't been born, I wouldn't have the family I have today." She paused. "Do you see where I'm going with this?"
Lucinda pondered her words. "Are you saying that perhaps everything is preordained?"
"Not exactly. What I'm saying is that circumstances have brought me to where I am now. Circumstances brought Larry to where he now has a relationship with his son. Circumstances have brought you to Paxtonville. Circumstances, whether happy, sad, or indifferent, govern our lives, and it's how we handle those circumstances that set the stage for our future. Sometimes we handle them with grace, other times with anger." She paused and tapped her fingernails on the steering wheel. "If you were to ask me if I would choose the same path with Larry, now that I know the outcome, I would tell you unequivocally, yes. I would endure that heartache a million times over just to have the family I have." She glanced at Lucinda and then back at the road. "So, dear, the bottom line is, how can I not forgive you when you are the victim or villain, or perhaps the hero, of your own circumstances?"
Lucinda felt the sting of tears.
Tooty continued, "But there's another reason I've chosen to forgive not only you, but Larry, and that's because Harris loves both of you."
Her words shocked Lucinda. "Oh no, Harris doesn't love me! He despises me!"
"I know my son and he's in love with you," Tooty said with conviction.
Turning fully to face Tooty, Lucinda said, "It's not possible."
Tooty chuckled. "And now my question to you is, do you love him?"
Lucinda couldn't make herself respond. Responding with "no" would be a lie, but saying "yes" would break her heart.
Tooty seemed to understand her dilemma. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything because I already know the answer." She reached and patted Lucinda's shoulder. "But don't worry. Circumstances have a way of working out."
The current conversation ended when Tooty turned onto an off ramp. "We're almost there."
Harris entered the auditorium where he would receive his award and scanned the audience for his family. All day he'd been involved in public relations with local politicians, business owners, community and charity groups, and the public. He'd advocated for charities and encouraged everyone to become more involved with their communities. He'd posed for more pictures than he could count and shaken dozens of hands. He'd signed just as many autographs. But now, inside the auditorium, he wanted to see a familiar face. He scanned again, saw several Paxtonville natives, his family…and met Lucinda's gaze. He'd had a feeling that Ward would send her to the event, but hadn't expected her to be in the company of his entire family.
He silently cursed and shifted his gaze away when she began fiddling with her eyeglasses. He decided it was going to be a long night. And it was.
After ninety minu
tes that included performances by a high school choir, a local female singer, a male quartet, speeches by the mayor, Better Business Bureau president, and a local pastor, the Montezuma County Cowboy of the Year award was presented to him by the Lieutenant Governor. He accepted the plaque etched with a cowboy raising his hat above his head in an iconic gesture, smiled at the audience, expressed his thankfulness and gratitude for the award, and kept his gaze away from Lucinda, well, accept for once. She had moved into the aisle to take pictures and when she lowered her camera, their eyes met, causing him to forget what he was about to say. He'd blushed and recovered. But the fact that she had caused him to lapse made him angry with her, but more so with himself. He finished his acceptance speech, returned to his place of honor on the stage, and only half listened to closing remarks by Paxtonville's Mayor Quigley. And, as expected, as soon as the gathering was dismissed, he was surrounded by reporters, folks wanting autographs, and others congratulating him. He remained attentive and polite as he worked his way toward his family. His sister hugged him, his mother kissed his cheek, his father and brother shook his hand, and Lucinda stood in the background snapping pictures.
Miles said, "We're leaving soon. Are you staying overnight or coming home?"
"I'm coming home, Dad."
Tooty interjected, "Good. Then you can drive Lucinda back to her place. It'll give her time to ask questions for the article she's writing."
Harris shifted his gaze to Lucinda and wondered if she knew they were being set up. His mother gave him a quick hug and his father chuckled. His brother and sister tried to hide grins. The fact that his mother was playing matchmaker wasn't lost on anyone and he was just about to burst their bubble and say he'd decided to stay over, when he suddenly changed his mind. Lucinda wouldn't be happy about the arrangement and he wanted to see her squirm.
Lucinda should have been angry at Tooty for manipulating her, but she wasn't. She could have refused to ride with Harris, but the look in his eyes, as if he relished her discomfort, got her hackles up.
After he said final goodbyes to fans, friends, and family, he motioned her toward the parking lot and a vintage orange Pontiac Firebird. He opened her door and she slid onto the lush seat. The interior smelled of leather and masculinity, and she wanted to hold her breath, not because it didn't smell good, but because it smelled like Harris. He got behind the wheel and the car vroomed to life. It was a rich guy's car, which reminded her that for all of Harris' simple ways, he was financially well off. She sighed and wished the drive was over.
Harris backed the sports car from the parking space, stuck his hand out the window to wave at the people in the parking lot, and pulled smoothly onto the street. He said, "So, I imagine that sigh is because you're as unhappy riding with me, as I am with you."
His question pierced Lucinda's heart but rather than answer, she turned to gaze out her window. After a few turns that brought them to the highway, he said, "You do realize that my mother is playing matchmaker, don't you?"
"Ya think?"
Harris pushed the accelerator to catch up with the traffic flow. "So, is there anything you want to ask for your article? Like how Lucky Larry felt after reading your rag or how my mom and dad felt? Or how the tabloids invaded our town and tried to dig more dirt?"
Lucinda swallowed against the lump in her throat. She refused to take his bait. Instead, she asked, "Is there anything you want me to include in this article?"
He released a soft curse before responding, "I'm sure you have it covered, but if you don't, you'll make something up."
Lucinda had been looking straight ahead, but now jerked her gaze to Harris' profile. "I've never made anything up about you or anyone else." She watched his jaw tighten and after several seconds said, "Can we call a truce? I hate that I wrote that article and I've apologized—publically. I've humiliated myself, ruined my career, and you still don't believe me."
"What do you mean you've ruined your career?"
Lucinda wasn't about to tell Harris her plan to double-cross her editor in Washington when her gig in Paxtonville was over, so she merely shrugged. "Because of that article, I'm now branded as a sleazy tabloid reporter."
"Maybe that's what you deserve."
"I'm sure it is. Now, answer my question. Is there anything in particular you want me to say about tonight's award?"
"No."
Harris felt like a low-life bully. He'd wanted to put Lucinda in her place, but she'd put him in his. Surely, her career wasn't over because of one article. Realizing that she'd gotten him to feel sorry for her, he reeled his emotions in. He didn't want to feel sorry for her. He didn't want to feel attracted to her. He just wanted to drop her off at her duplex and drive away feeling nothing.
Thirty minutes later he dropped her off, but as he drove away, his heart still hurt.
Chapter 15: Lasso
Phoenix woke feeling excited. Today was the Fourth of July Community Celebration, and Justin, with Cecelia's blessing, had arranged it so they both had the day off. He'd said the entire community would turn out for games, food, contests, a parade, speeches from local leaders, a western dance, and fellowship among the townspeople and surrounding communities.
Surprised by her excitement, she hurried to dress in the cowboy garb that she and Lucinda had shopped for. The women had giggled when they tried on jeans and western shirts at Biggy's Bag-n-Save Big Mart that carried not only groceries, but clothing, feed for farm animals, and even some hardware.
For the holiday Phoenix had chosen dark denim jeans, a belt with a large silver buckle, and a long sleeve red western shirt with pearl buttons. Now, she rolled the sleeves up and preened in front of the bathroom mirror. Grinning at her reflection, she muttered, "Never thought I'd be wearing something like this." When she entered the living room, Justin was dressed in black slacks and a short sleeve white button-down shirt. He looked like a business man in casual dress. Shocked, she said, "I thought this was a cowboy thing."
He started laughing. "I had no idea you were dressing cowgirl. I was trying to make you feel comfortable." He walked over and looked her up and down. "You look beautiful."
Returning his smile, she said, "I think you've surprised me as much as I've surprised you." A sweetness entered Justin's eyes and Phoenix suddenly wanted to kiss him. She quickly stepped around him. All too often her feelings of friendship for Justin were becoming muddled with an attraction she didn't want to happen. She would be leaving Paxtonville in August and didn't need to muddy the waters.
As they left the apartment Justin suggested they stop at Dixie's for coffee but wait to eat until they got to the park. By the time they reached the event it was almost ten with crowds already strolling the grounds.
Justin pointed to different locations. "Food vendors are over there; the community picnic will be there; crafters' booths are there; and carnival games for the kids are beyond the crafters. The parade will be at three on First Street." He motioned toward the gazebo in the center of the park. "Speeches by Paxtonville's finest will be spoken from the gazebo and bands will set their instruments up beside it. This evening's dance will be in the open area around the gazebo." He grinned and nodded toward the food vendors. "Are you hungry?"
"Starving."
Lucinda arrived just in time for the opening ceremony of the Fourth of July Celebration. She was almost late because she couldn't decide whether to wear the western shirt or not. Why couldn't she have been born tall? Everything looked good on tall women. Did it make her look silly? Finally, she'd thrown her hands up in frustration and questioned aloud. "Why are you so worried about your outfit?" Because the whole town will be at the park and making judgments about you based on the articles you've written, their preconceived notions, the gossip they've heard, and the way you look.
Sighing, she put the green plaid western shirt with puff sleeves back on and snapped the buttons. Even if she looked silly, maybe it would show that she was at least making an effort to fit into the community—which, in all honesty, she w
as. She had come to love the town and its idiosyncratic inhabitants.
Because she hadn't arrived sooner, the gazebo was already surrounded by a crowd and there was no way she could maneuver to the front without calling attention to herself. Mayor Quigley began tapping on the microphone. "Testing. Testing. One…two." The microphone screeched and several people covered their ears.
Lucinda spotted a tree on a knoll that was a little farther from the gazebo than she wanted, but her camera had an excellent zoom. She hurried to the old oak and readied her camera as the Mayor said, "Good morning Paxtonville residents and neighboring communities. It is with much pride that I welcome you to our Annual Fourth of July Celebration to commemorate our great United States of America and all of our military men and women, past, present, and future that put their lives on the line to ensure our liberties."
The crowd roared and Lucinda's heart filled with patriotic pride. The mayor then introduced Pastor Pixley who led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance and a lengthy prayer.
Mayor Quigley returned to the podium and shouted, "How many of ya'll are ready to celebrate this day country style?"
The crowd roared.
The portly leader smiled and raised a hand to quiet everyone. "Okay, then the first order of business is to give a quick rundown of the day's activities." He held up a brochure. "And just so you know, this leaflet can be picked up at the entrance to the handcrafters section." He then began reading the schedule of events. When he got to the one o'clock picnic with the Chili Cookoff, the crowd roared again with appreciation. He finished enumerating the activities and then introduced the president of the Better Business Bureau, who thanked individuals and businesses that had donated time and money to make the annual celebration such a success. The BBB president finished by saying, "And now Chip from the Chamber of Commerce will be presenting an award."