by Peggy Webb
“That’s what I was hoping.”
He saw the flush that came into her cheeks.
“We used to occupy our nights in other ways, Josh.”
“The memory of that haunts.”
The look they exchanged was hot. The air between them crackled with the tension of barely controlled passion. Hallie’s tongue flicked out and wet her lips. Josh lifted his hand and touched her hair. A dark curl wrapped round his finger.
“Hallie—”
“Telephone for you, Mr. Butler.”
Josh glanced around at the man who had spoken, Glen Melvin, the bartender.
“The man said it was about your brother. It sounds urgent.”
“Go quickly, Josh.” Hallie squeezed his arm. “And good luck.”
Josh wheeled away and hurried to the phone.
“This is Ronnie, down at the Blue Half Moon. It took me a while to find you, but I thought you’d want to know. George is down here. He’s on top of one of the tables now giving his famous scientific lecture on the mating habits of frogs.” Josh could hear Ronnie’s chuckle. “Complete with sound effects. He’s got that mating call down pat.”
“I’ll be right there, Ronnie.”
“I hope I did right. I hated to disturb you, but I didn’t want to have to bring in the police. They’d have slapped a drunk and disorderly charge on him. Mr. George is a fine man if he’d just learn to control his liquor.”
“You did the right thing, Ronnie. Thank you.”
Josh’s newly planted hope withered on the vine as he hurried from the country club. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of red. Hallie. But he never even glanced her way. Amputation was best done quickly. The agony of cutting her completely out of his life lasted all the way to the Blue Half Moon.
Hallie saw him go. She’d hoped he’d come by with some word, but he’d walked right out the door without so much as a nod in her direction. If she needed any more evidence that he’d meant every word he’d said on Whippoorwill Bluff, she’d gotten it.
Putting a smile on her lips, she turned away from the door and spent the rest of the evening showing off her special children to the crowd.
o0o
Early the next morning she called Tanner.
“Did I wake you? This is Hallie.”
His boom of laughter made her feel good. “These days I’m awake at five every morning. Little Sarah demands her breakfast early.”
“How is she?”
“She’s a beautiful sweetheart. Just like my two other women.”
“And how are they?”
“If Mrs. Donovan were any more incredible, I’d have to be fighting duels. And Anna is her usual intrepid self. She thinks her baby sister is her own private property.”
“I can’t wait to see all of you.”
“Does that mean you’re coming to Dallas?”
“Yes. Next weekend. What’s going on out there? Any rodeos?”
“I thought you’d finally gotten that out of your system.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Rick Johnson’s planning a big one. He’s calling it the Texas Roundup.”
“Enter me in the women’s bull riding.”
“Can’t I talk you out of it, Hallie? One day you’re going to ride one bull too many.”
“I need it, Tanner.”
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
Hallie sighed. She’d never been able to fool her brother, even on the telephone. “Nothing a little excitement won’t cure.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure about the rodeoing. I’m not so sure about the cure.”
“If you need me, I’ll fly out. Big brothers have good shoulders to cry on.”
“And take you away from your family? No, thank you. I’ll be fine. See you next week.”
o0o
Monday she and Debbie began preparations for the launching of the Adoptive Grandparents’ program. Hallie worked so hard that she didn’t have time to think. It was best that way, she decided.
On Friday morning the first eager grandparent walked through the theater door. Hallie hurried forward to greet the woman.
“I’m so glad you could come. I want you to meet all my special children.”
She escorted the woman, Mrs. Landford, to the front where her special children were gathered. For the occasion all twenty-five children had come to the theater at the same time, scrubbed and dressed in their best, smiling their shy and winning smiles.
Love them, Hallie silently pleaded to Mrs. Landford. See their big hearts instead of their handicaps. She need not have worried. Little Billy Jones, with his IQ of fifty and his loving quotient of 150, rose from his seat and took Mrs. Landford’s hand.
“Miss Hallie said we’d have grannies. Are you going to be my granny?”
Mrs. Landford knelt so she would be eye level with the child. “I certainly am, darling. What’s your name?”
“Billy. Just plain Billy.”
Eager volunteers came into the theater in a steady stream. Hallie and Debbie bustled around, introducing them to the children, watching to note any special bonds that were being formed, trying to match the right child with the right grandparent.
All the while, Hallie kept glancing toward the door. Would Hiram Butler come? For Josh’s sake, she hoped so. At ten-thirty she gave up looking. It’s too late, now. He’s not coming.
She smiled bravely as she started serving the punch and cookies.
A shaft of sunlight spilled into the theater. Hallie glanced up, and there was Hiram Butler, standing uncertainly in the doorway. She set down the tray of cookies and went to greet him. Taking his hand between hers, she said, “Mr. Butler, I’m so glad you came.”
“I didn’t really plan to, Miss Donovan, but then I got to thinking. Coming to my house the way you did was an uncommon act of bravery. Most folks in Florence give me a wide berth.”
She laughed with sheer joy. “I’ve ridden Brahman bulls, Mr. Butler. You don’t scare me.”
“I could see that. And you know something? I kind of liked it.” Unconsciously, he straightened his shoulders. “After that last speech of yours, I didn’t know whether you’d have me or not.”
She was filled with compassion. He’s nothing but a frightened old man, she thought.
“Jubilee has room for everybody.” She led him toward her children and started introducing him. Unlike Mrs. Landford, he hung back, not saying much. With a shock, Hallie realized he was shy, nearly as shy as most of her children.
Nothing seemed to be working. The children stared in silent awe at the tall, taciturn man in their midst.
She despaired. As much as she wanted Hiram Butler to succeed in this venture, she knew she couldn’t spend all her time with him. In fact, Mrs. Landford was at her side, asking for her attention. Giving Hiram Butler one last glance, she followed Mrs. Landford and became involved in a discussion about future plans for the program.
She was free thirty minutes later. As she started across the room toward Debbie, she noticed Hiram Butler. He was standing apart from the crowd, sipping punch and watching the proceedings with a wary eye.
Suddenly nine-year-old Jenny approached him. Shyly she held out her small fist. Hallie was close enough to overhear what she said.
“Want some gum?” Her speech was halting and uncertain.
Hiram bent his head slightly. “What kind of gum is it?”
“It makes bubbles.” She unfolded her hand and held up the round piece of gum, already unwrapped.
Hallie expected to see Hiram give some excuse and hurry off. Instead he lifted the gum from the child’s sticky palm.
“I used to blow bubbles.” He broke the gum in half. “Why don’t we share?”
“Miss Hallie says to share.” Jenny’s eyes, slanted from Down’s syndrome, would never grow round with wonder, but they sparkled brightly as Hiram handed her half the gum and put the other half in his mouth. Watching each other solemnly, they softened the
gum and both blew a bubble. Jenny giggled. Hiram smiled.
Then, as Hallie watched, Hiram Butler, who hadn’t thought of another human being in twenty-five years, squatted beside Jenny and put his arm around her shoulders.
“I’m glad you shared your gum with me, Jenny.”
He looked up to see Hallie watching them. Silent tears were streaming down his face. Unashamedly he wiped them away.
“Thank you, Miss Donovan.”
“Call me Hallie.”
She wouldn’t have taken a million dollars for the tears in Hiram’s eyes and the smile on Jenny’s face. Her only regret was that Josh wasn’t there to share it with her.
o0o
When she’d waved the last of her children and their newly adopted grandparents goodbye, she and Debbie headed home. Then she loaded the El Dorado with her dogs and her duffel bag, rammed her Stetson on her head, and started out to Texas.
Josh passed her on the bridge over the Tennessee. When her purple car whizzed by, he felt as if he’d been socked in the stomach. It was the first time he’d seen her since the reception. One glance was enough. All the love, the passion, the joy, the laughter—everything that was uniquely Hallie came pouring through him. There on the bridge, he had his bright moment of epiphany. He knew that he could never let her go. He’d find a way for them. Soon. Very soon.
At the moment, though, George was waiting for him. He’d agreed to try one more clinic.
o0o
The birds woke Josh early Saturday morning. He got up, whistling. He took time only for a cup of coffee, then he set out for the little house on Cypress Mill Road.
Hallie’s car wasn’t there. She didn’t answer the door. He speculated that maybe she’d had car trouble and it had already been picked up and taken to the garage. Or maybe somebody had borrowed her car and she was sleeping late. Knowing the futility of his action, he stood at her door for five minutes, ringing the bell.
“She’s not home.” He turned at the sound of the voice. “She’s not home,” Debbie yelled again. Wearing her bathrobe and hair curlers, she crossed over into Hallie’s yard. “I came out to get the morning paper and saw your car. Hallie’s gone.”
Josh felt panic. His mind conjured up the worst possible scenario: Hallie had left Florence for good.
“Gone?”
Debbie sat on the redwood porch steps. “Mind if I sit down? I stayed up ‘til three watching Friday night movies, and I’m plumb tuckered out.”
Josh curbed his impatience. “Did Hallie say where she was going?”
Debbie laughed. “Did she say where she was going! Land, yes. Be gone through Tuesday. I’m in charge while she’s gone. Isn’t that something? She’s the best thing that ever happened to me. Imagine, me without even a college degree, taking on a job run by somebody with a master’s. How’s Hiram?”
“Better than he’s been in a while. About Hallie . . .”
“I might just give him a call.” Debbie cocked her head to one side and assessed Josh. “Is something bothering you? You look like World War III has been declared,”
“Miss Debbie, I’d be mighty grateful if you’d please tell me where Hallie is.”
Debbie roared with laughter. “Sounds to me like somebody’s anxious to find out. Well, all right. I guess I won’t punish you anymore. She’s gone to Texas.”
“To Texas?”
“Lord ‘a mercy. From the looks of you, you’d think the A-bomb had been dropped in the middle of Florence. She won’t be gone forever. Some folks around here couldn’t do without her.”
Josh didn’t miss her emphasis on some folks.
“Did she go to Dallas?”
“Yes. She’s got a famous brother living there. He’s got a new baby. Some men are real family men.”
Josh lifted her off her feet and gave her the biggest bear hug she’d ever had. He shocked the smug look right off her face.
“Thank you, Miss Debbie.”
Then he set her on her feet so fast, her hair curlers rattled, and took off to his car, running.
o0o
The Texas Roundup drew a big crowd. Especially when word got out that Hallie Donovan would be riding.
She was in the ring now, one leather-gloved hand waving in the air, the other holding the rope that wrapped around the bull’s belly. Dust billowed around them.
The roar of the crowd infuriated the bull. Snorting and bellowing, he slung Hallie around like a rag doll. A less experienced rider might have been unseated, but Hallie Donovan rode with ease. She even laughed. Her laughter goaded the bull to even greater rage. He charged the fence, hoping to swipe his hated rider off. Only the quick actions of a rodeo clown saved Hallie’s left leg. The cowboy clown jumped off the railing in front of the fence and waved a red flag, turning the charging bull back to center ring.
There was nothing like danger to excite a rodeo crowd. They stomped and whistled and applauded.
Hallie’s bull gave one last, furious twist. She rose into the air, and for a tense moment, it looked as if she’d be thrown. But she landed safely on the bull’s broad back. The jolt loosened her Stetson. It flew off her head and sailed across the fence.
“Would you look at that?” a fat man with a red face and a red bandana said to his companion.
The Stetson, lying at their feet, had three faded yellow roses attached to the hatband. As he bent to pick up the hat, a large bronzed hand appeared out of nowhere and snatched it up.
“Excuse me. I’ll return this to its owner.”
The fat man’s mouth fell open and stayed that way as he watched a tall man disappear into the crowd, bearing away the souvenir hat.
“Well, the very nerve!”
The loudspeaker drowned out further comment. “Let’s hear it for Hallie Donovan, folks. Eight seconds! And what a ride it was. And now, hang onto your hats. Our next rider is challenger Marilyn Timmons, that tornado from Grenada . . . Mississippi, that is.”
The excitement of the ride was still with Hallie as she left the arena. She joined Tanner on the bleachers.
“That was a dangerous ride. I was worried about you.”
She smiled. “We Donovans are indestructible. All I lost was my hat.”
Together they watched the rest of the rodeo.
At the end, the loudspeaker squawked back on, and Jim Buck Pearson announced the winners in his nasal twang. There weren’t many surprises. Hallie listened as the familiar names in each event were called.
Suddenly there was a long silence. Then a new voice came over the loudspeaker. “The bull riding champ is Hallie Donovan.”
Hallie gasped. It was no surprise that she’d won the event; she’d expected that. But the voice, she thought. That voice sent shivers down her spine.
“Hallie Donovan is a multitalented woman. She’s a rodeo champ. She teaches special children . . .”
Hallie was on her feet. She gripped Tanner’s arm.
“Tanner?”
He merely smiled. “Be quiet and listen, Hallie.”
“. . . she’s going to be my wife . . . if she’ll have me. Hallie, this is Josh. Will you marry me?”
Her Texas whoop could be heard all the way to Florence, Alabama. The crowd took up the roar.
She fairly flew over the bleachers.
“Yes . . . yes . . . yes.”
People parted to make way for her. Two enthusiastic and romantic cowboys lifted her onto their shoulders and delivered her to the announcer’s stand. Josh smiled down at her. She was speechless with joy.
“Well, my wicked gypsy angel. Are you going to sit there all day or are you going to kiss me?”
With a laugh, she jumped into his arms. “It looks as though I’m marrying a bossy man.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Are you going to kiss me or spend all day chattering?”
His answer was a demonstration of his intentions. Their kiss brought a prolonged cheer from the crowd.
After a long, long time, Josh lifted his head. “Hallie, do you think
we might find some place more private?”
“Just what are your intentions?”
“They’re not honorable, I can assure you. But I intend to make them legal.”
“In that case, my car is right outside.”
Josh scooped up Hallie and her hat and carried them both to the car. He couldn’t bear to let her go. He set her on the front seat and slid in beside her.
Leaning over, he set her hat on her head at a rakish angle, just the way he knew she liked it.
She smiled. “You rescued my roses.”
“Could I do otherwise? Those three yellow roses have a special significance for me.”
“And for me.” Hallie gave him a wicked look. “Do you want to see what I can do with three oak leaves?”
“The possibilities boggle my mind.”
“How does Tanner’s ranch sound to you?”
“Great.”
She revved the engine to life and raced out of the parking lot. “I wish this car had wings.”
“With you driving, it doesn’t need wings.”
Dust boiled up behind them. Hallie drove her car the same way she rode a bull, with expertness and a keen appreciation for the outer limits of danger.
“Tell me everything, Josh.”
He understood what she meant. “I saw you the day you left for Texas. I was on the bridge, going home. It was at that moment that I knew we could make it work.”
“We can. I’ve always known.”
“I was slow to catch on. Hallie, you taught me what real love is. Until you came, I thought love disappeared at the first sign of trouble.”
“I understand why, Josh. I’ve always understood.”
“I realized I was throwing away the best thing that had ever happened to me. When I found out you’d left Florence, I called your brother. He’s a prince of a guy.”
“Then he knew all along.”
“Yes. He has a great appreciation for romantic endeavors. He even helped me set everything up. So I flew out, then I took a cab to the rodeo.”
“A cab! It must have cost a fortune. Why didn’t you rent a car?”