The Texan's Christmas

by Linda Warren

  “There are all the cows they’ve stolen,” Lucky whispered.

  “Yep. Just wondering what they’re going to do with them.”

  “I don’t see a cattle trailer but it could be hidden in the dark.”

  The beams from the cowboys’ flashlights were the only way they could see anything. Earl walked toward a tin shed on the left and opened the door. Lucky gasped and quickly covered her mouth against his shoulder. He kind of lost his train of thought when she did that.

  “Just look at all that stuff.” Her voice was barely a thread of sound. “There’s Mr. Hopper’s beautiful saddle.”

  Inside the shack were four-wheelers, two Polaris Rangers that he could see from the flashlight, saddles, tack and other items they’d stolen from ranches across the area. A putt-putt sound grabbed their attention and a green tractor with headlights and a flatbed trailer attached slowly moved from around the shed and then backed up to it. Melvin jumped from the seat and the cowboys began to load the items. Motor sounds mingled with the bellows. The cows grew more agitated as they jostled against each other looking for a way out.

  Once the loot was loaded, Melvin backed the trailer next to the pen of cows.

  “I don’t understand what they’re doing,” Lucky murmured.

  “Me neither. How do they plan to move that stuff?”

  As soon as the words left his mouth, the sound of a train echoed through the night. Clyde was talking on something that looked like a walkie-talkie. He waved his flashlight as the train came into view, and slowed until it came to a complete stop. Two cattle carriers were in front of Clyde.

  “Son of a bitch! They’re carrying everything out of here by train. This is a professional criminal operation.”

  “Yeah.”

  In a stupor they watched. Melvin pushed opened the big door of the car. Clyde and Earl adjusted ramps, which were laying on the ground, to the opening and threw up cow panels for the sides. Clyde opened the barbed wire gate and with whips and yelling they herded half the cattle up the ramp into the car. A couple of cows fell and as soon as the whip stung their hide they staggered inside. Melvin shoved the door closed.

  Clyde was on the walkie-talkie, flashing a light. The train inched forward and they started the process over again. When the cattle were safely in the carrier, the train moved and the loot was loaded into a boxcar. Earl drove the tractor back to the shed and ran to join Clyde and Melvin as they jumped aboard. The train revved up and slowly began to roll.

  Lucky jumped to her feet. “I’m going with the train.”

  “What!” Before he knew her intentions she was running toward it. He was a step behind her. “Lucky,” he screamed, uncaring if anyone heard him. His breath came in gasps as he tried to stop her. To his horror, she reached a boxcar and swung inside. Without having to think about it, he dived right after her, but misjudged his strength and slid across the floor of the car and almost went out the other side. Half of his body was hanging out. The train picked up speed and all he could see was Texas rail flashing before his eyes. His heart jackknifed into his throat.

  This was not the way he wanted to die.

  Lucky.

  IT TOOK A MOMENT FOR Lucky to catch her breath and then she almost fainted when Kid flew past her and hung out of the car. Oh, my God! She grabbed his boots and pulled. He did a half turn with his body and flipped back inside, knocking her down.

  “Lucky?”

  She took a couple of deep breaths. “I’m okay.” She rose to a sitting position and scooted against the wall of the car. He joined her, both of them breathing heavily.

  After a moment, Kid asked, “What is this stuff scattered in the car?”

  “From what I can see it looks like a busted bale of cotton. I guess someone was too lazy to dispose of it.”

  “Mmm. Comfy.” He jammed a wad behind his back. “You know, Lucky, there are a lot of other fun ways to get the adrenaline going instead of risking your life.”

  “You didn’t have to follow me.” But she was glad he did. She was scared out of her mind. Yet, here she was hopping a train chasing criminals.

  She could feel him looking at her in the dark. “My brothers ask me this all the time. Now I’m asking you.” He paused. “Are you insane?”

  Leaning back her head, she replied, “Probably, but if someone doesn’t follow them they’ll get away with stealing all that stuff. Little John Hopper wants his great-grandfather’s saddle and I’m getting it back for him.”

  “Lucky, this is dangerous. The saddle is a material thing. It can be replaced.”

  “Some things can’t be replaced,” she said as old memories surfaced. “When I was eight, rustlers wiped out my dad’s small herd right before Christmas. He always sold calves to buy gifts for me. Grandma told me I wouldn’t be getting the pink bike I wanted. She said Santa ran out of them. But Christmas morning there was my pink bicycle. I was happy.” The clap-clap of the rails seemed to intensify. “My mother left me her beautiful sapphire ring my father had bought for her when they were dating. It was small but I loved it and would stare at it in her jewelry box and play with it. It was mine and Dad said I could wear it when I was older. Soon after Christmas I noticed it was gone. I heard my grandma and Dad talking. He’d sold it to buy me the bicycle and other gifts. That’s when I knew there wasn’t a Santa Claus and mean people took things that didn’t belong to them.”

  “Lucky.” He scooted closer to her, his thigh touching hers, and her stomach fluttered in stupid excitement. More excitement than she needed tonight.

  She took a breath. “I don’t plan to confront the criminals. I just want an idea of where they’re taking this stuff and then I’ll get off and let the authorities handle it.”

  “Okay. I’m with you all the way.”

  For a while there was silence as they watched the night fly by. The hum of the rolling wheels against the rail was the only sound.

  She was curious about something. “How did you just happen to be outside The Joint tonight?”

  “I’m there every night.”

  “What?” She tried to see his face in the dark.

  “I get there about closing to make sure those cowboys don’t hurt you and I follow you to see you get home safely.”

  “That’s stalking.” She was trying to dredge up some anger, but it wasn’t working. She couldn’t help but feel touched that he was concerned about her.

  “Really? I kind of looked at it as worried out of my freakin’ mind about what you’re into, and I was right. We’re on a damn train headed into God-knows-what.”

  That obliterated every retort in her head, but one. “You can get off at any time.”

  “Not likely.” She felt him move restlessly. “And since I’m fessing up. I visit the baby’s grave, too.”

  That threw her. “When?”

  “Usually right before I go to The Joint to make sure you’re okay. I just sit there for a while praying for his forgiveness.”

  They both needed to get a grip or the past was going to cripple them. “You can visit the baby’s grave any time you want.”

  “That wasn’t on the table the last time we talked. I believe you threatened to have me arrested.”

  “That was about the headstone.”

  “Yeah. My name’s not on it.”

  She heard the sadness in his voice and she weakened. “We’ll talk about it when we get back. Okay?”

  “Works for me.”

  Something else occurred to her. “Why were you there so early tonight?”

  “Ah, my aunt and uncle were giving me suspicious looks. They can’t figure out what I’m still doing in High Cotton. I just needed some breathing room.”

  “Why are you still here? Don’t you have a job in Houston?”

  “Cadde keeps asking me the same question, but I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re safe.”

  “Kid…”

  “I know you don’t understand that, but it’s the only way I can make up for the bad stuff I’ve done. It�
�s the only way I can live with myself.”

  She didn’t know what to say to that. He had to deal with his own demons in his own way and she had to let him. It was the only way they could get through the horrendous mistakes they’d made.

  He reached for his cell. “I better call Chance and let him know where we are. Any idea where that might be?”

  “The rail runs north and south through High Cotton. My guess is we’re going south.”

  “Well, I have three messages from Chance and one from Cadde. Let’s see what the bros have to say. Chance’s messages are all the same ‘Where are you?’ Cadde’s is ‘What the hell are you doing?’”

  She pulled out her phone. “I have three from Travis and they’re all the same ‘Call me.’”

  He clicked a digit. “Let’s see how they feel about us hopping a train.”

  The wisecracking Kid was back. The serious Kid didn’t surface too often like it had a moment ago. But their son was a solemn subject for both of them.

  “Kid, are y’all okay?” Chance came right to the point. Kid had the cell on speakerphone so she could hear. There was some static but the voice was recognizable.

  “I’m not sure.” She could feel those dark eyes pinning her.

  “I’ll put you on speakerphone. Travis, Walker and the sheriff are here.”

  “Oh, dandy.”

  “What happened?” Travis wanted to know.

  Kid told them the story glossing over Lucky’s part. “We thought we’d follow this party to its destination. The cows and goods are going somewhere.”

  “Let me talk to Lucky,” Travis demanded.

  “I’m here,” she said.

  “Get off that train. It’s too dangerous.”

  Before she could say anything, Kid jumped back in. “Now, Trav, this train is going pretty fast and I’m not in a mood to risk my life or Lucky’s.”

  She gave him a glare. She knew he couldn’t see her face clearly, but she hoped he felt it. “Travis, I’ll be careful and get off before anyone sees us.”

  “Kid, you’ve been involved in some harebrained schemes but this is—”

  “Hey, Cadde, I know I’m topping stupid this time, but listen up. I don’t want to use up all my battery. By our calculations we’re guessing the cows were kept on the old Wilkins place. This train is probably headed south out of High Cotton. There has to be someone you can contact at Union Pacific to find out the stops and its destination. And the engineer of the train is also involved. He stopped that train in the middle of nowhere so they could load the cattle.”

  “And they mentioned a boss who’s in charge,” she added.

  “I’m on it,” Travis said.

  “Girl, where’s my girl?” She tensed. She was planning to call her father as soon as they finished talking. What was he doing there?

  “Lucky.” Chance’s voice came back on. “I had Uncle Ru pick up Bud. I knew you wouldn’t want him to worry.”

  “Thank you, Chance. I appreciate that.”

  “If you get any nicer, Chance, we might have to put you up for sainthood or something,” Kid wisecracked.

  “Girl, are you okay?”

  “Dad, I’m fine. Please don’t worry.”

  “You’re on a train chasing criminals with that no-good Hardin boy and you don’t want me to worry?”

  “Well, I guess they’re not putting me up for sainthood.”

  “Shh,” she hissed at Kid.

  “Dad, please.” Her composure shook at the pain she was causing him. What was she doing? Kid was right. This was insane. She needed to get off this train and deal with her messed up life instead of risking it.

  “Tell Aunt Etta I’m fine,” Kid shouted as they lost connection. He clicked off and nothing was said for some time.

  As the train rolled, her emotions settled down. She would see this through to the end. It was her job and she wasn’t stopping now.

  “Could we talk?” Kid asked.

  The last thing she needed was to dredge up the past. “I’d rather not.”

  He stretched out his long legs. “I’d like to try and explain.”

  Maybe it was time for them to expose those raw feelings so they could finally heal. She scooted to face him. “I’m listening.”

  “When I left, I was down all the way to Lubbock. I missed you. I was going to call the minute I got to my dorm just to hear your voice, but the phone wasn’t hooked up. I went down the hall looking for a pay phone and found a party instead. I was glad to make new friends and we partied to the early morning. When I woke up, about a day late, I had a gigantic hangover. You were the first thing I thought about, but I figured I’d wait until I could form a sentence before calling. Then there was another party and a week had gone by. I knew you were going to be mad so I kept putting it off.”

  “Were there girls at these parties?” she had to ask, even though she knew the answer.

  “Yeah, lots of them.”

  She swallowed and wondered why she was going to ask the next question but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. “Did you sleep with any of them?”

  The answer was a long time coming. “Not at first, but…”

  “You don’t have to say anything else.” Her stomach cramped and she didn’t want to hear the rest.

  “I called her Lucky,” came quietly through the darkness.

  “What?”

  “The first time it happened I called the girl Lucky. I knew then I’d screwed up big-time. I wanted to call and come home, but I couldn’t face you so I tried to forget you in every way I could.”

  She licked her lips. “Did it work?”

  “Not entirely. Someone would laugh or bite their lip and I’d think of you. Sometimes I’d see blond hair and you’d pop into my head. I avoided coming home because of you even when Dane and Aunt Etta begged me. I thought the best thing was for me to stay away.”

  While she was searching for words to say, he continued, “Then there was the sadness. In High Cotton everyone knew about my parents’ deaths and the grownups never seemed to know what to say to me. They just looked at me with that ‘you poor kid’ look. In Lubbock no one knew about my parents and there were just happy, fun times. I know that doesn’t sound very nice, but I enjoyed that freedom.”

  “And I would have tied you down.”

  “I suppose. Aunt Etta said we got too serious too quick and I think she’s right.”

  Lucky had to dig deep for the truth, but it was there and she had to say it. “We thought we were in love but we weren’t. We were just two kids who needed each other at that particular time in life.”

  “Yeah. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me.”

  “I was, too, and I was angry for a long time. I’m not anymore.” Since they were being honest, there was something else she had to ask. “Did you ever fall in love?” She used to dread that someone would say, “Did you hear Kid Hardin got engaged?” or “Kid Hardin got married.” She didn’t think about it too much anymore, but she was still curious.

  “Not even close.” He shifted against the wall. “I’m afraid I’m just like my old man and I’ll never be able to love any woman completely.”

  She was startled for a moment. She had no idea he knew about his father. “He was not very discreet about his affairs.”

  “You knew about Blanche Dumont?”

  “Who? I just knew he brought women into The Joint not a mile from your house.”

  “You saw him with other women?”

  By his tone of voice she knew that he never had. “Yes. Sometimes if my grandma had a doctor’s appointment or something, the bus would drop me off at The Beer Joint and I’d do my homework in back until Grandma came. When Dad wasn’t looking, I’d peep around the door and I saw your dad several times with other women sitting in a booth on the same side being very friendly.”

  “You never told me.”

  “Why would I? You adored your father.”

  “Yeah, he was quite a man. Not. The night
they had the wreck he told my mom he was leaving her for another woman, who turned out to be Blanche Dumont. My mother started hitting him and he lost control of the car. Chance heard all of it.”

  “Isn’t that Jack Calhoun’s ex?”

  “Yes, and Shay’s mother.”

  “What? Is…?”

  “No. She’s not Jack’s daughter. It was a sordid mess, but luckily Shay is nothing like her mother. I pray every day I’m not like dear ol’ Dad, either. God, I can’t believe he met women in High Cotton.”

  “I’m sorry, Kid.” She wanted to touch him, hold him, but refrained from doing so. She couldn’t get caught in that emotional wringer again.

  “How about you? Did you fall in love with someone else?”

  “No.” She watched the night whiz by. “I have a hard time trusting anyone.”

  “But this ranger guy is interested, right?”

  “Travis? I gather information for him. That’s it.”

  He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Lucky…” Her name was a sultry breath against her skin. All her restraints broke free and her hand touched his roughened jaw.

  He caught her hand and pulled her forward. Before her lips could taste his, the fast train clanged to a slower pace.

  “We’re stopping,” she breathed.

  “Show time.” Kid moved toward the opening as they prepared to finish the job they’d started.

  But a part of her wanted to finish something else.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  THEY STOOD AT THE OPENING, feeling the warm wind against their faces and staring into the night’s darkness.

  “I don’t see anything,” Lucky said.

  “Me neither,” Kid replied, “but we’re slowing down for something. Wait a minute, there are lights. A crossing, I think.”

  “We must be going through a town.”

  “Yeah. Look for some sort of landmark or sign so we can figure out where we are.”

  Suddenly a man flung himself into the boxcar and Lucky and Kid jumped back. It took him a minute to stagger to his feet, and at that moment he became aware he wasn’t alone in the car.