by Ciana Stone
The color of the desert at sunset, it was a plain affair with no frills or embellishments. She studied her reflection in the mirror. What would Zeb see when he looked at her? A woman in an old dress who should have stuck with jeans?
She blew out an exasperated breath and turned away from the mirror to grab her boots. Okay, so worn cowboy boots didn’t exactly spell class but she didn't own anything else aside from a pair of more worn-out sneakers and flip flops from the local bargain shop.
As she turned to give her appearance one more look, she heard the sound of a car door slam. Willa was just descending the stairs when Zeb opened the front door. He looked up at her and stopped dead in his tracks.
Willa’s heart sank. Did she look that ridiculous in the dress?
Her fear was short lived when he gave her a smile sexy enough to wake a dead person, followed up with “Christ almighty, sugar, maybe we should forget going out and take this party upstairs.”
“It’s okay?” she asked, despite the relief his words provided.
“More than okay. You look incredible.”
“You’re not just being polite?” she asked as she finished descending the stairs.
Zeb laughed. “You do remember who you’re dealing with, right?”
Willa chuckled. Zeb could be the most charming man on the planet, but he tended to be brutally honest. “Then thank you. I was a little nervous. I’m not exactly a dress kinda gal.”
“Well, you make that dress look damn good. So, whadda ya say, beautiful?”
“I say let’s hit the road. I didn’t have time for lunch and I’m so hungry I could eat the south end of a north bound mule.”
Zeb laughed. “Always the romantic.”
She gave his shoulder a shove as she passed him and headed out the door. The drive into town was passed with talk of anything but their troubles or his investigation, which she appreciated. Time passed quickly as they reminisced about times he and her brother Ethan had shared and the trouble they’d gotten into as kids.
Zeb had chosen to have dinner at Bill’s Beef Barn, a local steakhouse. It was a family owned place that had been around as long as Willa could remember. She hadn’t been there in quite some time but the place had not changed. There were still framed photos of local ranchers and rodeo cowboys dating back to the 1920’s on the walls, and the tables were still the same rough hewn wood sealed with years of shellac.
As she discovered during dinner, the steaks were still as good as ever. Having spent her entire life in Calder County she knew darn near everyone in the place, and was well aware of the curious eyes watching her and Zeb.
It didn’t seem to bother him. In fact, he seemed to hitch up his charm and flirtatiousness a few notches, reaching out to touch her hand or offer her a bite from his fork of the buffalo steak he’d ordered. Willa had no doubt that by morning they would be a major topic of gossip.
What surprised her was that she didn’t care. In fact, she liked the idea that people would think of her and Zeb as an item. Hell, she’d been in love with him damn near her whole life. To have him feel something for her was a dream come true. Even if it wasn’t destined to be forever.
That thought put a bit of a damper on her mood. But her mood picked back up when he suggested they mosey down to the local honky-tonk for an after dinner beer and maybe some dancing.
Bucky’s had been the local hangout as long as Willa could remember. Weekdays they had a jukebox, Wednesday Karaoke night and on Fridays and Saturdays a local band would play. There was sawdust on the floor, baskets of peanuts on the table and the coldest draft beer south of the Mason Dixon line.
The moment they walked in, two women Willa had grown up with spotted them. “Willa Hale!” The busty blonde with a smile as bright as the sun and a voice like Minnie Mouse squealed. “God almighty, girl, I was starting to think you’d left the state.”
“Hey Molly,” Willa replied and acknowledged the thin redhead with her. “Hey Brenda.”
“Hey Willa,” Brenda’s eyes went to Zeb. “And hellooooo cowboy.”
Zeb put his finger to the brim of his Stetson. “Ladies.”
“Well aren’t you a long drink of cool water.” Molly looked up at him in a manner that reminded Willa of a cat eyeballing a prime mouse. “Don’t think I’ve seen you round these parts before cowboy.”
“Zeb Childress, Texas Ranger,” he introduced himself. “Nice to meet you but if you’ll excuse us, I’ve been plumb dying to get this beautiful woman in my arms all day.”
Willa nearly swallowed her tongue as he took her hand and led her to the dance floor where a dozen or so couples swayed to a slow county song. Zeb pulled her into his arms and her eyes widened in surprise when he led her into a slow and very sensual two-step.
“Well, aren’t you just full of surprises, Ranger.”
“That I am, darlin.”
By the time the dance ended, Willa was ready to take him off behind the building and rape him. She knew the man had serious moves in bed, so she shouldn’t be surprised that he could dance. But damnation if he didn’t have her feeling about as hot as a fourth of July fireworks display.
“You want to grab a table and have a beer?” he asked.
“Sure.” She looked around and spotted an empty table. “There?”
“I’ll grab the brews and meet you there.”
Willa made her way to the table, sharing greetings with several people along the way. Bucky’s was busy so she lost sight of Zeb. She angled in her seat to watch the people on the dance floor. When the band had finished two songs and Zeb had not returned she felt a little concerned.
She got up and made her way to the bar. Zeb was standing there, a beer in each hand, talking to a man she did not know. As she came up behind them she could hear what they said.
“So you think you’ll be headed back to El Paso soon?” The tall, dark-haired man asked.
“I hope. Just waiting for the heat to die down.”
The man chuckled. “Guess there’s not enough action out here, eh?”
“Let’s just say that watching weeds grow is about as exciting.”
“Then I guess I’ll be seeing you. It'll be good to have you back in El Paso. Say, what’s happening with that drug thing here?”
Willa stopped, pivoted on her heel and headed back the way she’d come. Tears stung at her eyes and she blinked them away, refusing to let them spill. She reclaimed her seat at the table and sat staring at the dancers. Zeb had no intention of staying. Regardless of how he said he felt about her, he didn’t plan on sticking around.
She felt like such a fool. She shouldn’t have let herself get involved with him. She knew it was likely to end this way. Her with a broken heart, watching him drive away. A sob threatened to erupt at the thought.
“Sorry.” Zeb’s voice had her jerking around to look up at him.
“A Ranger I worked with in El Paso, Kade Lawson, is here for a day or so. I ran into him at the bar and we got to yacking.”
He handed her one of the beers and took a seat beside her. “So, you feel up to another dance, beautiful?”
Willa didn’t feel up to much of anything at that moment. All she could do was replay his words in her mind. He didn’t intend to stay. He was going to leave her.
“Willa?”
“I … actually, I think I should get on home. A lot to do tomorrow and dinner’s sitting a little heavy.”
“Oh, okay, sure.” Zeb put his beer on the table and stood.
Willa let him take her arm and escort her out to the car. She stared out of the side window for the entire drive, trying to decide what she should do. If she broke it off with Zeb now maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much when he left. Then again, she could just pretend she didn’t know and enjoy the time they had left.
She didn’t think she could do that. She wasn’t good at pretending and there was no way she could fake it. Which meant she had to follow her nature and be honest. But how in heck was she going to do that? She loved him to a fault and
she didn’t know if she could break it off.
It wasn’t until he said her name that she realized they’d arrived at her house. She turned to look at him.
“What’s wrong, Willa?”
She shook her head, not trusting her voice and that sent him into motion. He reached for her hand but she pulled it away.
“What is it? Willa, you’re starting to scare me. Has something happened you haven’t told me about? Did someone say something to you tonight or do something to you?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
Willa screwed up her courage as best she could. “I know, Zeb.”
“Know what?”
“I know you’re just here ‘til you can wrangle yourself back into the action in El Paso. I know that the moment you do, you’ll be outta here lickety split. And this time maybe you’ll say goodbye, but you’ll still go and I’ll still be left watching you drive away and knowing that this time you won’t be coming back and –”
“Willa.”
“No. Let me finish. I know it’s coming and it’s what you want but I can’t keep doing … this. Not knowing what’s coming. I just can’t. Better we stop it now.”
He was silent for a long time and when he did speak his words shocked her. “You’re right.”
“I … I am?”
“Yes. I came here not intending to stay one second longer than I had to. This is the last place on earth I wanted to be. But it changed when I got here, Willa. I found something I didn’t expect. Something that gave me a hope that I’ve never had before.”
“Zeb.”
“No, it’s my turn. You deserve the truth. I love you, Willa. I do. And I want to be with you. I don’t like Calder County. There are still too many bad memories. Given the choice I’d head back to El Paso tonight. If you’d come with me.”
“You want me …?”
“Yes. I do.”
Willa had never dreamed such a thing would happen. It was what she wanted more than anything. And what she couldn’t have.
“I wish I could. God do I wish I could. But I can’t Zeb. I … this is my home. There are people here who depend on me, people who call this home. I can’t walk away from it. It’s all I have. All I know.”
“I know, honey. I do. And I want you to be happy. I don’t know the answer but I don’t want you to give up on us. At least let’s try and work this out.”
Had he said he was willing to stay she might have fallen blubbering into his arms. But he hadn’t and she feared that meant he was managing her, giving her just enough to keep her on the hook.
“Okay,” she finally spoke again. “We can do that. Tomorrow. Right now, I’m tired and I just want to crawl in bed and sleep. Thanks for taking me out. It was … nice.”
She started to get out of the car but he took hold of her arm and stayed her. “That sounded like a brush off.”
“I'm sorry. I don’t mean it that way. I … I’m just tired, Zeb. And I need some time. To think. It’d be best if you didn’t stay tonight.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. I am. Good night, Zeb.”
He hesitated a moment then released her and she got out of the car and hurried to the house. She didn’t look back as she let herself in and closed the door. She leaned back against it and listened to the sound of his car until there was silence.
“I know you’re there.” She felt for the light switch and sure enough there were all five ferrets lined up, watching her.
“How about a treat?” Willa asked and headed for the kitchen with all five on her heels chattering away.
She had to use a stool to reach the cabinet above the refrigerator where she kept the tin of popcorn. It was one of the extravagances in her life. Once a month she’d get a tin of cheese flavored popcorn. The ferrets loved it but she had to keep it tucked away because they were very smart and resourceful creatures.
Willa piled a big bowl full and set it on the floor then laughed as all five dove for it. After returning the tin to the cabinet, she took a tray of meat from the refrigerator. Whenever they slaughtered an animal for food, she kept the cuts no one wanted for cooking for Lobo and Bobby. She’d defrosted two nice sized leg bones for them.
Bobby was lying on the swing on the back porch when she walked outside. His nose twitched and then his eyes opened. He hopped down, stretched and ambled over her. “You wanna come in for the night?”
His response was to mosey to the door.
“Lobo?” She called and walked to the edge of the porch.
He appeared out of the darkness, tail wagging. “Got something for you, big guy. Come on in.”
She held the door for them and followed them into the kitchen. She’d already laid out the meat covered bones on their mats for them and it didn’t take any encouragement for them to dig in.
Satisfied that all of her animal family was content, she went upstairs. She took off her boots and dress and slid into a pair of soft but nearly thread-bare knit shorts and pulled on a tank top.
She’d just walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth when she heard the sound of a car. Her heart leapt. Zeb? She ran to the bedroom window to look out and hope turned to anger.
Willa ran downstairs, snatched up her shotgun and hurried to the front window. Carl and Carter Ellis climbed out of the front of the old beat-up truck. Two other men jumped out of the bed and all four started toward the house. It wasn’t lost on her that all four were armed.
They had to have been watching. All this time she thought they’d given up, but the first time Zeb wasn’t there they showed up. Willa ran to the kitchen and started to pick up the phone but she saw Lobo standing there with his hackles raised.
She knew as well as she lived and breathed that if the men got in the house, Lobo and even Bobby would fight for her. And get shot in trying to help her.
“You have to go,” she said and raced to the back door. “Now. Come on Lobo. Bobby? Bobby!”
She shooed them both out of the door. “You stay out of sight, you hear me?”
Both animals bounded off the porch, each in a separate direction. Willa locked the door and walked back to the entrance of the hall, watching the front door.
She jumped as the door rattled and shook from the pounding that started. “Willa! Open the fucking door. Willa! Willa, open the goddamn door or I’ll kick it in. Willa!!”
She racked in a load to her shotgun, trying to stem the rush of nausea and trembling that suddenly gripped her. She should have called 911 or Zeb. Now it was too late. God help me. She couldn’t remember ever being this afraid, not even when Clay would come at her with those big fists of his clenched.
The door burst in, slammed against the wall and a man charged in. She saw the gun in his hand. Could she turn and run, make it out of the back door before he spotted her and fired. “I got her!” The man crowed and started in her direction.
The next minute passed in sickeningly slow motion. Willa felt the bile rise in her throat, felt her hands grip the gun and her finger pull the trigger. The sound was deafening. Something dark splattered from the man at the same moment he was propelled backwards, his arms flailing and feet trying to find purchase. His gun went flying.
He fell to the floor just as a second man rushed in. Willa pulled the trigger again and the second man spun to one side with a scream. Now what? The shotgun shells were in the kitchen, in the drawer of the cupboard.
She had no choice. There were two more left and those were Ellis men. Willa made a dash for the kitchen. She made it to the cupboard and jerked the drawer open. Unfortunately, she pulled too hard and the drawer came free of the cupboard, scattering its contents all over the floor.
Dropping to her knees, her hands shook as she searched for the shells. Yes! She had them. Footsteps in the hall had her hands shaking worse. She got one shell in the gun but dropped the other. Damn. She cut at look at the door then made a grab for the shell.
Hope swelled as she slammed the shell into the gun. She looked up a
nd her breath caught in her throat. Carl Ellis stood above her, holding a deer rifle, his brother Carter one step behind him. Willa went to raise the shotgun and the last thing she saw was the butt of Carl’s rifle coming straight at her face.
Chapter Seven
You’re my ever after.
Like a sudden strike of lighting on a clear night it came to him. Zeb saw it. Willa in that old swing, begging him to push her higher, her face lit up like a Christmas tree with joy as she swung into the air. And the way she looked up at him when he stopped and the swing slowed to a halt. “You’re my ever after, Zeb Childress.”
His eyes filled with tears as he remembered the love shining in her eyes, the innocence and pure love that looked up at him. She had loved him when no one else did and he’d been so damaged and lost that he hadn’t seen it. Not even when he left Calder County.
A flash of her looking at him as he got into that old pickup. The sadness and pain. She’d loved him and he’d never realized how much having that kind of love meant.
Until now. Please god don’t let it be too little too late. Zeb slowed and executed a three point turn just three miles from the apartment where he was staying. The things Willa had said were running in a constant loop through his mind. He couldn’t let it go. He had to talk to her and make her understand.
He was a couple of miles from her place when something darted out into the road and stopped. Zeb stomped the brakes, skidding to a stop on the dirt road. It was Lobo. Zeb got out of the cruiser. “Hey boy. What are you doing way out here?”
Lobo barked and then turned but took only a few steps before looking back at Zeb. Zeb recognized the feeling that crawled up his spine. Fear. Lobo was trying to tell him something and it could only have to do with one thing. Willa.
“Show me,” he said and ran back to his vehicle. Lobo followed and jumped into the cruiser.