"Great," she said. "We both needed some time and I thought we could watch the sunset here and relax. Do you want a drink?"
"Yes," he said and she took one out of the tin bucket she'd used to haul them up.
"Beer in a bucket," he said. "Ingenious."
The wind blew her hair, whipping it across her face, she pushed it back and never looked more beautiful. At this moment, if he had a condom on him, he would lay her back and show her just how sorry he was for acting the fool. Silly him, he wasn't prepared and wanted to slap himself upside the head.
"Ingenious, that's me," she said, gazing out at the pastures. "That's one heck of a view. Who would have thought a treehouse had the best field of vision on the property?"
For several moments, they watched the sunset in silence, relaxing after the long hard day.
"You're a very blessed man," she said. "Why didn't you want to be a rancher?"
Sighing, he gazed out at what his family owned. Yes, he was indeed a fortunate man, but still that came with a price. A price of giving up what he enjoyed. "All my life, I loved to draw. Creating a building on paper has attracted me since high school. Yes, I love living out here and working the ranch, but I wanted to do something on my own. Be my own person."
Her emerald eyes stared at him with understanding and she reached out and took his hand. Warmth flooded him at her touch, making him want to tell her everything.
"Graduated top of my class in college. Had a job at the architectural firm of my dreams." Taking a swig of his beer, he sighed. "One day, my mother called me crying. No longer was she able to take care of my father. The cancer made him so weak, he couldn't go to the bathroom by himself or take a shower alone, nothing. The other kids were in college."
With a sigh, he glanced out at the land, the memory of his father riding his horse in at the end of the day, warming him.
"Gave my notice and came home. Loved the job, but my family is more important. Since then, I've been right here. Dad passed away, and two years later, Mother died in her sleep."
Talking about the past always made him partly angry, partly sad. The angry part was why did his father get cancer? Why couldn't he live long enough to see everyone graduate and even bounce a few grandchildren on his knee.
The sad part his own opportunities died along with his father. Coming home, he stepped right into his father's shoes, taking on the responsibilities of the large cattle ranch. The family needed him and he responded to the call.
"Do you miss not being able to make grand house plans?"
"Yes, I haven't drawn sketches since then."
"Maybe it's time to at least sketch again," she said softly and squeezed his hand she still held.
The thought of taking up his pencil and letting his mind decide what angles and shapes to draw sounded like fun. After the death of his parents, he couldn't bring himself to draw. His aspirations had been put aside to do the necessary things to keep the family business going. Even if he had to sacrifice what he enjoyed.
Perhaps it was time to do things that gave him pleasure.
Glancing at the woman sitting beside him, swinging her legs in the breeze as the sun slid down, casting its last orange rays. Should he ruin the mood and tell her the truth about the night they made love. Would she be upset?
"Shadow, there is another reason I was distressed yesterday," he said, holding her hand, thinking if she were pregnant, their children would be beautiful. Did he love her and want to spend the rest of his life with her by his side? Once they were married, there would be no divorce.
"What?" she asked, gazing at him concerned.
"That condom we used was pretty old. We probably should have waited," he said.
"I know," she replied. "Neither one of us wanted to wait. Why are you bringing this up now?"
"Because I didn't tell you, the condom broke," he said, staring into her eyes searching, wondering how she would react to the possibility she could be pregnant with his child.
"And that troubled you?"
"Well, yes. What if we made a baby together?"
"Would you want the child?" she asked.
"Of course," he responded, but the question hung in the air. What about her? Would he want to marry the mother?
Breathing in deeply, she gazed out at the sky as the sun sank beneath the horizon, its orange glow all that remained of the day. "Do we have any control over what's happened? If I'm pregnant, then that is as God and the universe willed. At the right time, we'll deal with the consequences, but until then, there's no point in worrying."
Stunned, he sat back and considered this woman. All night he worried, afraid she would be mad or distraught or even hysterical that she could be with child, but she appeared unfazed.
Gripping his beer bottle, he looked down and saw his men all jumping into a truck. Oh no, that usually meant trouble. A glow radiated in the east that didn't belong there. A flicker of light that could only mean one thing. Fire.
Grabbing her, he kissed her quickly on the lips. "There's a fire in the pasture. I've got to go."
"What?"
He pointed off in the east and she gasped. "Be careful."
"Promise. See you later tonight," he said and hurriedly he half climbed, half jumped down the ladder, signaled to his men to pick him up.
Shadow had been coasting. She knew it and the call from her editor had been the wake-up she needed. The time spent with Jim had been lovely. Taking care of Keiko had filled her with a maternal love she never expected to experience.
Even the broken condom didn't frighten her. Whatever happened, happened. There was no reason to get upset until she learned she was or was not pregnant.
Last night's fire had kept Jim and the hands busy until almost midnight. Exhausted, he came dragging in, taken a shower and gone to bed. Leaving things still unspoken between them.
Sure, they'd been together in the treehouse, but not as much as she wanted. Nothing between the two of them was certain and she had a job to do.
Driving into town, she wanted to do more research on the Cupid superstition. First, she would speak to the sheriff. After all, who knew the actual consequences of dancing around the town square better than him. Then she planned on visiting the library to try to verify the information on Thomas Cupid. And then maybe a visit to the statue.
Shadow wanted to see the troublemaking statue up close and personal.
Arriving, she drove past the Cupid's Inn where construction workers were putting a new roof on the building, down past the restaurant, the boutique and finally the sheriff's office. Parking the truck, she hurried inside, needing to get back to the ranch before Keiko's next feeding.
As she walked into the small office, she correlated the size of the Austin police force compared to the three desks all together in one room. The dispatcher and two deputies, Ryan had the only office.
A girl sat behind a counter answering the phone - dispatching the officers. The police radio crackled about the Raffsberger's cat stuck in a tree. The officer and the fire department were trying to coax the feline down. In Austin, that pussy would have been up a tree without a firefighter.
The young woman laughed and then peered at her. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, is it possible to talk to Sheriff Ryan. Is he available."
"Oh, he's got time. Let me take you to him," she said and Shadow followed the woman to his office.
"You got a visitor," she said and showed her in the door.
How many times could you walk through the door and speak to the head of the police in a big town? Smiling, she held out her hand, "Good to see you again, Sheriff."
"How's the new car hunt going?"
What could she say? Her deductible was a thousand dollars, her royalties didn't come in until the end of the month, payment for the article for the magazine was at least four weeks away and finding the right affordable car would have to wait until she returned to Austin.
"Haven't begun to look yet. The adjustor has filed his final reports and soon
that will be settled." Drawing a deep breath, she gazed about the office of Taylor's soon-to-be husband. "Do you have a few minutes to tell me about the Cupid statue in town. Tell me why people would dance naked around a piece of rock and risk being arrested."
Pulling out her stenographer pad and pen prepared to take notes, wondering if he would be open and honest with her. How quickly would this get back to Jim and how would he react when he found out the truth.
Ryan reclined back in his chair and frowned. "Oh, the Cupid Stupid dance. For starters, I can tell you that I arrest or take home twenty or more nude students from the high school every year. Dared by their friends to streak around the statue some of them wake up to find themselves looking through bars."
For a moment, he was quiet as he picked up a pencil and tapped it against his desk. "If they're sober, I take them home to their embarrassed parents with a stern warning about a second offense would find them facing a judge. Frankly, I'm trying to talk the city council into removing that pain in the ass piece of rock."
How would a parent respond to seeing their son or daughter brought home in their birthday suit by the local sheriff? But to expunge the legend of Cupid, Texas. The city council would never approve, would they?
"Isn't that how you met your soon-to-be wife?"
Outside his office, his employees were teasing one of the men about his time to chase the cat while Shadow sat, waiting for Ryan's response.
Like he tasted sour grapes, his forehead scrunched up in a frown. "Taylor and I went to school together, but yes, I almost took her to jail for doing the Cupid Stupid dance."
"You really want the city to remove the town's landmark?" she asked.
"Absolutely," he said, nodding. "The statue needs to go."
"What's the reaction from the members of the council?”
He leaned forward, his eyes staring intently at her and she felt like she was under interrogation. "Why are you asking about the superstition. Why the fascination?"
Surprised that he hadn't asked her this first, she made the decision to be candid. Since she was dealing with the sheriff, she didn't want to lose his trust completely.
"I'm a writer. I write articles for Texas Love Magazine and I'm doing a feature story on the town of Cupid."
His brown eyes darkened into a glare as his brows drew together. Resistance like a shield came crashing down over his face and she knew this interview was over.
Ryan stared at her. "That's not a good idea. My officers don't want a bunch of crazy outsiders coming into town and parading naked around our town square convinced they're going to find love. Do you realize the strain that would put on our personnel? On the city budget?"
Shadow put her pen up to her mouth and considered her reply. How could she allay his misgivings and still learn the necessary information for her story?
"You're right. Still, you have to admit, it's a clever story idea. The concept is under consideration by Texas Love Magazine."
Not a complete lie, but not the complete truth either. Not wanting to outright lie to the man, but she needed the work and Texas Love paid well enough to pay the month's rent.
"Cupid is a nice little community and we don't want strangers invading our small town thinking our statue will help them find love."
Which only made her feel worse because her choices were limited and if she wanted to eat, she'd better write. Picking up her purse, she stuffed her notebook and pen inside. "All right, answer one more question."
"What?"
"Do you believe in the superstition?"
With a glance out the window, he avoided her gaze. With a bite to his lip, his expression torn he glanced back at her. "Damn, I want to tell you no, but I've seen it happen far too many times. So I'm going to plead the fifth."
"Too late, you've already given me your response."
Rising, she shook his hand. "Thanks for talking with me. Honestly, I'll take what you said under advisement. The magazine is expecting a piece on Cupid from me."
"We've got some great ranches in the area - can't you spotlight them," he asked.
Yesterday, she emailed Todd with a list of story ideas about Cupid, hoping he would find them more appealing. Within minutes, his reply was a swift irrevocable, no.
"I'll do my best," she said and walked out the door, speculating how long before the gossip about what she was doing made its way back to Jim.
Eager to finish her groundwork today, she walked the short distance to the library. The librarian was happy to discuss with her the details of the history of the town plaza and show pictures of the way the original town looked.
"This is Thomas Cupid, the founder of the city," the woman said, pointing to a portrait on the wall. "Our founder was quite the character."
"The Cupid dance," Shadow said. "How many people do you know who stripped off their clothes and ran around the fountain have gotten married."
The older woman peeked at her as she flipped the page in an old folder of old photos of the city of Cupid. "Out of my high school class everyone who did the statue dance married the first person they saw."
A chill went through Shadow causing her to shiver in the warm spring sun. Jim picked her up after he ran. Could they be each other's forever loves? Different as night and day, peanut butter and jelly. Salt and pepper. Confusion rattled through her, making her chest ache with the knowledge that she cared about Jim.
The librarian kept on talking about her classmates who had the courage to shed their clothes and parade in the town square. Listening to her, it seemed too perfect. Even Karma failed occasionally.
"Has anyone defied the superstition and not married? Are there any divorces you know of?"
Pausing for a moment, she contemplated her question. "Well, there were two cases I know they didn't marry the first person they saw, because of death or illness. Remember, there are no written stories, only word of mouth. People talk about successes a lot more than they mention failures."
"Isn't that the truth," Shadow said, thinking of her mother. The woman could spin a yarn a mile long, but how much was true, Shadow questioned.
Gathering up her pen and papers and a copy of the original way the little town had looked before they built the square, she rose from her chair.
"Thanks for your help. I think I have enough for my article," Shadow said and watched as the librarian tensed.
"An article?"
"Yes, for Texas Love Magazine," she said, knowing this would change how the woman felt about helping her.
"We don't need all those hippies from Austin coming up and streaking around our statute. My job is to look out for the town's best interest and I'd be derelict in my duty if I helped you with this publication. Or at least don't say Cupid, Texas."
Now how was she supposed to write a piece without using the name of the town?
"You've been very helpful," she said and walked out the door.
The square was just around the corner from the library. Drawn to see where people lost their inhibitions and took a chance on love, she walked toward that beacon of love.
Turning, she saw that the boy in a diaper with an arrow pointed at her heart faced her, like a gunfighter only his weapon of choice was a bow.
Standing in front of the granite sculpture, she gazed at the detail in the stone. How did a statue play a part in making people fall in love? With her cell phone, she took pictures.
Three teenage girls walked up and started talking about the sculpture.
"This is how my mom met my dad," one girl said. "After doing the Cupid dance at midnight he was the first person she ran into."
There it was again. That damaging little snippet that drew her and Jim together. That reminded her in the eyes of the God of Love they were a couple. A couple touched by the superstition, and if it was real, Jim was her true love.
The girls giggled. "Dancing without your clothes. Nope, out of my comfort zone."
One of the other girls shook her head. "No, I'm only seventeen and I don't want a ste
ady boyfriend. Maybe later, I would consider trying it, but right now, I'm not interested."
Smart girl. More young women needed to stay away from dating and men and focus on their studies. That was something you didn't learn until much later.
They noticed Shadow.
"Sorry," one of the girls called.
"Don't worry," Shadow said. "I'm trying to understand how a sculpture finds you love. Not only does it seem ridiculous, but doesn't seem possible."
"Because Mr. Cupid, our town founder, wanted love and couldn't find it. When he died, he had a spell cast that anyone who danced naked around the statue and chanted, the next person they saw, would be the love of their life."
Odd how a man who never found love, but desperately wanted the emotion had created magic that now found love for others.
"Do you girls believe in the Cupid superstition?"
"Oh, yes," they chorused together.
"My parents met because my father danced," one girl said.
"Mine, too," another repeated.
"Would you girls mind if I took a picture of you in front of Cupid?"
The girls looked at each and then shrugged their shoulders. "Sure, go ahead," one of the girls said. The three girls stood in front of the god and Shadow snapped a photo of them on her phone.
How could she frame her story that the truth came out, but the town remained hidden? Was there any way she could write this story and still maintain the friendships she formed in town?
"Thanks, girls," she said, peeking at her watch, realizing she needed to return to the house. The time spent with Cupid was over and no matter what, she had to finish the article.
Time to get back to the ranch where a precious puppy depended on her for food. Now she felt equipped to write the story. Still uncertain what to write about. Soon everything would be ready for her to go back to Austin, but where would that leave her with Jim.
Later that night, Shadow sat feeding Keiko with Jim relaxing beside her, reading his magazine occasionally looking over to reach out and pet the dog. Sitting next to one another, the atmosphere relaxed and casual and she knew this was how life would be if they were together. Unlike the kind of relationships she witnessed growing up with her mother.
Cupid Help Me! (Return to Cupid, Texas Book 4) Page 9