The Patriot Girl

by Toni Lynn Cloutier

  He needed his lawyer to close the case once and for all, so he could put the past behind and allow the Adams family to do the same.

  “Mom still treats us as if we’re four instead of forty.”

  “She means well.” Dana smiled. “She wants you to remember Melissa’s birth. That’s all.”

  So he’d been told. Maybe subconsciously he didn’t want to remember—because then he’d also have to remember his wife dying while giving birth to his daughter. The child he had begged Liz to conceive before he became any older. Had his mother ever thought of that?

  His and Melissa’s futures had to be his priority, not worrying about a past he couldn’t change.

  Dana turned into the club’s dirt parking lot. The landscaping would get attention once the details inside were to his satisfaction.

  Stepping out into the August early evening heat, Dustin raked his fingers through his hair, careful not to touch the stitches on his forehead. He missed the Stetson he’d left back at the bank.

  Opening the wooden front door, he followed Dana inside. Wow. Candles flickering on each table and the dim overhead lighting had been the missing link to completion.

  The echo of cowboy boots stomping on the wooden floor in the center of the room and hand-clapping to the DJ’s music brought back childhood memories of his grandfather’s barn.

  “Amazing.” Dana and Slaughter had turned this once-dull and cold building into a place he couldn’t wait to fill with customers.

  Living in a state that appreciated the cowboy life, he hoped to draw enough traffic to show off his family’s heirlooms. Decorating the club with old rodeo memorabilia he’d found in his grandmother’s attic in Oklahoma brought back those family members who no longer walked the earth. His kinfolk would be proud.

  Now, to make a success of this business—in a town where few people lived—he needed a miracle.

  Chapter Two

  MaKayla was glad to finally be heading home. After the robbery, she and Jodi had put their emergency training to use. They made sure every customer gave a statement to the police before sending them on their way. They locked the doors, called the head of security, and then counted what money Jodi had managed to hold on to. Only she would have the forethought to mix the money with deposit and withdrawal slips. Brilliant.

  After completing their tasks, they had a coffee in the break room to relax. Jodi was excited to hear all about MaKayla’s idea of opening a public relations business that she could work on at night while Alex was away at college.

  MaKayla drove slowly as she passed No Bulls on her way home. Why had Dustin asked her to meet him there? Maybe he worked there. More likely, he was a regular customer.

  The red clapboard building hadn’t changed its old barn appearance. At least now, with cars in the parking lot, the place showed signs of life.

  Driving by the place on her way home each day would now be a reminder of the robbery and the man who had become her hero when she least expected it. She would never get his dark eyes and long lashes from her mind. And what was it about his twin dimples that had made her heart skip a beat?

  It was almost an insult to use the word cowboy to describe him. Cow man? Cow hunk? Her memory of him made her smile. She couldn’t explain why. Until she could meet him again and return the cowboy hat the police officer had given her, he would be a constant thought.

  She turned into her driveway and slammed on her brakes. Her quick reaction saved yet another teenager from being hit. Normally, she watched for teenagers using her yard as a short cut—but not today when her mind was focused on other matters.

  After calming her heart rate, she parked beside Paul’s oxidized gray sedan that their son now drove. No surprise that Alex would be home waiting for her. Even though she had called to tell him she was okay, she knew he had to see her for himself—so typical of the Adams men.

  Her life-threatening experience made her appreciate even the ordinary sounds of her flip-flops slapping against her feet as she made her way across the patio. She took a deep breath of the brisk August air—a reminder fall was right around the corner. Her fingertips grazed over one of the four white columns she had asked Paul to add when he built this house.

  She opened the door and tossed her keys and purse onto the small table stacked with the weekly pile of mail.

  “Mom. Thank God you’re home.” Alex hugged her. “Are you okay?”

  His voice was as welcoming as the first breath he’d taken that morning seventeen years ago. His green eyes and heart-shaped face identified their relationship. The musky scent of his black velvet hair, lax hug, and caring heart he’d inherited from his father.

  “I’m fine, sweetheart.” She released her hold, kicked off her flip-flops, and smiled at Alex’s recently acquired girlfriend. “Hi, Tammy.”

  “Hi, Ms. Adams. Do you know if they caught the robbers?”

  “They have two of them. Duke said in his twenty years of being on the force, he’s never seen anyone vanish into thin air like that third guy.”

  “We’re glad you’re home safe, Mom. We were going to finish watching a movie and then head to the recreation center. But if you want us to stay here—”

  “No, honey. You two go have fun. I’ll be going to bed early.” Keeping her Friday night routine of sifting through the week’s mail would be put on hold. Tonight she couldn’t concentrate on reading anything. All she wanted was a hot shower and then to crawl beneath her satin sheets.

  When the young couple turned and walked into the next room, MaKayla had full view of the open space of her home. Wrought iron railings divided the three main rooms. She wanted to give her whole house a great big hug.

  “I ordered egg rolls and rice, Mom. The leftovers are in the fridge.”

  With her high adrenaline, food hadn’t been on her list of priorities all day. “Thank you.”

  The thick white carpet beneath her feet ended at the kitchen. Her bare feet chilled as she crossed the wood floor to retrieve her dinner.

  Dustin’s masculine scent drifted upward from her clothes as she leaned against the counter, waiting for the microwave to warm her Chinese food.

  She placed her arm to her nose. No other customer ever had her enjoying the scent he’d left behind. The giddy feeling in her belly made her smile.

  The instant his image came to mind, a warm feeling caressed MaKayla’s body. Maybe with Alex leaving, she probably wanted companionship. That had to be it. Dustin’s scent would wear off in the wash and so would his memory.

  Opening her own PR business had to be priority. A man would only complicate things. Her hands would be full with trying to find clients.

  Only open fields lay between her house and No Bulls. No Bulls. What a name. Everyone around here already knew about the ice cream parlor, Columbus Bank, and the auto mechanic’s shop.

  Welcome to Dalton, Tennessee. Dalton was officially the “land of nothing and miles from everything.” Wait. No Bulls! The owner would need some publicity help to attract new people to this side of town. Why not start there?

  The simultaneous ding of the microwave and the ring of the phone made MaKayla stand up straight. Reaching around the cupboard, she removed the cordless receiver. “Hello?”

  “Honey, it’s me. How are you doing?”

  Jodi. Perfect. Just the person she wanted to talk to. “Good.” Nesting the phone between her ear and her shoulder, she removed the hot plate from the microwave and set it on the wooden table. “Are you better?”

  “After a roll in the hay with the big guy, life is always better.”

  MaKayla chuckled. Gutter mind meant Jodi was happy. “Did they catch the third creep yet?”

  “No. The other two are not talking.”

  Words she didn’t want to hear. After next weekend, she would be alone. Having a criminal with a gun loose in the neighborhood would not help her to sleep well. “What do they know about the two they caught?”

  “They’re a couple of homeless dudes. Duke is assuming the third
one is as well.”

  “That doesn’t sound promising for finding him.”

  “They will, honey. Don’t worry. Hey, I told Duke about your PR business. He loves the idea. He’ll spread the word at the precinct. Oh, and new plans for Sunday evening.”

  “Don’t say it’s cancelled.” MaKayla had been waiting months to celebrate Jodi and Duke’s twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. She couldn’t wait to see their expressions when they opened her and Alex’s gift.

  “Not cancelled. Moved. We’re meeting at that new club near your house, No Shits, or something.”

  MaKayla choked.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Fine.” MaKayla went to the refrigerator and pulled out a half-pint of bottled water to wash down the rice lodged in her throat. “It’s called No Bulls. What time?”

  “Six-thirty.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Good, because I thought maybe you should talk to the owners. They could use some PR work, operating on your side of town.”

  “I had the same thought. This new business venture is going to be a blessing to keep me busy while Alex is away.”

  “Riding a cowboy is always an option for keeping busy, darling.”

  “Not exactly.” MaKayla didn’t want to replace her son with another man to mother. Sooner or later she needed to learn to live alone.

  Maybe she’d consider dating once she managed to make it over that hurdle. “I’ll work at the bank by day and do PR by night. No time for riding anything.” Also, there would be no time for loneliness.

  “You’ve forgotten what you’re missing. It could be a new chapter in your life. Think about it.”

  She had, and the answer always came out the same. Paul had been her first and last. Being with anyone else would be—uncomfortable. Her stretch marks alone would make her keep her clothes on. “Okay, I need to go eat. See you Sunday.”

  Jodi made kissing sounds. “Give Alex hugs and kisses from us.”

  MaKayla hung up, staring at her plateful of food. Surprisingly, she lost her appetite. What could she wear to a country nightclub? Not any of the pantsuits or skirts hanging in her closet.

  “So, Mom…” Alex stood beside her. “Did your trip to the cabin clear your head?”

  MaKayla nodded. “Yes, honey it did.” With this afternoon’s events upon her arrival back home, she’d forgotten to share her trip and new business idea with her son. “I’m going to start a public relations business. It’s what I studied in college.”

  “Awesome. You’ll do great.” He leaned over and hugged her then reached for his girlfriend’s hand. “We’re going to the recreation center for a while before I take Tammy home.”

  “Okay. Be careful.” She waved as they headed out the back door.

  She stood and then scraped the food from her plate into the sink’s garbage disposal. Her mind wandered as she gazed out the window in front of her.

  Would Dustin be at the club Sunday? Either way, she needed to look good in case she met the owners.

  “Things happen for a reason.” Her father’s famous speech for either good or bad news echoed in her head. Maybe his words would apply to the change in venue this weekend—she might gain her first client for her new venture.

  She needed to dress for success. A trip to a western shop for new clothes had to be made. Fast.

  ****

  MaKayla pulled open the heavy wooden door of No Bulls and stepped inside. A corral of thick logs enclosed the center dance floor. The dim lighting set a relaxing atmosphere. Tables were scattered throughout, and there was a bar off to the side and out of the way. Everything a club needed. How could she present this one as different?

  The same cherry tobacco scent had always permeated her Grandpa’s home. Glowing candles on the tables set a romantic touch that would encourage any woman to snuggle up to a loved one—an attribute to pique the interest of lovers.

  Jodi’s waving hand from across the room snapped MaKayla back to why she was here. She would not be meeting the owner today. She needed to get her promotional ideas on paper before making a pitch. Tonight was for the celebration of her friends’ twenty-five years of marriage. Tomorrow she would worry about her future.

  She walked across the carpet and up a small ramp. Several oblong tables were butted against the wood-logged corral. MaKayla stepped into Jodi’s waiting embrace. “Happy anniversary.” The matching lime-green shirts and black jeans Jodi and Duke sported made her smile. “Nice outfits.”

  Sitting beside Jodi, MaKayla watched a gentleman on the dance floor spin a woman in a circle and then smiled at the couple sitting across from her.

  “Isn’t this place great?” Jodi asked.

  “Yes. I like the cowboy hats and things hanging on the walls.” MaKayla could do without the country music, but other than that the atmosphere was soothing. “And of course there’s the pinball machine in the corner, not surprising.”

  “I love it.” Jodi smiled. “So rodeo-like. I can’t wait until your parents arrive later on to see this.” Jodi and MaKayla’s parents were into anything western. MaKayla had never taken an interest. However, she could get used to this place if she became their PR rep.

  Jodi pointed to the couple sitting across the table. “Honey, this is Duke’s new partner, Sam Walker, and his wife, Nancy. They’re from Ohio. This is MaKayla, my friend’s daughter, whom Duke and I claim to have adopted.” Jodi gave MaKayla the once over. “At least I think she’s the same woman.”

  MaKayla understood her friend’s shock. At home, she, too, had done a double take in the mirror. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slipped into a pair of jeans. She stretched her arm across the table. “Nice to meet you. Welcome to Tennessee.”

  “Thank you.” Nancy rubbed her mother-to-be belly.

  Jodi nudged MaKayla. “Someone went shopping.”

  MaKayla tugged at the collar on her new red, white, and blue shirt. “I went to the country store in town.” She lifted her foot. “Cowboy boots and blue jeans. Who would have thought?” The comfort of the jeans and leather boots made her want to reconsider her wardrobe. But she would only wear this shirt occasionally. She could never get used to seeing cleavage every time she looked down.

  “Honey, your body was made to wear jeans. And that shirt shows off your tits wonderfully.” Jodi pointed at MaKayla’s breasts. “It’s high time you start slapping some cheeks with those things.”

  MaKayla’s face warmed, her heart and her stomach twisted. It wasn’t because of Jodi’s comment—she was used to hearing advice from her best friend about what she should and shouldn’t be doing with her personal body parts—but because she saw Dustin standing in front of a couple just beyond Nancy’s shoulder.

  If she’d ever have the urge to slap anyone with her anatomy, he would have to excite her as Dustin had. Standing with his hands in his jeans pockets, he now sported a black cowboy hat. His fitted black shirt emphasized his broad shoulders and solid chest.

  In the past three years, Jodi had tried to fix MaKayla up with several men. None had been of any interest. What was it about this cowboy that made her unable to focus on enjoying the company of her friends?

  She rested an elbow on the log beside her and then picked up the longneck bottle Duke had placed in front of her. The familiar container opening brought back memories of when she and Paul used to go out with friends. The bitter taste became tolerable after a few sips.

  She handed the celebrants a white envelope from her purse. The gift was only a small token of her appreciation for this couple that had become a third set of grandparents to Alex. “Happy Anniversary.”

  Jodi gasped as she and Duke read the contents inside. “MaKayla! This is a cruise to the Bahamas. You shouldn’t have.”

  MaKayla smiled. Yes, she should have. They’d been taking care of the cabin in Kentucky she and Paul had planned to give Alex after his college graduation. This trip would be a nice change for them.

  “Alex and I wanted to show our appreciation for ev
erything you two have done for us. He knows you won’t be here next Saturday when he leaves for college, but we agreed you could use some new scenery.” She accepted Jodi’s embrace. “I don’t know what we would have done without both of you.” MaKayla accepted a kiss on the forehead from Duke before informing them, “I’ll be taking you to and from the airport.”

  After another “thank you” hug, a couple that MaKayla recognized as another police officer and his wife approached the table, and stole her best friends’ attention.

  She sipped her drink and watched the dancers beside her. Line dancing looked fun, but it was the kind of fun she would never attempt.

  Disappointment washed through her when Dustin was nowhere to be found.

  Her mind filled with questions. Was he here alone? Was he married? Did he have children? Those questions only came to mind when a person was interested in knowing the answers. Did she really care to learn more about him?

  She heard her name being called over the sound of the singer’s raspy voice. She turned. “What?”

  “Jodi told me you lost your husband.” Nancy tilted her head. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Thank you.”

  In her peripheral vision, she spotted Dustin on the dance floor. She turned her head slightly to get a better view of the tight-leather-panted, motorcycle-jacketed woman pressed against him.

  She knew she shouldn’t compare herself to the brunette’s flowing curls, or her model-like facial features. And she couldn’t compete against the woman’s thin figure with breasts most had to pay top dollar to flaunt.

  Being in the same room, it was hard to ignore this man who made her heart flutter for the first time in years, but she had to. The man was a distraction—and taken.

  Looking for a focus to take her mind away from the man she shouldn’t be wanting, her eyes zoomed to Nancy’s large belly. At least a baby conversation wouldn’t send her mind reeling with a thousand questions. “When are you due?”

  “In six weeks.” The proud mother-to-be caressed her stomach. “Sam’s predicting I’ll deliver on Halloween.”

  MaKayla smiled at Nancy’s eye roll. The woman appeared too young to make love, let alone have a delivery date. Her long red curls, blue eyes, and oval features made her look younger than MaKayla’s son.