Crossroads (Chance City Series Book Three)

by Robin Deeter

  Ray’s nostrils flared and his eyes darkened. “Yeah, I’ve thought about that. I’ll never put any child of mine through what I’ve been through. You know I love kids, so having one of my own will be great. I help take care of all my little cousins, so I’m used to kids. It’s a good deal for both of us. She gets a baby and a handsome husband and I get a gorgeous wife, a baby, and a bakery. Sounds like a book; A Baby and a Bakery.”

  Johnny laughed. “So you’re gonna write books, too?”

  Ray grinned. “No. I can’t write to save my life. That’s not where my talents lie. You know, with me retiring, you’d have a whole lot of women—”

  Johnny gave Ray a dead arm. “I told you to stop teasing me about that!”

  Ray grabbed his arm and groaned. “Damn it, Johnny. It’s too bad there isn’t anyone to replace me. They’d have a good business.”

  “Take out an ad in the paper. Male whore wanted to replace retiring whore,” Johnny retorted.

  “Hustler. Men are called hustlers.” He caught the mischievous gleam in Johnny’s blue eyes. “You just like making me say that, don’t you?”

  Johnny feigned innocence. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Smart ass. So will you go to church with me? Fifty bucks just for going to church,” Ray said.

  “Sure. I’ll go for fifty bucks, but I get the money upfront.”

  Ray smiled. “You sound like me. Nothing happens unless I get paid first.”

  Johnny groaned. “You’re gonna have to stop talking like that.”

  “Only when I’m in church. Will you be my best man?”

  “Of course, I will. It’s gonna be a big wedding. A lot of important people will be there,” Johnny said.

  Ray said, “Yeah. That’s ok. Carly can take care of all of the arrangements. I have no idea how all of that works. Now when it comes to the wedding menu and the cake, that’s a different story. I want to have a hand in that.”

  Johnny gazed at Ray for a few moments. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear that you’re really excited about this.”

  Rubbing his jaw reflectively, Ray said, “I am kinda. It’s the craziest damn thing. I’m gonna ask Hunter to stand up with me since he’s the one who made the bet with me about dancing with Carly.”

  “He’ll like that,” Johnny said. “Well, let’s go see Leigh. It’s up to her whether she hires you or not. She’s the boss.”

  “Ok. I have to be back this afternoon to start telling my customers that I’m going out of business,” Ray said.

  They bid Mandy goodbye and headed for Sundance Ranch.

  *****

  That evening, Ray put a consoling arm around Mary Wilmington’s shoulders. “I’m sorry, Mary, but my conscience just won’t let me do this kind of work anymore. My buddy, Johnny, finally made me see the error of my ways and I can’t keep leading good women astray.”

  Mary sniffed, “But who will make me feel beautiful or wanted? I’m going to miss you so much.”

  “I know, but it’s for the best,” Ray said.

  Mary said, “Not my best.”

  Ray frowned at her selfish remark. His announcement had been met with much the same remarks from all of his customers and it made him angry. However, he kept his true feelings hidden. After all, he was nothing more to them than a stud and that had been just fine with him until now. How could he fault them for not seeing that there was a person with actual feelings inside the man they’d slept with so many times?

  “I’m sorry, Mary. I’m not doing this to hurt you. It’s just time to do something else with my life now and try to better myself,” Ray said. “I thought you were my friend.”

  Mary’s eyes widened. “Of course, I am. Oh, Ray, I’m so sorry. I’m being incredibly selfish.” She hugged him and sighed. “I wish you well. I don’t suppose just once more for old time’s sake?”

  Ray considered it just because Mary had been so good to him, but he had to honor his commitment to Carly.

  “No, I’m sorry. It’s nothing personal, Mary,” Ray said.

  Mary heaved another sigh. “All right.” She gave Ray’s middle a last squeeze and stood up. “I want you to know how much our time together meant to me. You might not think so, but you really are my friend and I’m going to miss you.”

  Ray hadn’t been expecting that and he was genuinely touched. “Thank you, Mary. That means a lot to me.” He followed her to his door. “Take care, Mary.”

  “Goodbye, Ray.”

  Chapter Eight

  Judge Stanley Fairbanks sat at his desk the next morning finishing up some work before going to Jim’s wake early that afternoon. His clerk, Freddy Lipton, appeared at his doorway.

  “Sir, I have a call for you from Carter Ellis.”

  Stanley’s forehead wrinkled. “Who?”

  “Wheels.”

  “Oh. Carter must be his given name. What does he want?”

  Freddy replied, “He wouldn’t say.”

  “I imagine that he wants to talk to me about his punishment. Go ahead and put him through.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Freddy withdrew and Stanley’s extension rang.

  He picked up the handset. “Good morning, Wheels.”

  “Good morning, Judge. How are you?”

  “Fine, thanks. I’m not lifting your sentence.”

  “Oh, I wasn’t calling about that.”

  “Then what are you calling about?”

  Wheels said, “I’m not going to have your wife’s clock done by Friday.”

  Stanley drummed his fingers on his desk. “Why not? It’s her birthday and her mother gave her that clock. I want to surprise her with it.”

  “I know, but I can’t go to work and Daddy and Carl are buried right now with other jobs. Besides, clocks are my specialty.”

  Stanley narrowed his eyes. Wheels’ shrewd maneuvering both irritated and impressed him.

  “Can’t they bring it over to your house so you can work on it?”

  “They could, but all of my tools are set up at the shop in my work area and it’s arranged specifically for me. I never know what I’m gonna need,” Wheels said.

  Stanley grunted. “You’re twisting my arm, Wheels.”

  “Not at all, sir. I just wanted to let you know.”

  Stanley sighed as he thought about the situation. “You can go to work for three hours a day from eight until eleven in the morning, but that’s it. Nowhere else but work.”

  “Oh! Really?”

  “Yes, really. Now, get that clock done.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Stanley said, “Well played, Wheels. Well played.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  *****

  Nora kept Wheels company that afternoon, trying to occupy him instead of constantly thinking about missing Jim’s wake. It was easier said than done, though. He couldn’t concentrate on anything because his anger and grief were too strong. His heart was breaking for Sandy and for himself because he couldn’t be there for her or participate in the service for a dearly departed friend.

  Finally, he laid down his cards on the table. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Nora, but I’m just too disgusted to play cards.”

  Nora put hers down, too. “I know. I’m so sorry.”

  “I talked to Sandy this morning and she understood, but that doesn’t make me feel any better. I’m glad that Daddy took Ollie. He’ll cheer Sandy up a little.”

  “If anyone can, it’ll be Ollie,” Nora said. “He’s so sweet and funny.”

  Wheels smiled. “Yeah. I don’t know what I would’ve done without him. Honey, you could’ve gone to the wake.”

  Nora shook her head. “I wasn’t going to leave you alone. I know how hard this is and I wanted be here for you.”

  He took her hand and tugged. “Come here.”

  “What are you up to?”

  “Nothing. I just want to hold you.”

  Unlike other women, Nora had never sat on Wheels’ lap because she’d been too
shy. Her pulse throbbed a little harder as he drew her down onto his legs and wrapped his arms around her.

  Looking in her eyes, he said, “Honey, relax. You’re not hurting me. I do this all the time.”

  “I know,” she said. “I used to wish that you’d ask me to dance, but I was terrified that you would.”

  Wheels smiled. “Why were you afraid?”

  Nora blushed. “I was scared that if I did you’d see how I felt about you.”

  “What would have been wrong with that?”

  “I thought you’d reject me,” she said. “You’d do it nicely, because that’s the kind of man you are, but even so …”

  “Nora, if I’d have had any idea that such a beautiful, wonderful woman had any interest in me, I wouldn’t have rejected you,” Wheels said.

  Nora laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m so happy that you asked me to dinner.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Do you want to dance?” she asked.

  “There’s no music.”

  “You keep time and I’ll sing,” Nora said.

  Wheels grinned. “I like that idea. I’ve never heard you sing.”

  “I sing all the time at home, but I’ve always been too shy to sing in public.”

  “I’m very honored that you would dance with me and serenade me.”

  Nora fought down her nerves and began singing. Wheels gently rolled his chair back and forth, slowly turning in circles as Nora sang. Her pretty alto voice made goosebumps break out over his shoulders and arms. He closed his eyes as he listened to her, enjoying every moment. She conveyed the emotion of the love song and he loved feeling her arms around him, the weight of her body leaning against his.

  Her soft hair brushed against his cheek and her slightly floral scent stirred his senses.

  When she finished the song, he said, “That was so pretty. You’re as good a singer as your brothers. You have a beautiful voice.”

  She met his eyes and smiled. “Thank you. I love singing, but I can’t do it in front of a lot of people.”

  “Maybe when I’m free again, I can convince you to sing with me at Benny’s.”

  Nora ran her fingertips through the hair at his temples and fresh goosebumps rose on his skin. “Maybe, but don’t count on it.”

  He stopped moving his chair, putting his arms around her waist. “I have ways of coaxing people into things.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  The air in the parlor became charged as desire flowed between them. Nora pressed a kiss to Wheels’ warm, supple lips, tightening her arms around his neck. Wheels ran his hands up her back, responding eagerly to her. In moments, they were lost in each other, their pulses rising as passion flared between them.

  *****

  Ray and the girls helped Sandy ready the saloon for Jim’s wake. She’d refused to have a funeral at the church and Jim had been cremated since Sandy didn’t want him buried in the cemetery. After what had happened, she wanted nothing to do with a church and that included putting Jim in the ground outside of one or having Pastor Clem officiate.

  The pastor had been outspoken against the Chowhound and Sandy felt that it would be hypocritical of Clem to come say nice things and pray for Jim’s soul. Instead, she wanted to celebrate Jim’s life and have everyone tell their favorite stories about the man she’d loved for so long. The repairs were finished and the place had been cleaned from top to bottom for the occasion. Ray had helped Sandy with the menu for the wake and he would help cook, too.

  As Sandy dressed in one of her few dresses, she worked hard to keep her grief at bay. The pretty green muslin dress had been Jim’s favorite and she’d paired it with the diamond earrings that Jim had given her for Christmas that past year.

  She applied just a little rouge and lipstick and gazed at her reflection. It should be her dead, not her Jim. Her heroic man had been her hero until the end, just as he’d been her hero when they’d met over thirty years ago.

  Although she and Jim had never had a church wedding or a certificate, they were technically considered common-law husband and wife. They’d loved each other completely and had been partners in every way.

  And now she was a widow. Jim was gone, ripped so suddenly from her life. Looking at the wall beside the full-length mirror in their bedroom, she gazed at the picture on the wall in which she and Jim smiled at each other.

  By society’s standards, he wasn’t the most handsome man, but he had been beautiful in her eyes. He’d rescued her all those years ago and his huge heart and dry sense of humor had quickly endeared him to her. The kindness in his blue eyes and the generous, erotic way he’d made love had enthralled her. She might kid around with her male friends, but she’d never had any desire for another man outside of Jim.

  His absence had left a gigantic, jagged hole in her soul that she knew would never heal. The past two days had gone by in a blur of activity and yet excruciatingly slow. She hadn’t slept more than a couple of hours, and, while she was exhausted, her mind wouldn’t rest.

  It kept replaying Jim’s death over and over so vividly that she heard the sound of gunfire, the smell of gunpowder, and the scent of burning alcohol and wood. She could still feel Jim’s warm blood on her hands and see his sightless eyes dulled by death when they’d once been so full of life and love.

  Grief and rage created a powerful thirst within her for revenge, and she’d barely been able to keep from going to the new church and blowing the pastor’s brains out. However, Rob’s words to her about keeping control and being there for her girls made her stay away from the church.

  He’d been right about Jim not wishing her to do anything like that, but the hate and pain in Sandy’s heart made it hard for her to ignore the strong impulse to exact revenge. A knock on her apartment door interrupted her reverie.

  It was Rob and his wife, Lynette. The sheriff’s wife’s brown eyes were filled with sympathy as she embraced Sandy.

  “Oh, Sandy, you look beautiful. How are you holding up?”

  Sandy rested her head on her good friend’s shoulder for a moment. “I don’t know. Ok, I guess.” She released Lynette. “It still feels like a nightmare, but I know I won’t wake up from it.”

  Rob put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed a little. “You have people to lean on, Sandy.”

  “I know. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve both done for me the past couple of days,” Sandy said.

  Lynette said, “That’s what friends are for.”

  Sandy smiled before asking, “Is Fairbanks here yet?”

  Lynette nodded. “Yes. I saw him in the barroom.”

  Sandy’s shoulders squared and a dangerous glint entered her eyes. “Good. I got a bone to pick with him.”

  Rob said, “Now, Sandy, don’t go causing trouble.”

  “I won’t.”

  Rob rolled his eyes at the determined set of Sandy’s jaw as they left her apartment. As soon as they entered the barroom, Sandy spied Judge Fairbanks and made a beeline for him.

  Stanley stood up from the chair he’d been sitting on and held out a hand to her. “Sandy, my condolences. Jim was a good man and he’ll be greatly missed. I’m so sorry for your loss. Is there anything I can do for you?”

  “Yeah. Call Wheels and tell him to get down here. I want him to play a few of Jim’s favorite songs. He loved to hear Wheels play.”

  Stanley sighed. “Sandy, the boy broke his sentencing the other day—”

  “Yeah, to come help me. You know damn well that he doesn’t deserve that sentence anyway. I was here the night Luther attacked poor Ollie and if Wheels hadn’t wiped up the floor with him, I would have!”

  Lynette put a calming hand on Sandy’s shoulder. “Sandy, lower your voice.”

  Sandy took a deep breath. Although she spoke more quietly, her words were no less angry. “Luther hit Ollie and I thought for sure that Ollie had been seriously hurt. I don’t blame Wheels one bit for what he did.”

  Sta
nley’s countenance darkened. “Yes, I know the details of the case, but Wheels seriously hurt Luther and now they’re in financial straights because he can’t work.”

  “Only because he kept going after Wheels. As far as I’m concerned, Luther got what he deserved. That’s enough of that right now, though. Just give Wheels a couple of hours to come down. Please?”

  Stanley couldn’t resist Sandy’s pleading gaze and let out a breath in defeat. “All right.”

  Sandy smiled in triumph as Stanley went behind the bar and picked up the handset on the telephone. He gave her a baleful glance as he asked for Wheels’ exchange. Sandy let him be, going to check on the food.

  *****

  The jangling of his telephone interrupted Nora and Wheels’ passionate moment. He groaned in dismay as they parted. His blood ran hot and ending their embrace was the last thing he wanted to do.

  Nora slid off his lap and he quickly propelled himself to the telephone. It was a very brief conversation and Nora wondered at the big smile that settled on his face.

  “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” He hung up and did a quick spin.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “Judge Fairbanks said that I can go to Jim’s wake.”

  Nora grinned. “That’s wonderful! We have to hurry.”

  Wheels looked down at his clothes. “I need to spruce up quick.”

  Nora said, “Me, too. I’ll go change and meet you back here.”

  “All right.”

  She kissed his cheek and hurried out the door.

  *****

  Sandy didn’t want the wake to be a sad affair, so she set a celebratory tone right away. Gathering everyone’s attention, she said, “I’d like to thank everyone for coming out to give Jim the kind of sendoff he would’ve wanted. Jim loved dancing and singing, so that’s what we’re gonna do. Not to mention raising some toasts and telling some stories.