Big Sky Cowboy

by Jennifer Mikels

  Under his breath, Bud muttered something indecipherable.

  Clearly they had been hoping that Warren Parrish was a suspect and would be out of their lives soon.

  In response to the distress on his mother’s face, Colby offered encouragement. “It only means that Parrish isn’t the killer, but it doesn’t mean that he’s won, Mom.”

  Sadness lingered in her eyes. “I couldn’t stand that man the moment I met him. You never got a vision about him?” Louise asked.

  Tessa wished she could have given them information. “No. If I don’t feel something right away, it’s unlikely I will later.” She moved closer to Louise. “Let me help with dinner.”

  “We all will,” Bud said.

  Louise pointed at her son. “You bread the fish. Tessa, you can mix the coleslaw. I’ll start frying.”

  Tessa grinned at Colby. “Now I know why you’re a good cook.”

  He slipped an arm around her waist. “Learned at my mother’s knee.”

  “Don’t believe him,” his father quipped. “He learned while traveling so he wouldn’t starve.”

  “A lot of hot dogs and beans during the lean years,” Colby responded.

  Bud laid a hand on his son’s shoulder. “There weren’t many of those. You won your share of prize money.”

  “He worried me sick,” Louise said.

  “She was always afraid he’d break a leg,” his father said.

  Louise looked up from the frying pan. “I was more concerned he’d become taken with one of those groupies who chased after him.”

  “Most of them are teenagers, Lou,” Bud reminded her.

  “Some aren’t.” She slid the spatula under the potato slices frying in the pan, then glanced askance at Tessa. “They’re the ones that really worried me.”

  “Mom,” Colby said in an affectionate, scolding tone.

  Tessa veiled a smile.

  Merrily, Louise went on. “Lots of women were taken with who he was, not who he is.”

  “They were knocking down my door, Mom,” Colby said on a laugh.

  “You weren’t ever lonely, were you?”

  Tessa had heard that he was a favorite not only because of his skill and winning record but also because of his charm and good looks.

  “You’ve heard about the wrong kind of women,” Louise said with a look at Tessa. “The last two years when he was earning lots of money it got worse.”

  A handsome champion with money would be considered a prize catch, Tessa mused. But she was confused. During that time, he’d been engaged to Diana Lynscot. Was Louise talking about her?

  “Could we discuss something else?” Colby asked, looking comically pained rather than annoyed.

  Tessa laughed at their easy camaraderie but wasn’t surprised by it. From the moment she’d met Louise, she’d liked her sense of humor. Bud Holmes was just as likable and easygoing as his wife.

  Conversation shifted from Colby’s ranch to the previous baseball game on television. When Colby told them about her dilemma, Louise touched her hand. “What a dreadful thing to have happen. You need to learn the name of the person sending those flowers. I can’t believe the problems going on in Rumor right now.”

  “They’ll all be taken care of soon,” Colby’s dad said to soothe her. “And we’ll have a celebration dinner then. We’ll expect you to be here,” he said to Tessa.

  “I’d like that,” she answered. They were so warm and welcoming, she wished she would be. Tonight had been another first for her. They’d known about her and still had made her feel comfortable, welcomed. Most parents of the men she’d dated acted as if they should hang garlic on the door to keep her away. Maybe that’s why a tinge of melancholy swept over her after saying goodbye. Though she hoped to maintain a friendship with Louise, she doubted she’d be with the three of them like this again.

  Waiting outside for Colby, she sat on the porch swing. The warm night air carried no breeze, and she placed a hand to the dampness at the back of her neck. The heat was making some people cranky, for good reason. Every day that passed, the woods got drier and the chance of fire became greater.

  Sitting back, she pressed her heel on the porch and swayed, let her mind drift to business. She needed to change the front display window from…

  “Get out!”

  She stood in a room with an easy chair, a reading lamp and table. “Get out!” she yelled at his back. “Is that why you really came here tonight? How can you ask that of me? It’s yours.” Fury filled her. “I won’t get rid of the baby.”

  “I don’t want it.”

  He sliced her open with those words. “It doesn’t matter to me what you want.”

  “Get rid of it. Or else.” He swung away, stormed toward the door.

  Tessa jerked at the image. He’d turned. She saw the buttons on his shirt, but his face was blurred. That made no sense. Everything else was clear. She’d even seen the numbers on the face of Harriet’s wristwatch.

  “Tessa, can you hear me?”

  The feminine voice, the gentle touch of a hand on her shoulder brought her to her surroundings, but for a long moment, she stared at Louise’s face. “Did your sister sit here often?”

  “Whenever she visited.”

  “What about the last time you saw her?”

  “Yes. She was here on the morning of her death. She seemed distracted. Why do you ask? Did you have a vision, Tessa?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  Anticipation came into Louise’s dark eyes.

  Tessa rushed her words. “But I didn’t see the killer’s face.” To tell her that in her vision Harriet’s lover wanted her to get rid of the baby would have served no purpose except to sadden Louise more.

  Colby kissed his mother’s cheek. “Go in, Mom.”

  She gave him a wan smile. “I’m sorry. I was hopeful.”

  Tessa stood and hugged her. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I wish I could give you more.” Tessa waited until Louise stepped inside. “I saw only his back, Colby.”

  He slipped an arm around her shoulder. “It’s okay.”

  “No, you don’t understand. He’s faceless.”

  “I know, Tessa. You told me that before. You—” As she balked, he stilled. “That’s not what you mean, is it?”

  “He hides.”

  Even in the shadows of night, she saw his confusion, said no more. He didn’t want to believe in her visions.

  She remained quiet during the drive to the ranch, but when they stepped onto the porch, she had to tell him what she felt. Someone needed to know. “Colby, he hides from everyone,” she said, placing a hand on his arm to stop him from unlocking the door.

  “I don’t understand. What do you mean? You can’t see his face because he’s hiding from you?”

  “No, he hides from everyone. They—we—all of us see a different person. Like your aunt had seemed rigid, even straitlaced, hardly the type to be even dating a man, and—”

  “Was actually having an affair. Is that what you mean?”

  “Sort of. This person is two-faced. No one knows the real person.”

  “Then it is someone we know?”

  “The lover is. Yes. I think the reason I can’t see the man’s face is because I know him. I feel so badly. I wish I could have helped more.”

  “It’s all right.”

  How easily he said that. Was that because he’d never believed she’d be any help? She pushed away the wave of sadness sweeping over her. Don’t spoil the time with him, Tessa. “I’m sorry that you didn’t catch any fish today,” she said when they stepped inside his home.

  “That’s not why I went fishing.”

  “You didn’t want to catch any fish?” No man used to winning would like an unsuccessful day doing anything.

  “I had more time with you. That’s why I suggested going.”

  With a few words, he made her feel so wanted. She’d never look for promises, but she was yearning for them. “And what did you learn?”

  “There’s a l
ot I don’t know about you.”

  A gentle hand touched her hip, drew her to him. “Is this going to be twenty questions time?” she teased.

  “I know you like horses. That’s all I need to know.”

  “Easy to please.”

  “I know we both like to play pool.”

  She sensed that he was striving to keep the mood light. She wanted that. She didn’t want to explore their relationship too deeply. “That doesn’t count.”

  “I know you can rig the line and take a fish off a hook.”

  Tessa relaxed against him. “Incredibly important.”

  “What’s more important?” he murmured, pulling her to him.

  “That you’re responsible, sensible, practical, logical,” she reminded him.

  “And you’re not?” His voice came out softer, caressing. “Is that the point you’re trying to make? Tessa, you’re responsible. You have a business. You get up every morning and open it to customers.”

  Despite his seriously said words, Tessa saw a game beginning. “And you think I’m sensible?” Most people viewed her shop as nonsensical. Therefore, as owner, she was, too.

  “And rational.”

  He was serious, she realized. This wasn’t lip service. He believed she was responsible and rational.

  “You’re clearheaded.”

  She felt like laughing. She was so accustomed to different comments. Absurd. Wacky. Spacey. “Why do you think that?” she asked, trying to understand what made him see her differently.

  A smile darkened his eyes. “You have good survival instincts. When Leone came after you, you kept your head, didn’t argue, didn’t agitate her.”

  He had no idea how much his compliments were touching her. “What about practical?” No one who owned a store offering unicorns and good-luck charms and objects to see into the future could be considered practical.

  “That might be a stretch.” He looked down as she began to unbutton his shirt. “I think you have a romantic streak, like to believe in fantasy.”

  She placed her palms against his bare chest. “So I’m not practical?” she challenged lightly.

  “Doesn’t matter. You have other fine qualities.” Absently he toyed with a strand of hair near her cheek. “You’re clever. Imaginative.”

  Beneath the gentle caress of his fingers along her spine, her eyes nearly closed. “That isn’t the same.”

  His breath blended with hers. “Quit examining this, Tessa.” Lazily he kissed her jaw. “Just go with it. Why are you so afraid of us?”

  The question forced her to remember what she’d tried not to think about. She’d always believed that no man would ever accept such an oddity as hers in the woman he loved. She’d believed that her so-called gift had cursed her to a life without love.

  “I asked you once before who hurt you. Tell me,” he said against her cheek. “Trust me, Tessa.”

  She gave her head a shake. “It happened years ago.”

  “That doesn’t make it any less important to you.”

  “Few people understand or accept my clairvoyance.”

  He inclined his head, forcing her to meet his stare. “Someone you cared about didn’t?”

  Tessa stepped free of his embrace. “Yes,” she admitted. “His name was Seth. Years ago, I was with friends on a trip at a resort when I had a vision. I saw one of them falling, screaming. I told him about the vision. He laughed. So did Seth.” He’d made fun of her. “He said that I thought I had Gypsy blood and could tell fortunes.” She remembered how humiliated she’d been by his words, his ridicule.

  Colby closed the inches she’d placed between them. “And you loved him?”

  She made herself look up, knew he wouldn’t let her stop now. “I was young.” She met his serious dark stare. “I thought I loved him, so it hurt later, when we were alone, when he yelled at me. He was furious, claiming I’d made a fool of him, that because of me, his friends were laughing behind his back for having me as a girlfriend.”

  “What did you do then?”

  “I couldn’t go anywhere until the next day because of where we were. The next day, the friend who was an experienced backpacker was climbing a mountain with friends, and he fell.”

  “He—”

  She watched his eyes, disbelief, the longing to comprehend, to make sense of something.

  “What did he say?”

  “When Seth heard about his friend’s injury, he stared at me as if—” She took a deep breath. The old hurt rose so swiftly she was unprepared for it. She swallowed hard against the knot in her throat. “He stared at me as if I was weird, abnormal. He said that he never wanted me to do that—whatever the hell that was—again. I left him within the hour. I couldn’t change for him, for anyone.”

  “He was a jerk.”

  “He was afraid,” Tessa countered. “Aren’t you?”

  As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Colby opened his arms to her. “Only of how much you make me feel.”

  Tessa nearly stopped breathing. “I can’t change.” She felt compelled to remind him.

  In the dim light of the room, his eyes looked darker. “I’m not asking you to change.”

  Chapter Ten

  For so many years, Tessa had been alone. With those words he’d said to her, she’d wanted to cry. He knew more now, and he hadn’t turned away.

  After another night together, she was beginning to wish for everything she’d never believed was possible. She knew how foolish that was. Her mother had had the same hopes often. And each time a new man had come into her life, he’d left her bitterly disappointed. Tessa had watched her pain, had vowed after Seth never to leave herself unprotected. She had failed. She’d be hurt. There was no way to prepare for the end with Colby.

  Standing by the kitchen sink, Tessa turned on the spigot to wash up the few glasses in it. For a moment, she watched water rush into the sink, then added dishwashing liquid.

  On the windowsill before her was a miniature wood carving of a horse. Was it a childhood memento? Colby must carry fond feelings for the person who’d given it to him. She reached forward to pick it up. Had Louise or Colby’s father or maybe Diana…?

  No fog drifted over her. A vision slammed at her. Her head jerked to the left. Her cheek burned from a slap. She ached elsewhere, too. Her hip. Oh, it hurt badly. She pressed her back to the wall, wanted to rub the sore hip. No time. She needed to get out. Run. Almost to the door, almost away.

  Her head exploded. She touched the back of it. It hurt, throbbed. She couldn’t stand, couldn’t keep her balance. Her legs felt funny, weak. Sinking. She was sinking to the floor now. If only she could rest. Just for a moment.

  “Leave me alone.” Why was she being hauled to her feet? Can’t stand. “Please, leave me alone.” Another shove. Into the chair. She tasted something wet, salty. She ran the tip of her tongue over the corner of her lip. There was blood. Her blood.

  Fear filled her. He was so angry. How could someone be so angry? With a fingertip, she touched her lip and winced. Blood was on her finger. Wait. Be sure he isn’t looking. Quickly she printed H, then I on the book. She snuck a glance his way, managed one more letter.

  A pillow. Why did he have the pillow? Oh, my God. My gun. “Don’t. Don’t. Please. Don’t kill my baby. My baby.”

  Tessa straightened with a start, shuddered with Harriet’s fear. Devastating fear. Not for herself, but for her unborn child. Her baby. All Harriet had been thinking about at the last moment had been the life within her.

  Looking down, Tessa retrieved the wood carving from the sudsy water. Her throat felt raw. The pillow had been used to muffle the sound of the gun. Who had killed Harriet? Had the man been her lover? Tessa knew because of a previous vision that Harriet had fought with him about having the baby. But who had killed Harriet? Why weren’t the visions clearer?

  She dried the wooden horse, then wandered toward the screen door. As she stepped onto the porch, scents of livestock, leather and ragweed mingled in the air.
Something was different this time. She should have seen more. Why couldn’t she?

  She concentrated on Colby strolling toward her to calm herself. A miscalculation on her part, she realized. Just looking at him made emotion swell within her.

  “Ready to head into town?” he asked from feet away.

  “Yes.” She thought about the vision. She’d been with Harriet at the moment of her death. He didn’t need to know that, and she wasn’t ready to discuss anything else about the vision.

  “Why so quiet?”

  She gave him a smile. “I was wondering about Harriet. What she was like.” She’d been getting mixed signals about the woman. She’d heard that Harriet was distant, even cool, but she’d proven she was caring by helping others.

  “She wasn’t easy to get close to. And she grew more distant during the last few months.”

  “Were you close at one time?”

  Colby strolled with her to the truck. “Closer when I was a kid.”

  Tessa knew now what she’d felt by his kitchen sink. “There’s a wood carving of a horse on your windowsill,” she said once they were on the road. “Was that from…”

  “It was from my aunt. She knew how much I loved horses. She gave that to me before I competed and won a prize in my first junior rodeo.”

  She knew why touching the wood carving of the horse had triggered a vision. “And you kept it?”

  “I considered it a good-luck piece. It was always with me when I was on the rodeo circuit.”

  Tessa touched his arm. “That must have pleased her to know that it brought you good luck.”

  “I guess so.” Because he was quiet for a long moment, she wished he hadn’t slid on sunglasses, wished she could see his eyes. “The only time I ever saw her close to tears was the first time she walked into my kitchen and saw that I’d placed that wood carving on the windowsill. I didn’t have much furniture then, but her gift was there.”

  Clearly Harriet had meant a great deal to him. With out planning to, Tessa slid beneath the surface of his pain, felt the heaviness of his grief. I’m getting too close, she realized in that moment.

  Deliberately she thought about the store, about inventory, about requests from customers, anything to block the energy stretching from him to her. But her mind returned to unanswered questions about Harriet, to Colby’s anguish for the loss of someone dear, to that vision of a woman pleading for the life of her unborn child.