Loving the Heartland

by Marjorie Jones

  “Now that you’ve posted bail, oh, maybe about ten minutes. You can wait around the back of the building in the parking lot. She’ll be coming out the back door.

  She passed through a dingy room with scuffed tile floors to make her way back to the main doors of the county holding facility. The jail. A thin woman with a small child on her lap occupied one seat. A large man in the seat next to her leered at Michelle with an open, adoring grin. She could count his teeth.

  At least Kendra would be pleased to hear that Lacey had been moved to a private room from the ICU. Her surgery had gone well and her arm was pinned in four places. Her face had been stitched, but cosmetic surgery would come later. Right now, they were more concerned with getting her through the dangerous infection period.

  While Kendra had been driving around town fuming for her arch enemy like some crazed, cartoon super-hero, Michelle had settled Lacey into bed and waited until she finally woke up.

  She glanced at her watch. Almost two in the morning. She took a deep breath and adjusted the bag on her shoulder as she pushed her way through the doors. She jumped back into her car and moved it to the parking lot the deputy had indicated.

  Time was running out. Not only for Kendra and the ranch, but for her. She doubted she’d have much business to return to when she finally did go back to Las Vegas. She’d managed to get with some of her clients online and work on their projects from the ranch, but it just wasn’t the same thing. Now that the wedding was over, she’d planned to go home on Monday.

  Three days. She chewed on one snagged fingernail. Then she examined the damage.

  Lacey wouldn’t even be home in three days. Kendra had to run the ranch, the boys had taken off to God-knows-where, and someone would need to take care of Lacey when she came home from the hospital. It would be weeks before she was fully functional again.

  And what if Lacey was right and the accident had been a deliberate attempt on her life? What if Harold Mason really had sent someone after her? It made sense, and she wouldn’t put it past the old bastard.

  Regardless, she couldn’t leave now. Threat or no threat, she had to take care of Lacey. The decision to stay rooted in her mind as easily as putting on a pair of comfortable shoes.

  Guilt crept through her nerves. Was she only insisting that she stay because Lacey needed her? Or was she using her best friend’s condition to make excuses to stay with Kendra?

  Did it matter?

  She shifted her weight in the driver’s seat of the car. Her butt was starting to go numb. Who the hell was she kidding? She couldn’t stay here forever. There was no happily-ever-after in her future. In three days, she should pack her bags, pick up the pieces of her heart and go home.

  Kendra didn’t need her anymore. Michelle wasn’t in any danger.

  She glanced at her watch again. Did that stupid deputy say ten minutes or ten hours? She huffed and folded her arms over her chest.

  Just then, the heavy metal door in the back of the building opened. Kendra meandered through it, her hands shoved deep in her front pockets. She didn’t look any worse for wear, but Michelle’s heart leapt to her throat anyway. Kendra approached the car without a word, and climbed into the passenger seat of Michelle’s Mustang.

  “You’re welcome,” she offered with what she hoped was a sarcastic grin on her face.

  Kendra still said nothing. Although, she may have released a growl that vibrated the air between them—Michelle couldn’t be certain.

  Michelle started the engine and pointed the car in the direction of ranch. “I want to go back to the hospital.”

  “Lacey is sleeping. She told me make sure we went home, to sleep in our own bed, and we can go see her tomorrow.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered, “for bailing me out. You didn’t have to do that. I was fine overnight.”

  “I couldn’t let you stay there!” Michelle announced.

  “Turn here,” Kendra pointed to a side street.

  “Why?”

  “Just turn,” she continued. “It’s a long drive back to the ranch. We’ll spend as much in gas as it costs for a motel. And yes, I could have stayed there just fine.”

  Michelle guided her car into the parking lot of a small, businessman’s special kind of motel. Once she parked, she turned to face Kendra. “I don’t care what you’ve done, I’m not going to let you spend the night in some bacteria-infested jail. You’re too pretty for jail!”

  She climbed out of the car to the sound of a reluctant chuckle. Once they checked in and found their room, Michelle sat on the edge of the single, queen-sized bed.

  “Sorry, it’s not much, is it.” Kendra offered. “Kinda cheap.”

  “Hey, I can camp anywhere for one night.”

  Kendra went into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

  Michelle followed behind her and turned it off. She looked at the faucet long enough for two drops of water to escape before she tilted her head in Michelle’s direction. One arched brow shot up and her forehead, already creased with stress, bunched a little more.

  Michelle placed one fist on each of her hips in a deliberate attempt to display power and determination. “Are you going to talk to me?”

  “About what?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. About how I just had to bail you out of jail for attacking Harold Mason while trespassing on private property, in front of witnesses that include the mayor and half the damn city council. Or maybe we could discuss the fact that you have a restraining order against him, which you violated, which will probably be thrown out of court after tonight.”

  Kendra released a snort and shoved past her into the main room. “Like that was doing a goddamn bit of good. Tell Lacey how effective my little piece of paper was.”

  “So you just decided that the wheels of justice turn too slowly for the great Kendra Williams, is that it? If you can’t get what you deserve, you’ll make sure Mason gets his?”

  “If that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes. I’m done sitting on my hands. If you can’t handle it, go home.”

  “Make up your mind! Do you want me to stay or go?”

  “What the hell does that matter? You’re going to do what you want, anyway. It’s not like I have any say or control over you or what you do. Even if I had a right to, you wouldn’t listen.” Kendra scoffed with a harsh laugh. “You are physically incapable of following directions. If I’ve learned anything from all of this, I’ve learned that.”

  “You’re not being fair. First, you treat me like I’m some kind of alien species, then you spend a great deal of time and effort to seduce me, and then you try to run over me like a goddamn man, and now, you’re telling me that you’ve had no responsibility in this thing, whatsoever? That’s rich, Kendra. That’s really rich.”

  “I don’t give a rat’s ass what you do, Michelle. Stay, leave. Whatever. If you want to leave, then go!”

  “Fine!”

  “Fine!”

  Michelle’s cell phone blared from its case in her purse. She marched to it, yanked it out of the bag and hit the answer button. “What!”

  The Lieutenant Governor’s voice digitized from the speaker. “This is Helena. Is Kendra with you?”

  “Yes. Just a moment.”

  “Put me on speaker. I want you both to hear this, and I only want to say it once.”

  Michelle frowned, pulled the phone away from her ear and hit the speaker button. “It’s your friend, Helena.”

  Helena’s breathy voice continued, “Kennie, can you hear me?”

  “I can hear you. What’s wrong?”

  “I’ve been doing some digging. In fact, I may have uncovered a few bones that I probably shouldn’t have and there are at least three governmental divisions who won’t be granting me any favors for a while.”

  “Geezus, Helena. What’s going on?” Kendra sat on the edge of the bed, her brow furrowed as she stared at the phone as if Helena were actually in the room.

  “I only have a minute, so I want both of you to
listen carefully. This thing, whatever the hell it is, runs very deep. People are paying attention and they are watching you very carefully to see what happens.”

  “Mason’s people,” Kendra growled.

  “No. Not necessarily. I mean, yes, he has people, but there are others who aren’t on his side. Maybe they aren’t on anyone’s side, but they aren’t against you, if that makes any sense. They’re watching Mason, too. Dammit! I wish I could go into more detail, but it could place the whole thing in jeopardy.”

  “What whole thing?” Michelle asked, her patience for cryptic ex-girlfriends running thin.

  “I’ve probably said too much, already, Michelle. I... I...” Helena blew out a measure of breath that seemed to echo across the phone lines. “Don’t trust anyone. I’ve got to go.”

  The phone chirped as Helena broke the connection. Silence cascaded over the room like a quilt. Michelle swallowed what felt like her heart. Pain laced through her chest until it fell back into place, bruised and swollen.

  Kendra stood less than five feet from her. Two steps and she could be in her arms. All Kendra had to do was make some indication that she’d welcome it, and that’s exactly where Michelle would be. She watched for a sign. A shift of her shoulders; a come-hither gleam in her eyes.

  Nothing.

  Not so much as a twitch of her fingers.

  Finally, she asked, “What do you suppose that was all about?”

  “Haven’t the foggiest,” Kendra answered. “It’s not like Helena to be so cryptic.”

  “I don’t want to leave,” she blurted before she could stop herself. “I want to stay.”

  “Good,” she sighed. Kendra’s voice sounded almost defeated, as if the fact that she wanted Michelle to stay, even though she hadn’t actually said it, made her less of a woman, or less of a matriarch for her family. As though admitting that she might need someone else somehow lessened her own ability to lead, or provide, or... something.

  “Kendra.” Michelle took a tentative step forward. “Why are you making this so hard? Why are you fighting it so damn hard?”

  Her head snapped upward. “Fighting what?”

  “You know what I’m talking about. You’re human. You have feelings. And like tonight pretty much proves beyond a reasonable doubt, you make mistakes on occasion.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. It’s okay to screw up every once in a while. I seriously doubt that Mac is going to recommend to the DA that he file charges. This whole thing will blow over. Your sister will recover. She’s out of ICU, by the way, and she’ll be home as soon as they can put a cast on her arm.” Michelle took another step forward. “And you’ll keep your ranch. Everything will be just like it was before.”

  Everything.

  Including her lonesome privacy. As much as she wanted the job of providing her stoic rancher with someone to lean on, if Kendra didn’t want her, she couldn’t stay forever, or even indefinitely.

  If only Kendra would admit to her feelings. She almost laughed at the thought. Against her better judgment, she closed the remaining space between them. “Make love to me, Kendra.” She captured Kendra’s lips in a kiss.

  God, don’t let her turn away. For a second, it seemed like she might.

  Then her arms shot around Michelle and crushed her against her chest. Kendra’s kiss overpowered her as she took control of the embrace.

  Kendra’s breath grew ragged and desperate until finally she broke the kiss and stared into Michelle’s eyes. The thick muscles in her arms trembled against her shoulders. “What would I ever do without you, Michelle?”

  Michelle’s heart soared. It was a start.

  

  “Have you heard anything from Casey or Brent?” Michelle poured herself a cup of coffee and joined Kendra at the kitchen table where she sifted through the mail.

  “Not yet.”

  “Have you been able to get in touch with them about Lacey?”

  “No. Why? You worried?”

  “A little. Especially after that call we got from Helena.”

  “They’re big boys. They can take care of themselves.”

  “I see. So, you limit your worrying to the fairer sex.”

  Kendra grinned and shifted her gaze from the letter she’d been reading to Michelle. “Are you calling me sexist? I am a woman, you realize.”

  “That doesn’t mean you aren’t just a little bit misogynistic.”

  “I think I’m insulted,” she Chuckled.

  Michelle placed her coffee cup on the kitchen counter. “So, are you just about ready to pick up Lacey?”

  “Yeah, in a minute.” She’d returned her attention to the mail. She ran her hand over her chin.

  She looked tired. She hadn’t slept well the night before. In fact, Michelle had woken to find herself alone in Kendra’s huge bed. When Kendra finally returned, they’d made love before she’d eventually drifted off. Dark circles threatened her eyes. Her delicate eyebrows came together in a concerned frown.

  “What month is it?”

  Michelle giggled. Was she that preoccupied? “September; almost October. Why?”

  “So, should I be surprised that I’ve just received a notice of a full, three-year audit from the IRS?”

  “No, you didn’t!” She rushed to the table to read over Kendra’s shoulder. “Crap,” she muttered. “No, you shouldn’t be surprised by the date. But why in the world are you being audited?”

  Michelle took the letter and read the contents more carefully. “Discrepancies? Miscalculations? Who does your taxes?”

  “I do.” Kendra pushed herself away from the table and sauntered to the coffee pot.

  “Did you make any mistakes?”

  She finished topping off her coffee before she answered. “I seriously doubt it.”

  “You don’t suppose...”

  “I’d suppose just about anything where that bastard is concerned. If he does have something to do with it, it’s for no other reason than to keep me busy. To prevent me from fighting for the land.”

  “Then, it’s like a rope-a-dope.”

  “Exactly.” Kendra leaned against the counter and sipped from her mug, the expression on her face indicative of her surprise that Michelle knew what a rope-a-dope was. “I’ll tell you, though, I need this right now like I need a hole in the head.”

  “It says that we can provide records... I mean, you can provide records to back up the old tax filings.” Michelle pointed to the line she’d just read. “It just so happens that I computerized all of those records for you, already. A couple of clicks. A little bit of ink. We can have this wrapped up in no time.”

  “Nothing phases you, does it?”

  Some things phased her. Some things knocked her off her feet. A sidelong glance from Kendra when she thought she wasn’t looking. One of her kisses. The feel of her naked body sliding against her with nothing between them but sweat and skin... Oh, no, she was hardly a rock. She only wanted to be strong when Kendra needed her.

  And right now... Kendra did.

  

  Lacey slid between the sheets of the same bed Kendra had tucked her into a thousand times. Kendra pictured her when she was only four, before their parents’ death. Kendra had been young then, too, but Lacey had been so much younger. She’d looked like the smallest angel in heaven. With the biggest heart. An instant later, she’d been fourteen, entirely Kendra’s responsibility and completely covered in chicken pox. She’d fussed and fidgeted for weeks, in this very room.

  Her gaze drifted over a lifetime of memorabilia. Three cut-glass crowns from various pageants rested in a row on the top shelf of an antique white hutch. Banners and ribbons, horse-show trophies, pictures of her riding Demon, her Arabian-Quarter horse mix, the cheap jewelry box their mother had given to her for Christmas the year before the accident...

  A moan emanated from the mass huddled beneath the old quilt on the bed and drew her attention from the past. Her past. The only life she’d ever known. The on
ly life she’d ever wanted.

  “Kendra?” Lacey’s muffled voice sounded like it came from inside a cavern.

  “Yeah, baby-girl?” She sat on the edge of the bed and rested her hand on what should be her sister’s shoulder, beneath the mountain of coverlets.

  “I’m really sorry about your truck.”

  Kendra pinched the bridge of her nose and smiled. “I can’t believe you just said that, Lace.”

  “I really am.” She rolled toward her and Kendra hid a wince. Her face, still mostly covered with bandages, looked thick and pale. The one eye she could see looked at her with hope and trust, like she could make it all better. Like she used to.

  “It’s not your fault, Lacey. It’s my fault. I’m sorry I let this happen.”

  “No, Kendra. Don’t say that. You’re the closest thing to a mother I’ve got and I love you.” She bit her lip and drew a breath that seemed to rattle her entire body. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do now, that’s all.”

  The one thing she’d been unable to stomach in all of the years she’d been caring for her brothers and sister was Lacey’s tears. The thought of her sister in pain threatened to send her to her knees. Good thing she was already sitting or she might have just hit the floor.

  She gathered Lacey into her arms and let her cry. “Everything will be fine. You’ll see. You’ll do everything you ever dreamed of, and more.”

  “How the hell am I supposed to be a TV reporter with some hideous scar on my face? Can you tell me that? I’m going to be so ugly, no one will be able to stand to look at me!”

  Michelle appeared in the doorway. Kendra searched her face for some hint of what she should do. What could she say to make Lacey feel even a little better? The doctors had said that she would have a large, jagged scar. They’d done the very best they could, but even with cosmetic surgery, the likelihood that they could repair all of the damage was slim. She wouldn’t be ugly. She could never be that. But she was scarred, and Kendra couldn’t make it better.