Lone Tree Read online

  “Give me a call when you’re on your way back,” he said. “I’ll keep the time open and help move you in.”

  “Thanks.” She gave him a sideways grin. “That would be right friendly.”

  He grinned back. “You learn fast.”

  By the time they arrived at her car, grit had collected in one sandal and perspiration welled between her breasts. She slid in behind the wheel. She’d parked in shade and left the windows down. The car wasn’t the oven it could’ve been but was still quite warm.

  Reed took hold of the door and closed it for her, then squatted and crossed his arms in the window’s frame.

  “Thanks,” she said. “And it was nice meeting you. Again.”

  “The pleasure was mine. Again.” He remained still; apparently the man was a complete stranger to hurry. With his face only inches from hers, she noted that although his black hair appeared straight, it dipped in a slight wave over his right forehead. And his eyes were such a vivid and devastating blue that they could be considered weapons in issues of love and war.

  “Well, gotta go,” she said. “Places to see. Things to do.” She paused. “Conquests to make.” She continued to hold his gaze, but could’ve kicked herself. The last phrase was on the provocative side.

  And he hadn’t missed it. His mouth curved. “That last one’s a winner.”

  He tipped his hat with the forefinger of his left hand—the gesture seemed like his trademark—then he straightened and backed away from the car.

  *

  Lainie closed the motel door behind her and tossed her purse on the bed. She put the room key next to the telephone and turned the air conditioner on high. She looked at the phone, but picked up her suitcase instead and opened it. The corner of an envelope stared at her from the cover’s inside pocket. She looked at the phone again, then sat on the bed and pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She scrolled down, found the number and clicked call.

  “Reliable Mortgage,” said her coworker’s familiar voice. “How may I help you?”

  “Hi, Alison.”

  “Lainie? Hi.” Her voice grew chummy, lost its businesslike note. “Well, did you get to meet him?”

  “Yeah, I met him.”

  “And? How’d it go? You told him, right?”

  “No.”

  Silence. Then Alison said, “That bad, huh?”

  “Not really. It just didn’t seem like a good idea. From the looks of the place, he’s a wealthy man, and I wasn’t comfortable with that. He doesn’t know anything about me, not even that I was born. If I’d claimed to be who I am...well, it smells of fortune hunting. I’d have to produce proof of my identity and I don’t want to go that route. That’s not why I came. I just want to get to know him, who he is. Find out what happened between him and Mom—”

  “Lainie.”

  She realized she was babbling, but couldn’t stop. “I know so little about her childhood. She seldom talked about Texas, her family, even about my father—my biological father. I’ve never even seen a picture of him. So this is—”

  “Lainie, stop it.” Alison’s voice was firm. “You don’t have to talk me into it. You’re only talking yourself into it. And you haven’t said exactly what you’re talking yourself into. I take it you’re still there. When are you coming home?”

  She looked at the suitcase. “I’m packing now.” She sat directly in front of the air conditioner unit and was getting chilled, so she reached over and turned the control to the halfway mark.

  Alison maintained silence for a long moment, then asked in a flat voice, “Why do I have this really sick feeling deep in my gut?”

  Lainie hunched over. She had much the same feeling. “Because I’m going to give notice as soon as I get home.”

  “Oh, Lainie, no.”

  “You said yourself the temp is doing a good job. I won’t be missed. I’ll clean out my apartment and can be back here in three weeks. I got another job today, Alison. I’m going to be Miles’s secretary.”

  “Oh, boy.”

  “I’ll stick out the summer—if the heat doesn’t kill me—and come home in the fall.”

  “Oh, boy.”

  “It’ll be okay, Alison. I can pull it off. You know I can. Mama always said I have more nerve than anyone else she knew.”

  “And guile.”

  Lainie ignored the comment. “I’m leaving first thing in the morning and will call you soon as I get home.”

  “Do me a favor. When you get back, call Jason and talk to him about this.”

  Lainie laughed without humor. “Now why would I do that? We broke the engagement because he couldn’t cope with Mama’s illness and how much she needed me. Remember? And I needed him, but he couldn’t handle that either. Jason’s in my past, where he belongs.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” Alison sighed, then said, “Yeah, I was stretching. But I don’t want you to get hurt. And you could be making a big mistake here.”

  “It’ll be okay. I promise. Gotta go now, but I’ll call again soon.”

  Lainie ended the call, stared at her cell for a moment, then put it back in her purse and settled her attention on the suitcase. Whenever she was faced with a choice of directions, straight ahead just about always won.

  Chapter Three

  Deliberately, Lainie hadn’t called ahead before arriving the second time at Lone Tree, and she was then both relieved and disappointed when she found Reed Smith away for the day.

  That cowboy could prove to be big trouble.

  She’d seldom felt a draw as strong as she’d felt with him, never upon first acquaintance, and he’d made it apparent the attraction was mutual. Since he didn’t appear the type to be easily deterred, it’d be wiser not to allow room for a relationship to form.

  Miles Auburn was the reason she was here, and, no matter how tempting the prospect, she would not allow herself to be distracted by his foreman.

  Two ranch hands, Glen Charles and Luke, helped with the heavy stuff. The southern drawl sometimes speeded up and sometimes slowed down, she discovered, and she had to concentrate in order to understand her helpers. Then she realized, a bit disconcerted, that she was the one with the accent.

  Among other things, they explained mealtime protocol. “Rosalie sets the food out on the sideboard in the dinin’ hall,” Glen Charles told her. “But you don’t sit nor eat till Miles shows himself and says grace.”

  “Five minutes,” Luke added, stepping gingerly across the threshold with his arms wrapped around her computer monitor. “Exactly. I can set my granddaddy’s watch by him.”

  “Except for breakfast.” Glen Charles grinned. “He sleeps through that.”

  Lainie pointed at the credenza that sat in the short hall outside the kitchen, and Luke set his burden on it. “Thanks,” she said, hoping he wasn’t straining himself. Moving furniture exercised a different set of muscles than ranch work, and she guessed Luke was on the other side of fifty.

  “Rosalie is up and down like a bouncin’ ball, but pay her no mind.” Luke frowned as he positioned the monitor. Lainie got the impression that was the first one he’d ever touched and he didn’t trust it. “That’s the way she wants it. Even Miles learned to leave her be.”

  “Yep, she’s one of the few people he’ll listen to.” Glen Charles ran his shirt cuff across his forehead then headed out for another load. “Her and Reed. He gets his point across, too.”

  Her car was soon empty, cartons stacked where she’d wanted them, and the only thing left to do was make sense of the mess. “Thank you,” she told her helpmates, then added, as if testing the words, “I’m beholden.” It didn’t appear the phrase sounded as strange to her audience as it felt to her to say it.

  As the men were on their way out the door, chimes struck. Lainie felt her brow wrinkle as she tried to place the sound, and they grinned.

  “That’s that little triangle that hangs outside the kitchen door,” Glen Charles explained. “Means supper’s ready. Rosalie strikes it three times soon as everythi
ng’s laid out.”

  Lainie glanced down at her jeans and the dusty tank top that had started out this morning as white.

  “Don’t you worry none about what you’re wearin’.” Luke must’ve read her mind. “You look just fine.”

  “We don’t stand on ceremony around here on workdays, just Sundays.” Though he couldn’t have had more than five or ten years on her, Glen Charles gave her a fatherly smile. “You go wash your hands and face and then come on and eat.”

  Lainie did as told and arrived at the same time as her employer, who evidently was on time. Luke grinned at Lainie and returned his watch to his pocket. After blessing the meal, Miles introduced Lainie, but the only people present had spent the afternoon with her. Everybody else was late or eating elsewhere.

  Miles followed her along the sideboard, giving her a dish-by-dish commentary. “Cole slaw was left over from dinner. Had greens too, but they were so good none’s left. Meatloaf was fresh-made for supper. With gravy over it, not that tomato-ey stuff, and that potato dish is a tasty one.”

  For such a big man, Miles ate sparingly, and his gaze kept straying to a small bowl of banana pudding next to his plate. Though he clearly savored his food, he had attention left over for her.

  “Hard trip?” he asked.

  “Is that what I look like?” She put her fork down, massaged her eyes. “Not really. But I was up early this morning and I’m feeling it. I need to make my bed and then get in it.”

  “Understand I’m not in a hurry to get to work. Never had a secretary before, so I can wait. Take as much time as you need to get yourself situated.”

  “Thanks. I’ll need at least one day to shop. Rosalie told me I should find everything I need at the Western Emporium.”

  “She steered you right.” He pushed his empty dinner plate away and put his dessert bowl in its place. “You never said what part of Texas your mother was from.”

  Lainie buttered a biscuit. “She spoke very little about her childhood.” She made her voice as casual as his. “Now that she’s gone, there’s much I wish I’d asked her.”

  “That happens. Once we lose someone, it’s too late. Can’t go back in time.” He sipped coffee, watching her over the brim of the cup. “Do you have regrets about taking the job, Lainie? This was quite a move for you.”

  Finished with her biscuit, she dusted her hands with her napkin. “No. Temporarily temporary. Remember? We’ll see how it works out.”

  She pushed her chair back. “Goodnight, Miles. I’m bushed. I’ve got to go to bed.”

  Her cottage was closer to the kitchen door than the front door, and Lainie stopped on her way out to smile at Rosalie. “That was the best meatloaf I’ve ever had.”

  “Nice of you to say so. Miles likes it, too.” The housekeeper filled a pan with water to let it soak. “How you doin’ over there? You gettin’ moved in okay?”

  Lainie nodded.

  “A woman from town, Angie, comes in days to help me cook and clean. I can spare her if you need help.”

  “Thanks, but I’ve got it under control.”

  After she’d closed her own door behind her, Lainie held the knob with both hands and leaned back against it. Her gaze swept the cluttered room. She’d made a dent, that was all, but at least her clothing was put away.

  Then, in her bedroom, she stopped and laughed softly as she tried to remember into which drawer she’d folded her nightgowns. She found what she wanted in the second drawer she pulled out. She paused, her attention caught by the envelope she’d also placed there. She bypassed the nightgown and picked up the envelope.

  “Oh, Mama,” she said, voice choking.

  She sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the envelope she’d found in her mother’s jewelry box a week after she’d buried her. Withdrawing the sheets of paper, Lainie reread the words she now almost knew by heart.

  My dearest Lainie,

  By the time you read this, I’ll be gone. I want to tell you one more time how much I love you, and how proud I am you are my daughter. We were a happy family, the three of us. Walter Johnson was the best thing that ever happened to you and me, and I wish we’d had more time before death took him.

  But I need to tell you something, something we should have talked about a long time ago. I told you so little about my family back in Texas, about my daddy. Every time you asked, I just put you off till you stopped asking, and that’s not right. It’s been eating away at me, and I want to write down what I can while my mind is still clear enough to do it.

  I told you he disowned me and I disowned him, and that much is true. Bitterly true. We were a proud and stubborn pair, Daddy and me. Always at odds with each other over one thing or another. Then it went from bad to worse when I met Garth Mallory, your father.

  Daddy claimed he was a no-good charmer looking for an easy life, and we had words just about every day over him. Then when I told him Garth wanted to marry me, he threatened to have him jailed, and it wasn’t an idle threat. I knew Daddy wouldn’t hesitate to trump up charges, so I ran to Garth and then ran away with him. Just up and ran one night and never looked back.

  Then I found out, too late, that Daddy was right. I loved Garth and gave him everything, but the only good thing he ever gave me was you. I’ve told you very little about him over the years, because there is so little to tell.

  When you were born, I wanted so much to take you home and show you off to your granddaddy. And to Nelly. You remember I told you about Nelly, the stable keeper, and how much I loved him. He was also like a father to me. But my stupid pride wouldn’t allow me to admit how wrong I’d been, so they never knew about my beautiful little baby girl. I was determined to make it on my own, and I did, but I lost much that way. Too much. I don’t want it to be your loss as well.

  Nelly was an old man when I left, so I doubt he’s still alive. But your grandfather was too tough to die young. I’d bet my bottom dollar he’s still raising hell out there at Lone Tree, just outside of Lawary. I’d told you that much at least. I want you to think about it, honey, take your time and think on it. And if you decide you want to look him up, do it with my blessing. Giving up my family was my loss, Lainie, and over the years, it’s grown to be my regret.

  I love you, honey. I love you more than I could ever tell you.

  Lainie’s hands dropped to her lap. “And I love you, Mama,” she whispered. Her throat was so choked it felt sore. She leaned her head back and allowed warm tears to roll down her face unchecked.

  The decision to drive to Texas had been made in the early throes of grief. If she’d waited even a few months, she probably wouldn’t have done it. But now that she had, she didn’t regret it. However tenuous the relationship, family was here, and that helped ease the void Elizabeth’s passing had left.

  Lainie continued to stare at the ceiling long after the tears had dried. She felt like a misplaced person. Being aware of her ambivalence, yet not knowing how to cope with it, made her feel powerless as well. What had she let herself in for? Maybe she didn’t belong here, and Alison was right. This might be the worst mistake she’d ever made.

  Chapter Four

  Lainie stood in the Western Emporium and stared down a long aisle lined on both sides with hats: wide brims and narrow brims, tall crowns and small crowns, fancy and plain, and too many colors to count. She was surprised to note that what Reed and the other men wore was called a palm leaf hat, which seemed a strange name for something with such a cowboy look to it. Which marked her as a greenhorn.

  Eventually she picked up a simple straw hat with a medium crown, medium brim, medium-range price, tried it on and then nodded.

  As she finalized her purchase, two women walked by, looking for a hat for someone named Randy. His old one had flown out his truck’s window and the car behind him had run over it.

  Lainie laughed, then turned. “I’m sorry. I overheard and—”

  The talkative one, who looked close to Lainie’s age, waved away her apology with a grin. “If something�
�s funny, you’re supposed to laugh at it.”

  Their resemblance made Lainie guess they were sisters. Each was petite with expressive, light-green eyes, auburn hair with deep-red highlights, and dark-brown freckles. They each wore what Lainie figured must be the Texas uniform in a cow town: yoked shirts, jeans and boots. The quiet one, who was apparently attached to Randy, appeared to be in her late teens.

  “I’m Jackie Lyn Cooper,” the older one said. “And this is my sister, Bobbie Ann. What’s your name?”

  Just like that. Small towns were nice. “Lainie Johnson. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Glad to meet you, too. Hope to see—” She snapped her head to the side. “Bobbie, you know he’s too tall for that one. Get him a wide brim if you want, but try that one over there.” Her attention swiveled back to Lainie. “See you again. You just move in?”

  Lainie blinked. Jackie’s speaking style resembled rapid fire. “Uh, yeah. I was hired as secretary at the Lone Tree Ranch.”

  “Bobbie, you hear that? She got that job you wanted.”

  Uh-oh.

  “Don’t worry about that, though,” Jackie said, as if reading Lainie’s mind. “The only reason she was interested was ’cause Randy works out there. Don’t know how much work either one would get done if they worked at the same place, and the old man mighta wondered the same thing. You meet Randy yet? He’s the one tall as a beanpole and just as skinny—the one that’s presently hatless.”

  Before Lainie could answer, Jackie sighed and shook her head. “Look at that. Girl couldn’t have found a more flamboyant one. Better go talk her out of it.”

  As Lainie headed for the rack of western shirts she could still hear the sisters.

  “Why don’t you try that one? Sure would be a better one.”

  “I’m buying the hat, big sister. I’ll choose it.”

  Lainie grinned at the exchange while she checked out the shirts. She chose one in pale blue, and a fancier one in black and white checks with black braid trim. Then a third caught her eye. Vertical stripes of differing widths in brick red, royal blue, bright-green and sunshine yellow stood up and hollered I’m no wallflower. The yoke carried the same colors in horizontal stripes. She added it to her collection.