Tex Times Ten Page 7

  “Funny you should ask. How did you get in here?” he demanded, rolling over to look at her.

  “Same way you got into my room when you weren’t welcome. Can I get you something?”

  “I think you’ve done enough.”

  “I did not poison you.”

  He turned to look at her again. “What makes you think I think that?”

  “Your brothers told me.”

  “Of course. Judases to the core.”

  She sat on the bed next to him. “Can I get you some Tums or something? I’m sure Delilah’s got something I could ask her for.”

  “I’m fine now. In fact, I’m starting to feel much better. ’Course, there for a while, it was touch and go.”

  She smiled. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re happy to see me miserable.”

  “Well, maybe just a little. It takes your attitude down a notch.”

  He looked at her. “I ate every one of those damn cookies. Every single one.”

  “And then you wonder why you got a stomachache, Einstein.”

  “Actually, I’ve decided it was something else I ate that had been sitting in my truck too long.”

  “With all the food at Mayfest, you snacked on something out of your truck?” She felt his forehead, which actually felt pretty good to her. Maybe because it was him.

  “I was a little hungry. This was before you’d brought the cookies. Actually, it was before the raffle, even. It seems like hours ago.”

  “Go to sleep,” she said. “You’ll need all your strength for the rodeo. I’ll get you some ginger ale. Later, you can apologize for spreading stupid rumors about my cooking. And use your good manners to thank me for wishing you good luck with the cookies. You know, I could have baked for Ant, since, technically, he’s my rider.”

  “Do you believe that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach? My brothers say that’s what women think.”

  “Well, my Gran always said that’s the way it works.”

  “In that case, you were trying to kill me,” he said with a sigh. “You were trying to tell my stomach exactly how you felt about me, and my heart has heard the news.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You did this to yourself. I’m going to get that ginger ale now.”

  He closed his eyes and put a hand on her wrist. “No. Stay with me.”

  She hesitated. “Um—”

  “You’ve heard what babies men are when they’re sick.”

  He didn’t look like a baby. He looked like a six-foot-four-inch hunk stretched out on the bed, staring at her with dark hair falling into those gorgeous eyes. This was a man who could make a baby any time he put his mind to it. Her pulse sped up uncomfortably.

  “Or we could buck the trend,” he suggested, and she had the suspicion that he was ogling her a bit. “Let me baby you, baby.”

  Her pulse kicked into crazy time. “I think that might stretch the boundaries of our conspiratorial relationship—”

  “Cissy, shut up,” he said, pulling her into the bed and tucking her against him. “You have no sense of humor whatsoever. Now, let me get some rest.”

  Her eyes went huge. He was warm all along the back of her, and there were places on him touching places on her, intimately.

  “Hmm,” he said. “You make my stomach feel better. Like a hot water bottle. By the way, do you want me to lose?”

  “No,” she said, and he said, “Good girl,” and then dropped a featherlight kiss on the back of her neck. She closed her eyes tightly. No. He had not kissed her. His chin had touched her, or his cheek, or his nose, but it was nothing more than that. Or he was really ill. That was it—a comfort kiss.

  But it was clear his brothers were wrong about Tex’s fear of intimacy. He wasn’t afraid of being close to her.

  Tex might not be afraid, but she was afraid of being close to him. Stiffly, she lay in his arms. She thought about her marriage, which hadn’t been much of a marriage. And then she thought about her family. Nine little faces and Gran. Her three siblings, whom she was terrified she might never see again.

  Tex breathed softly into her hair and muttered something that sounded like “poison.”

  She unstiffened and made herself relax by thinking about the riverboat she’d been on last month with Hannah and Ranger and the riverboat captain, Jellyfish. Even though she’d been there only a short time before Marvella found her, she’d been happy. Something about that riverboat had made her feel relaxed and at peace, the same way she felt at Gran’s. Maybe it was the water. Maybe it was the sensation of gentle movement. But there was peace and beauty all around, surrounding her with calm. She could see why Hannah had married Ranger there. She wished she could have been at the wedding.

  If she had a dream come true, it would be to own a riverboat like that and float forever. There were so many things in her life right now that were upside down. She couldn’t seem to stop worrying. But the cowboy muttering sleepy words in her hair had decided to take up her cause. And just being around him made her feel as if she was going to make it—somehow.

  Of course, he made her crazy, too. They were not the people they needed to be to make each other happy.

  She didn’t want him to lose.

  But she didn’t want him to win, either.

  Chapter Seven

  When Tex awakened, Cissy was gone. His brothers were eyeballing him, which wasn’t what he’d hoped to see upon opening his eyes. He’d planned on lapping up the lovely Cissy, but that fantasy was dashed thanks to the constant familial fog surrounding him.

  “How do you feel?” Last demanded.

  “Better when I had a girl in here.” He sat up, annoyed. “Did you scare her off?”

  “No. Guess you didn’t have sufficient lockdown on her. Hey, it’s show time, bro,” Navarro said. “By the way, we enjoyed your date. Dates.”

  Archer looked at his irritated brother. “We’ve re-thought our position on helping you out. We don’t want you getting killed by that bull. One of us’ll ride for you. Consider it family duty. Brother salvaging brother.”

  “Nope.” He felt much better since he’d napped with Cissy. All that body warmth against him had soothed his innards. Of course, she’d put a knot in him somewhere else, but that was a good thing. Made him feel like he was alive. Made him feel like riding a bull. Ten bulls, for that matter. “I can do my own job. Thanks, though.” He went to wash up.

  When he came out, his brothers were perched on his bed. “What?”

  Last handed him a couple of sheets of paper. “Cissy wanted us to give you this. We ran into her at the Never Lonely Cut-n-Gurls.”

  “I thought you were out on my dates, not shopping the competition. Is this a contract?” Tex glanced over the papers with surprise.

  “We were on your dates. But the girls were talking so much about how they despised the Cut-n-Gurls that we decided we had to see what all the uproar was about. So after our luncheon—including the roses you promised, and a little bit of table-dancing—we poked our heads in there. That’s quite a setup,” Last said with admiration. “I wouldn’t mind a trim.”

  His brothers guffawed. Tex glanced up from the document. “This is Cissy’s contract with Marvella.”

  “Apparently so.” Navarro shrugged. “Cissy said she filched it while Marvella was busy with Ant. She said you wanted it.”

  “I do. I want Brian to look it over. Can you go make a copy?” Tex asked. “I think it’s best if I don’t ride off with the only document in existence.”

  “Might not be the only one,” Archer pointed out. He pulled out a lighter and shot a stream of fire from it. “You know, when things disappear, no one can prove that they ever existed.”

  They all chewed on that for a moment. But matters couldn’t be solved by his brother the flame fairy. “Marvella’s too shrewd,” Tex said. “I doubt she has only one original and no copies. It’s too risky.”

  “What’s Brian going to do with it?” Navarro asked.

  “
I’m hoping he’ll find a loophole to get Cissy out of the contract. There’s no reason she should have to stay there if she doesn’t want to.”

  “She can quit,” Last said.

  “Not without financial repercussions. And besides, you don’t know Marvella. She’s witchy.” Tex handed the document to Navarro. “I trust you to guard this with your life. Get a copy, and then sneak the original back to Cissy. During the rodeo, when Marvella will be gone. This is a top-secret mission. Do not screw it up.”

  The brothers grinned.

  THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER brought out a record number for the Mayfest. Tex would have enjoyed the moment, except that he was undecided. Racked. Torn.

  Cissy had been the only one who cared to comfort his cramping gut, and then she’d fallen asleep with him so peacefully—or maybe it was he who’d fallen asleep so sweetly. But when he’d held her he’d thought over his brothers’ debate.

  Win or lose?

  It was an onerous question. Marvella would probably be angry with Cissy if he won. But it wasn’t fair to Delilah not to give it his best shot. He figured that since he wasn’t feeling a hundred percent, and he was riding a bull that was legendary—no one had stayed on Bloodthirsty yet—the odds were about even.

  Yet it seemed about time that the Lonely Hearts gals racked up a win. He was not a has-been. Nor was he intimacy-stunted.

  He had something to prove. Girded for battle emotionally, he left his room and grabbed his gear out of the bin in his truck. Then he crossed the street, heading for the arena.

  Ant accosted him on the way. “Hey, ol’ hoss!”

  “Hey,” Tex said, wondering when he’d become an ol’ hoss in the stable of life.

  “You ready for this?” Ant asked.

  “I am,” Tex replied with determination.

  “That Marvella sure is a nice lady,” Ant said. “I’m ready to win this for her.”

  Tex gave the younger cowboy a jaundiced eye. “You give it your best shot. But just remember, age before beauty.”

  Ant glared at him. “Are you insultin’ me?”

  “Just stating the facts, young hoss.” And then he went inside to change.

  AFTER PLEADING A HEADACHE, which she actually had, Cissy sat at the reception desk of the Never Lonely Cut-n-Gurls salon, waiting anxiously for the call from Valentine, who’d promised to update her. If Tex won, Cissy was going to be in big trouble. On the other hand, if he lost, Marvella was going to be very pleased with her.

  As much as she liked Tex, Cissy really needed Marvella happy. Now that she’d actually stolen the contract, Cissy didn’t want there to be any reason Marvella might go looking for it. Her stomach turned inside out. Even though it was her contract, it wasn’t her property, and she felt ill from pilfering it.

  It had been an act of desperation. She’d known she had to do it, once Tex held her in his arms. There would never be anything between them as a couple. But she no longer wanted to be tied to a woman she despised and a job she didn’t feel right about. When Tex had asked her about the salon being a whorehouse, she’d had to face what she had always chosen to ignore.

  She’d known there was something more going on than was right. Nine little children and Gran deserved better from her than this. Yes, she’d felt the weight of responsibility once her siblings went missing. Yes, she’d been scared when her husband had disappeared and the accounts had mysteriously closed. She wasn’t in his will, of course, as their marriage was a document, not a promise of forever.

  If Tex could find a way for her to break Marvella’s contract, she was getting out. And this was the last time she’d ever hope for a rescue from a man.

  It was time for her to start over.

  “Hey, Cissy,” Last said as he poked his head around the door. “Coast clear?”

  “Yes.” But she still tossed an anxious glance over her shoulder.

  He and Navarro strolled in and surreptitiously handed her the contract. “We made a copy. Tex thought it was best if you put this back.”

  Relief flooded her. “Why didn’t I think of that? I could have gone to the post office and made a copy.”

  “Never mind,” Navarro said with a shrug. “Tex has good ideas occasionally.”

  “Go tuck that away where it belongs and then walk over to the rodeo with us. If we hurry, we should catch our cowboys’ rides.” Last grinned at her. “Tex looked ready to rock after his nap.”

  “That should make me feel better, but unfortunately, it doesn’t. It’s a good news/bad news thing.” She hopped up from the desk and hurried down the hall, slipping into Marvella’s office. Sticking the contract back where it belonged, she shut the file drawer and left. “That’s the last thing I steal. Stealing is not good for my heart rate.”

  The brothers were examining the heart-shaped hot tub when she returned to the lobby. “That’s a doozy,” Last said. “Must have some real fun in that pool. I’ve seen cricks smaller than that.”

  Cissy grimaced. “Marvella likes her customers to be comfortable.”

  “Marvella likes her customers to have room to swim,” Navarro said. “You could have a whale show in there.”

  “Where’s Archer?” Cissy asked.

  “Helping Tex. We couldn’t leave him to his own devices.” Last couldn’t take his attention from the hot tub. “What’s this?” he asked, picking up a plastic bottle from a shelf. “Madame Mystery’s Mystical Mood Magic.” He stared at Cissy. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “I don’t know,” Navarro said, joining his brother to examine the bottle. “But I think I gotta get me some.”

  “Come on,” Cissy said, flushing. “We’re going to miss your brother’s ride.”

  Last set the bottle down reluctantly. “Okay. Although eventually, I’m coming back here for my own swim.”

  “Fine, fine.” Cissy hurried to the front door. She glanced behind her at the brothers who were definitely sidetracked by the salon’s accoutrements. They had no perception of the balance that her life was hanging in right now—and that their brother was going to tip the scale one way or the other. “Funny how I’ve developed a real love of rodeo in the past few months. Come on!”

  FROM THE MOMENT TEX laid eyes on Bloodthirsty Black, he could tell the bull was ready to tear him into bite-size chunks. The cowboys had a helluva time getting the bull into the chute, and one man was in the corner nursing a hand that had gotten caught by a horn. Once Bloodthirsty was in, Archer helped Tex on, cussing and grunting as he hung from the rails of the chute.

  “Hang on tight!” Archer shouted at Tex. “Stay with him.”

  Tex nodded and clamped his hat down hard with his free hand. His other was wound into the lifeline between him and the bull. Only one of them was going to live through this battle with honor. He’d seen Cissy come in with his brothers and sit on Delilah’s side of the arena. Marvella was seated with her girls on the opposite side. It felt like the nearest to the old Roman coliseum as he’d ever get. And he was the gladiator.

  “Come on, you pasty-faced, weak-spined creature,” he said, his teeth rattling, his muscles bouncing as Bloodthirsty tried to shrug him off with a massive lift even though he was still inside the chute. Tex would have sworn his liver exploded and a chip got knocked off his front tooth.

  The cowboys around him shouted, and someone yelled something at him, but he could no longer hear. Adrenaline had shut down all his senses except the tactical need to stay attached to the thing under him. The gate swung open, and Bloodthirsty charged out.

  The bull was aiming to send him to hell.

  CISSY GASPED WHEN Bloodthirsty Black leaped from the chute with a hapless Tex clinging to him. She grabbed Last’s hand, feeling every turn, every jolt, every blow herself. The bull twisted and wheeled, jumped and kicked, and still Tex hung on. Left, right, up, down—Cissy could only watch with sick dread.

  It was the longest eight seconds in her life.

  And then Tex was flung off, a second past the buzzer. He ran up the corral, holding on
until two clowns chased Bloodthirsty out of the arena. Then he got down to thunderous applause from Delilah’s team, no one applauding more wildly than Cissy.

  Until she saw Marvella and her girls staring across the arena at her. The furious look on Marvella’s face, even at this distance, clearly said, “Traitor.”

  “Ninety-one!” the announcer called. “What a ride from Tex Jefferson! Who’da thought that cowboy still had it in him for a legendary bull like Bloodthirsty Black? Give him a hand, friends! He’s the first cowboy to stay on that son of a gun and deserves every point of that score!”

  Cissy put her hands down. Ant still had to ride, and if she was smart, she’d best go across and sit where she belonged. Especially since she’d convinced Marvella that Tex was sub-par.

  In rescuing Tex from Marvella, she might have delivered herself into big trouble.

  Ant just had to win. She hoped he hadn’t overstated his biography. “I’ll see you guys later,” she told Tex’s brothers.

  “Hey, hang on. Where are you going?” Last asked. “I’m sure Tex will be over here in a sec.”

  She shook her head. “I need to go sit with my employer. Bye, everybody. Tell Tex I said…congratulations.”

  She left, and Last and Navarro looked at each other. “Congratulations? What the hell did that mean?” Navarro asked Last.

  Last shrugged and ate some popcorn. “I think it means, congratulations, my cookies didn’t kill you, you toad.”

  “WHERE’S CISSY?” TEX ASKED, leaping into the seat Cissy had vacated and receiving pats on the back and congratulations from the Lonely Hearts girls sitting all around. They hugged and kissed him, and Delilah beamed. Jerry grinned from ear to ear. It was worth feeling as if his tailbone had come unhinged to bask in the glory of these people’s gratitude. They deserved that win, and after what they’d done for Union Junction, he was proud to be the one to give it to them.

  It felt damn good. “Where’s Cissy?” he repeated as Jerry happily slapped him on the back.