Last Chance Texas, page 16
“Darned arm’s been aching all day,” he replied, pointing to his right arm. Drenched in sweat, he gasped to catch his breath. “Sorry to be such a pain. That wife of mine is always on my case. Women.”
Irene returned with the blood pressure kit, but it didn’t take an expert to know the reading was going to be sky-high. Nathan pumped the balloon several times, allowing the air to hiss out slowly, before getting an accurate reading.
It was off the charts.
“Irene, call the paramedics. Now.”
“Oh, geez, come on.” Warren’s arms flailed about, pushing him away.
Nathan waved Irene in the direction of the phone. “Just do it.” He commanded her with such force she practically flew to the kitchen to make the call.
“Is my granddaddy going to die?” The fear in Jessica’s voice struck a nerve with him. It was like looking at Maura the first time they sat down and talked about her mother’s illness.
“We’re going to do everything we can to make him well, Jessica.” When he saw a flicker of hope in the little girl’s eyes, he prayed to God it wasn’t too late. Warren stopped arguing about them sending for an ambulance, and that was out of character for a guy this stubborn.
It took ten minutes for the paramedics to arrive. The longest ten minutes of Nathan’s life. Tommy had rushed downstairs now, racing about the house, shouting at the top of his lungs. To him this was just about as exciting as things got. To the rest of them, it was a heart stopper. By the time they loaded Warren into the ambulance, Irene was sobbing hysterically.
“Irene. You go ahead and ride in the ambulance. The kids can spend the night at my place. I’ll get Jake to watch them and I’ll meet you at the hospital.”
“Oh, Nathan. I couldn’t impose on you like this.”
“Warren needs you. The kids will be fine.”
She nodded, too weak to argue.
As the ambulance pulled away, Irene waved frantically at the children, and Nathan took a deep breath. Tommy looked frightened, as though the realization might be sinking in.
After the shrill sound of the siren disappeared, Nathan knelt down beside both kids. “How about I take you to my place? We have plenty of room. Jess, you can sleep in Maura’s room.”
“I want to sweep in my sistah’s woom,” Tommy said, starting to cry as large tears spilled down his cheeks.
“Okay, Buddy. It’ll be like a campout. We’ll light the barbeque pit. We’ll invite Jake over, too.”
“Jessica, let’s get your stuff together. Tommy’s too. And bring some toys if you’d like.” Without saying a word, she flew back into the house.
Minutes later he went upstairs to help the kids pack. Jessica had loaded an entire box of toys that appeared to be Tommy’s. “Where are your toys, Jess?”
“I don’t play with toys anymore.” As she spoke, he studied her face. She’d aged ten years in the past few minutes. It was the cruelest thing in the world for any child to be faced with death - twice in such a short life. His heart ached for her. She’d lost so much already. So much for childhood innocence.
Grabbing two dolls from Jessica’s bed, Nathan tossed them into the box holding Tommy’s things. “We’ll take these, just in case. Maybe Caitlyn will come over. She likes to play with dolls.”
That seemed to do the trick. As he led both children down the steps, he heard Jessica’s thin, frightened voice behind him. “I wish Ms. Kelsey was here. I liked her a lot.”
It was the first time Nathan realized that Kelsey’s return to Dallas might have left a void for someone other than himself.
~ ~ ~
Kelsey breathed a sigh of relief when she pulled onto the highway leading to Alpine. In twenty minutes, she’d be slugging it out with Nathan Wainwright. If the man thought there was even a remote chance he’d get her land, he was sadly mistaken.
The drive had gone well. She’d made record time, compliments of the eighty mile an hour speed limit on several deserted roads. She slowed down as she approached the downtown area of Alpine. When the light turned red, she stopped, and quickly turned around, staring at the picture mural on the back of a store, one which featured the late Dan Blocker.
The late March weather put her in good spirits. But when she thought of how furious Nathan would be that she was here to claim the land, her mood quickly soured. Hopefully, she’d caught him off guard and he had no idea she was coming. Unless, of course, Rachel went and blabbed. She’d sworn the girl to secrecy, but with Rachel, you couldn’t be sure. This fling with Jake was lasting longer than anyone could have predicted. And since Jake and Nathan were best friends, well, no telling how much Rachel had said.
Fifteen minutes later, Kelsey rounded the bend to Nathan’s driveway. She climbed from the car and bent over, rubbing her legs to get the circulation back. It’d been a long trip.
Glancing about, she noticed Nathan’s truck was nowhere in sight. The animals looked up at her from the north pasture and she waved. “Hey, did you miss me?” When Misty and Dakota whinnied, she smiled.
She sprinted onto the front porch of Nathan’s farmhouse. When her stomach growled, she covered it with her hand, wishing she’d picked up something on the way over.
She’d been sitting there, brooding for several minutes when Nathan’s truck came barreling up the driveway. As he got closer, she noticed a man sitting in the passenger seat. In the back seat were two little people. Curious, she stood up, craning her neck to see more.
Nathan jumped out first and helped the two passengers in the back seat out. She heard herself gasp as she realized who they were.
He’d known she was coming all along. He’d brought the kids to avoid being alone with her.
When Jake climbed from the front seat, she groaned. Apparently, Nathan had gotten wind that she was coming and was closing ranks. So, he wanted an audience, did he?
“This is a surprise.” Nathan’s brows narrowed as he studied her, and she could barely contain her frustration.
For a man who’d schemed like this, Nathan did an amazingly good job pretending he was surprised to see her. Grabbing two suitcases from the bed of his truck, he strode to the front door of the farmhouse, opened it, and motioned Jessica and Tommy inside. She raced over to him.
“Hello, Nathan.” He barely looked at her when she said his name.
“Jessica, Tommy. Go upstairs. I’ll be right up.” Nathan’s voice was stern, matching the scowl on his face. He sounded exhausted and angry at the same time. But when she considered the way he’d dragged the Randall kids into his drama, she felt her frustration mounting.
But as disgusted with Nathan as she was, she couldn’t recall ever seeing him this tired. The only thing more predominant than the large circles under his eyes were the deep lines sweeping across his forehead; worry lines, her dad always called them.
“Nice touch, Nathan. Really.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Bringing the kids here. I knew Rachel couldn’t keep a secret. She told Jake, and Jake told you, and yada, yada, yada.”
“Whatever.” His tone was flat as he turned to go upstairs. “I’ve got things to take care of. I don’t have time for this crap.”
Without a backward glance, he raced up the steps.
She was just about to stop him, to grab him by the arm and suggest he make time when Jake walked over.
“My god, Kelsey. You should hear yourself.”
“Nathan had no right—”
“Damn it. Just listen for a blasted minute, Kelsey, will you?” She opened her mouth to say something, but he waved his hands at her, as though not wanting her to interrupt. “We had no idea you were coming.”
“Well, then?”
“Nathan went out to the Randall place to deliver hay. Warren got sick and they ended up calling the paramedics. Nathan thinks he’s had a stroke. Irene was so broken up that Nathan told her to ride in the ambulance and he’d take the kids. I know you have your own version of things, Kelsey, but that’s what really happened.”
She felt sick to her stomach as she realized how cynical she’d become. Nathan must be beside himself when the man who’d been a mentor to him took sick. As anxious as she was to get Mimi’s land, she wasn’t a woman without a conscience. At least, she didn’t used to be.
“I . . . I don’t know what to say. I am so sorry.” She didn’t even realize tears had begun welling up until one rolled down her cheek.
“Damn it, Kelsey. Now don’t go and do that.”
Suddenly Nathan strolled into the kitchen. He motioned Jake outside and when he spoke, his voice bordered on contempt. “Jake, you head into town and pick up some groceries for the next few days. Kelsey and I have some things to discuss, and I don’t think you wanna be around to hear it.”
When he tossed Jake the keys to his truck, Kelsey realized there was no way of getting around this. She and Nathan were going to come to blows.
~ ~ ~
Nathan had every intention of putting Kelsey in her place, but when he saw tears welling up in her eyes, he rethought the little speech he’d been all set to give her. He motioned her toward a chair, and she followed him in silence.
“Sit down, Kelsey.”
When they reached the table, she pulled out a chair and flopped down. She glanced at the steps leading to the upstairs and it occurred to him she probably wanted to head up there and make sure the kids were all right. “Jessica and Tommy are getting ready for bed. I thought I’d give them a few minutes. We need to talk.”
“If you need me here to help out with the children, I’d be happy to do that. I can—”
“That’s obviously not why you dropped by, Kelsey. Let’s just get everything out on the table. Wanna tell me why you’re really here?”
She sat stiffly; her hands folded neatly together, looking like someone about to be interrogated.
“Kelsey. Why did you come?” When he heard the leaky faucet drip several times, he decided she wasn’t going to be forthcoming. This would take time. Two could play this game.
“How’s Irene holding up?”
She was changing the subject. The only reason Kelsey Malone would drive clear out to West Texas was because she was trying to keep him from getting the land. Why the hell didn’t she just come right out and say it? But instead of flying off the handle, he decided to make small talk; to play along with her.
“Irene’s doing as well as can be expected.”
“I imagine she’s terrified about all this.” As Kelsey said it, there was a part of him that wanted to reach across the table and grab her, to tell her to quit being a phony, but when she brushed several tears away that had begun spilling down her cheeks, he considered that deep down, under that tough exterior of hers lurked a heart.
He got right to the point. “You’ve come to take back the land, haven’t you?” He could hear the accusatory tone in his voice, but he didn’t care. He needed to know the truth.
“Nathan, really, under the circumstances, this can wait.”
“No it can’t, Kelsey. We’ll talk about it now.”
She’d begun fidgeting with one of the placemats, picking at a loose thread. Obviously, he’d called her bluff. That was exactly why she was here.
“If you must know, yes. I’m going to live on Mimi’s property until we get this all figured out.”
“Nothing to figure out, really. The way I see it, I’ve kept up the land and paid taxes. According to Texas law, it’s mine.”
Her head was bent now as she appeared to study the wooden grains in the table. Nathan seized the opportunity to watch her; to try and figure out her angle.
As she sat quietly, taking several breaths, he stared at the gentle slope of her shoulders. The deep, green sweater she wore contrasted sharply with her dark eyes. When his eyes made their way down to the neckline of the sweater, he watched the gentle way her breasts rose and fell with each breath she took. Being this physically attracted to her definitely had its drawbacks.
As she looked up, he quickly turned away.
“Mimi left this land to me and I intend to keep it, Nathan. I’m sorry about the Randalls, but it doesn’t change anything. Not really.”
Excusing himself, he headed upstairs. “I need to check on the kids. You probably should go now.”
“Nathan, please. Your place is with Warren right now. I’d be happy to watch the children.”
“They barely know you.” He realized his tone was judgmental when she bowed her head briefly, and then looked away.
As though on cue, Jessica padded down the steps, holding one of her dolls. She pressed the doll against her and stared at Kelsey. “Can you read us a story, Ms. Kelsey? Can you stay with us for a while?”
Kelsey crouched down, as though wanting to be on the same level as a nine-year old. The amber flecks in her dark eyes lit up and she gazed at Nathan - a tender expression on her face. “I’d love to stay for a while, honey. But it’s up to Nathan.” She mouthed the word, please, and he caved.
“I suppose she can stay for a while, Sweet Pea. I’ll go see how your grandma and grandpa are so you don’t have to worry. You are such a little worry wort.”
His heart ached for both the kids, and he prayed Warren would make a full recovery.
“Thank you, Nathan.” Kelsey smiled at him, got to her feet, and walked arm in arm up the steps with Jessica.
The one thing he was quickly learning about Kelsey was that it was difficult saying no.
~ ~ ~
The children had begged for them all to cuddle up in Nathan’s king sized bed, and Kelsey wasn’t about to turn down their request. As they sat huddled together, reading another bedtime story, Jessica asked, “What’s that?”
Kelsey stared down at her neck, realizing she still had on the necklace. “It’s called a Mizpah.”
“Where did you get it?” For a girl who’d just been put through the ringer, Jessica was full of questions.
“I got it from my Aunt Mimi. She gave it to me on my fifth birthday.”
“That’s a silly gift. It’s half a necklace.” Jess eyed the necklace closely, studying it curiously.
“It’s really a symbol. When two people share a necklace, each prays for the other to make sure they’re safe.”
“Do my grandma and grandpa have one?” Jessica’s deep blue eyes searched Kelsey, begging for an answer. This child was going through hell, and yet, she focused all her energies on everyone else.
Kelsey looked over at little Tommy tucked up under Nathan’s large comforter and realized he’d fallen asleep. She redirected her attention back to Jessica. “I doubt they do, but I’m betting we can get them one. Would you like to try and find one tomorrow?”
Jessica broke into a smile that would have lit up the Empire State Building. “Sure.”
“We’d better get you tucked into bed.”
“Can you spend the night here too, Kelsey?”
That didn’t work out too well the last time I was here.
“No, baby. When Nathan gets home, I’m going to drive over to the Antelope and stay there.”
“I wish you could stay here with us.” Jessica reached over, grabbing Kelsey’s hand.
Kelsey abruptly changed the subject. “Let’s cuddle up and get some shut eye, Pumpkin.”
“Pumpkin!” Jessica’s eyes flew open. “That’s a silly name. Nathan calls me Sweet Pea. I like that better.”
Kelsey glanced over at Tommy who was curled up in a ball, thumb in mouth, fast asleep. After covering the boy up, Kelsey pulled back the blankets on the other side of the bed, motioned Jessica to lie beside her, and pulled the sleeping little boy into her arms.
In the silence, her conscience tugged at her, and she felt a twinge of guilt about claiming Mimi’s land when Nathan had kept it up for all these years. It didn’t feel right.
But as she held little Tommy against her, she argued with herself. She had no other option when it came to having her own children. If she didn’t get the land, and didn’t sell it off, there was no way she’d be able to afford in vitro.
~ ~ ~
Nathan sat at his old friend’s bedside, trying to remain patient with Irene and her flurry of questions.
“What’s the doctor really saying, Nathan?” As Irene’s eyes searched him, Nathan struggled to not only water it down in terms the average layperson could understand, but to avoid scaring the woman to death.
“It’s too early to know the effects of the stroke. If Warren stays the same, it’s a good sign. But if his condition deteriorates, they’ll need to fly him to Midland.”
“Oh, dear god. This can’t be happening. What will become of the children?” As Irene rambled on, Nathan realized that if he couldn’t calm her down, she’d have health issues of her own.
“Nothing will become of them, Irene. They’ll stay with me as long as necessary. You’re not to worry about that. Understood?”
She nodded numbly before walking over to her husband’s hospital bed. Bending over, she gently kissed him. “Sleep well, my darling. I’ll be over here on the chair, right next to you.”
Nathan ignored the lump in his throat, thinking back to how many months he’d spent at this very hospital at his wife’s bedside. He studied the wrinkles on Irene’s face, the deep crow’s feet under her eyes. This is how it should have been with him and Michele. They should have grown old together, just like this. Able to read one another’s thoughts; finish one another’s sentences. He’d been cheated, and he struggled not to be bitter about his loss.
