Last Chance Texas, page 7
“And honestly, a divorce would have a terrible impact on the kids.” Meredith continued talking, but Rachel had nearly tuned her out. “It’s always better if a couple can stay together for the sake of the children, don’t you think?”
The comment was so ridiculous and had been so overused that Rachel couldn’t contain herself. “Your daughter just got kicked out of school for smoking, and your son is flunking fourth grade. I’m not sure things could get much worse.”
To Rachel’s utter amazement, Meredith didn’t do what she typically did; didn’t defend her kids’ actions by blaming the entire school for their shortcomings. She dipped her head, swallowed several times, and looked away. When she finally reacted to what Rachel had said, her voice sounded far away, as though she was speaking from a tunnel. “I’m not strong like you and Kelsey. I’ve been married since I was nineteen years old. That’s almost half my life.”
Mere sat stiffly in the chair now, winding several fingers through her hair.
Rachel suddenly found herself wishing Kelsey was here. Of the three, Kelsey was definitely the one with a gentle heart; the one who made everyone feel better about themselves.
Rachel sat quietly, shaking her head, amazed someone as opinionated and pigheaded as Meredith could be so blasé about her personal life. The girl had been miserable for as long as Rachel could remember.
As much as Rachel wanted to see Jake again, she made the decision that friendship needed to come first. It’d always been that way, and there was no reason to change things. Her place was with Meredith now.
She reached over and squeezed Meredith’s hand. “This was supposed to be a road trip for us girls. I’ll tell Jake I can’t see him again. Truth be told, once we leave Alpine, I’ll probably never see him again anyway. Seriously, the guy’s a rodeo rider and part-time bartender, and I’m a high school English teacher. What kind of match would that be! He’s a player. I know you don’t think I get that, but I do.”
Meredith’s face suddenly clouded as her blue eyes pierced Rachel. “He does seem like kind of a mess at times, a bit flirtatious, but there’s something likeable about him, Rach. I think maybe you should see him again.”
“No, Mere . . .”
“You told me earlier that Jake asked you to meet him at the Blue Depot tonight. You need to go. We can talk about my crappy marriage on the way back to Dallas. It’s a nine-hour drive. That should give us just about enough time to cover everything.”
Rachel laughed at Meredith’s comment, relieved the girl was beginning to sound more like her old self again.
“I’ll agree to see Jake again under one condition.”
“Name it, Rach.”
“That you and Kelsey go with me. That way, Jake won’t try anything funny.”
“Well, frankly, you’re probably hoping he will. But yes, I’ll go with you, and I’m sure Kelsey will too.” Meredith reached over and patted Rachel’s hand. “You’re a good friend, Rachel. Both you and Kelsey are amazing. I’m lucky to have you guys.”
“We’re lucky to have each other.” A flood of emotion washed over as Rachel realized that true friendship was indeed a precious thing.
They hugged for several seconds when two cowboys in tight, neatly creased jeans strode past them, eyeing them curiously.
When one of them arched his eyebrows, Rachel couldn’t resist. Eager to lighten things up, she replied, “It’s okay. We’re married.”
The facetious comment appeared to have scared the two men off and they scurried from the room in record time. Meredith threw back her head and laughed. Relieved, Rachel stood up. “Let’s head out to lunch. I doubt we’ll see the likes of Kelsey today.”
“The likes of?” Meredith pursed her lips together, like she always did when she was about to do a follow-up comment. “That’s about as corny as Jake calling you Dallas.”
As they started to leave, Meredith pointed to the back of the auditorium, pointing at Kelsey. “Well, speak of the devil. Here she is.”
Meredith’s next comment echoed her sentiment. “I can’t believe she’s back already. Considering how she and Nathan were canoodling at the chuckwagon this morning, I’d have laid odds the two of them would spend the entire weekend together.”
Kelsey’s steps were slow and deliberate as she made her way toward them. Maybe things hadn’t gone so well after all.
Meredith stretched out her arms and Kelsey quickly hugged her.
“Everything okay?” Rachel stepped back to see the expression on Kelsey’s face.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” Kelsey’s tone sounded flat, an indication she didn’t want to be grilled on how her time with Nathan went.
“Come on, Kelsey. You know what I mean. Are you going to see him again?” Rachel strolled up, stretched out her hands and turned the palms of them up, motioning her friend to give her the dish. She suspected her hand signals looked like a cop directing traffic because both Meredith and Kelsey were smiling.
“Enough with the hand gestures, Rach. You don’t have an ounce of Italian in you.” Meredith giggled after she said it, and all three laughed aloud.
But Kelsey’s expression changed suddenly, the amber flecks in her eyes fading. “In answer to your question, everything is fine. But I’ve decided not to see Nathan again. He’s not my type.”
~ ~ ~
Jake wiped down the bar counter for the third time that day. Checking his watch, he realized they were well into the lunch hour with no sign of a customer. Damn poetry folks. You’d think they could’ve downed a couple of beers between readings.
Probably down at Penny’s Diner having a burger and some sweet tea.
As he studied the terra cotta tiles that ran across the back wall, he wondered when he’d ever get money ahead enough to update the place. Still, the customers didn’t appear to mind he hadn’t repainted the place in years. They were more interested in a free beer every now and then, instead of the color scheme of his tavern.
Despite his worries about the future of the bar, he felt a sense of new-found optimism. And it was all due to the fact he’d met Rachel Martin. He liked everything about her, those gorgeous eyes of hers in particular. Of course, he’d always been a sucker for green eyes, but it was really that thick, ebony colored hair of hers left him weak in the knees. He’d run his fingers through it several times at the chuckwagon. And the little lady hadn’t exactly fought him off. He shook his head, realizing he sounded like a rerun of an old John Wayne movie.
He was in the middle of taking an enormous swig of coffee when Nathan strolled into the bar.
“Hey, Man. What’s up? I thought you and Kelsey would be hanging out together.”
“Whiskey on the rocks. Make it a double,” Nathan said as he pushed back a bar stool and seated himself.
The fact Nathan hadn’t answered his question about Kelsey didn’t deter Jake in the least. He liked the sparring between the two of them and considered it a challenge to get his friend to open up; particularly about women. He probably wouldn’t get far, though. Nathan was pretty tightlipped when it came to his personal life.
“I thought you’d be with Kelsey.”
“You thought wrong.” Nathan’s face twisted into a scowl, and Jake read between the lines.
“Wanna talk about it?”
“Nope.”
Jake barely set the drink down before Nathan grabbed it. He took two swigs, polishing it off. Slamming the glass down on the table, he stared out the bar window.
As Jake glanced over at his friend of thirty years, he studied the worry lines on Nathan’s face. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize the man was upset.
He wasted no time trying to find out what’d gone wrong between Nathan and Kelsey. “Looked to me like you and Kelsey were pretty cozy at the chuckwagon this morning.”
When Nathan didn’t respond, Jake continued the line of questioning. He’d wear him down-one way or another. “She seems to bring out the best in you. I was kind of hoping you’d be seeing her again.”
Nathan continued staring out the bar window, his gray eyes focused on a car rumbling down the street. He sat perfectly still, a deadpan expression on his face. In all the years the two had known each other, Jake had never gotten Nathan’s body language down pat. The man was a tough read. That was the thing about Nathan. You could lay it all out there. Lay the trap and wait for him to take the bait. But he wasn’t one to put himself out there. Never had been.
The only exception had been the time when he’d lost Michele. Jake thought back to the day she’d passed. How Nathan had gone home quietly from the hospital. How he’d gone up to the bedroom he’d shared with Michele during their marriage. He’d wrapped himself in the marriage quilt his mother had made for him and Michele and stayed in bed for two days straight.
Too grief stricken to function, Nathan had gone about his life nearly comatose. No one could reach him, and soon, everyone gave up trying.
And then, a week later, he’d snapped. The pent-up hatred he had for the disease that took Michele, the frustration over the unhealthy choices his stepdaughter, Maura, was making in her personal life - it all came bubbling out. And that was the very last time he spoke of it.
Judging by how Nathan was brooding, something had upset him. And it probably had something to do with Kelsey Malone. As curious as Jake was, he decided that Nathan needed his space. “I’m sorry, Nathan, I don’t mean to pry. It’s really none of my business.”
Nathan could have said ‘damn straight’ or something like that, but as usual, he chose the high road. “I’d better head out. I’ve got some things to take care of. Thanks for the drink.”
As Nathan tossed a twenty on the counter, Jake’s frustration mounted.
“I don’t want your damn money, Nathan.”
Jake reached over to pick up the cash to give it back, but by the time he looked up, Nathan had left.
He reached for his cell phone and dialed Rachel. She picked up immediately.
“Hi, Jake. I’m glad you called. I think it’d be better if the girls and I went to the Blue Depot by ourselves. Meredith’s kind of bummed out I think it’d be better if I spent some time with her.”
Great. So he and Nathan were both being dumped.
“Suit yourself.”
“Jake, wait. It’s not like I don’t want to be with you, because, really, I do.” The tone in Rachel’s voice was one decibel shy of being syrupy. “But my friendship with Meredith and Kelsey always comes first. That’s just how it is.”
As frustrated as he was, Jake reflected back on the history he and Nathan shared. He valued Nathan’s friendship more than words could tell, and he suspected Rachel felt the same way about her two friends. Had he been in her position, he’d have probably done the same thing.
He liked the way Rachel put her friends first, so he sucked it up and decided to come up with a compromise.
“Look, how about if you and the girls head over to the Blue Depot on your own. I’ll try and talk Nathan into going with me. We’ll be at the bar. That way, you girls can have your privacy. I’d like to get in at least one dance with you, Rachel. Can you at least agree to that? I do a mighty impressive Texas Two Step.”
When she laughed, he felt a rush of relief. But her laugh quickly faded as she told him what he already suspected. “The only part that might be tricky . . .”
“I already know what you’re going to say, Dallas. Nathan was in here a few minutes ago. Apparently, he and Kelsey didn’t hit it off after all.”
“So you know then.”
“Like I said, you girls reserve a table and head over there around eight. I’ll casually stroll in at nine or so with Nathan. It’ll be a chance meeting, nothing more.”
“Come on, Jake. That’s rather sneaky, don’t you think?”
“I know Nathan, and I assure you I have his best interest at heart. He and Kelsey have a lot in common. I think we should at least try and get them together again.”
“You like living on the edge, don’t you, Jake?” Rachel read him like a book, and her comment made him laugh.
“Just make sure there’s extra room at your table.”
“Party of five?” Rachel’s voice bordered between flirty and seductive.
“Party of five. See ya later, Dallas.”
Chapter 6
Nathan stood at the bar of the Blue Depot, precariously positioning his body between two bar stools. The place was completely packed out, thanks to the weekend guests attending the poetry gathering. He squeezed between several middle-aged men and ordered two whiskeys. When he’d finished tipping the bartender, he turned to hand Jake one of the drinks.
As the music continued blaring away, he felt his mood sour. He never should have let Jake talk him into this. If he had his way, he’s be sitting out at the barbecue pit in his backyard with the whole damn bottle of whiskey.
Stop thinking about Kelsey. Damn it.
The woman was definitely a contradiction. Of course, the two of them had pretty much done things backwards. They’d spent the better part of the morning getting to know one another and almost ended up in bed together. They’d gone from hot to cool, and then to ice cold when she turned down his invitation to dinner. He didn’t handle rejection well to begin with. Let alone from someone he was beginning to care about.
He glanced over at two young guys falling all over themselves as a scantily dressed waitress made small talk with them. Between the loud music and stream of couples posturing themselves, trying like hell to hook up, Nathan was ready to call it quits. Jake loved this kind of shit. Him? Not so much.
“It’s crowded as heck in here. I can barely breathe. Let’s get out of here. We can drink outside just as easily.” As Nathan motioned his friend to leave, Jake remained glued in place.
“Oh, come on. Don’t be such a dud.” Jake punched him in the arm, a clear indicator he’d try to goad him into staying for the karaoke.
Bringing the glass of whiskey to his lips, Nathan leaned against the counter of the bar and waited for the next karaoke performer.
Suddenly Jake plunked down the drink he was holding so hard it nearly broke. “Holy crap, Nathan. Will you look at that?”
“And now-here’s a pretty little cowgal from Dallas. I hear tell she’s got one fantastic set of pipes. At least, that’s what her friends tell me. Let’s give a big Alpine welcome to Ms. Kelsey.”
No way.
As Kelsey wandered toward the microphone, Nathan whirled around so quickly he nearly lost his balance.
“Damn you, Jake.”
When Kelsey picked up the mic and moved about the stage, her thick, auburn hair moving to the rhythm of her body, Nathan felt himself flush. But try as he might, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. His jaw dropped, and he promptly clamped it shut. No use gaping. The only saving grace was that she had no idea he was here, and with the room this jam packed, it was doubtful she could even find him in the crowd.
But his curiosity got the best of him, and before long, he began elbowing his way through the crowd to get a closer look.
Several men in the audience whistled loudly, and he felt himself cringe. The faded jean skirt she was wearing looked pretty damn short, from his angle. When a cowboy jumped to his feet and wagged a finger at Kelsey, motioning her toward him, Nathan felt his mood darken even more. If that was possible.
What the hell was he doing? It wasn’t as though she was his girl or anything. If she wanted to parade around strutting her stuff, far be it from him to stop her.
On one level, he hoped she’d embarrass the hell out of herself. Hoped that her singing sucked. But he quickly decided he’d punch anyone that booed her.
She got as far as the second word when he recognized the song.
Cowboy, take me away . . .
As she began the song, her beautiful, lilting, contralto voice filtering throughout the bar, several people stood up, clapping loudly. Ignoring the applause, she continued singing, her voice caressing each word.
Her hips moved slightly as she belted out the lyrics. As she swayed to the rhythm of the music, Nathan realized Kelsey was everything he wasn’t. Comfortable in front of an audience, self-confident, and spot on vocally. At least, he assumed she was, judging by the audience’s reaction. Not that he’d know, of course. He’d been told enough times he was tone deaf for it to take.
When the song ended, the crowd rose in unison, breaking into thunderous applause.
“More, sing more,” they chanted.
“Say, Ms. Kelsey. Can we talk you into one more? You heard ‘em. They love you!” The MC rushed to her side. “How about it?”
Nathan had just turned to leave when Kelsey spotted him. At least, he thought she spotted him.
She didn’t say anything for several seconds, and when she did, her voice exuded confidence. “All right, I’ll sing one more.”
Frustrated that he was far more upset about seeing Kelsey again than she was him, he strode back over to the bar for another round.
“Another whiskey, please.” He barked out the order and with drink in hand, he turned around to face the direction the music was coming from. No wonder the woman had turned him down. No telling who she’d hook up with at a bar filled with this many cowboys. She could have her pick.
Kelsey was clearly in her element as she walked over to the board to choose her next song. Scanning the selections, her face lit up as she pointed to a song.
“Oh, wow. This brings back memories.” When the audience laughed, she continued. “My Aunt Mimi used to live here in Alpine before she passed on.” The room suddenly grew quiet as she reminisced. “She’s been gone several years. I didn’t know much about her, but I remember when she visited one time she sang this song to me. And it stuck. It’s still one of my favorites.”
