Heart of Texas Vol. 2

  He could feel her excitement growing. Five numbers later she had only one open space. She needed O-sixty-four. Jane closed her eyes, propped her elbows on the table and crossed the fingers on both hands.

  Two numbers later Lloyd called, “O-sixty-four.”

  Together Cal and Jane screamed, “BINGO!”

  Cal hadn’t meant to yell, but he was damn near as excited as Jane. She leaped to her feet and hugged Ellie and then Cal, as though this two hundred dollars was two hundred thousand.

  “Congratulations,” Cal said. He couldn’t help being delighted. Jane’s excitement was contagious.

  “Two hundred dollars,” she breathed, as if this was more than she’d seen in her entire life. Lloyd person ally counted out the money, placing the bills in her hand.

  Clutching them in her fist, Jane wildly hugged Ellie again.

  Ellie laughed. “I told you that you’d like this game.”

  “I love this game.” Jane pressed the money to her heart. “I’m gonna buy me a real Texas outfit. You want to come along and make sure I get what I need?”

  “You’re on,” Ellie replied as Jane tucked the money into her purse.

  Afterward Cal and Glen stopped and greeted their parents.

  “Mom, Dad, this is my friend Jane Dickinson,” Ellie said, saving Cal the embarrassment of introducing her and then explaining that technically she wasn’t his date. He was grateful that Ellie had taken the initiative; otherwise his parents might get the wrong idea. His mother didn’t need any encouragement to match him up.

  “Good to see you dating again,” his father said, blind siding him.

  He’d expected his mother to comment on Jane’s being with him, but not his father. “This isn’t a date,” Cal felt obliged to correct him, and not entirely for his dad’s sake, either. It saved Jane the need to correct his father’s assumption.

  “Congratulations on your win, Jane,” Mary said. It was easy to read what his mother was thinking—from the look in her eyes, she was already envisioning grand children.

  After exchanging pleasantries and saying goodbye to his parents, they walked back to the Chili Pepper where they’d left their vehicles. Glen opened the truck door for Ellie and helped her in.

  “I had a wonderful time,” Jane said, her blue eyes bright with pleasure. “My best since moving here. Thanks so much for including me.”

  “How’re you getting home?” Glen asked when he apparently realized she hadn’t come in a car.

  “I walked. It’s only a few blocks.”

  “Would you like a ride?” he asked. Cal probably would have offered but was pleased that his brother had done it first. If Glen hadn’t, he’d be obliged, and he didn’t want her to think he was seeking out her company.

  “I appreciate the offer, but I feel like walking. Thank you, though.”

  Glen climbed into his truck and backed out of the parking space as Ellie waved farewell.

  Cal opened his pickup door, prepared to leave himself. “Sure you don’t want a ride?” he said, trying not to sound reluctant.

  “Positive. Good night, and thanks for dinner. That was really sweet of you.”

  Cal stood waiting by the open door until Jane had crossed the main inter section. Only then did he climb into his truck and start the engine. Checking the rearview mirror for traffic, he caught sight of Jane ambling down the street. He sighed, silently cursing himself. He didn’t feel right leaving her to walk home on her own. She might not be his date or even his friend, but damn it all, he felt responsible for her safety. Especially when she was walking around with her bingo winnings in her purse. Promise didn’t have a crime problem, but it didn’t hurt to be cautious.

  Cal cut the engine and climbed out of his truck, then raced after her.

  She glanced up at him in surprise when he reached her. “I’ll walk you home,” he said gruffly, matching his steps to hers.

  She blinked as if she wasn’t sure what to say. “Thank you.”

  He shoved his fingers into the small pockets at the top of his jeans. They walked in silence, neither of them making an effort to talk. Two blocks off Main Street, Cal was glad he’d decided to escort her home. The street light on Fourth Avenue had burned out, and the sidewalk was darker than a bowl of black bean soup.

  “Perhaps you’d better give me your arm,” Cal suggested halfway down the block.

  She did, and he tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow. Oddly, he enjoyed doing this small thing for her.

  “That’s something you and Ellie and Glen forgot to mention,” Jane said suddenly.

  “What’s that?”

  “The men in Texas are real gentlemen.”

  “My momma didn’t raise no Bubbas,” Cal said, joking, and they both laughed. It felt good to laugh, and Cal had done more of that in the past few hours than he had in months.

  “Listen,” he said impulsively as they neared the small house behind the health clinic, “are you serious about learning to ride?”

  “Very much so.”

  “All right, then I’ll teach you.”

  “You will?”

  Cal wasn’t sure what had prompted the offer, but since he’d blurted it out, he couldn’t very well back down now.

  The light from her porch illuminated her face. She looked like the original California girl with her short sun-bleached hair and eyes as blue as the Pacific. Already Cal was calling himself a damned fool and he hadn’t even given Jane her first lesson. Maybe someone should offer to give him a lesson—on how to keep his stupid mouth shut.

  SAVANNAH SMITH HAD MADE the appointment to see Dr. Jane Dickinson Tuesday morning. She hadn’t been feeling well the past few weeks and thought it was time for a general checkup. Besides, she had her suspicions.

  In the past half year her life had under gone a number of drastic changes. First and foremost, she’d met Laredo; they’d fallen in love and were now married. About the time Laredo had come into her life, her brother Richard had reappeared after a six-year absence. Thanks to her influence, Grady had allowed Richard to stay at the ranch, which was more than charitable of him, seeing as their brother had stolen from them—and that Grady’s inclination had been to turn him away. Apparently she’d still had some lessons to learn regarding Richard. Painful ones.

  Savannah had desperately wanted to believe he’d changed, but then, so had Grady. Against his better judgment, her brother had given Richard opportunity after opportunity to prove himself. In the end, when he disappeared with Grady’s truck, it was exactly what she’d learned to expect. Only this time he didn’t steal only from them; he’d also charged thousands of dollars’ worth of goods and services in town. It was a matter of pride and principle to Grady that those bills be paid.

  The merchants in Promise had accepted the charges because of the Westons’ good name, and Grady wouldn’t let Richard disgrace it or ruin a hundred years of excellent credit. The money had come out of the profits from selling off the herd; it was money that could have been spent in other ways, money that would have benefited the Weston ranch, the Yellow Rose.

  Savannah’s bout of ill health had started shortly after Richard’s sudden departure. She’d done her best to hide it from her husband, but Laredo knew something was wrong because he’d been the one to suggest she make the appointment. Sitting in the examination room now, Savannah silently prayed that the diagnosis was what she suspected.

  The door to the examination room opened and Dr. Dick in son walked in. It was a bit un settling to have a doctor younger than she was. Particulary after all those years of seeing old Doc Cummings.

  “Hello,” Dr. Dickinson said, smiling. She held out her hand and Savannah shook it. This must be a big-city thing, she thought, because generally women in rural Texas didn’t shake hands.

  “I’m pleased to meet you,” Savannah answered. This was their first actual meeting, although they’d seen each other at various events.

  The physician sat down on the chair across from her. “You haven’t been fe
eling well?”

  Savannah nodded. “My stomach’s been queasy, usually in the morning and often late in the afternoon, too.”

  “Any other symptoms?”

  “I’m so tired lately. The other night it was all I could do to stay up past eight, which is ridiculous.”

  The doctor made a notation on her chart. “Anything else?”

  “Well…yes. My period’s two weeks late.”

  This information was written on the chart, as well. “I understand you were recently married.”

  Savannah nodded. “In June.”

  “Are you using any form of birth control?”

  Savannah found such talk excruciatingly embarrassing. “Uh, usually,” she answered, blushing hotly.

  “I’d like to do a urine test,” the doctor said.

  “Okay. So do you think I might be pregnant?”

  Dr. Dickinson’s answering smile was warm. “You’re showing all the symptoms.”

  Savannah let out a deep breath as that confirmation settled over her. Pregnant. So soon? She’d known it was the likely reason for her nausea and tiredness—not to mention the missed period. But…pregnant? Somehow, it didn’t seem possible, and yet she supposed it was inevitable considering their haphazard methods of birth control.

  After a brief physical examination Savannah provided a urine sample. Waiting for the test results seemed to take forever when in reality it was only minutes. Savannah’s emotions ran the entire spectrum. She felt mostly an over whelming sense of joy—a joy so deep and profound it was difficult not to leap up and shout with it. Simultaneously she was aware that the timing could hardly be worse. She and Laredo had spent much of the summer drawing up plans for their own home. Every penny they’d managed to pull together had gone into the project. Now wasn’t exactly the ideal time to announce she was going to have a baby.

  The door opened and the doctor returned. “Congratulations, Savannah. You’re going to be a mother.”

  Savannah’s hands flew to her mouth and tears welled in her eyes.

  “How do you feel about this pregnancy?” the physician asked.

  “I…it’s a surprise. I mean, it is and it isn’t. I realize it shouldn’t be, but…” She realized she was babbling. “I’m happy. Very happy.”

  “I’d like to set up a series of appointments for you, plus I’d like to start you on a regimen of vitamins.”

  “All right.”

  “Good,” Dr. Dickinson said. “So I’ll see you in a month.” Then she gently patted Savannah’s back and left to attend to the next patient.

  Savannah’s head continued to buzz as she drove back to the ranch. To her amazement Laredo was waiting for her when she pulled into the yard. He hurried over to the truck and opened the door the second she’d parked.

  “What did the doctor have to say?” he asked before she had time to climb out. His eyes revealed his anxiety.

  “Oh, Laredo, you aren’t going to believe this. We’re pregnant!”

  “Pregnant?”

  “Oh, please tell me you’re glad. Because I am. I swear I could explode!”

  They walked into the kitchen and Laredo pulled out a chair and sat down. “Pregnant,” he said again, as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

  Savannah nodded, studying this man she loved beyond all reason. As she knew it would, a slow easy smile spread across his face. “Pregnant,” he said more loudly this time. “My wife’s going to have a baby! Just wait until my mother hears about this.”

  Savannah smiled. Their love was the most profound wonder of her life. And as she’d now discovered, it was only the beginning.

  Her husband leaped to his feet and caught her in his arms. “We’re going to have a baby!”

  “I know the timing’s bad…”

  “The timing’s perfect. You’re perfect. Life’s perfect.” He threw back his head and laughed, and then he kissed her.

  “Hey, you two,” Grady said when he stepped into the kitchen. “What’s going on?”

  CHAPTER 3

  FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JANE had come to Texas, she felt a sense of belonging. Friends made all the difference. Her evening out with Ellie, Glen and Cal had cheered her immensely, and within a few days she’d followed all their instructions. She had a Texas bumper sticker, a Willie Nelson cassette in her car, and she routinely listened to the Brewster country-and-western station. A shopping spree with her bingo winnings plus a chunk of her savings had netted her an outfit Annie Oakley would’ve been proud to wear. Not only that, her first riding lesson was scheduled for Friday afternoon. If she got any more Texan, she wouldn’t recognize herself!

  Thursday-afternoon traffic in the clinic was slow; she hadn’t seen a patient in more than two hours. Attaching her beeper to her waist band, she headed toward Dovie’s antique shop, taking the rag doll Maggie Daniels had brought her. Every time she entered the office the old-fashioned doll smiled at her with its faded pink lips, looking somehow forlorn, as though it—she—wanted to pour out her sawdust heart. If anyone could help Jane locate the doll’s rightful owner, it was Dovie.

  Her friend seemed to be experiencing a lull in business, too. Dovie’s face broke into a welcoming smile when Jane walked into the shop.

  “Jane, how are you?” Dovie asked, rushing over to hug her. She had to skirt wooden tables and dressers and chairs, all draped and dangling with jewelry and scarves. Jane was impressed by the quantity and quality of Dovie’s wares.

  “I’m terrific,” she answered.

  Her arm around Jane’s waist, Dovie led her to the Victorian Tea Room and poured them each a cup of fragrant lemon tea. When she’d finished, she asked about Friday night’s dinner.

  Jane talked nonstop for ten minutes, relating the high lights of the evening. She mentioned winning at bingo and that Cal had walked her home and volunteered to teach her to ride.

  “Cal?” Dovie sounded shocked. “Cal Patterson?”

  “I know. I was surprised myself. At first I could tell he wasn’t thrilled to be paired up with me. He seemed to think I’d finagled this match making myself, but after a while, he was fine.” She grinned. “You could say he under went an attitude adjustment.” She considered Cal a gentleman in an age when chivalry was all but dead. He’d gone out of his way to escort her home, out of regard for her safety. That certainly hadn’t been required, but Jane appreciated it. In the days since, she’d thought quite a lot about him.

  Dovie’s eyes twinkled with delight. “You’re exactly what that young man needs.”

  “I met his parents, too.”

  “Mary and Phil are two of my dearest friends,” Dovie told her.

  Jane sipped her tea, then lifted the bag with the doll onto her lap. “Actually I have a reason for stopping by other than to let you know how everything went last Friday.” She opened the bag and carefully withdrew the fragile toy.

  Dovie’s eyes widened when she saw it. “Where in heaven’s name did you find that?”

  Jane hesitated. “I’m not at liberty to say.”

  Dovie’s brows rose a fraction of an inch.

  “I will tell you that someone brought it to me—feeling a lot of guilt. Apparently this person took the doll and shouldn’t have, and for reasons I can’t understand is unable to return it. I was hoping you might know who the rightful owner is.”

  Dovie turned the antique in her hands and thoroughly examined how it was constructed. “I’d swear it’s au then tic.”

  “You mean this is a real antique?” Jane asked, wondering where and how six-year-old Maggie could have come by it.

  “She’s real and probably worth quite a lot of money.”

  “You’re joking.” The doll was ready to fall apart.

  “I’m not.” Dovie gave the toy back to Jane with some hesitation. “Are you sure you can’t tell me the name of the person who gave you the doll?”

  Jane shook her head. “I wish I could, but I’d be breaking a confidence.”

  Dovie accepted her answer. “Do you have any idea
where this unnamed person got the doll?”

  “Didn’t say.” In retrospect, Jane realized there were any number of questions she should have asked Maggie. But the child had been in quite a state, sick with regret and worry. At the time it’d seemed more important to reassure the little girl than to worry about the doll’s owner.

  “There’s only one place I can imagine finding anything like this,” Dovie said, her look thoughtful. A frown slowly formed, furrowing her brow.

  “Where’s that?” Jane asked.

  “It doesn’t seem possible…but there’s been talk about it lately and I have to wonder. The doll might have come from…Bitter End.”

  It was Jane’s turn to lift her eyebrows. She’d never heard of the town and was fairly certain she would have remembered one with such an unusual name. “Bitter End?”

  “That’s the name the settlers chose more than a hundred and thirty years ago, after the Civil War. If I remember my history correctly, the journey across Indian territory and through the war-ravaged South was harrowing. Not a family came through the trip un scathed. Parents lost children and children lost parents from Indian attacks and disease. By the time they reached the Texas Hill Country, their faith had nearly been destroyed.”

  “Times were so difficult back then,” Jane said, remembering that the now-common child hood diseases were often the source of death.

  “Those pioneers faced hardship after hardship,” Dovie continued. “Overcome with bitterness, the town’s founding fathers decided to name their community Bitter End.”

  “I’ve never heard of it.”

  “Few have,” Dovie said. “It’s a ghost town now.”

  “Really? You’ve been there?” Jane asked, her curiosity keen. She’d never dreamed something like that existed in this vicinity.

  “Have I been to Bitter End?” Dovie’s laugh was abrupt. “I’m sorry to say I haven’t. I’d like to and perhaps one day I will. The only reason I even know about it is because of something my father said years ago.”

  “I’d like to go there,” Jane said. She’d always been a history buff, and visiting a ghost town would be a wonderful adventure.