Nope, she said. But Ill loan it to you if youll help me get these supplies under cover before it rains.
Deal, he said, and walked toward the passenger side of her old Ford.
In the back, Hamilton, she ordered. I dont want mud all over my seats. She fought the urge to add or you near enough to strangle me. Her grandmother told her once that there was an old cemetery, way back on Davis land, where all the deaths were recorded on headstones. Died in childbirth. Death from cholera. Died in accident. Death by Hamilton.
Besides, she didnt have time to clean all the property listings off her passenger seat. Her mobile office was always a mess. Four mornings a week, the farm truck was her business vehicle.
He swung up into the bed of the truck with the ease of a man whod done it many times and she started backing up before he was seated. The sooner she was home safe, the better. Shed loan him the pickup and tell him to just leave the keys in it. He could cross the pasture and walk back to his place easily enough.
The road was bumpy between her land and his, but she flew toward home, not much caring if the man bounced out or not. Her people had always hated Hamiltons. They told stories about how mean they were and even though shed been told they were all dead, she felt it her ancestral duty to hate this new one.
So, why was she loaning him her truck?
Dakota shook her head. It was the neighborly thing to do. Having a grandmother with Apache blood and an Irish grandfather had messed her up for life.
A guy shed dated a few years back broke up with her because he said she had Apache skills with a knife and an Irish temper. She almost hit him for insulting both sides of her family, but then she would have proved his point. Shed told him this was the twenty-first century and she was a skilled chef like her sister, which wasnt true, but it sounded good. He left before she cooked him anything and proved herself a liar, as well. She heard him mumbling something about being afraid to sleep beside her for fear hed be carved and thin sliced if he snored. Hed called her hotheaded just before he gunned the engine and shot out of her life.
Dakota gripped the steering wheel, realizing the old boyfriend had been right. She did have a temper, but with a Hamilton riding in the back of her truck, now didnt seem the time for self-analysis.
She could be nice. Shed loan Hamilton the truck, and when he brought it back shed tell him to never step foot on Davis land again. Simple enough.
When she slid to a stop a few feet from the kitchen door of her place, she glanced back. He was still there and raindrops were spatting against her windshield.
She jumped out and ran to haul the boxes of supplies to the cover of the porch.
To his credit, he did his share to help. More than his share, actually, because he carried a double load with each trip.
The guy was strong and obviously well built. And a biker. Black leather jacket. Leather pants hugging his legs. Boots to his knees. His cowboy ancestors were probably rolling over in their graves.
In a few minutes they had the boxes on the covered porch and the rain started pouring down in sheets.
We made it. She laughed. Thanks. No supplies got wet.
Im glad I could help. Im already soaked so the rain wont bother me.
She decided he didnt sound like he meant it about how glad he was to help. Maybe it was the tone in his voiceit didnt sound right without a Texas twang. She frowned at him, wondering what northern state hed come from.
He looked down at her with his gray wolf eyes and added, If you got wet, you might shrink and then youd be about elf size.
Dakota studied him a moment. No obvious signs of insanity. You dont have many friends, do you, Hamilton? She tossed him her key. Park the truck at the turnoff on my land. You wont have as far to walk. Leave the keys in the glove box.
Arent you afraid someone will steal it?
Nope. Nobody but you.
He nodded and disappeared into the downpour.
Dakota straightened to her five-foot-two height and frowned. Sounds just like what a Hamilton would say, she mumbled, thinking it was obvious the Hamiltons had been the ones to start the feud.
Elf size. No one had ever called her that.
CHAPTER THREE
LAUREN BRIGMAN STOOD in the shadows of hundred-year-old cottonwoods planted to slow the wind off the open plains. The lights of town were nothing more than a glow of tea candles in the distance.
The nights breath rattled the dried leaves in the trees as it had a dozen years ago. She felt a hint of old fear creep over her as a memory circled in her mind.
Strange how you live thousands of days, thousands of nights but only a few live in your mind, in your heart, as clear as the moment they happened.
She stared at the home her high school friends had called the Gypsy House. An old woman whod died there decades ago was almost a skeleton before anyone had come to check on her. After her passing, the house was left to rot and became the setting for ghost stories told around campfires.
Finally, the grandson of the old woman, Yancy Gray, moved to Crossroads and found himself drawn to the place. Hed discovered he owned the house and had completely remodeled it. Yancy had painted the outside a cream color with shutters the burnt orange of sunsets last glow. Hed enlarged the second floor and landscaped beautifully.
Yet in Laurens mind, the house was still abandoned and rotting, as it looked when she was fifteen. Shed danced with death that night twelve years ago; they all had. Tim OGrady, Reid Collins, Lucas Reyes, and her. Just four kids walking home, looking for something to do, hoping for an adventure they could brag about at school.
Three boys and her, the youngest, the only girl, all in their teens. Sometimes she felt as if theyd been bound together by fear and the lie they all kept after that night. Shed never be free of the memory. One day shed be bent over with age, but shed still come to this spot every year and remember what had happened.
Footsteps played a rapid tap on the wet pavement behind her as thunder rumbled above.
Lauren stepped farther into the shadows and watched. There was no mistaking Reid Collinss quick, confident step. He might be twenty-eight now and rich, thanks to a trust fund from grandparents and a ranch a few miles from town, but there was still a bit of the little boy in him. Spoiled, arrogant, and handsome. Word was that hed be running for mayor of Crossroads in the fall with his eye on the Texas State Senate in ten years, but Reid would never have her vote.
As far as she knew, he never finished college or anything else hed started. Her father, the towns sheriff, told Lauren a few months ago that the only way to kill an improvement project in the county was to put Reid in charge. Hed never get around to the planning meeting, much less completion.
The tapping of his boots stopped a few feet in front of the cottonwoods. I know youre in there, Lauren. That long, blond hair of yours glows in the dark. You might as well come out. His laugh wasnt quite real. Too polished, too practiced.
She slowly stepped onto the road. I didnt think youd be in town, Reid. Did they run out of parties in the big city? He didnt look entirely sober, but she didnt mention it. Pop said they canceled the city council meeting because you had to be in Austin today.
I just got back. The Governors Balls are not what they used to be. He smiled as if really looking at her for a change. You know, Lauren, I miss our once-a-year dates from college. You were the only girl I took out now and then that I didnt sleep with. His gaze traveled down her long, slim body.
She didnt miss him. Those dates had been torture. Putting up with his loud, self-centered fraternity brothers, trying to act like she was having a good time watching them brag. Hed said once that he liked having a tall blonde on his arm, like she was an accessory.
She and Reid were from the same town; their dads had been friends, so shed gone out with Reid Collins a few times. She felt sure half the people in town wanted them to marry, but shed never match with him. She loved learning almost as dearly as he loved partying.
I was a perfect gentleman. He bragged as he moved closer, almost nose to nose with her. Never even made a pass.
Youre right, but Im surprised you remembered I was there. Werent you engaged two or three times while you were at Tech?
Two. The third one was all in her head. Once I came home to run the ranch, I was so bored I almost married the first girl who came along. Big mistake. Shes still spreading trash about me. He tried to loop his arm over her shoulder but she stepped away. Youre looking good, Lauren. Aging well.
Im twenty-seven, Reid, not exactly a centenarian.
I know, but you wouldnt believe how some women change after college. I went to the planning meeting for my ten-year high school reunion and some of the kids I graduated with had slipped into middle age. I thought one girl must have sent her mother to the meeting. He slurred a few of his words.
Lauren didnt want to talk to Reid Collins, not ever, much less on the anniversary of the accident at the old Gypsy House. I just came out to remember what happened twelve years ago. How about you?
Collins looked around, as if he had no idea what she was talking about. As far as she knew, hed never mentioned the night of the accident to any of the three who were with him. Hed simply taken credit for saving everyone that night. An account none of the others shared.
She smiled, wondering why theyd silently watched him play the hero. The school even had a pep rally for him, and the mayor had given him a key to the city. Lauren, Lucas and Tim remained silent and let the lie about that night stand, even though the truth wouldnt hurt anyone now.
I spotted your car at the truck stop and decided to walk off the long drive. Thought you might have wandered down this direction, Reid said, a bit too loudly, almost as though he thought someone might be eavesdropping and he wanted them to hear him. Strange we meet here at almost midnight. The people in this town are like ants. They disappear as soon as it gets dark.
Maybe they dont disappear. Maybe you just dont notice them.
You want to go for a drink? he asked suddenly, as if the timer in his brain went off and it was time for another.
No. She didnt bother with a reason.
He rocked on his heels and went back to their conversation. I doubt anyone except you, Lauren, remembers that night we got trapped in the old Gypsy House. Ancient history. Four kids almost died when they ventured into an abandoned house. Why dont you do an article in that little online paper of yours about it?
You really think no one remembers? Twelve years ago tonight was when Tim was crippled. He still limps a bit, so hes not likely to forget.
Oh, yeah, thats right. I was hurt too, you know. Reid backed away a few feet, as though not wanting her to see him so clearly. My ankle still gives me trouble when I play tennis. He rushed on as if needing to change the subject. My last stepmother put in a court and a pool at the ranch headquarters to make sure I exercise it regularly.
How are your father and his new bride? Lauren had no idea if this was number five or six.
Reid shrugged. I dont know. They mostly travel. She hates the ranch so Dad bought her a town house in Dallas and she owns a vineyard outside of Paris, thanks to her last husband. Dad lucked out marrying this one. He plays golf and she shops while theyre in the States, and who knows what they do in Paris? I run the ranch, you know, have for years. Its a real headache. Dad and I would both like to be rid of the place. He sold several pastures before he left town two years ago.
She started walking and he fell into step. Neither mentioned the light rain.
Why dont you drive out some weekend? Its only a few miles, but it might feel like a retreat after living in this town. We could talk about our college days, maybe watch a Tech game. Ive got the whole fall season recorded. Man, I miss those days at Tech. The games, the parties, the carefree life.
She smiled. He hadnt mentioned the classes. You could invite Tim OGrady and Lucas Reyes to come too. Maybe we could talk about the night the old house almost swallowed us.
Sure. He dragged the one word out. Only, come to think of it, Im snowed under with work right now. Weve got problems with some of the old cowhands on the spread that should have been fired years ago. My father always let them run the place, but Im changing things, modernizing. Lands good for more than running cattle.
Lauren stopped listening to Reids excuses as she spotted a lean shadow of a man moving toward them. His head was down, his collar turned up to the wind as he limped along. There was no mistaking the shaggy red hair always in need of a cut or the dark auburn beard.
Tim! Lauren bolted toward him. Youre home.
The shadow man looked up and straightened. A moment later she was in his arms and he was swinging her around.
I figured youd be out here, L. Tim held her tightly as only a lifelong friend can. Did you have to return to the scene, like me? I figure once a year its okay to let the memory roll over me.
She pulled away. Reid came out too.
With you? Tim whispered.
Lauren shook her head and Tim faced Reid. Hello, Collins. Havent seen you in a while. Word is you dont spend much more time on the ranch than your dad did. A Collins ranch without any Collinses. Maybe you should think of another name for the place.
Reid offered his hand but his words were colder than the night air. Good to see you, Tim. Still writing those little invisible books? Ebooks, right? Any money in fiction made of air?
Tim turned back to Lauren as if he hadnt seen Reids hand, but she could feel the tension between the two. Theyd been best friends once, before the accident. High school football players, sixteen and invincible. She remembered theyd both had their football jackets on that night. Tim never played or wore the jacket again that she knew about.
My books make more money than his invisible cattle, Im guessing, Tim whispered to Lauren.
Forcing down a laugh, she linked her arm around each mans elbow and marched on toward town. The less time these two had to talk, the better.
It had been twelve years since theyd walked this road together. Theyd grown up, theyd grown apart, but in many ways nothing had changed. Tim was still the dreamer, Reid was still full of himself, and she was still waiting to start her life.
As they neared town, she noticed all their cars were scattered around the parking lot of the fancy new truck stop with lights so bright Lauren was sure it could be seen from space. Years ago, the corner where two highways crossed had been only a little gas station/convenience store with a trailer park in back. Now the truck stop took over the block and never closed.