Long, Tall Texans: Calhoun (9 page)

Abby averted her eyes. "He's fine, I guess. He and Justin are both at home."

"No problems the other night after Calhoun got you home?'' Tyler persisted with a teasing smile.

"Only the usual lecture," Abby said. She managed a shaky smile as all four of them went down the street and entered a small cafeteria.

They were quickly seated, and the waitress brought four cups of coffee and a pitcher of cream.

Shelby cast a glance at Abby and laughed softly. "You devil," she teased.

"I just wanted to see how the other half lived," Abby sighed.

"I did my best to help you," Misty sighed. "On the other hand, weren't you lucky that it was Calhoun and not Justin who came after you? Calhoun is a little more easygoing."

"Not lately, he isn't," Abby said tautly.

At the mention of Justin, Shelby became quiet and shy. Abby felt sorry for her. Justin had never gotten over Shelby's defection. He probably never would, and Shelby had to know that.

"How is Justin?' Tyler asked casually. Too casually.

"He goes to work and comes home and goes to work and comes home," Abby said as they added cream and sugar to their coffee.

Misty yawned. "What an exciting life."

"He's lonely, I suppose," Abby said deliberately. "He never goes anywhere."

"I know somebody else like that," Tyler murmured with a hard glance at Shelby, who shifted restlessly in her seat.

"How's the horse business going?" Abby interrupted, posing the question to Tyler as she sipped her coffee.

"Going bust, I'm afraid," he said heavily. "Dad made some bad investments before he died. So far, I've managed to meet the payments. This month I defaulted." His face hardened. "I'm going to have to sell Geronimo."

"Oh, Tyler, I'm sorry." Abby grimaced. "He was your favorite."

"Mine, too," Shelby said with a sigh. "But we can't keep him and pay off Dad's debts. I don't suppose you'd want him, Abby?"

"I don't ride that well," Misty confessed.

"If I can talk Justin into it I'd like to have him," Abby said gently.

"Thank you, Abby, but that wouldn't be a good idea," Shelby replied. "Justin would go right through the roof if you asked him."

"Like a rocket," Tyler said, smiling at Abby. "No, we'll do it through an agent. We won't have any problems selling him. I'd rather know who he was going to, that's all. Some people want a horse strictly for breeding purposes. They look at dollars and cents, not at the horse itself."

"I've got a cousin in Texas," Misty piped up. "She's trying to hold on to the ranch all by herself. It's a horse ranch," she added. "Does that tell you anything?"

He smiled. "Enough. I'd appreciate it if you'd put her in touch with me."

"I'll give her your number, if you don't mind."

"Fine."

Lights gleamed in Shelby's black hair as she lifted the cup and finished her coffee. Abby wondered at her elfin beauty, and thought it strange that a man like Justin could attract such a lovely woman when he wasn't handsome or even very personable. Then Abby remembered how kind he'd been to her in Houston, and the way he'd supported her with Calhoun. On the other hand, maybe it wasn't so surprising that he could attract her. What was surprising was that he'd ever let her go. It made Abby uncomfortable, thinking about how two people could be so much in love one day and bitter enemies the next. Love didn't last, after all.

"Tyler, we'd better go. I've got to call Barry Holman about those bonds and securities we're selling," Shelby said gently. "I'm sorry. I'd love to stay and talk. We hardly ever see each other these days, and I guess Justin would burn the house to

the ground before he'd let me through the front door to visit you."

Tyler sighed. "He holds a grudge longer than any man I've ever known, that's for sure. And without reason."

"No," Shelby pleaded, her green eyes seeking his. "Please don't. Abby owes him her loyalty. Don't put her in the position of having to defend him."

"Sorry," he said, his green eyes glittering with controlled rage. Then he smiled at Abby. "There's a square dance at the dance hall next Friday night. How about going with me?"

Abby hesitated. Justin would be furious, and she didn't like to think about what Calhoun might say or do. He was so unpredictable lately. On the other hand, going out with Tyler would show Calhoun that she wasn't going to make eyes at him any more....

"Don't do it," Shelby pleaded. "Can't you see, it will only make things worse."

"For whom?" Tyler shot back. "Could the situation possibly be any worse for you? My God, you're living like a nun!"

Shelby put her napkin down with calm, steady fingers. "The way I live is no one's concern except my own."

She stood up. "Abby, Justin would come down on your head like Judgment. He isn't the man he was. I'd hate to see you caught in the cross fire."

"I'm not afraid of him, Shelby," Abby said gently. "Not much, anyway. I'm trying to get out from under Calhoun's thumb. Tyler and I would kind of be helping each other."

"You see," Tyler told his sister. "And here you were thinking I was just doing it to irritate your ex-fiance."

"Well, aren't you?" Shelby said challengingly."

He lifted his chin arrogantly. "Maybe."

"Sometimes I wonder if Mom and Dad didn't find you under a cabbage leaf," Shelby muttered.

"Not a chance," Misty mused, looking him up and down. "He's much too big."

"Tease," he said, flirting lazily with Misty as he did with most women. But Tyler was deep, like Shelby, and if there was

a special woman, nobody knew except himself. He was discreet about his love life.

"Justin used to laugh, you know," Shelby told Abby as they walked out together, with Misty and Tyler talking together ahead of them. "He wasn't always cold and hard and unyielding. Not until I gave him back his ring and made him bitter." She clutched her purse against her breasts. "Abby, don't hurt him," she pleaded, her eyes soft and gentle. "Don't let Tyler hurt him. He hides it, but he's so vulnerable...."

"I know that," Abby said gently. She touched the taller woman's arm, stung by the look in Shelby's eyes.

Yes, she was vulnerable, too, and Abby sensed that Shelby was still in love with Justin, even now.... "I'm sorry that things have gone so badly for both of you. Justin doesn't have women, you know. If you live like a nun, he lives like a monk. There isn't anyone."

Shelby's lower lip trembled. She looked away, her head tilting to stop a tear from escaping. "Thank you,"

she managed huskily.

Abby wanted to say more, but the others were waiting impatiently. "Ready to go?" she called brightly to Misty. "Okay. Can you keep it under ninety going home? Honest to goodness, I don't think that car knows any legal speeds!"

"I'm a good driver," Misty informed her haughtily. "You just come with me and I'll prove it. So long, Tyler.

Shelby."

"I'll pick you up at six on Friday," Tyler told Abby. "Wear something sexy."

She curtsied. "You'd better bring a baseball bat when you come to the door. And pray that Justin doesn't have a long cord for his chain saw."

"Dangerous games, my friend," Misty told Abby as they drove away. "Justin won't like it, and he's pretty frightening when he loses his temper."

"So is Tyler. But they won't come to blows. I'll make sure of it."

"And what will Calhoun say?" Misty added with a quick glance at Abby.

Abby felt herself going pale. She could feel all over again

the terrible crush of his mouth, the shattering intimacy of his body. She swallowed. "He won't care," she said coldly.

"Why do it? You're moving out. Isn't that enough of a show of independence for you?"

"No." Abby leaned back against the leather seat and closed her eyes. "But going out with Tyler will be."

Misty sighed and shook her head. "Well, I'll remember you in my prayers. Hang on." She pressed her foot down on the accelerator, and Abby wondered what the Guinness book of world records listed as the top land speed by a wild blonde in a little sports car. Whatever the record was, she thought as she held on for dear life, she'd bet that Misty could break it.

Calhoun was gone when Abby got home, and she spent a quiet afternoon watching television. Justin was around long enough to ask about the apartment and to approve Abby's choice of lodgings. But then he left to deal with some problem at the feedlot.

Abby dreaded the moment when Calhoun would return, because of what had happened that morning. She couldn't reconcile the man she knew with the stranger who'd been so rough with her. Boys had kissed her before, but lightly and carefully. Calhoun hadn't been careful, and he'd frightened her with his experience.

She'd never experienced adult passion before, and she didn't know what it was. But surely a man like Calhoun, with his love life, couldn't have been thrown off balance so completely by a twenty-year-old virgin.

He'd already said he didn't want her making eyes at him, so maybe he was showing her what she'd be inviting if she let him see her interest. She shivered. What a deft and accurate way he'd picked, if that were the case.

Supper was on the table and she and Justin were about to start serving themselves when Calhoun came in.

He sat down, looking worn and rumpled, and poured himself a cup of coffee.

He didn't speak to Abby, and she kept her head down so that he wouldn't notice her scarlet flush. It wasn't necessary, anyway, because he didn't even look at her. He started talking to Justin about a prospective new feedlot customer he'd found, and he kept the conversation going until they were having a second cup of coffee. Abby felt shut out and ignored. When Calhoun finally got up to leave and looked at her, she felt worse than she had in her life.

There was barely controlled anger in his eyes, mingled with something darker, something she didn't understand. She dropped her eyes and felt her heart race under his cold scrutiny. He acted as if she were the guilty one. Didn't he realize how he'd hurt her? That his treatment of her had been frightening?

"Hey," Justin said softly as the outside door opened and closed.

She looked up, her eyes faintly misty. "He didn't even speak to me," she whispered.

Justin leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke as he watched her. "He's been like that all day," he said. "While you were gone he stared out the window whenever I tried to talk to him. He didn't even hear me. Finally he lit a cigarette and went outside and just walked."

She stared at him. "Calhoun stopped smoking years ago."

He shrugged. "He's gone through a pack already. You keep telling me that there's nothing wrong, but my brother goes from bad to worse. Now either you tell me or I'll beat it out of him. I love him, but I've had enough silence."

Abby swallowed hard. Justin's tone was unnerving. But she couldn't tell him what Calhoun had done. Justin was unpredictable, and she didn't want him to rake Calhoun over the coals for something that in all honesty she'd helped to provoke.

Then she remembered what she'd said to Calhoun, and suddenly all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. She must have hurt Calhoun's pride with what she'd said and done after he'd kissed her so intimately. The more she thought about it, the worse she felt. For months she'd dreamed of having him kiss her. Then he had, and she'd been too frightened by his experienced bulldozer technique to even respond. She'd behaved like a child.

Justin lifted an eyebrow and waited expectantly. When she didn't say anything, he prodded, "Well?"

"I said some terrible things to him," she confessed finally. "I was jealous."

"And hurt," he said perceptively.

"And hurt," she sighed. Her blue-gray eyes met his dark ones. "Oh, Justin, he hates me. And I can't even blame him. I hurt his pride so badly that I don't imagine he'll ever talk to me again."

"Incredible, isn't it, that you could hurt him," he mused. "When women have been trying for years to get through that thick hide and never have."

"He's been responsible for me for a long time," she said quietly. "I guess it's hard for him to let go."

"Maybe," he said. He took another draw on the cigarette. "Maybe not. He's acting strangely lately."

"Maybe he's got the gout or something," she suggested with a slight smile.

"Or something."

She sipped her coffee so that she'd have something to do with her hands. She had to talk to Justin about Friday night, and it was only just dawning on her how difficult it was going to be.

"Justin, I have to tell you something."

His dark eyebrows lifted. "This sounds serious," he said with a faint smile.

"It is. And I hope you won't get mad at me."

His chin lifted. "Is it about the Jacobses?"

"I'm afraid so," she sighed. She looked at her coffee, because his eyes were getting darker by the second. "Tyler asked me to a square dance Friday night, and I said I'd go." She clenched her teeth, waiting for the outburst. When it didn't come, she looked up. He was watching her, but without any particular anger. She continued quickly, "I don't have to let him pick me up here. I can meet him at the dance. In fact,

Shelby did her best to stop him from asking me, because she didn't want to upset you."

Something passed across his face, too fleeting to identify. But for one wild second his eyes were soft and quiet and full of wonder. Then it was gone, and he stared down at his glowing cigarette. "Did she?"

"She didn't want Tyler to make any trouble," Abby said gently.

"It's been six years," he said after a minute, his face quiet and oddly gentle. "Six long, empty years. I've hated her, and I've hated the family. I guess I could go on hating them until we're all dead. But it wouldn't change anything. It's all over and done with, a long time ago."

"She's so lovely," Abby said.

Justin winced, and there were memories in his dark eyes, in his taut face. He crushed out his cigarette roughly. "Tyler can pick you up here," he said abruptly, and got to his feet. "I won't give him a hard time."

She looked up as he passed by her chair and then down at her cup, thoughtfully. "She lives like a nun, you know. Tyler says she hasn't dated anyone for years."