A Match Made In Texas (8 page)

Some of the kids and parents were singing a song as the tractor pulled them along the darkened road. The moon had cooperated and shone full and bright.

"Hey, Kels! When are we going to eat? I'm starved!" Amelia called from her seat in the trailer.

"It shouldn't be long now," Kelsey said. "We're going to stop at the park overlooking the canyon."

The trailer slowed down, pulled to the side of the road, then came to a complete stop.

"Am I good or what?" Kelsey said with a grin. She hopped up from the floor of the trailer. "We're going to cook the hotdogs here," she announced to the group. "I thought it would be neat seeing the canyon in the moonlight." Climbing down from the trailer, she immediately began overseeing the building of the fires in the barbeque pits.

Theresa shook her head in wonder as she started to rise to her feet. She was surprised when Austin offered a hand. Gingerly, she placed her hand in his. His grasp was warm and hard. He let go as soon as she was standing.

"I'm always a little in awe of Kelsey," she said, studying his profile. "Her leadership abilities are amazing."

Austin nodded, watching his daughter direct her troops. "And she's modest, too," he said, rolling his eyes.

For a moment, Theresa forgot to breathe. Was Austin McCade actually being playful with her? His lips had lost their grimness. The hard lines of his face had relaxed. It was the first time she had seen this side of him.

Theresa smiled. "So I noticed. Has she always been like this?"

When his attention focused on her again, the remote look returned to his eyes. "Kelsey has always been . . . Kelsey." He turned on his heel and walked away.

Theresa barely refrained from stamping her foot. She had seen a glimmer of warmth in Austin, but he had doused it before letting it take hold. Before letting her get too close.

"Can you give me a hand, Miss Rogers?" Patti Garrison stood with a half dozen packages of wieners and hotdog buns in her arms.

"Sure." Theresa took some of the load from her. Glad to have something to occupy her thoughts and hands, she joined the parents and kids in the preparations.

All through the evening, she made sure to stay away from Austin. She tried not to be too obvious. When Austin helped grill the wieners, she set the tables. When he passed out the drinks, she helped the kids fix their hotdogs. The last thing she wanted was to become the topic of the week on the town's infamous grapevine. She hoped no one had noticed the little exchange on the trailer earlier. Or the incident at the soccer game last Saturday.

Keeping her distance from Austin became a fine dance. The group wasn't large, the space somewhat confined. The park was small, with only four cement picnic tables and two grills. One tall pole with a bright light illuminated the area. To the side, there was a ring of large rocks. One of the fathers had a fire ready to roast marshmallows after everyone had eaten their fill of hotdogs.

Theresa sat with the Garrisons for the meal, barely escaping Kelsey's manipulations to seat her next to Austin. Kelsey had given in with good grace, but there was an odd sparkle in her blue eyes. Theresa had the feeling Kelsey hadn't truly conceded the victory. She would wait for another chance to throw her teacher and father together.

If Theresa hadn't been one of the victims, she would have been amused at her favorite student's strategies and maneuvers. The little girl was determined, to say the least. Just exactly what she had in mind, Theresa wasn't sure. But she knew that it boded ill for Austin. He wanted nothing to do with the kind of relationship Kelsey was trying to engineer.

When everyone finished eating, Theresa helped clean up. Some of the dads started putting marshmallows on skewers and the kids flocked around the fire.

Amelia Jackson ran up and tugged on Theresa's arm. "Have you seen the canyon yet, Miss Rogers? It's beautiful in the moonlight."

"I will after I finish cleaning up. Run along and I'll join you in a minute."

"But I want to be the one to show you." Amelia turned to her mother. "Aren't you nearly finished? Can't Miss Rogers come now?"

Allison Jackson smiled at her daughter. "All right, pumpkin. Go on, Theresa. There's not much left to do."

"If you're sure?" Theresa gathered up discarded plates and napkins to throw away.

"I'm sure. Go have fun. It's not often you get to be with the kids in a non-school setting."

"You're right. Thanks," Theresa said with a smile. "Come on, Amelia." She tossed the garbage in the barrel and followed the little girl down a winding path.

"Most everyone looked at the canyon while the hotdogs were cooking," Amelia said over her shoulder. "I noticed you were busy and probably didn't get the chance to see it. I've only seen it a couple of times in the moonlight myself. It's really cool."

Theresa concentrated on her footing as she listened to Amelia talk a mile a minute. Usually, her student was quiet as a mouse. She rarely raised her hand in class.

"Be careful," Theresa said. "These gravel steps are steep and shallow."

The path was dark and the rocks slippery. Huge mesquite trees formed a canopy overhead, the moonlight causing great shadows on the ground below.

"I will," Amelia said. "We're nearly there. We can stand on the ridge and see the canyon for miles. At least, you can in the daytime."

A couple of minutes later, they came out of the trees. Low sagebrush and cactus surrounded the trail. The canyon stood in quiet majesty. Stars hung in the black sky, the moon a giant ball suspended above.

"Wow," Theresa said. "I've always thought the canyon impressive. But this . . . this is magnificent. Thanks for sharing it with me, Amelia."

"I knew you'd like it." The little girl smiled and rocked back and forth on the heels of her feet. She stuffed her hands in her jeans, then glanced back toward the trees. "Um, I'm going to go get a drink. I'll be right back."

"I'll come with you."

"No! I mean . . . you can't really appreciate the beauty of the canyon in only two minutes. I won't be long." Amelia retraced her steps along the trail, walking quickly, almost running.

Theresa shook her head. She didn't know what had gotten into Amelia. Turning toward the canyon, she took a deep breath. The air was nippy. Good thing she was wearing a heavy jacket. She'd wait about five minutes. If Amelia hadn't returned by then, she would start back.

A slight commotion on the pathway sounded on the cold breeze. Someone must be coming to view the canyon. She watched the archway beneath the mesquite trees, ready to greet whoever it was with a smile.

Her heart missed a beat when Austin McCade stepped into the clearing. He looked startled to find her there. After surveying the area, his eyes narrowed.

"I thought I made it clear about using Kelsey to arrange meetings with me? I thought I made it clear what would happen if you didn't stay away from me." He walked toward her, stalking her like prey.

Theresa didn't like the look in his eye or the tone of his voice. A sliver of panic whisked along her nerve endings. There was nowhere to turn. Nowhere to go. The path ended abruptly, dropping down to the canyon below. She didn't think Austin would actually hurt her. He was civilized, after all. At least, she hoped he was.

"I didn't arrange this." No way would she tell him who was responsible for the meeting. For some reason she didn't want to betray Kelsey. "And I've been trying to keep away from you all evening." She lifted her chin. Her heart was thumping like mad.

"Obviously, you haven't tried hard enough," he said. "Here we are.
All alone.
In the moonlight." He stood close to her, his hot breath steaming in the cold air.

"We won't be alone for long," Theresa said, resisting the urge to step back. "Amelia will return any minute. She went to get a drink."

"Kelsey hauled Amelia away to sing around the campfire. She won't be back anytime soon."

"Then maybe we should go back, too. People will wonder where we are." Theresa tried to move around him.

"Not so fast." He grabbed her shoulders and jerked her roughly against him.

Through the thick layers of their jackets, Theresa felt the powerful heat from his body. The hard muscles pressed into her soft curves. A thrill chased down her spine. Was he going to kiss her?

"I want you," he said, his voice harsh. "I don't want to, but I do. I haven't wanted a woman like this since Deborah. I shouldn't want anyone like this. She was my wife, damn it! I loved her." He gave her a little shake.

"I'm sorry." Theresa tried to pull away, but his grip tightened.

"No, you're not," he said. "You've been going to great lengths to throw us together. You want me as much as I want you."

He heard her gasp as his mouth closed over hers. Not able to resist the soft feminine body in his arms, Austin kissed her hungrily. He felt starved for this woman. Their passionate embrace a few weeks before had fueled his imagination and desire. He wanted more. Had to have more of her. And God, she tasted good. Felt good. He wanted to forget why he shouldn't be kissing her. He just wanted to lose himself in her. In the sensations carrying them along.

For a moment, Theresa held herself stiffly, her hands fisted against Austin's chest. His assault on her mouth left her feeling weak. A liquid fire simmered in the pit of her stomach. The kiss was all consuming, leaving little doubt what he wanted from her. His tongue mated with hers, plunging in again and again.

Theresa twined her arms around the strong neck, wiggling to get closer. Her breasts ached for contact. The bulky layers of clothing stood in the way, hampering, restricting. She felt Austin grasp her bottom and haul her to him, grinding his body intimately to hers.

"See what you do to me." He nipped her under lip, before drawing it into his mouth. "You make me crazy with wanting you. You make me forget . . ." He stopped when Kelsey's voice called from down the path.

"Dad!"

Austin immediately released Theresa. "This is what happens when you manage to get me alone," he growled fiercely under his breath. "Get something into that pretty little head of yours--I don't
want
to forget my wife. Nothing you can do will make me forget her."

He turned away from her and walked quickly to meet Kelsey. He grabbed his daughter's hand and practically dragged her away. They disappeared beneath the trees.

Theresa followed more slowly, trying to get hold over her wayward emotions. It astonished her how fast things always ignited between the two of them. When she was in his arms, Austin wasn't thinking about his wife. And that made him mad. At himself, at the world, at her.

It was a difficult problem. Could it ever be resolved? Could Austin ever let go of Deborah and make room in his heart for
her
?

CHAPTER FIVE

A week later, Theresa's biggest problem was trying to make it home without fainting. Out for her Saturday morning run, she stepped on a pebble and twisted her ankle. Every time she put weight on her foot, thousands of hot tiny needles shot up her calf. The pain left her gasping as she slowly hobbled the rest of the way to her house.

She had only gone half way around the hundred-acre "block", when she wrenched her foot. Usually, the challenge of running the perimeter of the large field beckoned to her. She enjoyed setting a brisk pace and keeping rhythm with her strides. Today, the distance seemed daunting and overwhelming.

Luckily, Theresa was on the solid pavement of the farm road instead of the dirt road that bordered the east side of the field. Maybe some kind soul would offer her a lift home. That was,
if
anyone decided to venture into town at seven o'clock on a Saturday morning. Few cars or trucks passed by even on her daily runs.

After fifteen minutes of excruciating pain, Theresa's prayers were finally answered. The low roar of an engine could be heard coming down the road. She had a moment's anxiety about accepting a ride from a stranger. But this was Salt Fork, not Houston. There weren't many strangers in the small town. She'd met with nothing but kindness and hospitality since she'd moved here. Except from Austin McCade. But she didn't want to think about him right now.

Limping along a few more steps, Theresa finally gave it up and waited as the blue pickup slowed down. Theresa's breath hitched in her throat when she recognized the scowling man behind the steering wheel. Why did it have to be Austin? She looked toward the heavens and wondered if God was having a little fun at her expense.

She continued limping toward home. She didn't have to accept the ride. Austin probably wouldn't stop when he realized who it was. He didn't want anything to do with her.

The truck followed her for a few minutes, then Austin pulled up even with her and rolled down the window.

"Get in the truck, Theresa."

"No." She kept on walking. Wincing with every step, yet walking just the same.

Austin kept the truck inching along beside her. "You are the most exasperating woman I've ever met. Now get in the truck!"