Boots and Wishes: Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 8 (5 page)

“Well, you could have fooled me.” Audrey focused on the road ahead. “What did you do in your former job?”

Out of the corner of her eye, Audrey could see Beth’s face blanch, and she stared out the passenger window. “I’ve never actually had a job outside the home.”

“No? How did you survive?”

“I married straight out of high school.”

“Mia’s father?” Audrey asked softly.

Beth shot a glance her way, her eyes wide. For a moment, she hesitated with her answer, then she replied softly, “Yes.”

“I take it things didn’t end well with him?”

“You could say that,” she said noncommittally.

The inside of the truck became a silent tomb. Audrey had to screw up her nerve to ask the next question. “Beth, did he abuse you?”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

Audrey gave her a minute of reflection before she said, “I was in an abusive relationship before I moved to Temptation. I know what it feels like to hurt and how hard it is to step away from it all.”

“Please.” Beth swiped at the cheek turned away from Audrey as if wiping away a tear. “Can we change the subject?”

“Certainly.” Audrey kept driving. “How’s it working out with Mona watching Mia?”

Beth inhaled and let out a shaky breath. “Great. Mona is a natural with babies.”

Audrey’s gut tightened. She hadn’t tried to get to know Mia, still too fresh from her own disappointing pregnancy test result. To hear that Mona was doing great caring for the infant drove it home to Audrey that she herself wasn’t meant to be a mother. Perhaps she was better at helping the stray adults of the world find their place.

“What about you, Audrey? Why are you so helpful to others? Libby and Isabella have only nice things to say about you. You gave them jobs at the Ugly Stick Saloon when they didn’t have anywhere else to go. Like me.”

“Like them, I know what it feels like to be down and out. The man who used to own the Ugly Stick took pity on me and gave me a job. Now I own the place, I like to give back.”

“You’re a good person.” Beth stared at the road ahead. “Just when I think there aren’t any good ones left in the world.” The last sentence she whispered almost too low for Audrey to hear. But she did.

“I’ve found that Temptation is full of good people. You just have to get to know them.” When she pulled into the parking lot of the only grocery store in town, Audrey turned off the engine and reached out to touch Beth’s wrist before she could get out.

Audrey said softly, “The men here are big, strong, and can be scary. But they have good hearts and wouldn’t let anyone hurt the ones they love. That goes for the women too. If someone threatens you, let me know. I don’t tolerate bullies.”

Beth smiled, her bottom lip trembling. “Thanks. I won’t forget.”

Audrey shopped, following Beth without trying to be obvious about it. When she would pick up an item, check the price and put it back on the shelf, Audrey made note of it and came behind her, dropping it into her own cart.

Christmas music was piped through the speaker system, reminding her she hadn’t completed her gift buying for her family and employees. Only three weeks left meant that she had to get on it soon.

With the limited amount of money Beth had from tips at the saloon, she purchased necessities like diapers, bottled water and formula, with enough left over for a jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread, dry cereal and a quart of milk.

Audrey’s heart ached for her. She’d been that down and out before and hated seeing anyone in the same dire straits. Making her own purchases, she helped load everything in the truck from hers and Beth’s carts, while Beth strapped Mia in the car seat.

The trip back to the saloon was completed in a comfortable silence.

When they arrived at the trailer, Audrey carried bags in while Beth collected Mia and the car seat.

Mia woke up crying as Beth lifted her from the car seat. “Could you hold her while I get a bottle ready?”

Audrey took Mia in her arms and cradled her, rocking back and forth.

Mia stared up at her, her cries quieting.

“You’re good with her,” Beth said, filling the bottle with powder formula and water. “Are you and Jackson planning on having children?”

Audrey swallowed hard on the lump that rose in her throat. “Maybe.”

“You’ll make a great mother.” Beth capped and shook the bottle to mix the powder in the water. “Do you want to feed her?”

Audrey nodded, taking the bottle from Beth. When she touched the nipple to the baby’s lips, Mia opened her mouth. Soon the baby was happily gulping down the formula.

“These aren’t my groceries.” Beth stood at the dining table, picking through the bags Audrey had brought in.

“Yes, they are,” Audrey insisted.

Beth frowned. “I didn’t buy them.” She pushed her shoulders back. “I won’t accept charity.”

“Don’t call it charity. Call it a gift. Or maybe paying it forward. Someday, when you’re firmly on your feet, you can help someone else out.” Audrey glanced up from Mia and smiled. “Please. It makes me happy to help.”

Beth’s frown deepened. “You’ve already helped me so much. I’m using your electricity and water. You’ve given me a job.”

“No. I don’t give anyone a job. They work for it. And I’ve seen how hard you work. I’m lucky to have you.” Audrey stared down at the baby. “And I can’t have my staff going hungry and falling over on the barroom floor.”

“I wasn’t going hungry.” The strength of Beth’s argument dissipated. Finally, her shoulders sagged. “I knew it would be hard making it on my own. But I didn’t realize just how hard it would be with a baby.”

“That’s why you have friends.”

She snorted softly. “I haven’t had friends since high school.”

Audrey glanced up at the statement. Beth stared at the bags, tears welling in her eyes.

The more Audrey learned about Beth, the more convinced she was that Beth had been abused by her husband. Whether mentally or physically, she’d been abused. Based on the bruise she’d seen on Beth’s temple the night Beth had arrived, Audrey suspected both types of abuse. She tipped Mia up and laid her across her shoulder like she’d seen Beth do.

The baby immediately burped.

“Here, I’ll take her.” Beth laid Mia on the bed. “She’ll need a fresh diaper and then she’ll sleep for a couple of hours.”

Now that her arms were empty, Audrey grasped just how empty they were and would continue to be. She needed to get away from the mother and baby before she did something stupid, like cry. “I need to get back to town and do some Christmas shopping. Are you two going to be okay?”

Beth nodded. “Thanks to you.”

Audrey pulled her keychain out of her pocket and slipped the key to the Ugly Stick Saloon off the ring. “If you need to use a phone, this is the key to the back door. I hate to think of you out here without a vehicle or the ability to call in the case of an emergency.”

Beth took the key. “Are you sure? We only met a few days ago. You know nothing about me.”

Audrey hugged the girl. “I have faith in my intuition. I sense you’re trustworthy and you wouldn’t do anything to harm me. Now take the key. I don’t want you stranded if you or the baby should become ill.”

“Thank you.” Beth’s eyes welled again and a tear slipped down her face. “I don’t know why you’re being so nice, but thanks.” She hugged Audrey again.

Outside the trailer with the door closed behind her, Audrey almost went back inside to tell Beth she and Mia could stay with them until they got on their feet. But her promise to Jackson won out. The weather was supposed to stay fairly warm for the next couple of days. The camp trailer would be fine.

But come hell or high water, by Christmas, Beth and Mia would have a solid roof over their heads and floors without wheels beneath their feet.

Chapter Five

“I haven’t seen the Ugly Stick Saloon this busy on a Thursday night since rodeo week.” Libby wiped the bar down for the hundredth time since they’d opened that afternoon.

It was well past ten and none of the cowboys or cowgirls seemed in a hurry to leave to get ready for work the following day.

“I think with the holiday quickly approaching, everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit. Either they want to share in the fun or they don’t want to be alone at this time of year,” Audrey said. “Two weeks until Christmas. Holy cow. I haven’t finished my shopping.”

“I can’t get over the change in Beth.” Charli stood beside Audrey and nodded at the petite brunette with the flushed cheeks and happy smile as she served a table of cowboys mugs of beer. “You’d have thought someone had kicked her favorite dog when she came to work here. And now she’s shines like a light bulb turned on.”

“Beth seems to be coming out of her shell, and Mia has put on at least a pound since Mona started watching her in the evenings.”

“When is Grant coming home?”

“Mona said he’s on his way back from Vegas now. If they don’t have any problems on the road, they’ll be home tomorrow.”

“Then what’s Beth going to do for a sitter?”

“Mona wants to keep watching Mia. She’s getting attached to that kid.” Audrey completely understood. The baby was smiling now and she had the sweetest temperament. If Audrey were around her as much as Mona was, she’d fall in love with the baby as well. That’s why she limited her visits to the trailer. The more she saw of the baby, the more she wanted to hold her and the deeper the ache in her belly.

Three weeks had flown by. The Ugly Stick Saloon had become party central. Every ranch and business in and around Temptation and Hole in the Wall, Texas wanted to schedule a party.

Audrey was glad for the business. It kept her too busy to mope about not having a baby of her own.

She and Jackson had backed off trying to get pregnant and settled back into their normal sex life where they had fun with each other, and it was all the more special because it wasn’t calculated. He’d even asked her out to the barn to help with a newborn colt, only to trick her into making love on a blanket in the hay. Of course there was a riding crop and chaps to make it more fun.

Audrey smiled. She loved Jackson more than she loved breathing. He hadn’t pressured her about babies and he’d brought her flowers every day, claiming it was part of his plan to surprise her at Christmas.

Her smile fading, Audrey remembered she still hadn’t gotten Jackson anything. And by the number of bouquets of flowers he’d given her, he was probably planning something really special for her for Christmas morning.

This would be their first Christmas as a married couple. She had to make it special.

Mark and Luke sat at the bar, teasing Libby as she worked. Maybe they would know what Jackson would like.

Audrey marched over to the bar and squeezed in between her brothers-in-law.

“Hey, sis.” Mark, ever the playful brother, grabbed her around the waist and planted her on his knee. “What’s shaking?”

“I need help.”

Luke’s brow furrowed and he captured her hand in his. “Is the business in trouble? Jackson giving you hell? Are you sick?”

Audrey laughed. Luke was entirely too serious, but totally lovable. Libby had her hands full with the twins. They were so very different, but each loved her to distraction and she loved them too. “No, I’m okay, the business is okay and Jackson is all I could ever want in a husband.”

“Then what’s got your shorts in a wad?” Mark grinned. “Shoot. Luke and I can solve anything.”

“What should I get for Jackson for Christmas? Solve that.”

Luke and Mark spoke as one. “Everything but that.”

Audrey frowned. “Do you mean to tell me you don’t know your brother well enough to give me even a hint at what he’d like as a gift?”

“Oh, we know him all right,” Luke said. “But the man has everything he could ever want and he’ll be the first to tell you. He’s got a ranch, enough money to be comfortable, family around him and you.”

Audrey’s heart filled with love for her younger brothers. “Thank you.” She hugged Luke. “But there has to be something.”

“A sexy nightgown?”

Audrey shook her head. “Bought one three weeks ago.”

“A man can’t have too many sexy nightgowns for his woman,” Luke commented, his gaze on Libby.

Mark’s eyes took on a devilish gleam and his focus turned to Libby as well. “Unless he prefers her naked.” He said the words loud enough that Libby could hear.

“You two behave yourselves. I have to work another two hours before I can go with you two to Dallas to look at that stud.”

“Speaking of studs, aren’t you due a break?” Mark asked. “Or could you use a little help getting a case of something out of the storeroom?”

Libby rolled her eyes. “I’ve got everything I need up here. And my boss is listening.”

With a laugh, Audrey hopped off Mark’s lap. “I’ll spell you for a few if you want to look for that case of missing Jack Daniels I never found three weeks ago.”

Luke and Mark both left their bar stools in a shot. “We can help you lift the boxes.”

“Are you sure?” Libby’s face flushed an excited pink. “I don’t mind working straight through, and I kinda wanted to leave a little early so that we can hit the road and not be dragging ass as we arrive at the outskirts of Dallas.”

“I can mix a drink or two, and I don’t mind if you leave a little early. Besides, these guys aren’t likely to last long in the storeroom.” Audrey winked.

Mark frowned. “Hey, you’re attacking my manhood.”

“Good.” Luke hooked Libby’s arm and turned her away. “While you’re defending it, Libby and I will just make our way back to the storeroom and look for the case of whiskey.”

“Not without me.” Mark followed Luke and Libby down the hallway to the storeroom.

Audrey took Libby’s place behind the bar and filled two drink orders for cowboys sitting on the stools.

“Those two weren’t much help, were they?” Charli set her tray on the counter and gave Audrey her order.

While Audrey filled mugs and popped the tops off some longnecks, she lamented, “I have no clue what to get Jackson for Christmas.”

“How about a battery-powered drill gun?”

“He has three.”

“A set of socket wrenches. Nothing says love like a bunch of tools to a man.”

“He has more tools than a man can ever use in a lifetime.”

“A tool box?”

“He’s got two.” Audrey sighed. “I haven’t got a clue what to get him.”

“I bet he just wants to be surrounded by his family—you—with a home-cooked meal and a lit Christmas tree.”

“I’m not much of a cook.”

“There you go. If you put a little effort into it, you’ll do great and he’ll be so happy you made him feel special he won’t care if you burn the whole damned meal.”

“You think so?” Audrey stared at her assistant manager and friend. “I want him to know how much I love him.”

“Honey, he knows.” Charli stared across at where Jackson sat playing a friendly hand of poker with Connor Mason, Ed Judson and Nick McBride. “He’s losing bad at his hand of poker because he can’t quit looking at you.”

“I’m surprised Connor’s in the game. That’s about the fifth time he’s glanced up at you,” Audrey pointed out.

“We are a couple of horny women, aren’t we?”

“In love with a couple of horny men.”

“And damn happy to be. I’d have blown this joint a long time ago if Connor hadn’t shown me what fun we could have together.” Charli lifted her tray filled with drinks. “Speaking of which, when will Mark, Luke and Libby be done in the storeroom?”

“Good grief. You’d think we were running a bordello, not a saloon, with as much boinking as goes on in that storeroom.”

Charli winked. “On second thought, I’d rather check out the costumes backstage with Connor.”

“Hey, I can’t run the bar and serve the tables at the same time.”

With an overexaggerated sigh Charli said, “I guess I could wait until closing. If I must. Although Connor’s giving me that look.”

Audrey laughed and went to work filling trays for Kendall and Lacey, too busy to think past the next drink. As she caught up, the telephone on the wall behind the bar rang. She turned to answer. “Ugly Stick Saloon, this is Audrey.”

“Hey, Audrey, thank goodness I got you. It’s Sam Whitefeather.”

A stab of dread knifed through Audrey at Sam’s intense tone. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s been an accident,” he said.

Audrey gripped the phone tightly and strained to hear him over the noise in the bar. “Holy hell, Sam. Are you all right?”

“I am. Can you get a message to Mona?”

“Sure. What do you want to me to tell her?”

“Grant’s in the hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He got run off the road by an eighteen-wheeler and is pretty banged up.”

“Oh, Sam. Is he going to be okay?”

“Yes, but he’s asking for Mona. The doctor wants to keep him a couple days. He broke a few ribs, punctured his lungs and has a concussion. He won’t be traveling for a couple days at least.”

“I’ll get the message to her right away.”

“I can pick her up at the airport. Tell her to let me know when she arrives.”

“I will. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine, just bruised. Luckily the horses are okay. Gotta go, the doctor is motioning for me.”

“Take care, Sam.” Audrey hung up as Libby returned from her break, all smiles and her face flushed a pretty pink.

As soon as she saw Audrey, her smile faded. “What’s wrong?”

“Grant’s been in an accident. I need to let Mona know.” As she hurried toward the rear exit of the building, Audrey gave Libby the digest version of what happened. “Call Jake Maddox. He might be able to fly her out there on shorter notice than an airline.”

Outside, the night air was cooler than Audrey remembered going in earlier. What had the weatherman said? The temperatures were expected to drop into the forties. She had to get Beth and Mia to move to the ranch house that night. The trailer had been warm enough, but she didn’t want them taking the chance of running out of propane in the middle of the cold night.

Audrey walked up the metal steps, knocked on the door and waited.

“The door is unlocked,” Mona called out.

Audrey entered as Mona stood with Mia in her arms. “About time you came out to see us. Mia’s been wondering where her Aunt Audrey’s been hiding.” Mona nuzzled the baby. “Haven’t you, sweetie?”

Audrey touched Mona’s shoulder. “Mona, honey, Grant’s been in an accident.”

Mona’s gaze shot to Audrey, the color leaching from her face. “Is he okay?”

“The doctor says he should be okay, but they’re keeping him under observation in the hospital in Albuquerque for a few days. He’s asking for you.”

“I have to go.” Mona handed Mia to Audrey and slipped the strap of her purse over her shoulder. “I need to catch a flight out of Abilene or Dallas, whichever leaves soonest.”

Audrey tucked a blanket around Mia. “Touch base with Libby before you leave the saloon. I had her call Jake Maddox.”

“Of Maddox Charters?” Mona shook her head. “I can’t afford to fly charter. I’m a cosmetologist, not a millionaire.”

“Jake’s a friend of mine, and he owes me a favor. I’ll get him to cut me a deal. Don’t worry. I’ll handle it. Now go.” Holding Mia in her arms, Audrey herded Mona out of the trailer.

As Mona entered through the back door of the saloon, Audrey glanced down at Mia. “We better make that call to Jake so that he bills me, not Mona.”

Audrey glanced around the tight confines of the trailer and spotted the infant car seat. Balancing the baby in one arm, she hooked the baby’s seat on her elbow and eased through the narrow doorway and down the steps to the ground.

The air was a lot cooler than earlier. Much too cool for the baby. Audrey closed the trailer door and hurried into the saloon to her office, where she laid Mia in the car seat and sat her on the floor beside her, the desk effectively blocking anyone from tripping over the baby accidentally.

Audrey thumbed through her old-fashioned Rolodex until she found the Maddox Charters card she’d held on to since the time she’d saved Jake Maddox from a huge DUI ticket. He’d been on a bender after his fiancée stood him up at the altar. He’d been so stinking drunk he would have killed himself had he gotten behind the wheel of his truck.

Recognizing how drunk he was, Audrey had stolen his keys from him and locked him in her office until he slept off the effects of the alcohol.

The next morning, Jake had thanked her shamefacedly and left his card with his personal cell phone number on it. Sure, he owed her. But did he owe her enough to take Mona out to Albuquerque on really short notice?

Punching the numbers into the phone, she crossed her fingers and waited for Jake to answer.

Jackson must have glanced up a hundred times since he started the poker game with Connor, Nick and Ed.

“Are you going to play or sit there and stare at Audrey all night?” Ed asked.

“Sorry. Don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Jackson looked at his cards, selected three and laid them facedown on the table. “I’ll take three.”

“You remember that red Corvette convertible I bought out of that barn auction?” Nick was saying.

“Yeah, it was in pretty bad shape when you got it,” Connor said. “What did you do with it?”

“I spent a month of Sundays working on the engine and refurbishing the interior. I’m proud to say it’s running like a song.”

“With a good paint job, you’ll have a nice piece of machinery,” Ed said. “You gonna sell it?”

“As a matter of fact, the shop is getting so busy, I really don’t have room for it. And now that the engine’s running, I’ve kind of lost interest.” Nick laid down two cards. “Hit me twice.”

“Does that mean you’re going to sell it?” Jackson asked.

“I have a paint shop lined up, but I don’t know if I want to spend the money when I don’t have a place to store it.”

“Jackson…” Ed turned his way. “Didn’t you drive a beat-up old Corvette in high school?”

Jackson nodded. “Seems like such a long time ago.”

“What happened to it?”