On The Texas Border (7 page)

“Want some?” he asked.

“No, thanks, I’ve been drinking water all night. I think I’m waterlogged now.”

He sat on the edge of a desk and removed his hat. Blond hair fell across his forehead. His eyes held hers. “Ready to give it up?”

She sat on the edge of her father’s old desk. “No.”

He shook his head. “You’re one stubborn woman.”

“I’ll admit I’m scared, but I’m more determined than ever. That doesn’t make any sense, I know. I just have to find Delores Alvarez.” She held up one finger. “And that’s all I have to do. Find her and tell her Mr. Brewster wants to see his daughter. If the girl wants to see him, well, that’s her decision. My job is to inform them of Mr. Brewster’s wishes.”

“The Mexican grapevine will do the job for you.” If Mick’s daughter and sister-in-law knew, it wouldn’t be long before Delores’s relatives and others in Mexico knew.

“Delores probably won’t trust the grapevine, but maybe she’ll trust me.” She raised her eyes to his. “I can do this, Jonas. I know I can.”

He didn’t say a word.

“Then Mr. Brewster will tell me about my father. He’ll tell me what I need to hear…what this whole town needs to hear. You do understand, don’t you, Jonas?”

He swung off the edge of the desk and threw the bottle into the trash with a booming sound. The ache in her voice got to him. Oh God, he could fight it and deny it all he wanted, but that didn’t change the way he felt when she said his name. He was ventur
ing a step down an untraveled road, a road he’d sworn he would never take, where emotion was stronger than reason.

He turned to her. “You do realize this could be dangerous.”

“Of course, it already is,” she admitted.

“Once we cross the border it will get worse. The Mexicans will resent your interference.”

“I know that.”

“Really? When was the last time you were in Mexico?”

“About five years ago.”

“Things haven’t improved. In many areas there’s poverty, heartache and suffering on every corner. That’s why people swim the Rio Grande for a better way of life.”

“I know that, too.”

Silence.

She took a breath and asked, “When can we go?”

His gaze held hers. “Maybe tomorrow.” Obviously Abby had accepted the fact that he’d be going with her.

She jumped off the desk. “Thank you, Jonas.”

The light in her eyes was brighter than anything he’d ever seen in his life, and he felt its warmth. Oh yeah, he felt it in ways he didn’t want to. But there wasn’t much he could about that, either.

He glanced toward the warehouse. “I have a lot of work to do today, so we’ll discuss it later. I’ll get Bernie at the garage to send a tow truck for your car. Any preference for tires? I doubt yours can be repaired.”

“The same as those that are on it.”

“Okay, I’ll get Juan to drive you home, and I’ll
call when your car is ready. I should be through by then and I’ll take you to get it.”

Abby started to say her mom could take her when she got off work, but something stopped her. She liked Jonas taking control, and that shook her. She’d never liked it when Kyle tried to control her. But with Jonas it was different. He wasn’t out to prove he was stronger or dominant. He did it because he cared and…
oh, was she in trouble!
Jonas didn’t care for her. He didn’t even want her to touch him. So she’d better face reality. She was attracted to Jonas in ways she’d never been attracted to any other man. She couldn’t explain it, but at least she could admit it.

She glanced at the empty office. “Where is everyone? There was no one here yesterday, either.”

“Perry, the new accountant—number five to be precise—is in McAllen taking a computer course. Gloria, the secretary, is out with the flu. They’ll both be back tomorrow.”

The first part caught her attention. “Mr. Brewster hasn’t found anyone suitable to replace my father?”

“He finds them, but they don’t stay long, which means a helluva lot more work for me.”

“Why do you stay, Jonas?” she asked, hoping to catch him off guard.

“That’s my business.” He didn’t even blink at the direct question.

“The sheriff said that—”

“Don’t pry into things that don’t concern you.”

As good a put-down as she’d ever had. The subject was off-limits. He’d made that perfectly clear, but it wasn’t going to stop her. She’d find out sooner or later.

He studied her for a moment, and she felt vulnerable under his intense stare.

“Just concern yourself with finding Delores Alvarez and be sure you’re doing this for your father and not yourself,” he said.

She chewed on her lower lip. “Partly, I
am
doing it for myself,” she told him honestly. “I can’t live with the rumors.”

For a moment, she thought she saw admiration in his eyes.

“Mr. Jonas,” Juan hollered from the warehouse.

Jonas reached for his hat. “I’ve got to go. I’ll get Juan to take you home.”

“Thank you, Jonas.”

“I hope you get what you want,” he said.

She did, too.

W
HEN
A
BBY REACHED HOME
, she collapsed onto her bed and fell asleep almost immediately. Even though she was disturbed by the events of last night, she had an inner calm about the ordeal ahead of her. If Mr. Brewster was using her for a reason of his own, that was okay. She would know the truth about her father. That’s what mattered to her.

She woke up relaxed and ready to handle the situation. She heard her mom in the kitchen and glanced at the clock. It was almost five. She’d slept the whole day. Why hadn’t Jonas called? Surely her car was ready by now.

She slipped off the bed and staggered into the kitchen. Her mother turned from the sink. “Oh, you’re awake. Do you feel ill?”

“No, I feel fine,” Abby replied, getting a soft drink out of the refrigerator.

“Then, why are you sleeping in the middle of the day?”

“I really don’t want to get into it.”

“I think we’re gonna have to,” her mother said. “Jonas Parker called and said to tell you that your car is ready and that he’d be by in a little while.”

Abby took a sip. She really hated to get into another argument, but she couldn’t ignore the censure in her mother’s words.

When Abby didn’t respond, Gail asked, “What’s wrong with your car and why is Jonas coming here?”

Abby took a deep breath and wondered where to start. “I got in late last night.”

“I know. I waited until ten and then went to bed. I had to get up early this morning.” She paused. “Don’t tell me you were with Jonas.”

“In a way.”

“My God, Abby, that man is so wrong for you. He’s uncouth and rough and he spends his time at Mick’s Tavern. Everyone knows what goes on down there—girls and sex. Not at all the type of young man you should be seeing.”

Abby felt her temper rising at her mother’s words. She knew Jonas had a wild past, but he’d changed—even the sheriff had said so.

“Well, he practically saved my life last night, and I’m more than a little grateful to him.” For the first time she wondered what had made Jonas come to the office at one in the morning.

“Oh my God, what happened?” Gail sat at the table facing Abby with a terrified expression.

Abby swallowed. “Someone locked me in the file room, and Jonas found me early this morning.”

Gail put both hands over her mouth in shock.

“And someone slit my tires.”

“I knew something like this would happen,” Gail said heatedly. “Give up this nonsense with Brewster. It’s too dangerous. You can see that now, can’t you?”

“Yes, it’s dangerous,” Abby admitted. “But I have to find the daughter.”

“Abigail.”

“Mr. Brewster put the information about why he fired Daddy in a letter. I had Earl read it to make sure it’s not bogus.”

Gail closed her eyes in exasperation. “Why did you have to get Earl involved? Now Sybil will be asking what’s wrong with you, like before. I think you’re having a nervous breakdown, and you should get some help. This isn’t you.”

Like before.

Loose woman.

Earl’s words came back to her, and she knew it was time to discuss Aunt Sybil. “Did Aunt Sybil say something about my divorce?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Gail muttered uneasily.

“What did she say?” she persisted.

“Abby.”

“What?”

“That…that you should have tried harder to make your marriage work, and she said you were probably seeing someone else. You can’t pay any attention to Sybil.”

The hand in Abby’s lap clenched into a fist. “Do you feel the same way?”

“Of course not.”

But Abby had to ask, “Do you think I didn’t try hard enough?”

“Abby, I wish you’d go back to your job and forget about your divorce, your father and Simon Brewster. I want you to start living again and put all the bad things behind you.”

Her mother hadn’t answered the question, and that didn’t escape Abby, but she had to get one thing straight. “You want me to go back to Dallas?”

“Yes,” Gail answered emphatically.

Abby frowned. “Kyle’s in Dallas. Are you saying you want me to go back to Kyle?”

Her mother looked shocked. “You’re putting words in my mouth.”

“But you’re implying it.”

“I am not. You’re not understanding what I’m saying at all.”

“I think I am.”

Abby rose. She had never dreamed her mother had ambivalent feelings about her divorce…would never have known if Earl hadn’t said something. Her mother probably thought she slept around, too.

Gail caught Abby’s arm. “Listen to me. I’m your mother and I support you wholeheartedly. But his mother called to tell me Kyle’s in AA and he hasn’t had a drink in months. I told June it was none of my business, but she keeps calling. I’m not sure what to say to her anymore.”

Those words only made matters worse. Abby pulled her arm free. “You can tell Kyle’s mother that your daughter doesn’t like being slapped, and Kyle can go to AA twenty-four hours a day for all I care. It took two weeks for the bruises to heal, and I will
never
ever
put myself in that position again.” Having said her piece, she headed for the living room.

“Abigail, come back here. You’re twisting everything I say. I would never want you to stay with someone who hits you, and I told June that.”

Abby didn’t stop. She was so hurt and angry that she couldn’t speak.

“Abigail, I want to talk to you.”

Abby grabbed her purse and made for the front door. As she did, the doorbell rang. She yanked opened the door and breezed past Jonas, down the steps to his truck.

Jonas stared after her with a perplexed expression, then his gaze swung to Mrs. Duncan.

“She’s upset,” Mrs. Duncan explained.

“I noticed.”

“She hasn’t been the same since her father’s death and her divorce. I’m so worried about her. Please talk her out of this craziness of finding Brewster’s daughter.”

“I already tried and it didn’t work,” he replied, not sure what was happening but not wanting to get between Abby and her mother.

“She’s always been headstrong and now I can’t even talk to her.”

“She’s determined. I’ll say that.”

Gail shook her head sadly and went back to the kitchen. Jonas closed the door and headed for Abby, feeling as if he’d stepped into a hornet’s nest.

J
ONAS CLIMBED INTO THE TRUCK
. Abby sat with her hands clamped tightly in her lap, staring straight ahead.

As Jonas’s hand reached for the key, she asked, “What did she say to you?”

“Nothing much.”

Her head jerked toward him, her eyes steamy. “I thought you were the one person who wouldn’t lie to me.”

“Hey.” He held up a hand. “I’m not lying to you. I’m giving you time to calm down.”

She took a couple of deep breaths and knew she hadn’t been this angry in a long time. She felt so betrayed by a mother she’d thought understood her, loved her and would always be behind her one hundred percent.

“She’s just worried about you,” Jonas said.

“Yeah.” She sighed, then asked again, “What did she say to you?”

Jonas drew a quick breath and told her the truth. “She said you haven’t been the same since your father’s death and your divorce.”

“Did she tell you I didn’t work hard enough to save my marriage…that I should have stayed with a man who hit me—because he’s sorry?” Abby knew
her mother hadn’t actually said that, but she hadn’t actually denied it, either.

Jonas’s eyes narrowed.
Her husband hit her?
The thought triggered his own anger. “No, she didn’t mention that.”

“Seems my whole family believes I didn’t try hard enough. My aunt Sybil believes I sleep around…that I’m a loose woman. When I think—” She threw both hands out in front of her as if to stop the bad thoughts.

She inhaled deeply. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m very ticked off at the moment.”

“Really? Could have fooled me.” He grinned, hoping to lighten her mood.

Questions about her husband clamored in his head. By nature, he wasn’t a curious, interfering person, but he wanted to hear about her marriage. He had wondered why a man would leave her. Clearly, she had left the marriage—and with good reason. He couldn’t fathom why her mother would even hint at her staying with such a man.

At the sight of her sad expression, he made a decision. “You need some downtime. Have you had supper?”

“No. I’m not hungry.”

“Well, I’ve had a long, tiring day and I am hungry. I was thinking of stopping at that Mexican café by the bank. They have good food.”

“I’m not in a mood to be around people.”

Way to go, Parker,
Jonas thought. He’d just asked the woman out and she’d politely refused. What did he expect? Now his ego was somewhere in his boots.

“Could we get some takeout and eat in a quiet place?”

His ego rebounded. “Sure, we can buy some soft tacos and eat at Brewster’s Park. The town went to a lot of trouble and expense, so we might as well make use of it.”

“Sounds fine,” she said. “What about my car?”

He started the engine. “Bernie put the key under the mat, so we can pick it up at any time.”

“What took so long to put on four tires?”

“He didn’t have your tires in stock. He had to make a trip to McAllen to buy them.”

“Oh.”

“He called earlier, but I couldn’t leave until about an hour ago.”

“It’s okay, I slept all day, anyway.”

“Thought you might,” he said as he drove up to the café. “Anything special you want?”

“The tacos will be fine…and something to drink.”

“Okay,” he said and got out.

She leaned her head back against the headrest, wondering how her day had turned out like this. She had overreacted…dramatically. She should have talked to her mother in a more reasonable manner. Did Abby have doubts about her divorce? No. Had she tried hard enough to save her marriage? Yes, she had a clear conscience about that. The special bond she and Kyle had once shared had been irrevocably broken. Their marriage was over.

Soon Jonas was back, and within minutes they were at the park. It was a family park with swings, slides and picnic areas. A huge statue of Mr. Brewster stood in the middle surrounded by decorative flower beds that the city maintained—a monument to the man who owned the town and everyone in it.

They made their way to a picnic table. Jonas
spread the food out, and Abby gaped at the enormous quantity. “We can’t eat all this,” she said, and held up a bag of peanuts. “Peanuts?”

“Yeah, don’t you like peanuts?”

“Yes, but not with tacos.”

He sat on the concrete bench. “I guess it’s a personal thing. I used to love putting peanuts in my Coke when it came in a bottle—but it’s hell trying to get peanuts out of a can.”

She smiled slightly and reached for a taco. “I can imagine.”

He handed her a Coke, and they ate in silence for a while. Before Abby realized it, the food was almost gone.

“I thought you weren’t hungry,” he teased.

As she licked her fingers, she said, “My taste buds were momentarily blindsided by anger.”

“Yeah,” he agreed as he watched her tongue dart over her fingers. All he could think about was tasting her tongue, feeling it in… He quickly wadded papers into a ball and stuffed them in a bag. He opened the bag of peanuts, popped several into his mouth and took a long drink of Coke.

She watched him for a second, then reached for the bag and did as he’d done. He raised an eyebrow.

“You’re right,” she said. “It is good. I remember doing this as a kid. I’d forgotten how good it tastes.”

After a moment, he asked, “Feeling better?”

“Much,” she said, and glanced around. The sun was slowly sinking; soon it would be dark. The park was empty. Everyone was at home with their families.
Families.
At the moment Abby wasn’t feeling too good about hers. Suddenly she had a need to talk. Jonas, being a man of few words, probably didn’t
want to listen to her, but what she told him would stay between them. He didn’t gossip—another thing she liked about him.

“My mom and I got into a discussion about my marriage and divorce.”

“I figured that.” He took a sip of his drink.

“I thought she understood, and it was a shock to learn that she doesn’t. That’s what hurt.” She paused. “To be honest, my mother never really knew Kyle. He was always on his best behavior when we came home on the odd weekend. She never knew how selfish, petty and cruel he could be. So I guess it’s understandable that she doesn’t fully understand the situation.”

“No,” Jonas said, to his surprise. “It’s
not
understandable when someone hits you.” The words slipped out before he could stop them. He knew what it was like to be hit, and he never wanted anyone to feel that pain, especially her.

She didn’t seem to hear him. She was locked in her own inner turmoil. “When I first met Kyle, I thought he was the man of my dreams. He was so attentive and considerate of my feelings and he understood that I wanted a career. We worked in the same field and everything seemed perfect. I married him three months after we met. The real Kyle soon emerged. He was jealous of my success at work and accused me of sleeping with every man I spoke to. Then he started drinking and became violent. He’d hidden his temper while we were dating, but after we were married, he made no attempt to control it. At times, I was afraid of him.”

She took a long breath. “I learned later that Kyle’s drinking problem began long before we were mar
ried. Another thing he hid from me. When he lost his job, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, to use the cliché. I tried to be supportive, but he was impossible to live with. One night I came home late from an assignment, and he accused me of sleeping with the photographer. He was in a rage, and I had to get away from him. I told him I was leaving and started to pack a bag. That was like putting gasoline on a fire. He hit me so hard I saw stars and fell to the floor. As soon as I could get to my feet, I walked out the door. I haven’t looked back.”

She ran both hands through her hair. Damn. She couldn’t believe she was telling Jonas all the sordid details. But once she’d started talking, she couldn’t seem to stop. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have unloaded on you.”

“It’s okay,” he said quickly. “I have broad shoulders.”

And did he ever. Gorgeous, strong shoulders.

She blinked and searched for something else to say. “I guess we should talk about finding Delores Alvarez.”

Jonas twisted the Coke can. “You did the right thing, Abby.”

She stared into his eyes. All her friends told her that, but it felt good to hear him say it. “Thank you, but sometimes I feel like a failure.” She hadn’t even realized that was bothering her until the words left her mouth. Maybe that’s why she’d reacted so strongly to her mother’s comments.

“It took a lot of courage to get out of a lousy relationship. Many women stay because they lack that courage. Consider yourself lucky.”

He sounded as if he knew what he was talking about. “Have you ever been married?”

“Nope.”

As if the questions were getting too personal, he got up and carried the bag to a trash receptacle. Her reporter’s instinct wouldn’t let it go.

“But you know someone who was in that kind of relationship?”

He straddled the bench with a brooding expression. Did she really not know? Hell, she had to. His family had been the gossip of the town for years.

His eyes met hers. “I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors about my family and I’m also positive your mother has warned you about me.”

Abby desperately tried to hide a flicker of acknowledgment, but knew she had failed.

“I see that she has,” he said in a hard tone.

Abby hated to see that expression on his face—the one that blocked out the world and everyone in it. Funny how she was beginning to recognize his moods. And she intended to change this one.

“Yes, my mother warned me about you,” she admitted truthfully. “But I haven’t listened to my mother in years. I’m not sure I ever did. I always make up my own mind.”

Jonas didn’t say anything, just gazed off across the park.

“All I know is that you were a wild teenager and in trouble with the law, but I can see you’ve gotten your act together…even the sheriff said something about it today.”

He still didn’t speak.

“Jonas, I really don’t know anything else, especially about your family. I know you are friends with
Stuart and Brenda. They’ve mentioned you from time to time, but neither has said anything about your childhood.”

He finally looked at her. “The whole town knows. How could you possibly not know?”

She shrugged. “I was a kid and I didn’t pay any attention to those kind of things. Tell me about your family. Maybe it will jar my memory.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I could ask around, but I’d rather hear it from you.”

His eyes darkened. “You’re relentless and—”

She stopped him. “So you may as well tell me.” Abby saw his indecision and decided to give him a nudge. “I’m guessing since you were a wild teenager, you came from an unhappy home.”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

Abby thought about what had prompted this conversation. “Your father hit your mother?”

“Yeah,” he admitted quietly, and she had to strain to catch his next words. “He beat her on a regular basis, and when he grew tired of that, he beat me and my sister.”

“Oh, Jonas, I’m so sorry,” she said, but he didn’t respond. He kept talking.

“When I was twelve, he beat her to death. He then started on me. I hid my sister in a closet so he couldn’t find her. A neighbor called the police. He ran away before they could apprehend him. Two weeks later the police told me he was killed in a bar in Las Vegas. I wasn’t sad. I was happy. Happy he couldn’t ever hurt my sister or me again.”

Abby tried to swallow the lump in her throat, but
all she felt was pain in her heart for the little boy who had suffered so much.

His eyes swung to her. “So you see, your mother was right. I come from bad blood, and you’d be wise to stay away from me.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute.”

He was speechless. All he could do was stare at her. There was no revulsion or disgust in her eyes, just empathy. He hadn’t expected this. She couldn’t be that open-minded. Could she?

Abby stared back at him. “What happened to your sister?”

“She was put into foster care. A couple from Wyoming adopted her, and she’s very happy. At first I was sad they had taken her. Now I’m glad she got out of this place and had a chance at a real life.”

“Do you hear from her?”

“Yeah, on my birthday and holidays I get a card and a phone call.”

Abby wasn’t finished with the questions. She needed to know what had happened to him after they’d taken his sister.

“And you? Did you stay in foster care?”

“No, I hated it,” he answered harshly. “I ran away three times. The last time, I made sure they couldn’t find me.”

“You lived on the streets?”

He didn’t miss the incredulous tone. Now he would tell her about the real Jonas Parker and it would put a stop to the questions…and everything else. She wouldn’t want anything to do with a man like him. That was the way he wanted it. The way it had to be.

“Yeah, I spent my days evading the sheriff and
the social workers. Mick at Mick’s Tavern had a storeroom with a cot, and he let me sleep there. He also gave me food. Whatever else I needed I stole.”

He watched her closely, but he didn’t see the effect he wanted. All he saw was sadness and compassion. Dammit all to hell. What was wrong with this woman? She wasn’t doing anything he expected. He was trying to warn her and she wasn’t getting the message.

Abby knew exactly what he was trying to do—scare her off. It did just the opposite. Her heart ached for him, and she thought of her own childhood—happy, with two loving parents who were always there for her. She definitely had to apologize to her mother. But Gail had to understand that it was Abby’s life and she would make her own decisions. They would work out their differences…like always. They were mother and daughter, and nothing could shake that—not even Kyle.

Jonas crushed his soft drink can in his hand. The sound brought her concentration back to him. He threw a leg over the bench and dropped the can into the garbage. Abby got the hint—he was through talking. She wasn’t.

“How did you come to work for Mr. Brewster?”