Yours Again (River City Series) (10 page)

“Tommy,
what’s this?”

He
peered around her at the angel and shrugged. “An angel. Ain’t you ever seen one
of those?”

“Yes,
but why is it here?”

“Don’t
know. Want to see the swimming hole?”

She
nodded, still staring at the angel. Barely larger than a man’s hand, it was
beautifully carved out of a white stone. The intricate work didn’t look like simple
ornamentation, especially with the cross next to it. No inscription on the
cross or on the angel statue offered any clues. Taos had to have put it here. She
would ask Charlie about it.

Tommy
had already started toward the swimming hole, and she had to run a few steps to
catch up to him. He continued to chatter the whole way. “I don’t get to come to
the swimming hole by myself.” He glanced back at her. “’Course, I ain’t by
myself today.”

“I’m
not
by myself,” she corrected.

“’Course
you ain’t. I’m here.”

She
laughed. They’d have to work on that. She glanced down at the boy. He seemed
thrilled to have a temporary playmate. Taos, Charlie, and Darren had done a
good job. He had some manners and was polite. He just needed a little polish. They
all did. Well, maybe a lot of polish.

The
path was as familiar as if she had walked it yesterday. She and Darren had
spent hours swimming here when she was little. As they entered the clearing, it
was just as she remembered. The small pond was about fifty feet across with
deep clear water, constantly fed from the creek. The largest tree leaned out
over the water’s edge. A long rope from one thick limb tempted even the most
hesitant person on a hot summer day.

Small
dark black tadpoles wiggled at the water’s edge and the pointed nose of a
turtle appeared then disappeared out of sight under one of the overhanging tree
limbs. The pool drew a large number of animals, and three-toed bird tracks
mingled with cattle hooves in the surrounding mud.

“I
used to swim here almost every day with your Uncle Darren when I was little.”

Tommy
looked shocked. “You can swim?”

“Sure,
can’t you?”

“Pa
always says he’ll teach me every summer, but he never does.” He hung his head.

Samantha
thought for a moment. “Well, there’s a reason he had to wait, you know.”

“For
what?”

She
had his full attention. “For the magic of seven. I’m sure you’ve heard about
it.”

His
small head shook no.

“Well,
when a boy . . . er,
man,
is seven, there is a special magic that
happens.”

“What
kind of magic?”

“The
kind of magic that lets you float on the water. So it’s easier to learn to
swim.”

“Really?”
His voice squeaked with excitement.

“Really.
I can prove it if you want to learn right now.”

Tommy
shed clothes, throwing them to the left and right until he stood in front of
her in his underwear.

He’s
certainly not shy,
she thought. Samantha grinned and caught the back the
hem of her dress, tucking it into her waistband. She pulled off her shoes and
stockings and they waded out together to knee-deep water. The mud squished
between her toes and the cool water lapped against her bare calves. She felt
the slight tickle of a fish nibbling on her leg. It had been years since she
waded into a pond, but it was tremendous. She stopped a few yards from shore. “This
is a good place to start.”

Tommy
nodded, eyeing the deeper water warily.

She
instructed him to lie back, and he followed her every word. She talked smoothly
as she supported him in the water and gradually let go until he was floating on
his own. “See, you’re doing it!”

He
popped up out of the water, splashing wildly. “I did it, I did it!”

They
spent the better part of an hour going through the basics of dog paddling until
he felt comfortable going in the deep water. Jimbo joined them, splashing and
celebrating each of Tommy’s accomplishments. As the sun slid toward the horizon
Tommy dressed, and they walked back to the house hand in hand.

Samantha
spotted Taos leaning against the porch railing. She had that urge to be nice
again, but squelched it. She had a few words for him concerning Tommy first. The
boy ran up the steps when he spotted his father.

“Why
didn’t you tell me about the magic of seven?”

Taos
turned a confused frown toward Samantha. “What magic?”

The
boy heaved a frustrated sigh that said grownups were a few bricks shy sometimes.
“The magic that lets you float so you can learn to swim. She told me,” he
jutted a thumb at Samantha, “and sure enough I can swim just fine. Why didn’t
you tell me?”

“Uh,
forgot I guess.” Taos raised a questioning eyebrow and smiled a little when she
shrugged.

“Old
people sure forget a lot.” The boy trouped through the back door. Charlie and
Darren both dodged him on their way out.

Taos
stared at her. How did she go and do in one afternoon what he had put off for
two years? He was impressed, and a little annoyed. Teaching a boy to swim was
something a father did. She didn’t even ask if he would mind. Not to mention
the fact that they had been missing for the better part of the afternoon. He
had paced the porch for more than half an hour, wondering where they could be. Her
nose had a little color and small wispy strands of hair floated across her
face.

“What
made you decide to take it up on yourself to—” His voice had an irritated edge,
but he couldn’t help it. Anything could have happened to them.

“What?”
She climbed the steps and stood less than a foot away, intentionally crowding
him. “Spend time with your son?”

He
opened his mouth, but she cut him off again.

“The
son you left here by himself so he wouldn’t get in your way?” She poked a
finger at his chest.

He
backed up as she moved forward.

“The
son you have made numerous promises to, only to welch on them?”

“My
son is
my
business, and I don’t welch on anything.” He stopped his
retreat and growled, “If I wanted your help—”

“You’re
getting it anyway.” She whispered harshly, not wanting Tommy to hear. “Whether
you want it or not, Tommy needs me. Even if I’m only his friend, it’s more than
you have apparently been lately.”

Charlie
and Darren stood perfectly still, and watched like spectators at a gun fight. Under
normal circumstances, they would be the first to jump to Taos’s defense. The risk
of drawing that kind of female wrath, however, kept them both quiet.

“What
makes you think you can just go off and not tell anyone where you’re going?”

Samantha
smiled and stepped closer. “Why, were you worried?”

“No,”
he lied. “It’s just inconsiderate and irresponsible.”

“Kind
of like a man that makes promises to a boy and doesn’t follow through?”

Darren
finally offered the first olive branch. “S-So how was town?”

His
attempt to change the subject was met with three glares of varying intensity.

“I
found it highly
educational.”
Samantha said saucily and brushed past
Taos into the house.

Taos
stared at Charlie, who refused to meet his gaze. The door banged as Taos
followed her in.

“Wh-What
did she mean educational?” Darren’s question seemed to bounce off his brother.

Charlie
looked out at the sunset and heaved a deep sigh. “God hates me today. That’s
what she meant.” The back door slammed behind him.

Jimbo
bounded up the stairs, and Darren bent down to scratch the dog’s large ears. “Why
is it I never know what’s going on around here?”

Chapter 10

Tension
battled with the mouthwatering aromas that soon filled the kitchen. Everyone
waited with a combination of dread and anticipation, like spectators at a
hanging. Tommy didn’t seem to notice, and he babbled incessantly at Samantha.

“Tomorrow
we can go fishin’ if you want. I know where to find the biggest worms anywhere.”
He pulled a chair up next to her as she mixed up some cornbread.

“Where’s
that?” She asked, smiling at his excitement.

“Under
the cow patties.”

 She
laughed and glanced sideways at the table where all three men sat. The unasked
questions were having an effect. One man simmered, one was confused, and one
looked like he was headed to the gallows. Aunt Mattie always said that
sometimes silence screams louder than words. Right again.
Let ’em stew a
while.

Samantha
turned her attention back to Tommy.

“Did
you really used to get into lots of trouble?” He waited for an answer.

“Oh
yes. I was sent to my room all the time.” She slid the cornbread into the oven
and wiped her hands on a towel. “Sometimes it was worth it, though.”

His
mouth dropped open. “You mean you got in trouble on purpose?”

“Sometimes.”

“Why?”

“Well,
if I was doing something to help someone else feel better, or keep them out of
trouble, that was usually worth the punishment.” She paused for a moment then
turned toward him to make sure that everyone in the room could hear her. “Of
course, there are other times it’s okay to get into trouble, too.”

“Like
when?”

“When
it’s the only way to make someone realize they’re wrong about something.”

Taos
frowned, Charlie sank lower. Darren glanced back and forth between the brothers.

“Why
wouldn’t you just tell them they were wrong?” Tommy’s logic was so simple it
hurt.

“Some
people just refuse to listen. If they won’t listen, that doesn’t leave much
choice.”

The
muscle in Taos’s cheek twitched and his teeth ground together. He watched
Samantha’s skirts sway as she turned to heap mashed potatoes in one bowl and
green beans flavored with bacon and onions in another. She had something to say
and it was obvious that she was making him squirm on purpose. He had to gain
control of this tendency she had of tuning every situation against him. Taos
purposely practiced patience in his dealings with people and used it to his
advantage many times.

Why
didn’t it work with her? Well, maybe it would work, but he couldn’t seem to
scrape together enough coherent thoughts around her to find out. One look, even
one word and she had him playing her game. His gaze bored into her back then
slid down over her hips. Closing his eyes, he inhaled a long breath. It would
be much easier if she wasn’t so . . . distracting. He rubbed his chest where
her finger had poked him. He had to stop letting her touch him. It scrambled
his brain until all he wanted to do was touch her back.

He’d
already decided she wasn’t leaving, no matter what, until he found out what she
was up to. At least that’s what he told himself. But it was more than that.
When he came home and she wasn’t there it bothered him much more than he’d let
on—and not just because of Tommy. But being in the same house presented some
issues. They needed to talk about some rules, maybe. Establish some boundaries
and distance between the two of them.

Taos
half-listened as his son explained the finer points of fishing. Samantha smiled
and nodded at the little chatterbox. Taos would pay good money to see her smile
like that at him. The lilac dress highlighted every curve and stretched tight
over the most interesting parts. He closed his eyes again. A dip in the creek
and a stiff shot of whiskey were the only things that were going to help him at
this rate.

Tommy
jumped down and brought Taos a chocolate cookie. “See what she made me?”

Taos
took a bite. Nobody around here had baked cookies since he was a little boy. The
sweet treat melted on his tongue. He smiled in spite of himself.

“So
you found everything you needed in town?” Taos asked Samantha.

“And
then some.” Charlie pressed a hand into his back. “’Bout threw my back out
loading it all. You’d think she was movin’ in for good.”

Taos
sat forward and looked directly at Charlie. “How much did she spend?”

Charlie
glanced at her.

“Not
one dime,” Samantha piped up. “Of your money, anyway.”

“Whose
money did you spend?” Taos’s voice raised slightly.

“Mine.”

“I
told you to put everything on my account.” Taos stared at his brother.

Charlie
shrank under the scrutiny. “Well, she insisted. And I know how much you hate
causing a scene and everything, so . . .”

“Why
did you insist? I can take care of it.”
What the hell?
Was she out to
embarrass him in front of the whole town?

“I
refuse to be obligated to anyone, especially you.” She paused. “Besides, from
the looks of things, I didn’t think you can spare it.”

Darren
squelched a snicker and Charlie hid his grin behind his fist. Taos’s cheek
twitched with renewed fervor.

“And
while we’re on the subject, this whole house could use a good cleaning, and I
intend to give it one tomorrow.”

“Sounds
like a warning.” Darren reached over and grabbed a cookie.

“It
is.”

All
three men looked at her.

“In
fact, if there is anything you’re attached to I highly recommend you take it
with you. Otherwise it’ll be cleaned within an inch of its life or thrown out
altogether.”

Jimbo
let out a low bark, eyeing the table through the screen door.

“And
that goes for that hairy mutt, too.”

“Who
said you could just come in here and start dishing out orders?”

She
turned toward Taos, a large wooden spoon in her hand. “Let me see if I
understand this.” She pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes at him. “I
volunteer to scrub this pigsty for you and your brothers, without being asked,
or paid, and all you do is complain?”

Silence.

“How
ungrateful can a man possibly be?”

“No
one asked for your help with anythin-”

“Tough!”
she turned back to the stove. “You’re getting my help anyway, no matter how
undeserving you might be!”

“I
think it’s nice that she wants to clean the place up a little,” Darren mumbled,
“Sure couldn’t do no harm.”

Charlie
nodded, “Less for us to do, not that we ever do it. I’d sure like to come home
and sleep on clean sheets for once.”

“Then
it’s settled.” She glanced over her shoulder, silently daring Taos to say
something.

He
simmered, trying to plot his next move. She was doing it again. Not only did
she think she could just take over his son and his house, she made him look
like the bad guy. He needed to talk to his brothers in private. Clearly they
had no idea how dangerous it was to let a woman think she runs everything.

As
Samantha placed Taos’s food in front of him, she balanced herself by placing
her hand on his shoulder. He jumped and jerked away like she’d burned him.

Everyone
stared. Taos cleared his throat and grabbed his plate. “Thank you,” he said.

“Well
that was awkward.” Charlie raised a brow at Samantha, who smiled.

They
were both playing him now. Taos jabbed his steak and ignored them.

Dinner
turned out to be a mostly silent affair. The chicken fried steaks were golden
brown and fork tender. Everyone watched as Tommy had half a steak, two helpings
of potatoes, and a large piece of cornbread before he was full. Finally, the
boy leaned over and whispered to Samantha, “That was great, ma’am.”

“Why
thank you, sir.” She put her arm around his slim shoulders and squeezed gently,
giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

Tommy
blushed and darted up the back stairs to get ready for bed.

“You
shouldn’t let him get too attached.” Taos scowled as he picked up another piece
of cornbread. “He’ll just be disappointed when you leave.”

“It’s
not my fault he’s starved for affection.”

 Taos
paused a moment, almost taking the bait, but then went back to his meal.

“I’m
sure he comes by it naturally though.” Samantha pushed “Like father, like son. Or
so I hear.”

“What
is that supposed to mean?” His fork clattered on his plate.

“Just
that I hear you haven’t been to Miss Sadie’s in a while.” She paused, “It
explains a lot.”

Taos
stopped mid-chew as heavy silence blanketed the entire kitchen. She met his
glare with a delicate arch of her brow. Charlie coughed dramatically and Darren’s
eyes grew round.

“What
did you hear, and who did you hear it from?” Taos braced for battle. He called
her bluff with a smile that was more a dare. He could easily embarrass her into
silence on this subject, then the advantage would be his.

“Oh,
you know. People.”

Taos’s
eyes narrowed.
Rumors.
She was bound to hear a whole slew of them in
town. There was no way she could know anything about his particular habits with
women, or lack thereof, and her evasiveness was proof. He would push until she admitted
it right here in front of everyone.

“Who
are these
people
, exactly, and what makes you think they know anything?”

She
was nonchalant, even confident. “Mavis and Cinnamon told me all about it this
morning when I went to Miss Sadie’s. I really don’t think they had any reason
to lie.”

Taos
glared at Charlie’s white face. The tight grip of humiliation squeezed Taos’s
throat until his voice was a low rumble. “Did you let her go to that place?”

“
Let
is kind of a strong word.” Charlie fumbled with his napkin and flashed a
helpless look at Samantha. “She just wandered off while I was loading the wagon,
and by the time I found her . . .”

“Actually,
I snuck off so it’s really not his fault.” She shrugged. “As it turned out, I
learned a great deal.”

“About
what?” He bit the words out.

“A
number of things.”

Taos
fought to remain calm. “What things?” He would control this conversation if it
killed him. His suspicion returned full force. Had she met up with some
accomplice in town? His eyes glanced out the backdoor. Maybe she was ready to
spring him on them now. “Well, at least we got a decent meal out of the deal.”

Taos
tossed his napkin on his plate. “So where’s he hidin’ honey?”

“We’re
not back to that again are we?” She heaved a frustrated sigh. “And ‘we’ didn’t
decide anything, you did. So it doesn’t count and there is another option, as
you well know.”

No
one moved a muscle as the tension mounted. “You are not going to do
that
.”
Taos said calmly. He pushed back from the table and stood indicating the
conversation was over.

“Why
not?” She smiled at him. “And the girls at Miss Sadie’s gave me a list of men
who might be willing to help me in that respect.”

The
blood rushed to Taos’s head so fast he saw stars. He hadn’t lost it . . . yet. And
he wasn’t going to. She was not going to push him that far this time. He leaned
forward on the table as his lips curled into a sneer. “You’ll never get a
chance to try your little plan. I will make sure you never leave this house.”

“Oh,
good, because the perfect man is already here.” She smiled.

Charlie
and Darren stared at each other and then at Taos who chuckled humorlessly.

He
rubbed his chin with his hand as he shook his head. “Even if you were the only
woman for a thousand miles, I would never—”

She
pushed aside the sting of his remark. “Oh, don’t worry, you aren’t even on the list
of great lovers at all. According to the girls at Miss Sadie’s, that is.” She
flashed a sexy smile at his brother. “Charlie, on the other hand was at the very
top.”

Charlie
perked up immediately. “They really said that?”

“Oh
yes, they had wonderful things to say about you. Apparently Raven thinks very
highly of your, um, skill.”

“Really?
I can’t believe they said that. Right at the top?”

“Number
one.”

“Enough!”
Taos’s voice rattled the panes in the window.
She could make angels weep in
frustration! She couldn’t be serious,
he thought
. And what about
Charlie, that backstabbing son of a bitch!
He looked at his brother who was
puffed up like a peacock.

He’s
just dumb enough to fall for it, too.
For a brief moment Taos’s mind pictured Samantha wrapped in Charlie’s arms, and
it pushed him to the edge of insanity. He marched around and jerked her up by
the arm. “You two find somewhere else to be!”