Cowboy Country (46 page)

Almost 8 am.

This wasn’t her typical driving style.

Eager to get to the church where little Emilia would be baptized, Jessie couldn’t wait to see the people who’d been her lifeline when she was a high school valedictorian with an alcoholic mother, a little sister, and a full time job. She’d been busy with work, as a juvenile defender in Austin’s alternate adjudication program, but still, it had been too long.

Two hours later, Jessie swung into the church’s crowded parking lot and took a good look in the rear view mirror. Brushing out her ash blonde hair, letting it swing over the shoulders of a pale blue eyelet sweater, she lined her peridot green eyes subtly and reapplied a touch of brown mascara. At her neck, small, pure gold beads glinted between the fat lustery pearls of her choker, Wyatt Callenbach’s gift when she’d finished undergrad pre-law at UT Austin, summa cum laude.

Oh, God!

She’d see Wyatt in moments, inside the church.

Opening her car door, Jessie smoothed the skirt of her above-the-knee, snug pale blue linen shift with damp hands. The heels of her blue strappy sandals clicked up the steps leading to the church’s front entry where Denise was waiting in her Sunday best, clutching the old black patent purse she’d had as long as Jessie’d known her.

“Denise!”

Behind her wire rimmed frames, Denise’s brown eyes sparkled like liquid chocolate drops. “It’s good to see you, darlin’.”

Jessie wrapped the woman in one arm and opened the heavy church door with the other. “I’m so happy to be here,” she managed, clutching the woman who’d been her emotional ballast the past fifteen years. Denise kissed Jessie’s cheek and they entered the church nave silently, slipping into the spot Denise’s son Ralph had saved for them.

Silently mouthing hellos, Jessie touched the arm of Ralph’s saggy navy blazer as she squeezed in next to him. The organ began to play; everyone rose, and Sunday service began.

*****

“Well, I guess parenting suits you two!” Jessie kissed Lance and Mary after the service as the pastor prepped the altar for little Emilia’s ceremony. To her delight, Mary placed tiny infant Emilia in her arms. Emilia continued to sleep peacefully as Jessie gazed at the infant’s little rosebud lips, her pale translucent skin, her wee fingernails.

“Jessie!”

She recognized that deep voice; her stomach looped.

Face beaming with pleasure, Wyatt Callanbach strode towards her, all cowboy, commanding and assured, looking much too good.

Leaning over Emilia to kiss Jessie’s cheek, his deep voice intent in her ear, Wyatt said, “Welcome home, Jess. You look good with that baby in your arms.”

Returning his smile, she felt a tightening in her chest. The words and his proximity sent a chill up her spine. Standing this close, Wyatt radiated heat...that same, undeniable heat she’d felt years before, and since, anytime she’d thought too much about him. He’d been her first kiss, her Homecoming escort, Prom Date and first lover, and he still made her weak at the knees.

Damn.

This could have been them, the couple with the infant.

The happy family.

She’d told him no, she wasn’t ready, but now she knew what a fool she’d been.

Jessie managed to control the quiver in her voice. “Isn’t she precious? You let me know when it’s your turn, Wyatt, she’s your god daughter, too. ”

His was still too close, his low voice husky and affectionate. “Ah, she stays with you today, Jess.The two of you need to bond. I see plenty of little Miss Emilia at Mockingbird Ranch, don’t I darlin’?” he asked, touching the baby’s dress affectionately.

Emilia’s eyes opened then, deep blue pools of glowing wonder, and Jessie watched Wyatt gaze lovingly at the baby; it was almost too much...until Stacia’s voice interrupted, brash and unwelcome.

“Well, hi, Jessie!”

An attractive redhead in a busy silk print dress, Stacia grasped Wyatt’s elbow, clinging to him, pulling him away, really, so he stepped back from Jesse and Emilia. Eyes fluttering, social smile plastered on her face, Stacia gushed, “Mary has to pry this child away from Wyatt! We just love our time with little Emilia!”

Stacia had snatched Wyatt up Jessie’s last year of law school. She’d never get used to Wyatt with Stacia, but they made an attractive couple, she’d give them that. Forcing a fake smile of her own, she said, “Great to see you, Stacia. It’s been awhile.”

Teja swooped in to save her. Feet in sparkly gold slippers, he bustled over, purring, “Look at our lovely Jessie with baby Emilia!”

“Thank you,” she murmured in his ear.

“You’ve got the redhead whipped coming and going,” Teja snarked in a low undertone. Then, in a social voice, he offered, “May I introduce my Alexander?”

Straight from Hollywood, Alexander and Teja were a couple the likes of which sleepy Hobble Creek, Texas had rarely seen. Resplendent in a full length gold silk caftan, embroidered hat, and snug dark pants, Teja clung to his new man.

Alexander was an award-winning celebrity photographer, Linny had said. About the same height as Teja, but bulky and muscular, Alexander wore an open necked white silk shirt revealing elaborate tattoos on his neck and chest and carried a camera bag full of gear.

“If the family of Emilia Dougherty will come forward, we’ll get started,” Reverend Paulson intoned, so Jessie took a deep breath and stepped up on the altar, grateful that for once, Stacia stayed back.

Mary held a squirming Emilia close to the baptismal font, a gold bowl set on a waist high marble pedestal, Lance on one side, godparents Jessie and Wyatt on the other, and the ceremony began. When Jessie and Wyatt said their prayer together, his deep, confident voice melding with hers, she looked up; Wyatt’s eyes were on her, beaming with pride, and Jessie couldn’t help thinking again of that Thanksgiving, and how she’d disappointed him.

She bit her tongue, hard, to keep her eyes from filling with tears.

Lance pulled Emilia’s tiny white bonnet back, exposing her forehead. With a blessing, Reverend Paulson poured water over the infant’s head. The baby squalled and Mary soothed her. They all said a recessional prayer and stepped down off the altar.

Alexander hadn’t stopped snapping pictures; the photos would be gorgeous.

One day, Jessie hoped she and Emilia would pore over the album of this day together.

“There’s a big spread for Miss Emilia laid out at Mockingbird Ranch. I hope you’ll join us, Reverend, half the town’s invited,” Wyatt announced, beaming towards Jessie.

Then Stacia was there, clutching at his arm.

Wyatt glanced down, eyebrows knitted, and decided to beat a hasty exit. Turning to leave, he called over his shoulder, “We’ll see you back there.”

Jessie walked Mary and Lance to their new minivan, trying to focus on the baby, the guest of honor. “She’s grown so already, I can’t believe it.”

“Gained almost four pounds!” Mary said proudly, tucking her short brown hair behind an ear, snapping the fastener on the carseat. “We’re having a ball together. I just love being a mom, Jessie.”

“I’m so happy for you,” Jessie replied, taking in Emilia’s full rosy face, her tiny hands and feet, the wisps of blonde hair.

When the idea of Wyatt’s baby had been more than Jessie could contemplate, Teja had already been in LA, merging his fashion sense into a successful business dressing the stars. Styling high fashion and celebrity photo shoots, Teja had achieved his dreams, but he’d never been too busy to take Jessie’s frantic late night calls, her last year of law school.

Like, “Oh, my God, I might be pregnant, Teja.”

Like, “Wyatt wants to marry me, Teja, but I can’t quit school now, not when I’m so close to actually being a lawyer.”

Like, “It was just a false alarm, stress, I guess. Wyatt wanted to marry me, and I said no. I thought we were taking a break, but now he’s with Stacia.” 

Of course, Teja knew it all.

Jessie’s was among the last of the cars to pull out of the church’s parking lot. When the light turned red at the intersection of Highway 183 and Skidder’s Lane, Jessie found herself in front of Ralph’s Okay Corral, a gas station, repair shop and deli, her mind flooding with memories.

2

MOCKINGBIRD RANCH

Sunday, May 29, 2016, 10:44 AM~Mockingbird Ranch, Hobble Creek, TX

“This is why I suggested we take two cars, Stacia,” Wyatt said on their way back to Mockingbird Ranch, trying to hide his annoyance.

“Two cars?” Stacia asked, flashing her “charming” smile.

Great, so this is how she’s playing it, Wyatt thought. “Look, I know you want to get back and make sure the party’s all set, and I appreciate it, but this is Emilia’s Day, and...” his voice dropped an octave, “…It’s Jessie’s day, too, Stacia. You know that,” Wyatt told her, frustrated by the way she’d pushed in at the church, by the need to reiterate the discussion they’d had months before, when Stacia had begged to plan the party. 

“Oh, Wyatt, c’mon! You’re playing host! Of course it’s Jessie’s day, too! Exactly why we planned it for Memorial Day weekend! All of Jessie’s friends have flown in from LA. We have to get back to the ranch, make sure things are all set up!” Stacia said glibly, checking her phone. “And not a moment too soon. Your guests will arrive any minute!”

Sunday, May 29, 2016 10:54 AM~Mockingbird Ranch, Hobble Creek, TX

Turning the blue Audi into the gates of Mockingbird Ranch, Jessie steadied her shaking hands. The Presbyterian Church where Emilia had been baptized was the place she’d said good bye to her daddy. As thrilled as she was to be part of Emilia’s big day, she couldn’t get around the fact that being there had brought up a bunch of sad memories.

That day Jessie’s junior year when the state police showed up at Hobble Creek High School with bad news, Jackie had been on a bender. Called to the guidance office, Jessie and Linny walked past the two grave-faced policemen hovering in the hall, and Ms. Hortense, with as much care as she possible, sank their already weird little world into a nightmare.

There’d been an explosion on the rig out off the coast of Galveston. Their father Gerry was lost, presumed dead. Gerry had been their ballast, their anchor, their hero, their connection to a world that was more sane and solid than the one they knew with Jackie.

That afternoon, Denise took Jessie and Lalinda to the Presbyterian Church to see about a Memorial Service. The funeral had been small, Gerry’s brother from San Antonio, Ralph and Denise, Mary, Lance and Jackie, of course, tipsy and red-eyed as always. Jessie still remembered the moment Wyatt strolled in. Eyes sympathetic, he’d stepped right into the pew next to her and clasped her hand tight.  As Wyatt held on, Jessie knew even though her world had blown to bits right along with her father’s body on that damned oil derrick, somehow things would be alright.

And they had been.

Gerry’s body was never recovered, and Jackie had gone right on drinking, but Jessie and Lalinda  had been okay.

Wyatt and Lance and Mary and Denise had seen to that; they’d been all she and Lalinda had.

If she was honest with herself, they were all Jessie still had.

Well, except for Wyatt; he was Stacia’s, now.

On either side of Mockingbird Ranch’s long driveway, split rail fence separated the familiar pastures where Herefords grazed peacefully. Jessie pulled the Audi over, found herself squeezing her eyes tight to quell the hot tears rolling down her cheeks.

She’d visited Mary and Lance and Denise off and on the past three years, but this was her first time back to the ranch house since her breakup with Wyatt.

Wyatt had broken her heart. But then, she’d broken his, too, more than once.

A breeze ruffled the line of pin oaks, over the quiet hum of the car engine. Birds flew overhead, punctuating the bright sky. Wiping her face with a tissue, Jessie took a deep breath, lined her mouth with pink lipstick, smooshing them together. Things had changed, and she’d had plenty of time to get used to it. Now was not the time for regrets. This was Lance and Mary and Emilia’s day, not Jessie’s.

Heart thudding so it might burst from her chest, Jessie pulled in and parked next to a white SUV. A gorgeous, long legged blonde, a head taller than she was strode towards the front porch in a fuchsia print wrap dress and ultra-high-heeled sandals, holding the hand of a handsome man in a tan linen suit and black sunglasses.

“Lalinda?” she called.

Her sister turned and yelped, “Jessie!” her long, wavy blonde hair swinging. Racing back to clasp Jessie in a fierce embrace, her taut arms gripped tight. “We got into Austin so late last night,” Linny gushed in her lilting drawl, Texas tinged with LA. “I didn’t want to boot my date out of the hotel too early this morning. Sorry we missed the ceremony.” 

“It’s okay, Linny,” Jessie said, squeezing hard. “Teja’s man snapped photos the whole time. I’m sure he caught every moment.”

“The ranch looks great, doesn’t it?” Lalinda raved. “It’s so much fun to be back here with the home folks!”

Jessie’s throat closed.

They’d always loved this place, especially in spring. The rolling hills behind the ranch house were cloaked in the pale green of spring, tall stands of pine jutting dark green.

It wasn’t exactly ‘fun’ for her to be back, but she wouldn’t spoil it for Linny.

“Jessie, may I introduce my courageous traveling buddy?” Lalinda was saying. 

Linny’s date was broad shouldered and tanned, with chiseled facial features, and short cropped grey hair. He wore a black silk t-shirt under his expensive suit.

They looked like two movie stars.

Linny’s tastes were so LA now.

Wait, they were movie stars...Well, practically.

“Franz, this is my sister Jessie.”

Franz clasped her fingertips and raised them to his lips smiling, gracious, good looking and debonair; not exactly Jessie’s kind of man, but perfect for Lalinda.