Don't Make Me Choose Between You and My Shoes (22 page)

The intimacy they had shared cemented those thoughts for her. She didn't want to think about never again waking up beside him. She especially didn't want to think about not seeing him for long stretches of time. But his life was well rooted in New York, and hers in Dime Box. There were issues, like her grandmother, who was at a vulnerable time in
her life. Celina couldn't just up and leave her, not after all Granny Dee had done and sacrificed for her. Why, without Granny Dee she would have grown up a ward of the state of Texas.

If anyone could appreciate her fears, it would be Granny Dee. As a young woman she had been through the same thing. How had she known her choice to leave New York City and move to Texas was the right one? Had she ever regretted her decision? How did one decide between following her heart or her head?

She reached into the pocket of her robe and pulled out her cell phone. She needed to hear the soothing reassurance Granny Dee would give her or the no-nonsense kick-in-the-pants she was just as capable of delivering. Waiting for the call to connect, she glanced at her horoscope for the day:

Feelings of security aren't what they seem. Someone has unfinished business with you. Watch your back.

She had no time to react to the ominous forecast. Granny Dee answered and Celina opened her heart.

 

Later, at Bergdorf Goodman, Edwina strutted in front of the shoe mirror admiring the Jimmy Choo foot candy that adorned her feet. She had never paid this much money for a single pair of shoes in her life. Hell, all the shoes she had purchased altogether in her life probably didn't add up to this much. But then this past week had been filled with a list of firsts. She wasn't that hard-pressed to add one more to it.

The price tag was astronomical for shoes, particularly
when she could get a pair with heels just as high at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Odessa. Even with throwing in the money she had collected by winning the karaoke contest, the price would still lighten her pocket considerably.

She took another turn in front of the mirror. These shoes weren't just red with three-and-a-half-inch heels; they were
ruby
red and satin with three-and-a-half-inch heels. Just the thought of
ruby
,
red
and
satin
all in the same sentence was titillating enough to make Edwina's head spin. The real kicker was the half-inch red-and-black border of crystals that trimmed the vamp. Yep, this pair of shoes was in a class all its on.

“My God, Ed,” Debbie Sue said. “Those are the prettiest shoes I've ever seen. I don't think I've got a pair of boots that'll top them. Not even my custom-made Luccheses that Buddy bought me. Where would you wear them?”

“Anywhere. Everywhere. Hell, at this price I'd wear them to work. Maybe I'd wear them to bed.” Edwina turned on the ball of her foot and examined the back again. “On second thought, I'd definitely wear them to bed. They're sexy as all get-out, aren't they? And they match my teddy.”

“Oh, hell yes. You should get them.”

“But the cost. I don't know—”

“Look, I'd pay that in a heartbeat for a pair of custom-made boots. Why shouldn't you do the same? Remember that pair of boots I saw that time that were made out of anteater? And remember what they cost? I didn't buy them and I've always wished I had.”

“But you'd wear those boots day in and out for a lifetime. I'd only wear these shoes occasionally, or until I'm too old to keep my balance in them.”

Just then Matt walked up and let out a soft wolf whistle. “Wow, that's some sexy shoe. Edwina, you look like a million bucks.”

Edwina turned immediately to the salesperson. She didn't bat an eye. “I'll take 'em.”

B
y seven o'clock that evening Matt had herded his bevy of beauties onto the elevator and out the hotel's revolving door.

The women were dressed in their best, smelling good and primed for a good time their last night in the city. All talk centered around the choices they expected to see on the menu, the attire each woman had chosen for the evening. The one thing they all had in common was the wish that everyone back home could see them.

Of course Matt wasn't intimidated. Hadn't he grown up in a houseful of sisters?

They were expecting to ride in a taxi, but he told them he had something else in mind. “I've rented two pedicabs to take us to the restaurant. I thought something a little different would be nice.”

The three women only smiled politely, but no one questioned his decision.

“Do any of you know what a pedicab is?” he asked.

“Mattie, we don't have a fuckin' clue,” Debbie Sue said, “but if you think we'll like it, we're all for it.”

“I'm glad you have that much confidence in me. A pedicab is kind of like a rickshaw. Two people sit in the back of this little carriage that's attached to a bike and a person pedals it around. I thought about a horse-drawn carriage, but you Texas gals probably do that all the time.”

“Oh, yeah,” Debbie Sue cracked, “practically everywhere we go, we travel by horse and buggy. We hear tell there's an iron horse that runs on steel tracks coming our way soon.”

“That, and water that flows from a pipe right inside your own house,” Edwina added.

Matt laughed. “Okay, okay. Maybe I went a little overboard. I didn't mean to imply you were from the sticks.”

Celina placed her hand on his arm. “We love it, Matt.”

“You need to plan on coming down our way when we all get back home,” Edwina said. “There's a lot more to Texas than cowboys and horses.”

“Not much more that matters, but there is more,” Debbie Sue added.

He covered Celina's hand with his and looked into her beautiful eyes. “Do you think I should plan a trip to Texas?”

She looked back with a smile, and he fell deeper. “I was hoping you had already,” she said softly.

“Awww,” Edwina said and gave a deep sniff. “That's so sweet. I could cry.”

“Shut up, Ed,” Debbie Sue said.

Matt squeezed Celina's hand. “We'll talk about it later. Meantime, ladies, your drivers await.”

Two men dressed in biker shorts, tuxedo jackets and top hats approached and handed each of them a yellow rose.

“Ladies,” one said, gesturing to the carriages that sat curbside.

“Hon, I'm afraid we're too heavy for you,” Edwina said, eyeing the cab apprehensively.

“You'd be surprised how much we can pull,” the young man replied. “We're a ‘no weight limit' service. That's W-E-I-G-H-T, not W-A-I-T,” he added.

“Then it's a go,” Edwina said. “That's G-O, not N-O.”

Everyone laughed. Debbie Sue and Edwina took seats in one pedicab and Celina and Matt sat down in the other. The drivers replaced their top hats with protective headgear and the pedicabs pulled away from the hotel.

During the trip to Central Park, Debbie Sue and Edwina laughed and asked questions of the cyclist. Soon they knew his name was Joseph and he was saving money for trips to California and Mexico.

Celina and Matt in the lead carriage turned frequently and waved at them.

Debbie Sue snapped pictures at every photo opportunity. Edwina used the exposed carriage as a chance to flash one
foot in the air whenever possible to display her most recent red satin purchase. The air was festive, the mood was high and the evening was just beginning.

Captivated by Central Park, Debbie Sue looked up and saw the moon, full, huge and a brilliant yellow, hanging low in the sky and framing the silhouette of skyscrapers. The image was breathtaking. “Joseph. Joseph, stop for just a minute.”

Their driver looked over his shoulder, concern showing in his face. “Is something wrong?”

“I've just got to get out and get this picture.”

He braked and Debbie Sue climbed out. As she moved away from the carriage, seeking the best vantage point, Edwina said, “Aww, look.” She strolled over to a couple walking a golden retriever and struck up a conversation.

“Is it okay, if I step away for a smoke?” their driver asked.

“Sure,” Debbie Sue said, her attention focused on the camera. After snapping several shots, Debbie Sue put her camera back in her purse and joined Edwina, oohing and aahing over the dog. She, too, was a sucker for animals of any kind. The dog seemed to sense this and soon had both women wrapped around his paw.

“Hey,” Debbie said to Edwina, noting that Joseph had returned to the bike. “We're falling behind. I can barely see Celina and Matt.”

“Okay,” Edwina agreed, bidding the dog and his owners good evening. They returned to the carriage, took their seats and the driver resumed pedaling.

After a few seconds, Edwina said, “Does it seem like we're going faster?”

“I thought that, too,” Debbie Sue said, suddenly concerned for their safety. She glanced at their driver and noticed he was standing on the pedals, his legs pumping hard. She leaned forward. “Sorry to have gotten you behind,” she shouted. “You keep going at this rate and we'll be passing our friends soon.”

With no warning, the pedicab veered to the right, following a narrow trail, while the carriage with Celina and Matt continued straight ahead.

“Maybe he knows a shortcut,” Edwina said.

The carriage hit a pothole and bounced Debbie Sue and Edwina out of their seat. Debbie Sue grabbed the side of the carriage and regained her balance. “Maybe so. But someone needs to tell him this isn't a race.”

They zoomed at breakneck speed up the trail, which narrowed to a path. The carriage rattled and knocked and bounced them around. Enough was enough. “Joseph! Joseph! Stop pedaling!”

The bike swerved into a thicket of bushes and skidded to a stop so suddenly Debbie Sue and Edwina were thrown off the seat and into a jumbled heap on the floor of the carriage. Debbie Sue was stunned, but not so much so that she didn't notice their driver step off the bike and move away from it.

Debbie Sue climbed out of the carriage and marched after him. “Hey, Lance Armstrong, have your lost your friggin' mind? You could have hurt us.”

“Surprise,” a gravelly voice said.

Debbie Sue peered through tree limbs toward the voice. Instead of looking into the face of Joseph, the cyclist saving money for a trip to California and Mexico, she was stand
ing eye to eye with Frank Rogenstein, fugitive and serial killer. Her heart, already pumping hard, dropped clear to her feet, but she summoned her courage. “Where's Joseph?” she demanded. “What'd you do with him?”

“Oh, is that his name? I think he's back there on the side of the road. He'll be okay, but he'll have a headache for a while.”

Edwina stumbled toward them, adjusting her clothing. “Hey, Joseph, you got a death wish?”

“Funny you should bring that up,” Rogenstein said.

Edwina looked up for the first time. Her mouth moved, but no words came out. Finally, she yelled, “Run!”

Before she could move, Debbie Sue grabbed her arm in a viselike grip. “Don't move, Ed,” she said gravely.

“Best to listen to your smart friend,” Rogenstein said, waving the barrel of some kind of gun in their direction.

“What—what are you going to do to us?” Debbie Sue asked.

“Gee, smart lady, you've had all the answers up to now. You tell me. What should I do with the two of you?”

Edwina said, “Well I think—”

“Shut up, you silly bitch!”

Edwina planted a fist on her hip. “Being rude isn't necessary. After all, you're the one with the gun.”

“That's right. And you're the two that are gonna die. Now, walk over there into those bushes.”

“No,” Debbie Sue said firmly.

“What?” Rogenstein snapped, narrowing his eyes.

“What?” Edwina repeated.

“I'll have you know that this time next month my husband will be a Texas Ranger,” Debbie Sue said. “If you harm a hair on my head, buster, you'll see what real trouble is. He's told me a million times that if I'm ever abducted that I was to refuse to leave with the abductor. Or the asshole, if that description fits better.”

“And I'm supposed to be scared of a Texas Ranger? Where the hell do you think you are? This time next month your husband will be a widower,” Rogenstein said menacingly.

Bang!
Dirt and rocks stung Debbie Sue's shins.

He had shot at her! The sonofabitch had fired a shot at her feet!

“Now, walk,” he said.

Furious, she grabbed Edwina in an impromptu hug about the neck and whispered in her ear, “When I fall down, run.”

“Don't—” Edwina started to say.

“Break it up! Now! And walk!”

Debbie Sue felt tears rush to her eyes. “I just wanted to tell my friend good-bye.” She sniffled, suddenly turned sharply and crumpled to the ground, grabbing her ankle. “Ow, ow. Damn, I've twisted my ankle.”

“Get up!” the gun-wielding psychopath growled.

“I can't,” Debbie Sue whined. “You'll have to kill me here.”

Rogenstein came over and swung his foot backward to deliver a blow to her middle. Like lightning, Debbie Sue swung her own leg, strong and well muscled from a lifetime of controlling a horse while straddling its back, and struck Rogenstein's ankle with her Tony Lama stacked-riding-heel boot. With the other foot, she delivered a hard kick to his groin.

He choked and doubled over. Using the heel of her hand the way Buddy had shown her many times, she planted a blow to the bridge of his nose. He howled as blood gushed.

“Run!” she yelled at Edwina.

Edwina seemed frozen to the spot.

“Dammit, run!” Debbie Sue repeated.

Run
? Edwina thought. Who the hell could run? She was wearing three-and-a-half-inch heels that had cost $750. She trotted on tiptoes as Debbie Sue passed her like an torch-carrying Olympic runner.

“C'mon, Ed. I've got the gun.”

Edwina followed with tiny quick steps. When she reached the carriage, Debbie Sue was already climbing in.

“I'll cover us from the back of the carriage while you pedal.”

Edwina scowled. “Are you crazy?”

“Ed, move!”

Something whizzed past Edwina's ear so closely she felt the hot sting, then she heard a
crack!
A gunshot?

“Sonofabitch,” Debbie Sue cried. “He's got another gun! Edwina! Get on that fuckin' bicycle. Or I'll shoot you myself.”

Edwina crawled onto the bike seat. She began pedaling as fast as she could, her heart racing, her eyes tearing. She was gonna die. She knew it. She was gonna die in her Jimmy Choo shoes, pedaling her ass through Central Park.

“That bastard,” she yelled back over her shoulder. “If I ruin these shoes, I'll kill 'im with my bare hands.”

“Dammit, just pedal, Ed! Pedal.”

Edwina hadn't ridden a bike since childhood, but now she recaptured the hang of it. She lay over the handlebars, her mile-long legs pumping hard and fast, her knees bumping the handlebars. She would have bruises to kingdom come by the time this was over. Wind rushed past, flattening her hairdo. Still she pedaled. She spotted a curve ahead and attempted to brake, but the pedals spun in backward circles.

She turned and yelled over her shoulder again. “Debbie Sue, this sucker ain't got brakes.”

“They're on the handlebars,” Debbie Sue called back.

“How the fuck am I supposed to put my feet on the handlebars?”

“Dammit, Ed, don't stop. Just keep going.”

They rounded the corner. She caught sight of Celina and Matt's cart ahead. Edwina felt the carriage tip behind her, but it righted itself.

Ka-whump
!

Edwina was knocked to the ground, flat on her bottom, and the pedicab was weaving crazily across the roadway. It came to a sudden stop against a park bench. She was dazed, but she heard a struggle and the sound of someone gasping for air.

Off to her right, she saw Rogenstein sitting astraddle Debbie Sue. He had her in a strangle hold and the flailing of her best friend's legs was growing weaker.

Edwina forced herself to her feet, yanked off a shoe, lunged forward and jumped on the back of their assailant.
She pounded his head and shoulders with the stiletto shoe heel.

Rogenstein released Debbie Sue and turned on her. “You rotten bitch!” He leveled a gun at her face.

Edwina closed her eyes and instinctively turned sideways. She heard a shot and assumed she had been hit, but she felt no pain. Surprising. She thought getting shot would hurt more. Maybe she was already dead and it had been so fast there was no pain involved.

She dared to open one eye and saw Rogenstein on his knees in front of her. He had a surprised look on his face and a large hole in his chest. Looking up at her quizzically, he fell forward with a
shwump
.

Matt ran to him and kicked the gun aside. He bent down and felt Rogenstein's neck. “He's dead,” he announced and pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

“Holy shit,” Debbie Sue gasped. “Holy shit. Mother of God. Holy shit.”

“Everyone all right?” Matt asked. “I've got medical on the way.

“I—I think I don't n—need it,” Debbie Sue stammered. “Ed, are you okay?”

At some point, Edwina had broken into tears. “Oh, hell, I'm okay.” She sniffled. “But do you think there's any chance that big store will take these back?” She held up for inspection what was left of her Jimmy Choo shoe and broke into sobs.

 

Matt had ordered Celina to stay with the other cyclist and wait for the police to arrive, and she had done exactly that. She was
relieved and overcome with joy when he walked up with his arms around the shoulders of Debbie Sue and Edwina.