Hallie's Destiny (The Donovans of the Delta) (7 page)

“I always worry about you being up there. Especially when you’ve got rodeoing on your mind. You take too many fool chances.”

She patted his grizzled face. “You always worry about me, and I always appreciate it; but I can take care of myself.”

Raymond turned pink from all the attention. With pretended indifference he looked past Hallie. “Where’s that young man you had in here the other day? He’s a nice fellow. Looked as if you two were hitting it off pretty good.”

Unexpected pain Hallie with such force that she was sure Raymond could see it. She struggled to appear nonchalant. “Yes. I enjoyed his company. But it’s time for me to be moving on. I suppose he’ll be leaving too. Truckers lead a vagabond life.”

“Trucker, did you say?”

“Yes. That’s what he told me.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Raymond scratched his head a moment as he pondered the situation. Then a look of purpose came into his face. “You just wait right here, Miss Hallie.”

He went to the magazine rack and came back with a copy of
Fortune
. Without another word, he handed the magazine to Hallie. On the front cover was a picture of Josh Butler.

Hallie’s eyes grew wide as she looked up at Raymond.

“The magazine came in yesterday. I thought there was something familiar about him when I first saw him.”

Flipping open the magazine, Hallie searched until she found the story.
Profile of an American businessman
, the caption read.
Josh Butler, owner of Silken Moments
. . . Hallie gripped the magazine so hard her knuckles turned white. The phrase,
owner of Silken Moments,
whirled in her head until she thought she might faint. He knew her, she realized, stunned. He’d known her from the moment they met. Her most successful stint as a model had been with Silken Moments. There was no way Josh Butler could own that company and not know of her poster.

She continued reading,
. . . is one of America’s top ten wealthiest men. The self-made billionaire has had a meteoric rise to wealth and fame by catering to the American woman’s voracious appetite for pantyhose and lingerie. Located in Florence, Alabama . .
.

Hallie didn’t want to read any more. She felt sick inside thinking about the picnic, the bluebonnets, the sunshine kisses they’d shared. Josh Butler, the man she’d called her poetic trucker, was one of the richest men in America. He had lied to her.

For the first time since her divorce she’d been tempted to put her trust in a man, and he had betrayed her. Why? she wondered. Certainly not to win his way into her bed. He’d turned the opportunity down. Why had he pretended to be a trucker? Why had he evaded all questions about his personal life? She had no answers.

Raymond was still standing beside her, watching her anxiously. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Hallie.”

She put her hand on his arm. “You didn’t, Raymond.”

“Your face is white, and you look a little peaked. Let me get you a cup of water.”

“No thank you, Raymond. I’ll be all right. I just need time to adjust to this . . .” She stopped and waved the magazine in the air. Words for the stunning article failed her. “. . . this news,” she finally said.

“Derned my hide. Me and my big mouth. I’m always jabbering on about things that are none of my business.” He plucked the magazine from her hands and stuffed it firmly back on the rack. “It’s just that when you’re in a position to know everything that goes on, like I am, you naturally start to feeling self-important.” He put his arm around her shoulder and guided her to a folding metal chair beside the ice-cream box. “Now you sit right there and let me try to make amends.” He reached into the ice-cream cooler and took out a chocolate- covered vanilla bar. “Your favorite. On the house. It’ll make you feel better.”

Hallie had to laugh. “Raymond, you carry on over me like a mother hen. I don’t really need all this attention.” She peeled back the wrapper and took a big bite. “But I never turn down a chance for free ice cream. Thank you.”

His grin was her reward. “That’s more like it. And as for the magazine article—why you just forget all about it. Josh Butler is a fine fellow. If he wants to pretend he’s a trucker, he must have his good reasons. It’s certainly not for me to judge.”

Hallie polished off her ice cream and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Nor for me, Raymond. Why don’t we get my supplies and forget about Josh Butler.”

“Sure as shootin’.” He led her proudly toward the chips. “If I know that brother of yours, he hasn’t got a single bag of corn chips on the whole ranch. He stopped by here about a month ago on the way to the ranch with that pretty wife and cute little daughter of his and didn’t buy a thing but staples . . . you know, meat and milk and bread and fruit. Said his family ate health food. That’s what he called it, health food.”

Hallie laughed. “He’s careful about physical fitness.”

She and Raymond chatted on about Tanner and his family as she gathered her supplies. Then she headed to the blessed oblivion of her brother’s ranch, thirty miles north. Nobody would be there except the small staff he kept on to run the place— and Hannah. She and the Danes would have acres of wide open space in which to roam and be free. And her twin sister would lend a shoulder, as she always had. It would feel good to talk to Hannah again.

She whizzed toward the ranch, but unlike the beginning of her camping trip a few short days ago, she didn’t hear freedom calling her name. Instead, she heard the faint echo of Josh Butler’s voice saying, “Take care, Hallie Donovan.”

 o0o

Josh hadn’t fallen asleep until almost dawn, and he woke up feeling sluggish. The pain of telling Hallie goodbye hadn’t diminished one iota.
She’s already gone
. He could sense it. There was a deserted feeling about the cove, a lonesome feeling.

He kicked back his sleeping bag and prepared to pack up his belongings. He’d waste no time in getting on his way.

He had his bag tied up and in the rig before he realized he wasn’t going anywhere. Everything about the lake was a vivid reminder of Hallie, and he suddenly discovered a great reluctance in himself to leave all evidence of her behind. Like an addict, he couldn’t cut her out of his life with one swift move; he had to wean himself away in stages.

He decided he’d fish the lake first, knowing that she wouldn’t appear from around the bend. Then he’d visit her empty campsite and store away the memory of their catfish supper. He’d watch the sunset over the lake one last time to remind himself that the sun could move its appointed rounds across the sky without her. He’d swim in the night darkness of the lake to reassure himself that the moon didn’t shine only for her. The hardest would be saved for last—a visit to the meadow of bluebonnets where they’d laughed together in the sunshine.

It took him two days to bid his goodbyes to the place of his lovely interlude with Hallie. As he sat in the empty meadow among the blue flowers, he remembered; and with the memories came the sure knowledge that he had to see her one more time. Not to try and resurrect the golden time they’d spent together. Not for one final look, one final touch, although, Lord knew, seeing Hallie meant he’d want her. No, he thought. His motive, misdirected as it might be, was to tell her the truth. He remembered her shining face when she’d called him her poetic trucking man. She’d trusted him, and he’d betrayed her trust. Though nothing else would be accomplished by seeing her, he had to explain to her why he’d carried out the charade.

 o0o

The third day after Hallie’s departure, Josh finally broke camp. He’d start his trace with a visit to Raymond’s store, he decided. If that didn’t work, there was always the phone book. She’d be listed, and so would her brother, Tanner Donovan. He’d find Hallie; there was no doubt about it. Then he’d head back to Florence and his responsibilities.

When Raymond’s came into view, he felt a lifting of his spirits. He parked his rig in the same spot Hallie always parked her outrageous El Dorado and went inside.

Raymond was behind the counter as usual. But his smile faded when he saw Josh.

Josh had worked with people too long not to notice. He strode to the icebox and took out a cold can of juice. Then, drawn by some force he refused to acknowledge, he stopped by the snack rack and picked up a bag of corn chips.

He paid Raymond. “Have you seen Hallie lately?”

 “Yep.”

Josh wasn’t deterred by the coolness of the reply. When he went after something, he never backed down.

“When?”

“The other day.”

For reasons known only to him, Raymond was stalling. Josh decided to try a new tactic. He put the full force of his personality to bear on the strangely taciturn storekeeper—the sincere smile, the confidential attitude, the honest expression in his eyes—all the attributes that had catapulted him from successful salesman to entrepreneur. His guile didn’t make him feel the least bit remorseful. He
had
to know about Hallie.

“She’s one of the most remarkable women I’ve ever met.” True, he thought. “Can outfish me by a country mile. And rodeoing! I’ve never met another woman who was brave enough to do that. She thinks the world of you, too. How was she the other day? Do you know?”

He’d sneaked the questions in so fast behind the compliments, Raymond was caught off guard. Besides, he knew that Raymond prided himself on knowing everything.

“Of course I know. I make it my business to know everything that goes on around here. And I can tell you right now, fellow, you threw our Hallie for a loop. She was looking peaked when she came in, and that magazine article about you didn’t help matters a bit.”

“What magazine article?”

“The one in
Fortune
.”

Josh felt cold all over. Hearing Hallie was disconsolate had been bad enough; knowing she’d learned of his duplicity in such an abrupt manner was more than he could bear. He felt pain akin to the pain of saying goodbye.

“Do you know where she was going?”

“Of course I do. Her brother’s ranch. She said she was going to do some rodeoing. And if you ask me, that’s not the thing to do in her state of mind.”

“Can you tell me how to get there?”

As he listened, he wished he could relive the past few days. He’d have stayed on his side of the cove and let Hallie stay on hers. Then his gypsy angel would never have been hurt.

CHAPTER FIVE

At first glance the ranch appeared deserted. Josh wheeled his rig over the winding driveway, taking note of the vast pastureland, empty as far as the eye could see except for the horses cropping the green spring grass. Through the trees Josh could see the ranch house, low-lying and rustic, its cypress and glass exterior blending in with the landscape.

As he parked his rig, he looked for Hallie’s car. It was nowhere in sight. Only a large gray van graced the driveway.

Josh went to the front door and rang the bell. A slim young Mexican woman greeted him. Her shiny black hair was arranged in a coronet of braids, and her smile was as bright as her yellow embroidered dress.

“Good afternoon.” Her English was perfect, with only the smallest inflection to indicate it was not her native language. Josh wondered if he had come to the wrong house.

“Hello. I’m Josh Butler, a friend of Miss Donovan’s. Is this the Donovan ranch?”

“Indeed, it is.” The young woman extended a slim brown hand. “I’m Carmen Silvera, and any friend of the Donovans is always welcome.” She held the door wide. “Won’t you come in?”

Josh stepped into a room that was so full of space and light he had the impression of still being outdoors. Bright woven rugs were scattered across the gleaming wooden floors, and sunlight poured through the skylights and the uncurtained windows. Beside the natural stone fireplace, Ludwig glanced up from a pillow, yawned hugely, then went back to sleep. The sight of him made Josh smile.

“Miss Donovan is here then.” It was a statement more than a question.

Carmen glanced from Ludwig to Josh. Her laugh had a bright, mischievous tinkle. “She is. Out back. Sitting in the sunshine as if she can’t get enough of it.” She nodded toward the French doors. “Right through there.”

Josh walked through the doors. Hallie was sitting with her back to him, knees drawn up, dark gypsy hair gleaming in the sunshine. He stood for a moment watching her, drinking in the sight of her.

Suddenly he heard the dog growl. Out of the corner of his right eye he saw a flash of gray fur. Everything happened so fast he wasn’t sure of the sequence. He found himself flat on the ground staring up into the fangs of a large Siberian husky.

“Hold him, Pete.” The face and hair were Hallie’s, but the voice and eyes were not. She spoke with Hallie’s throaty voice, but without the soft southern drawl. Fascinated, Josh gazed into her eyes. They were the bluest blue he’d ever seen.

“You’re not Hallie.”

“No. Carmen loves to play that prank. State your name and business.” She stood above him as serene as if she were conducting a Sunday school class, one hand on her trim hip and the other resting lightly on the dog’s head. Josh didn’t feel reassured. The husky’s fangs were still bared, and it growled low in its throat.

“Do you mind calling off the dog?”

“First things first. Your name?”

“Josh Butler.”

She gave a low-voiced command, and the dog trotted off, its tail wagging.

“I’m Hannah Donovan, Hallie’s twin.” He watched Hallie’s glorious smile light her face. Extending a hand, she pulled him up with surprising strength. “We have a lot to talk about, Josh Butler.” She was supremely in command as she linked her arm with his and led him toward the redwood bench.

o0o

Two hours after he left Hannah, Josh was seated on an ancient wooden bleacher at a rodeo ring.
Rick Johnson’s Wild Rodeo
, the banner opposite the chutes proclaimed. In small print the banner warned,
Not for the timid
. Josh grinned and thought that Johnson should have added,
only for the wealthy.
After trying to gain access to Hallie and being told no visitors were allowed beyond the chutes, he’d paid a handsome sum to become a spectator. Since there were no programs, all he could do was sit and wait.