Lies of the Heart (21 page)

“No!” The sharp cry rang in Tessa’s ears as she walked out the door.

***

“Yo, another round over here,” one of the regulars cried out over the boisterous crowd assembled for the pool tournament.

Nodding, Chance acknowledged the request, and then squeezed by several occupied seats in the room full of animated contestants and onlookers to do the patron’s biding. The hum in the air and the constant ring of the register should have had him crowing at Tessa’s brilliant idea of an ongoing tournament which would culminate in six weeks with the winners of each week’s game duking it out in one big bang-up finale. The thousand dollar grand price had brought every age-eligible man in town into the bar tonight or so it seemed to Chance.

Edging his way to the gleaming bar, Chance called out, “Hey, Walter, four more brews for Ed’s table.”

“Coming up,” he shot back. In less than two minutes, he handed Chance the chilled bottles. Winking at him, he said, “Got yourself a winner, boy. But for the next one, you gotta get me some help.”

“Sure thing,” he shot back, realizing he’d never anticipated such a turnout of this magnitude. He should be thrilled, but for some reason, he felt empty inside.
Tessa
. He missed her terribly.

Working his way through the throng of customers, Chance glanced at the clock over the pool table. She’d gone to visit her granny and didn’t plan on returning before nine. Dread formed in his middle; he had two hours to go before he could sneak away and see her.

An hour later, the click of the cue hitting the balls added to the noisy gatherers. Cheers followed, drowning out the constant chatter for a moment. Chance thought he’d never catch up with all the demands of the men begging for refills.

“Some party you have going here, son,” Father Thomas O’Malley said, patting Chance on the shoulder as he passed by.

“Father Tom, nice to see you.” He made an effort to smile at the craggy priest; even his face hurt from all the forced gaiety. “Have you set up that meeting with the kids for next week yet? Devon and Nick are going to sit in for the first one.”

“Sure have. Mind you, the kids aren’t impressed at all. But you know how that goes, don’t you, son?”

A slither of dread snaked its way through his gut, knowing what he was up against. “Yeah, I’ve been there myself.”

“Thought you had.”

“Ah, can I get you something?” he offered, trying to shove aside the desperate tone as more men called for him to refill their drinks.

“Looks like you’re the one who needs something or, should I say, someone.” His blue eyes twinkled merrily.

Chance’s heart skipped a beat at that knowing look. Did he hear something? He jerked his head in Walter’s direction, but the bartender was filling another beer mug. “Yeah.” He shrugged, turning back to Father Tom. “Sure, I need to hire someone to help out. You offering?” He tacked on the last, making a weak attempt at humor.

It worked. The priest chuckled heartily. “No, no, not me. I already have a job, if you haven’t noticed.”

“Ah, listen, I’d love to talk some, but I’m so behind now. How about you ask Walter for a drink. It’s on the house.” Chance made to leave, but the priest’s hand clamped down on his forearm, halting him. The firm grasp took him by surprise. “Father?”

For the first time Father Tom’s face lost his usual jovial air, taking on a somber one. “Son, forget about the families and the feud. You need her. She needs you. Don’t let that get away from you, understand? Not like Gabe did.” He dropped his hold, turned, and then walked toward the bar.

“Granddad? What about him?” His voice had risen along with his curiosity. He reached out, trying to stay the older man, but it was too late. The crowd opened and allowed the priest through, swallowing him whole.

He watched in frustration and confusion. Just then the bell over the door jingled, allowing another patron into the already bursting room. A ripple of gasps spread through the crowd like wildfire. Chance jerked his head around to the new intrusion causing such a commotion and his heart leapt to his throat.
Tessa.

All the thoughts fled from his head as he stared at his gorgeous wife, huddling in her navy coat. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold and she smiled widely when she met his gaze, her green eyes sparkling in delight. He gulped hard, his nerves buzzing with electricity.

Whispers started to the right of him, and then traveled behind and to the left of him. He caught a few and his blood nearly froze.

“By the looks of them, there’s something going on.”

“I just knew it. She’s weaseling her way into the business.”

One cackle made his hair stand on end. “Her granny’s going to raise some Cain, I just know it.”

“Betcha she’s gonna shoot him. What’da say?” the scratchy voice held way too much glee.

“I’m in for fifty.”

“Me, too.”

And so it went all around him as if he were deaf and dumb to boot. With each bet Chance’s middle dipped a little more. He stopped it the only way he knew how. Twisting to a nearby patron sitting down, he said, “Let me have your chair for a minute, Percy.”

“Huh?” The half-drunk, whiskered-faced man stared dumbly up at him.

“Scoot, will ya?” He nudged the man to his feet, and then grabbed the chair. A second later, Chance climbed on top of the seat, whistling shrilly. “Yo, fellas, listen up!”

The sudden silence crashed down on the crowd, vibrating in the thick air. All eyes were pinned on Chance. Sweat gathered along his neck and he wished he could wipe it without giving himself away. With his hands on his hips, he slowly checked out the mostly angry faces staring back at him.

He settled on one face, Father Tom’s, and detected the slight negative shake, as if saying, “Don’t do it, son.”

Next, he sought out Tessa and wondered how the hell he could do what he was about to do. But he had no choice. In the end she’d thank him for it. Turning away from her stare, he focused on the large group.

Taking a deep, unsteady breath, he touched his chest, and then spread his arms wide. “Give me a break, will ya? I’m not deaf. I know you’re betting against me. Hey, I’m just trying to follow granddad’s will and get it over with in six months, all right?” Inspiration hit him over the head. “And, in order to do that, I’ve got some free help.” He waved a hand at Tessa. “She’s gonna help wait on all you drunken bums during the tournament.”

A loud boo went up at that. Chance cringed inwardly. They didn’t like it one bit and he was mighty certain she wouldn’t either, but he had to come up with a way to explain her presence. Plus, it was one way to get to spend more time with her.

“Come on. It’s only for six weeks. What harm could it do anyway?” He was asking himself more than them.

Grumbles ran through the gathered men. Some regulars were more vocal than the rest. “This place is gonna go to pot with a Warfield in it.”

Suddenly there was a movement in the crowd. Tessa shoved aside two burly men, nearly upsetting their beers.

“Hey, watch it, will ya,” one said, yanking his mug out of her way.

Frowning, Chance wondered what the hell she was up to. He didn’t have long to wait. She shooed someone out of his chair, stood on it, and then climbed on top of the table. With her coat open and her hands on her hips, her eyes snapped fire.

“You think I like having to serve the bunch of you?” She threw one evil-eyed look at Chance. He shriveled up inside, realizing what a huge blunder he’d just committed. “Hell, no!” She answered herself. “What are you, afraid of little ol me? Hah! It’s granny you have to worry about, not me. If she ever gets her hands on this place, it’s adios, amigos.”

A collective groan rose up, knowing how true Tessa’s words were.

A tight smile formed across her lips. “So, we got a deal then? I work here every Thursday night for the next six weeks and you guys cut me some slack.” Squinting, she pressed a finger to her lips, and then said, “We can even sweeten the pot for you betting fellas. Hmmm…let’s see… How about all the big tips you give me I’ll put up for stakes in a challenge against the winner of each night’s tournament. Me and him, one on one. His winnings for the night to my tips. The more tips I get, the bigger the prize. How’s that?”

Before she got the last out of her mouth, the crowd went wild, clapping and whistling. There were slaps all around and knowing winks. Hearty laughter filled the room. Somehow they had the foregone conclusion she’d lose.

With the obvious approval of her plan, Tessa hopped down off the table and sailed through the parting throng of men to the supply room door. Chance jumped down quickly and followed close on her heels. He knew he had a heck of a lot of explaining to do and fast.

***

Tessa stormed into the back room, her cheeks flaming hot. The nerve of that man! She threw off her coat and flung it through the air. It landed on an old cardboard box in the far corner with a dull thud, causing a cloud of dust to billow out.

With her hands fisted, she paced the small, cramped supply room, thinking that just a few weeks ago she’d sat meekly back here waiting for Chance’s granddad’s will to be read. “Hah!” she snorted. “Damn will, damn man, damn…everything.”

The door opened suddenly, allowing the noise from the bar to whoosh in. Chance entered in two strides, slamming the wood behind me. “Ah, Tessa, let me explain.”

“The hell I will, Chance Deveraux,” she said between tight lips, continuing to work off some steam. “If it’s not granny, then it’s you. Is there anyway either one of you would ever take the time to consider my feelings? No, absolutely not! Oh no, Tessa won’t do this, or Tessa will do that, I don’t even have to ask her.”

She continued to fume inwardly; she’d had it with her granny’s meddling ways this evening and had walked out on her too infuriated to tell her to her face. The harping had been unusually hurtful tonight.
Why couldn’t granny let me just be happy for once?
She stilled as a shockwave raced through her.

“Tessa, you all right?” Chance asked.

Squeezing her eyes tight, she shook her head. “No,” she whispered hollowly; she just realized that her granny didn’t ever want Tessa to be happy. Plopping down onto a nearby box, she dropped her head in her hands. All the signs were there, had been for years, but until now, Tessa never would admit it to herself. Granny was jealous of anyone else’s happiness.

“Oh, why didn’t I see it?”

“Ah, sunshine?”

Jerking her head up, she encountered Chance’s stare. His gray eyes held warmth and a great deal of empathy. She heaved a huge sigh, letting out her breath slowly. Sheepishly, he shrugged, saying, “I had to say something. They’d be running back to your granny in no time flat spreading stories about us just to rub it in her face. I couldn’t let that happen.”

“Granny, it’s always granny,” she muttered under her breath. He was right of course and there would be hell to pay for Tessa, more so than usual. But she couldn’t let Chance think he was off the hook for putting her on the spot like that. “You owe me big time, Deveraux.”

He threw up his hands. “Sure, anything, anything at all.”

A perverse sense of power overtook her as she straightened, and then stood. With her arms akimbo, she raised an eyebrow. “Anything, huh?”

He gulped hard. “Within reason, sunshine.”

“Well, I think the punishment should fit the crime, don’t you?” He clearly grew uneasy at that and she chuckled. “Since I have to spend time with those bunch of characters,” she said, tossing her head toward the noisy outer room, “then I think you have to do the same with my grouchy granny.”

Shaking his head vigorously, he said, “Oh, no, honey, no you wouldn’t do that to me, would you?” his voice rose on the last.

She strolled to him, stopping a few inches away. The heat from his body reached out and touched her. Patting his chest with her hands, she smiled smugly up at him. “Oh, and how.” His crestfallen look tugged at her heart.

All her superiority leaked out of her along with her anger. Grabbing onto the front of his shirt, she stared at him for long moments. Tears smarted the backs of her eyes and she tried to blink them away.

Frowning, he cupped her face in his hands, asking, “Sunshine, what is it? Tell me.”

His soft plea was her undoing. Sniffing, she tried to explain, “She’s so mean sometimes. It hurts.” Swallowing hard, she went on, “Like tonight, she went and fired the nurse just because I talked to her behind granny’s back. The poor woman rushed out in tears after granny ripped her apart. Then, she turned on me…”

He groaned softly. “Come here,” he whispered, gathering her in his strong arms and depositing a gentle kiss to her temple.

Wearily, she dropped her head to rest on his shoulder for a few minutes. Warmth and comfort seeped through her body, spreading through the cold regions of her core. How much longer could she endure this double life, she wondered?

“I became her target,” she went on dully. “She didn’t spare me anything either, starting from the day I was born and how I ruined her life.” The last caught in the back of her throat.

“Miserable old biddy,” Chance bit out, rubbing her now shivering body.

“You can say that again.”

“Miserable old biddy.”

She chuckled, a raw, strangled sound, and then nudged him in the ribs. “Why is it, you always make me feel better?”

“No way. That’s your job for me, remember?”

Sighing heavily, she snuggled closer. “Chance, please help me out. You’re the only one who can handle her.”

“You’re asking a hell of a lot, aren’t you?”

“No more than your granddad did in the will,” she countered, pulling back to look him in the eye. “It’s one way to end the feud.”

“Or start World War three,” he said, raising his eyebrow.

She smiled at that, knowing deep down he’d do it. “We got some life, huh? Keeping mum to everyone, especially granny, me thrown into the wolf den,” she jerked her head to the bar, “you having to get to know granny. Pretty scary, huh?”

He laughed. “Yeah, pretty scary.” He paused for a moment, growing somber. “You know, you gave me a good idea.”