Rodeo Blues (11 page)

"Just you never mind. I won't be falling for
his tricks to tumble me into bed a second time."

Whisper laughed. "Maybe I should worry about
Tye then." She winked as she turned to greet the family who walked
up to their booth. "Well, howdy ya'all," she played up the Texan
drawl for the tourists. "Where are ya'all from?"

"California," a girl about six years old with
red hair and freckles said. "My name is Maddy."

"Well, aren't ya just the purdiest girl
ever," Whisper said.

Jolie felt her phone buzz and fished it out
of her pocket. There was a text from Tye:
Looking
forward to seeing you tonight.

Chapter Fifteen

Buddy followed Tye, strides matching his.
"Where are you heading now?"

"The medical booth," he said as he stuffed
his phone in the back pocket of his jeans. He'd just texted Jolie
telling her how he looked forward to tonight.

"You hurt?" Buddy yanked on his arm, stopping
him in his tracks and giving him the once over.

Tye pulled his arm free. "No, I'm not hurt,
but who knows, after I see the doc I might be." He continued on his
way, leaving Buddy to stare after him.

Arriving at the medical tent, Tye took a deep
breath before he entered. Dr. Lockhart glanced up from a makeshift
desk with a smile only to flatten his lips into a fine line when
recognition sunk in.

Tye removed his hat. "Hello, sir."

Jolie's father tossed his pen on the portable
table and removed his glasses. "Unless you're bleeding, Tye Casper
– even then I'm not sure I would lift a finger – you best be
moseying on right out of here."

The man always knew how to intimidate him.
"You have the right to be angry with me, sir."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, sir, I believe you do. I let your
daughter down."

"You broke her heart, is what I remember,"
Dr. Lockhart snapped.

"Yes, sir." God, the intensity of Dr.
Lockhart's dark stare could suck the air right out of his lungs.
Brought back memories of when he'd pick up Jolie for a date. He
cleared his throat and lifted his chin. He wasn't a teenager
anymore and he'd be damned if he'd back down now.

Dr. Lockhart's dark eyebrows arched and his
gaze traveled over him with what he could only perceive as respect.
"Are you going to tell me why you're back in town then?" Dr.
Lockhart asked. "Why now, after all these years?"

It was no time to mince words. It wouldn't be
long before word reached him that he and Jolie were married last
night. "I love your daughter. Always have."

"You had a funny way of showing it. Been gone
near to ten years, if I recall it right."

"I didn't think I deserved her back
then."

"And you believe you do now? Can't say that
I'm not a little curious to know why."

"Well, sir, I have the means to support her
now."

Dr. Lockhart sat back in his seat as he
regarded him. "She's been doing just fine taking care of herself,
without you. What makes you think she
needs
you now?"

"I meant no disrespect. Jolie's a smart and
beautiful woman. I had no doubt she would make it in this here
world. What I meant to say is: I have a bit of money myself now. No
one will look down their noses at her for picking the boy who lived
in a trailer down yonder."

Dr. Lockhart stared at him for a long
measured moment before he shook his head. "If you believe Jolie
ever cared where you lived, you're a bigger fool than I
thought."

His brows furrowed. "Sir?"

"No one judged you, son. Not in my home."

"Really. 'Cause where I stood, it sure looked
that way. You were never pleased with me dating your daughter and
don't go denying it."

"I won't." He sighed. "Of course I resented
you. You were taking my little girl away. If you have a daughter of
your own someday, perhaps you'll understand. You make your own way
in the world. Your daddy lived in a trailer. Didn't mean you had
to."

"I'm not my father," he said with
conviction.

"I'm glad you finally figured it out on your
own." He narrowed his eyes then. "I hope you're planning on
remarrying
my daughter in the church. I'd
like to be the one to give her away."

Tye brushed a hand over his face and inhaled
deeply before letting out his breath in one long whoosh. "You heard
the news?"

"Of course I heard. You say you love my
daughter, make her happy then. That's all I ask."

"I plan to."

Dr. Lockhart put his glasses back on and
picked up his pen. "Then you best get a move on it, boy. I heard
she was a might put back to find herself hitched. Make sure she
doesn't think her prince is truly only a frog."

He frowned at the doctor's choice of words,
but answered, "Yes, sir." He shoved his hat back on his head.

"And Tye?" He looked up now and met his
gaze.

"Yes, sir."

"There's been rumor that some big shot, who
owns the oil drill on your daddy's land, is planning to move into a
house he's building there. Do you happen to know anything about
that?" His brows lifted in meaning.

"Big shot, is it?" He shook his head. "I
heard the guy was a decent fellow."

"Hmm… I sure hope he is." Dr. Lockhart
returned to his paperwork and Tye escaped out the flap of the tent
before the man fired any more questions his way. He would reveal
all, but not until he told Jolie first.

To his dismay, Buddy had followed him and was
standing there waiting for him with a big cheesy grin plastered to
his face.

"Don't say it, Buddy. So help me, don't say
it."

"Yes,
sir
." Buddy
laughed as he fell in step beside Tye.

Chapter Sixteen

Jolie stood in front of the full-length
mirror in her room and stared at her reflection. Behind her,
clothes were strewn all over her bed from her attempt to find just
the right outfit to wear on her date with Tye Casper.
Date?
"I'm married to the man," she said to her image in the mirror.
"Mrs. Tye Casper. Jolie Lockhart Casper. Mrs. Jolie Casper." She
shook her head, but a whisper of a smile touched her lips before
she frowned.

How many times had she stood in front of the
mirror when she was just a teen and dreamed about marrying Tye?
Well, now she said the 'I dos' and the fact didn't please her one
iota. They would have their date and discuss how they would annul
the marriage. He'd have to see the logic in the suggestion. Surely,
he didn't mean to marry her and then pack up and leave town. "Serve
you right if he did," she said to her reflection. "This is what you
get when you drink and then make a life changing decision. …And I'm
talking to myself."

Her thoughts turned to the conversation she
had with her father earlier today. He'd asked her if the boy had
come back a man? Good question. Having Tye fix the mess they found
themselves in would prove he had.

Her gaze skimmed over the pink and burgundy
sundress she donned and grimaced. She never did like this dress on
her. She turned away from her reflection and tugged it off. Tye had
texted her and told her they were going somewhere fancy. Only fancy
to Tye could mean she should wear high heels with her jeans and not
her worn in comfortable cowboy boots. Fancy around these parts was
the Blueford's Coffee Shop on main. They had steak dinner and a
piece of homemade apple pie for one low price as their summer
special.

She settled on another sundress, a vintage
blue one that the store clerk had said matched her eyes. She
reached for the pretty sandals with crystal-
bling
. She bought them on a whim when she visited a
little boutique in Dallas. They were pretty, but not practical
around these parts. "You said fancy," she murmured.

She brushed her hair, letting the long
tresses slide down her back in natural waves. She opened her
jewelry box for a pair of earrings and noticed the cherry stem
wedding ring lying on top. She should have tossed it. Before she
could think about it a moment longer, she snatched the pearl studs
and closed the lid. With the earrings in place, she glanced at
herself in the mirror one more time before she headed downstairs to
wait for Tye.

Pacing turned out to be her activity for the
next thirty minutes, along with counting how many times her stomach
flip-flopped at the thought of where this night could lead.

"Stop it," she told herself. "It's just a
date. Not any different than the million others she'd gone on with
Tye Casper, but he'd only been a boy back then. He was a man…a
good-looking man…a man she'd already married. "I've really gone and
done it this time," she murmured.

The knock drew her attention and she halted
her steps then stared at the front door. The knock came again.
"Comin'," she shouted. She took a deep breath and let it out again
before her hand reached for the handle.

Tye stood there all decked out in a clean
shirt and dark slacks, and looking like sin just waiting to happen.
His eyes assessed her and there was no mistaking the admiration
glinting in those depths, making her glad she'd chosen this
outfit.

"Ready?" he asked with a slow smile.

Hmm…Wasn't that a loaded
question?
"Yep." She reached for her purse hanging on the
coat rack in the corner.

Once they were both seated in the truck and
buckled in, she glanced his way. "Where we going?"

"It's a surprise." He winked at her.

* * * * *

Tye had a second chance to make things right
with Jolie. Blow it this time, and he wouldn't have another.
Tonight needed to be perfect, or at least as close to perfect as he
could make it. He gave the woman he loved a sidelong glance and
smiled. She returned the gesture. Boy, he'd missed that smile.

"Tell me about your shop," he broke the
silence, hoping casual conversation would pave the way to finding
the camaraderie they once shared.

"What's to tell?" Her slender shoulders
lifted in a nonchalant shrug.

"You used to tell me how you'd own a shop one
day. You wanted to sell…what were they called…Bits and Pieces Wind
Chimes."

She chuckled, her laughter like angel's bells
to his ears – sweet and musical. He loved the way her eyes crinkled
when she smiled and the way her dimple on her left cheek
winked.

"Do you mean my wind chimes made out of glass
and bits of metal and other odds and ends? God, no. Those wouldn't
be worth spit."

"I don't know." He glanced at her. "I kind of
like them. You gave me one for my birthday one year."

She tilted her head and her lips curved. "And
you still liked me?" She shook her head. "I sell other trinkets
now, all sorts. You should stop by the shop and take a gander."

His gaze riveted to hers, wondering if she
would take back the offer, but she didn't. "I will. I'd like
that."

"I'll have to warn you though, Whisper set up
shop there too. She reads palms, you know. She might corner you for
a reading." She tucked her hair behind her ear as she gave him a
sideway glance. "She already did our charts."

"Our charts? What do you mean?" His brows
rose in curiosity.

She waved the question away. "It's just silly
nonsense."

"I don't know. She told me she's a
psychic."

She met his gaze and they both started
laughing.

"She likes to believe she is anyway," Jolie
added in good humor.

Boy, did it feel good to be with her,
laughing and chatting as if no time had separated them.
Conversation came easy for them then, and before he realized it,
they arrived at the
hottie tottie
restaurant in Clear Water.

She glanced at him in surprise. "Tye, this
place is for members only?"

He knew what she was thinking. He couldn't
afford a clean glass in this joint. Only those with money, big
money, could finagle a reservation. With his oil drill deal, he
could too. He parked the car and turned off the engine. He met her
gaze with a reassuring smile.