Lone Star Hero

Ashley threw the front door open and burst into the room. “Mommy! Mommy!”

Jake jumped back and coughed.

Vickie couldn’t stop the giggle that sprang from her wrecked nerves. She blinked a couple of times to refocus.

“What is it, sweetheart?” She wrapped her arms around Ashley’s shoulders as her daughter collided into her. Determined to settle her stomach down, Vickie forced a smile.

“Papa Jack’s favorite mare had its foal last night and we got to see it and touch it. It has a blond coat, like me. She is so pretty. I’m so in love with her.”

“I imagine she fell in love with you, too.” She stroked her daughter’s hair back from her face.

“I think she did. She tried following me out. Her legs are so long.” Ashley turned and faced Jake, now sitting on a bar stool at the counter. “Hello, Officer Torres.”

Seth followed a bit slower and much to Vickie’s surprise, he almost wore a smile, reminding her of the boy she used to know. “Hey, Seth, so did you enjoy the horses, too?”

He shrugged. “Yeah, Papa Jack said he can start teaching me to rope. If it’s all right with you.”

Her father walked in behind the kids with a concerned look on his face. “Vickie, why didn’t you tell me the steps were about to collapse?”

“Daddy, they’re not that bad, and I’m taking care of it.”

Crossing the small room, Jackson Walker Lawson, the fourth, called J.W. by everyone but his daughter and grandchildren, shook Jake’s hand.

“Crazy, stubborn girl. I should have come over earlier to make sure it was livable.”

“It’s livable, Daddy. It just needs a little work.” She waved a hand toward Jake without looking at him. There was no way she could make eye contact with him now and not fall apart. “Jake has offered to teach Seth and me to build steps.” She turned to Seth. “Doesn’t that sound fun, building something with our own hands?”

He shrugged again. “I guess.”

Jake stood. “Hey, Seth, are you ready to play some football?”

Seth shoved his hands in his pockets and dropped his head. “I don’t know. I’m not very good. The whole throwing or catching the ball thing seems to be too hard for me.”

Jake stood. “Hey, me, too.”

Seth shot him a classic teenager skeptical glare. “Really?”

“Yeah, that’s why I like chasing down the guys with the football.”

Confusion shadowed his eyes. “If you don’t have the ball, why bother playing?”

Vickie bit her lip. That sounded every bit like Tommy’s glorious words of self-righteous wisdom.

Jake’s jaw went hard. “Football is a team sport, Seth. You don’t have a real game without protectors and defenders.”

J.W. walked over to Seth and patted his back. “Don’t worry about what your dad said, son. You’re almost twelve and growing fast. At your age I could barely walk without tripping.” He gave Vickie and Ashley a hug. “I’m heading out. Call me if you need anything. Love you.”

She kissed him on the cheek. “Love you, too, Daddy.”

“See you later, Jake.”

“Sir.” Jake gave him a nod. After the door closed, her childhood friend stood with his hands in his pockets, keeping his gaze on Seth. “Well, I guess we’ll head out. I should have him back between four and four-thirty.”

“I’ll come pick him up, no need for you to drive all the way out here. What time is it over?”

“We’re usually done before four, but it’s pretty informal, so he can leave whenever you get there.”

“Okay, sounds good.”

They stood there like idiots not wanting to leave but not having any reason to stay.

“Are we going or not?” Insolence laced Seth’s voice.

“Seth!” Embarrassed at his attitude, Vickie sent an apologetic glance to Jake.

“It’s okay.” Jake patted the sullen teen on the back. “I’m ready for some football.” With a wink to Vickie, he followed Seth out the door.

That wink made her feel things she needed to pack away with her homecoming mums. She wanted to be independent. She needed to be independent. Instead, he made her consider giving it all up to hide in his arms. Coming home, she would have never guessed Jake Torres would be the biggest threat to her sanity and heart.

Chapter Six (#ulink_f46459b7-fe9f-5fe6-a4b1-96c50f3da789)

Vickie pulled into the gravel parking lot of the unfinished youth building. Her daughter leaped out of the car before she shut off the engine. Racing across the field, Ashley stopped at the sideline and started jumping up and down, cheering for her brother. Vickie chuckled at the look of horror on Seth’s face.

With a smile, she grabbed the extra cookies she and Ashley had made after Jake had left with Seth. Making her way across the dry field, Vickie kept her gaze on Jake. She stopped next to her daughter.

A mix of men and boys ranging in age from twelve to fifty made up the teams; her son looked to be the youngest. Seth crouched down next to Jake, his fingers in the dusty ground as they made up the line. His stare fixed on her boss, Rhody Buchannan. The Mercantile owner played quarterback for the other team. The ball snapped, and Vickie held her breath. Seth looked so small out there with the men and high school boys.

Rhody handed the ball off to Derrick De La Soto, a teenager in the youth band. Jake cut him off, forcing him toward Seth. Her heart froze, and she shot a quick prayer for her son. Seth pounced and gripped the bright yellow flag from Derrick’s hip. He jumped up with the flag high in the air. Ashley yelled his name and clapped.

With a huge sigh of relief, Vickie released the death grip on the container of cookies. Pastor John blew a whistle and called the game. The teams started mingling and shaking hands. Seth ran toward her, his hair sweaty and plastered to his skin.

“Mom, did you see what I did?”

His blue eyes sparkled in a way she had not seen in the last two years.

“Yes, I’m so proud of you.” I will not cry.

Pastor John walked over and patted Seth on the back. “Great job today, Seth. I’m glad you joined us.”

“Thank you for letting me play. Mom, I got five flags.” He bounced on the balls of his feet.

“I think we might have created a defensive monster,” the pastor said.

“Yeah, they couldn’t get through us. We built a solid wall. I love football, Mom. Dad just had me in the wrong positions.” He glanced at the box in her hand. “Can I have a cookie?”

“Oh, yes. Here, Pastor. I brought your favorite, chocolate chip pecan.” She held out the container, allowing each to take one.

“Can I take them to the teams?”