Spring Texas Bride (The Brides 0f Bliss Tx. Book 1) Page 18

  Spring didn’t even try to blink back her tears. “But how could he do it? I thought he’d turned over a new leaf. I thought he was trying to change. But he hasn’t changed at all. He’s still the worst father in all of Texas. No, in the entire world. He never loved Mama and he certainly doesn’t love us kids. Did you realize because of him I was investigated by the FBI? If I hadn’t been able to convince them that I didn’t know Daddy was a fugitive, I might’ve gone to jail.”

  “I can’t argue that Holt has always been a poor excuse for a husband and father, but I won’t sit here and let you blame him for your own mistakes.” Granny Bon sent her a stern look. “Holt didn’t hold a gun to your head and force you to lie. If you’d reported him as soon as you discovered your Jeep and trailer missing, you wouldn’t have been in trouble with the FBI.”

  Spring’s butt came up off the chair. “But you just said I had to love my daddy! How do you love your daddy and turn him in to the police?”

  “I said you shouldn’t hate him. I did not say you had to put up with his shenanigans. You should know by now that your father is manipulative and untrustworthy. And I don’t think that’s ever gonna change. So love him, but don’t condone his behavior. That’s what your mama did, and she had nothing but heartache because of it. She just couldn’t see people’s faults. And that can be a good thing, but it also can be a very bad one.”

  Spring wiped the tears from her cheeks. “This time, it’s a very bad one. I hurt someone, Granny Bon. I hurt someone that didn’t deserve to be hurt. I’m no better than Daddy.”

  Granny Bon pulled a paper napkin out of the holder and handed it to her. “You’re nothing like your daddy, Spring Leigh. He only cares about himself and you care about everyone but yourself. Ever since you were a child, you tried to make people happy. You’d make funny faces to get Dirk to laugh, take responsibility for something you didn’t do so Summer wouldn’t get a spanking, and meet me at the door when I got home from work with a cold glass of iced tea and a bright smile.” She reached out and patted Spring’s cheek. “You have a rare gift. All you have to do is smile to brighten someone’s day. Which is why I’m having a hard time believing that you intentionally hurt someone.”

  “I didn’t hurt Waylon intentionally. I just didn’t want my siblings finding out that Daddy had stolen my car and trailer and getting mad at him.”

  “Are you sure you just didn’t want them finding out that you’d been so gullible?”

  Spring blew out her breath. “That too. After leaving the door of Seasons unlocked, I didn’t want them to know that I’d made another stupid mistake.” Her shoulders slumped. “A stupid mistake that has cost me the only man I’ve ever loved.”

  Granny Bon studied her. “And does the sheriff love you?”

  “Not anymore. How could he possibly love me after what I did?” When Granny Bon picked up her spoon and started eating her oatmeal, Spring’s eyes widened. “Well, aren’t you going to tell me that I’m wrong? Aren’t you going to tell me that if he loved me at all he wouldn’t let a little mistake ruin everything? Because if you truly love someone, you forgive them. Aren’t you going to tell me that?”

  Her grandmother looked at her and lifted an eyebrow. “Obviously, I don’t need to tell you. You already know.”

  Spring sighed. “So Waylon doesn’t love me. And never truly did. Because if he loved me, he would’ve believed me when I told him that I didn’t know about my daddy running from the law and he would’ve understood why I didn’t tell him the truth.”

  “You really need to get a clue, Spring.” Summer wandered into the room. Her hair was wild and her eyes squinty from the sun that poured in through the window of the breakfast nook. “Jesus, Granny, could you pull a shade? And please tell me you made coffee.”

  “It’s in the pot,” Granny Bon said. “But a young woman who uses the Lord’s name in vain will not be getting a cup until she apologizes.”

  “To you or Jesus?” Granny Bon’s eyebrow lifted, and Summer quickly acquiesced. “Fine, I’m sorry, Granny.” She looked at the ceiling. “And Lord Jesus.”

  “Apologize to your sister for your hateful words.”

  Summer walked into the kitchen, opened a cupboard, and got out a mug. “I will not apologize for the truth. Just because Waylon got mad and fired her doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love her.”

  Just the thought of Waylon loving her had Spring straightening. “What makes you say that?”

  Summer poured herself some coffee. “Because Waylon sang your praises when we had lunch at the truck stop.”

  “Why did you have lunch at a truck stop with the sheriff, Summer Lynn?” Granny Bon asked.

  Summer’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she hedged around the question. “It doesn’t matter. The point that I’m trying to make is that just because the sheriff got a little ticked doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love you. When you forgot to lock the back door, I ranted and raved at you too. But after you left and I had a chance to cool off, I realized that you didn’t intentionally leave the door unlocked. You just got wrapped up helping Charlie and forgot.”

  “Charlie?” Spring stared at her sister. “You know the street guy’s name?”

  Summer took a sip of coffee. “Why do you think he was living in our alley? I made the mistake of buying him sandwiches whenever I got us lunch at the deli, and he followed me back to the store one day and camped out. Between me giving him food, you giving him clothes, and Autumn getting him set up at the homeless shelter, he found the right sisters to cling to.”

  Spring wasn’t surprised her sister had never mentioned helping Charlie. Summer wasn’t the type who liked people knowing she had a soft side. But she did. As a kid, she was always sticking up for the underdog at school or bringing home stray animals. Which was something Spring had forgotten during the stress of running the store.

  “You’re a good person, sis,” she said.

  Summer shrugged. “Only on occasion. But that’s what I’m trying to get across to you. Sometimes, people say things they don’t mean.”

  “So you think Waylon regrets the hateful things he said to me?”

  Summer took a few sips of coffee before she answered. “It’s possible. Or not. This screw-up was much worse than your last one. He might hate your guts forever and never talk to you again.”

  “Summer,” Granny Bon’s voice held a stern warning.

  “What? I’m just being honest.”

  “Being honest and being brutally honest are two different things.”

  Spring turned to her grandmother. “What do you think, Granny Bon? Do you think there’s a chance that Waylon might forgive me?”

  “I think there’s a very good chance, but the only way to find out is to go back to Bliss.”

  Just the thought of going back to Bliss and facing Waylon and the people of the town was terrifying. Especially when she had run off like a whipped pup with her tail between her legs. She had thought she was so grown up, but she certainly hadn’t acted that way. A mature adult would’ve stayed and faced the music. Instead, once she’d been cleared by the FBI, she’d run from her problems just like she’d done when she left Houston. Obviously, she was a slow learner.

  “Good morning.” Autumn walked in. Unlike Spring and Summer, who still wore their pajamas, Autumn was showered and fully dressed without a hair out of place. She sent Spring a concerned look. “How are you feeling?”

  Surprisingly, Spring realized that she felt better. Not good, but better. At least now there was a glimmer of hope. “I’m headed back to Bliss,” she said. “I never should’ve left in the first place.”

  “That’s my girl,” Granny Bon patted her back.

  But before Spring could get to her feet, Autumn stopped her. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Her eyes held concern and pity. “I just talked to Dirk, and he said that the town council has called a meeting this afternoon. They’re going to decide whether or not to fire Waylon for conduct unbecoming a sheriff
.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Waylon got out of bed at six o’clock. He showered and shaved, then dressed in a white t-shirt, pressed jeans, and the boots he’d polished in the wee hours of the morning to keep his mind from wandering places he didn’t want it to go. He waited to put on his starched uniform shirt until after he’d eaten breakfast.

  But once in the kitchen, he realized he wasn’t hungry. When he started to make coffee and his mind wandered to the one place he didn’t want it to go, he decided to skip the coffee as well as breakfast. He fed Sherlock, and then let the dog outside to do his business. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, tinting the skies a vibrant pink. The pink of frilly dresses. And pouting lips. And vintage trailers. The pink of Spring.

  A pain seared through his chest, but he barely reacted to it. In the last few days, he had become immune to the pain. He waited for Sherlock to finish before he whistled. The dog took his time getting back to the house. Once inside, he flopped down on his bed by the stove and fell asleep.

  Waylon wished he could join him. He was not looking forward to the day ahead. He wasn’t looking forward to it at all. But he refused to take the cowardly way out. So he went upstairs to put on his shirt. Once he had it buttoned and tucked in tight, he picked up the sheriff’s star on the dresser. Since this could be the last time he pinned on the star, he took his time. Once it was fastened above his pocket, he glanced at himself in the mirror. Even starched and polished, he looked like hell. The dark half-circles under his eyes spoke of his sleepless nights, and his eyes held a pain he could no longer ignore.

  She’d left.

  She’d left without a single word.

  Her lies had punched him in the heart. Her leaving had ripped it out completely. Lying about her father proved she didn’t trust him. Leaving proved she didn’t care.

  He studied his reflection in the mirror. At one time, he’d wondered if being a sheriff was what he really wanted or if he’d just gone along with it to please his father. But now that he feared he was about to lose his star, he realized how much he loved his job. He couldn’t blame the city council for calling an emergency meeting. He should be held accountable for his actions. He’d been so wrapped up in Spring, he’d failed to protect the citizens of Bliss. If Holt had been a dangerous fugitive, innocent people could’ve been hurt.

  But what would he do if he lost his job? He couldn’t stay in Bliss. He couldn’t live among people he’d so badly disappointed. He also couldn’t stand there all day worrying about what might happen. He glanced once more at the star on his chest before he turned on a boot heel and walked out of the room.

  He arrived at his office before seven. He expected the parking lot to be empty. But a familiar truck was parked next to the spot reserved for the sheriff. He parked in his spot and got out slowly, dreading this meeting more than the one with the city council.

  Malcolm Kendall was standing by the front door when Waylon came around the corner. In retirement, he dressed more casually than when he’d been sheriff. But his western shirt could still stand on its own, and his boots were polished to perfection. He’d taken off his cowboy hat, and as Waylon walked closer, he noticed that there was more gray in his light brown hair. No doubt, he would have plenty more after what Waylon had done.

  “Hi, Dad,” he said.

  His father nodded. “Son.”

  Waylon felt a tightening in his chest at the word. For a moment, he wondered if he was going to break down. Instead, he pulled out his keys and unlocked the door. He waited until they were inside his office before he spoke again.

  “Did you want some coffee?”

  “Not if it’s anything like the coffee you used to make.”

  He forced a laugh. It came out choked and unconvincing. “It’s still as bad.” He started for his desk, but then hesitated. He felt awkward sitting in the chair when his father was there. His father seemed to read his hesitance and took the chair across from the desk.

  Trying to postpone the conversation, Waylon took his time hanging his hat on the hook and sitting down behind the desk. He leaned back and folded his hands over his cramping stomach. “I guess you heard.”

  His father nodded. “Maybelline Marble called me.”

  Waylon was surprised. He thought it would’ve been Dan Wainwright who called his father. “I guess she was upset.”

  “Upset isn’t the word. She was pretty ticked off.”

  Great. Ms. Marble was the one of the few people on the city council he’d counted on to be on his side. But it looked like even she was appalled at his disrespect for his office. “I’m sorry, Dad,” he said. “I know I’ve disappointed you.”

  His father looked confused. “Disappointed me? I wouldn’t say that I’m disappointed. I’m more worried than disappointed.”

  “I’m worried too. But hopefully the city council will be willing to listen to my side of things and choose to keep me in office. If they do, I promise I’ll never cause another person in town to doubt my dedication to my job or keeping this community safe.”

  His father’s eyebrows lifted. “You think I’m here because of the city council meeting?”

  Waylon sat up. “You’re not?”

  “Hell, no. I can’t tell you how many times I was called before the city council to deal with town gossip. It’s all part of being a sheriff in a small town. People talk, and if you don’t nip the gossip in the bud, it can get out of hand.”

  “It isn’t gossip. I did let a fugitive get away when he was right under my nose.”

  “From what I heard, you didn’t know Holt Hadley was here.”

  “But I should’ve known. I should’ve known that something was fishy when I smelled the cigarette smoke and Spring was acting so weird. I should’ve known when Spring’s trailer wasn’t parked where it had been. But I let beautiful blue eyes and a pretty pair of lips keep me from reading all the signs.”

  His father sat back and studied him. “I didn’t believe Maybelline when she told me how hard you’ve been on yourself since taking the sheriff’s job. You were such a laid-back deputy, I figured you’d be a laid-back sheriff.”

  “You can’t be laid-back when you’re a sheriff. Not when you’re responsible for the entire town. You taught me that. You were a hard-ass and people respected you for that.”

  A surprised look entered his father’s eyes. “I hope that isn’t why people respected me. I hope they respected me because I was levelheaded and fair. I realize I’m not a very personable kind of guy. Joking and teasing doesn’t come naturally to me like it does to you and your mother. The people of this town knew that about me and didn’t expect me to be something I wasn’t. And they don’t expect you to be either, Waylon. They voted you into office to replace me, not to become me. They loved you as the smiling, friendly deputy and were a little confused by the non-smiling, gruff sheriff you became.”

  “I was only trying to do my job of protecting this town.”

  “It is your job to protect the town, but don’t ever think you can accomplish that feat. Bad things are going to happen on your watch. That’s just life. And things are going to distract you from doing your job. Your mama distracted me the very first time I pulled her over.”

  Waylon had heard the story of how his parents met a hundred times. And there was no comparison to his situation. “Mom was only speeding, Dad. Spring was harboring a criminal.”

  “From what Dan said, the feds didn’t agree. After questioning her, they believed that she didn’t know her father was running from the law.”

  “Then she fooled them. It’s her bright smile. Spring can fool anyone with that bright, innocent smile.”

  Her father lifted an eyebrow. “That’s what all this is about, isn’t it? You’re not mad at Spring for helping her father. You’re mad at Spring for making a fool of you.”

  Waylon wanted to deny it, but he couldn’t. “Hell, yeah, I’m mad at her. She had me believing that she was this honest, loving woman who cared about the people of th
is town. Who cared about me. But it was all a lie. Nothing but a lie!” He thumped the desk with his fist, and his half-naked cowboy screensaver came up. Another shaft of pain sliced through him, and he hated Spring all the more.

  “So Ms. Marble was right,” his father said. “You do love Spring.”

  His outburst had taken all his energy, and he slumped back in his chair. “I did. I don’t love her now.”

  His father laughed. “You really are a greenhorn at love, son, if you think you can turn it off and on. If you could, there would be a lot less heartache in the world. You love her. And you’re hurt. I get it. Nobody likes to be made a fool of. But I’d rather be a fool in love than a fool who screwed up his one chance at happiness. Before you break all ties with this woman, you’d better make sure you’re right. Because if you’re wrong, you’ll lose a lot more than a job.” He got to his feet and pulled on his hat. “I guess I’ll see you Easter weekend. Your mother is planning on making ham for dinner, even though she knows I hate it. But the grandkids love it, so my opinion is pretty much null and void.”

  Waylon got to his feet. “You aren’t sticking around for the meeting?”

  “No. I figure you can handle things quite well without me there. Besides, I’m done with town meetings.” He winked. “I’d rather go fishing.” His father came around the desk and gave him a big hug and a hard slap on the back before he walked out.

  Long after Malcolm left, Waylon sat there digesting what his father had said. Not the part about him trying to fill his father’s boots—Waylon had already started to figure that out—but the part about how he’d rather be a fool in love than a fool who screwed up his one chance at happiness.

  Had he screwed things up? Had he been so angry about Spring making a fool of him in front of the entire town that he hadn’t seen the truth? She claimed she hadn’t known her father was running from the law. But how could she not know that something was going on when Holt had hidden in her trailer bathroom? That would’ve been a red flag for Waylon. Of course, he was a lawman who looked for red flags. Spring didn’t look for anything but the good in people. And wouldn’t she especially want to see the good in her father?