Mama Rides Shotgun

“Did Belle feel loved?’’ I asked.

“Hell, yes,’’ Trey said. “Daddy always said he couldn’t have loved her more if she was his flesh and blood. They paid all kinds of money for her to go to fancy boarding schools. Like I told you, she was his favorite. Belle could do no wrong.’’

I heard a trace of jealousy in Trey’s voice. He’d probably deny it up and down. But it’s fu

I watched him in the light spilling over from the cook site. He was lost in thought. Or maybe he was still a little drunk. I guess I’m a sucker for anything wounded or hurting. I’d worried about Lawton’s poor dog, Tuck. And now I felt sorry for Trey. Drunk. Hating himself for Wyno

I laid my hand between his shoulders, and gave his back a reassuring rub. I figured he could use a friend. I saw him as he was. And I wanted nothing to do with that, beyond offering simple human comfort. I swear that was the only thought in my mind.

But just before I could say, “Don’t worry, Trey, everything will turn out,’’ he turned and kissed me full on the lips. First I was surprised. Then I was turned off by the sour-beer smell of his breath. I’d just started to pull away when I heard a shriek of rage.

Austin was on us before we could react. She grabbed the bottle Trey had dropped, and smashed it against the rock where we leaned. Shards of glass spattered the ground like tiny hailstones.

“You bastard,’’ she hissed at Trey, her mouth twisted with rage. “I hate you!’’

Then she turned the jagged neck on me. Her first pass came so close to my cheek I smelled the warm beer on the broken bottle.

And, suddenly, I knew how Trey had gotten the nasty gash we saw on his face that first night at the Bramble ranch house.

I leapt to my feet. Austin moved with me, thrusting the broken bottle in my face.

“Back off, Austin!’’ Trey stumbled over the big rock as he tried to grab his ex-girlfriend’s arm.

This was just what I didn’t need: a jealous woman with a jagged bottle and anger issues, and a rescuer who was too soused to save me. I raised a shout of my own.

“Hey, a little help over here!’’ I called out to whoever might be close. “Trouble over here!’’

A jumble of voices and movement arose from the di

“Put it down. You don’t want to hurt me.’’ I heard the tremble in my voice. I’m not vain, but I’ve gotten kind of used to the way my face looks without scars.

“There’ll be witnesses.’’ Trey spat the words at his ex. “Everyone will know you’re out of control.’’

Anger sparked again in her eyes.

“I’m not out of control,’’ she hissed, jabbing the broken glass toward me. I reared back my head, and felt a whoosh of air as the bottle just missed slicing my nose.

“Stop it, Austin.’’ A woman spoke behind me in a calm, steady voice. “Why don’t you give me that bottle?’’

“Go away, Belle. This doesn’t concern you.’’ Austin’s eyes never left mine.

“Well, it concerns me,’’ came a familiar voice, accustomed to authority. “That’s my sister you’re messing with.’’

Maddie.

“Oh, honey, nothing’s worth getting yourself into this kind of trouble over. Give us the bottle.’’

Marty.

“Yeah, give it up,’’ said a voice I didn’t recognize.

I saw Austin’s eyes flicker behind me, to where Belle and my sisters stood, along with an apparently growing crowd. People rustled closer, moving toward us through the grass. A new voice joined the chorus.

“I know criminals, Austin, and you’re no criminal. Besides, I don’t think a pretty girl like you really wants to go to jail.’’ Carlos chuckled softly, and he switched to Spanish. “Dámela, niña. Give it to me.’’

At that, Austin lowered the bottle to her side. She shrugged at me a little, like she was embarrassed, whispering, “I’m sorry, Mace. I don’t know what gets into me. I really didn’t want to hurt you. I just wanted to scare you.’’

Mission accomplished, I thought, my heart still pounding.

“Besides,’’ she leaned in close, “Trey’s the asshole, not you. I should have gone after him.’’

“Again?’’ I asked.

Austin didn’t answer, just gave me a hard-to-read smile.

“Okay, okay,’’ she said, raising her voice to the advancing crowd. “Show’s over. Nobody’s hurt.’’ She carefully laid the jagged bottle into Carlos’ outstretched palm. “I’ll just be on my way.’’

“Not so fast,’’ Carlos said, no chuckle in his voice now. “You know, just threatening Mace with that bottle is assault. All she has to say is she was in fear of bodily harm, and we can get one of the local deputies over here to arrest you.’’

Now Austin was the one who looked scared.

“Please, Mace.’’ She put a hand on my arm. “My grandmother’s sick. I’m the one who’s been taking care of her. It’ll just kill her if I get into that kind of trouble.’’

I wanted to say she should have thought of that before she started swinging a broken beer bottle. But then I looked at Austin’s face. She seemed stricken, sorry. I remembered how nutty Mama had acted when Husband No. 2 cheated on her—following his car, calling up her rival, smashing a piece of butterscotch pie into his face at Gladys’ Diner. Jealous women do crazy things.

“Well, Mace?’’ Carlos said. “Do you want to press charges?’’

The whole crowd was hushed, expectant, awaiting my answer.

“No.’’ I heard Austin exhale. “No harm done. Let’s just move on.’’

She put her mouth close to my ear. “Thanks, Mace. I won’t forget it; I owe you one.’’

___

Belle had initially seemed so calm when I was in danger, but now she was a mess. With her arms wrapped around her knees, she was sitting on the big boulder, crying and rocking to and fro. Carlos crouched next to her, patting her shoulder and murmuring words no doubt meant to be reassuring.

My sisters and I stood a distance away, conferring. “You’re the one he should be comforting, Mace,’’ Maddie sniffed. “Can’t you act a little more upset?’’

Marty chewed on her lip, nodding in agreement.

“You two know me better than that,’’ I said. “What am I going to do? Throw up my hands and start sobbing? Besides, it’s all over now. Austin’s long gone. I’d look ridiculous.’’

“Belle doesn’t look ridiculous. She looks sweet and fragile,’’ Maddie said.

“And needy,’’ Marty chimed in.

We were the only ones left in the clearing. The crowd had dispersed. Once Austin knew she was off the hook, she’d high-tailed it out of camp. Trey took off after her, and that was the last we’d seen of him. As far as I was concerned, those two deserved one another. Some couples feed on drama. They were probably off somewhere, having hot, make-up sex.

At the thought of sex, I focused again on Carlos and Belle. An image ran through my mind of the times he and I had made love. Soft caresses. Soulful kisses. Hot, but very sweet. And then, in my fantasy, Belle’s body took the place of mine. Her hips moved under him; her mouth pressed against his. I felt a pain in my gut like a horse kick. In that instant, I knew I wasn’t giving up. I wanted Carlos back, and I was ready to fight for him.

I strode toward them over the pasture, hard stobs folding like paper under my boots. My sisters rushed to keep up. When I arrived beside the big rock, I plopped myself down as if I belonged there. My sisters followed my lead.