I didn't have to listen to his flip response-I'd heard it a dozen times before. I was thinking of the Douglas trial, the most demanding of my fifteen-year career. Interminable days in the courtroom, long nights and weekends at the office. Somewhere during that period, my relationship with Tom Rowan had come to an abrupt and catastrophic end.
At the time, I was so totally focused on the case that I put Tom's departure aside to deal with later-something unpleasant that had to be faced, like getting the brakes fixed on the car or replacing the crown I lost halfway through the trial. I didn't feel the pain until the jury came in with a not-guilty verdict and I woke up and realized that where Tom had been, there was now a large and gnawing emptiness. We'd been intimate for less than a year, but he was the first man I ever really loved, and 1 hadn't thought it could end. I hadn't known, you see, that love dies when you don't pay attention to it-especially when there isn't much beside physical attraction to build on. Later, still feeling the loss, I handed in my resignation, moved to Pecan Springs, opened the shop-and McQuaid came along to fill the emptiness.
I pulled my eyes away. "The Douglas trial," I murmured. "It was a long time ago."
Tom brushed his blond hair out of his eyes with the boyish gesture mat had always made me want to smile. "Eight years is a long time. Are you in Carr on a case?"
"I'm not in practice anymore."
He tilted his head curiously, but didn't say anything, just glanced around the table, taking in Maggie and Ruby in her brown monk's robe. "The three of you are on vacation, then?"
"Sort of," I said. "We're staying at St. T's for a couple of weeks."
"Not all of us," Ruby said. "I'm just here for one night. I'm leaving for Albuquerque tomorrow morning." She gave Tom a charming smile, anxious to redeem herself. "What a small world it is. And what a coincidence-you and China running into one another like this. You must be totally surprised." She hesitated, debating, then stepped into it. "How well did you know one another?"
Tom's tanned face crinkled in the familiar smile that had once made my heart turn over. "Not very well, actually. We only thought we did."
Ruby's eyes flew to me and her eyebrows became giant question marks.
"You'll enjoy St. T's," he added. "It's quiet and peaceful-well, mostly anyway. And the Yucca River country is as wild as it gets in this part of Texas." He looked up as Bernice came through the kitchen door. "Hey, Bernie, how ya doin'?"
Bernice's eyes lit up. "Well, hi there, handsome! Thought mebbe you'd given up eatin'."
Tom laughed. "Not on your life, beautiful. Took Dad to Dallas for chemo. Miss me?''
"Did I miss you?" She rolled her eyes expressively. "Nobody calls me 'beautiful' when you ain't around, Tommy."
"That's their problem. Say, you got any of that world-famous chili back there, darlin'? If you do, I'll take a bowl."
"Sure thing," Bernice said. She chuckled as she poured his coffee, then refilled our cups.
I looked at Tom. "Mostly peaceful?''
"Except for a little excitement from time to time," he replied casually. He turned his chair sideways and crossed his long legs. "A couple of small fires, but no damage." He glanced from me to Maggie. ' 'What would you two say to going riding one day next week? We can get horses from Sadie Marsh-she lives out that way."
"You know this area, then?" I asked.
Come to think of it, what was Tom Rowan doing in this little one-horse town? When I knew him, he was a fair-haired, pinstriped superstar at one of Houston's biggest banks. He was talented, confident, and not above using his substantial charm to get what he wanted. Why had he left? How had he ended up here?
"Does he know this area?" Bernice mimicked scathingly. She put her hand on Tom's shoulder. "Listen, lady, this guy went through all eight grades and high school right here in Carr. He may have had his big-city fling, but he's home now."
"Tom's president of the local bank, China," Maggie put in.
"And a member of every community group around,"
Bernice said proudly, as if she were giving him a recommendation. "Lions, K of C, Community Chest. The town couldn't do without him."
"He's also chairman of the Laney Foundation Board," Maggie added. At my blank look, she added, "The board that manages St. T's trust fund."
As Bernice went back to the kitchen to get the chili, Tom had the grace to look embarrassed. "The bank is one of those small, family-owned banks you hardly ever hear about anymore," he said. "My grandfather established it and turned it over to Dad when he retired. Now it's my turn-or will be, when the old man can't handle it anymore. Sick or not, though, he's still the bank's big cheese. I tell him I'm just filling in until he's able to get back to work."
I was skeptical. The Tom I remembered hated it when somebody else threatened to become a bigger cheese than he was.
Maggie's face was sober. "How is your father, Tom? Dominica told me he has cancer."
"Hanging in there. The doc says he's got six months, more or less. He'll be back at the bank for a few more weeks. After that…" He shrugged.
"I'm sorry," I said, and meant it. I'd met his father a time or two and had enjoyed him.
"That's the breaks." He smiled crookedly. "Tell you what. The foundation board is meeting at St. T's on Tuesday morning. Sadie is one of the board members, so she'll be there. After the meeting, we'll go to her place, pick up some horses, and take off into the backcountry for a few hours." His eyes were on mine, searching. "What do you say, China?"
I hesitated. Did I really want to go riding with Tom? Our relationship hadn't so much ended as been broken off, and I'd hungered for him a long time afterward. If I said yes, what would I be letting myself in for?
But Maggie couldn't know about my reservations. "Why don t you go, she said. "You 11 see some country you won't otherwise see."
"I think you should, too, China," Ruby put in unexpectedly. "You might not have another chance."
Tom grinned. "Good," he said. "Tuesday afternoon, then." He looked up with satisfaction as Bernice came in with a bowl of chili. She put it down and turned to Ruby.
"Well now, Sister," she said, "are you ready for some of that pie?"'
Outside, a brisk northern breeze was ripping the clouds apart, leaving ragged patches of blue. We had said goodbye to Tom and were about to get into Ruby's car when a man wearing a deputy's badge, a dark blue jacket, and a holstered.357 hurried down the courthouse steps and across the street. He greeted Maggie familiarly, then turned to me. He was a long-nosed man with sagging satchels of skin under bulging brown eyes.
"Stu Walters," he said, thrusting out his hand. "Miz Bayles?"
I nodded.
' 'Mother Winifred told me you was comin' today. I fig-gered it was you when I saw Sister Margaret Mary here." He looked down his nose at Maggie. "Haven't seen you around lately, Sister."
Maggie shook her head. ' 'I left the order two years ago. Stu."
The deputy frowned. "You kin do that? Jes' up an' leave, I mean?"
"Yes," Maggie said, smiling slightly. "We're not joined at the hip."
The deputy's puzzlement deepened, as if he were trying to cope with the idea that a nun might not be a nun forever. He gave it up and turned to me. "I was gonna call St. T's in the mornin' an' ask you to come in, Miz Bayles. Guess we kin talk now an' save us both the trouble."