He took a long slug from his soda. Staring at the spot where his lips met the can, I felt memory waves wash over me. Lying on three folded blankets in the bed of his truck, watching shooting stars. The feel of his lips on mine, soft yet insistent. My first time, and how Jeb kissed away the tears that came from the realization that I wasnt a virgin anymore.
Can I ask you something, Mace?
I nodded, hoping it wouldnt be What are you thinking?
Jeb said, They let your mama out of jail. But you said the case is making you nuts. Why are you still involved?
Good question, I thought.
Well, for one thing, someone has made it pretty clear they dont want us looking into Jim Alberts murder. I told him about Mamas stuffed dog, and about my close call in the canal.
That sounds pretty dangerous. Yet youre still fooling around, trying to figure out whodunnit.
Youve known me a long time, Jeb. Tell me I cant do something, and thats exactly what I want to do. Besides, Mamas name hasnt been cleared. I outlined how her fellow church-goers had stared and whispered. Martinez might be busy right now, I said, trying to build a stronger case against her. I didnt mention Id tried to steer the detective off my mother by telling him about Jebs troubles with Jim Albert.
I watched a drop of condensation roll off my can and onto my thigh.
I also want to know how Mamas boyfriend figures in, Jeb. What if hes responsible? Mama could be in danger. Id toss myself into Ollie the alligators pond if something happens to her, and I could have prevented it.
It just seems like youre putting a lot of pressure on yourself, Mace.
Im not alone. Both my sisters are involved. Were all trying to find the real murderer. You dont think Maddie would let anything happen to me, do you?
He smiled, and put an arm around my shoulder to draw me close. Your sister Maddies like a mama gator with a clutch of babies. She smacked her tail, showed her teeth, and hissed at me. And all I did was invite you to a barbecue.
I thought of a gators head, with huge gaping jaws, on my sisters body. It was such a fitting image that I laughed out loud.
Now, thats what I like to hear, Mace. I always did love your laugh. He traced a finger around my lips. Its not a girly giggle; you bring it up from deep down in your belly. He touched my belt buckle. I like that in a woman.
Whatever happened to Cindy? I said, shifting away from him.
Id heard Jeb was involved with a girl we both knew in high school, a cheerleader and homecoming queen. I was pleased when a classmate told me shed gained forty pounds since senior year.
Jeb took off his hat and began working the brim with his fingers. He studied the pointed toes of his boots. The way he was acting, I hoped he wasnt going to say she was dead. Id feel awful after the way I crowed about her putting on weight.
I screwed up, Mace, he finally said. Cindy left me.
Were you cheating on her? I figured we two gals could form a support group for women Jeb had done wrong.
No. I learned my lesson about that a long time ago, when I lost you.
I looked at him sideways, not sure whether to believe him. Well, what happened?
Remember how I told you at the diner that Id borrowed money from Jim Albert?
I nodded.
I couldnt pay it back fast enough to suit him. That bastard sent men out to the ranch, and they busted the place up. Cindy was there, alone. They didnt hurt her. But she was terrified. It happened again, and this time they knocked me around. She packed her clothes and left the next day. Said she couldnt live like that, wondering what theyd do the next time they came.
Jeb looked like a little boy whod just seen his dog hit by a truck. My heart went out to him. Then I realized owing money
and
losing his girlfriend gave Jeb a doubly good reason to want Jim Albert dead.
Leaning toward him, I brushed the hair out of his eyes. I wasnt exactly faking concern. But I did have an ulterior motive. I wanted to see if I could lead Jeb to reveal anything more. I edged a bit closer again, thigh to thigh. His sweat had dried in the breeze from the fans. But he still had the salty, hard-work smell of a man who handles horses and cattle. I breathed it in, remembering the thrill Id always gotten from watching him ride and rope.
Do you still have that horse you were breaking when we were going together, Jeb? What was his name? The big bay, with the white blaze?
Cheyenne. The smile returned to Jebs lips. He draped an arm casually around my shoulders. Hes getting old, but hes still going strong. Why dont you come out and ride with me, Mace? Id love to see you on a horse again. Ill never forget the sight of you barrel-racing in that white outfit with the fringe, your black hair flying from underneath a white hat. You were a sight. Just beautiful. Still are.
I looked at him, and the plan to work him for information flew out of my brain. The flecks in his eyes were liquid gold. He leaned down a bit to kiss me. I lifted my chin. I couldnt wait to feel again the touch of his lips; the heat of his body.
I closed my eyes
And heard a harsh cough. Someone was standing not two feet away, interrupting our moment with an infernal hacking. They were quite insistent. Loud, too. How rude, I thought.
Reluctantly, I put a hand on Jebs chest and pushed away. I opened my eyes.
There stood Detective Martinez, clearing his throat and staring cannon-ball-sized holes into Jeb and me.
A door slammed. I heard the
clomp-clomp
of school-principal pumps on the wooden deck between the office and the breezeway.
What do you mean theyre Maces daisies, Rhonda? A familiar voice boomed, scaring any wildlife within a hundred yards. Who brought my sister daisies?
Martinezs respiratory distress had already spooked me. Now, Maddies approach finished the job. I scooted away, like Jebs thigh was the campfire and mine was the marshmallow. I moved too slowly: The sight of me cozying up to my former boyfriend stopped my sister so fast that Rhonda ran into her from the rear.
Clomp-clomp-smack
. Maddie looked from the two of us to Martinez, the eyeglasses on her chain bouncing on her generous bust.
I let you out of my sight for one day, Mace. Maddie shook her head. And you go and get yourself into all kind of mess with Jeb Ennis.
Rhonda looked uncomfortable. An only child, she was unused to the goings on of dysfunctional siblings. Ill just excuse myself. She edged backwards toward the office. Ive got a mountain of paperwork.
It was the only time I ever envied my boss her forms in triplicate.
Jeb stood up. Howdy, Maddie. Nice to see you, too. He put his hat back on and brushed his hands along the front of his denim-covered thighs. Even though Im enjoying this little reunion, its time for me to hit the trail.
Hold your horses, Cowboy. Martinezs voice was a command.
Jeb looked at him, a question on his face. Martinez took his time with the answer. He extracted a cigar from his top pocket. He sniffed it, then held it up like it was a piece of art he was inspecting for a museum. Finally, he put back the cigar and stared at Jeb.
Youre not saddling up just yet,
hombre
.
Maddie just about licked her chops in anticipation. Thats Carlos Martinez. Hes a police detective, she said to Jeb. Carlos, it appears you already know who Jeb Ennis is.
The two men looked at each other, measuring. Long and lean, Jeb mightve had a few inches in height. But the burly detective outweighed the cowboy by at least twenty-five pounds. They stared across the breezeway like two bucks do, just before they crash antlers to see who gets to mate with the female deer. I couldnt help but wonder if the doe ever gets her say.
Could you ladies find something else to do for a little while? Martinez spoke to us, but he never took his eyes off Jeb. I have a few questions for Mr. Ennis. I was going to visit Ms. Bauer here, to see if she could put me in touch. But it looks like Ive been saved the trouble of traveling all the way to Wah Wash Watch
Wauchula. Maddie helped him out. I believe Jebs cattle ranch is over in Wauchula, Carlos.
Thanks, Maddie. But your sister here already filled me in with quite a bit of information on her good friend, Mr. Ennis.
Jeb shot me a look. I stared at the ground, too late to avoid seeing the betrayal in his eyes.
By the way, Im not sure what youve got going on here, Ms. Bauer, but you need to stay out of this investigation. Ive told you its dangerous. Leave police work to professionals.
The superior tone in his voice propelled me to my feet.
If I did that, Mama would still be in jail, where the
professional
tossed her. Id say the
professional
has made a few missteps. Wouldnt you agree, Maddie?
My sister examined the links on her eyeglass chain.
Maddie?
Well, Mace, Im thinking maybe we should let bygones be bygones.
My own sister, a Judas!
It
is
dangerous. During the course of a murder investigation, theres no telling what kind of people you might come in contact with. Maddie stared straight at Jeb.
You better not be meaning what I think youre meaning, you old rattlesnake. Jebs voice was low and menacing.
All right, all right. Martinez held up a hand. Maddie, would you mind taking your sister for a walk? I think everyone needs to cool down a little. Im just trying to get to the bottom of things. Im hoping Mr. Ennis can help me do that.
Absolutely. Maddie sounded just like the teachers pet she always was. Mace, why dont you take me to your compound, and show me the animals? Marty told me Ollies getting as round as a barrel on all those chickens youre feeding him.
Maddies false enthusiasm didnt fool me. She likes animals about as much as she likes seventh graders, which is to say not much. She touched my elbow. I shook off her hand. I might go, but I wouldnt do it graciously.
Fine. I could hear the pout in my voice. It sounded ridiculous. But something about my bossy big sister makes me act like a six-year-old.
As Maddie and I left, I glanced over my shoulder. I wouldnt have wanted to wander into the open space between Jeb and Martinez. It would be like stepping into standing water charged by a downed power line.
___
Lifting a forty-pound bag of puppy chow to my shoulder, I edged past my sister in the tight quarters of the animal compounds storage room.
Good Lord, Mace. Youre as strong as a man!
You make that sound like a bad thing, Maddie.
I rested the feed sack on the slatted wood floor. Any number of animals, including skunks and raccoons, can eat moistened dog or cat food. At feeding time, I supplement the dry chow with everything from fish and eggs to fruit and yogurt, depending on the critter.
Drag that garbage can over here, would you, Maddie? I nodded toward a fifty-gallon pail against the far wall. I need to fill it with this chow.
Maddie looked at the pail like Id asked her to move a mountain.
Go ahead, Maddie. Its empty. I wouldnt ask you to exert yourself. I know youre not used to lifting anything heavier than that paddle you use to scare the sixth graders.
I took a pocket knife from my work pants and sliced a hole into the top of the bag. A meaty, cereal smell wafted from the sack.
You know corporal punishment is outlawed in the public schools. Maddie couldnt keep the note of regret from her voice. The kids know it, too; even the sixth graders. I dont have a lot of tools in my threat kit anymore.
Im sure you manage, Maddie.
Maybe so. Still and all, I havent managed to scare you off that devil, Jeb Ennis.
I looked up from the sack. Maddie was wearing her serious face.
You didnt fool me for an instant, Mace, jumping away on that bench. Your face was flushed. The blood was pulsing at that spot on your neck, the way it does when youre upset or excited.
I poured the feed into the plastic can without a word. The small chunks filling the bucket sounded like rain on a shingle roof.
Im not gonna deny it, I finally said. Im still attracted to the man. He was my first real boyfriend, you know.
Oh, I remember. But youre looking at those days through rose glasses, Mace. Because I also remember you sobbing for hours on your bed the night you caught him cheating. I remember you couldnt choke down a thing but water for three days after.
My stomach lurched at the memory. Even the smell of food had made me want to throw up. Finally, on the third day, Maddie came into my bedroom with a bowl of mashed potatoes. She stretched out next to me on the bed, propping me up with an arm around my shoulders. Then she fed me spoonful after spoonful until I could eat no more. I still remember the texture of those potatoes on my tongue, mixed with some salt and a tiny bit of butter.