After the Fall

She watched the electrical wires whip around as the poles swayed. Was this it? Was this the danger that she had to protect Megan from? She bit her lip as she looked worriedly at Emma. She didn’t want to see the little girl die.

Please don’t let her be Jeremy’s assignment.

The shaking finally stopped, and she let out a breath of relief. They were safe—for now.

“Aunt Verna! Are you all right?” Megan leapt to her feet and ran to her.

“Lord, have mercy. That sure was somethin’. She took a hold of Megan’s arm as she helped her to stand. “Dag nabbit! I broke the lens.”

Megan sighed and went back to Emma as Verna fiddled with her broken lens. “It’s okay, Hon. Your momma’s not hurt, just her camera.”

“I heard ’bout earthquakes happenin’ over in East Texas out in Timpson. Neva thought we’d get one here,” Verna said, tugging out a pack of cigarettes from the front of her jean pocket. Her hands shook as she took one out and lit it.

“Uh, Emma.” Megan’s lips thinned as she eyed the smoke that wafted near her and Emma. “Go wait in the truck.”

“Okay. Come on, Teddy. Don’t be scared. I’ll take care of you.” She squeezed the bear to her chest.

“Oh, wait!” Megan unwrapped the candy bar and handed it to her. “Share it with Teddy. It’ll calm him down.”

Emma beamed. She then glanced over at Jeremy and looked down at her candy. She curled her tiny finger motioning Megan to lean in.

Megan raised an eyebrow and then bent down.

“Do you think I should give some to the pretty man?” Emma whispered.

“She has good taste.” Jeremy grinned, throwing Naomi a glance.

Megan looked over in the direction that Emma was looking. “I don’t know. I think he wants you to keep it for you and Teddy.”

Emma looked to Jeremy with wide eyes.

“Megan’s right,” he said to Emma. “You and Teddy should keep it.”

Emma gasped at the sound of his voice. She was about to say something when she gave a quick look at her mom and shut her mouth closed. She gave Jeremy a simple nod and turned back to Megan. “Okay!”

Megan kissed her forehead, and Emma ran to the truck with Teddy in one hand and the chocolate bar in the other.

Megan got a hold of Verna and led her away from the truck. “When did the other earthquake happen?”

“I think it was a few months ago. Word is that maybe it has to do with all the drillin’ that’s been goin’ on over there.”

“We’ve got just as much drilling here, too.” Megan furrowed her brow with worry. “Was it bad over there?”

“4.8. That’s what they said in the news. No one got hurt, though.”

“Not yet,” Megan muttered.

Verna took a final puff on her cigarette and let the smoke out slowly. “Nothin’ we can do ’bout it. Best thing that’s ever happened to this town is the drillin’. I’d have lost the house if it wasn’t for Prescott Oil buyin’ some of my land. They even gave me a job. They’re good people.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“You tell her, Megan,” Naomi said. Yep, she was starting to really like her now.

Jeremy raised an eyebrow at her.

“What? Can’t an angel have an opinion on environmental politics?”

He shook his head and chuckled. “You’re one of a kind, Naomi.”

“No guessing ’bout it.” Verna said loudly. She walked to the road and flicked the cigarette, putting it out with her shoe. “It’s what puts food on the table and a house over our heads. It’s gettin’ late, and you need to get ready for your shift at the Dixie Bar tonight.”

Jeremy turned to Naomi, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Dixie Bar?”

“Welcome to Texas,” she said.

* * *

“How long do you think we need to stay?” Naomi said as she watched Megan in a tight-fitting white T-shirt and jean shorts that barely covered her assets, serving customers at the Dixie Bar.

“Why? I’m having fun.” His eyes looked appreciatively at Megan.

Naomi rolled her eyes. Just when she was beginning to like Megan, thinking that she had a good head on her shoulders, she acted like...like a blond bimbo.

She gritted her teeth, hating to even think such negative thoughts about the girl she was supposed to be protecting. She couldn’t help it. All she could remember was the way her body had rubbed up against Lash’s.

Megan moved toward the bar with a tray full of empty beer bottles. Eyes were glued on her as she passed each table. Some whistled at her; others gave her a friendly hello. She smiled and talked to each one.

“What’s with the scowl?” Jeremy nudged her.

“I’m not scowling.”

He slid his finger down the front of her forehead. “You’re telling me this line here is permanent?”

“Not funny, Jeremy.” He chuckled as she batted his hand away. “We’ve been here for hours. I don’t think anything is going to happen. She’ll continue to be eye candy for all the guys here.”

“It’s probably best to wait until she’s safe in her home,” Jeremy said.

Megan was headed in their direction with a tray of burgers. She stopped at a table with a couple of guys, both wearing their Stetsons, typical Texas cowboys. One of them looked like he was stuck in the 70s, with a huge mustache and polyester shirt exposing a hairy chest. She set the tray down and flashed one of her teen-model smiles. When she turned, mustache-man slapped her butt.

Megan’s nostrils flared, and her eyes tensed with anger, catching Naomi by surprise.

Quickly smoothing her face, she turned to mustache-man and giggled.

“Now, now.” She wiggled her finger at him. “Don’t handle the merchandise.” She then went to the bar, laid her tray on the counter, and headed straight for the Ladies’ room.

She’s acting, Naomi thought. She didn’t like the way she was being treated, but she put up with it anyway. Why would she do that?

A few minutes later, Megan came out of the ladies’ room, brushing her fingers under red-rimmed eyes. She took a deep breath and picked up another tray of drinks from the bar.

Naomi finally understood and was actually starting to respect Megan and all she was putting up with in the bar. If it were her, she’d have chewed out mustache-man and slapped him. Megan had to put up with it. It was a job.

“I’m an idiot,” she mumbled under a breath. All Megan was doing was trying to earn a living, and here she was judging her. Some angel she was.

“Aw, Naomi, you’re not an idiot,” Jeremy said. “You’re just a little...misled by the green-eyed monster.”

Her eyes shot up at him. “You can read minds, too?”

He smiled. “No. But I’m really good at reading pretty faces... like yours. You have absolutely nothing to be jealous about.”

She felt herself grow warm as Jeremy continued to stare at her. This was not good. Not good at all. She needed to get some space between them.

“Well, if we can’t leave, can we at least wait outside?” She was headed toward the door when her eyes suddenly grew wide, and she froze.

Jeremy was immediately by her side. “What’s wrong?”

She swallowed thickly as she stared at the familiar face that stood at the bar’s entrance.

“Chuy,” she breathed.

10