“I love you, Matt!”Through the pain,she struggled to get that out. It was hard to make even a simple, coherent thought now. But, if she never saw him again, she at least wanted to admit that to herself.
“Touching, wouldn’t you say?” Forrest asked Grant.
“Indeed,” he agreed. “Very admirable.”
“Ohgoddamnit! Please! Just kill me!” By now, she was coated in sweat.
“It’s about to hit her brain,” interjected Cee Tee. “Next stop ... the basal nuclei.”
She suddenly gave a bloodcurdling scream and sat straight up, trembling violently. Blood began to trickle from her nose and ears. Then, her eyes rolled back into her head, nothing but the whites showing, and she fell back limp on the bed. Her chest rose and fell frantically.
Frost turned to Cee Tee, “Uncuff her! Now!” As soon as the restraints opened up, Forrest grabbed her wrist, checking for a pulse.
“She ok?” Grant asked.
“Heart’s racing like a SOAR short track orbiter, but otherwise, I think she’s fine.” He patted her hand gently. “Stella, come back to me. The worst part is over. I promise, no more pain.”
Her eyelids fluttered, and her breathing began to return back to normal slowly. However, when her eyeballs rolled back around, they had changed. They were dull, lifeless and cold, like two blown bulbs.
“Stella, can you hear me?” Frost could tell there had been a change, but had it been the desired change?
“Stella? Who is Stella?” she asked in a monotone voice. “Oh yes … I’m Stella.”
“Yes, you’re Stella.” Frost squeezed her hand.
“Who are you?” she asked, her voice sincere in its query.
“Why, I’m your father, silly girl.” He gave her a dazzling smile as he helped her to sit up. “And today is your birthday. Happy birthday, my beautiful, new daughter. Are you ready to celebrate?”
***
Even a few rounds with Tiger couldn’t cool the fire that Amber had kindled in Lulah’s groin. Try as she might, she couldn’t put the exotic images of her and the vixen in some rather intriguing entanglements out of her mind. Dinner that evening made it even more awkward, as she found herself trying to dine on fried chicken and mashed potatoes with Amber and Britt at the kitchen table while lurid images of dining elsewhere raced through her mind. She avoided eye contact with Amber. She feared if Amber gazed into them, she’d see easily through the thin facade and into the lusty desires hidden just beneath the surface.
It didn’t help that with Tiger gone, the ex-Texas Ranger, Tex had refused to abandon his post guarding the front door, taking his meal in the comfortable chair he’d commandeered, his faithful lever-action Westchester rail rifle across his lap. Her son, Blake, hovered nearby, fascinated by the old cowboy and his shiny gun.
It was only when she brought him his plate that it dawned on her how rude she’d been. She’d been so obsessed with spending almost every minute with Tiger that she’d hardly had two words for the man who had taken it upon himself to guard her family for no other reason than he felt it needed protecting. She owed him a lot more than a fried chicken breast and mashed potatoes.
“Blake.” She looked at her son.
“Yes, mom?”
“Go fix yourself a plate. I wanna talk to Mister Tex.”
Yes, ma’am.” He wasn’t too keen on leaving the old Ranger. He’d grown quite attached to the old cowboy. But he knew it was futile to argue, and he was hungry. “Did you save me a drumstick?”
“Don’t I always?” She raised an eyebrow. “But you’d better hurry. You know your sister loves drumsticks too.”
The boy’s eyes filled with alarm at that realization, and he was up and racing for the kitchen. “Brittain!” he called out. “Don’t you eat my leg!” Both mother and sentry grinned in amusement as they watched him disappear around the corner.
“You got some great kids, ma’am!” Tex turned back to Lulah. “I know you’re proud of ‘em. They’re something.”
“They’re something alright!” Lulah chuckled in jest. “What? I don’t rightly know.”
The grizzled old man shrugged, “They’re respectful of their elders. They do what they’re told. They love their momma.”
“They’re just on their best behavior right now. They have their days.”
“You could do a lot worse, believe me.”
“Oh, I can imagine.” She turned back now, looking him in the eye. “Listen, Mister … oh my God … I just realized … I don’t even know your real name.” If her mother were still alive, she’d be horrified at her daughter’s total breakdown in manners.
“Thaddeus Pettigrew, ma’am, but Tex will more than suffice.”
“I’m sure it would, in most cases, Mister Pettigrew, but not in this instance.” She smiled appreciatively. “I want to thank you for doing what you’re doing. Not only for Tiger and the girl but my family as well. It means a lot to me. All kidding aside, my kids are my whole world.”
“It’s been an honor and a privilege, ma’am,” Tex nodded. “One I don’t take lightly.”
“I appreciate it. I truly do. I especially wanna thank you for putting up with Blake.”
“I’m sorry. Ma’am?” She seemed to have lost him.
“I know he’s been in your hip pocket since you’ve been here. I hope he hasn’t been any trouble.”
Tex looked at her queerly, the way she imagined he might look if she were suddenly to have a third eye suddenly blink into existence on her forehead. “Why, no ma’am. He’s been fine company. I kinda miss having one around that age.”
“You had sons?” Lulah asked tentatively.
“Have two … and one daughter. Now I got me a fine mess of grandyounguns, but they’re all in their teen years now. Ol’ Gramps ain’t as cool as he once was.” He pointed an emphasizing finger at her. “Just wait … you’ll see in a few years. One minute they’re sittin’ on your lap wanting to ride the leg horsey … next thing you know, they just grunt as they pass by in the kitchen … if you get any response at all.”
“Gee! Thanks for giving me something
