for her.”
“Hmm.”
“I’d call Allen, Teresa. He might know something.”
She sat with her phone in her hand, contemplating what she
should do. She decided against calling Allen just yet. Juliana was a
big girl. Maybe their talk had nothing to do with the conclusion she
was jumping to and she’d only embarrass herself if she stepped in
without all the facts.
* * * *
Dressed in a pair of ancient, faded blue jeans and a fuzzy peach-
colored sweater, Juliana pulled into the parking lot of The Dancing
Pony. She wasn’t dressed to come in for the party. Her favorite
comfort clothes made the prospect of making happy with the other
employees then facing the long drive ahead of her a little easier to
bear. She’d remained in town only long enough to drop off the
decorations and gifts for the party early that evening.
She put a smile on her face so they’d all think she was merely
leaving for an impromptu vacation. Lifting the shopping bag and
cardboard box, she carried it all in, thanking the man who held the
door open for her. Barbara’s car was in the parking lot, so Juliana
knew she was already there setting the tables up for the party. The
others wouldn’t be off for another half hour.
Two bubbly-sounding women came in right behind her, chattering
as they passed her in the entrance to the club. Waiting for her eyes to
adjust to the dim light, Juliana finally spotted Barbara, talking to one
196
Heather Rainier
of the waitresses in the corner closest to the entryway and made a
beeline for her.
The music was pounding, and there were quite a few customers
already there, many of them sitting at tables or dancing. Barbara
waved as she approached and came to help her with her load.
“Barbara, but I’m not going to stay. I’m headed out of town
tonight.”
“You are? Everything okay?” Barbara asked, scrutinizing her
face.
“Yes. I’m just overdue for a vacation,” she replied with what she
hoped passed for nonchalance.
“I’ll say. You’ve been looking tired,” she said with a maternal
tone. “When was the last time you took a vacation? It’s been years,
hasn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I’d say you’re due. Where are you going?”
“I’d rather not say. My cell phone is turned off. If anybody needs
to reach me, they can call Evelyn.”
“I understand completely. I hope it’s a cruise or a hot island
getaway.”
“Nothing that grand. Just time to rest and think.” And make plans
for her and her baby’s future.
“Taking that handsome cowboy with you?” Barbara asked as she
gestured across the room, and then she frowned and tilted her head.
Juliana looked in the direction Barbara had indicated. Her heart
turned to ice in her chest, and every muscle in her body locked down.
She took a breath, and the fault-line in her chest cracked a little wider.
Ash sat with his back to her at a table on the other side of the club.
His hat was still on, and his back was turned, but she recognized that
powerful physique. She’d memorized it with her eyes, her lips, and
her tongue, every part of her in fact, and she would’ve known him
anywhere.
Spurs and Heels
197
The two bubbly women who’d come in behind her had just joined
his table, where two other women sat with him. They were all talking
at once, sweet commiseration and love on their faces. One of them
jostled his arm, laughing. He turned to her and kissed her cheek and
let her hug him.
Another one pulled his hat from his head and put it on her own
before she kissed his cheek. She was awfully young-looking and
beautiful, as they all were, and Juliana knew she could never hold up
in comparison. The young one took her chair again, and Juliana
counted four women at his table once they were all seated around
him.
A weird, creepy-crawly sensation swept over her skin as
adrenaline dumped into her system. That fierce protectiveness swelled
inside her again, even as her heart broke. This was how long it took
him to get back in the “swing” of things. That’s how much her
declaration of love meant to him.
At the slightest hint of adversity, he turned and ran, straight into
someone else’s arms. She watched as another of the women rose from
her seat and pulled him from his and they stepped on the dance floor.
The tingling sensation continued, and Juliana knew it probably wasn’t
good for the baby to be experiencing her nerves and emotionally upset
state, nor was it wise to react like this with Barbara standing there
observing.
She glanced at Barbara, and sympathy was all she saw. “No,