Lone Star Hero. Jolene Navarro

One

      The blue and red lights flashed. Polished cowboy boots stepped out of the looming SUV. Each step stirred pale dust into the dry air. She didn’t need to look at his face to know who had pulled her over. Ever since her return to Clear Water, Texas, she had done her best to avoid this state trooper.

      Jake Torres made it too easy to doubt her resolve to be independent. After a disastrous marriage with one hometown boy, she couldn’t contemplate a relationship with another, even if he had been her best friend once upon a time.

      Now her ex-friend was going to give her a ticket on Valentine’s Day. Great. Another memento to add to this wonderful day.

      Turning away from the rearview mirror, she glanced at the box of pink penguin cupcakes. They had taken her twice as long to decorate as she’d planned.

      “Mom! We’re going to be late!” Ashley, her seven-year-old daughter, cried from the backseat.

      She closed her eyes for a moment to control the burning acid in her stomach.

      More money gone. She didn’t even have enough to buy her daughter the lollipop Valentine cards she wanted. With a quick check in the mirror, she noticed Ashley going through the handmade cards. A weak smile eased some of the tension as she thought of the fun they’d had while cutting and gluing scrap pieces of construction paper. Even Seth, her preteen son, had made a couple of glittery masterpieces.

      An unwanted memory surfaced. The sparkly red heart she had created as an eleven-year-old. She could see Jake’s fingers take the Valentine card made just for him. She’d held her breath watching him read the question she had so carefully printed. Looking up at her, he had smiled and laughed at her. “Vickie, you’re crazy.”

      “Vickie?” A baritone voice of the grown version of her childhood crush brought her back to the present. He now stood in his state trooper uniform and looked at her as if he still doubted her sanity.

      “Officer Torres.” She replied in her most professional voice.

      He leaned in a bit and looked past her. “Hi, Ashley. You’re looking pretty today.”

      “Thank you. We’re going to the horse club’s Valentine’s party.”

      He smiled and nodded before looking back at her. Well, she assumed he looked at her. With the dark aviators, all she saw was her own reflection. Not pretty.

      “License and insurance?”

      She handed him the documents. He always looked so good in cowboy hats. She made sure not to gaze at him. Instead, she focused on the empty country road stretched out in front of her. The outline of the hills surrounding them hid any sign of civilization.

      A silver truck sped by and honked. Vickie scooted farther down in her seat and looked to her right. The Black Angus heifers went on with their eating. Her father’s cattle couldn’t care less about her problems.

      “How is Seth doing?” Jake pulled her attention back to him.

      Her knuckles went white around her worn and cracked steering wheel. Just two months ago, her son snuck out, making plans to run away and ended up in the shallow river in the dark. Her heart still stopped whenever she thought how close she came to losing her son. The image of his still form loaded into the ambulance burned forever in her mind.

      “Last week the doctor released him for all regular activities. He’s a hundred percent recovered, physically anyway.” She took a breath and looked up. “Thank you for being there, for searching for him and helping me hold it together.” It had been the worst night of her life, and Jake had stayed by her side until they found Seth. He drove her to the ambulance and helped her stay calm when it felt as if she was going to fall to pieces.

      He paused and brought his face back to her. “I’m glad I was there. Vickie, you know if you ever need anything you can call me.”

      Yeah, that was Jake, everyone’s hero. Giving her a speeding ticket, probably for her own good. “You wouldn’t consider just giving me a warning, would you?” She tried to smile, but visions of her measly savings dwindling even further made it difficult.

      “The sun’s almost down. It’s hard to see deer, and in your small car that can be dangerous. Just the other day...” His voice dropped off as he looked back to his new handheld scanner. “Um...Vickie?”

      That didn’t sound good. “Yes?”

      “Are you aware you have a warrant out for your arrest?”

      “What?” Her voice squeaked as it caught in her throat. “Oh, no! I had a ticket somewhere in East Texas. I didn’t...oh, then Tommy and Seth...” She covered her face with her cold, clammy hands. You will not cry, Victoria Maria Lawson. You will not cry.

      “Mommy?”

      “Vickie, take a breath. It’s okay. You have a way to pay it, right? You can ask your father.” He took the dark shades off. “As soon as you pay it in full they’ll remove the warrant.”

      “I’m not asking Daddy. I just forgot about it.” Did she have enough in her savings? Was she ever going to get to the point where she put more in than she withdrew? She looked in the rearview mirror. Ashley’s big eyes were even wider. “It’s okay, sweetheart.” She glanced up at Jake. “I have Ash...”

      “Vickie. I don’t want to arrest you, but you have to pay it. Call your dad. He’ll help you.”

      “I have the money. I’m not asking Daddy to save me. I completely forgot... How could I...?” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. How did she let this happen? With Seth’s near-death excursion and Tommy getting remarried she just...

      “Mommy, are we still going to the horse club meeting?”

      Oh, Ashley. “I don...”

      “Vickie, take her to the party.” He lowered his chin and stared at her a moment before speaking again. “I’ll follow. Ashley can go into the exhibit hall and you can take care of the ticket over the phone.”

      His thoughts were hidden behind the depth of his dark eyes. The intense gaze made her want to hide.

      “Take it slow. Being late is not the worst thing that can happen.” He glanced down. “You need new tires. These are bald, and your inspection sticker needs to be renewed.” He took a step back.

      She managed to nod. “Thank you. I can pay it. I just forgot.” He didn’t get it. She grew up relying on her parents then Tommy. She refused to ask them for help. She had to do this on her own.

      She turned the key. Click... Click. No! She tried again. Nothing. Come on. Please start.

      One more try. The engine started. Yes! So much for a grand exit. It didn’t purr, not like the Mercedes she drove just two years ago. She reminded herself to be grateful for a car she bought with her own money. Pulling back onto the country road, she headed to the arena on the edge of town.

      * * *

      Back in the SUV, Jake turned off the flashing light. With a heavy sigh, he started the engine.

      He spent years ignored by Vickie. He should be used to it by now. Nevertheless, seeing her so battered by life hurt him in a way he suspected he’d never get over.

      After checking the empty road for traffic, he pulled out to follow her. He’d pay the ticket himself if it would keep him from having to arrest her. He imagined she’d never forgive him for putting her in jail in front of her daughter.

      Vickie would never forgive him for helping her, either. Describing her as stubborn was like calling the Texas sun in August a little warm.

      Just a couple of months ago her son had been airlifted to San Antonio after almost drowning. He thought they had connected that night and she would be more open to reviving their old friendship.

      Going by the Mercantile where she worked, he tried talking to her, but she managed to be in the back