'Til Death Do Us Part Read online

  “Daisy, with all due respect, you’re talking love and all that mumbo jumbo. I don’t even know him. I mean, sure, I think he’s cute and sexy and I like him, but I don’t know him enough to love him.”

  Daisy softly touched my hand, patting it. “You have never experienced love, my dear, so how do you know that it’s not love? Sometimes it hits you like a bolt of lightning. You don’t even know what happened or when, it just did.”

  We sat there in silence for a couple minutes. I didn’t know what to say. She was right. I honestly didn’t know what love was. I mean, sure, I had ideas, but being with Mick was not love. Was love constantly thinking of someone? Wishing to be near them? Wanting to touch them? Counting the days ‘til you saw them again? Well, if it was, then yeah, I was in love with Tex. But the question was, could he ever love someone like me?

  * * * * * *

  Laverne Cagle was waiting for me when I got home from my session with Mr. Davis. I sat on the porch swing as she began pulling out papers from her briefcase. “I have spoken with the judge and he has given you your freedom. It seems that Mr. Davis agrees you are ready to be out on your own.”

  I was scared. I mean, I’d never lived on my own. While I was excited that I was really free, I had a deep sorrow inside, because this place felt like home to me. “When do I have to leave?”

  “Well, Becca, you have three days.”

  “I have no money, Mrs. Cagle. How can I get a place?”

  She pulled out some papers from her briefcase. “You have three thousand dollars in your savings account.”

  “You have it wrong. See, I have never had a bank account.”

  “Well, it seems your deceased husband opened it in your name about three years ago. It’s yours, it’s more then enough to get you started.”

  Mick had to have been hiding it from someone. He would never have put money in my name. But then again, I was so stupid, I wouldn’t have known. Funny how it backfired in his face. Stupid son of a bitch took my life from me, and now he was giving it back.

  Daisy came out and sat next to me as soon as my lawyer left. “So you’re leaving me?”

  I softly patted her hand. “I guess I am.”

  “Well, you know, I talked to a friend of mine. He’s a vet. I told him of your love for animals, and he told me to send you over there. It’s a good job, and not too far from here. My friend Gertrude has a small mobile home for rent, and I know you could get in there.”

  “You’re so good to me, Daisy.”

  She kissed me on the cheek. “Let me go make some calls.”

  Chapter Five

  Life was great. I had a job, my own place and I was my own boss. I could walk around the place naked; leave it dirty, stay up all night watching television. For the first two weeks, it was great.

  Then I got lonely.

  I took up reading. Hell, if I couldn’t have romance, I sure could read about it.

  I was sitting on my deck reading a good Harlequin romance when I felt my toes get warm and damp.

  I jumped up. There sat Duke.

  “Duke!” He must have known I was excited, because he started panting and jumped up on the chair with me. “Oh, I have missed you so much. How did you get here?”

  He licked my face in answer.

  “He came with me.” Tex walked up the steps and leaned against the deck. “Mom says he’s just been plain miserable without you.”

  “Oh, I’ve missed him too.”

  Duke jumped down and began sniffing around.

  “How’s everything with you?”

  Tex sat down in the chair beside me. “I’m doing good. How about you?”

  “Well, work is great. I love all the animals.”

  It felt weird, like we were teenagers making small talk. My heart was beating fast and my palms were clammy. Oh, this man just drove me nuts.

  “I just wanted to bring Duke over to see you.”

  “I appreciate it. I go see your mom when I can. I just hate leaving, because he gives me that sad look.”

  Tex got up and yelled for Duke. Duke ran up and sat next to his feet. “Becca, Mom wants to know if you can keep Duke. It seems he got spoiled, and she can’t deal with him anymore.”

  “I would love to have him, but he’s yours.”

  “We could have joint custody.”

  There it went again, my heart beating faster-faster-faster. Damn him.

  “Does that mean you would be coming over here to see him?”

  “Yes and no.”

  “What do you mean, yes and no?”

  “I would come see you too, if that was okay.”

  Oh, yes, it was. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted him to touch me. Faster-faster-faster…my heart was going wild.

  “I would love for you to come see me, Tex.”

  He leaned in and softly, oh so softly, kissed my lips.

  Pure chills ran down my spine. We kissed for the longest time. I didn’t want it to stop. I leaned in closer, hoping he would touch me. My God, I wanted him to touch my breasts. I wanted, I needed for him to make love to me.

  He let me go. “Becca, I have to go.”

  “Okay, if you must.”

  “I don’t want to, but I’m afraid if I don’t, I’ll never leave.”

  “Then don’t.”

  He cupped my face in his palm. “Do you know what you’re saying? Baby, once I make love to you, you’re mine.”

  “Oh, Tex, I want to be yours.”

  He picked me up and carried me inside. “Where’s your bedroom?”

  I giggled and pointed down the hall.

  He threw me on the bed and removed his shirt. It was as if it couldn’t happen fast enough. We were like two sex-starved maniacs tearing at each other’s clothes.

  There was no foreplay, but I was wet and when he entered me, my body went into a fit of convulsions.

  Never had I imagined sex could be so good, so satisfying, yet so emotional. If I didn’t love him before, I did now. We hit climax together, our hearts beating simultaneously. We lay there in each other’s arms for the longest time, not saying a word. I knew the past was gone, the future looked bright and in my heart, my soul, and in the dreams that would come, Mick was now really gone.

  Look for the Texas T series by Ruby Christine...Coming soon to Mojocastle Press!

  Ruby Christine

  A nurse by day, a writer by night and a mom of three boys 24-7, I live in Texas and love it here. Writing is therapy for me, takes me places I’ve been, wish I’d been or someday want to be. I’m a storyteller...may not be the best, but I love what I do and if my writing has touched just one person, then it’s all worth it. As always, if God brings you to it, then God will get you through it.