Why the River Runs Read online

  Nan had a picture hanging in the hallway of the house of a horse standing in the river, rearing up on its back legs. It was one of his grandfather’s horses and she’d captured it in the perfect moment. Bo made a copy of the picture and hung it in the shop. It reminded him of Tina—wild, unfettered, and magnificent. He practiced carving it on a small piece of wood when he went on his lunch breaks, hoping to one day create it much larger.

  When he wasn’t working with his hands, he was working his mind, researching and watching videos on the craft. He also searched tirelessly for the wallpaper that Tina needed for the Ragland house.

  On Memorial Day, he and Jason went to Bear’s for a drink and walked into a gathering of sorts. It seemed like half the town had shown up and there was a huge portrait of Christopher Harris by the stage. That’s when he remembered it was the anniversary of the man’s death.

  Jason and Bo took a seat in a booth on the opposite end of the restaurant.

  “Man,” Jason shook his head, “it’s hard to believe it’s been two years. Seems like yesterday.”

  “What happened? I heard he died, but not how.”

  The waitress came by and took their drink orders, then Jason spoke. “He was a firefighter. We had a crazy storm come through and this car hydroplaned right off the bridge into the water. Chris was first on the scene and went in for a water retrieval. He got the little girl out, but the mother was unconscious. He went in to get her.” Jason’s eyes stayed on the table. “The woman floated to the surface and the other firefighters were able to pull her to shore. We nearly lost her. She had a bad concussion, didn’t hardly remember a thing. Chris never surfaced. He just…disappeared.” Jason shook his head and glanced over at the group of people raising a toast. “They searched for a long time, all down the river in three counties. He was just gone.”

  “You knew him?”

  Jason took the beer from the waitress and wasted no time drinking it down. “I was one of the EMTs that worked on the little girl.”

  Bo didn’t hide his shock. All this time he’d worked with Jason, befriended him, ate lunch with him every day and he’d never said a word. “You were there?”

  “Yeah.” Jason took another drink and a deep breath. He met Bo’s eyes. “That damn river is a reaper, Bo. I’ve never been a superstitious person, but I’m telling you right now, don’t fuck with the Sanguine. It took Chris Harris and seven months before that, Lance Smith. Those two guys ended up in the water and only one of them was ever found.”

  About that time, Bo’s heart hammered in his chest. Tina and a pretty brunette headed their direction. Jason slid out of the booth and removed his baseball cap. Bo followed. Again, Tina was radiant. Her jeans fit her just right and her black button-up created a contrast against her blonde hair that fell on her shoulder in a braid. Her blue eyes, looking bigger than ever, were covered in shadow and ringed in black.

  “Jayden.” Jason extended a hand towards the woman, who smiled kindly at him.

  Jayden shook his hand. “Hey, there. You guys want to join us? We’re just having a beer and telling stories.”

  Jason glanced to Bo, pleading. “Um, thanks but, um—” He twisted his cap in his hands.

  Bo had never seen Jason nervous or fidgeting like he was. He stepped in. “We don’t really want to intrude.” He met Tina’s gaze and fell head first into those blue eyes.

  “It’s not intruding.” Tina’s red lips pulled back on one side. “Come on.”

  “Yeah, okay.” Jason nodded and put his cap back on. They grabbed their drinks and took a seat on the outskirts of the crowd. Jayden and Tina went back into the heart of the group. Bo tried to remember the names of all the people there. He recognized the mechanic who worked on his car’s heads, Justin Meyers, Bear and his parents, and another of the Harris boys, who had seen better days. The kid looked high as a kite and ended up leaving right after Bo started eating. The famous Millers were all in attendance, making toasts to Chris’ heroism and bravery. That was Jayden’s family, everything seemed to be an opportunity to show the constituents how gracious they were.

  A thought struck Bo as he watched the people talk and mingle. These were the founders of Riverview—the elite, top percentage of the town’s population and he was a jail bird. He might’ve known Christopher Harris, but they hadn’t traveled in the same circles. No wonder Tina didn’t remember him. Even in school, she had been in a different stratosphere. In spite of their differences, her blue eyes constantly found his in the crowd. Even with all these people around, her friends and colleagues, people she’d known forever, she still sought him out.

  “I’m about done. You?” Jason asked, peeling the label off of his beer. He was clearly uncomfortable and had taken all he could take. This wasn’t normal behavior for Jason, who was almost as outgoing as Tina.

  “Yeah.” Bo grabbed Tina’s attention and motioned towards the door. She came towards him. “Jason and I are out. Thanks for the invite.”

  “Sure.” Tina pushed her hair behind her ears then shoved her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. Her eyes darted around like she couldn’t figure out where to look. “Daddy said you were coming over tomorrow to work on guy stuff.” She grinned at the term.

  “He’s going to show me some tips on molding and banisters. Nan has some things on her porch I need to fix.”

  “Cool, cool.” Tina finally met his stare. “Well, I’ll see you around then.” She rocked back on her heels as if she didn’t know how to act around him.

  Bo made the decision for her. He leaned in and put one arm around her lower back, giving her a gentle hug. “Call me if you need me.”

  Tina discretely gripped his arm, clinging for dear life. At least that’s what it felt like to him. “I will.” She gave Jason a casual smile and awkwardly hugged him from the side as if that would make things normal. “You okay to drive?”

  “I’ve only had one.” Jason cleared his throat. “Tell Jay goodbye for me, okay?”

  “Sure.”

  Once he and Jason were out of the bar, Jason let out a huge breath. “Well, that was awkward as fuuuck.” He chuckled, grinning like the Cheshire cat. “Boss lady has the hots for you, Bo Allen.”

  Bo punched him in the shoulder. “Just because Nan calls me that, doesn’t mean you get to.”

  “You’d let Tina call you that.”

  Bo sighed and shook his head. “Tina Foster could call me whatever the hell she wants as long as she calls me hers.”

  Now that he was out of there, Jason laughed out loud, the happy sound filling the parking lot. “You’re so screwed.”

  Let him have his laughs, Bo would get Tina one way or another. He had his heart set on that girl and all he had to do was wait until that wild filly came to him.

  Thirty days later, the summer heat set in with the force of hell behind it. The Ragland house neared the turning point from demolition and repairs to actual construction and remodeling. The crew was happy to work inside the house instead of under the June Texas sun. On Friday afternoon, Bo went to the office to collect his paycheck and to show Tina what he’d found the day before.

  “Mind if I use the laptop?”

  Tina shook her head and popped a potato chip into her mouth. The electricity between them had amped up higher in the last month. More than he ever dreamed possible. Bo played his cards using a cool head. He didn’t want to spook her, but he had the winning hand, and Tina would come around once he played it. Timing was everything and the time was now.

  He clicked onto a website with victory running through his veins. “I found your wallpaper. It’s called Lovebirds, and there’s a place in England that produces it.”

  “No way.” Tina bent over his shoulder.

  He pulled up the picture of the slate blue paper with gray floral print. In the center of the design two doves framed a cage. “It’s damned expensive, especially the shipping. But it’s—”

  “Perfect.” She let out a gust of air, her mouth hanging open. “It’s perfect.”
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  He nearly choked when she threw her arms around his neck from behind and hugged his head to her chest. “I can’t believe you found it. I didn’t know you were even looking. This is fantastic.” She laughed and drummed her hands on his chest, spiking his pulse. “I dreaded telling the Raglands they couldn’t have the same paper on the walls. You saved my ass, Bo.”

  He didn’t move. Her hands were splayed on his chest and there was no way she could miss the rapid beating of his heart. When she stilled behind him, he knew she’d realized how much physical contact they had. Her hands slowly slid over his pecs, up to his shoulders and off.

  Tina cleared her throat, but couldn’t hide the excitement in her voice. “Good job, Bo. I’m, uh, well, you did good. Leave that page up and I’ll order what we need.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” His skin tingled where she’d touched him. Even after she walked out of the office, he could still feel the heat of her body. Two months. For two months, he had worked with her five, sometimes six days a week. It was torture. Pure, damn torture. And bliss. Pure, unadulterated bliss. Every day, he fell harder and deeper for her.

  “Hey?” She stuck her head in the door again. “I’m getting together with some friends at Bear’s later. It’s, uh, not a company thing. You in?”

  “Sure.” Hell yeah, I’m in. He’d walk barefoot through the desert of it meant spending time with her at her request.

  Tina bobbed her head once. “Okay. About eight.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She slapped the door frame and disappeared.

  He was going to need a serious shower if he was going out with her tonight. Bo’s smile lasted all the way home.

  Nan was out in her garden pulling weeds, her wide brimmed hat flopping with her movements. She tended her garden like she tended everything else in her life, strong and fierce, loving it so much, it grew healthy and happy.

  Bo went right up to her, picked her up, and twirled her around. Nan squealed and giggled. “Bo Allen, what has gotten into you?” Her face lit up when she looked at him.

  “I have a date. A real date.”

  Nan’s eyes sparkled and she covered her mouth with her gardening gloves.

  “Got to get ready.” Bo winked at her and she ushered him to the house. He peeked out the window to see Nan with her head back to the sunshine, her eyes closed, her hands in the air and her mouth moving in prayer.

  “From your lips to God’s ears,” he whispered to himself.

  TINA FIDDLED WITH HER hair for half an hour before she finally let it go. It would just have to be wild and free tonight. There was no taming it. Her hands were sweaty and her foot tapped restlessly as she sat at her vanity.

  God, did she really invite Bo out with her friends? Not the crew, but her personal friends. She picked up the phone and video-called Meg. She had to keep her cool with Jay and Keri tonight, but Meg wouldn’t be there to meet Bo.

  “I asked Bo out,” she gushed as soon as Meg answered. “I mean, not officially, but kind of. He’s coming to Bear’s tonight.”

  Meg’s eyes went wide. “Hold on, I have to check the temperature in Hell. I think it just dropped off.”

  “Meg,” Tina whined, gnawing on her bottom lip. “He makes me nervous, you know? I’m around men all day and none of them have ever made me nervous. I mean, Jason is cute, Trey was handsome, so I know it’s not just because Bo is hot. It’s more.” Tina kept babbling and Meg nodded, listening to her argue with herself. “He just does things that keep me off balance. Like when he drove me home and then washed my truck. He didn’t have to do that. No one asked him to. He’s always going above and beyond for me. I’ve been such a bitch to him, too. Like, trying to run him off because there’s no way this can end well.”

  “So you asked him out?”

  “I’m crazy, right?”

  “No, sweetheart. You like him. That’s okay. You’ve talked about him for months. I can tell you like his personality. Don’t be scared, T. He might be the love of your life.” Meg grinned and cupped her hands over her chest. “Look at you, I’ve never seen you so affected by a guy.”

  “I don’t know what to wear. Even worse, I actually care about what I’m wearing.”

  “Last time I checked, men didn’t really care about the clothing, T.”

  “Meg. You have to help.”

  There was a mischievous chuckle on the other end of the phone and Meg’s brows shot up. Tina tried on a couple outfits and showed them to Meg. “The white sleeveless top with ruffles and your black shorts. The white and black boots with crosses on the sides. Leave your hair down, it looks beautiful as always. Minimal make up except for your eyes.”

  “You’re the best. How’s my baby boy?”

  Meg pointed the phone to the baby asleep on the couch. “He has a fever. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. When Cole gets back with the car, he’s going to take us to the pediatrician. I told him if he didn’t get his ass home I would have no choice but to take Noah on the bus and Cole hates the very thought of his wife using public transportation.”

  “Oh no. And here I am bugging you with my stupid fashion issues.”

  Meg waved her off and smiled. “I needed to see your happy face. Have fun tonight and tell Bo if he hurts you, I’ll kill him and send his body down the river.”

  Tina slapped a hand over her face. “This is the one and only time I’m glad you’re in Boston.”

  Meg laughed and blew her a kiss. “Love you, girl. Go get your man.”

  “Kiss Noah for me.” Tina hung up and said a quick prayer for Noah. Sick babies were no fun.

  Tina left her house, telling her dad not to wait up. Bear’s was packed on a Friday night, but it didn’t take long to find her friends. Keri and Jayden argued over what to play on the jukebox next. Marshall, Jayden’s brother and also Keri’s husband, tried to play referee. One day, he would learn not to get in the middle of his sister and his wife. Bear hung around, off work, judging by the lack of his black chef jacket. His hair hung loose to his shoulders, his wide smile shining.

  Tina liked it when Bear and Jayden hung together. He was the brother of her deceased husband and their relationship was nothing less than a rock solid friendship. They leaned on each other when memories of Christopher’s death rose to the surface.

  “Hey, hotness!” Bear greeted her with a kiss on her cheek. “Why didn’t you tell me you were alone tonight. Donnie’s in town and he’s dying to see you.” He referred to the fourth and youngest Harris brother.

  “Actually, I think Bo is coming.” Tina stretched a forced smile on her face like it was no big deal. “I’m not sure though.”

  “Well, he’s an idiot if he misses out.” Marshall hugged her. “How’s my favorite contractor?”

  “Awesome.” Tina’s smile was real that time. Even if Bo didn’t show up, she was among her favorite people in the world.

  They sat down in a booth and ordered beer and appetizers, laughing and joking like they always did. Bear was dealing with a mouse problem in his house; the one thing he couldn’t stand. He lived right in the middle of hay fields. Once the first cut of the summer was harvested, the mice scattered from the field, trying to find a new place to nest. It was one of the things people in the country dealt with all the time. The humor was how a big man with the nickname Bear was petrified of tiny field mice.

  “They carry diseases, so just kiss my ass, Marshall My-shit-doesn’t-stink Miller.” He laughed and knocked back a beer.

  Marshall was dealing with a crazy woman who insisted on boycotting the public library because they had a popular erotic romance series on display. Not that he could do anything about it, but she’d come directly to him, making it his issue.

  “Maybe if she read the damn books, she’d be in a friendlier mood,” Marshall joked.

  Keri was exhausted because a crazy couple from Florida decided they wanted a house in the Texas countryside. The problem was, they didn’t realize they would have to live in the countryside. She showed them eight p
roperties all over the county. They hated every one of them because they were too far from the nearest indoor shopping mall, which was nearly an hour away from Riverview. They complained that Texas didn’t smell anything like Florida, which was even more annoying.

  “If people don’t like Texas, they need to stay the hell out.” Keri shook her head. “It was all I could do not to offer to drive their Winnebago right back to Florida.” She prattled something unintelligible in Spanish, her accent growing heavy with her excitement. “Do you know what kind of hell mi familia had to go through to get citizenship. I’m a proud Tex-merican and those uppity people don’t need to be ruining my state.”

  Jayden was—as always—dealing with her crazy mother. Jayden was thinking about leasing out the land around her house to help balance out the property taxes on her three hundred acres. She’d inherited the land when Christopher died, and out of respect, always consulted the Harris family when making decisions about the property. Bear was all on board for whatever she wanted to do. Her mother, on the other hand, was concerned that some serial killer was going to lease the land, kill Jayden, and toss her body into the river, never to be found.

  “She’s convinced that I need to do a full background check on whatever poor old rancher takes the lease. If it was up to her, I’d procure a DNA sample before the ink was dry.”

  Tina couldn’t help but be entertained by the stories of her friends. She also couldn’t help but notice that eight-thirty rolled around and there was no sign of Bo. Her heart dropped with every minute that passed. Had he ditched her? Had she been too distant over the last few weeks? Maybe he decided she wasn’t worth the risk? There were so many things that could go wrong.

  Then again, what if Meg was right? What if she’d finally found the one who could handle her wild heart?

  “T?” Jayden pointed to a man who just walked through the door.