Chapter Twelve

Renee flung expensive cosmetics into a handbag far too smart to take to a rodeo. She’d fixed her eye make-up, not much of a chore as she wore less of it these days. Her suit lay on the bed in her tiger-striped lair. Clint had helped her out of the troublesome skirt with the stuck zipper. She’d packed only an overnight bag to make this trip and was already back into her boots, jeans, and a casual top. Clint watched her with a worried look on his face.

“What’s the matter, handsome? Did I tell you how great you looked in that suit before you got blood and barf all over it? I don’t know if the blood will come out of that silk tie, though. Frankly, I didn’t know Bodey Landrum owned any real ties; he’s so cowboy. And you say you borrowed that suit from him, too? Isn’t Bodey an inch or so shorter than you? Looks like someone tailor-made it for you. Maybe a good dry cleaner will be able to get the stains out and repair the tears.”

Hating her fake cheeriness, Clint answered, “Yeah, I got the suit over at Bodey’s. He won’t care about the damage. Renee, don’t you think you need to have a long talk with your father and sister before you go anywhere?”

“What I need to do is to get out of here. Word about Uncle Dewey will be all over town before we get on the plane. I can’t bear the pity. Take me back where no one knows anything about me. Take me back to The Tin Can.”

“Oh. The way you were packing, I thought maybe you were planning on going somewhere else.”

“Not for now.”

The doorbell rang, followed by a fist pounding on the front door.

“Renee, this is your father. Open up. Your Uncle Ted and his wife are out in the car thinking I’ll stroke out any minute like he did the year Jesse was born, so let me in.”

Clint headed for the living area. Renee bounded after him, hanging on his arm, but she couldn’t really stop him. He let Jed Niles in and stepped outside. “Talk,” he said before closing the door.

Jed tried to embrace his daughter, but she moved away and hugged herself with her own arms.

“Honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Because you were always gone, chasing other women, even during the holidays.”

“Your mother didn’t care for sex. I guess I know why now. She wouldn’t let me touch her until after we were married, and then, it wasn’t so good. I thought we weren’t compatible that way. After Cathy came along, I agreed to take my lust elsewhere, but I promised I wouldn’t leave her, and I didn’t. Renee, I have the hot blood of the Niles family.” Her father ended his plea by holding out his hands to her.

“Uncle Ted and Rusty manage to contain themselves.”

“Yeah, well, neither ever had the money for high-class hookers, and both got a woman they love who loves them back.”

“Is it true you’re seeing Mrs. Parker? Mom said you were.”

“A man gets older. He wants a woman he can be comfortable with.”

“That hurt her. I don’t think she cared about mistresses or call girls, but a woman Mom’s own age, and not all that attractive—she couldn’t handle it.”

Jed Niles hung his head. “You think she took her own life?”

“No. I think she tried to drink away the pain and was too far gone to save herself.”

“Cathy said Uncle Dewey didn’t touch her because you were always in the way. She says she never knew what she owed you. She wants to be a better sister. Says she’ll help you any way she can.”

“How nice of her after all these years of avoiding her slutty sister, not even letting me babysit her kids. Not that I cared. I’m not cut out to be a doting aunt or a good mother.”

Jed Niles ran a hand through his thick, prematurely white hair. “Don’t say that. The man you brought home with you, he might want a family someday.”

“Clint? Isn’t he just another one of my men toys, as Cathy said? He isn’t rich, won’t even have a job after this year,” she sneered, daring her father to make something of it.

“I like his style, the way he took charge, the way he stood by you. You need a strong man, Renee. If he can get a real estate license, I’ll see he gets a job.”

“Thanks, Daddy. I’ll pass the offer along. Now, I want to get out of here.”

“You might have to come home to testify against Dewey.”

“If it will spare some young girl the pain, I’ll take the stand in her place. Let me know when. You’ll have to reach me through Clint. My phone was stolen along with all my credit cards a while ago.”

“No new charges have come through. Here, take my phone. I’ll have your name put on this card.” Jed handed her an American Express Gold card from his wallet. “I want you to be able to come home anytime in case things don’t work out.”

“Clint takes good care of me, but I contribute.”

“I know you do.” Jed strained to keep any sexual insinuation out of his voice, an effort not wasted on Renee. “May I kiss you good-bye, honey?”

Renee, her arms still wrapped around herself, stepped into her father’s embrace. He kissed the top of her head. Tears gathered in the corners of his whiskey brown eyes. He moved to get out of there fast. Jed passed Clint on the sidewalk in front of Renee’s house. He paused.

“You take care of my little girl, son. If you ever need money or a job, call.”

“That’s not likely, sir, but I do appreciate the offer. Renee is safe with me. My word on it.”

The men shook hands. Renee watched from the half-open door as they discussed her. As soon as her father got into the back seat of the car and Uncle Ted drove away to the top of the hill, she opened the door and said, “Let’s get the hell out of here.”