Page 74 of Snow in Texas

Last night I was putting Cal to bed, and when I laid him on the pillow, his face turned toward the lamp, and for just one moment, with the light just perfect, I saw his adult face, his true features, still locked in his little round baby face. He was beautiful. This big robust, blonde version of Felix, with the absolute sweetest, softest brown eyes. It was just a second, one fast glimpse of the future. And I realized it was a glimpse that would never have come to me if I hadn’t given Mercy another chance. I almost let my life fizzle out, a slow boring death, because I was afraid.

I know you’re scared, and I know you have doubts. But there’s a little of the man I married in your man. Excavate it out of him. Give him a chance. Demand nothing less than his whole heart, and see if he won’t step up and surprise you.

I’m always here if you need someone to listen.

Ava

Jenny laid the phone aside, and wiped her eyes.

Twenty-Eight

Candy

When he first returned home to Amarillo from New York, when the world was upside down, he’d walked into the chapel and run straight into a framed photo of his father and Riley standing together, arms slung across each other’s shoulders, grinning into the glare of the sun. Candy had pulled the photo off the wall, taken it out back, and used it for target practice.

Jenny thought his crusade against Riley was about keeping her safe. And it was…mostly. But it was personal, too. His sister wanted blood for the abuses committed against her? She’d have to get in line behind him.

“You’re in your head again, brother,” Jinx observed as he settled into his usual chair. The chapel, empty save for the two of them, echoed back the sound of Jinx’s lighter, the first inhalation of smoke.

Candy nodded, and his eyes lifted from the spreadsheet he’d been studying to take a trip around the room.

Everything about it was new. He hadn’t been able to stand the idea that any of Riley’s sloughed-off skin cells still dwelled in the table cracks of this most sacred of MC hallows. He’d taken the sledgehammer to the walls himself, ripped out the old paneling with a crow bar. Demo’d the tile underfoot, wheeling it out into the yard one wheelbarrow at a time. New sheetrock, new photos in new frames, new banners, new flags, new hardwood, new light fixtures, fresh coat of paint. He’d had professionals sand the table down and lacquer it with new varnish. The chair seats had been reupholstered. Nothing of Riley remained. Nothing physical, but the bastard was still alive and well in Jenny’s nightmares, and in Candy’s nagging conscience.

He glanced back down at the spreadsheet. “We’re not making enough money,” he admitted, feeling raw and tired. “Between replacing the water heaters last month, and making that loan to Tennessee…” He shook his head. “We need a windfall, and soon.”

He flipped the paper over, suddenly disgusted. “My sister has to work in that damn shithole restaurant. What the fuck? Why can’t I give her a job around here somewhere?” The sense of inadequacy swelled, threatened to crush him.

Jinx’s gaze was fixed to the side of his face; he could feel it. “You know who specializes in this sorta thing.”

“Yeah.” He smirked, thinking of Kingston Walsh. “But I know his prez can’t afford to spare him right now. Not with what they’ve got going on in Knoxville.”

“He’s not the only one in that family with a head for numbers.”

“He’s the only one on this side of the Atlantic.” He shook himself all over. “Alright, whatever. We’ll worry about that after all this is done. Go round up the boys.”

~*~

“What was the informant’s name again?” Candy asked.

“John Jeffries,” Fox said. He leaned against the tailgate of the truck, looking bored.

“And he’s got sway with Riley?”

“The last eight calls in his phone were to the man. Yeah. Sway.”

Candy almost grinned when he asked, “What’d you do with him?”

“Found a nice spot. Sunset view.” The Englishman shrugged. “Hard digging, lots of rocks. No one’s likely to find him anytime soon.”

“Jesus,” Colin murmured. “You killed the guy?”

“No,” Fox deadpanned. “I told him all about our little plan and bribed him quiet with sweets.” He shot a withering look over his shoulder at the prospect. Then looked at Candy. “This one’s brain damaged.”

“Nah,” Candy said, shooting Colin a grin. The big Cajun was a little pale-faced. Or maybe that was just the moonlight. “He’s just a big sweetheart, is all.”

“Fuck you,” Colin said, without feeling.

“Y’all shut up,” Jinx said.

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