After Tex by Sherryl Woods Page A

suppose he was otherwise occupied, if you know what I mean.”
    Megan smiled innocently. “No, I’m afraid I don’t. What do you mean?”
    â€œYou know,” she said, jerking a shoulder toward Tess. “Her mother. Everyone in town knows all about that. ”
    â€œWhich would explain why you chose to accuse Tess of shoplifting, I suppose,” Megan said. “Because you disapprove of my grandfather’s relationship with her mother. Or were you jealous, Mrs. Perkins?”
    The older woman looked shocked. “Why, Megan, how can you ask such a thing?”
    â€œWell, after your husband died, you did bring an awful lot of meals out to the house, even though you knew we had Mrs. Gomez there to cook for us,” Megan pointed out. “ Everyone knew what that meant.”
    Mrs. Perkins cheeks were stained with pink. “Young lady, do you have any idea who you’re talking to?”
    â€œYes, ma’am, I believe I do,” Megan said politely. “And in the future, I hope you’ll remember with whom you’re messing when you make unfounded accusations against a member of my family.” She smiled, locking eyes with Lyle, too, as he wandered over to join them. “I’m sure you’ll both want to apologize to Tess for the mistake you made this morning. Tess, come on over here. Mrs. Perkins has something she’d like to say.” She fixed her gaze on the woman. “Don’t you, Mrs. Perkins?”
    â€œWhy, yes, I suppose I do,” she said, clearly flustered. “I was mistaken this morning, and for that I am truly sorry. Lyle’s sorry, too, aren’t you, son?”
    Lyle scowled, but at a sharp look from his mother, he nodded. “Whatever.”
    â€œGee, thanks,” Tess said, clearly unmoved.
    â€œIt was lovely to see you again, Mrs. Perkins,” Megan said without much sincerity. “You, too, Lyle. Tess, shall we go?”
    As the two of them walked toward Jake, he heard Mrs. Perkins mutter, “Well, I never…”
    â€œMama, she’s just turned into a rich bitch. Forget about her,” Lyle said. “She always was a stuck-up thing. Folks around here will bring her down a peg or two. You’ll see.”
    Jake chuckled at the exchange. “I don’t think she’ll be selling Megan’s World on her magazine rack anytime soon,” he observed as they left the store.
    â€œI’m sure our circulation director will bear up under the loss,” Megan said, then grinned. “That felt good.”
    â€œYou were awesome,” Tess declared. “She looked like she’d been hit by a truck.”
    â€œDon’t go getting any ideas,” Megan said sternly. “You don’t get to run around putting people in their place. That’s my job.”
    â€œHey, whatever floats your boat,” Tess agreed. “I ain’t interested in picking fights with people who are twice my size. She started this one.”
    â€œAnd now it’s finished,” Jake reminded her sternly. He eyed Megan as well. “Right?”
    She beamed. “Whatever you say, Counselor.”
    Suddenly, he couldn’t help wondering if Whispering Wind was prepared for a native daughter to come blasting through and upset more than a hundred years of status quo. For that matter, was he ready to have the nice, dull life he’d carved out for himself turned inside out?
    Glancing at Megan, who was looking mighty pleased with herself, he concluded it was too late now to turn back.

7
    M egan had enjoyed putting Mrs. Perkins in her place just a little too much. Only part of that scene had been for Tess’s benefit, and she doubted there was anyone in the room who hadn’t known that. Megan had said what she’d longed to declare years ago on Jake’s behalf. Then she’d been too cautious, too young to be rude to an adult, no matter how deserving they were of a sincere put-down.
    Back