Lone Star Christmas. Jolene Navarro

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СКАЧАТЬ out. “I’ll call Mabel Horten at the co-op. She’ll know if it’s been turned off.”

      His little brothers were opening cabinets and drawers and exploring with delight. At least they hadn’t complained about being hungry in front of Jackie. He needed to get food.

      “Boys, be careful.” They ran to the door that went to the back part of the house. “Stay where I can see you. No telling what could be living here after years of being empty.”

      “Cool!”

      “Hi, Mabel...I need a favor. I’m out at the Delgado place...Yes, Max is in town...No, no wife. They’re his brothers...Yes.” She chuckled at something the person on the other end said. “Yeah, I know.” Then she shook her head. “No. We’re in the main house, and the lights aren’t working.”

      He hated the thought that strangers were talking about him and the boys.

      “Okay. Thanks...Yes, I’ll be at the church Wednesday night. Bye.” She turned to him. “It hasn’t been disconnected, so maybe it’s the breaker.”

      “I think it’s in the washroom.” Bits and pieces of the house returned to his memories. Cutting across the dining room and through the vast country kitchen, Jackie followed him. He glanced back to make sure the boys were okay.

      “Wow, I love this kitchen.” Jackie ran her hand over the old counter. “Just a few updates, and this would be a stellar place for a family.”

      “We’re not staying that long.”

      The boys had gotten quiet, so he checked the living room. Ethan had pulled out a box of old record albums and flopped in a leather armchair. Isaac and Tomas crowded around him.

      Going back to the kitchen, Max found Jackie standing at an open door. He followed her into the large butler’s pantry. The door that led to the washroom was at the far end.

      Behind the washroom door, he found the metal panel. Inside, taped tags curled, and some of them had fallen off. He flipped the longest row of switches. A loud pop came from below, and sparks flew. He threw his arm up to cover his face, and a sharp pain from his injured collarbone ran through his whole body.

      Jackie gasped. “It’s on fire.”

      Small flames danced along the wires that ran into the ceiling. Jackie ripped off her jacket and started swatting at the fire, trying to smother it. He took off his denim jacket, but she had it out before he could get his bum arm free.

      She stepped back and scanned the ceiling. “That’s not okay.”

      With the flames out, he checked the panel and made sure it was all turned off. What was he going to do now? It was getting colder, and with no heat or lights, they couldn’t stay here. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

      “I’ll call Sammi,” Jackie offered.

      “Your little sister?”

      “Not so little anymore. She’s a genius when it comes to fixing things like this.”

      “Max! We’re starving!” Great. Bored with the old LPs, the boys were back to being hungry.

      Ethan stood behind them. “I think it’s colder in here than outside.”

      Jackie looked at the boys. “Want to go into town to get some food? And maybe some of the best hot chocolate in the world?” She looked up at Max. “The Hill Top Café has great burgers. That’ll give Sammi some time to see if she can get this working.”

      The boys nodded. “Yes! Please, Max?”

      Ethan joined them. “I’m starving, and my phone is dead. I’m sure the restaurant has electricity.”

      Wow. Ethan had strung two whole sentences together. Max pushed back his hair. “I don’t know. I had planned to drive to Uvalde for supplies. I thought we could get something there.”

      Jackie narrowed her eyes. “That’s an hour away. What’s wrong with buying your supplies in town? The local businesses would appreciate your shopping in Clear Water.” She crossed her arms. “My family owns the local hardware store and lumberyard. There are also ranch supplies at the feed store.”

      With his brothers and Jackie watching him, there wasn’t one single excuse he could come up with to avoid town. She was the main reason he had planned to hide out on the ranch anyway.

      First the barns weren’t sound, then Jackie showed up, now the house had no electricity. Even if it did, it wasn’t habitable. And he was out of food. He was pretty sure Parenting 101 said something about feeding kids on a regular basis.

      “Okay. Let me unhitch the trailer and we can follow in my truck.”

      In unison, a groan rose up from his brothers, and the matching glares from all three sets of brown eyes looked at him with the same disapproval he remembered from his father.

      Jackie moved to stand next to the boys. “I came out to discuss a project we have planned for the original town buildings. Why don’t you let me drive? We can talk, then order supplies. I’ll text Sammi to look at the wiring. If she can’t do the work, she knows who can.”

      “Yes. Yes! Please, Max. We’re starving. We can’t last another minute!” one of the boys pleaded with Max.

      The other one joined in. “I’m so cold I’m turning into a icicle.” Were his brothers always this dramatic? Maybe this was normal for them. He didn’t even know what was normal for five- and six-year-olds. Especially when they’d lost both parents. He remembered feeling so lost and alone when his mother died, and all he had wanted was his dad. That hadn’t happened. But he could be here for his brothers.

      “Okay. Okay. We’ll go into town with Jackie and get you fed. We’ve got a lot of work to do. Let’s at least wash up.” He went to the kitchen sink and turned the faucet. Did they even have water? The pipes sputtered and groaned, then an explosion of water came through and splashed him. Brown water.

      Joining him, Ethan made a face. “Man, that’s gross.”

      Jackie grimaced. “You might want to have the well and tank checked before you use that water. You can wash your hands at the restaurant. Sound like a plan?” She looked at him, waiting.

      He gave in. “Yeah.”

      With a nod she turned, and his brothers fell into line, two with huge grins, and one with a bored expression. Max didn’t like what he was feeling. He was surprised by the strong emotions seeing her had stirred up. He felt like a teenager again. Not cool.

      All he had wanted was to get some practice in, get to know his brothers, and avoid Clear Water and anyone with the Bergmann name. Less than a day—less than three hours—and he was getting in to Jackie’s car and heading in to town to have lunch with her.

      The one person who probably had the power to expose his weaknesses was now sitting next to him. Coming to Clear Water had been a mistake. He would just say no to whatever she wanted and send her on her way.

       Chapter Two

      Jackie’s СКАЧАТЬ