Blake shook his head. “We do that all the time right there at the house. I’m thinking about a honky-tonk where we can have a drink and dance.”
“Then let me suggest Cowboy Heaven. It’s this side of Wichita Falls and it’s got a nice dance floor and it’s not too loud. I take the women I really want to impress up there,” Deke said.
“Directions?” Blake asked.
“You’ll see the signs for it soon as you cross the county line. It’s right on the highway to the right. Big parking lot and a sign that stands tall. Can’t miss it,” Deke said. “Have a good time. I’ll expect a full report tomorrow. No, don’t tell me a thing. If Allie’s able to come to work, I’ll know by lookin’ at her face if she enjoyed the evening. See you tomorrow, but it won’t be until midmorning. With this weather, I’m throwing out a lot of hay.”
Deke veered off toward his truck and Blake went on to the house, through the back door, and straight to the bathroom. He shucked out of his clothes while the shower water heated and then stood under it for a long time trying to figure out exactly how to approach Allie. He liked her. Hell, he might even be in love with her, but he was a man and he did not stand behind a woman’s apron strings for protection.
He dressed in a fresh pair of starched jeans, straight from the cleaners back in Muenster, a plaid western shirt, and his most comfortable black boots. He had already picked up a western cut leather jacket when Shooter whined.
“Fine friend I am. You need to be fed, and I need to stoke up the fire before I leave so you don’t freeze,” Blake said.
Shooter wagged his tail and headed off toward the kitchen where his food bowl and water dish stood empty. Blake took care of both containers, then filled a third one with dry food. “That should hold you until I get home and then I’ll get out the treats.”
The big yellow dog was too busy gulping down the food to even wag his tail.
Allie opened the door at the same time Blake raised his hand to knock and motioned him inside. “I have to get my coat and purse and I’m ready.”
He took the dark brown suede jacket from her hands and held it for her. “You look absolutely beautiful tonight. Deke says that we should try out Cowboy Heaven. That sound good to you?”
“I love that place. They make the best cheeseburgers in the state and the dance floor is great,” she said. “And you look pretty sexy, yourself, cowboy.”
She leaned in for a kiss, expecting something that would knock her socks off, but all she got was a quick brush across her lips and then there was nothing but quietness. For a man who could talk the horns off an Angus bull when they hadn’t been together in a couple of days, Blake was too damn quiet. He kept his eyes on the road and his thumbs weren’t even keeping time to the music.
Something wasn’t right.
For the first time since she met him, she wasn’t comfortable. Forget the old proverbial elephant in the room. There was an angry Angus bull standing between them that evening. What had she done wrong? No, she wasn’t going there. She’d always figured she’d done something wrong with Riley and then did her damnedest to fix it. She went over the past couple of days and she hadn’t done or said anything. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the side window. He could open up and talk or it would be one hell of a long evening.
They went from Dry Creek through Elbert and up to Olney with neither of them saying anything except a few comments about the songs on the radio. Allie looked up and saw the Archer County sign and then all chaos broke loose as blizzard-like conditions complete with high winds and near zero visibility hit them head on.
The radio emitted one of those long bleeping noises and then an announcer said that the bad weather had taken a turn and now Highway 79 was now closed at the line between Archer and Young Counties. People were advised to only get out on the roads in case of emergencies.
“How far over that line do you think we are?” Blake asked.
“Five miles, maybe. Sign right there says it’s twelve more to Archer City,” Allie answered. “I can’t even see the white lines on the road.”
“Neither can I, but I think we might be the only vehicle out here. Is there a motel in Archer City?” he asked.
“A small one. Not fancy. Not a chain.” She gripped the armrest so tight that her fingers ached.
“We don’t need fancy. We have to find a place to hole up until this passes through and they clean off the roads.”
The radio emitted another bleeping noise and the newest flash was that the storm was heading straight for Throckmorton County. All schools had been closed and again people were urged to stay inside.
“I hope there’s a room at that motel,” Blake said.
“I hope we make it there without bogging down in this stuff. I’ve never seen a storm like this before,” she whispered. “I feel like I’m in an igloo.”
Blake kept both hands on the steering wheel and his eyes straight ahead, even though the headlights created a kaleidoscope that was constantly moving and came close to blinding him.