Jan Hudson - The Cop

He would, Kelly thought. “I’m on my way to the hospital now, Miss Nonie, but tell Frank that I’ll drop by and pick up the dress clothes when I’m done. The wedding’s at three, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but the clothes are already at the inn. Everything is hanging in a bag in the office. Frank left it there last night—in case Cole changed his mind.”

“I’ll do my best, Miss Nonie. Stop worrying about Cole and enjoy the day.”

BY THE TIME Kelly got home, showered, tamed her hair and dressed in a rust-colored outfit, it was after one-thirty. She ate half a protein bar on the way to the Twilight Inn.

When she walked into the office, she saw the garment bag hanging on a hook behind the desk. Picking up the clothes, she took a deep breath then knocked on the door to the apartment.

Cole opened the door wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of the new sweatpants she’d bought. He gave her the once-over, then smiled. “You look mighty fine, Red. Going somewhere?”

“I am. To a wedding, and I need a date.”

“Can’t help you there. But I can offer you a cup of coffee.”

“Got any brownies left?” she asked as she breezed by him with the garment bag.

“Nope. Ate the last one this morning for breakfast.”

“With your eggs?”

“Instead of my eggs.”

“Works for me,” Kelly said. “Had lunch?”

“Yep. You?”

“Yep. Take off your pants.”

He looked amused. “I think we’ve had this conversation before.”

“A slight variation.” She unzipped the bag and took out the dark suit pants. “Put these on instead.”

“I’m not going to the wedding, Red.”

“Don’t call me Red. And you already told me that you’re not going to the wedding with me. You did, however, ask me out for coffee, and how would it look with you in sweats and me in my finery?”

“In,” he said.

“In?”

“I asked you in for coffee, not out.”

She waved her hand in dismissal. “I prefer out. Need help with your pants?”

“Yeah.”

It was a dare if she’d ever heard one.

“Okeydokey.” She stuck her thumbs in the elastic waistband of his sweatpants and peeled them down. Thankfully he was wearing underwear. “Lift your right foot. Now your left. Good.”

She kicked off her shoes and got into an awkward semisquat behind him to help him put on the dress slacks. The process was a struggle, but they finally made it. The legs were just a tad too short, but she didn’t mention it. She figured that with him sitting in his wheelchair nobody would notice. The white shirt was snug but fit well enough.

By the time they had buttoned all the buttons, a fine line of sweat beaded his upper lip. Kelly said, “Let’s sit down and rest a while. Want some juice? Orange, tomato, apple?”

“Orange would be good.”

She poured juice while he eased into his recliner.

He emptied the glass when she handed it to him, then he leaned back and closed his eyes.

After a few minutes, she touched his arm. “Ready to put on the tie?”

He opened one eye and frowned. “Red, I’m not sure I can manage a tie.”

“I can.”

“You’re a woman of many talents.”

“You’d better believe it. I mastered the art when my dad broke his arm.”

“When was that?”

“A while back, but I figure it’s like riding a bicycle,” she said. “It will come back to me. Sit up a little.” She slipped the blue silk tie under his collar and expertly knotted it. “There you go.”

“I’m impressed.”

“As well you should be.” She glanced down at his gray cotton socks and rose to retrieve shoes and dress socks from the bag.

Frank had thoughtfully provided black dress loafers that would slip on easily. Problem was, they didn’t slip on easily.

“Push,” she said as she knelt on the floor at his feet. “Harder.”

“Darlin’, I can push from now till kingdom come, and my foot isn’t going in that shoe. Let me see it.” When he looked inside the loafer, Cole said, “No wonder. It’s too short and too narrow. I wear a thirteen double E.”

“Good Lord, and I thought my foot was big.” Kelly glanced at her watch. It was almost two-thirty. “Don’t you have some other shoes?”

“Under the bed.” He nodded toward the other room.

Kelly went looking, but all she found were the furry moccasins. She came back holding one in each hand. “These?”

“Yep.”

Restraining herself from rolling her eyes, she said, “Let me make a quick call.”

She phoned Olsen’s, the only men’s store in town that sold something other than Western wear and work clothes. They didn’t have any dress shoes in Cole’s size; they’d sold the last pair to Stanley Bickham last Thursday. They had one pair of brown sandals left over from summer. She even called the store that carried cowboy boots, hoping to find something nice in his size. The only things they had to fit were two pair of rubber boots and some tan steel-toed loggers.

Knowing that there wasn’t time to drive to Travis Lake and back, Kelly grabbed the fur-lined moccasins. “At least these will keep your toes warm,” she said as she slipped them on his feet. “Stand up and let’s put on the coat.”

The fit wasn’t too bad. “You look very handsome,” she told him.

“For a sausage?”

“Maybe the coat’s a little tight across the shoulders, but if you don’t button it, it’s fine. Let me get your wheelchair.”

“I’ll use the walker.”

“We’ll use the chair. Listen to the doctor.”

“Darlin’, you’re not my doctor.”

They finally compromised and took both.

While Cole buckled his seat belt, Kelly anxiously checked her watch and prayed that her timing would be right.

She drove to a convenience store, hurried in to make her purchase and came out with two small foam cups. She handed one to Cole.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“Coffee. I told you we were going out for coffee.”

He took a sip and frowned. “It tastes like engine sludge.”

She tried it. The stuff was ghastly. She dumped both cups in the trash and drove to the church. He didn’t even comment as she parked in the side lot.

“I thought that since we were dressed up and out anyway, we might go to the wedding,” she said.

That amused expression of his was back again. “You did, huh?”

“You’ll go?”

“Red, for most of my adult life I’ve been around the worst kind of scum who can lie easier than they can tell the truth. Not much gets by me, and you didn’t even come close.”

“If you knew my intentions, why did you go along so easily?”

“I’m a pushover for redheads.” He winked.

“You really wanted to come, didn’t you?”

He shrugged and glanced away. It was that pride again, Kelly thought. He could have never gotten dressed by himself, and he didn’t want to ask for help or be a burden to any of his family. Lord, the male ego was unbelievable.

Once he got into his wheelchair, she pushed him into the church and to the side door of the sanctuary. J.J. stood there with the minister and his brothers Frank and Sam.

J.J. broke into a big grin and slapped Cole on the back. “’Bout damn time you got here. We’re fixin’ to start.”

“Let’s take our places, gentlemen,” the minister said, opening the door.

He went in and J.J. and Frank followed. Sam, the youngest brother and a Texas Ranger, grabbed the handles of the chair and started wheeling Cole in behind the others.

“Hold it, Sam!” Cole whispered. “I’m not going with y’all. Hell, I’ve got on Daddy’s house shoes.”

“Shut up, Cole,” Sam said. “And smile.”

“You may kiss your bride,” the minister said, and J.J. planted a good one on her.