The Secret Pact – 2

Matt Houston was famously very protective of his right hand C.J. Parsons. Many of his friends often theorized why. Whenever she was hurt or missing, it seemed he'd drop everything, spare no expense, stop at nothing to save her. Whenever questioned, he would simply shrug and give his stock answer: because she's my friend.

Friend, huh?

Some people gossiped they were bed buddies, so to speak, and had a standing agreement. Others … romantics, accepted their friendship at face value but kept a pocket of hope in their hearts the two would eventually get together. Some gave up hope a long time ago and accepted the fact they would never be more than platonic friends.

There were reasons they were friends and not lovers.

C.J. was six years old when her father died. It left her mother as sole bread-winner – which meant she would be working at a full-time job and wouldn't be around in the afternoons when C.J. got off the school bus. Neighbor Bill Houston happily offered his home to C.J. for those afternoons. He had enough maids and ranch hands around to watch her and Matt wouldn't be such a lonely only child. Matt was so excited to have a friend around that he vowed right there and then to always to take special care of his friend C.J.. After all, he was an experienced cowboy. He could protect her from runaway horses, icky bugs, slimy snakes and masked bandits - even though those things didn't bother her one bit.

When Matt was ten years old, C.J. friendship was the winning force to help him after being kidnapped for several days. Her steadfast companionship was invaluable. In her young maturity, she encouraged him to talk, gave him a non-judgmental ear to listen, and daily companionship when fishing or playing spy. He eventually opened up, resuming his well-known charming personality.

When C.J. and Matt were 16 years old, they briefly talked about dating each other. But just around the same time, C.J.'s mother was badly injured in a car accident - so badly that she had to be hospitalized for a full year. She had fallen asleep at the wheel – probably from overdoing it - and would have perished if not for some act of grace or luck. C.J. was in the passenger seat and suffered a broken arm and broken confidence. In an instant, she had almost lost what was left of her family.

Bill Houston didn't waste a second offering to share his home so she could recover both physically and emotionally from the event. He wasn't naïve, though, and laid down some tough rules regarding the attractive teenagers: no funny business. Matt and C.J. agreed without pause and even offered a rule of their own: that they would resist any temporary romantic urges and be best friends forever. With their mutual single-parent-no-siblings families, knowing there was always someone looking out on your behalf was a great comfort. Boyfriends and girlfriends can break up. Best friends can stay together forever. Stability rocks.

But for several reasons Matt was ready to change the rules.

He joined her on the couch in front of Baby the next morning, carrying a cup of coffee like he so often did. She wondered what kind of mood he'd be in after last night.

"Good morning," he said pleasantly, although a bit reserved.

"Good morning," she said as she swung her hair over her shoulder and smiled. "How did you sleep?"

"Not bad," he said as he let his arm settle on the sofa behind her back. "I went out almost right away, woke up around six, went back to my place to shower and change."

She remembered waking up around seven, seeing Matt gone and the pillow and folded blanket on the sofa when she walked into her living room. She didn't want to admit to herself or to him that she hadn't faired as well - tossing and turning a bit before falling asleep. The feeling of his lips interlocking with hers stained her memory so much that she had a hard time not thinking about the man who gave her those kisses sleeping in the very next room!

"How about you?"

"The same," she lied.

She smiled, pleased on several levels with their banter this morning. No hard feelings, it seemed. More importantly no regrets, no mistakes. And perhaps some progress in their relationship?

"I, um, by the way, I'm sorry for disturbing you last night."

She patted his leg. "It's okay."

"I didn't wake you this morning when I retrieved my keys, did I?"

She thought a moment. She put his keys under her pillow…

"No. But how did you…"

He grinned, letting his answer be a secret for awhile. He'd tell her later how he granted her a kiss on the forehead as he snuck the keys from under her pillow just before leaving in the morning.

"How's your hangover by the way?"

He looked at her puzzled. "I don't have a hangover."

"You sure?" she said with a sideways smile.

"YES I'M SURE."

She grimaced. He softened.

"What's it gonna take for you to believe me?"

She shrugged.

"Nevermind. Do you feel better than you did last night?"

"Yes I do. So ya see, I was right. I did need to spend the night with my best friend."

She rolled her eyes.

"Houston …"

"All right, all right. It was a stretch. I guess this is the part where I admit you were right."

"About?"

"About not rushing into anything."

She smiled.

"It's not necessary."

"No?"

"Nope. That's' what friends are for," she dismissed easily. "To look out for each other, prevent them from following a crazy notion … especially when they're drunk."

"I wasn't drunk."

"Yes you were, Houston."

"No, I wasn't."

She lowered an eye at him.

He sighed outwardly.

"Okay, if I was drunk then how come I still wanna kiss you?"

She didn't expect that! Stunned, she turned in his direction right on cue. His question left her speechless, providing time for Matt to make his move. He locked eyes with her, leaned in closer, separated his lips ... just as Uncle Roy bounded into the office.

"Good morning! What are you two up to?"

Startled, C.J. pretended she had an itch to scratch and backed away.

But Matt wasn't embarrassed at all. More like peeved. He was interrupted at the most inopportune time!

"Nothing much. Good morning, Uncle Roy," Matt greeted him nonetheless.

"What's on the docket for today?" he asked with a nod to the three files spread across Baby.

"You have your choice," C.J. said, clearing her throat. "A pharmaceutical company selling expired drugs, a young woman looking for her missing parents, and a vacation resort with claims it's laundering money."

"Hmm… how about something light? After the Jack the Ripper copycat, I think we all could use something with less drama."

She nodded in agreement.

"Well they all sound light. How about we divide and conquer, meet with the clients later this morning, then meet together this afternoon?"

"Okay."

"C.J. you take the missing parents, and Uncle Roy …"

"I've been meaning to book my next vacation."

"Good."

"And I assume you'll be looking into the pharmaceutical company Mattlock?"

Something on the patio caught Matt's eye and he found himself staring at it for a few moments. The last time he was there, a woman he loved broke his heart.

"Houston?" C.J. prompted when he didn't answer Roy's question.

Matt rose from his seat, seemingly ignoring her. C.J. and Roy looked at each other wondering what to make of Matt's peculiar mood change. They watched as he walked out to the patio, took something from his pocket, then came to rest at the wall overlooking the city.

"What's with him?" Roy asked.

"Elizabeth," she admitted quietly.

"Oh boy. Maybe I should go talk to him," Roy suggested, starting for the patio.

C.J. put a hand on his arm.

"No. I'll do it," she offered rather demandingly, leaving a curious Roy to be suspicious for two reasons.

She walked up behind Matt, studying him a bit, then came to rest at the wall next to him. She waited in silence a few seconds until he noticed her.

"I'm sorry. Guess I'm a little preoccupied."

"A little preoccupied? I think a tornado could blow through town and it wouldn't phase you."

He missed the care behind her humor and turned and raised a critical eyebrow at her. Then he chastised himself and looked downward at his hands... at the ring Elizabeth returned to him...

She read his mind.

"Houston, why don't you take a break from things for awhile, take a vacation or something. Go on a fishing trip with Will or fly to Hawaii and see Vince and Mama. You know you're always saying that you should get away from L.A. more ..."

He didn't respond but seemed to be thinking it over. She continued her sales pitch.

"Uncle Roy and I can hold down the fort for awhile. Take as much time as you need."

He turned to face her.

"I appreciate what you're trying to do... really, but I think what I need right now is work. If I take a vacation now I might drive myself crazy with nothing to do but think about her."

C.J. accepted his answer and managed a smile. Little did she know "work" was just a guise for her.