Page 35 of The Texas Cowboy's Lady

“Maybe you’re right,” he responded. He matched her flippancy. “Maybe that means we communicate in other ways. I can think of a way or two that are much better than talking. But, then, you’d probably slap my face if I tried.”

She shook her head, then sighed. “What are you doing up here? Or are you following me?”

“I was helping vaccinate the yearling herd and saw you headed this way. Guess curiosity got the better of me. Don’t you have a family dinner tonight in town? Celebrating your upcoming day and all?”

Laurel shrugged. “I’ll make it in time. What about you? You’re invited to that as well.”

Jaxson shook his head, his gaze going to the stained glass above them. “I’ve got to stay close to home tonight. There’s a line of storms moving in later from the west, and we’ve also got two of our best mares beginning to drop this evening.”

“And the ranch always comes first with you. That won’t ever change.”

“No, I own that. But while it might not change in its need, I do realize there is room for other things that may mean more and are just as important.”

“Do tell?”

“Like you, maybe I realize that it’s time I found my own family. A wife, a kid or two. Change that house I visit now and then into a home where I know I want to build a real life from within its walls. Guess that’s what hit you all the way out there on the West Coast too? Just can’t figure out how that turned into you bringing your Hollywood husband back to a ranch in Texas to make your start. But I guess stranger things have been known to happen.”

Laurel had to fight down the sudden urge to want to level with Jaxson. But she had given her word, and there was a lot riding on her keeping it—just for a little while longer. Her first confession would be to her sister later that evening. Then tomorrow, she was going to explain everything to Jaxson. She wouldn’t allow herself to even guess at how Jaxson would receive the news when she could share it. But she hoped it would make a difference. Enough of a difference that he might rethink Arabella as a candidate for a wedding ring. She wouldn’t allow her mind or her heart to take that thinking further along the thought process.Not yet.

For the moment, they stood face-to-face, in silence, each lost in their own private thoughts. Yet somehow, she had a feeling that they were much the same. Years ago, there was the possibility that one day they might end up at such an altar together, handing over their hearts to each other. Then that dream seemed shattered. She would never be able to get the look in his eyes out of her brain when she had finally made him understand that she would not be his wife, and he needed to let her go. She had been responsible for his pain.

Now, she was able to experience much the same pain.

“Well, I better get moving,” Jaxson spoke, breaking the spell. “Don’t want to be the reason you’re late for your party.” He slid his hat back on his head. “Take care, Laurel.”

He walked back down the aisle. She was glad he couldn’t see that her palms had curled around the edges of the lectern and were tightened in a death grip to keep her from succumbing to the urge to go after him. And do what? Say the words that had probably been hiding behind walls in her brain while she tried to pretend otherwise? The door closed behind him. Slowly, her grip loosened. Laurel looked up at the large cross set into the stone walls with its stained glass where the setting sun was just beginning its slide.

I love him. I always have. But I don’t deserve him. And maybe it’s too late.

The silence had lost its comfort.

*

“Hello, do Iknow you? You look vaguely familiar to me. Seems like I might have heard a rumor or two that you could be related to my husband? Are you that guy in the family photos?”

Jaxson tossed the curry brush into a bucket, making a loud clang in the cavernous barn. He straightened and turned. “And here I thought you resembled that sweet lady who married my brother a while back. I must have you confused with someone else, I guess.”

Sammi Jo grinned and moved to stand with her arms crossed on the stall door. “You missed dinner. And before that, you disappeared for a week to the wilds of Canada. And so I thought I’d just track you down to see if you still exist.”

“Well, in case you haven’t heard lately, we’ve been a little busy. Seems the four-legged animals on this place require attention now and then. And we have this really mean boss lady that we don’t like to cross.”

“Mean boss lady? You better add pregnant, mean boss lady, because that could become more of a reality than you know. Your brother would rather face a tornado than a wife with raging hormones and pregnancy cravings. I’m surprised he hasn’t moved in with you yet.”

“Okay,” Jaxson said, throwing up his hands. “Too much info there. And thanks for the warning. I’ll get the locks changed as soon as I get back.”

“Get back? From where?”

“Tom and Joanne’s first grandbaby is due any day now. They want to be here, so I’m going to take the two studs we’re loaning to the Tremaynes down south to them. Then I’ll cover Tom’s cattle penning in the north section for a couple of days. He deserves this family time.”

“I see. I think.” Sammi Jo eyed him with that Burkitt trademark interrogation stare. The only person who might do it better was her sister. He tried to avoid it whenever possible. Jaxson picked up the bucket and brush and stepped outside the stall, sliding the bar with a loud clang into the lock. He headed toward the tack room. But if he thought that would deter a Burkitt, he was wrong.

“You’ll miss the wedding. But then I’m thinking that’s the underlying factor for your altruism and concern for Tom. And don’t waste your breath telling me I’m wrong. Come clean, Jaxson. You’re a man running away from my sister.” She stepped in front of him at the doorway to the workroom, arms folded, determination in the glint of her gaze.

Jaxson almost made the mistake of trying to toss her off the trail and reiterating why he was going to be away. But she wouldn’t buy it. And he wasn’t going to get on her bad side. Perhaps he could pull off a version of the truth.

“Look, you know Tom’s daughter is alone, with her husband off in the military. She needs a support system in place. You can understand how important it is for you to want your family with you, so think what it means to her. If you were me and could help out in this way, you’d do it too. And it is also true that weddings aren’t my cup of tea on a normal day. I figure it’s a good deal to not be there, as your sister knows how I feel about her chosen fiancé. Sorry if you’re a fan of his, but he isn’t what any of us would have expected. But it’s her choice, not ours. So, there you have it—the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

“Wow, you are good. Much better than your brother. I get what you’re saying. Except you left out one important element.”

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