Page 6 of The Texas Cowboy's Lady

Then he smiled that smile that reminded her of a Cheshire cat about to play the final card to win it all. “But you know all of that. Because I would say that Miss Laurel Burkitt has known this secret most of her life. And if I were a real fiancé, I would have had to challenge that cowboy to a duel or some such, because there was a red-hot pulse between the two of you that no fool would dare have crossed for fear of being vaporized.”

“And that is crazy. Cowboys don’t duel. And there is nothing between Jaxson and me. You heard that for yourself. He’s seeing someone. So put away your movie director mind and keep your romantic meanderings in gear to keep up this pretense for the sake of your lady love and the wedding surprise.” She left her spot at the window and any thoughts associated with a dark-eyed cowboy far past the distant hills. She had two reasons to have come home to Texas, and neither involved Jaxson Hawkes.

Chapter Three

“Seriously? This isthe great place to have coffee and a quiet chat?” Laurel watched her sister unpack a thermos and a plastic container from one of her saddlebags. From the other, Sammi Jo took a couple of plastic mugs and napkins. Her gaze then moved over the wide landscape around the hilltop locale. Their horses had been tethered to a low branch of the sprawling oak tree that stood beside the familiar fallen log that was apparently going to serve as their table and seating for two.

“This is certainly strolling down memory lane.” Laurel hoped the spot would be as conducive to a good conversation as the last time. And she couldn’t help but feel the pull as she surveyed the expanse of land before them that was the lifeblood of her family and even herself.

“Yes, you brought me here to drop the bombshell about grandmother selling the ranch out from under us. That was quite memorable.” Sammi Jo handed a cup of hot coffee she’d poured, along with two sweeteners and a spoon, over to her sister.

“And yet it all turned out for the best. Look what you got. Not just the ranch you fought for, but a fantastic husband and daughter. You don’t look like you could be any happier or any more content in your life. And from what I have seen in just the short time here and reading the reports you diligently have sent me each month; I have to say that you have succeeded and then some in keeping the Aces High a viable ranching empire—with your debt paid off early to boot. Way to go, little sis. You are more a chip off the Burkitt block than anyone would have guessed. I am proud of you.” Laurel took a sip of coffee to push down the surprising knot that formed in her throat at the sudden mixture of happiness and envy. Which she then set aside quickly. She had achieved her own goals too.

“Well,”—Sammi Jo nodded—“if I seem to be happy and contented, it is because I do have my dream of the ranch, an amazing man who loves me as much as I do him, a beautiful little girl who calls me Mom, and soon to have another one to add to the list of blessings.” She took a sip from her water bottle.

Laurel stilled. Had her brain heard right? She locked her gaze on her sister straddling the log in front of her. There was a small twitch of a grin. Laurel was on her feet, coffee cup left to precariously balance on the log, literally jumping for joy. Her arms practically pulled Sammi Jo off her perch to join in a huge hug. Her version of a happy dance ensued. There was laughter and tears and then more hugs.

“I’m going to be an aunt again? You’re having a baby? My little sister is having a baby? Really?!”

“I am nodding my answer because you’re squeezing so tight, I can’t breathe.”

Laurel loosened her grip and was immediately apologetic. “Sit down! Why are you standing? Should we have come out here on that bumpy road?”

“Calm down, Beaudry Number Three. Seems I need to remind you, like the others, that women have babies all the time. I won’t break.”

“Number Three? Andwomenmight have them all the time, but not my sister. And I’m going to be an aunt again. How long? We must have time to plan a fabulous shower and the nursery, and we can do a reveal and...”

“Slow down. We have six months to go. I wanted to get past the first trimester before telling the family. I told Beaudry a month ago. Then he let it slip one day to Jaxson, who has kept the secret better than any of us. And this afternoon, we are going on a picnic and telling Lacy. I hope she’ll be happy too.”

“Of course, she will. She’ll be the best big sister in the world.”

“Stop crying.” Sammi Jo handed her a paper napkin. “I thought you were the super-happy energized aunt?”

“Of course, I’m happy.” Laurel tried to not make a mess of her makeup. “People cry when happy too.”

“Well, you need to get a move on. I want our babies to grow up together, close in age and all. And it would be great if they could grow up in the same state—hint, hint. But I’ll take age for now.” Laurel knew that stab of envy again. Time was moving on.Blasted clock.

“That war whoop I heard better be from something good and not from pain or such. It was loud enough to be heard across the canyon to the pens where I was working.” Jaxson’s sudden appearance caught them both by surprise. He was already dismounting from his horse, and Sammi Jo rose to meet him. Laurel remained seated, stuffing the used tissue from her tears inside one of her jean pockets.

“That lovely sound would have been my sister celebrating her impending auntie status.”

“I see. Well, we thought that might be it.”

“We?”

“Your husband and Lacy are over at the pens with the new yearlings and the vet. I said I’d ride up here and remind you that you have an engagement with the two of them, and since we are close by, he thought you might join them sooner than later. You’ll take the Jeep for the three of you. You do still know how to ride a horse, right? If I find you a tame one?” His gaze fell on Laurel in that moment. It was the first time he had actually spoken to her.

“Of course, I remember. It’s like riding a bike, or so I’ve been told. And you know I don’t like tame things.” She stood up, brushing imaginary dust from her jeans.

“Now that’s interesting,” he responded. “I thought maybe you had changed tastes in tame things, given your choice of fiancé and all. Living in California might have softened you up a bit.”

Her eyes flashed fire, and she opened her mouth to respond but caught sight of Sammi Jo’s interest in the exchange.Don’t tip your hand. You promised Sean.“Still waters do indeed run deep when you least expect.” Her response took some air out of his sails. He turned back to Sammi Jo, who moved to take her seat behind the wheel of the Jeep.

“I can just ride back to the pens with you, Sammi Jo. Then I can wait on Jaxson to find that horse for me.”

The engine flared. “Oh no. I want Jaxson to show you what we’ve done with the old stone building on Wisteria Hill. You take her back to the pens that way, Jaxson. Bye, you two!” And she made her escape. If Laurel didn’t know better, she might think her sister had an ulterior motive for stranding her with him. She shrugged that thought away.

“Too bad you didn’t think about bringing that tame horse with you on the way up here. It would have saved some time getting back to the main house. But you’re a busy man, so we don’t have to go out of the way to see a pile of old rocks. No need to let my sister know we left that off the agenda.”

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