Page 75 of Lie for a Million

“It was Judd who took the truck and drove it drunk, not me.”

“But who decided to leave his family and take off with a known drug dealer, jailbird, and murder suspect? Judd’s ex-girlfriend told the FBI that Judd was the one who murdered Frank Culhane. He could’ve killed you, too. You’re damned lucky he didn’t. So stop whining and think about that for a while.”

Rowdy settled into silence. Roper’s dressing down had been harsh, but it had been delivered with love. Lila had seen Roper’s despair when he’d believed his brother had died in the accident and his emotional response when he learned that Rowdy was alive. She understood.

Unbidden, her hand crept across the space between them and came to rest on his knee. He gave her a sidelong smile. Then his right hand left the wheel and came to rest on hers, large and warm and strong. His fingers tightened in a brief caress before his hand returned to the wheel, a subtle promise of what might come later, when the storm had passed.

At times like this, it was easy to dream of a future with this man—growing old together, maybe raising children if it wasn’t too late for her. Roper would make a strict but loving father, that much she’d already witnessed. They could run the ranch, build the horse program toward a national reputation, make all their dreams come true.

But then, as always, reality came crashing in. Roper already had a family—one that depended on him for leadership, protection, and support. They wouldn’t take kindly to his leaving their ranch to live with a rich widow who’d lost her husband that very summer. Lila had never met Roper’s mother, but it was a given that Rachel would dislike her, even hate her. The Culhanes were everything the McKennas resented—wealthy, privileged, condescending, and scandalous.

Roper’s family would never accept her. And if she pressured him to leave them, he would never forgive her.

Maybe this was all they would ever have—a furtive handclasp in the dark, a rare tumble on a bed of straw, polite conversations in the arena with eyes and ears everywhere.

Would it be enough for her?

Would it be enough for him?

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

By the time Roper drove up to the Culhane house, the moon hung low in the west. As Rowdy lay snoring on the back seat, Lila leaned across the console to give Roper a light farewell kiss. They hadn’t spoken much on the way home. But she was aware that the deepening love between them had raised the odds of looming heartbreak. Even though he might be cleared of Frank’s murder, he could be forced to choose between her and his family—a choice she would never ask him to make.

From the front porch, she watched Roper’s truck drive away. Turning to go inside, she could see the faint light from the kitchen. Mariah would be up early to start her weekly bread baking.

Exhausted, Lila crossed the dimly lit entry and made for the stairs. All she wanted was to shed her clothes and collapse into bed. With luck, she’d be able to get a couple hours of sleep before sunrise, when another busy day would begin.

But sleep, it appeared, would be delayed. Lila stifled a groan as she saw Mariah standing like a sentry at the foot of the stairs.

“You could have let me know you were going to be out all night,” she said.

“This was an emergency.”

“You could have called.”

“I had more urgent things on my mind.” Lila was too tired to remind the woman that keeping track of her employer wasn’t part of her job. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I just want to get some sleep.”

“You were withhim, weren’t you?”

“Who I was with is none of your concern,” Lila said. “This isn’t like you, Mariah. What’s going on?”

“There’s something I need to say.” Mariah stood with her arms akimbo, blocking Lila’s path up the stairs. “I’ve been holding it back, but it’s time I spoke my mind.”

Lila sighed. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”

Mariah took a deep breath. “I’ve worked for the Culhanes more than half my life. And I’ve taken pride in my work, knowing I served one of the finest old families in this part of Texas. Frank and Madeleine treated me like family. They even took care of me when I lost my husband and baby. I’d have done anything for them.

“When they divorced and Frank married you, it wasn’t the same. But I stayed out of respect for Frank—and I tolerated you, even though I knew how you’d made your living before you stole a married man from his wife.”

Lila refrained from speaking. She just wanted this lecture to end.

“After Frank died, I told myself that at least you were a Culhane by marriage, and Frank would want me to stay. But now things have gone too far.”

“What are you implying?” Lila demanded. “Just tell me.”

“It’s the McKennas.” Mariah’s voice dripped contempt. “They’ve got no manners, no class. They’re no better than hillbillies.”

“They’re good, honest people,” Lila said. “And you’re in no position to judge them.”

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