Page 72 of More Than Anything

Avery shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know how I feel. This has been… I don’t even know what to say.” He lifted his eyes from the soup bowl and looked straight into Lydia’s blue ones. “Are we okay? Please tell me we’re okay.”

“We’re fine. I made a decision before I jumped into your arms.”

“Yeah?”

“I decided I don’t give a damn what the little old ladies all over town say about me. We’re more important to me than they are. If they want to whisper and talk, that’s their problem, not mine.”

Avery shook his head. “Baby, I don’t want to cause you any trouble.”

“The only trouble I’m going to have is if somebody hurts you. Then I’m going to have a big problem?and they will too if I catch them.”

Avery snickered. “And you’ll do what?”

Lydia stood, walked to a cabinet across the kitchen, reached into a drawer, and pulled out a forty-five pistol. “I’ll shoot ’em deader’n a stone.”

Avery’s eyes popped. “You know how to handle that thing?”

Lydia cocked a hip and laughed. “You’re talking to a Texas belle, boy. Of course I know how to handle this thing!”

He shot her a slow, sexy smile. “Come here.” Pushing his chair out, he patted his lap and Lydia laid the gun on the table before taking a seat on his knees. He pulled her hair back and held it in both hands, then leaned in and kissed her. When he turned loose, he gave her the most serious stare he could muster given his exhaustion. “If anything happens to me, you do whatever you have to do to fight for the farm. I mean it, Lydia. Don’t let them take it away from you. I’m going to do a will in the next couple of days so it’ll be yours if… so they can’t get it.”

“Babe, you don’t have to?”

“No. But I want to.” He gave her another sideways grin. “Promise you won’t have me bumped off after I have the will made?”

Lydia threw back her head and laughed… god, he’d missed that sound! “No way! I don’t want to feed the cows twice a day by myself!” She gave him a tiny, soft little kiss. “Those are your cows?youtake care of them!”

Avery finally managed a little laugh. “Yes, ma’am!” He looked at his watch. “I should probably go home.”

She plumped out her lower lip. “But I want you to stay.”

“I’ve stayed longer than I should. Every minute that I’m here with you, your life’s in danger. And I can’t have that. It’s my job to protect you.” With another little peck on the lips, he told her, “Hop up. I’ve got to go.”

“But Avery?”

“No. End of discussion. But know that I’d rather be here, or you there with me. If they can find Shannon, maybe it’ll be soon.”

As Lydia stood, Avery saw a big glistening tear drift down her face. “You call me the minute you get home, okay?”

“I will. I promise.” He strode to the door and stood, reaching for her hand. When she took his, he felt stronger and more sure that everything would be okay. “I love you, my Texas rose.”

“I love you too, my big, strong, handsome cowboy,” she murmured as she rose on her tiptoes to kiss him.

But he laughed right into her lips. “Cowboy? I’m no cowboy!”

“You have cows and two horses to herd them. And a herding dog. That makes you a cowboy.”

That made Avery laugh even louder. “Well, I suppose I can’t argue with that logic!”

“No.” She kissed him again, and that time he got serious about it. She tasted so sweet, like strawberries and chocolate, and he didn’t want it to end, but he had to get home. When she pulled away from him, she glared up at him. “Don’t argue with me. Just tell me everything’s going to be okay.”

“Everything’s going to be okay. And I hope I didn’t just lie to you,” Avery said, then gave her a quick peck on the lips. “I’ll call you as soon as I get home.”

“Okay. I love you, AveryHolcomb. Everything’s going to be okay. I’m sure of it.” She hung onto his hand until he pulled it away and headed down the steps.

“I love you too, LydiaKinsey.” He stopped at the bottom of the steps and looked back up at her. “You’re my one true love. You’re my soulmate.”

“And you’re the love of my life.”

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