Page 75 of Legacy of Lies
Sorry to leave it that way with you.
As soon as she hit send on her text, she scrambled to stop the message.
Nope. Gone out into cyberspace. Damn.
On minute later, her phone rang. No texting for Garrison Taggart, no siree. With a sinking sensation, she hit the button to accept.
“Hello?”
“Sara?” His voice turned her insides to melted goo, damn that man.
“I shouldn’t have texted. It’s early.”
Silence.
Then he cleared his throat. “I’m glad you did. I was thinking about you.”
She opened her mouth but no sound came out.
“Shelby said I was a jerk to you,” he said.
“What do you think?”
“I think she’s right.” Rustling sheets transmitted through the phone.
He was in bed. Oh, God.
“Sara, I ... Look, would you like to spend the day on the ranch? Nothing major, just two people hanging out together?”
Her heart expanded, about to burst. Then she reeled it in. “Depends. Am I there as a stress reliever for you?”
“Son of a bitch, I was an idiot, wasn’t I?”
“I don’t have much room to talk.”
“Um, can we continue this conversation in person?”
After ten seconds of internal debate, she had her answer. “How’s nine sound?”
“It sounds like I’ll have to wait too long.”
• • •
Three and a half hours later, Sara sat square in the eye of the hurricane.
What in the name of the Holy Spirit had happened? What happened to her decision to stay uninvolved?
Garrison met her at the front door. Although their reunion had been cool but polite, the rest of the family had swept her away into their raucous Sunday morning breakfast. Zach peppered her with questions while Shelby studied her with an odd expression.
Meanwhile, Kerr dominated the stove, singing loudly as he pretended to take short orders. No one commented on how the elder Mr. Taggart was still in bed.
Kerr made only a few inappropriate remarks during breakfast—apparently, Shelby’s and Garrison’s dark expressions kept him in check. A few times, Sara laughed, despite herself.
After the meal, Garrison picked up her plate and dropped it in the sink. Then he walked over to where she sat.
Shelby coughed several times, then grinned, her odd, gold-glinting eyes so similar to her brothers’.
“Want the grand tour?” Garrison asked Sara.
