Page 116 of The Honorable Texan
She grimaced.“She and I weren’t really very close,” she confessed.She searched his eyes.“You see, what Daddy yelled about her that night you were at the house was pretty much true.She was a very attractive woman, and she had lovers.”She winced.“I hated knowing that.You can’t imagine what it did to Daddy.She even bragged about them.”
“She doesn’t sound like much of a wife,” he murmured.
“She didn’t act like one, either.She did love to spend money, though.That’s why she picked rich lovers.”Her face clouded.“I was so ashamed of her.I guess she saw herself as a modern woman.I’m not.There’s a big difference between sleeping with someone you trulylove, and jumping into bed with anyone who has some money.”
He nodded and touched her soft, swollen mouth.“She’s soured you on men, hasn’t she?”
“Sort of.Until you came along, at least,” she admitted, without looking at him.She stared at his shirt button.“Bad temper and all, you’ve got some wonderful qualities.”
He gave her a wry look.“I’ll have to tell my brothers.They didn’t know.”
She chuckled.“Thanks for letting me come here to heal, anyway.”
He felt uneasy.“That sounds like goodbye, Meredith.”
She sighed.Her fingers stilled on his buttons.“I can’t stay much longer,” she said sadly.“Even though I’d like to.My boss is shorthanded as it is, and the woman filling in for me doesn’t like leaving her kids in day care.She retired when she had the second one.”
“Retired?”
“Yes.She said keeping two kids in day care ate up her whole paycheck.”She lifted her eyes to his.“Since her husband got a raise, it was actually cheaper for her to stay home with the kids than it was to work.She loves it.”
There was a strange look on his face.He rubbed his fingertips over her short fingernails absently.“Would you want to stay home with your kids?”
She stared up at him, transfixed.“Yes, I would.Those first few years are so important.If I could find any way to do it, I would, even if I had to sacrifice some little luxuries.”
“That would be tricky.You’re a highly trained professional.”
“One of my friends was a highly trained doctor,” she replied.“She gave up her job and stayed home with her little boy until he was in kindergarten.Even then, she arranged her schedule so that she’d be there when he got home in the afternoons.”
He was frowning, and his fingers were still smoothing over hers.He wanted to ask if she thought she could get used to ranch life and snakes.He was afraid to say it.The act of commitment was still very new to him.He couldn’t rush her.
He sighed, troubled.“What does your father do, by the way?”he asked suddenly.
“Oh, he teaches in the veterinary department of his college in Houston.”
His hand stilled on hers.“He’s a veterinarian?”
“He has a doctorate in veterinary medicine, yes.Why?”
Wheels were turning in his head.He stared at her thoughtfully.“Will he have a job to go back to, after all the trouble he’s had with the law?”
“You’re very perceptive,” she said after a minute.“Actually, no, he won’t.The college phoned before his last bender and told him not to come back.You can’t blame them, either,” she added sadly.“What would it do to the college’s image, to have an alcoholic on staff with a dangerous temper?”
“Not much,” he had to admit.“Did he drink before the shooting?”
“Never.Not even a beer,” she replied.“But he’s set records in the past six months.I couldn’t get him near a treatment center.At least he’s in one, now.”
“Not only in it, but improving by the day,” Rey saidunexpectedly.“He’d like you to come see him.I can run you up there Sunday, if you’d like to go.”
That was surprising.“You’ve spoken to him?”she asked.
He nodded.“I had Leo phone Colter.He has contacts who helped arrange it.”He drew in a deep breath.“Your father seems pretty rational right now.Of course, he isn’t drinking, either.”His eyes darkened.“I meant exactly what I said.He’ll never touch you again in anger.”
“When he’s sober, he never would.I can’t believe…he really wants to see me?”she asked haltingly.
He brushed his hand against her cheek.“He loves you.I’m sure you love him, too.You don’t throw people away because they make a mistake—even a bad one.You get help for them.”
“I tried.”
