Deep in a Texan's Heart

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“Sorry, Sam. Thank you, but I need to get home. I’ve promised to make suggestions regarding the center for Shannon. I’ll see you around,” she said briskly. He dropped his hand as she gathered her things and left the room.

Puzzled, he watched her walk away. Why was she avoiding him? There were moments she had been responsive and then she had closed off as if he were a stranger. What was bothering her and what had changed between them since that weekend they had been together? Switching off the lights in the billiard room, he stepped into the hall and slowly followed, still watching her walk away.

They had a big difference in their attitudes about the club and the child center, but he didn’t think that was what was holding her back.

At a loss, he watched her go out through the front doors. Was it something he had done? Was it because she was scared to be attracted to someone from Royal and get involved when she lived in California? Not for one second did he think she had to go home to study child-care centers for Shannon. There was something else that had caused the rift.

He couldn’t think of a reason. One more puzzle in his life, only this one was personal. While he wanted to get to know her better, she had made it obvious she wasn’t going to let him. The only reason he persisted was that she still responded to him some of the time.

Three

Lila hurried to her car. Prickles ran across her back because Sam was behind her and she had the feeling if she turned she would see him watching her. If only she could stop flirting with him. For a moment she had wanted to just toss aside worries and go sit with him and let him cheer her up because he could. In spite of his old-fashioned notions, he entertained her.

She suspected her mother had thought the same thing about her father at some point. Sam was too much like her father for her to get close to him. Yet it was too late. She had gotten up close and intimately personal and someday she would have to let Sam know about his baby, but she wanted to be on the verge of leaving for California when that happened.

Passing mesquite and cactus, she finally curved around the drive and saw the sprawling, familiar house on the Double H ranch. The place would always be home. Pots of colorful flowers hung beneath the rafters of the wraparound porch. Her mother had made a comfortable haven on the West Texas plains.

That night over a steaming roast with potatoes and carrots, her dad talked about his day. Momentarily, Lila wished she had been able to accept Sam’s dinner offer, because it would have been far more fun than listening to her dad complain about too many things.

“In our meeting today, Nathan made an announcement. They haven’t gone to the media about it yet, so it isn’t public knowledge,” Beau said, looking at his wife and then at Lila. “He said they found Alex Santiago’s abandoned truck hidden in some bushes outside town.”

“That can’t be good,” Barbara remarked, frowning.

“No, it sure as hell isn’t,” Beau replied. “They’re investigating. Sounds to me like someone kidnapped Alex or worse.”

“Was it random or someone who knew Alex?” Barbara shook her head. “I know no one has an answer to that question, but it’s disturbing. Your friend Sophie worked for him, didn’t she?”

“Works for him,” Beau corrected.

“Sophie still keeps the office running. Zachary Lassiter shares the office with them, too,” Lila said.

“You be careful, Beau, when you’re out on the ranch alone. Until we know who or why—”

“Don’t worry about me. My pistol is in the truck and I’m careful. I have my phone and most of the time I’m not out without others with me.”

“One of the men disappearing is frightening. Imagine that happening here.”

“Things happen everywhere, Mom,” Lila said.

“You’re the one who lives in a hotbed of crime in a big city,” Beau remarked, helping himself to more roast beef while Lila struggled to eat a little. She had lost her appetite, but she didn’t want to bring it to her dad’s attention.

“We haven’t talked about it, but I heard you’re helping with the children’s center,” Beau said, focusing on her.

“Shannon asked if I would just look over the plans they have and see if I can think of anything else needed.”

“A new location would be nice,” Beau said, and laughed at his own joke. “It’s sort of embarrassing to me to have you a part of this children’s center. Actually, sort of embarrassing to the whole family.”

“Beau, she’s merely looking at pictures and notes to make suggestions,” Barbara said sweetly. “Don’t be persnickety the little time we have her home with us.”

“Yep, it’s good to have you here, baby. I wish you’d just get a job in Royal and stay put, marry one of the locals before you meet some Californian and he carries you away from us for good.”

“If that happens, I want your room,” Hack said.

“Hack, for heaven’s sake,” Barbara chided. “No. Lila will always have her room and you have a perfectly good room, sitting room and bath that are as large as hers.”

Ignoring her brother, Lila smiled at Beau. “It’s nice to be home, Dad,” she said.

After dinner Beau sauntered away to watch television while their cook, Agnes, cleared the table.

“Mom, I’m going to my room. I’m worn out and I want to look over the material Shannon gave me.”

“Sure, Lila. I’ll come up in a little while.”

In her room Lila switched on her laptop and looked up the best child-care centers in the United States to see what comprised each one. About an hour later she pulled out the plans of what already had been decided on for the TCC center.

Lila began to make notes of a few changes she would make if it were all left to her. A light knock on the door was followed by her mother thrusting her head into the room. “Can I come in?”

“Sure. Want to look at the drawings?”

Barbara crossed the room to sit close to Lila and look at the drawings while Lila pointed out various things.

“Looks very cutting-edge. I’m glad you’re helping. How are you feeling?”

“Good. I get tired, but otherwise I’m okay.”

“Lila, you’re going to have to decide what you’ll do. I’d like you to come home to have your baby.”

“I don’t know, Mom. I’m thinking about it.”

“Please come home. I can take care of you and the baby. Also, honey, sooner or later you’ll have to tell Sam about the baby. Sam and your father.”

“I know I will. I have to tell Sam face-to-face. Hind-sight is really great, isn’t it?”

Barbara just smiled and waited.

“I have to tell him while I’m here, but I intend to do it right before I leave for California.”

“That will suffice. Although I don’t think the distance between California and Texas is going to slow Sam Gordon down. Those two boys grew up with a tough rancher father. They built their own successful construction business. Lila, Sam is going to want to marry you. Having raised two children, I want you to think about it before you turn him down.”

“Mom, you know what Sam Gordon wants in a wife. A woman like you. You’re sweet. You humor Dad. I know you get what you want and Dad doesn’t even realize that he’s been manipulated—”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I manipulate your father.”

“Of course you do,” Lila said sweetly, smiling. “He can’t see it so he doesn’t object. But you don’t work outside home and he would have a fit if you did. I love my job. I don’t want to give it up to come home and live in Royal.”

“Just think it over. It’s difficult to raise a child, and a single parent has a hard time.”

Lila thought of Gil Addison and Cade. Sometimes Gil looked harried, while other times he had a fleeting, forlorn expression—was it the lack of a mother for Cade and a wife for him?

“If you turn him down, you better be ready for a battle. Sam Gordon doesn’t strike me as the type to give up. He’s eaten a lot of dinners at our house. He’s a nice man, Lila.”

“I know he is, Mom. That helps.”

“And on the subject of announcing your pregnancy—you have to tell your father.”

“I told you I will before I leave, but I want to make decisions about what I’ll do. Dad will want to take over totally. And there’s no doubt he’ll want Sam to marry me. I can’t bear to think about that one. Also, I don’t want to hear Hack’s smart remarks.”

“I could break the news first to your dad and he will take care of your brother.”

“Let me think about what I’ll do,” Lila said, while she wished she could go right back to California.

Barbara stood and hugged Lila. “Don’t worry. I’m glad you’re home. Of course, if I have to, I’ll go to California when the baby is born.”

“I understand.”

“Whatever you do, you know I’ll back you up.”

Lila squeezed her mother’s hand. “You’re still the best mom in the whole world.”

Barbara laughed. “I love you, Lila, and love having you home. I’ll go see about your dad now. He was asleep when I came in here.”

Lila bent over plans and pictures again. She jotted down ideas as she looked at Shannon’s notes. Finally, she shoved them aside to think about Sam. How was she going to tell him?

Wednesday morning, even though she didn’t want to see Sam, she couldn’t keep from studying how she looked before she left the ranch. She changed twice before finally settling on a plain two-piece dress, a sleeveless green cotton one with a V neckline. Like several newly purchased dresses for the trip to Royal, the top was tailored and came to her hips with a straight skirt below it that once again hid her waist.

She didn’t want to run into Sam and have him studying her figure while she was wearing something that showed her waist. She brushed her hair and clipped it up on the back of her head. After a few critical moments in front of her mirror, she was satisfied.

When she reached the club, she spread her plans on the game table in the future billiard room to study them again while waiting for Shannon.

Her cell phone interrupted her and she answered to hear Shannon’s voice.