Taking Charge (Lone Star Burn Book 4)

by Ruth Cardello

  Sarah tensed. “In Van Horn, I think.”

  “I thought you said Sanderson.”

  “Did I? Then that’s where he must be.”

  An awful feeling spread through Lucy. She didn’t want to consider the possibility, but as bile threatened to surge upward, she asked slowly, “Sarah, are you lying to me?”

  Sarah turned away from her, gripped the edge of the kitchen counter, and said, “Please don’t ask me that.”

  The room spun, and Lucy leaned on the counter for support. “Look at me, Sarah.”

  Sarah kept her face averted. “I can’t.”

  “Because you can’t lie to my face, but you can lie to the window?” Lucy snapped. She hated that she was even accusing Sarah at all, but more than that, she hated how Sarah was looking guiltier by the minute.

  Sarah turned around and met Lucy’s eyes. Her hands were shaking at her sides. “Why would I lie to you, Lucy? I don’t feel well, that’s all. I told you, I need to lie down.”

  With a rush, Lucy felt like an ass. “Oh my God, Sarah, I’m so sorry. I warned you that I’m not myself lately. I’m an idiot.”

  Sarah looked away. “It’s fine, Lucy. I’m not upset, but if it’s all right with you, I want to rest awhile.”

  “Sure,” Lucy said quietly. “I’ll check in on you later. Tell me if there is anything I can do. Anything at all.”

  Once alone in the kitchen, Lucy paced back and forth, berating herself for what she’d said to Sarah. I can’t go on thinking everyone is out to get me or to fool me. That’s no way to live.

  I was wrong about Ted.

  Wrong about David.

  Oh God, I can’t believe how wrong I was about David. I thought he loved me. I thought he was a man I could give my heart to.

  I told myself the ranch was all that mattered, but I don’t care about the ranch. If giving it to David would make him love me, I’d sign it over to him in a heartbeat.

  What does that say about me?

  Lucy had barely slept since she’d arrived in Fort Mavis. She kept going over her relationship with David, looking for a hint that he was the kind of man who would sleep with her just to get her land. She couldn’t think of one single time when he’d been anything but kind, generous, or loving with her. It didn’t make sense.

  How could he let me walk away like that?

  Why not fight for what we have?

  If he cared about me at all, wouldn’t he have said something when I told him to find another place to train his horses?

  He hasn’t called to see if I’m okay.

  Not a text.

  Nothing.

  Because he doesn’t love me.

  What will it take for me to understand that? When will my stupid heart stop going wild every time the phone rings? It’s not going to be David.

  I need to stop running for the door every time the doorbell rings.

  He’s not coming.

  A week had passed. One of the hardest in David’s life. There hadn’t been any response from York, and David was beginning to question if he’d been right to send Lucy away.

  He was unloading a shipment of hay, glad to lose himself in the physical distraction of the task, when Wyatt walked out of the barn with Tony. Wyatt joked, “There’s enough men here willing to unload the hay, but David likes to show off those muscles. Ain’t no women around to impress, though, David, so you might as well put that shirt back on.”

  Tony shook his head and looked skyward. “David, Wyatt talks more than you do. I didn’t think that was humanly possible.”

  Despite the sarcasm, Wyatt and Tony had hit it off. David jumped down from the back of the trailer and picked up his shirt, using it to wipe the sweat off his forehead. “I heard from Charles. He said he knows someone who knows Ted’s father. He didn’t explain how that would help, but he said he’d get back to me about the situation here.”

  Wyatt hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. “Any word from Lucy?”

  Tony answered, “Sarah says they’re both fine.”

  Wyatt looked at David. “You call her yet?”

  David slumped his shoulders. “Don’t know what I’d say at this point. Unless it’s the truth.”

  Wyatt added, “I enjoyed meeting your friend Mason. Nice of him to drop in considering what a busy man he must be. He’s a character, ain’t he?”

  “He sure is,” David said.

  Wyatt cackled. “His suggestion for what to do when she finds out was a hoot.”

  David snapped, “I’m glad this situation is amusing to you.”

  Wyatt shook his head sadly. “Son, you’ve got to keep your sense of humor. This will all work out, and one day we can sit around and laugh about it. I do think you need a plan, though. She will find out, and when she does, I hope you’ve thought of a really good way of apologizing.”

  Tony looked at Wyatt. “Saving her life won’t be enough?”

  Wyatt shot them both a toothy grin. “Shoot, you’re talking about women here. The workings of their minds are complicated, but certain rules apply in all situations. You lie, you apologize. You lie big, you apologize big. For that, you need a plan. You convinced her best friend to lie to her. Flowers won’t cover this.”

  Tony made a distasteful face. “Mason said you should think about something Lucy really wants and get it for her. I hate that I can hear his voice in my head.”

  David chuckled at that. Mason’s successful career in television wasn’t a surprise. He had a memorable presence. “There’s nothing Lucy wants that I know of. Except for her brother to answer her calls. It’s not like I could do anything about that.” David stopped as he considered what he’d said. “Unless you’d know how to find him, Wyatt.”

  “I might,” Wyatt said. “What would you say to him if I did?”

  David shrugged his shirt back on. “I’d tell him it doesn’t matter what happened between him and Lucy in the past. She needs him now. He could come back, help make sure York doesn’t win this fight, and show Lucy he really does care about her.”

  Tony added, “I’d threaten to kick his ass all the way home, but your way might work, too.”

  Wyatt cackled again. “David, I knew you’d be good for this town. I gotta say, I like your choice in friends.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  One week became two, and Lucy started to worry about things she could no longer keep to herself. She and Sarah were on their way back from a short walk after dinner when she asked, “Did you and Tony have a fight before he left?”

  Sarah stopped to pick a wildflower. She twirled it between her fingers. “Of course not.”

  “Is he coming back? You can tell me if your marriage is in trouble. I won’t tell anyone.”

  “It’s not.”

  “Then where is he, Sarah? And don’t tell me again that he’s training someone’s horse in Sanderson. You look miserable when you say it and, honestly, I don’t believe you.” There. I may be an awful person, but I said what I think.

  “You’re right. He’s not in Sanderson.”

  “Then where is he?”

  “He’s in Mavis with David.”

  That took a moment to sink in. “With David? You mean, at my ranch?”

  “That’s exactly what I mean.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Sarah leaned over and picked up a second flower, then held them both up. “No two flowers are exactly the same. Did you know that? They may look the same, but they’re as unique as people are.”

  With her heart thudding in her chest, Lucy asked, “How does this have anything to do with Tony being in Mavis with David?”

  “Lies can be like flowers. Not all of them are bad.”

  “Sarah, what are you saying?” That sickening feeling returned. No, not you, too, Sarah. Don’t tell me I can’t trust you, either. Please don’t do that to me.

  “David asked us if we’d help get you out of Mavis for a while, and we agreed.”

  Lucy swayed on her feet. “So, the baby?”

&
nbsp; “It’s perfectly healthy.”

  “You lied to me.”

  “Yes,” Sarah said, wringing her hands in front of her. “But it was a lie to protect you. David said York was preparing to do something awful, and he wanted you to be somewhere safe.”

  “And you believed him.”

  Sarah froze. “Completely.”

  “Then you’re a better person than I am, because I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that I can’t believe anything anyone tells me.” She glared at Sarah. “Not even those who call themselves my best friends.”

  Sarah’s cheeks reddened, and she advanced on Lucy. “Stop right there. The more you say, the more you’ll have to apologize for later. I have been nothing but a good friend to you. David has been in love with you since the first time he met you. Tony is risking his life because he cares about you and that damn ranch I’m not even sure why you want. I have a baby on the way and a husband who might just get himself killed because David thinks the people in your town need protecting as well. If none of us have earned your trust by now, then please do stop talking to all of us. Really, you’d be doing us a favor.” She threw the flowers down into the grass and turned away from Lucy.

  Lucy grabbed her by the arm. “Wait.” Her mind was racing. “I’m sorry.”

  Sarah stopped but didn’t turn back toward her. “You should be. You’re wrong about David. You say we’re friends, but if you think I would ever do anything to hurt you, then we have different definitions of friendship.”

  Lucy lowered her hand. “I get so scared sometimes, I stop thinking straight.”

  Sarah turned. “You’re not the only one who’s afraid. I haven’t slept since Tony left. David doesn’t know if he can save your ranch or help the town, but he’s willing to try. He doesn’t even know if that’s enough to get you to forgive him. The only reason we all lied to you is because we knew you wouldn’t leave if we told you the truth. Your ex-fiancé is a dangerous man, and he’s going to hurt someone. No one knows who, but we’re all waiting for it happen. I don’t blame David for lying to you, and I’m not sorry I did. I’d do it again because I love you.”

  “I—I—” Lucy started to speak, then stopped. She was momentarily crushed beneath the profound reality of how little she’d done to deserve the love of the woman who was standing before her. Saying sorry again wouldn’t begin to express how remorseful she felt. “What can I do, Sarah? How can I help?”

  Sarah’s eyes teared up. “I don’t know what to do besides wait and pray, but it would be a lot easier to do both if I had a friend at my side.”

  Lucy linked arms with Sarah and started walking back to the house with her. “You don’t think we should head to Mavis? See if there is some way we can stop anyone from getting hurt?”

  Sarah paused. “Tony asked me to stay here and wait for him. I promised I would, and I don’t lie.” She shot Lucy a quick glance. “Well, usually I don’t.”

  It wasn’t funny, but Lucy laughed a little at the joke.

  “I thought David didn’t care, but it was because he didn’t think I’d go any other way.” He lied to protect me. He put my safety above his own, let me think the worst of him. My mom always said love was about sacrifice, and David was willing to sacrifice everything . . . for me. He wants me to be happy even if it means not having me. “He does love me.”

  Sarah rolled her eyes. “You are smart when it comes to business, but when it comes to love—yeesh. How could you miss how much that man loves you?”

  “He’s never said it.”

  She started walking again. “Yes, he did—a thousand times with his actions. Some men say the words easily, and it doesn’t mean anything. Cowboys aren’t like that. I have a feeling that when David finally says he loves you, he’ll be down on one knee.”

  “If he forgives me for doubting him,” Lucy said, voicing her greatest fear.

  “If you can say that, you still have a lot to learn about David.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  David was on his way back from picking up grain from a local feedstore when he noticed a white truck riding his bumper. A quick look in his rearview mirror confirmed it was York. David took out his phone and dialed Wyatt. “I’m out on Park Road, heading west. It looks like it’s about to go down.”

  “Don’t do anything foolish, David,” Wyatt warned.

  David wasn’t completely sure if Sheriff Dodd had been bought out by York. He believed it was unlikely, but to be safe, Wyatt would also make sure there was someone else there to witness whatever happened.

  David would have answered, but his vehicle jerked forward as York slammed his truck into the back of David’s. He dropped his phone into his shirt pocket and grabbed the steering wheel with both hands to steady the vehicle.

  York rammed his truck into the back of David’s classic pickup again, then moved off to one side and tried to run the truck off the road. David sped up and moved his truck to the middle of the road, praying no one would come from the other direction. He didn’t need to outrun York forever, just long enough for the sheriff to get there. If the plan worked, York would be angry, drunk, or just plain stupid enough to say something in front of the sheriff that would get him arrested. If it went south, the sheriff wouldn’t have to wait for David to turn himself in for killing York. He could cuff him while he still stood over the man’s bloody body. One way or another, York’s reign over Mavis would end that day.

  In the distance, David saw a car headed their way and swore. He moved into the right lane, and York quickly took advantage of that opportunity. He swung his truck into the lane beside David’s and forced him off the road.

  David would have kept driving, but one of his wheels caught in a ditch and his truck rolled. He hit his head several times before the vehicle came to a rest on its side. Dazed, David released his seat belt and wiped blood from one of his eyes. Shit.

  York pulled up beside David’s truck and got out with a gun in his hand. The car that had been coming in the other direction pulled over, and a young man got out. “Is anyone hurt?”

  York looked away, and David used the chance to push up the passenger door and haul himself out. There was no time to bring his rifle with him. He tried to wave the man away, but it was too late. The man saw the gun in York’s hand and asked, “What’s going on?”

  York snarled, “If you like your job, Bill, get back in your car and drive away.”

  Bill looked past York and saw David standing beside his truck waving for him to go. “Put the gun away, Mr. York. Nothing Harmon has done is worth shooting him over.”

  David stepped away from the truck. If he could get a little closer, he might be able to knock the gun out of York’s hand. His vision blurred temporarily from blood dripping down his forehead. He wiped it away, but the move caught York’s attention, and he swung back toward David.

  “Not such a big man now, are you, Harmon?” York asked snidely. “I hope you beg me not to shoot you. I still will, but hearing you beg would make up for the trouble you’ve caused this town.”

  “This town or you, York?” David growled. “You don’t have to do this, you know. There is still time to stop before you go too far.”

  “Too far? I should have killed you the first time I met you. I knew you’d be trouble. But I thought I could scare you off. My mistake.”

  “Is killing me worth going to prison?” David asked, hoping to stall him enough for the sheriff to arrive.

  “Prison? I’m not going to prison. My family owns this town.”

  David nodded toward the dented truck. “Someone will see the evidence and follow it back to you. You may think the whole town is on your payroll, but it’s not.”

  York let out an evil laugh. “This truck isn’t even mine. One of my men left it at my place. It’ll be my word against his if they link it to your death.”

  Behind York, Bill said, “I can’t let you do this.”

  York turned slowly and, before either David or Bill had time to react, he shot him. B
ill crumpled to the ground, and David ran to his side. Bill gasped for air, but the shot had gone through his shoulder. Though he was bleeding profusely, he’d live. If York didn’t shoot him again.

  David stood between the man and York. He regretted not grabbing his rifle. He’d hoped to have time for that once Bill left. It was a mistake they might both pay for with their lives. York was sweaty and nervous. He wasn’t an experienced killer, and David intended to take advantage of that. “Tell me, York, how do you intend to drive back to town? You can’t use the truck you came in. Not if you want it to look like someone else killed me. You can’t take Bill’s. Did you think about that?”

  York looked at the three vehicles as if that part of the plan hadn’t occurred to him. “Shut up. I need to think.”

  “You won’t have time to walk anywhere. Not once the law comes. I called the sheriff already.”

  York’s hand shook with the gun in it. “No, you didn’t.”

  David shrugged. “You’d better be pretty damn sure before you shoot me. Texas has the death penalty, and no one looks kindly on murdering unarmed people.” A siren in the distance announced the arrival of the sheriff. “There he is now. You can kill me, but then you’ll need to kill Bill and the sheriff, too. That’s a whole lot of murders. And I hear there is a fast track to death row when you kill a lawman.”

  York looked close to pissing himself, but he still had the gun aimed at David. “I’ll tell the sheriff you shot Bill. Bill, if you don’t want to die, you’ll say that’s what happened. Do you understand me?”

  Bill didn’t answer.

  The sheriff got out of his vehicle slowly with a gun in his hand. “Ted, put the gun down.”

  York kept his gun aimed at David. “Thank God you’re here, Dodd. I was just about to call you. He shot Bill. I pulled over just in time to see it happen.”

  “Put the gun down, York.”

  “You believe me, don’t you?” York asked desperately.

  An SUV pulled up. Tony jumped out with a shotgun. He aimed it right at York.

  The sheriff said, “Carlton, get back in your vehicle. I can handle this.”

  Tony didn’t move. “Don’t worry, I won’t shoot him unless you miss.”