He gripped the wheel more tightly, wishing he could squeeze some sense into Katie. If she was that desperate for money— He broke off that dangerous thought. After all, he hadn’t offered to marry her.
She didn’t need to marry him to get money.
She could inherit Gran’s estate by not marrying anyone. Not even Jack Ledbetter.
“And that’s why I’m going to up the ante,” he muttered to himself. He turned the steering wheel so the car pulled off the main road onto Jack Ledbetter’s gravel driveway, parked and got out.
The man stepped out of the barn, several dogs at his heels. The dogs distracted Gabe since they closely resembled his dog, Jericho. His stomach didn’t feel good, either.
But he was going to take care of things…today.
“Well, I heard you were back in town, Gabe. Welcome. How are you?”
Hell, he didn’t want the man to be friendly. He crossed the distance between them and took the hand Jack extended. The dogs sniffed at his boots.
“These two look a lot like Jericho,” he muttered.
“They’re his kinfolk. Well, at least she is. I got the boy from a man in Lubbock. Didn’t want too much inbreeding,” Jack said, smiling easily. “You looking for a dog? I’ve got four pups to sell.”
That thought distracted Gabe. A dog? In Dallas, there’d been no point to having a dog. He was never home enough to spend any time with a pet. But a sudden yearning in his heart told him how much he’d missed having a dog.
“I might.” He cleared his throat. “But I have something else to talk about first.”
Jack’s eyebrows, black mixed with gray, rose up. “Well, sure thing. Want to come in? I can put on a pot of coffee.”
Gabe didn’t want any more coffee. What he had to say wouldn’t take long. If he could only figure out how to say it when the man was being so damn nice. “A glass of ice water would be better,” he said.
“Yeah, you’re right. The days are warming up, aren’t they? Come on.” Jack led the way to his back porch and into the kitchen.
Once they were seated at the table, glasses of ice water in front of them, Jack looked at him expectantly.
Gabe swallowed. “I heard you’re thinking of marrying again.”
It should have been amusing to see the older man’s cheeks flush with embarrassment. But the whole thing was too painful for Gabe to laugh.
“Well, I haven’t said anything, but I guess the townfolk can see how besotted I am,” Jack said with a nod. “She’s a sweet thing.”
“She’s a little young for you, isn’t she?” Gabe snapped. Then he wanted to bang his head against the wall. He was supposed to be encouraging the man, not talking him out of marrying Katie.
Jack’s eyebrows rose again. “Not that much. And I’m in real good health. I went to see Doc just last week to make sure. I don’t want her marrying me if I’m going to be a problem for her.”
“Right,” Gabe agreed. “That was considerate of you. What did Doc say?”
Jack grinned. “Aw, he recommended it. You know he and Florence got married last year?”
“Florence Gibbons?” Gave asked, distracted. “Mac’s aunt?”
“Yeah. We had a busy time, what with all those boys getting married, too. Thought they’d rename the town Cupid instead of Cactus,” Jack said with a chuckle. “You married yet?”
“No. And not planning on it, either. Have you set a date yet?” Now he expected Jack to stall. He figured Katie would have made it clear that they couldn’t marry for a year. Until she had her money safe. Then she’d have her meal ticket and a husband to support her, too.
He gritted his teeth.
“I’d like to make it as soon as possible. Katherine said—”
“I bet I know what she said,” Gabe retorted. “But I think you should ignore her and go ahead.”
“Ignore her?” Jack asked, an anxious look on his face. “You mean she’s against it? But she said—”
“I’m sure she just wants to postpone it, Jack. She probably wants to go ahead with the wedding, but not until next year.”
Jack blinked several times in surprise. “That wasn’t the impression she gave me.”
“When did you last talk to her about it?”
“I talked to her after my visit with Doc.”
“Ah. Before I came back to town.” That figures. She didn’t know she had the chance to have money without marrying Jack. Not that there was anything wrong with the man. He wasn’t even bad looking for fifty-six.
“What would that have to do with anything?” Jack asked, bewildered.
“Nothing, I’m sure. I was just thinking aloud.” Or not thinking at all. Now what? “Well, I’d encourage you to strike while the iron is hot. Who knows what will happen next week.”
Jack rapped the table with his fist. “You’re right. I’m going to go propose tonight. There’s no point waiting. I may be healthy, but I don’t want to waste time.”
“Great idea. I wish you well,” Gabe said, standing. And definitely feeling sick to his stomach.
“Thanks, Gabe, for the good advice.”
Now he really felt guilty.
“Say, did you want to see any of the pups for sale?” Jack asked.
“Sure. Do any of them look like Jericho?”
“I believe they all do,” he assured Gabe with a grin. “My dogs breed true.” He stood. “Come on out to the barn.”
Five minutes later, Gabe was the proud owner of a German shepherd puppy.
“Your timing was perfect. I just decided yesterday they were ready to be sold.” Jack reached over and stroked the head of the puppy. “She’s a sweet one, she is. What are you going to name her?”
Gabe’s mind flashed to Katie…again. He couldn’t name the dog after her. Everyone would figure that out. And besides, he didn’t need a constant reminder of her. “Cinnamon. I’m going to name her Cinnamon,” he said suddenly. That was better than Lemon, or Sausage Roll or—
“Good choice. Her fur reminds me a little of those cinnamon rolls Katie bakes. You tasted those yet?”
“Yeah.”
Jack beamed at him. “I reckon when I marry Margaret I’ll get all I want of those for free. Some deal, isn’t it? A sweet woman and a sweet breakfast.” He laughed at his little joke.
Gabe stood, turned to stone. Margaret? He was going to marry Margaret? Katie’s mom? Tuck had been right. And Katie had lied to him.
Slow anger began to burn in him, moving up his body until he felt his face turn red.
He couldn’t wait to confront Katie Peters. Hill. Katherine Hill. Whatever her name was, she was in big trouble.
Chapter Five
As Gabe parked his Mercedes on the town square, he saw Jessica Baxter, Cal’s wife, come out of The Last Roundup, carrying a little boy. He waved to her, and she hurried over.
“Gabe! It’s good to see you. Cal told me you were in town.”
“Yeah, good to see you, too. And this must be Rick.”
Jessica grinned. “More than two seconds’ acquaintance with Cal will get you that information. Cal is crazy about our baby.”
Gabe played with the baby, enjoying the child’s response. His shy smile was captivating. “I bet he doesn’t get any attention, does he?”
Sighing, Jessica said, “Thank goodness Rick has a sweet nature, but his grandparents are even worse than Cal.”
“That’s the way it should be. Gran spoiled me, and I loved it.”
“Sorry about her death. I know you must miss her,” Jessica said, touching his arm.
“Yeah, thanks. Well, where are you headed? Want me to carry this little guy, give your arm a break?”
“I’m just going over to The Lemon Drop Shop. I need to talk to Katie about something.”
“I’m heading that way, too,” Gabe said, keeping his voice calm. “Let me carry Rick.”
He took the little boy into his arms, surprised at how much he enjoyed his warmth.
“Thanks. He is getting heavy. Soon he�
��ll be walking.”
“Yeah, Cal brought me up-to-date on his progress.”
Jessica laughed again.
“Say, Jack Ledbetter has some pups ready to sell, if you’re thinking about getting him a puppy.”
“Really? I hadn’t thought about that, but it’s a good idea. Did you buy one?”
“Yeah. I took her home before I came back to town. She’s in a cardboard box with Gran’s windup alarm clock and a bowl of water. I’ve got to buy some Puppy Chow before I go home.”
“How wonderful!”
They’d reached the shop and Gabe’s attention left Jessica as he looked inside the shop for Katie. “I don’t see Katie—Katherine. Maybe she’s gone home.”
“Not Katie. She never leaves until after closing,” Jessica assured him. “Why don’t you sit down out here with Rick, if you don’t mind, and I’ll go invite her to join us. I’m going to get Rick a cookie. Do you want something?”
“No, thanks.” He’d had enough of Katie’s cooking today. After eating the other two sausage rolls earlier, he’d skipped lunch. Unfortunately, the thought of food had his stomach growling. Jessica laughed, which made his cheeks flush. Then she disappeared.
When she returned five minutes later, Gabe and Rick had become much closer friends. The little boy, standing in his lap, had pulled his nose, left slobbers on his shirt and bounced like a ball.
“Hey, Rick, give me a break,” Gabe pleaded, smiling all the while. “I’m not a trampoline.”
When the child saw his mother returning, his activity increased, especially when he spotted the cookie in her hand. “Cookie!”
“Wow, I didn’t know he could talk,” Gabe exclaimed.
“Only important words, like cookie, go, and most especially, no. That’s his favorite.”
Gabe found Jessica’s chatter entertaining, but he was more interested in the result of her absence. “Where’s Katie?”
“She’ll be out in a minute. It’s a little crowded right now.”
He kept an eye on the door as they chatted. Which was why he saw Katie’s face when she realized he was with Jessica. She came out carrying a tray and almost dropped it when her gaze fell on him.
“I thought—” she began, then stopped herself. “Hello, Gabe. I didn’t know you were with Jessica.”
“You thought she left Rick out here on his own?”
Her cheeks flushed, but Jessica intervened before Katie could answer. “She thought I meant Cal. Sorry, Katie, I didn’t think about that until after I’d come back outside.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She set a dish with a dozen cookies on it on the table. Then she put a glass of lemonade in front of each of them. “I brought the oatmeal-raisin cookies because they’re Cal’s favorites.”
“And I appreciate that,” Cal’s deep voice announced. They all turned around to find the sheriff standing on the sidewalk, grinning. “I saw you from across the square and thought I’d join you.” He winked at Katie. “Hoping for some of those cookies.”
Jessica gave a sigh of exasperation. “Katie, I hope you don’t indulge him too often. He’s going to have to buy larger sizes if he eats too many cookies.”
“Hey, I’m in good shape!” Cal protested, slapping his flat stomach.
With all the teasing, Gabe almost forgot the tension he’d been feeling. Almost. He watched Katie glance at him out of the corner of her eye, and he knew she hadn’t forgotten anything, either.
“You talk to Gabe,” Jessica ordered. “I need to talk to Katie.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Cal said, taking on a humble look that didn’t sit well on his broad shoulders. His wife laughed at him and then turned to Katie.
“Did the triplets come today?”
Cal and Gabe didn’t pretend any interest in their own conversation.
Katherine nodded, gnawing on her bottom lip. “Yes, they did.”
“Well?”
“They were ready to give me a contract, but I blew it.” Everyone heard the regret in her voice.
“You blew it? How? They won’t find anything better than your carrot cake.” Jessica’s stubborn look, one Cal was quite familiar with, filled her face.
Katie patted her friend’s arm. “It’s okay, Jessica. I’ll be fine. They wanted a discount, and I refused. I knew they might walk. But—”
“A discount? Less than I pay? That’s ridiculous. You give me a rock-bottom price. You should have said you had to charge them more!” Jessica protested with heat.
Some of the tension in Katherine’s shoulders left as she grinned. “Oh, Jess, you’re so good to me.”
“I am not.” She looked at her watch. “It’s not even three o’clock. I’ll go call them. When I tell them—”
“No, Jess, don’t do that,” Katie protested. “It’s a business decision. I don’t think you should.”
“Katie’s right, baby,” Cal said quietly. “I know you want to help her, but she has to do this on her own.”
“Cookie!” Rick shrieked, drawing everyone’s attention as he reached for the plate in the center of the table.
“No, young man,” Jessica said sternly. “You’ve already had your cookie.”
Cal leaned forward and took his first cookie. “Can’t he have just one more?”
“But those have raisins in them. He might choke,” Jessica warned. “I got him a butterfly cookie before.”
“I’ll go get him another one,” Katie said, leaping to her feet.
“No, I’ll go. You’re on your feet all day.” Jessica headed for the door to the shop. Before she went in, though, she said, “Gabe, tell Cal about the puppy.” Then she disappeared.
Gabe, after a quick glance at Katie’s questioning look, turned to his friend. “I bought a pup from Jack Ledbetter today. He’s got three more if you’re thinking about a puppy for Rick.”
“Like Jericho?” Katie asked softly.
“You remember him?” Gabe asked without thinking.
“Of course. We’d just starting dating when he died,” Katie replied, her gaze soft and sympathetic.
Gabe found himself leaning toward her and froze. What was wrong with him? Was he so willing to fall into her trap? No. Never. He glared at her. “That was a long time ago.”
“That’s a good idea,” Cal said, teasing his son, trying to distract him from the oatmeal-raisin cookies. “Want a puppy, Rick?”
“Cookie!” his son informed him, a stubborn look, remarkably like his mother’s, on his face.
“Will the puppy—I mean, do you have room for a dog at your place?” Katie asked.
“There’s plenty of room,” Gabe snapped.
“But Gran said you had a condo,” she returned, frowning.
When Gabe said nothing, Cal replied for him. “But Gabe’s going to be staying here in Cactus.”
Katie paled. “Here?” she asked faintly.
KATHERINE HAD THOUGHT her day couldn’t get much worse. She’d been wrong. Gabe was going to stay in Cactus. So she could expect to see him at any time.
She supposed she’d adjust. She had to. Her brain seemed to scramble itself whenever he came into view. With a deep sigh, she mustered a smile. “How nice.”
Jessica came out with Rick’s new cookie. His crowing filled the awkward silence.
Katherine thought it might be a good time to make her escape. “Glad to see all of you, but I need to—” She stopped because Gabe had grabbed her wrist in a viselike grip.
“I need to talk to you,” he said, his gaze hard.
Cal picked up two more cookies and stood. “I’ve got to get back. Why don’t you and Rick walk me over?” he asked his wife.
Jessica was staring at Gabe and Katherine. “Um, okay if—will you be all right, Katie?”
No, don’t leave me! But she couldn’t say that. She had too much pride to ask for protection from Gabe. Besides, he wouldn’t hurt her. Much. Other than break her heart again. “Yes, of course, I’ll be fine.”
Gabe said nothing, watching as the other tw
o gathered their son and waved goodbye.
When they were out of hearing, he leaned toward Katherine and she pressed against the back of her chair.
“You lied to me.”
His harsh words weren’t a big surprise. She’d known she’d have to pay for getting rid of him earlier today. “Not really.”
“Yes, you did!” he insisted, his voice rising. “You told me you were going to marry Jack Ledbetter!”
“No, I didn’t,” she corrected. “I said, ‘He’s the one.’ And he is.”
He gave her a disgusted look. “I know. He’s going to marry your mother. But I thought—”
“Evelyn was listening. She’s a gossip.”
“I wanted to talk to you in private, but you insisted on keeping her there,” he pointed out.
In exasperation, near tears, Katherine said, “Gabe, I’m trying to run a business here. If I don’t work, we don’t eat.”
“Yeah, right,” he jeered. He didn’t believe her. “You make plenty to put food on the table.”
On a good day, she might have been able to let his comment pass. But today, with all the difficulties, with the worry that she’d blown a good opportunity, she shot back at him, “Not all of us come from a family with money. In the past few years, I’ve put Joe through college, Diane and Raine are still in college. Paul goes next year and Susan the year after that. I have to pay—” She broke off, horrified that she’d said so much. She wanted to help her siblings. But it wasn’t easy.
Jumping up from the table, she ran for the safety of her shop. Since she had surprised Gabe, she almost made it all the way to the kitchen.
But he caught her at the swinging door.
“Wait a minute!” he roared, and drew a lot of stares.
“Oh, Katherine, there’s a phone call for you,” Mary said as she opened the kitchen door. “I was just coming to tell you.”
Katherine would have asked Mary to take a message, but the call was a good reason to get rid of Gabe. “Excuse me,” she said, and wrenched her arm from his hold. Then she dashed through the swinging door.
The $10,000,000 Texas Wedding Page 5
