“I’d like that.” Rachel’s face crumpled, and she pulled a tissue out of her pocket. “Sally Ann needs me.”
“What’s the matter?” Sierra dropped the clothes on the bed and pulled Rachel into her arms. Had Sally Ann told her mother about her confession? Sierra had been trying to put it behind her these last weeks since the confrontation. She’d had plenty of other things to think about—like doctor appointments, depositions in what Muellerville residents were calling the Oxcart scandal, and coming to terms with the fact that she was going under the knife again.
Rachel stepped back and wiped her eyes. “She’s finally divorcing Will. It will be hard. He made her sign a prenuptial agreement that was supposed to leave her with next to nothing.” Rachel cleared her throat. “But Sally Ann will do all right. She found a sharp lawyer in Austin. Seems there’s plenty of community property she can claim. Of course she’ll get Billy.”
“That’s good.” Sierra sat on the bed.
“They’ve been staying with me and I can already see a difference in the boy.” Rachel glanced at Rhett. “I know Billy acted out when you helped with the horse therapy. But Will was always too hard on him. We’re getting Billy into therapy, the talk kind, and he’s going to that horse camp you told me about, Rhett.” She smiled. “Thank you for that.”
“I’m glad I could help.” Rhett patted her back. “Will is one angry man.”
“Yes, he is. But then his daddy was rough on him too. Guess it goes on down the line unless something stops it.” Rachel wiped her eyes again. “I wish…” She walked to the door. “What do they say? If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Don’t do any good to dream. I learned that the hard way.”
“Aw, Rachel. I’m sorry.” Sierra was glad now that Rachel knew nothing about Sally Ann’s saddle switch.
“I’m just praying your surgery makes you whole again. Or at least helps ease your pain.” Rachel ran back and gave her a big hug. “I love you, Sierra. Just like a daughter.” She shook her head. “Sally Ann doesn’t always do what’s right, I know that. Please forgive her.” She sobbed and left the room.
“Oh, God. She does know.” Sierra locked eyes with Rhett.
“Apparently.” Rhett sat beside Sierra on the bed and put his arms around her. “You can’t blame her for any of this.”
“No, of course not. She’s always done the best she could.” Sierra wiped away a tear. “Makes you wonder what Rachel’s husband was like.”
“He might not have run away. Rachel might have kicked him to the curb.” Rhett held her tight. “But those early years must have done damage, making Sally Ann the way she is.”
“Selfish? Mean?” Sierra sighed. “Forget her. I’m through dredging up the past. It’s the future I want to focus on now. You sure you want to go to Houston with me? Not only will you be surrounded by MacKenzies, but you’ll have to deal with me in my pissy ‘I hate hospitals’ moods.”
“I think I can handle it.” He kissed her until she pushed at his chest.
“Then let’s get moving. Let’s see how many kolache shops there are between here and Houston.” She laughed at his look of surprise.
“Woman, I sure am glad I killed Bambi in front of your gate that day.” He pulled her back into his arms. “Even if you did almost shoot off my foot.”
She kissed his smile. “It was a reckless shot that could have gone very wrong.”
“I love reckless women. It’s a story to tell our kids one day.” Rhett laughed at her look of surprise. He’d save the proposal for later. But it was coming. Because Texas had his heart now. Texas and Sierra MacKenzie.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A nationally best-selling author, Gerry Bartlett is a native Texan who lives halfway between Houston and Galveston. She freely admits to a shopping addiction, which is why she has an antiques business on the historic Strand on Galveston Island. She used to be a gourmet cook but has decided it’s more fun to indulge in gourmet eating instead. You can visit Gerry on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You can also check out her latest releases on her website at www.gerrybartlett.com where you can sign up for her newsletter or read her articles with advice for aspiring writers, The Perils of Publishing.
She was starting a new life in Texas—until old trouble turned up…
Scarlett Hall followed a job and a friend to Texas, but that cost her more than she’d bargained for. Now, wounded but determined to get past one of the worst days of her life, she decides she has to pull herself together. First step: cover up the physical scars left from her ordeal. That’s easy. But the emotional scars are proving harder to handle…
Then she meets Ethan Calhoun. This bad boy seems ready to make his own changes and might be just what she needs to start a new chapter in her life. When he offers her a job as manager of his new bar, she decides to go for it. A change of pace and a hot guy who makes her forget her troubles while she’s in his arms are a great cure. But it soon becomes clear that danger will be in Scarlett’s life no matter how many changes she makes. As Scarlett comes face to face with her worst nightmare, it seems happiness was just an illusion. Maybe Texas is just too much trouble . .
A million-dollar idea. A city girl in the country. And a man who brings out her wild side…
Anna Delaney is thrilled to leave Boston for Austin, Texas, when her small tech company is bought out by a conglomerate. Born into a family of overprotective brothers, this is her chance at true independence—and a name-making professional breakthrough.
Even when gorgeous billionaire rancher King Sanders forms a one-man welcoming committee, Anna insists that she doesn’t need a tour guide—or another bodyguard. But after she narrowly escapes a kidnapping attempt, she can’t say no to King spiriting her away to someplace safe…and very private.
Someone wants the valuable software Anna’s developing, and King is determined to keep her safe until the culprit is caught. The hunky cowboy lights her up brighter than the Lone Star sky at night, but neither one of them is prepared for just how wild Texas can get—and just how hard they’re willing to fight to stay together…
A surprise inheritance. A family of strangers. And a man she can’t avoid…
Cassidy Calhoun can’t believe she’s the secret daughter of an oil billionaire. This small-town Texas girl with student loans by the barrel has never gotten a thing she didn’t earn for herself.
The terms of her late father’s will say Cassidy—and her newfound spoiled half siblings—must work a year at the family’s floundering business before they inherit a dime. Too bad the only thing Cass knows about oil is that it makes the junker she drives go.
Mason MacKenzie, the evaluator for their test, will help her get up to speed. Or will he? Mason is a boot-wearing, truck-driving Houston hottie who runs Calhoun Petroleum’s biggest rival. The sparks between him and Cassidy could combust any minute. But the closer they get, the more strange near accidents Cassidy seems to be having. And Mason has plenty of reasons to play up their attraction for his own benefit.
If she can trust him, the two of them working together might save a crumbling dynasty. But if she can’t, Cass might just lose both her fortune and her heart…
Her father’s dream. Her crossroads. And a man who sees just her…
Megan Calhoun doesn’t stick with anything long. She’s the daughter of a billionaire—why pretend to be somebody else?
Until she finds out her father’s will says she has to. She has to last a year in the oil patch, in the dust and heat of west Texas, working for her daddy’s company. Otherwise she’s cut off without a cent—and no way to earn one.
The only upside is her new pal Rowdy Baker, ex–football star, Calhoun engineer, and grade-A stud. If she has to live in a trailer, his doesn’t sound so bad.
Rowdy knows the roughnecks running the rigs won’t take kindly to a smartass blond rookie whose last name matches their paychecks. He can’t control
his attraction to her. And with everyone from the foremen to the stockholders spitting mad at the Calhouns, he expects trouble ahead.
But Megan has never been scared in her life. And with Rowdy to help her plot, she has the chance of a lifetime: to find her calling, to fix her company, and, if she doesn’t screw it up—to capture a heart…
A fight for her rights. A job she can’t quit. And a man who makes her burn…
It’s not Shannon Calhoun’s first rodeo. She’s supposed to be running the show. But since her father’s will landed her in a wretched cubicle, typing out press releases for her own family’s company, she’s been trapped in a job with no prospects, no control—and barely any cash.
When her old flame Billy Pagan turns up with a hundred rude questions and a thousand-dollar suit, Shannon isn’t sure if the heat she feels is from humiliation, fury, or desire. But whatever else has happened, the chemistry between them has only intensified.
Long before he became Houston’s best defense attorney, Billy had a thing for the spoiled rich girl who got away. But now that Shannon is hustling to save the family business, she’s more irresistible than ever. Too bad about the murder investigation and the fraud that’s going to bring the company crashing down around her.
Unless, of course, his Texas princess actually pulls off the save of a lifetime. With Billy’s negotiating skills and Shannon’s determination, the hardest part might be keeping the business away from the pleasure …
Texas Reckless Page 30
