Lonestar Secrets

by Colleen Coble

  "We could help you out, Shannon."

  Her eyes burned at her new friend's generosity. "I appreciate it, but I'd rather figure this out on my own. I needed someone to talk to, so thanks for listening." She rose. "I'd better get out to the mustang training. Jack wants to talk over lunch about our `options' and I have no idea what to suggest."

  "A custody split maybe?" Allie said.

  "I can't see Jack as the kind who will want to share. I predict he'll try to buy me off. Want to lay bets?" Shannon grinned, her mood lightening as she thought about how she'd answer him if he dared try it.

  "You seem to have a chip on your shoulder about Jack. What's happened between you two?"

  "It's complicated."

  "I've got time."

  Shannon sat back down. She didn't want to remember that past pain, but maybe it would help to talk about it. "I loved my parents. They were like shooting stars, exciting and vibrant to be around. But not stable. I always knew they loved each other more than me. They were always looking for a new way to make a million overnight. No crazy scheme was too extreme to try. So that meant we often didn't have enough money for clothes, though I never went hungry. After one of my dad's 'opportunities' went south, we moved in with my uncle. He was a sour man and never spoke to me unless it was to tell me to do something"

  "Your parents let him?"

  Shannon shrugged. "What choice did they have? He was putting a roof over their heads while they were out looking for Spanish treasure."

  "I've heard the legends around here."

  "My father believed they were more than legends. Anyhow, that's how I happened to move here. I tutored Jack and his sister in biology. I thought we were friends. You know about jewel?" She waited until Allie nodded. "I told Jack I thought Jewel might be a unicorn, that one night I thought I'd seen a horn on his head." She nearly winced waiting for Allie's reaction. This wasn't something she talked about.

  Allie didn't laugh. "Rick says there's something different about that horse."

  "Do you think I'm crazy?"

  Allie shook her head. "I've seen strange things in this land. So what happened? Did Jack make fun of you?"

  "Not then. He promised not to tell anyone. Two days later, a bunch of boys saw me. They circled around like a pack of wolves and wanted to know if it was true that I had a unicorn. I had to admit it."

  "So Jack told them?"

  Shannon nodded then held up her hand. "Wait, there's more. The whole school thought I was a little crazy after that. In the halls, people gave me a wide berth. Even my so-called friends. They cut me loose. No one sat next to me in class. My reputation grew in the years after my parents died. I got quiet after their death. First with grief, then with fatigue. My uncle expected me to do everything around the ranch, the housework, the barn work, everything. My silence just added to my schoolmates' perception that I wasn't right in the head. It didn't help that I was thought of as poor white trash."

  Allie winced. "I'm so sorry, Shannon. But you're strong and smart. Couldn't they see that?"

  Shannon shrugged. "They believed the great Jack MacGowan, star football player, son of the senator. But Jack isn't trustworthy. If he says he'll do something, I'll never be able to believe him. And he has my daughter."

  "No wonder you don't know what to do. Rick thinks the world of Jack. Maybe he's changed. Did you ever confront him about how he broke your confidence?"

  Shannon nodded. "He said he was sorry, that it just slipped out when he was talking with his buddies. But it was too little too late. He gave me my first lesson on not trusting people."

  "It sounds like it was that way with your parents too. They weren't there for you much."

  Shannon never liked to face that fact, but she gave a reluctant nod. "I suppose. But it made me strong. And I want my daughter daughters to be strong too. Life is hard enough without expecting too much from other people. And I can't assume Jack will do right by Faith now that he knows the truth."

  Allie grabbed the cordless phone on the swing beside her. She handed it to Shannon. "Call an attorney."

  Shannon's fingers closed around the phone. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to at least contact a lawyer. She knew no one though. Wait, wasn't Horton's brother an attorney? "My old boss has a brother who might know what to do. I've still got the contact information in my phone. Horton had me put it in as his next-of-kin." She scrolled through her address book and found the number.

  Did she even want to know? She bit her lip as she punched in the number. When the man answered on the other end, she explained who she was.

  "Horton has often spoken of you," Duncan Chrisman said. "Is my brother well?"

  "He's fine," Shannon said hastily. "Um, this is a legal matter, and I didn't know who else to call."

  "What can I do for you? No charge for any advice. You've been good to Horton."

  "It ... it's a custody issue." Shannon told him the situation. She wasn't sure she liked the sound of his repeated "uh-huh" and "I see."

  When she finally fell silent, he cleared his throat. "The law is not clear, I'm sorry to say. In previous cases similar to this, the decisions have been split. You'd think it would be pretty open-and-shut. The child was stolen from you, deliberately switched by a member of the family. But the fact Mr. MacGowan was unaware of the deception muddies the water. And the court will look at what is in the best interests of the child. I would suggest you come to an equitable arrangement out of court. If you go before a judge, there's no telling what ruling you might get."

  "What judge would want to separate twins and the connection they feel? Doesn't the fact that they're twins make my case stronger?"

  "Perhaps." Duncan's tone was slow and measured. "But the judge also might feel that because you have another child, you were less harmed. The other child is in a good home, I assume?"

  "The father is a widower, so she has no mother."

  "And you are unmarried, right?"

  Shannon didn't want to admit it. "Yes."

  "So neither situation would be as ideal as a married couple. What is the man's financial situation?"

  "He's Senator MacGowan's son, if that tells you anything"

  "Oh dear. Any judge in the state will look at that and the senator's long reach. Again, my advice for you is to settle this amicably."

  Shannon gave a heavy sigh. "I'm not quite sure how to do that."

  "The two of you could always marry," Duncan said with a chuckle.

  Shannon caught back a gasp. What a stupid idea. But she kept the words to herself.

  "But on a more serious note, surely the man will be reasonable and allow you visitation."

  "I don't want visitation. I want my child back."

  "I doubt you'll accomplish that without a court battle. I could check for someone in your area."

  "There's only one attorney here and he's in Jack's pocket." Shannon rubbed her eyes. "I'll think about what you've said. Thanks for your time."

  "I'm glad to help. Call if you need anything else." The phone clicked off.

  Shannon handed the phone back to Allie, who had sat quietly listening. "He says to settle out of court. It's just as I suspected. Jack is holding most of the cards."

  "Then maybe you should talk to Jack."

  "I will, but I have no idea what to tell him. He's not going to give up custody."

  "Would you? Besides, Faith loves Jack. Would you want to tear him out of her life?"

  "No," Shannon admitted. She'd seen how close father and daughter were. She'd be a monster to want to rip that apart. But she wanted the daughter who had been robbed from her, the sister denied to her daughter.

  With Jack, Faith had a good name, prominence in the community, security. She wished Kylie had that kind of life.

  SWEAT LATHERED BOTH JACK AND THE HORSE. HE TOOK OFF HIS HAT AND wiped the perspiration from his forehead. The stallion wasn't going to be easy to train. He was aggressive and muscular, so Jack had to be on his toes with this one.

  "Having trouble, MacGowan?
Want me to teach you how it's done?"

  Jack didn't have to turn around to recognize the taunting voice. "Larue, don't you have better things to do than to watch me? It didn't look like you were having much luck with that mare of yours earlier."

  A bullwhip cracked, and Jack whirled to see the tip coming his way. He ducked, but the whirling leather took the hat from his head and tossed it into the water trough. Tucker Larue's laughter floated on the wind as he walked away.

  Jack glared after him but held his tongue. Any reaction would play into Larue's game. He lifted his soggy hat from the water and hung it over a fence post. His head would be exposed to the late morning's brutal sun, but maybe the hat would be dry by the time he had lunch with Shannon.

  What was he going to say to Shannon?

  "MacGowan, I thought sure you'd tear that boy a new rear end," Buzz Bollinger drawled. "You mellowing in your old age?"

  Jack glanced at the organization's supervisor. Buzz had hired Shannon to work this event. Maybe he could offer some insight that might give Jack an angle to solve this problem. "What's the deal with the new vet?" he asked, his voice casual. "She's not the friendliest one."

  Bollinger propped a muddy boot onto a rock. "Thought you knew her from school."

  "She was much younger."

  "Rough life, I guess. Way I heard it, she came here when she was thirteen, looking like an angel but all starch. Her daddy was one of those men who would take supper money to gamble on some new get-rich-quick scheme. Her mama was a looker like her though. They were chasing one of the desert's legends. A rockfall buried them. Their bodies were never recovered."

  "I remember hearing that," Jack said. "They were on some harebrained scheme to find a Spaniard's burial site. There was some big hoopla about digging out their bodies, but no one was sure about the location, and the daughter wanted to let them be."

  "You know more than I do then," Bollinger said.

  Only because Buzz's words had opened a floodgate of memories. Ones he'd like to forget. Like the betrayal in her eyes at school in the lunchroom when his friends mocked her and twirled their fingers around their ears to imply she was crazy.

  "I moseyed around town asking questions about her before I hired her," Buzz said. "Grady said she was the best helper he ever had. When she left here, she put herself through college and veterinary school. One thing that bothered me a bit was someone at the cafe said she was just a little off, if you know what I mean."

  "That's not true," Jack said quickly.

  "You sound like Grady. He said the rumors were just cruel lies."

  "She's got a daughter," Jack said. "Is the dad around?" Shannon would be a formidable enough adversary by herself.

  "I don't know anything about that. I was only interested in what kind of person I'd be hiring"

  Jack had already figured that out. Shannon was as tenacious as a Gila monster. "I'm surprised she came back here. The pay can't be very good."

  "I wondered about that too. She told me her school bills were crippling, but she's got a free place to live here."

  Bills. Maybe if he was lucky, Shannon could be bought off.

  SHANNON WRAPPED THE HORSE'S SWOLLEN LEG AND RAN GENTLE HANDS over the mare's fetlock. "You'll be all right, girl," she whispered. The horse nuzzled Shannon's hair as if to say thank you.

  Shannon packed up her supplies and headed toward the far training paddock. At least she had something to keep her mind off the amazing turn of events that had disrupted her life. She longed to know Faith better, to see her girls laugh and play together. She didn't have the faintest idea how to accomplish that. She skirted a cactus and stood on a rock for a better view. The trainer hadn't seen her yet, that's the way she liked it.

  She hadn't seen the man's face, but something about him seemed familiar. About five-eight, he was thin with lots of nervous energy that he focused on the mustang. The young mare strained against the long lead as she galloped along the sand in a circle around him. Shannon was about to turn and walk away when she heard a distinctive crack behind her. She spun back and saw a bullwhip flip through the air and land on the rump of the mare. The animal screamed and danced away from the whip.

  No! Her fists clenched, Shannon leaped from the rock and bolted for the paddock. The guy's back was to her, and he was swearing so loudly he couldn't hear her approach. He raised his whip again, but before he brought the rawhide down on the mare, Shannon reached up and snatched it from his hand.

  "What the " The man whirled to face her. Red suffused his swarthy face, which was twisted into an angry grimace.

  Shannon retreated in shock. She'd had no idea he was here.

  With his gaze locked on hers, the anger faded from Tucker Larue's eyes. "It's you," he said. "I wondered when you'd come to see me."

  "Tucker?" she said, struggling to keep her tone even. No, not now, not here. This was the last complication she needed. She hadn't seen him in over five years, and she'd hoped never to lay eyes on him again.

  "At least you remember my name." His smile widened, but it still didn't reach his eyes. "I'll take my whip back now."

  "You will not. You're getting a citation for using it on this horse. One more and you're done here." She turned to stalk away, but Tucker's arm snaked out and seized her around the waist. He hauled her back against his chest. Struggling with him was like trying to escape the grip of a boa constrictor. "Let go of me," she said. "Or you'll have citation number two."

  He released her. "I didn't hurt that animal. She doesn't like the sound of the whip. Go ahead. Take a look at her. There's not a scratch on her."

  Shannon gave him an angry glare, then walked over to where the mare stood trembling. The mustang danced away at Shannon's approach. "It's okay, girl. You're okay," she said soothingly. The horse snorted, then calmed when Shannon ran her hands over her withers. She found no cuts or abrasions on the mare.

  "See?" Tucker was standing close behind her. His hand grabbed the heft of her hair. "You've still got that beautiful hair."

  Shannon tugged her hair from his grasp. "Step away from me," she said. "You're in my personal space."A sheen of perspiration broke out on her forehead. She had to keep him away from her girls.

  "I'd like to get closer," he whispered in her ear, but he moved away. "Shannon, did you keep the baby?"

  Shannon swallowed hard and avoided his smiling gaze. "It's none of your business. And I don't care to discuss my personal life with you."

  "I think I have a right to know. It was my kid too."

  She thanked God he'd lit out the second he heard she was pregnant. He had no idea there were two. She struggled to keep her composure. "Oh? You want to support a baby?"

  "That's not the point. A father has a right to know the truth."

  "Not a father like you." Shannon ignored his question and glanced at the mare again. "Since she's not hurt, I won't write you up this time, but if I see you using the whip even to scare her, I will. There are better ways to train a horse."

  "Fear puts a little respect in a horse's eyes. And a woman's," he called, his smile broadening.

  Shannon wanted to slap his smirking face, but she let her withering glare wipe the grin from his face before she turned and stomped back to headquarters. She didn't remember him being so obnoxious. Evidently, time hadn't improved his character.

  5

  SHANNON HAD WALKED WHAT SEEMED LIKE MILES AND CHECKED COUNTLESS mustangs for abrasions, lacerations, and other injuries. The horses were all in decent shape except for a few contusions from the transportation here.

  She cringed at the thought of telling Jack about Tucker. There were enough wrinkles in this problem without the man adding another one.

  Her cell phone rang in the clip at her waist. Her fingers fumbled with the clip and she stared at the display. Mary Beth's name flashed across the tiny screen. Finally.

  She flipped it open. "Mary Beth, where have you been? You've scared me to death."

  Mary Beth's laugh came, but it was forced. "Sorry, I .
.. I had no idea you'd be worried."

  Was she whispering? Shannon straightened and gripped the phone tighter. "Are you okay?"

  "I ... I think so. I will be. He just has to understand."

  "Understand what?"

  "I can't go into all of that now. I just called to make sure you got to Bluebird okay. How's Kylie?"

  "Fine. We're both fine. The job is interesting. Are you sure you're okay?"

  "Ask me next week." Mary Beth's voice sounded full of tears.

  "Is it that guy you're seeing?" Shannon asked, lowering her voice and hoping her friend would open up.

  "Sort of. Listen, he's coming. I have to go. Don't call me. I'll call you when I can."

  The phone clicked off before Shannon could answer. Her legs were wobbly, and her vision doubled for the second time in two days. She wished she'd brought her cane. Stress worsened her condition, and she'd hoped to keep it hidden for a while. She glanced at her watch and managed to make out the time. Jack would be waiting for her. Inhaling a few deep breaths, she prayed for a calm spirit.

  Buzz fell into step beside her. "You okay, Shannon?"

  Great. The big boss himself would find out all too soon that she had feet of clay. "A little tired. Um, where's the mess hall? I'm supposed to meet Jack."

  "I'll show you. A little worn out?"

  She seized the excuse he offered. "Exhausted. I didn't get much sleep last night even though I'd been up over twenty-four hours. I never asked you how you happened to pick me for the assignment," she said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity."

  He smiled. "You came highly recommended. Grady sang your praises. He told me he'd never seen anyone with your natural instinct with animals and that he could always count on you to show up at his office after school. A couple of other people recommended you too. Jack's dad for one."

  "The senator? I'm surprised he even remembered me."

  "He said you used to take care of his collies when he brought them in to the vet's office."