Lonestar Secrets

by Colleen Coble

She dismounted and dropped all her tools but a shovel, then raced after him through the opening. A piercing whistle came from her lips. Jack saw jewel's head come up, and the horse screamed, almost as if he were asking for help. He didn't run from Shannon as she jogged toward him. He stepped out to meet her, and she grabbed his mane.

  "Come on, boy, we can get you out of here." She led him toward the narrowing window through the flames, and he snorted and backed up before she managed to coax him to move.

  Jack watched with his mouth open for a moment, then bent to shovel dirt on the fire as fast as he could. He was fighting a losing battle here, and the heat and smoke seared his lungs. "Hurry!" he shouted above the crackling.

  Shannon nodded and led the big stallion closer to the escape. The wild mustangs and burros followed jewel toward the opening. Shannon stepped past the blaze, then slapped jewel on the rump, and he took off. The rest of the horses followed.

  Jack tore at the ground even harder. They'd saved the horses, but if they didn't get help soon, they'd lose her ranch. Then he heard the rumble of trucks and saw the glow of headlamps. The cavalry had arrived with smokejumper Buck Carter leading the charge.

  It was two hours later before the fire was contained, and he and Shannon mounted their horses to ride home. His wife drooped in the saddle, and her face was smudged with soot, but he'd never seen a more beautiful sight. What other woman would have fought for the lives of the horses so hard?

  Their gazes met across the manes of their horses. "Thank you, Jack," Shannon said. "You saved jewel. And the other horses. I'll never forget tonight."

  "Neither will I," he said softly. "You're amazing, Shannon."

  Her lips trembled, but she didn't look away. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Larue when you asked."

  "We'll fix it," he said. "We're a family now."And he realized he was beginning to love being able to say that.

  22

  MONDAY MORNING SHANNON AND JACK SAT OUTSIDE A STUCCO BUILDING nestled in the rocky hillside. Her throat hurt from the smoke inhalation of the night before, and every muscle ached. She knew Jack had to feel the same, because he was moving slowly.

  They exchanged a warm glance, then Jack swung open his door. "We'd better get in there or we'll be late."

  The structure appeared more like a house than a doctor's office. She dreaded having the doctor poke around in her arm. It might leave her too sore to do her job.

  "Ready?" Jack asked. He got out of the truck.

  "If I have to be." She climbed out the other side and fell into step with him. "This is a good doctor, right?"

  "The best. He retired from the Mayo Clinic and came here for a slower-paced practice. He'll be gentle." He grinned down at her. "I never took you for a coward, Blondie."

  She stuck her tongue out at him. "I laugh at pain."

  "I can believe that." He opened the door.

  Shannon glanced around the room she'd entered. Charles Russell reprints of western scenes hung on the walls. She couldn't help but straighten one that hung crazily. Old issues of National Geographic and several hunting magazines were stacked on the oak table in front of the sofa and chairs. She sat on the sofa and riffled through the pile.

  Before she could decide on one, a woman in jeans and boots stuck her head in the doorway. Her brown hair curled in tight ringlets around her head, and she wore a smile bright enough to light the room. "Jack, the doctor's ready for your wife."

  Shannon shot to her feet and followed Jack's long legs down the hall. The nurse ushered them into a tiny examination room. There were only two chairs, one for the doctor and one for Jack, so Shannon scooted onto the examination table. The paper crinkled under her. Her hands were shaking.

  The door opened and a man who could have modeled for Gumby stepped into the room. His legs and arms were long and lanky.

  Dr. Hastings glanced from her to Jack from under beetled brows. "You pregnant already?"

  Shannon didn't dare look at Jack's face. She was sure her own was beet red. "Urn, no, I've got something in my arm that needs to be removed."

  "Your arm? What do you mean?" The doctor took hold of the arm Shannon had extended. He ran his long fingers over it.

  "We need your discretion on this, Doc. Against her knowledge, someone injected a microchip into her arm. The person it belongs to has been threatening Shannon. We need to get it out and see what's going on.

  "A microchip? Do you have any idea where it's located?" He adjusted his glasses and peered at her arm.

  "I ran a scanner over my arm. I think it's right here." Shannon pressed on the flesh, high on her upper arm.

  "Want to do it now? I'll have to numb it."

  "I want it out."

  "I've got a larger room with more equipment down the hall." Dr. Hastings turned around and held the door open. "I'll probably need a microscope.

  Shannon slipped from the table and moved toward the door. Her feet seemed like logs today, and she stumbled slightly before she reached the door.

  The doctor frowned. "How long have you had MS?"

  Shannon froze. She wanted to deny his observation, to pretend she didn't hear, but he was staring at her with an intent expression. Behind her, she heard Jack's sharp intake of breath. This wasn't the way she'd wanted to reveal her condition to him. She'd meant to do it this week, but the time had never seemed right.

  "MS?" Jack said. "You mean multiple sclerosis?"

  The doctor seemed to realize he'd stepped into unknown waters. "This way," he said briskly. His white coattails flapped as he escaped the explosion he'd just launched.

  Shannon started after him, but Jack caught her arm. "You have MS?" he asked.

  Shannon drew herself up and squared her shoulders. "Yes. I was diagnosed six months ago."

  His nostrils flared, and his mouth was a thin line. He was breathing hard. "Why didn't you tell me?"

  She rubbed her head. "Does it matter why?"

  "Yes, it matters," he said. "Blair went a little crazy when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She couldn't bear the fight ahead, and she fought it by doing all kinds of wild stuff. I can't go through that again."

  "I'm not Blair." Her heart beating hard in her chest, she brushed past him to follow the doctor. One last secret had detonated in her face.

  NOT AGAIN. JACK BARELY NOTICED THE DOCTOR PREPPING SHANNON FOR the procedure to remove the chip. She'd betrayed him, sucked him into a relationship without telling him of her major health issues. The words multiple sclerosis had sucked him back to the vortex of pain following Blair's death.

  The day Shannon had suggested they marry, she'd said she wanted Kylie to be taken care of, but he'd never dreamed she had an urgent reason for that desire. That had to be the real reason she'd proposed marriage. Or maybe to get health insurance for her condition. She needed some patsy on the hook to care for her when she couldn't care for herself.

  And he was that patsy. He'd been so desperate to keep Faith, he hadn't investigated Shannon's motives. He stared hard at her, but she didn't look his way. Too ashamed, probably.

  "Got it," the doctor said, removing the magnifying glasses he'd worn. "Tiny thing. Not much bigger than a pinhead. Got any idea what's on it?"

  Jack struggled to put aside his anger and concentrate on the current problem. "Nope, but Rick's got a friend who can tell us."

  The doctor put the tissue containing the chip in a petri dish. He put a lid on it and handed it to Jack. "Let me know what you find out. This is a new one for the books." He glanced back to Shannon. "You doing okay, ma'am? You look a little pale."

  "I'm fine. There was no pain," Shannon said. "Can I go now?"

  "You bet. Take it easy the rest of the day. I put a couple of butterfly bandages on there to hold the cut closed. Call me if you have any problems." She nodded and the doctor helped her sit. "You need a wheelchair? You seem a little shaky," he said.

  "No, I can walk." Perspiration dotted her upper lip, but she slid off the table and started for the door.

  Stiff-
legged, Jack grabbed the petri dish and followed her down the hall. She paused to grab the wall just before they reached the waiting room. He slipped his arm around her waist and supported her to the door and out to the truck. She sat heavily on the seat and began to fumble with the seat belt. She still hadn't looked at him or said a word.

  Typical woman. Not even an apology. His fists clenched, he strode to his side of the truck. He wasn't leaving here without an explanation. Slamming the door shut behind him, he turned to pin her with his gaze. "When were you going to tell me?" he demanded.

  Their gazes locked. "I meant to tell you this week," she said. "I didn't want to keep any more secrets from you. I was waiting for the right time."

  Her blonde hair and clear blue eyes made her appear so innocent. Like his dad always said, just because a chicken has wings doesn't mean it can fly. He fumbled for his keys. "Why weren't you honest right up front?"

  "I was afraid you'd use it against me, take me to court and tell the judge I wasn't fit to raise Faith. Remember, Jack, it was early in our relationship if you want to call it that and all I had to go on was the way you'd betrayed me in the past. Did you really expect me to trust you with something like that?"

  He'd escaped the money-hungry Texas mamas with their simpering daughters in tow only to be caught by a golden-haired angel whose beauty hid her true motives. "Were you just interested in my money all along?"

  That brought her head up, and her eyes flashed fire. "I don't care about your money! How could you think this is about money? You're my daughters' daddy. That's all I wanted. Someone to care about Kylie and Faith. You could have been as poor as me and it wouldn't have mattered." Her voice trailed away, and she twisted her hands in her lap.

  "I don't think I believe you," he said shortly. "All my life I've had to contend with people out for what they could get from me. For once I thought a relationship was starting because of something someone else could give." He jammed the key into the ignition and started the truck.

  "Believe what you want." She turned her head and stared out the window as the town buildings moved past her head. "Our marriage is based on what's best for the girls. That's all that matters to me."

  "And to me," he said through gritted teeth. And to think he'd been starting to find her attractive, to watch her with the girls and wonder what a real marriage with her might be like. He'd been a pure fool. Theirs had been a business transaction, and that was all it would ever be.

  He felt her glance as he gunned the engine and raced the truck up the hill toward the house. She'd better not be feeling sorry for him. He couldn't remember when he'd been so mad. He'd begun to dream again, to believe he might even love again. The facade of a sweet little family had dissolved in his hand even as he grabbed for it.

  The touch of skin against skin came when she leaned over and laid her hand on his bare forearm. Her fingers pressed into his flesh, and he shot a glance at her. Tears swam in her eyes, a sight that began to melt the ice forming around his heart. Probably an act, he reminded himself.

  "I'm sorry, Jack. Really, I meant to tell you this week. I'm not like Blair. I'll fight this."

  "Don't speak her name," he said, jerking his arm away. "Not once in all the years I knew her did she ever keep something from me, especially not something like this. You're full of secrets, Shannon. We can't have any kind of marriage when you hide things away."

  "Okay, so I'm not perfect like Blair," she said, her voice choked. "I was trying to declare a truce for the sake of the girls. You can be mad at me all you want, but don't let the girls see."

  "Agreed," he snapped. He would have to be wary of her from now on. Even in his own home. It didn't seem fair that he'd been so completely snowed by her. He'd always prided himself on his good judgment, but when it came to her, his instincts had been off in the worst way.

  They reached the long lane back to his ranch. He glanced at the petri dish. "We need to talk to Rick about this chip."

  "I'll take it over after supper. He'll send it to his friend."

  "Seems like we ought to clean it up or something"

  "I can do that."

  She wasn't looking at him and her tone was one she might use with a stranger. Their relationship would never be the same.

  23

  AFTER SUPPER, SHANNON TOOK ALCOHOL, A TOWEL, AND TWEEZERS AND set to work cleaning up the microchip. It was hard to see past the blur of tears. She'd messed up everything by not trusting Jack.

  The thing was tiny, and she couldn't imagine what it might contain that was so important. She wiped the petri dish, dropped the minute chip back into it, and capped it.

  In the living room, she found Jack playing Candy Land with the girls. Seated on the floor and flanked by the twins, he was smiling and relaxed. Shannon wished she could slough off their argument so easily. She still burned at the memory of the contempt in his eyes.

  And she'd deserved it. At the time it seemed best to hold this secret close, but she'd been wrong. "I'm going over to Bluebird Ranch," she said.

  Jack glanced up and his smile died. "You want me to come with you?"

  "No, Daddy, you have to finish the game!" Faith narrowed her gaze at Shannon.

  "No, I'll be fine." Still, it stung that Jack didn't insist. Her gaze caressed Faith. Shannon had made no inroads in getting close to her other daughter. Faith held her at arm's length. Shannon suspected Jack would encourage things to stay that way now. He'd loved his first wife in a way that made Shannon wish she could someday inspire even half that depth of emotion.

  But not from Jack. That dream was stillborn. She let her gaze linger on her little family one last time, then went out to her Jeep. The night air was still, and in the distance, a coyote yipped. The scent of the Chihuahuan Desert greeted her: creosote, sage, and the sweet fragrance of blooming roses. She batted away a moth as big as a hummingbird that dived for her head, then ambled to her vehicle.

  It was too nice of a night to worry, but she found herself chewing on her lip as she drove to the neighboring ranch. Marriage to Jack had seemed the answer to her problems, but instead, it had only compounded them.

  Lights shone from the windows of the Bluebird Youth Ranch. The aroma of chili wafted through the open kitchen window. Jem and Moses came to meet her, their tails wagging. She stopped to rub their shaggy coats and to accept their kisses on her chin. "Good boys," she crooned. One thing she loved about dogs was their total acceptance and love. Unlike humans.

  The family hadn't realized she was out here yet. Jem hadn't barked. Shannon stood on the porch and listened to the sound of laughter as Rick teased Allie about looking sexy pregnant. The love in his voice made hot tears well in Shannon's eyes. She had never experienced that kind of love and support.

  And after today, she never would.

  Dashing the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand, she rapped on the screen door. The laughter and voices stilled, then Allie appeared on the other side.

  Allie opened the door with a smile. "Shannon, I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow."

  Shannon stepped into the entry. "I got the chip out of my arm. Rick said he could give it to a friend to decode."

  Allie nodded. "Want some chili? It's still hot."

  "No thanks, we ate already. Besides, it's only good with crackers, and Enrica has everyone in the house on a strict no-wheat diet. I think it might even help my MS." She followed her friend to the kitchen. "But I'd take some coffee." Rick and Betsy greeted her.

  "There's a fresh pot help yourself," Allie said.

  Shannon knew her way around the Bailey kitchen, even better than her own since Enrica hardly let her near the room. She got down a cup and poured the strong coffee into it. She found cream in the refrigerator and sugar in the canister. Being here always infused her with a sense of belonging and love.

  If only her own home held this much contentment.

  Most days she was on the sidelines looking in at life, just as if she were back in her uncle's house. She took a swig of coffee
and sat beside Betsy at the kitchen table. "Hey, Bets, are you going to come play with the girls one of these days?"

  Betsy nodded. "Can I come tomorrow?" She looked up at her mother as she spoke.

  "If it's okay with Shannon."

  "That would be great. Kylie and Faith have been asking about you." She didn't want the twins to get so close they excluded other friends.

  "You have the chip out?" Rick asked. His hair hung over his tanned forehead, and he leaned forward in his chair.

  Shannon slid the petri dish across the table to him. "There it is."

  Allie's glance moved to her arm. "Did it hurt?"

  Shannon shook her head. "The doctor numbed it. It aches a little now but nothing major. Take a look the chip is tiny."

  Rick held the dish up to the light. "I can hardly see it. I'll overnight it to Brendan Waddell, my friend in Washington. He'll figure out what it is. You sure you want to do this? That guy might be back for it if he finds out this is what he's been looking for."

  "I don't know where Mary Beth is, and I don't want to turn it over to them if she's in danger. It's my only bargaining hope. How long do you think it will be before Waddell gets back to you?"

  "I'd give it a week. He might be involved in some big issue at work." Rick rose. "I'll go give him a call, then head out to the barn to check on the horses."

  "You might stop by the bunkhouse and make sure no kids have snuck out," Allie said.

  He nodded. "We've got a pretty good batch this time. I don't anticipate any problems with them." He glanced at Betsy. "Want to go with me, squirt?"

  "Sure, Daddy." Betsy slid from her chair and put her hand in Rick's.

  "Thanks," Shannon whispered as they passed. Smart man to know she needed to talk to Allie.

  "What's wrong?" Allie demanded as soon as Rick and Betsy were out of earshot. "You're too pale and shaky for it to be caused by digging that little chip out of your arm."

  It would be easy to blame Jack for her upset, but the time for truth was here. Shannon didn't want to lose Allie's friendship, but she might react as badly as Jack had to Shannon's secretiveness.