Lonestar Secrets

by Colleen Coble

  "Let him go," Quentin said, turning his gun on Mary Beth.

  Shannon dropped her arm. The senator would never catch jewel anyway. The horse was wily and nervous around strangers. Jewel snorted again and advanced toward the senator. The stallion nibbled the sugar from the man's palm. While jewel's neck was down, the senator grabbed his mane and vaulted onto the horse's back.

  No one had ridden jewel except Shannon in fifteen years. The stallion screamed, a heart-stopping sound that made Shannon want to cover her ears. Jewel reared and screamed again, then all four hooves left the rocky path as he arched his back. With such wild gyrations, the senator couldn't keep his hold on the horse's mane. He somersaulted from jewel's shiny black back right over the edge of the precipice.

  Both Jack and Shannon rushed to the edge in time to hear his despairing scream. Jack buried his face in Shannon's shoulder before the body hit the boulders below. She held him tight as he trembled.

  Shannon would give anything to be able to ease some of his pain. She was dimly aware of Quentin running off down the trail now that his boss wasn't around to protect him. He likely hoped they couldn't identify him.

  "I'm so sorry, Jack," she murmured.

  "He was an evil man, but he was still my dad," he muttered, wiping his eyes when he pulled away. "Do you hate me?"

  She cupped his face in her hands. "Why would I hate you?"

  His eyes searched hers for reassurance. "My father killed your parents."

  "But you didn't." She kissed him, and he clung to her again.

  She never intended to let him go.

  27

  SPECTATORS FILLED THE COHEN STADIUM IN EL PASO, WHERE THE MUStangs and their trainers would strut their stuff for the final time. Jack's gaze sought and found his wife sitting with their two daughters as close as possible to the fence. And the girls were truly his both of them now. He and Shannon had formally adopted them both just to cross every t.

  His eyes misted when he thought of his father, who wasn't here to watch the competition. But then, he'd rarely been there for Jack. His political aspirations were always more important. His mother had wanted a huge funeral, and Jack hadn't told her the full story. Right now, his dad lay in state in the Texas capitol, awaiting the funeral on Monday. No one had to know but him, Shannon, and Mary Beth. Mary Beth had been quick to head back to the city and put this disaster behind her. Doing that would take Jack a little longer.

  Shannon had insisted they stop on the way here to check on Allie and the baby. Little Justin and his mama were doing just fine. The same couldn't be said for Rick, who wore the harried expression of being called on to do something unfamiliar. Jack thought he might look like that when his son was born too.

  Jack watched Larue put his mustangs through their paces. After Shannon's talk with Larue, Jack had noticed the man seemed gentler, more restrained. Maybe she'd touched something in him that no one else could. She'd sure touched something in Jack.

  The crowd roared at Larue's great performance. Jack's turn would be next. All the trainers had done a good job with their mounts, and Jack expected many mustangs would find a home. It would be worth all the work of the past weeks.

  A man wove his way through the crowd, and Jack recognized him from pictures. In that instant, he knew what he should do with the money in the Swiss account. Give it back to its rightful owners. All of it. He'd search for the owners of the stolen racehorses and return it all. He motioned to Shannon, who grabbed the girls' hands and hurried to meet him as he left the arena.

  "Jack, you'll miss your turn." Buzz grabbed his arm and bellowed over the noise and dust.

  "It doesn't matter," Jack shouted back. "My contribution won't make it more or less of a success. Hundreds of mustangs will find a home after this. You did it, Buzz! Great job." He clapped Buzz on the back and walked away to meet Shannon.

  "What's wrong?" she asked as he hefted Kylie into his arms.

  "We've got to get him before he gets away." He took off through the throng.

  "Who?" Shannon asked.

  "Leo Brister."

  She stopped. "He's here?" Catching at his arm, she tugged him to a stop. "We don't want to talk to him. I can't give up Jewel."

  "We're going to buy him back with the money."

  She didn't ask what he meant, since they'd been discussing what to do with the cash all week. Her brow furrowed. "Do you think he'll go for it?"

  "Jewel is eighteen years old. What good is he to Brister?"

  "Stud fees? Or maybe he loves him like I do."

  He started again toward the man, who was nearing the parking lot. "He's had fifteen years to forget about that horse. I think we've got a shot."

  She hurried along beside Jack. He called out, "Mr. Brister," and the man stopped and turned.

  "You're one of the contestants," he said. "I saw you practicing" Surely he was in his eighties or nearly there. White hair and eyebrows, blue eyes dimmed by years of sun. An enormous white Stetson perched on his head.

  "That's right, but I need to talk to you and it couldn't wait." Jack searched the man's eyes to assess his character and took heart in the smile lines.

  Brister's gaze lit on Shannon and the girls, and that smile widened. "Pretty family you got there, cowboy."

  "Yes, sir." He tried to decide how to approach the subject, but Shannon took the lead.

  "Mr. Brister, I have your horse."

  His bushy white brows raised. "My horse, ma'am?"

  "Five Lives."

  He rocked back on his heels, and Jack grabbed his forearm. "Are you okay?"

  "Fine, I'm fine, son. You have Five Lives, you say? I didn't dream it? I talk to myself all the time, and one of these days I'm going to start making up stories."

  Jack grinned. He liked the old cowboy. "You heard her right. Five Lives has been boarding at her ranch for the past fifteen years, and the two of them have a love affair you have to see to believe."

  "Is that right?" His faded blue eyes squinted at Shannon. "And you're finally ready to give him up? What about all the lost revenue you've stolen from me?"

  Shannon's lips quivered, and Faith frowned. "You made my mommy cry.

  He put a gnarled hand on the little girl's head. "A Texas gentleman never makes a lady cry. I apologize if I upset you, ma'am." He turned his laser gaze on Jack. "But what about my lost revenue?"

  "We'd like to buy Five Lives from you. For a million dollars."

  "Whoa, son, that's what he was worth in his prime. He's old now. He'll have a little value left as a stud, but he's not worth that kind of money."

  Jack nodded. "Let me tell you a story," he began, launching into the circumstances he knew.

  Brister listened intently, his gaze never leaving Jack's. "The old coot," he said when he heard about the senator's theft. "So basically you want me to take some of the tainted money off your hands."

  "Pretty much," Shannon said, smiling.

  "Then I'll be happy to oblige. But I'd like to see Five Lives one more time, see if he recognizes me."

  "Sure thing," Jack said. "When do you want to come?"

  Brister glanced up at the cloudless sky. "Good day for flying. How about we go now? When you get to be my age, you make hay while the sun shines."

  "We came in a friend's plane, so that will work. Let me tell him we're going with you." Jack took Shannon's hand, and they walked off to find Rick.

  "I wish he hadn't wanted to see jewel," Shannon grumbled. "He might want him back."

  "He's an honorable guy, hon. I think it will be all right."

  SHANNON WHISTLED FOR JEWEL, BUT SHE WASN'T SURE IF SHE WANTED THE stallion to answer her. She rubbed wet palms down her jeans and tried again.

  "There he is," Brister said with awe in his trembling voice. The desert sun gleamed on jewel's black coat as he came running across the desert.

  "Mommy, is that a unicorn?" Kylie whispered, pointing.

  Shannon saw it too the illusion of a horn between jewel's eyes.

  Brister wore a st
range expression, almost of wonder. "I always thought ..." He shook his head. "Fantasy. Let me call to him, see if he recognizes me after all this time."

  Without waiting for Shannon's agreement, he stepped out in front of the group and gave a strange whistle, a trembling call that ended on a high note. The horse's ears pricked, and he snorted. His legs stretched out as he picked up his speed.

  "He recognizes you after all this time," Shannon said, her heart just a little grieved. She'd thought jewel loved only her.

  The stallion came straight to the old man, who flung trembling arms around the horse's neck. The two formed a snapshot Shannon would never forget. The man clinging to the horse, the stallion snuffling into his neck all silhouetted against the harsh but beautiful desert.

  Then Brister dropped his arms, and the horse turned toward Shannon. He breathed into her hair, and his big, soft lips nuzzled her neck. Jewel pranced back. His great head swung from Shannon to Brister, then he turned and galloped away.

  "Thank you for that," Brister said, his eyes wet. "I deserve every dollar of that money to give up a horse like that. He might live forever, you know."

  Shannon's gaze swung back to catch a final glimpse of her horse. "I know." She knew it was impossible, but wasn't that what faith was all about? Believing when you couldn't quite see?

  She and her family took the old man back to the MacGowan ranch and watched until his plane lifted into the approaching twilight. Jack walked hand in hand with the girls back to the house, where Enrica met them to spirit the girls off to their baths. Jack went up behind them taking two steps at a time.

  Shannon was as tired as she'd ever been. She put on a pot of coffee to help her get through the evening, then decided to take a shower herself while it brewed. She dragged herself up the stairs and down the hall to her bedroom.

  Where she found Jack with an armload of her clothes. "Wha-what are you doing?" she asked, following him down the hall to his bedroom. Though sweet words of love had been spoken, they hadn't had the heart-to-heart talk that Shannon longed for. Jack still grieved his father, and the final days of practice had taken every moment.

  Jack dumped the clothes on the bed and turned to take her in his arms. "I should have done this the first night," he muttered in her hair. "I knew I loved you, but some last remnant of loyalty to Blair kept me from moving you in here. Watching Jewel tonight made me see how foolish I've been."

  "I don't understand." She relished the sensation of his strong arms, his skin against her cheek, the brush of his lips.

  "Jewel still had feeling for Brister, and it was okay. Love is never wasted. Jewel moved on and kept some warmth, and I can do the same. I'll never forget Blair, but my heart is yours now. I want you here with me all the time where we can share our hearts, our dreams."

  "I want that too," she whispered. "You're never getting rid of me."

  "Thank the good Lord," he said, smiling. "Now let's get your stuff."

  Shannon went to the bed to grab her clothes and hang them in Jack's closet. He hadn't closed the shades on the window yet, and she caught her breath when she glanced outside. A shadow moved through the light shining from the back of the barn. Jewel. He'd followed Shannon home.

  The girls came running in, fresh from their baths. They ran to the window. "Mommy, the unicorn came!" Faith said.

  Shannon had been waiting so long for this moment, and when she first heard the word Mommy on Faith's lips, it was so natural. Her gaze met Jack's. He knew how long she'd been waiting.

  She and Jack joined the girls at the window. Jack put his arm around her and they watched the horse come up to drink from the trough. "He's come to watch over you," he whispered. "And I promise to do the same until I'm dead."

  "Sh," she said. "If you go, you have to take me with you." She kissed him before he could say anything else.

  Love was never wasted.

  READING GROUP GUIDE

  1. Are there certain types of people you find it hard not to judge? Why or why not?

  2. Aunt Verna thought she was helping two people with her lie. Or did she just deceive herself?

  3. Have you ever lost someone you love? Did you find yourself remembering only the good like Jack? Why do you think we do that?

  4. Have you ever know twins or seen the connection they sometimes have? Why do you think that happens?

  5. Shannon felt her occasional glimpses of the "unicorn" were a peek between heaven and earth. Do you ever think you catch a glimpse of something supernatural?

  6. Shannon went home, the last place she wanted to go. In the end, she found it was the best thing she could have done. Have you ever seen God turn what seemed a bad thing into something for your good?

  7. What did you think when Shannon proposed marriage that it was stupid or a brilliant way out of her mess?

  8. What did you think of Jack's statement that it wasn't necessary to seek the limelight to live up to your potential, that to raise your family and be part of the community can be the best thing? Is striving for something more always good or bad?

  9. Shannon had trouble trusting and sharing herself. Do you ever do that? If so, why?

  10. When should Shannon have told Jack who the girls' father was?

  11. Allie told Shannon love was a choice. Do you believe that? Why or why not?

  12. When do you think Shannon should have told Jack about her MS?

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Dear Reader,

  It was so fun for me to go back to Big Bend, Texas! The place has a stark beauty that draws me, and I've enjoyed hearing from you all about the first book in this series, Lonestar Sanctuary. I try to remember every day that love is a choice for all of us in every relationship we enjoy.

  My unending love and gratitude go out to myThomas Nelson family: publisher Allen Arnold, who was the midwife er, midhusband for this series; senior acquisitions editor Ami McConnell, my friend and cheerleader, who has amazing insight into story; editor extraordinaire Natalie Hanemann, who puts up with my numerous requests for help with a smile and a hug; marketing manager Jennifer Deshler, who brings both friendship and fabulous marketing ideas to the table; superorganized publicist Katie Schroder, who helps me plan the right strategies and is always willing to listen; fabulous cover guru Mark Ross (you so rock!), who works hard to create the perfect cover and does it; fellow Hoosier Lisa Young, who lends a shoulder to cry on when needed; editor Amanda Bostic, who is still my friend even though she doesn't work on my books anymore; and Becky Monds and Jocelyn Bailey, who fill in with more help than I even know. I love you all more than I can say.

  My agent, Karen Solem, is my biggest cheerleader, and that includes kicking an idea to the curb when necessary. I wouldn't be anywhere without her. Thanks, Karen you're the best!

  Erin Healy is the best freelance editor in the business bar none. Her magic touch on my book has to be seen to be believed. Thanks, Erin! I couldn't do it without you.

  Writing can be a lonely business, but God has blessed me with great writing friends and critique partners. Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter make up the Girls Write Out squad (www. Girls WriteOut.blogspot.com). I couldn't make it through a day without my peeps! And another one of those is Robin Miller, president of ACF W (www. acfw. com), who spots inconsistencies in a suspense plot with an eagle eye. Thanks to all of you for the work you do on my behalf and for your friendship.

  I have a supersupportive family that puts up with my crazy work schedule. My husband, Dave, carts me around from city to city, washes towels, and runs after dinner without complaint. Thanks, honey! I couldn't do anything without you. My kids, Dave and Kara (and now Donna) Coble, and my new grandsons, James and Jorden Packer, love and support me in every way possible. Love you guys! And thanks to my parents, George and Peggy Rhoads; my brothers, Rick and Dave Rhoads; their wives, Mary and Teresa; and my "other parents," Carroll and Lena Coble. One of them is often the first to hear a new idea, and they never laugh at me. Love you all!

  Most importa
nt, I give my thanks to God, who has opened such amazing doors for me and makes the journey a golden one.

  I love to hear from readers! Drop me an e-mail at colleen@a colleen coble.com and check out my Web site at www.colleencoble.com. There's a forum to chat about books, and I try to stop in, since books are my favorite things in the world. Thank you all for spending your most precious commodity time with me and my stories.