One Night with the Texan

by Lauren Canan

  At 4:00 p.m. she called a halt to the day. Rain clouds were hovering and the temperature dropped into the low eighties. She stepped back and looked around her. The only place to go was up. Into the cliffs. There might be caves she hadn’t spotted yet. Five months into her pregnancy, she debated if she could climb a ladder. Probably not the smartest thing to do.

  After herding the girls to the RV and saying good evening to the two cowboys who arrived for their evening watch, she ambled to her old car and headed for the ranch. She could think of a thousand places she’d rather be.

  And the next five days went pretty much the same way. She went to the dig site, worked with the girls until four in the afternoon, then returned to the mansion for another lonely night. She still hadn’t heard from Cole since their argument. He hadn’t called. It should have made her happy but instead she felt dead inside. This situation was not going to work out well.

  But tonight, on entering the house, she immediately heard his voice. He must be in his office talking on the phone.

  “Chances are meant to be taken, Matt,” she heard Cole say. “In business. Not on a personal basis.”

  There was a silence while Cole listened to the person on the other end of the line.

  “No, I really didn’t give it a second thought, which was stupid on my part. She was hot and willing and I saw no reason to abstain. She had good references, the family liked her... A few months later she tells me she’s pregnant. I used protection. In this day and time I’d be a fool not to. It was then I began to question her and everything about her. I hope like hell you did the same in your situation.”

  There was another silence. Was Cole talking about their time in New Orleans? She had always prided herself that she wasn’t an eavesdropper but it would take a bomb to pry her away from that door.

  “What are you going to do?”

  Silence.

  “Think about this, Matt. She’s probably after money. It never fails. And usually there is another man touted as just a friend that’s the real father of the baby. He is also the banker. And unless you catch him, he will clean you out. Right now she could take you for everything you’re worth. Beat her to the punch and offer her a payoff up front. Let her know your suspicions. If she even considers it, you will have your answer.”

  Another silence.

  “Then all I can tell you is to have your attorneys draw up an ironclad prenup. I’m afraid you’re gonna need it. I hope I’m wrong but I haven’t seen a woman yet that didn’t have those twenty-four-carat stars in her eyes. They will even track you down to get some of it.”

  Long silence.

  “Well, good luck. Keep me posted.”

  Tallie tried to swallow but her throat had gone dry. Quickly she hurried away from the door, down the hall and out to her car. She felt shocked but her mind told her she shouldn’t have been surprised. What else had she expected?

  Tallie wanted to ask him how much longer this would go on. How much punishment did he intend to dish out for something that was equally his fault? But she didn’t. The overheard phone call had pretty much said it all. She needed to leave. Immediately. Before he tried to force her into a marriage that was wrong on so many levels.

  Everything bad she’d imagined happening if Cole found out about the pregnancy was coming true. His words had penetrated her shield of self-protection like a laser cutting through butter. What he’d said hurt deeply. He’d spoken of her like some vicious, impersonal stranger. He considered her someone who expected money for a romp in the bedroom. Now he felt compelled to marry her and give their baby a name. He had described their relationship in such a cold, unfeeling way.

  She had never had sex without caring for the person she was with, but realistically that’s exactly what she’d done. Knowing how he felt about her brought back the tears. And she couldn’t blame Cole. She couldn’t blame anyone but herself.

  She didn’t have to be told twice that she wasn’t wanted. She would leave with all possible speed. Returning to the dig wouldn’t accomplish anything. He would find her there—if he even bothered to look. She would leave her things and arrange for someone to pick them up later.

  She climbed inside her old Ford and started the engine. It was past time to go home.

  * * *

  Cole emerged from his office sometime later, tired but stimulated by the conversation he’d just had with the CEO of a company they’d been trying to do a deal with for about four years. The man had finally looked at the figures and was suddenly interested in a merger and the potential money he would make.

  Cole smelled food cooking in the kitchen and headed in that direction. Andre was busy making supper.

  “I will have this ready for you in about ten minutes, Mr. Cole.”

  “That will be fine, Andre. Have you seen Dr. Finley?”

  The chef looked at him with a confused expression. “Dr. Finley left. She called Carson and said she would send for her things.”

  Left? Tallie was gone? “What time did she leave?”

  “I’m not sure. A couple of hours ago at least. Carson would know.”

  “Did she say where she was going?”

  “No, sir. She did seem quite distressed but all she said to me was goodbye.”

  Cole thanked Andre and walked into the den. Tallie had actually left. That was a first. Usually it took a herculean effort to get a woman to leave once she showed her hand. Did Tallie expect him to follow her? To track her down and demand she come back? She was in for a surprise if she did.

  He hated being played. He was tired of it happening over and over again. Women saw the name Masters and that’s all they needed to know. He had actually thought Tallie would still be here now that she had Cole where she wanted him. In fact, that she’d left was a bit unexpected.

  Curious, he sped up the stairs and entered the room she’d been using. Her clothes, everything, was there, including the set of wedding rings in the small black case on the dresser. He opened the box. The rings were there, sparkling against the black velvet. So she hadn’t taken the rings. It didn’t appear she’d taken much of anything. That surprised him.

  Returning to the ground level he called out to Martha, “I have to make a quick run to the bank. Hold supper if you can.”

  When he stepped outside the sky was already turning black. Storm clouds hung low. He saw lightning in the distance; he heard the rumble of thunder. He jumped into the truck and headed toward downtown Calico Springs. It wouldn’t take long to sign the papers he needed to sign down at the bank then he could return home and have a nice quiet evening. As he backed out of the parking area, raindrops began to beat against his windshield.

  When he rounded the sharp turn just before the town came into view below, he saw the red, blue and yellow lights up ahead. Police had the area roped off, the road closed to one lane while the firemen pulled ropes and ladders from the truck. It was almost the same place where Gina had plunged off the cliff. Without conscious thought, his gaze honed in on the ambulance. By the time he reached the area, his hands were wet, his mouth dry and his heart was beating out of his chest. He slowed and came to a stop. One of the policemen approached the car.

  “Sir, you need to keep moving... Oh. Mr. Masters. I didn’t realize it was you.”

  “I had a friend traveling in this area. She would have passed through here. Could you just tell me if that’s a Ford wagon at the bottom of the ravine?”

  “No, sir. It’s an old Chevrolet. Driver is a man, covered in tattoos. It appears he had one too many, was driving too fast and couldn’t make the curve. Looks like he will live, though.”

  Cole let out the breath he’d been holding. “That’s very good to know. I appreciate it, officer.” When he saw the officer nod his head, Cole continued on. He drove a short distance down the road and pulled over. He drew a deep, shaky breath, striving for c
alm.

  When he had first seen those flashing lights and realized another accident had happened at that turn in the road, he’d almost lost it. Fate couldn’t be that cruel. It easily could have been Tallie at the bottom of the cliff. Oh, God. Realization came down on his head and shoulders. What had he done?

  Tallie was not like Gina and if she had gone over the edge it would be his fault entirely. Torn between relief and worry, he was glad Tallie had not followed the same path as Gina but he was still concerned. Where was she? He once again turned the truck around and headed home. His business at the bank could wait.

  Now that the news of the pending birth had soaked in, he was excited about their child.

  Tallie was pregnant. She’d said that he was the father and he should have believed her. It was the same scene as had played out with Gina, only that child had not been his. But Cole knew in his gut that Tallie wouldn’t lie to him. He’d screwed up big time.

  He’d handled the knowledge she was pregnant badly. He’d done exactly what she’d thought he would do: accuse her of trying to pull a fast one. Of getting pregnant on purpose. He still felt his heart sink to his knees every time he thought about what he’d said. He may have lost Tallie and his son or daughter permanently after his cruel allegations.

  She had tied one on at a bar in New Orleans and taken a chance on giving herself to a stranger. It must have taken everything she’d had even with the help of alcohol, to give herself to him. But she’d picked the wrong man. He had been so intent on seeing every woman as a lying, conniving cheat that he hadn’t considered staying with her long enough to talk the next morning. He’d walked out on her. What a fool he’d been.

  Damn. This was all his fault. He’d screwed up royally. First he’d gotten her pregnant then blamed her that it happened. He had to find her. He had to apologize, to explain. Hell, he had to ask for her forgiveness. He’d never done that before, but he imagined groveling would be involved. A tinge of pure fear ran through his body that even if he found her, she would reject him. It’s what he deserved. But he loved her and that was a first for Cole. He would be proud of their child. Proud to call Tallie his wife. He was willing to do whatever it took.

  He tried calling her repeatedly but there was no answer. He didn’t have her boss’s home number. He would have to wait until tomorrow to contact Dr. Sterling. Then he would make her listen. How could he have insinuated she had lied about the baby and accuse her of getting pregnant on purpose? He knew better. Tallie was not Gina. And he had pushed Tallie too far. He just hoped to God she would listen to him. When he found her. If he found her.

  The morning came. Then another and another. No Tallie. Her boss at the museum refused to give him her address, citing the laws he would be breaking if he did. He’d dismissed the college students helping her on the site with instructions to call him if they had news of Tallie, but he hadn’t heard anything from them. And Tallie was still not answering the only number he had for her.

  Tallie was gone. She was smart enough that if she didn’t want to be found, he wouldn’t find her. He felt as though part of him had been ripped out and thrown away.

  He ran a hand over his face. He had to find her. But why? asked a little voice in his head. Isn’t this what you wanted?

  Cole sat on the large sofa in the den, the last moments they’d had together running through his mind. Tallie was so amazing, so different than Gina, they could be two separate species. Tallie’s intelligence was off the charts. Her sense of humor had him laughing when at times he wanted to break down and have a fit of frustration. Her natural beauty was unsurpassed.

  He needed to find her. He needed to sit down and listen this time to what she had to say and to keep his temper under control. He grabbed his cell and called the little motel in Calico Springs. She wasn’t a registered guest.

  If Tallie had intentionally disappeared, neither he nor his security staff would find her. Her family would stick together and protect one of their own. And what in the hell was he going to do?

  Fourteen

  Three months later

  Cole had come home to pick up some papers and was on his way back out when the phone rang. “Yeah?” he answered coldly.

  “Is this Mr. Masters?” a woman asked.

  “Yes, it is. Who is this?”

  “You probably won’t remember me. My name is Kathy Brown and I was one of the four students who worked for Dr. Finley. You gave all of us your cell number in case of any emergency.”

  “I remember you, Kathy. Have you heard from Dr. Finley? Is she okay?”

  “My mother is a nurse at Medical Central Hospital in Dallas. She knew I was working for Dr. Finley and mentioned that she was admitted as a patient.”

  “She’s in the hospital?” His heart sank to his knees. Had something happened to her? All the worst scenarios raced across his mind. Cole was holding back a scream, a demand to know where she was, but he didn’t want to frighten the young student.

  “Yes, sir,” she replied. “She’s been there for a week. It’s something about her pregnancy. Something has gone wrong.” She paused as if putting thought to what else to say. “I just didn’t know if you knew. Dr. Finley is such a nice lady and I know you were friends.”

  Assuring Kathy that Tallie would be all right, as though he actually knew something she didn’t—he thanked her for calling and hung up.

  Cole’s heart began to slam against the wall of his chest. He immediately called for a driver. No time for a shower. Since Tallie had left, Cole had spent his days in the main barn, mucking stalls, grooming, exercising colts in training, his work forgotten until he could find Tallie. Now, he wanted to be there with her as fast as possible.

  The helicopter ride to Dallas was excruciatingly long. And when they got there and switched to a limo to drive into the city, every red light seemed to take an hour to pass. Finally the tall, fourteen-story hospital loomed ahead. His driver pulled up under the pergola and Cole bailed. By the time he stood in front of the double doors leading to the ICU he felt as though he’d just run a marathon. With every step he worried. Does she want me here? Will she see me? The shoulda’s and coulda’s followed him the whole way.

  He went to the nurses’ station in the ICU and asked where Tallie’s room was. The attendant looked something up on the computer and said, “Ms. Finley has been taken to surgery. Up two floors. There is a waiting room.”

  Cole ran for the elevator. When he got off, he quickly followed the signs to the surgical unit. Eventually a nurse answered the doorbell leading to the surgical ward.

  “I’m looking for Tallie Finley.”

  “And you are?”

  “Her husband, Cole Finley.” He hardly gave the lie a second thought.

  “She has just been taken to recovery. I’ll let them know you’re here. Have a seat in the waiting room across the hall. We’ll notify you when you can see her.”

  Recovery. That was good—wasn’t it? It had been twelve weeks since Tallie had left the ranch. A quick calculation put her at about eight and a half months pregnant.

  The minutes slowly ticked by. Every time he looked at his watch, only three or four minutes had passed. He stood and walked to the window. People were coming and going, some smiling, some weeping. He gripped his hands into tight fists. Tallie had to be okay. She just had to be.

  Finally a nurse came into the room calling out for Mr. Finley. Cole followed her into Recovery. Tallie was asleep; her face looked ashen. He couldn’t not touch her. He went to the bed and picked up one small, soft hand. She stirred and blinked her eyes as though she couldn’t believe he was there, standing next to her. Whether that was good or bad remained to be seen.

  “You’re here,” she whispered as if it was a struggle to speak. Her eyes fell away and closed as she concentrated on something going on with her body. She suddenly gripped his hand. Hard.
“Are they all right? The babies?”

  The babies? Was she delusional? “Sure, honey,” he said to comfort her. “They are going to be fine.”

  Cole wanted to ask why she hadn’t called him. He wanted to ask why she hadn’t wanted him to know she was here. And why had she referred to his son or daughter as the babies? A thousand questions swirled in his mind but, at the moment, none of them mattered. And he had to ask her forgiveness.

  A nurse bustled in and proceeded to check Tallie’s vitals. She looked at Cole. “Are you the proud father?”

  “Yes,” he said firmly, his gaze going to Tallie. “I am indeed.”

  Tears filled Tallie’s eyes. A silent message passed between her and Cole. One of pride and acceptance.

  “You guys have two beautiful baby boys. We think they are both gonna be just fine. May have to stay in the incubator a couple of weeks, but they are breathing on their own and screaming for that bottle. Give it a while for the drugs to wear off and we can get you into a private room. Then you can feed them if you wish, Mrs. Finley.”

  “Oh, yes,” Tallie answered.

  “Your vitals look good. Give it about an hour and someone will come and get you,” the nurse concluded and bustled out the door.

  Cole could only stare. Twins. He needed to sit down.

  “Cole, are you all right?”

  He silently shook his head. “Hon, we are having twins. Twins.”

  He heard her chuckle. “We have twins, you nut cake. Why are you here?”

  “I love you, Tallie.” He kissed the palm of her hand.

  “But you don’t believe there is such a thing as love.”

  “I was wrong. I was stupid. I can’t call what I feel anything else. I’ve honestly never felt this way before about anyone. When I thought you had died... Tallie, can you forgive me for reacting the way I did? Forgive me for doubting? And marry me, Tallie. My life won’t be complete without you in it. I know we can make it work.”

  “You’re not ready to settle down with a wife and children. You have your work. I’m not going to be the one to negatively impact your life.”