Betting on Texas

by Amanda Renee

  He joined Miranda on the couch and continued.

  “After a few rounds with them and my uncle threatening to shoot us all, Shane calmed down some. Not much, though. Chase on the other hand verbally attacked me when his fists lost their punch.”

  “Jesse, I’m so sorry.”

  “I know you are, sugar.” He rested his head on her shoulder. “I wasted so much time not wanting to be here and a part of the family that I lost sight of who I really am.”

  “You’re who you’ve always been. A strong, independent man with plans for his own family. No one can fault you for your dreams, Jesse.”

  “At Cole’s insistence, my brothers offered me a stake in the ranch again.” Jesse took another sip of brandy.

  “What did you decide?”

  “I haven’t given them my answer yet.” Jesse laughed. “Heck, our bet’s almost up anyway. You’re not going anywhere and I’m going to need somewhere to live. As much as I hate to admit it, you did good, sugar. Real good. I didn’t think you had it in you.”

  “What about Abilene?” Miranda asked, pushing aside his compliment.

  “I told them no yesterday. I felt bad about it, too. I meant to call them sooner and plumb forgot.”

  Miranda swallowed the acid taste in her mouth. She ignored him for the past few days because she thought he’d used her. He had no intentions of leaving town.

  “Why did you run out on me, Miranda?”

  “Because I thought you were using me and after only one thing,” she whispered.

  “I asked you to start a family with me. How could you think I was using you?”

  Because her defenses were up. Because she was stubborn and jumped to conclusions all her life. Because she never learned to let someone love her. Because he wanted the ranch. Now didn’t seem like the time to remind him of that.

  Either way, she knew the time they spent together had ended. Even Aaron made it clear to her. Jesse’s family needed him. They offered him a chance to come home. It was the best place for him. He could mend fences with his brothers and they could heal as a family.

  She would miss his company and the times they’d shared, but it wasn’t as if he was on the other side of the country. Just the other side of town. There would be plenty of chances to see each other. Only not on a daily basis. At least she hoped there would be chances.

  The man before her taught her more in one month than she’d learned in a lifetime. He made her feel needed, as if she made a difference to the ranch and the town. She would always be thankful for him no matter how miserable he was to her in the beginning.

  “Miranda?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You didn’t answer me. Why did you think I was using you?”

  “We’ll talk about it some other time.” Miranda didn’t think now was the time to have this conversation.

  “I need to know. Please tell me.”

  “I thought all you wanted was the ranch. You asked me to end the bet. I felt used,” Miranda admitted. “And after the ranch in Abilene called for you the morning after...the morning after the Fourth of July, what was I supposed to think?”

  “How did you know they called?”

  “I was there when Mable answered the phone.”

  “Mable left that part out when she gave me the message.” Jesse shook his head.

  “I asked her not to tell you,” Miranda said. “I didn’t want you to know I knew your plans.”

  “But they weren’t my plans.” Jesse drew her closer to him on the couch. “My plans were to start a family with you. The family we both want.”

  “I’m sorry about your father, Jesse.” Miranda stood. “I know you came in here to be alone. So I’ll be on my way.”

  “Miranda, wait.” Jesse reached out to stop her. “Please don’t leave yet. I could really use your strength right now.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Mable stayed at Bridle Dance to help Kay Langtry and the rest of the family. Aaron drove Miranda home. Later, he offered to spend the night on the ranch but she turned him down.

  “Thank you, but I can manage,” she said. “Go on home. I can handle things here.”

  “Tell you what. You go on inside and let me finish up out here. We’ll talk about it in a few. You don’t look so good.”

  “Oh, gee, thanks.” The truth of the matter was her head started to pound a few hours ago. “I’m just drained.”

  In the house, Miranda made herself a glass of chocolate milk and sat on the couch while the puppies wrestled each other in the center of the living room. She attempted to go over her finances but found her thoughts drifting to Jesse. She considered driving back out to the ranch, but the hour was late. They would probably be asleep.

  A hot bath and a few lit candles did nothing to relax her. Miranda’s headache worsened and the candles made her sneeze.

  “This is crazy!” Miranda threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. On her way out, she stopped by the stables to tell Aaron where she would be. He said he’d stay and take care of things.

  Miranda entered Bridle Dance, relieved to see lights on in most of the house. The cars that filled the grounds earlier were gone. Jesse appeared uncomfortable with so many people in the house offering their condolences. She hoped he was beginning to find some peace.

  Miranda hesitated at the door. Maybe this isn’t a good idea. She didn’t know the Langtry family and didn’t want to intrude.

  Mable opened the door before she had a chance to decide. “I heard you pull in, child,” she said as she led Miranda into the kitchen.

  “How thoughtful of you to come back,” Kay said. She gave Miranda an affectionate hug. “Jesse is in his father’s office. He hasn’t come out all evening.”

  Down the hallway, Miranda raised her hand to knock, and then decided to try the knob instead. The heavy door opened easily. Jesse still sat at his father’s desk. He thumbed his way through a photo album. A stack about a foot high of other albums sat next to him on the desk.

  He didn’t look up as she entered the room.

  “I had forgotten so many of the times we spent together.” He turned the page. “We were more of a family than I remembered. Look at this one here.”

  Miranda pulled a chair over to sit beside him. He pointed to a photograph of all four boys and his father standing in front of a lake, all holding fishing poles.

  “This was the coldest fishing trip I can remember.” Jesse ran his fingers over the image of his father. “Pop insisted we go anyway. Even though the weather forecast said rain for the week. We pitched tents when we got there but they collapsed during the night in all the rain and mud. We were a mess. And Mom was none too pleased when we piled into her brand-new station wagon to stay dry.”

  The corners of his mouth lifted upward.

  “The next morning we went to the campground office and rented a cabin for the remainder of the week. The fire barely kept us warm, but we had fun. We fished all day, even in the rain. We’d come back soaked to the bone, but loaded down with a mess of fish to fry for supper. It was the worst and the best trip we all had together.”

  Their eyes met. He needed her comfort and she would rather be by his side than any other place on earth. Miranda took his rough, calloused hands in hers and held them to her chest. He kissed her, his lips barely grazing hers.

  “I want to show you something,” he said.

  Jesse led her to the stables. He fumbled for the light switch as he opened a door. Gold an
d silver shimmered among the blue ribbons covering the walls. Enlarged photographs of each of the boys framed the room.

  “This was Pop’s trophy room.” Jesse let go of Miranda’s hand as he read off the events on some of the trophies. “He brought everyone here so he could show them what his sons had accomplished. Every award we ever won is in here.”

  “There are so many of them.” Miranda walked the perimeter of the room. “Is this you?”

  Jesse laughed. “That was my first rodeo.”

  “Rodeo? Mable told me you didn’t—”

  “I didn’t stick with it like my brothers did. They all went on to the big time while I was more interested in training and breed management.”

  Miranda nodded as she looked around. It was obvious how proud Joe Langtry had been of his boys. Jesse included.

  “Everything had to be a family event. From the rodeo to running this place.”

  Miranda placed a hand on Jesse’s shoulder.

  “My brothers honored his wishes. I was too damn stubborn to be a part of it. I rejected my own family because I didn’t want to be a part of someone else’s legacy.”

  “Jesse, it’s okay. I’m sure your father understood.”

  “All he wanted was for me to come home. To train and breed cutting horses here, on family land, instead of somewhere else. He never asked me to stop doing what I loved most. He asked me to do it with him. I said no. I always said no.”

  Jesse left the room and sat on the bench in the corridor. Miranda closed the door and sat beside him.

  “I told him he was the stubborn one. Always had to have things his way. I’m exactly like him, you know. Stubborn as the day is long. Look at me now. Not only did I lose my own legacy, I lost my father, as well.”

  “He forgives you, Jesse.” Miranda draped her arm around his shoulder. “You must know he forgives you.”

  “I need you tonight.” He kissed her. “I need you.”

  * * *

  MIRANDA SPENT HER DAYS at Double Trouble and her evenings at Bridle Dance, usually arriving home around midnight. She was exhausted but determined to be there for Jesse.

  The morning of the funeral, the brothers called a temporary truce, for their mother’s sake. Miranda hoped it would lead to a permanent one. Jesse had decided to stay on at Bridle Dance, at least for the time being.

  Jesse asked Miranda to stand by his side during the service. He needed someone to lean on and she agreed to be there for him. He opened up to her about his regrets over the years and how he only wanted to make his family proud by succeeding on his own. He thought success meant property. It wasn’t until his father’s death that he realized success meant being proud of who you are and where you come from. He never made the time to start meaningful relationships with anyone. His focus was always on Double Trouble.

  The amount of people who attended the funeral service amazed Miranda. The entire town of Ramblewood didn’t have this many people. The Magpie closed its doors that morning, as did every business in town. If Jesse ever questioned his support system, all he had to do was look around.

  Is that Jonathan? Miranda tried to get a better view through the sea of people around her. The man disappeared. I must be seeing things. Jonathan would never have a reason to show his face around here. She couldn’t even get him on the telephone. Unless you counted a convenient static-filled call. Either way, whoever the man was, he looked an awful lot like him.

  Miranda continued to watch for the mystery man while she stood in line next to Jesse. One by one, everyone offered their condolences. At the beginning of the line, Kay embraced and thanked each person for coming.

  “Jon, this is a surprise!” Kay squealed in delight. “How sweet of you to come all this way. Joe told me he saw you a few months ago. Big-time lawyer now I hear.”

  Miranda turned to see the man Kay was talking to. Her breath caught in her throat when Jonathan gave Jesse’s mother a hug. As he moved down the line, each brother gave him a warm friendly embrace, as well. They all promised to sit down and reminisce later tonight.

  Reminisce? Reminisce about what?

  When Jonathan stood before Jesse, Miranda gave him a questioning look.

  “Jon, my man.” Jesse shook hands and hugged his apparent old friend. “How long has it been? Fifteen years or so?”

  Jon? When had he become Jon?

  “It’s been a long time.” Jonathan avoided eye contact with Miranda. “I’m sorry about your father. He was one of the good people.”

  “Yes, he was.” Jesse nodded. “So where are you living now?”

  “Washington, D.C. I’m working for a law firm up there. Hoping to open my own practice one day.”

  “You’ll have to excuse my rudeness.” Jesse wrapped an arm around Miranda’s waist. “This here is Miranda Archer. She’s from D.C., too. Wouldn’t it be funny if you two knew each other?”

  Jonathan met her eyes and shook his head slightly, warning her not to let on their involvement. Confused, Miranda complied. While her friend had a lot of explaining to do, the reception line at a funeral was not the place.

  “Yes, wouldn’t it be funny if we knew each other?” Jonathan shook her hand. “You have a beautiful woman here, Jess, a very beautiful woman.”

  Go ahead and lay it on thick. You can’t dig your way out of this one, o’ pal of mine.

  “Easy there, friend,” Jesse teased. “She’s spoken for.”

  Miranda didn’t say a word for fear of what might come out of her mouth before she could stop it. She still couldn’t make the connection. Jonathan told her he was from San Antonio. Why the secrecy?

  She also knew Jonathan had paid a visit to Texas, a few months ago, which was how he knew Double Trouble was up for sale. But he gave the impression he was driving through and saw a For Sale sign. Not once did he mention he personally knew anyone involved.

  It made sense now why he wouldn’t return her phone calls. He didn’t want her to know he knew Jesse and his family. But why? What was he hiding?

  After the funeral, Miranda tried to corner Jonathan for some answers. Only he was having no part of it. He mingled with everyone, caught up on old times. Who would have thought he was a master evader? Or that he had any old times to catch up on in Ramblewood?

  Jonathan had one eye on her the entire time, counteracting each move she made. By evening, Miranda was beyond frustrated.

  Outside, Vicki sat in an old rocking chair, holding her daughter. She beamed with delight when little pudgy hands reached for her face.

  “I really need to start carrying my camera with me.” Miranda joined her friend. “She looks more and more like you every day.”

  “Thank you. How is Jesse managing through all this?”

  “He’s hanging in there.” Miranda watched him through the kitchen window, talking to Cole. “He’s in the ‘if I only had done more’ stage.”

  “It was such a shock,” Vicki said. “I can only imagine how he must feel.”

  Speaking of shock.

  “Vicki, what do you know about Jon Reese?” Miranda hoped her friend wouldn’t ask too many questions regarding her inquiry.

  “Jon.” Vicki closed her eyes and smiled. “He was my first kiss. I was nine. He was a much older man at twelve. He kissed me right in front of the movie theater.”

  Not only did Vicki know the man, she’d kissed him, too? This was all too much.

  “What do you really know about him? Why did he leave town?”

  �
�What’s with the interest in Jon?” Vicki stopped rocking. “Your hands are full with Jesse.”

  Miranda had no other choice but to let her friend in on the situation. Vicki’s eyes grew wide as she listened to Miranda recount the past three months. Including the part about the lottery. After Vicki swore not to tell another living soul, Miranda told her Jon was her best friend in D.C. Only, she knew him as Jonathan.

  “Honey, all I can tell you is Jon wanted out of this town in the worst way,” Vicki said. “When he was accepted to Harvard, it was his ticket out of here. None of us ever heard from him again. His parents moved to San Antonio after he graduated. So if he returned home to visit, we never saw him.”

  So that was it? Just a case of another small town boy wanting to make it in the big city. Miranda still thought there was much more to it. While Jonathan hadn’t talked much about his childhood, he hadn’t avoided it, either. He was close to his parents. What was missing?

  Inside, Miranda was determined to find out the truth. After searching the house, she realized Jonathan saw his opportunity and ducked out the front door while she was with Vicki. Knowing she wouldn’t get any more answers tonight, Miranda spent a few more hours with Jesse and then headed home.

  The lights in the bunkhouse were out. Miranda figured either Aaron was asleep or he was entertaining Kiley. Either way, she was glad he offered to stay at the ranch for a while. Especially since Mable was staying with Kay. She offered him full use of the house, but he said he felt more comfortable out back.

  Miranda picked up the phone and punched in Jonathan’s cell phone number. It didn’t even ring. Just went straight to voice mail. She hung up without leaving a message. What was the point? It was obvious he had something to hide and he wasn’t sharing it anytime soon.

  When Miranda crawled into bed, she felt physically and emotionally drained. Every joint ached and her head throbbed. Just what she needed. A summer cold when there was so much to do around the ranch.