by Linda Warren
The urge to say a lot of things was strong, but he took the high road. There was no need to point out that he was over the age of twenty-one and could choose any woman he wanted. It wasn’t for her to approve. He’d hurt his mother once deeply and he would never do that again.
He reached down and kissed her cheek, which he didn’t do often enough. “Have a good day.”
He marched back into the barn, saddled up and rode out to join his brothers. Everyone was telling him Rachel was bad for him, and he had told himself the same. But a part of him denied it. Rachel awoke something good in him that evoked thoughts of love, home and family.
When Egan kneed Gypsy, she shot off like a bullet and visions of Rachel faded, the way they should. The way it had to be.
* * *
RACHEL WOKE UP with a tear on her cheek. She brushed it away and crawled out of bed, shocked to see it was ten o’clock in the morning. After the passion of last night, and then the heartbreak, she’d been exhausted and had overslept. The house was quiet, so she figured everyone must have left for the day, which was good. She didn’t want to talk to anyone.
Sinking back onto the bed, Rachel found that memories of last night refused to go away. She’d told Egan no strings, no commitment, and she’d meant that. It was his callousness afterward that got her. She didn’t expect him to be so cold and irrational. And it hurt more than she wanted to admit. Waking up in his arms to find a smile on his face would have cured a lot of her heartache.
She wrapped her arms around her waist. Their lovemaking was everything she’d wanted it to be. He was gentle, considerate and passionate. He’d made her forget everything but him, and there had been nothing between them but the explosive emotions they shared. It was later, when their minds cleared, that the problem started again. Or she should say his problem started again. Her father, and Egan’s involvement with him. That would always be between them, no matter how much she loved him or how hard they tried to build a relationship. She’d tried not to believe it, but now she did.
It was very rare that she lost her temper, and last night she had said things she would regret. Rachel got up and headed for the bathroom. It was just as well. There was no future for her and Egan, and it was time for her to accept that and move on. She would check on flights today and make plans to return to New York. That’s where she belonged. Not in Horseshoe, Texas, with Egan.
Chapter Twelve
Rachel showered and changed and hurried downstairs. Her cell phone beeped and she stopped on the stairs to fish it out of her purse. It was a text from Angie: The baby had a doctor’s appointment this morning so we had to leave early. Please try to come in for lunch. Let me know.
She texted back: I’ll try. I have to get my rabies shot first. I’ll text later.
In the kitchen, Rachel stopped short. Her father sat at the table reading the Austin American-Statesman newspaper and sipping coffee. Mavis was wiping the counter.
Seeing Rachel, she said, “I have things to do upstairs.” She gave her a hug as she passed.
Her father looked up. “Morning, sweetheart.”
“Morning, Dad.” Slipping a K-Cup of French Vanilla in the Keurig, she mentally braced herself, wondering what to say to him. So many emotions churned inside her: anger, disappointment and oddly, love. She loved her father and she wasn’t going to try and deny that.
Gripping the warm cup, she turned to face him. For the first time she noticed how much he had aged in the past twelve years. His hair was now completely gray and the lines around his eyes were more pronounced. Her mother’s death had hit him hard. It was easy now to see Rachel wasn’t the only one who had been affected by her mother’s passing.
Her father folded the paper and pushed it aside. “Sweetheart, it’s good to have you home. I don’t think I’ve said that. There seems to be so much going on and emotions erupting at every turn. I want to apologize for my reaction last night. I had no right to act as if your feelings were silly. I’m sorry for my insensitivity. But the thought that you lived with this enormous guilt hurts me deeply. Even if your mother had gone to that mall specifically to buy your dress, you still wouldn’t have been the cause of her death. No one but those hoodlums were responsible.”
Unable to stop them, Rachel found tears filling her eyes. Her father rarely apologized and he’d chosen the perfect time to do so. She needed to hear his words. “Thank you, Dad. I don’t know—” she brushed away a tear “—why I felt that way, but now I feel liberated. I probably should’ve seen a therapist at the time, because I had so many conflicting doubts and emotions. But twelve years and I’ve come full circle. It’s time for me to move on and live my life. I plan to return to New York, probably next week. I’m glad we had this time to say we’re sorry.”
He reached out for her hand and she gripped his tightly. “I wish I could persuade you to stay a little longer. Erin adores you, and Angie and Hardy are so happy to have you here. I am, too. But I understand your need to live your own life. I just hope you come home to visit often now. We are your family.”
Fighting more tears, she hugged him. Really hugged him, as she should have that day in the hospital. “I love you, Daddy, and I promise to come home as often as I can.”
Later, as she got in her car and drove toward Temple, she felt lighter. Happier. Even with Egan’s rejection still strong on her mind, she’d made the right decision to return to New York. Patching things up with her father meant a lot. He hadn’t mentioned Egan and she didn’t see the need to bring him up. Egan was now in her past. It hurt to even think it, but she would get over him. She didn’t have much choice.
Her thoughts wandered as the Texas scenery flashed by. When she was a kid and a teenager, she’d felt her father could solve all her problems. She was his little princess and her wish was his command. It took losing her mother for Rachel to realize that the world wasn’t like that. Wishes weren’t granted automatically. They had to be earned, and even though her father paid a lot of her bills, she tried to stand on her own two feet and be responsible. Sometimes he made that hard because he didn’t want her to do without. They probably needed to have another talk about that. Above all else, she wanted to be independent.
It took longer than she’d expected to get the shot, and then the doctor wanted to talk to her. They had to set up an appointment at a clinic in New York. That took time and she missed her lunch with Angie. It was almost three o’clock when she circled the courthouse looking for a parking spot near the bakery. There was none. The bakery was the busiest spot in town. She parked at the courthouse, hoping Wyatt wouldn’t give her a ticket. The people of Horseshoe still parked at the curb and there wasn’t a No Parking sign.
She got out and looked around the small town where she’d grown up. The courthouse sat in the middle of the square, with businesses situated around it on Main Street. Nothing much had changed. The courthouse stone was still weatherworn, showing the passage of time. The crape myrtles added color and the large oak trees provided shade for residents who gathered on the benches beneath them to visit or share a gossip or two.
More antiques shops had opened, plus a tearoom and a Mexican restaurant. Horseshoe went along at a slow pace, so different from her busy life in New York. She was always on the run, trying to catch a cab, to make it to school on time or just keep up with the hectic lifestyle. Here everyone knew each other. In New York, Rachel didn’t even know her next-door neighbors. She said hello when she saw them, but other than that, no one was that friendly. And everyone minded their own business. In Horseshoe everyone knew each other’s business and it caused more than a few rifts. The lifestyles were so different: country versus city. Rachel had never been sure where she fit in, but now she did. She didn’t belong in Horseshoe anymore. And it had nothing to do with Egan.
She didn’t bother to lock her car. People felt safe here and that was a plus for living in a small town. She hitched her purse over her shoulder and headed across the street to Angie’s office. The Wiznowski bakery had expand
ed and Angie now had her accounting office attached, with its own private entrance.
“Rachel.”
She turned to see a tall man wearing a Stetson coming toward her. She didn’t recognize him at first until she saw the badge. The sheriff, Wyatt Carson.
Crap! Was he going to give her a ticket?
“Hey, Rachel, it’s good to see you in town.” They shook hands. “You look great. I’m glad you have no aftereffects from the attack.”
The night he’d returned her purse, she’d been so upset that Egan hadn’t brought it that she hadn’t paid much attention to Wyatt. He basically looked the same: tall, broad shouldered and handsome. He’d sent a lot of female hearts aflutter over the years, but to Rachel he was always her big brother’s friend.
“Thank you.”
He motioned toward Angie’s. “Are you headed that way?”
“Yeah.”
“Me, too.”
They fell into step as they crossed the street. “I have to pick up my son from Peyton, my wife. She has to help our daughter, Jody, for something at school. Peyton is better at that than I am. I have two kids now, you know.”
“Yes, I heard. You and Hardy are keeping Horseshoe populated.”
“We do our best, ma’am.”
Her heart took a nosedive at the word ma’am. Wyatt didn’t say it like Egan did, and for a moment she stood there, completely still, wondering how that one little word could be so important to her and make her heart utterly stop.
As if sensing her thoughts, Wyatt said, “I’m sorry about what happened to Egan. I know you were, too.”
Rachel blinked, trying to focus on the conversation. “Yes...yes. I was. But you should say that to Egan.”
“I have, and he was a good sport about everything.”
“That sounds like Egan. He—” She immediately stopped what she was going to say because she knew it would reveal too much of what she was feeling. “I’m just sorry my father had to get involved.”
Wyatt nodded. “Hopefully, for the last time.”
He opened the door and they walked into Angie’s office
“Dad-dy. Dad-dy.” A little brown-haired boy, about two, ran to him and wrapped himself around his leg. Wyatt lifted him into his arms.
“This is J.W., otherwise known as the boss of the family,” Wyatt said, introducing his son. A blonde who had been talking to Angie walked over. Wyatt slipped an arm around her waist. “And this is my wife, Peyton.”
“Nice to meet you.” They shook hands. “I’ve heard so much about you from Angie,” Peyton said.
“Likewise. Angie and I have known each other forever.”
“We have to do lunch or something—”
“Dad-dy,” the little boy interrupted.
“He’s been waiting and waiting for you.” Peyton brushed back their son’s hair. “And I have to get going or Jody will be upset.”
They quickly said their goodbyes and the Carsons left. Rachel looked around the spacious office with terra-cotta walls, plants and photos of the kids. All Angie.
“Looks nice.”
“It’s so good to be away from the bakery, although it’s only a few steps through that door.” She pointed and then walked over to the crib beside her desk. “He’s been sleeping for a while and everyone wants to pick him up. I’m fiercely guarding him or I’ll be up all night.”
AnaMarie, Angie’s older sister, came in, with a big white apron covering her slacks and blouse. A net covered her brown hair. AnaMarie did most of the baking now, Angie had said. “Is he—Rachel!” She grabbed her in a big hug. “Look at you. All sophisticated, but then you always were.”
Before Rachel could respond, Doris, their mother, walked in, dressed similarly to AnaMarie. “Rachel!” Doris pulled her into her ample bosom and Rachel caught a whiff of vanilla. It was like coming home. “What do you think of our Erin? Isn’t she something?”
“I adore her.” Rachel knew Doris hadn’t been happy when she’d found out Hardy was Erin’s father, but she’d clearly adjusted.
“And now another baby in the family. My heart is full.”
Angie’s twin sisters, Patsy and Peggy, the beauticians, came through the front door and there were more hugs and laughs. The twins could always make Rachel laugh.
“Look at her beautiful hair,” AnaMarie said to the twins. “Why can’t you do my hair like that?”
“It’s like a canvas, big sis,” Patsy told her. “You need something to work with first, and that mop of yours is like straw.”
“Shut up.”
“You shut up.”
Peggy put an arm around Rachel. “Don’t listen to them. I could put a streak of purple in your hair that would be dazzling.”
“Leave the girl alone,” Doris said. “She looks fine without you messing with her hair. You could use less purple.”
Peggy flipped back her blondish-purple hair. “You have no taste.”
“Enough,” Angie interrupted. “If you wake the baby, I will throttle all of you.”
“That’s what we were trying to do,” Patsy said with a laugh. “We rarely get to hold him because Hardy has all these rules. He’s like a wart on my butt. Annoying.”
“There are rules because if we hold him all day, he wants to be held all night, and Hardy and I are the ones who have to be up with him.” Angie looked at the clock on the wall. “In about thirty minutes he’ll awake for a feeding and then everyone can hold him. After that, I’m going home to my family.”
“See how she’s gotten.” Patsy nodded to Rachel. “Bossy and annoying just like her husband.”
It was always fun to be around the Wiznowski sisters. They had a sort of no-holds-barred relationship with each other: honest and straightforward, even when it hurt. Life was simple in Horseshoe. A part of Rachel wanted the life and happiness she’d had when she was a kid. But that was just because the memories were so good. Until her mother’s death.
Angie shook her head as her sisters and mom went back to work. “It’s like a day at the zoo.”
“But it’s nice to have family around. I love New York, but it gets lonely sometimes.”
“Then come home. This is where you belong.”
Rachel was searching for an answer when the door opened again and a pretty blonde walked in. Rachel didn’t recognize her. Angie fidgeted with papers on her desk and Rachel knew this woman had some sort of significance, to make Angie nervous.
“How did the appointment go?” the blonde woman asked. She tiptoed to the crib and Angie got up to join her.
“Everything was fine. The doctor said he’s right on schedule.”
“He’s so adorable and I just want to pick him up and smooch him.”
“His cheeks are so kissable,” Rachel said without thinking.
The blonde looked at her. “Oh, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Lacey Garrison and I own the flower shop two doors down.”
“I’m Rachel Hollister. It’s nice to meet you.” Obviously, the woman was a friend of Angie’s, but then everyone was a friend of Angie’s.
“Oh.” Clearly, the woman was startled.
“Rachel,” Angie hastened to explain, “Lacey’s husband is Egan’s uncle.”
“Oh.” This time Rachel was the one stunned.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Lacey said. “After what you’ve been through, you look great.”
“I’m so sorry about what happened to Egan.”
“We all were, and Gabe did everything he could to keep him out of jail. If you remember a tall, sinfully good-looking man in your hospital room, that would be my husband. He wanted to get the truth as soon as possible and he wasn’t trusting anyone.”
“I was out most of the time, but I’m glad he was there to help Egan.”
Lacey glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to run.” She looked at Angie. “Do you need me to pick up Erin?”
“She has something at school and Hardy will pick her up later. But thanks.”
“No problem. You’ve help
ed me a million times.” Lacey’s eyes settled on Rachel. “I hope you enjoy your stay in Horseshoe. It has become my favorite place in the world.”
“Thank you.” Rachel liked the woman and wanted to say more. “I would like the Rebel family to know how grateful I am to Egan for saving my life. He will always have a special place in my heart.”
“Egan is kind of special, but then I’m partial to the Rebels. Nice meeting you.”
After the door closed on Lacey, Rachel turned to Angie, who was making sure Trey was covered up. “I like her.”
Angie walked back to her desk. “Yes. She’s had a rough year, but we’ve all tried to be there for her.”
Rachel sank into the leather chair across from her. “What happened?”
“Her father passed away and left her guardianship of her six-year-old half sister. Gabe was her next-door neighbor and had lost his eight-year-old son in an accident. They both were struggling and we all were so happy when they found love...with each other.”
“Maybe dreams come true in Horseshoe, Texas.”
“Which reminds me.” Angie leaned back with a smug expression on her face. “Last night as I was going to bed I heard a sound and looked out the window, to see lights going down the road. It had to be you, so my question is where did you go that late at night?” She held up a hand as Rachel started to speak. “And don’t say it’s none of my business. I love you and I worry about you, especially since you shared your reasons for not coming home for so long.”
Rachel ran her hands through her hair. “You probably know where I went.” She didn’t see a need to lie.
“You went to visit Egan?”
Rachel nodded as tears formed at the back of her eyes. She hated that she was this weak.
“From your expression, I’d say it didn’t go well.”
Rachel was used to sharing things with Angie, except her deep dark secret about her mother. Maybe Egan should be one of those secrets. But she needed to talk to someone.
“I went to thank him for what he did for me, and it went really well. We had one of those evenings I’ll never forget. He was loving, kind and caring. Everything you want in a man.”