Page 60 of Texas Made
“What? Spit it out.”
“I can see you’re excited. But would you be doing this if it weren’t for the fact that Marshall lives in Whiskey River and you want to be near him? What if it doesn’t work out between you two? And then you’re stuck in Whiskey River. Do you really want to live there? Aside from Marshall, I mean.”
Although it annoyed her that Rachel was raining on her parade, she knew her friend had the best intentions. Rachel worried about her and wanted her to be happy. “I might not be talking about a new division in Whiskey River, but I think I’d start something here. I’ve thought about expanding for a long time now. Marshall gave me the perfect impetus to get off my butt and do something about it. As for Marshall and me not working out, I think we will. Sometimes you just have to take a chance. I love him, Rachel.”
“Yes, but do you think you’ll love Whiskey River?”
“I can’t be positive, of course. Not yet anyway. I’ve always liked it. And after being there a few months, I appreciate it more. It’s a cool little town. Very different from the city but if I want the city it’s not like Dallas is a million miles away. Austin and San Antonio are even closer.”
“Your mind is made up about this?”
“It is.” She held out her hand. “Shake on it. Partner.”
Rachel laughed and shook hands. “You realize I probably won’t sleep tonight I’ll be so excited.”
“Welcome to my world,” Jaclyn said, laughing.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Marshall’s life hadimproved significantly since he and Jaclyn got back together. But the guilt was beginning to get to him. Not that Jaclyn had said anything about him not being able to come to Dallas very often. Once they decided that something was better than nothing, she hadn’t uttered a word of complaint.
But it really bothered him that there seemed to be no good answer to their problem. Because he wanted to be with her all the time. He was in love with her. He wanted to marry her. But if they couldn’t make a long-distance relationship work now then how did he expect to make a marriage work given that handicap?
He was checking on Snowdrop when he heard Damaris’s voice calling for him. “Marshall, is Jaclyn coming back this weekend?”
“I don’t know. She hasn’t said.”
“Why do you look down? You should be happy as a clam at high tide. Unless you and Jaclyn already broke up again.”
“I’m not down. And no, we didn’t break up again, smart a—alec,” he said, substituting. He still tried not to cuss around his sisters and other women. But for some reason he’d cussed more with Jaclyn than he ever had with another woman. He wondered why that was. Maybe because he didn’t feel like he had to guard himself with her. But that didn’t make sense since you’d think he’d feel like he could be himself with his sisters.
This was his grandmother’s fault. If she hadn’t drilled it into his brain that he couldn’t cuss in front of women he wouldn’t have to always be guarding his tongue. He didn’t cuss that much anyway. When he did it was often in his head and not out loud. Well, unless one of his brothers really pissed him off.
“Then what’s wrong?”
“No point talking about it.” He sighed and sat on a bench outside the barn. Damaris sat beside him.
“You’ll feel better if you do.”
“Doubtful.” But he went ahead and told her. “We’re back together but who knows for how long. We still have a big problem there’s no way to solve.”
“You live here and she lives in Dallas.”
“Got it in one.”
“Have you thought about buying us out and starting over somewhere near Dallas?”
He turned his head to stare at her. “Have you been talking to Chase?”
“Of course. But not about this.”
“I already went through this with him. I can’t. For a variety of reasons. Not the least of which are money and not leaving the family in a lurch.”
“I’m not surprised you said that. And I really don’t want you to leave. But I also like seeing you happy and you’ve been happier with Jaclyn than you ever have before. And she’s happy too. You two belong together.”
“Thanks. I think we’ll just have to get used to doing the long-distance gig. And hope that I’ll be able to go to Dallas more in the future.”
“Maybe we should hire more help.”
