Page 49 of Texas Made
Damaris and Chase might do it but he’d feel better if he was here. Besides, he didn’t feel right always dumping on his brother and sister. It was a family business, which meant he had to pull his own weight.
“Never mind,” she said when he hesitated. “You obviously have more important things to do than go to a party with me.”
“That’s not it, Jaclyn. You know it’s not.”
“No, I really don’t.”
“What do you want me to say? I have responsibilities here. Just like you have in Dallas.”
“That’s the problem. We both have responsibilities in two different cities. That’s never going to change.”
“It’s one lousy night, Jaclyn. Don’t make a federal case out of it. Besides, it might not even happen, in which case I could come.”
“But you won’t know until the last minute. And it’s not just one night. If that were all it was it might be different. But it’s happened over and over. One or the other of us can’t leave town. This is the first weekend we’ve been together since the fire. And God only knows how long it will be until the next one.”
He pressed his lips together. She was overreacting but he didn’t say that. He wasn’t an idiot. “What do you suggest we do, then?”
She looked at him for a long moment. “I think we should break up.”
*
You are fuckingkidding me.He couldn’t have heard right. “Break up? Are you kidding?”
“I wish I was.”
“That’s a terrible idea. I’m in love with you. I don’t want to break up.”
“I love you too. But if we keep going like this we’ll wind up hating each other.”
“No we won’t.”Not this again.
“Resenting each other then. I can’t always be the one coming down here.”
“It isn’t forever. Just until things settle down.”
“And when will that be?”
“How the hell do I know?” he asked. Damn. Why was Jaclyn the one woman who drove him to cussing in front of her? Not even Damaris consistently hit that button so accurately. “I can’t put a time limit on it. It depends.”
“Meanwhile I’m supposed to drop everything and come down here when you can’t even come up to Dallas for one lousy party.”
He started to comment that no one had forced her to come down for the weekend but he bit his tongue. Talk about adding fuel to the fire. “Look, I see why you’re upset. I know this party is important to your business. I’d be there if it was possible. But me missing a party is no reason to break up.”
“It’s not the only reason. I want someone I can depend on and all I can depend on with you is that you can’t come see me.”
Frustrated, he ground his teeth. “You’re being totally unreasonable.”
“No, I’m not.”
“I will see if we can reschedule the mare. He might be more certain of her cycle by then. If I can then I’ll come to Dallas and go to that party with you.”
“You’re only doing it because you know I’m upset.”
“What do you want from me, Jaclyn? If I don’t go, you’ll be mad, and if I try to go, you’ll still be mad. I can’t win.”
She didn’t answer but turned her horse around and headed back to the barn. Marshall followed, just as silently.Women. Who could understand them?
When they got back they took care of the horses, cooling them down, brushing them, picking out their hooves, making sure they had food and water. All still silently. Finally, as they walked back to the house, he asked, “Do you have to leave soon?”
