Page 7 of Taking Charge (Lone Star Burn 4)
“What are you saying, Wyatt? Do you know something?” Please say no.
“Just rumors and rumblings, but where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. You shouldn’t be out here alone. It’s not safe.”
Lucy straightened her shoulders. “I’m never alone. There’s always someone working here.”
“York’s men. If you and he aren’t getting married, why are his men still here?”
A chill went down Lucy’s back. “Out of kindness?”
Wyatt let out a guffaw. “Or he already considers it his.”
“You don’t really believe that, do you?” Lucy hugged her arms across her waist.
“I’ve got one question, Miss Lucy. Why do you want this ranch? Are you holding on to it for the right reasons?”
Lucy stood and walked to the window. “My parents were married on this land. My family was born and have died here for generations.”
“I’m not talking about your family, Miss Lucy. I’m talking about you. Before you go up against a man like Mr. York, you’d better be sure you want what you’re fighting for.”
Lucy looked out the window of the living room. “I spent most of my life dreaming of life somewhere else, but that changed when I came home. Before my mother died, she told me the only real comfort she had was knowing I had returned home. She said she knew I would do whatever it took to keep the land in our family. I swore to her I would. My parents sacrificed so Steven and I could have this land. Their parents did the same before them. If I walk away from it, everything they gave up was for nothing.” Lucy was quiet a moment, then in almost a whisper she added, “I gave my word I’d keep it in the family. I’ve lost so much; if I lose this place, too, I feel like I might just lose myself. I’m not leaving, Wyatt. If Ted tries to take this land from me, he’ll have one hell of a fight on his hands.”
Wyatt stood beside her. “Don’t know if you realize it or not, but you just sounded a lot like your daddy right then. He’s looking down, and he’s proud.”
Lucy kept her eyes averted. “I’m not so sure of that, but I’m not beat yet. I’m starting a business online. If I do it right, I should be in a better financial place soon.”
“What kind of business are you starting?”
Lucy blushed and kept looking out the window. “Just selling knickknacks online. The company does well, and with my degree I’m hopeful I can, too.”
“If it’s a business you think you need help running, I imagine I’ll soon be unemployed.”
Lucy’s head snapped around. “I won’t tell anyone you were here.”
“In a town this small, you won’t have to, Lucy. You know that. I don’t regret it, though. You needed to know.”
“Oh, Wyatt. I wish I could afford to offer you a job right now.”
Wyatt squinted while looking out the window. “If I take your herd to Abilene, you’ll have money you weren’t counting on.”
Lucy chewed her bottom lip. Ted would probably fire Wyatt as soon as he heard Wyatt went behind his back to help her. She owed him whatever she could do, but she needed to be honest. “It won’t go far. And I don’t know how this business will do. I can let you have your old house, though. And you’re welcome to stay there as long as you need it. I hate asking you to settle for that little, but it’s all I can do right now.”
Wyatt held out his work-roughened hand. “I’ll take it.”
Lucy shook his hand. She would have hugged him if she were the hugging type just for giving her one moment when she didn’t feel completely alone. She gave him a small, grateful smile and walked with him to the door. “The house is unlocked. Move in when you want.”
Wyatt nodded. “I’ll be back tomorrow with some men. Remember what I said. Be careful, Lucy.”
After he’d gone, Lucy slumped against the door and covered her face with her hands. It had been hard enough to break off her engagement to Ted, but the idea that he might hurt her to get the property sent a shudder of fear through her. She pushed off the wall, went to her father’s gun cabinet, and unlocked it.
She closed her eyes briefly and prayed she was doing the right thing. A sane person would leave. She took out her cell phone and considered calling Steven again. He hadn’t answered her in months. I’ll make things right, Steven. We haven’t failed yet.
She took out a rifle and placed it behind the coatrack near the door, exactly where her father had always kept it. I don’t need a man to protect me.
I don’t need anyone at all.
Her phone rang just then, and Lucy’s hands shook so much, she almost dropped it. She checked the screen and didn’t know what to say when she saw who the caller was.
David Harmon.
He’d told himself he wouldn’t call her. He’d reminded himself that he barely knew her, and he wasn’t the kind of man who chased a woman. But he kept remembering what Sarah had said, “How sad would it be if your pride kept you from calling her, and you lost her again?”
Lucy answered, and for a moment he was tongue-tied like some fool teenager trying to talk to his first crush. He cleared his throat. “Lucy, it’s David.”
When she finally answered, her voice was soft and hesitant. “I know. Caller ID.”
He plowed forward. “How are you?”
She let out a shaky breath, then said, “Good. Everything is good. I have to go, David. Thanks for calling.”
“Don’t hang up. There’s something I need to say.”
“Oh my God, is it Sarah? Tell me she’s okay. I don’t know what I’d do if she isn’t.”
“Sarah’s fine. Everyone here is fine.” Shit. I’m fucking this up.
“Oh, good.” Her relief sounded profound, and he felt like an ass for worrying her. For a moment, she sounded as if she were laughing and crying at the same time. “Sorry. I had a rough morning. I’m still a little all over the place.”
David’s gut twisted, and he pulled his truck over to the side of the road. “Is there anything I can do?”
“No,” she answered sadly. “I can handle this on my own.”
“You don’t have to. You have people in Fort Mavis who care about you.” Me, for example.
“I appreciate your concern, David, but it’s not necessary. What was it you called to say?”
That no matter how hard I try, I can’t forget you? You’re all I think about before I go to bed at night, and I wake up wanting you. That I haven’t been with a woman since I met you because none of them have your smile, your laugh, that perfectly rounded ass of yours. David rubbed a hand over his eyes and shook his head. “I want to see you.”
“You can’t come here, David. Not now.”
“Sarah told me you broke off your engagement. Did you?”
“Yes, but it doesn’t change anything.”
“I’d say it changes everything.”
“I wish I could explain, but I can’t, David. It’s complicated.”
“So let’s uncomplicate things. I haven’t slept right since I saw you again. I can’t stop thinking about how much I want to taste those sweet lips of yours. Tell me you feel the same.”
Lucy’s voice shook with emotion as if she were on the verge of breaking into tears. “How I feel doesn’t matter right now. I can’t risk making the situation here worse. I’m sorry.”
Fuck. What am I thinking blurting it all out like that? I’ve been spending too much time with Sarah. “What situation? Talk to me, Lucy.” His heart was thudding heavily in his chest. He knew then that whatever was wrong, he’d move heaven and earth to fix it.
“David, do yourself a favor and forget you met me. I’m not in a good place right now. Not in my head. Not in my life. Don’t come here. It wouldn’t be safe for you.” She hung up without saying another word.
David sat in his truck, staring at the long empty road ahead of him. Not safe? What the hell is she dealing with up there? The idea of her being afraid of anyone or anything filled him with a protective fury that overrode his normally calm nature.
He called Tony and pulled back onto the road. “Hey, I’m heading out of town. Lucas can cover for me as far as working with the horses. Ask Sarah to cancel my Thursday lessons.”
“How long will you be gone?” Tony asked in his usual gruff tone.
