That Last Night In Texas

“I’d feel better about that theory if you hadn’t been saying it since last October.”

Josh knelt to pluck a few stray leaves from a ragged line of thyme plants. “You worry too much.”

She couldn’t refute that claim, so she remained silent. But really, why shouldn’t she worry? Donny would be thirteen later this year. Puberty. Hormones out of whack. Mood swings. And on top of that, he was in the midst of the crushing reality that he had not been able to keep his parents from getting a divorce.

Cassie moved along the row of herbs, gathering empty plastic pots, stacking them as she went.

It had been six months since she and Josh had called it quits. Amicably and fairly, without a single harsh word between them. Their breakup had been as civilized as their marriage.

Last year, she’d been the one to broach the subject of divorce after she’d discovered Josh had cheated on her. One time, he’d sworn, and meaningless. But once given an opening, the truth emerged, though Josh had had a hard time articulating the dissatisfaction Cassie had been sensing in him for a long time.

“You know I love you, Cassandra,” he had said sadly. “I always have. I thought it would be enough for us to start from there. But let’s face it. You’ve never felt the same about me. And over the years, there are times…I can’t help thinking maybe…what if…I want a houseful of kids. And I don’t want to be too old to enjoy them…”

As though ashamed to have such thoughts, he had looked away. Personally, Cassie could have wept at his honesty. She’d never been unfaithful in all her married years, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t entertained some pretty unwifely thoughts. Josh was too good for her. Too nice. It made her want to behave badly just to see if he could be pushed into passion.

Well-mannered coupling with him had left her feeling cheated, and the man had never stirred more than feelings of deep friendship in her. She didn’t know why. It was just a fact, like the sun rising tomorrow.

For years she had tried not to think about the only other man she had ever made love to. Tried not to recall those times when she had kissed Ethan Rafferty and his mere touch had been the end of decency and good manners. Going there only brought back a memory of grief and pain so raw that she could hardly breathe.

Not that it mattered much whether she consciously thought of Ethan or not. She had the constant reminder of him in their son—Donny’s dark hair and sky-blue eyes. That devilish twist to his lips when he was up to mischief. God must have a sense of humor, after all, to give her a child who looked so much like his father.

Thinking of her son, Cassie scanned the land behind the house. The yard ended at the beaten trail that ran from the side of the house to the barns. Beyond the trail, fenced paddocks held a few horses that munched grass contentedly. There was no sign of Donny.

The afternoon sun was brutal on her back, and she wanted nothing more than to strip off her clothes and slip into the tub for a soothing soak. Where was he? And what was he up to?

Josh had followed her down the row and now stopped in front of her. His hand touched her cheek, and she caught the scent of sweet, pungent thyme. “You have dirt on your nose,” he said, swiping his finger across it.

She didn’t pull away. Their relationship had always been so easy, so uncomplicated. His brief fling hadn’t changed that. Neither had divorce. And no matter what, he was still a wonderful father to Donny.

He glanced over her shoulder as Ziggy began to bark. Cassie turned to see what had caught their attention.

A man and woman were coming around the corner of the house. They were no more than silhouettes because of the rusty light of the lowering sun behind them. Cassie squinted and shaded her eyes, waiting.

The woman wore typical Texas casual, and Cassie thought she looked familiar. A Realtor, maybe. Melody? Meredith? Yes, that was the name.

As for the man, he was dressed in a suit, distinctly out of place here amid longhorns and chaps. Cassie supposed he could be a businessman from Houston, but even in the city the men wore boots and Stetsons. He looked…

She pulled in a sudden, shocked breath. She felt as though she’d been kicked, hard and fast. Josh must have heard her, or sensed her stiffening, because his arm came around her possessively, protectively.

Ethan.

Here. Back on Flying M property.

The man who had made her heart slip again and again into overdrive. The man who had helped to shape her entire existence. The man who had given her Donny, the most precious thing in her life.

How could he be walking toward her this very minute? How could the fragile universe she’d created for herself crumble so quickly?

Some animal instinct briefly flared, then just as quickly burned out. Disgusted by her reaction, Cassie forced herself to draw a deep, fortifying breath, while sanity made a welcome return.

She could handle this. No need to let old memories stir and ridiculous hungers awaken. She was no longer a lovesick eighteen-year-old girl. Lovesick. Even now, the word made her cringe when she remembered how foolish she’d been thirteen years ago.

“Ziggy!” she admonished the dog, who immediately began running silently in happy circles.

The couple reached them. The blonde held out her hand. “Hello there! Your housekeeper said everyone was out back. I hope you don’t mind if we join you.” She handed Josh her business card, offering him a big smile. “Do you remember me from the last town meeting? I’m Meredith Summerlin, from Summerlin Realty.”

“Yes,” Josh said. “Nice to see you again.”

Meredith indicated her companion. “This is my client, Ethan Rafferty. He says he used to work on the Flying M years ago.”

Josh nodded. “Of course we remember him.”

Something in her ex-husband’s tone told her that he was just as surprised as she was, but Cassie couldn’t have glanced at him if her life depended on it. She had not been able to stop looking at Ethan, no matter how determined she was to remain composed. The truth was, her heart was racing, and she couldn’t make it slow down.

“It’s nice to see you both again,” Ethan said politely, and held out his hand.

She took it. What else could she do, really? She was dimly aware that his calluses and nicked knuckles had disappeared. He carried himself well, and his muscular body seemed honed to new hardness. Every inch of him looked sophisticated, tamed, important.

“Hello, Ethan,” she said simply, keeping her tone neutral even though her nerves were a jumbled mess.

He gave her a quick smile as if he appreciated and even admired her attempt at indifference. Then his features were unreadable once more.

Thank God Meredith Summerlin was in full business mode. “Mr. Rafferty’s interested in the acreage you have for sale off Jackalope Road. I was wondering if we could sit down sometime soon and discuss the particulars.”

Cassie frowned at Ethan. “You want to ranch that land?”

“No, that’s not—”

“Mom! Dad!” a distant voice shouted. “Check it out!”

Everyone turned to see a palomino come flying around the corner of the house, ridden along the grassy trail by a boy who waved wildly at them.

It was Donny, on his new gelding, Cochise. He’d had the animal less than two weeks—a surprise present from Josh because he’d outgrown his older mount. Cassie didn’t think the two were used to one another yet, and she wished Donny would take things more slowly. Right now, he had the reins clenched in his teeth as he spread his arms wide and guided Cochise only with his legs, like a rider in a Wild West show.

A wave of tenderness for so lively and charming a child ran through her, but she couldn’t help that her heart jumped a little. Be careful, she wanted to shout. Don’t you know what can happen?

Then, just like that, a different kind of panic zoomed up her spine. A fluttering sensation spread out from her abdomen. If Donny came any closer, Ethan was sure to notice the resemblance. He would see his own features in his son’s face.

He would know the truth.

“Way to go, Donny!” Josh yelled, clapping his hands. Ziggy began barking his support, too.

Cassie kept silent, trying to think what to do.

Donny and Josh often accused her of being too protective. Having put up with her father’s smothering concern for so long, she had never wanted to be that way, but she knew how quickly things could go wrong.

And yet you couldn’t grow up on a working ranch without spending hours in the saddle. Donny had been on horses since he was a toddler. Josh had seen to that, and he was right. Her incident with Bandera mustn’t be allowed to poison the boy.

Could she play the “worried mother” card? Not difficult to do since her son often frightened her with his antics these days.