The Texan's Bride

“Why would he or she have anything but love for you?” Chance asked.

“Because Jessie wants full custody.”

“Oh, my God.” Clearly, Chance was shocked. “She’s asking you to give up your flesh and blood?”

“She says I can see the child whenever I want, but basically I’d be trading the baby for Shilah.” His eyes swung to Kid. “Now do you understand my hesitation? Imagine how that child is going to feel about me later in life. I don’t want any kid of mine to have bad feelings about his father.”

Kid looked straight at him. “Then do something. You’re a wheeling-dealing gambler just like Roscoe. You can do anything if you put your mind to it. Remember that little old lady in Midland who said she’d die before she’d lease her land? Even I couldn’t sweet-talk her, but you mentioned her kids and how the money would benefit them. You had her eating out of the palm of your hand. You have to do that now. Find a way around this business deal. Make it work for you and Shilah.”

“For once I agree with Kid,” Chance said. “Whatever you do, though, do not give up your rights as a father.”

“I’ve got a handle on it now, guys. Thanks.”

“That’s what brothers are for,” Kid replied as he and Chance headed for the door.

Cadde drew the document forward. Jessie wasn’t going to have it all her way. He picked up a pen and began to scratch out lines he didn’t like and then he added his demands. At the bottom he scribbled his name.

Jessie was in for a shock.

CHAPTER THREE

CADDE MARCHED THROUGH the back door of the Murdock house. “Jessie,” he called.

No one answered, but he found Rosa in the kitchen. “Where’s Jessie?”

“Mr. Cadde,” Rosa acknowledged in surprise. “I wasn’t expecting you again.”

“Where’s Jessie?”

Rosa wiped her hands on her apron. “Probably at the barn. She went to feed her animals.”

Animals? What the hell was Rosa talking about? It suddenly hit him that he knew absolutely nothing about his wife other than she was Roscoe’s daughter and a pain to deal with at board meetings. He had no idea how she filled her days. He just had this vision of her lying across the bed in that big master bedroom eating bonbons. Obviously, she had more animals than that silly dog.

Before he could question Rosa, Jessie came through the door looking flushed. He did a double take and wasn’t really sure it was her at first. She wore jeans, a blue T-shirt and work boots. Dark stains smeared her T-shirt and strands of dark brown hair had worked loose from her knot, curling around her face. She looked like a teenager bent on a day of mischief.

“Cadde,” she said, breathing heavily. Evidently she’d run to the house. “I saw your truck…”

He held up the document in his hand. “We need to talk.”

“Oh. Okay. Let me wash my hands first.” She hurried into the bathroom off the kitchen.

“You don’t really know Miss Jessie, do you?” Rosa asked in a disapproving voice.

“No, ma’am. I don’t,” Cadde answered truthfully.

Rosa shook her head. “Mr. Roscoe was a good man but paranoid about his daughter. He never allowed her any freedom and…”

Jessie came back, interrupting Rosa. “I’ll check on Mirry and I’ll meet you in the sunroom,” she said to him.

“The dog can wait. We need to talk.”

“I’m checking on Mirry.” Her dark eyes narrowed and she brushed past him.

He charged into the sunroom, anger eating at his insides. Was she always going to have the upper hand? Whipping off his hat, he slammed it onto the glass table along with the damn document. He eased into a rattan chair, feeling out of place in the green-and-white room that overlooked the closed-in pool. Plants seemed to be everywhere, even hanging from the ceiling.

He took a long breath, trying to relax. He’d been negotiating business deals for years and he never felt as nervous as he did today. Jessie had a way of making him crazy, but this time he was going to be in control.

From the sunroof of the pool, sunlight danced off the water. He watched as if mesmerized…and waited.

AFTER CHECKING ON MIRRY, Jessie paused at the bottom of the stairs and drew a calming breath. She wanted to change her clothes, but that was pointless since Cadde had already seen her looking like one of the hired hands.

Why had he returned so soon? Could this unexpected visit mean he was accepting the offer? Or throwing it back in her face? Could this be the one thing Cadde Hardin wouldn’t do to gain control of Shilah—have a baby with her?

It was an insane idea in the first place. Yet they were married and she wanted a child. This old house was so lonely. Next time she would rethink her father’s advice.

She walked into the kitchen and got two glasses from the cabinet.

“What are you doing?” Rosa asked.

“Getting iced tea for Cadde and me.”

“That’s my job.” Rosa took the glasses from her.

“Rosa.”

Rosa paid her no attention, as always. In a matter of seconds she had them filled with ice and tea. She reached for two napkins off the granite kitchen island and handed them to Jessie.

Jessie kissed her cheek as she took them. “I love you.”

“You need someone else to love,” Rosa told her. “And I don’t mean all those animals out there.” She thumbed over her shoulder.

Jessie winked. “I’m working on it.”

“Miss Jessie, what are you up to?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

She breezed out of the kitchen and braced herself for the scene with Cadde. Her courage intact, she walked into the sunroom and placed a glass of tea and a napkin in front of him.

“Thank you,” he muttered, taking a swallow.

Jessie sipped hers before taking the seat across from him.

He pushed the document lying on the table toward her. “I signed it.”

“Oh.” Relief rushed through her. She hadn’t expected him to concede so quickly.

“But I made some changes.”