Deep in a Texan's Heart

“If you turn him down, you better be ready for a battle. Sam Gordon doesn’t strike me as the type to give up. He’s eaten a lot of dinners at our house. He’s a nice man, Lila.”

“I know he is, Mom. That helps.”

“And on the subject of announcing your pregnancy—you have to tell your father.”

“I told you I will before I leave, but I want to make decisions about what I’ll do. Dad will want to take over totally. And there’s no doubt he’ll want Sam to marry me. I can’t bear to think about that one. Also, I don’t want to hear Hack’s smart remarks.”

“I could break the news first to your dad and he will take care of your brother.”

“Let me think about what I’ll do,” Lila said, while she wished she could go right back to California.

Barbara stood and hugged Lila. “Don’t worry. I’m glad you’re home. Of course, if I have to, I’ll go to California when the baby is born.”

“I understand.”

“Whatever you do, you know I’ll back you up.”

Lila squeezed her mother’s hand. “You’re still the best mom in the whole world.”

Barbara laughed. “I love you, Lila, and love having you home. I’ll go see about your dad now. He was asleep when I came in here.”

Lila bent over plans and pictures again. She jotted down ideas as she looked at Shannon’s notes. Finally, she shoved them aside to think about Sam. How was she going to tell him?

Wednesday morning, even though she didn’t want to see Sam, she couldn’t keep from studying how she looked before she left the ranch. She changed twice before finally settling on a plain two-piece dress, a sleeveless green cotton one with a V neckline. Like several newly purchased dresses for the trip to Royal, the top was tailored and came to her hips with a straight skirt below it that once again hid her waist.

She didn’t want to run into Sam and have him studying her figure while she was wearing something that showed her waist. She brushed her hair and clipped it up on the back of her head. After a few critical moments in front of her mirror, she was satisfied.

When she reached the club, she spread her plans on the game table in the future billiard room to study them again while waiting for Shannon.

Her cell phone interrupted her and she answered to hear Shannon’s voice.