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“Relax. They’re not as bad as they look.” Tess gave a brief account of what had happened, leaving out the part where Brock had doctored her back. Val would tease her mercilessly about that.
Lexie’s innocent blue eyes welled with tears. Pregnancy had pushed her emotions to the edge. “Tess, that snake could have bitten you. You could’ve been trampled by the bulls, or you could’ve broken your neck falling off the horse. You’re lucky to be alive!”
“She’s fine, Lexie. You’re too young to remember how Tess was always getting bumped and scraped and stuck by cactuses when she was a kid. When it happened, she’d just jump up and keep on playing. Some things don’t change.” Val finished her Diet Coke and crumpled the can in her fist. “What I want to know is, did you find a bull to replace Whiplash?”
“Maybe. But I’m still thinking it over. You’ll know soon enough. Thanks for trusting me on this.”
“You’re the expert. Everybody trusts your judgment, even Ruben. Except maybe when it comes to men. Brock’s a good guy. He’s handsome and he’s got money. If you had any sense, you’d fall into his arms.”
Heat blazed in Tess’s cheeks. “That’s enough, Val! You don’t know Brock Tolman like I do. The man would sell his own grandmother if he thought he could make a profit on her. Besides, I found the perfect man once and lost him. There’ll never be anyone but Mitch for me.”
“We’ve been talking about this, Tess,” Lexie said. “Mitch has been gone almost ten years. He would want you to fall in love again and have a happy life, maybe even have a family. You know he would.”
Tess stood, leaving her milk and sandwich on the table. “This conversation is over,” she said. “I already have the life I want. I won’t stand for your trying to push me toward some man—especially a man I can’t stand!”
She stalked into the house, letting go of the screen door so the pull of the spring would slam it shut behind her. She knew she was being childish, but nothing less than a show of temper would get through to her sisters. Why couldn’t they just mind their own business? She didn’t need a man in her life—especially a man as power-hungry and domineering as Brock Tolman.
From the ranch office down the hall came the sounds of someone working. The hum of the printer and the muffled twang of country music from a local radio station grew more distinct as she stepped through the open doorway.
Shane Tully, Lexie’s husband, sat at the desk, which had been moved against the wall to accommodate the lightweight wheelchair he used around the house. He turned off the radio and swiveled to face her as she walked into the room.
Darkly handsome, Shane had been a top bull rider before a fall under a bull had damaged his spine, leaving him without the use of his legs. In his role as business manager of the ranch, he’d proven so invaluable to Tess that she could no longer imagine doing the job without him.
But that was what she feared might be about to happen.
“How’s it going?” She took a seat in the chair opposite him.
“Fine. Just updating the books and paying some bills.” He lowered his gaze, then met her eyes again. “I hear you may have found a bull.”
“So you’ve been talking to Brock.” Tess forced a smile.
“I have. He called while you were on the road. You know I promised to be up front with you, Tess. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
“Yes, I know. And I appreciate it, knowing that you’d never lie to me or go behind my back. I take it he’s pushing you hard for a decision.”
“Harder than ever. Today he almost sounded worried, which isn’t like Brock at all. He was talking about putting the ranch in a trust, with me as the beneficiary. He’s never mentioned that before. I can’t help wondering if something has happened. But as you know, Brock plays his cards pretty close to his vest.”
“Tell me about it. The man’s my business partner, and I hardly know anything about him. Like, how did he make enough money to build that ranch? The place has to be worth millions.”
“Smart investing, that’s all he’s ever told me. He has no family that I know of. Early on, he was married, but it didn’t last. No children. As he tells me, I’m the closest thing to a son he’s ever had.”
“How does that make you feel?” Tess asked.
“Pressured, more than anything. Any man would be a fool to turn down what he’s offering. But if I go back to Brock, he’ll own me for life. That was why I left him in the first place.”
“And Lexie? What’s she got to say about all this?”
“She’s torn, like I am. With Brock, we could give our children the best education, travel, security for life. But Brock would own them, too. That’s why we’ve agreed not to make any decisions until after the baby’s born. She definitely wants to be with her family for that.”
Tess stood. “Well, I’ll let you get back to work. If I take that black bull, he’ll be here in the next few days. I’ll be depending on your help and Ruben’s to settle him in.”
“You’ve got it.” As Tess moved toward the door, he swiveled his chair partway toward the desk, then paused. “Tess, whatever happens, you’ll always be family. We’ll always be there for you.”
“Thanks. I know.” She walked out of the room, fighting tears she didn’t want him to see. She could understand Shane’s concern about providing for his family. But if he were to join Brock, she would be losing half of her family—including the future children who would carry on the ranch. Val was unable to have a child. And Tess herself, past thirty and single, had long since given up on the idea of having a family of her own. Looking ahead, she could see the Alamo Canyon Ranch being taken over by Brock and his minions, whoever they might be. Everything her father, and his father before him, had built—and everything she had fought so hard to keep—would be gone.
How long could she keep fighting? How long before she wearied, surrendered to fate, and lost it all?
CHAPTER THREE
