Six

Lara stood aside and watched Houston and her family cart in her belongings. Pain swept through her at the sight of the battered, old trunk. Her mother had brought that to Texas in the back of a covered wagon. Knowing what the trunk held sent Lara’s mind tumbling to the night almost a year and a half ago when her life had been very nearly taken from her.

Deep in the very bottom of the trunk, hidden in a corner, was the locket with a broken chain, left that way when Yuma had ripped it from her throat.

The necklace had belonged to her grandmother and she’d loved it once. Yet, she couldn’t bear to look at it now. She lowered her gaze to Gracie asleep in her arms. That a precious life could have come from such an evil monster astounded her. God willing, the child would never learn who her father was.

Houston came through the door with her rocking chair. A smile curved his mouth and melted a bit of the ice gripping her heart. “Do you want me to leave this in the parlor or put it up in your bedroom?”

At the mention of the bedroom, fear shot through her. It must’ve reflected in her face, because Houston murmured low, “You and Angel will have the large room.” He set down the chair and lifted his hand as though to touch her, before letting it fall. “You have nothing to fear from me, Lara. I’ll never enter your sanctuary unless you ask me.”

The surprise announcement wound through her like some kind of trailing vine. She hadn’t expected respect like this from a man who’d been given no way out of their arrangement. Her father and Stoker may as well have marched him to the preacher at gunpoint.

Lara found her voice. “Put it upstairs then. I like to rock her at night.”

“I can always bring it down if you change your mind.”

Gracie stirred and opened her eyes. She gazed at Houston for a moment then smiled shyly, ducking her head into the curve of Lara’s shoulder. It appeared her daughter was already taken with Houston Legend. But then, he did have that effect on the ladies.

“She’s a real beauty.” Houston’s deep voice sent a vibration through Lara and she loved the warm tingle that danced up her spine. “I ’spect I’ll have to beat the suitors away from our door in a few years.”

Without saying more, Houston went upstairs, and Lara’s gaze followed him with amazement. He carried the sturdy rocker with one hand as though it weighed nothing.

She wandered into the dining room and set Gracie on the spotless floor to crawl. Henry quietly joined her.

“Gracie likes it,” he said, grinning. “No shadows here.”

Lara smiled and put her arm around him. “Nope, no shadows, Henry. Only sunlight spilling in the windows.” Ghosts couldn’t follow. She’d left them behind. Maybe she could finally heal and grow strong again with this fresh start and forget the past. Or at least find a way to live with it.

“Don’t get too tired, little brother.” Lara ruffled Henry’s hair. “You know I love you, don’t you?”

The boy nodded. “Yep. I ain’t never gonna let anybody be mean to you again.”

“I know.” But who would stop folks from being mean to him? Waves of sadness rippled over Lara. Henry was unprepared for the cruel things people would say and do. Her mother always said that Henry was a special gift from God and Lara knew that to be true.

When the men came down and announced that they were finished, Henry rose from playing with Gracie and put his arms around Houston. If Houston thought it strange for a fourteen-year-old boy to embrace him, he didn’t let on.

Houston ruffled his hair. “Still thinking of blacking my eye?”

The boy grinned up at him. “My pa said you’re a brother so I gotta be nice.”

“That’s right.” Houston draped an arm across Henry’s shoulders. “Do you remember our secret?”

“Yep. I ain’t never gonna tell that you made your brother Sam kiss a horny toad.”

Houston threw back his head and laughed, even though Lara knew he probably felt far from it.

Lara’s heart swelled, and Houston’s kindness raised him quite a few notches in her estimation. She had nothing to fear from a man who could be kind to Henry, win a smile from shy little Gracie, and give her the biggest bedroom all to herself. Lara gazed over the top of Henry’s head and mouthed, Thank you.

Before she realized it, she was telling her family good-bye. The silence they left behind was deafening. For a moment, Lara wanted to snatch up Gracie and go with them. But her place was with Houston now.

She had a new life to build.

“Would you like to see the upstairs?” he asked. “You can get settled in while I go take care of the stock.”

Lara nodded and picked up Gracie. Houston’s light touch at the small of her back made her feel safe. And cherished. Except she knew the last to be false.

If he would simply tolerate her messing up his life, that would be enough.

They went up the stairs and he drew her through an open door. Like everything below, the bedroom was light and airy, wallpapered in soft green with a pretty scroll design. A lovely quilt covered the bed. It reminded her of her mother and Lara could almost feel warm arms around her. One of the men had set up Gracie’s crib beside it, the rocker that had belonged to her mother nearby. A dressing room stood at one end and her clothes were already hung. He showed her a bathing room and the hot running water amazed her. It was sheer heaven.

“Lara, this door has a lock.” Houston met her eyes. “Use it if you need to. I’ll not have you terrified in your own house. Not of me or of anything.”

She wanted to tell him that she already felt as protected as she’d been in her home with her father, but she couldn’t get the words out. Maybe she could find ways to show her gratitude in the days ahead. And learn to somehow live with Becky Golden’s ghost that filled every corner.

As he turned toward the stairs, she found her voice. “Where will you sleep?” At his raised brow, she felt her face grow hot and added quickly, “Just in case I need you during the night.”

When he opened the door directly across the hall, she smothered a cry at the tiny, sparse room. She couldn’t let him give up everything for her. “You barely have space to turn around.”

“It’ll serve my needs. It has a bed and a washstand.” His voice seemed a little gruff, like he was angry. But Lara didn’t know why. Was it because she was there—a bride he didn’t want? Or maybe she’d reminded him of the bride he had wanted. The one he’d built the house for.

With an aching heart, she watched him stride down the stairs in that confident way of his. After seeing the small space where he would sleep, she expected that he would find excuses not to come home. Or maybe he’d seek out some other woman for the needs she wouldn’t relieve. There were always lonely women on a ranch—widows too.

A mist clouded her vision as she held Gracie tight against her breast. All she’d asked for was a name…and dear God, that summed up exactly what she’d gotten.

* * *

Houston closed the door of the house behind him, not knowing where he was going. He jerked off his hat and ran an impatient hand through this hair. He would’ve gone mad if he hadn’t gotten out of there.

How was he going to make this work?

One big problem was what to say to a woman he’d never met before today. And each time his gaze lit on the long scar down her face, dark anger welled up with such force that it took all his strength to control it.

Lara Boone Legend was a gentle soul who needed someone to love her, to hold her in the darkness, and to kiss away the sadness that clouded her beautiful green eyes. That man wasn’t him. He’d fulfill all other obligations.

But he’d never open his heart again.

Another problem was living in a house where Becky’s presence loomed, reminding him of everything he wanted to erase. Oh God, why had he thought he could do this?

With his jaw resolute, Houston strode toward the corral. Halfway there, a thought struck him. He’d left Lara and the baby in the house without a morsel of food. Damn! Only an uncaring fool would ride off without making sure they had something to eat. Where was his head? The evening shadows had already begun to fall.

Spinning around, he set a course for the ranch headquarters and went straight to the kitchen. A short time later, he returned to the white clapboard house that now had light shining in the windows. Juggling a large wicker basket under his arm, he opened the door. Lara jumped up from a chair at the empty dining room table, wiping her eyes. Gracie played at her feet with some spools that once held thread.

Houston pretended not to notice Lara’s wet lashes. “I brought enough food to get us by until Monday. I’m sure you’re hungry.”

A look of gratitude crossed her features as she took the basket from him. “In the hectic flurry of the day, I forgot to eat. I would’ve gone for these things, except I didn’t know where exactly to head. Everything’s so strange and new. I didn’t want to disturb anyone.”

He followed her into the kitchen. “In the future when I’m not around, go to the main house. Stoker will help you.”

“I’m sure he will,” she said softly, unpacking the wicker basket. “But like I said, I didn’t want to start off my life here bothering people.”

“You’re never going to be a bother, so get that notion out of your head.” He watched her sort the basket contents out into piles, and her eyes lit up when she removed the fresh apple pie.

“Since it’s getting late and I haven’t eaten today either, I thought we might scramble the eggs and fry some of the ham,” he suggested, seeing her indecision.

“I haven’t checked to see if we have pans to cook with.”

“We do.” The cooking utensils were left from a year ago when he thought…

“That settles it then. I might not know much about the workings of this ranch, but I’m an expert cook.” Lara’s hand collided with his when they bent to push aside a small curtain that covered the lower shelf. She froze. An awkward silence filled the room.

At last, Houston quietly said, “Let me get the pan for you.”

She nodded and moved back. “I should check on Gracie.”

Houston retrieved the skillet and set it aside. He stood staring out the window, cursing his incompetence as he bumbled his way through the strange maze of his life with this woman. They hadn’t even made it through one day. What would a week, a month, or a year be like?

At the sound of baby babbles, he turned to watch her sit the child on the floor. Making up his mind, Houston went and gently took Lara’s hands. “We have to find a way to coexist. I can’t live with you frightened of my every move. We can’t occupy the same house without touching or bumping into each other on occasion. It’ll get easier as we go. But for now, can you trust me?”

“I do, Houston.” Her vivid green eyes held misery. “It’s just that I don’t know what you expect of me.”

Her statement caught him by surprise. What did he expect? Certainly not a proper wife, given they were utter strangers. But not a cook and housekeeper either. That wasn’t right. No wife of his would ever fill the role of a maid to be at his beck and call.

Hell! He yearned for a stiff drink.

“A friend.” His answer surprised him probably more than it did her. “I expect you to be a partner. We both have things to forget. I need someone who’ll stand with me in good times and bad.”

Lara’s smile transformed her face. Again, her beauty struck him. He felt the urge to let his fingertips brush her delicate cheekbones and drift along the curve of her jaw.

“I can use a friend,” she said. “I’ll try not to ever make you sorry for your decision.”

“You won’t.” The words came out gruff and he didn’t know how he could say them with such confidence.

Yet, somehow deep in his being a calm surety settled, like disturbed silt gliding back to the bottom of a riverbed.

He felt a tug on his trouser leg and glanced down. Gracie had crawled to him and gripped the fabric in her tiny fist. He picked her up.

They would face lots of ups and downs but they’d survive. For no other reason than the little girl giving him a toothless, slobbery grin.

The babe needed a father. Lara, a husband.

And Houston desperately needed some reason to keep living.