Chapter 7

Leah stood as if frozen, gripping a handful of papers to her breast. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t feel.

The sound of the diesel motor starting up ripped into her soul like a chainsaw. If her feet could move, she might have ran outside and begged Ty to stay, but that was not an option. He had already given his time and energy to helping her and her family in so many ways she couldn’t keep track of them. Now, she had to be strong enough to let him go.

She willed her taut muscles to relax. To feel the flow of energy return to her extremities. To be able to breathe and think and move.

Sucking in a lungful of air, she blew it out forcefully. She didn’t cry. No, that wouldn’t do at all. She owed it to him to be more of a woman at his departure than she was when he had arrived in her life.

A strangled sound escaped her throat. She swallowed hard. No. None of that. I will be strong.

She swallowed again and fumbled with the documents she held. Her fingers felt clumsy and wooden, but she managed to place her papers on the desk. It was time to lock up and go home, but she slumped into her chair, staring off into the corner. She slipped away from her surroundings and relived every moment of her life that Ty had touched.

She recalled when he had first bought a meal for her and Gracie. How fearful and wary she had been. And then when he’d caught up to her on the road in the broken-down car. He never hesitated to do the right thing. To offer a hand. To be a hero.

She swiped at a tear that rolled down her cheek. “No!” she said aloud, startled at the sound of her own voice rebounding back from all the hard surfaces. “No,” she whispered.

It was after five o’clock, and she could escape, but she was reluctant to return home and see the faces of both Gran and Gracie. What would they think? Did they know already?

Biting her lip, she groped for the keys and her small bag. She pushed her chair up tight to the desk and turned out the lights. She locked up, noting the sign in the window and a reflection in the glass gazing back at her. A distraught woman. A victim.

No! her voice shouted in her head. I am not a victim.

Straightening her spine, she stomped off to her car and threw herself inside. Not a victim. Never again a victim. Slamming the door, she stuck the key in the ignition and started the car, revving the motor too hard. People on the sidewalk turned to stare at her. Embarrassed, she backed out and quickly pulled into the street, wanting to escape the questioning gazes. By the time she reached the edge of town, she could almost breathe. The tightness in her chest was abating, only to be replaced by a hollow ache.

How could I fall in love with him when I knew he was just passing through? How could I be so stupid? She hammered herself with recriminations all the way back to the ranch. She turned onto the caliche road and slowed to turn into Gran’s drive.

Her throat closed up when she saw the empty space where Ty had parked his big red truck…and the horse trailer was missing too. Of course he would take his prize horse. She felt as if she were choking as she coasted to a stop. She turned off the vehicle and sat for a moment, gathering her courage. Okay, I can do this. I can’t let Gracie see me this way. She stepped out of the car just as the screen door burst open and Gracie came running out.

Gracie threw herself at Leah, grabbing her neck with both arms, the cast encircling her like a vise. “Mommy! Mommy! Guess what?”

The screen door banged again, and two dogs came running after Gracie.

“What?” Leah managed weakly.

“Ty had to go to Dallas.”

Leah squatted down in the dirt to embrace her daughter. Eddie came up to lick her arm and jump up against Gracie. Lucky came on the other side and sat beside her.

“And he said he thought I was responsible enough to take care of Lucky, so I’m babysitting him.”

The weight of this announcement hit her like a fist. Leah blinked rapidly. “He left his dog?”

Gracie nodded furiously.

Leah glanced from Gracie to Lucky and back again. “Oh,” she whispered. “He’s coming back! He’s really coming back.” She collapsed in a heap, falling on her rear in the dust and taking Gracie with her. Both dogs clustered around, poking her with their cold noses and giving her reassuring licks. She lay on her back, staring up at the early evening sky with a big grin on her face, tears of joy rolling into her hair. Just like that, everything changed.

“Mommy, what’s wrong?” Gracie stared at her with concern.

“Nothing, baby. Nothing at all.”

* * *

It was dark when Ty pulled in at Will’s place. It was an old, converted brick building with the recording studio downstairs and living quarters above. Ty rang the bell and listened as footsteps sounded on the stairs. The door was flung open, and Will grabbed him in a big man hug.

“Glad to see you, buddy. Thought you were going to chicken out.” He pounded Ty on the back. Will was as tall as Ty and twice as wide. He seemed to have sprouted a beard since Ty had last seen him and bore an uncanny resemblance to a grizzly bear.

“Good to see you too, my friend.”

Will looked around. “Where’s your dog?”

“I left him with a friend,” Ty said.

Will snorted out a laugh. “I didn’t think you went anywhere without Lucky.”

Ty felt a pang of guilt, hoping he had made the right decision in leaving his dog in Gracie’s care.

“Come on in. Bring your stuff.” Will motioned to him.

Ty grabbed his guitar and duffel and stepped inside. He followed his friend up the stairs and found himself in a large, open space. Some of the walls had been removed, and the decor was definitely an ode to the music industry. Posters of country and rap artists adorned the walls, and nearly every horizontal surface was littered with CDs, most identified by scrawls of black permanent marker.

Will rounded on him. “Man, I’m glad to see you. You’re looking good. What’s going on at the Garrett homestead?”

Ty took a deep breath and expelled it. “There’s this girl…two of them to be exact…”

Will let out a howl. “Two of ’em and you didn’t call me? I thought you were my friend.”

Ty grinned and shook his head. “One of them is eight years old.” A picture of Gracie gazing up at him so trustingly flashed into his head. He swallowed and went on. “And the other one…” He paused, pressing his mouth into a straight line.

Will looked at him expectantly. “And? The other one was what?”

Ty heaved a deep sigh. “Just absolutely the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.” His voice trailed off as he visualized Leah’s sweet face.

Will punched him on the shoulder. “Man, you got it bad.”

“Yeah, I guess I do.”

Will pointed to a faded green futon. “That’s where you can crash, so drop your bag over there. The bathroom is under the stairs. Have you eaten?”

“I grabbed a burger on the way.”

Will pulled a couple of longnecks out of his refrigerator. “Time to unwind, man.” He flipped the caps off and slapped one into Ty’s open palm. “Let’s go upstairs.”

Ty followed him to an enclosed stairway leading to the roof. “Wow! What a great view.” He gazed out over the rooftops at the panorama of downtown Dallas and, in the other direction, the lights of Fort Worth. He wished Leah and Gracie could see it. That thought cut him like a knife. How had his life changed so completely in such a short period of time? What if he hadn’t stopped to eat at Tiny’s? What if her car hadn’t broken down? The intricacies of fate amazed him, but somehow, he knew this was meant to be. It just felt too right. He lifted the longneck to his lips and let the cold liquid roll down his throat.

Will dragged two lawn chairs into place and plopped into one of them.

“Excuse me a minute,” Ty said. “I have to make a call.” He walked to the other side of the roof and leaned against the ledge. He selected a number and pushed the button.

One ring. Two rings. Three rings.

And a breathless Leah answered. “Hello?”

He couldn’t suppress a grin. “Hello.”

“Oh my. I wasn’t expecting you to call… I mean, how nice.”

He could visualize her face.

“I wanted to let you know I arrived. I’m here at my buddy Will’s place.” He paused, not sure why he’d felt compelled to call. “I guess I just wanted to hear your voice.”

She let out a little mew of pleasure. “I’m so glad. I miss you already.”

“Me too.” He felt satisfied but couldn’t seem to hang up. Just knowing she was on the other end kept him grinning like an idiot. “Gracie is a little nervous about going to a new school. I tried to give her a pep talk, but you might want to help her get ready.”

“Thanks. I will. What are you doing now?”

“Standing on a rooftop, looking at the Dallas skyline, and thinking about you.”

“Oh, Ty. That is so sweet.”

When he finally disconnected, he returned to where Will was sitting, a big grin on his face.

Will looked at him over the top of his glasses before tilting the bottle back to drain the last of his beer. “Ty’s got it bad,” he pronounced.

* * *

Leah stood gripping the cell phone with both hands. He misses me. A gurgle of laughter bubbled up from her chest. She twirled around twice and then collapsed onto the bed.

The bed…

Ty had apparently pulled the quilt into place before his hasty departure, but it was still the bed where they had made love.

Leah had slipped out to the bunkhouse after putting Gracie to bed. Somehow, just being here had made her feel a little better. Then Ty’s call had lifted her spirits even further. Tucking the phone in her pocket, she stretched out on the bed.

Sweeping her palms over the fabric of the quilt, she laughed again. The texture of the joined scraps of cloth and the stitching on top was pleasing. A crazy quilt, like my life.

Sighing, she dared to let herself imagine a future with Ty. She felt as if she were dancing on the edge of a deep and dark abyss, where, if she fell, she might never again find herself.

She embraced his pillow, curling around it. Burying her face to inhale his scent, she imagined his arms holding her. She fell asleep this way, waking at dawn, somewhat disoriented and definitely feeling guilty.

Leah ran to the house and managed to throw herself in the shower before anyone else woke up. When she emerged, Gracie and Gran were in the kitchen. The smell of bacon enticed her. She threw on her clothes and ran a brush through her still-damp hair.

“Something smells good,” she called as she made her way down the hall.

Gran turned from the stove, a grin on her face. “I figured I needed to get in the habit of fixing a good breakfast for my girls.”

“That’s very nice, Gran.” Leah took her place at the table beside Gracie.

“I want you to have something solid to help you get started on your workday, and our Gracie is about to start school. Both you girls need some feed in your gullet.”

Leah saw the look of fear cross Gracie’s face. “Absolutely right, and we appreciate your efforts. Right, Gracie?”

Silently, Gracie pursed her lips but nodded.

Leah’s heart went out to her daughter. She knew how it felt to be afraid at school. She did not want Gracie to ever have to face the scorn of her classmates. “When I get my check, I’m going to take you shopping for some school clothes. I know you need new shoes.” She reached out to give Gracie’s shoulder a squeeze. “It will be fun.”

A half smile quirked the corners of Gracie’s lips. “Yeah.”

Gran cleared her throat. “I got a little something with your name on it right here in my pocket.” She patted her apron pocket. “I’ve started lockin’ the front door since we been havin’ all this trouble, so I’m a-givin’ you your grandfather’s key. Albert carried it with him every single day.” She reached in her pocket and extracted a key with some metallic items dangling from the ring.

“Oh, thanks, Gran. I’m sure you’re right I’ll need this.” She dangled the key in front of her. “Is this a dog tag?”

Gran pursed her lips as though gathering strength. “That there is Albert’s dog tag from when he served in Vietnam. That was a bad time.”

Leah folded her grandmother in her arms. “I’ll take good care of this.” She tucked the key in her own pocket and reached for a biscuit, happy to enjoy a hearty breakfast with her daughter and grandmother.

She got to the office early and was hard at work trying to arrange the files in some sort of order when Breck walked in.

He smiled and tossed his black Stetson on the old-fashioned bentwood coatrack beside the door. “Good morning, Leah. How are the files coming along?”

She rolled her eyes. “Crazy, but I’m getting there. I’m making a bible of sorts with everything cross-referenced so it will be easy to find after I get finished.”

He let out a snort. “That will be amazing. You’re doing a great job.”

She felt a glow of pride blooming in her chest. She couldn’t recall ever getting this kind of compliment from a former employer. “Thanks,” she murmured.

“Can you find the will for James Garrett? My previous secretary prepared it, but I’ll be damned if I can find it. I want to look it over before he gets here.”

She searched through the estate files she had yet to sort and laid her hands on it in a relatively short time. “Um, yes. It’s right here.” She handed him a folder with the documents inside.

Breck leafed through the papers, nodding as he went. “Have you met Big Jim before? He’s Tyler’s dad.”

A shaft of fear shot through her, swift as a lightning bolt. She shook her head. “N-no, I’ve never had the pleasure.” She gripped the edge of the desk, her knuckles turning white.

“Let me know when he gets here.” Breck walked into his office with the file in his hands, leaving Leah to dissolve into a puddle of nerves in his wake.

Resolutely, she went to the filing cabinet where she found the entirety of the Garrett estate paperwork and ran her fingertips over the neatly arranged files. There were deeds and transfers and wills galore. Sucking in a deep breath, she pulled out the entire set of documents and took them to a table near the water cooler. She spread them out, determined to learn what she could about the man she had lost her heart to.

As she sifted through the array of papers, a knot the size of a fist formed in her stomach. The enormity of the Garrett holdings was spread before her, spelled out in detail and alluded to in generalizations that were beyond her imaginings. She tried to comprehend the vast amount of wealth Tyler Garrett would fall heir to at some point in time, and that realization hit her like a truck. A big truck.

She read the will where Mrs. Elizabeth Jane Garrett had assigned all her worldly goods and property to be disbursed equally among her three sons, Colton, Tyler, and Beauregard. The will had been probated less than a year ago. Leah’s throat felt dry.

How could people have so much when others had so very little? And how could it not matter to Ty how little she had?

She leapt up to fill a tiny cup of water from the cooler, which made big glug-glug sounds. Her hands shook as she raised the cup to her lips. She managed to gulp it down and then crush the paper in her fist.

What if he’s only interested in me for the sex? I certainly was easy enough. He never said anything about being madly in love with me. I’m so stupid!

Tossing the remains of the cup in the trash can, she hurried to return all the papers having to do with the huge Garrett estate back where they belonged. She slipped them safely into properly labeled folders, now residing in neatly arranged, easy to find, very orderly drawers in the equally logically labeled file cabinets.

Leah leaned against the cool metal and exhaled. I’m such a total fool. Ty couldn’t possibly want anything more from me than just handy sex. I’m truly not good enough for him.

The door opened, and she steeled herself, terrified to turn around. She felt the man’s presence without even seeing him.

She pressed her lips together and squared her shoulders before pivoting to face a man who seemed to fill the doorway.

He frowned at her, as though he knew she had defiled his son. He removed the Stetson from his thick crop of silver hair and hung it on the coatrack. “Breck in?” he asked shortly.

Leah forced a smile. “Why yes, sir, he is. You must be Mr. Garrett.”

At his nod, she went to the closed door and tapped before entering. “Mr. Garrett is here,” she announced.

“Oh good.” Breck swung around and took his boots off the top of his desk. “Send him right in.”

Leah turned to find James Garrett right behind her, bigger than a Caterpillar combine and looking just as solid. Fierce brows knotted above crystal-blue eyes that seemed to be examining her in detail.

Breck had come out of his seat and hemmed her in on the other side, extending a hand to the behemoth. “Big Jim! Good to see you. Have you met Leah?”

The two men pumped hands while keeping Leah sandwiched between them and the door.

Big Jim’s fierce gaze returned to her. “No, I don’t believe I have.” He offered a paw.

Leah put her hand in his with as much trepidation as one might approach a bear trap. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Garrett,” she croaked.

“Folks around here just call me Big Jim.”

“Leah is a friend of your son Tyler’s,” Breck offered. “I’m so glad he brought her to me. She’s been a blessing.”

The blue eyes hardened to ice. “Is that so?” Big Jim’s mouth tightened, and a muscle in his jaw twitched. “Well…we’ll have to talk more, young lady.”

Leah nodded, willing him to release her hand, willing him to stop dissecting her with his gaze, willing her own feet to move. “Yes, sir,” she whispered and slipped from the room. The door closed behind her, muffling the sound of deep voices in conversation.

Even though her legs felt like melted rubber, she managed to get to her desk before collapsing. She sat with her hands clasped together, the sound of her own heartbeat throbbing in her ears.

Oh no. Oh no. What does he want? What will I say to him?

In due time, the door opened, and Breck motioned to her. “Leah, can you step in, please?” He motioned her over to stand beside Big Jim. “I need you to witness his signature.” He showed her where to sign as witness after Big Jim had signed.

She formed the letters to her name slowly and deliberately, making certain her hand didn’t shake as she did so. Straightening, she laid the pen down. “Is that all, sir?”

Breck smiled. “That’s just fine, Leah. Thanks.”

She made it back to her desk, and in a short time, Big Jim emerged from Breck’s office, pulling the door closed behind him. He came to stand in front of her desk. “You and me need to talk, little lady. How about lunch?”

Leah was certain her heart stopped beating in her chest. She looked up at the towering personage. “I…uh…I brought my lunch, Mr. Garrett.”

A hint of a smile flickered across his lips, and his eyes crinkled. “I think it will be all right to leave it for another day. Come on. I won’t bite you.” He crossed to retrieve his hat from the coatrack beside the door.

She sucked in a breath and pushed back from the desk. “I’ll just tell Breck that I’m leaving…” she began.

“He knows.” Big Jim jammed the Stetson on his head and gestured to the front door.

Leah obeyed meekly.

Once outside, she was faced with another large diesel truck, this one silver, with an image on the side and the name Garrett emblazoned in black letters.

He opened the door for her and gave her a boost up.

As she sat on the high perch, she fumbled with the seat belt while she watched Big Jim round the truck and climb in on the driver’s side.

“Any preference?”

She shook her head, and he drove to the Mexican restaurant. He parked and got out, reversing the process wherein he rounded the truck, opened her door, and assisted her descent. At least she knew where Ty got his manners.

Once inside, he asked the hostess for a corner booth. He tossed his Stetson on the seat and slid onto the smooth plastic beside it. When the waitress offered menus, he said, “We’ll both have the grande platter and sweet tea. That okay with you, little lady?”

She nodded. “Yes, fine.”

As soon as the waitress was out of earshot, he leaned across the table and spread his hands. “So, how much do you care about my boy?”

Leah felt her color rising. “A lot,” she said, barely above a whisper.

He searched her face, as though he might find some truth there.

The waitress returned bearing two tall glasses of iced tea and set them on napkins, then went to take another order.

Big Jim watched her depart, his jaw tight, and then turned his attention back to Leah. “I don’t know how much you know about the dustup between me and my son, but I gather you’ve seen him since I have.”

She clasped her hands together, interweaving her fingers for courage. “Yes, sir.”

“How is he?”

The look of concern on his face caused Leah to relax her shoulders, feeling some of the tension drain away. “He’s great.”

Big Jim’s eyes narrowed. “Where has he been since he left the ranch?”

“Um, he’s been staying with us at my grandmother’s ranch. Fern Davis’s place.”

The gaze became a trifle less fierce. “Davis? I know that place.” He seemed to be considering something. “Where is he now?”

“Right now, he’s in Dallas cutting a demo. I’m not at all sure what that means, but he seems to be really excited about it.”

Big Jim brushed his palms over his face and back through his silver hair. “Lord! I’ve made so many mistakes with that boy.”

“Really? I couldn’t tell,” she said, suddenly courageous. “He seems to have turned out to be a very fine man.”

Big Jim expelled a lungful of air. “That’s good to hear.” Shaking his head, he gazed into her eyes as though searching for some answer. “I know he’s a grown man, but he’s just so…so…”

Leah grinned in spite of herself. “Yes, he is.”

Big Jim pulled his glass of tea closer, a slow smile spreading over his features. “I think you and me are gonna get along just fine, little lady.”

The waitress brought them each a huge platter of Mexican food, with a stack of flour and corn tortillas on the side. Leah hadn’t thought she could eat so much, but it was delicious, and Big Jim seemed inclined to linger and converse about her favorite cowboy.

By the time they had eaten, she’d learned much more about Ty’s childhood and about his athletic prowess and high school honors. She learned he had graduated with a degree in agriculture from Texas Tech University in Lubbock and returned to the ranch, where his father had hoped he would forget about music and get serious about “digging in,” as he called it.

“I just don’t know,” Big Jim said. “I wish he could appreciate everything he’s been given.”

Leah swallowed, not wanting to intrude but feeling the desire to defend Ty in his absence. “I’m sure he appreciates everything,” she said. “He’s just got a lot on his mind now, what with the audition and all.”

“Audition? He’s auditioning?” The fierce blue gaze skewered her again.

“I—I believe so,” she stammered. “I mean, he’s got such a wonderful voice. Don’t you want him to find out for himself if he’s got what it takes to make it to the big time?”

Big Jim’s shoulders slumped. “You sound just like his mother.” He heaved a sigh. “My dear, departed wife thought Tyler sang like the angels. I blame her for filling his head with all this nonsense.” He waved his hand as though to stave off her objections. “I know he’s got a great voice, but there are more serious things to attend to. Our land is his real future.”

She took a gulp of her sweet tea, carefully setting the sweating glass down in the exact same ring it had imprinted on the soggy napkin. “I’m sorry you don’t believe in him.”

Big Jim gave her a measuring gaze. “And you do?”

“Why wouldn’t I? He’s got the talent. Somebody’s going to make it, and why not Ty?”

The dark brows drew together, causing her stomach to catch. “That’s for people who don’t have as much going for them as my sons do. I worked my whole life to make sure the boys would have something…and he wants to throw it all away.” He blew out a stream of air. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to raise my voice. It’s just such a waste.”

Leah met his gaze, trying to gather her courage. “You make it sound like there’s a time limit on whatever you think Ty’s throwing away.”

He drew back, scowling. “You don’t understand. We’ve been through this before. This time, I told him if he left, it was over. I was writing him out of the will.”

The reality of this statement slapped her in the face.

His eyes narrowed. “So, you see…it does make a difference.” He leaned back in the seat and folded his arms across his broad chest.

The waitress came to clear their plates and slid the check on the table close to Big Jim’s elbow.

Without glancing at it, he reached into his breast pocket and took out a plastic card, slapping it down on top of the check.

Leah smiled when she realized Ty kept his plastic in the same pocket.

“You think it’s funny? I suppose now you’re not interested in him since he’s been cut off.”

Leah’s eyes opened wide. “No, actually, I like him even more.”

They stared at each other for a moment, neither flinching.

“Mr. Garrett,” she said finally. “I have a little girl.” She watched this information sink in on him. “And I love her with every molecule of my being. I will never intentionally do anything to hurt her in any way, no matter what choices she may make.” She picked up the tea and drained it. The only sound was the ice settling back into the glass as she set it down.

* * *

Ty spent the day with Will down in the studio. The acoustics were great, and he marveled at Will’s ability to balance sound and enhance his voice.

He took off the headphones and grinned at Will, sitting in the recording booth. “Don’t make me sound too good,” he said. “I don’t want to fool them into giving me a chance and then fall flat on my face.”

Will made a scoffing noise. “Trust me. Everyone will be doing this much and more. You’ve got a great sound. I’m just giving you a bit of glamour.” He stepped out of the recording booth, grinning as he pulled his collar up and gave an Elvis-style lip curl.

Ty howled with laughter. “I suppose you want me to wear a little eye shadow too.”

“Not hardly,” Will said. “You need to remember, if you make it onto the show, you’ll have to depend on the voters to keep you there. A lot of the voters will be chicks. You’re a reasonably good-looking guy, but you could use some sexing up.”

Ty drew back, frowning. “What? That sounds disgusting. You’re kidding me, right?”

Will shrugged. “Yeah, I’m kind of messing with you, but kinda not.” He took the headphones and hung them on a rack behind Ty. “If you want to win this competition, you’re going to have to work on your image.” He made a circle around Ty, looking him over critically. “The hair’s good, but don’t get it cut before your first audition. Women like that disheveled look. You look clean as a choirboy right now, but you need a little sex appeal to sell the package.”

Ty stood with his hands fisted at his waist. He shook his head. “I don’t know about this.”

“Just listen to me.” Will tugged on the back of Ty’s shirt, adjusting the fullness in the back so the shirt tapered down close to his sides in the front. “Let’s send a few shirts to be fitted to show off your manly physique, and while we’re at it, you need to open up a couple of buttons. It’s okay to show a little chest hair.”

Ty laughed. “Come on, man. That’s not me.”

Will stepped back, crossed his arms over his chest, and raised one eyebrow. “How much do you want this?”

Ty regarded him, noting the serious expression. “I want it a lot.”

“Then you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get there, and that means boosting your sex appeal. Whatever you do, don’t mention your girlfriend to anyone. All the women out in TV land want you single…unattached…available. Understand?”

Ty huffed out a breath of air. “Yeah, I guess so.”