Chapter Nine

Beth pulled up to Sara’s house, grabbed the bags from the front seat, and climbed out. She loved the house her sister and brother-in-law built. Although big, because they both wanted a large family, it still held a warm feeling to it. Casual and homey, and anyone who spent any time here immediately felt comfortable. There was no pretentiousness to this house. The front porch wrapped around to the back of the house, and just like at home, everyone seemed to go in through the back door.

She shoved open the back porch door, slipped off her boots and hollered into the bright kitchen. “Hey, where are you?”

From overhead she heard her sister holler down, so she deposited the bags on the counter and headed up the back stairs.

Voices came from the nursery and she walked in to find Sara sitting in the rocking chair with Charli cross legged on the plush carpet next to her. “What are you guys doing?”

Charli shrugged. “Yakking and putting some more things away for the baby.”

Sara rocked back and forth, her hands resting on her swollen belly. “Charli and her Dad bought this kid so much stuff we’ll need to build a second room just for his new toys.”

“His? Is it a boy? You didn’t tell me that.” Charli stood up and Beth immediately felt like the runt of the litter.

“I know it’s a boy. Something inside me just feels it.”

“I’m going to laugh when you get a little girl.” Their friend walked across the room and stared at a picture on the wall.

The woman made everything she did look sexy, even walking. Had she slept with Tyler? Beth had no clue where that thought came from, but a very vivid image of the long legged redhead rolling around in bed with Tyler made her stomach clench. She’d known Charli her entire life, but they’d never been close, since Charli was mainly Sara’s friend. She’d never spent much time with her—how much time had she spent with Tyler?

“Did you get the stuff at the store?” As Sara started to climb out of the rocking chair, Beth watched Charli moved to help her. Sara took hold of the other woman’s arm and smiled in gratitude. Beth frowned. Any time she’d tried to help her sister she’d gotten her head bit off.

“Yeah, I can’t believe you’ve gone through all the peanut butter that you bought the other day,” Beth muttered.

“I know. I’m eating it on everything. I actually smeared it on a steak the other night.”

Beth pulled a face as Sara walked to the door.

“I’m going to make a sandwich.”

“Okay.”

Charli didn’t follow and neither did Beth. She wanted to know; she needed to know.

“Nope.”

Beth frowned. “What?”

The redhead pinned her with her blue gaze and crossed her arms over her ample chest. “No, Tyler and I didn’t get it on.”

Her cheeks burned and she looked away, fussing with the baby’s blanket. She folded it and laid it on the edge of the crib. “I wasn’t even wondering about that or thinking it.”

“Yes, you were. You’ve been thinking it since he told you he’d spent the past year and a half with us.”

Beth lifted her chin. “It doesn’t matter; it’s none of my business. Tyler is free to do whatever he wants with whomever he wants.”

“Yeah.” Charli turned back to the small dresser and continued to fold the tiny outfits.

Beth shook her head. Obviously, the other woman was on Tyler’s side completely and she wasn’t going to stay in here with that hanging heavy between them. “I’m going to help Sara.”

“Did he tell you why he didn’t come back at Christmas last year?”

Beth paused. She assumed it was because she hadn’t come to him in September. “No. I just figured he didn’t want to come home.”

“He was coming home...but he had a car accident and ended up in the hospital.”

Beth’s heart rose to her throat. “What?”

“He wanted to surprise everyone. He left in the middle of a wicked storm on Christmas Eve morning.” Charli closed the dresser drawer and opened another one. “The truck went off the road and into a gulley. There was some internal damage and he ended up having to have surgery. He was in the hospital for several weeks and made me promise not to tell anyone. He didn’t want anyone leaving the Double B for the holidays because of him.” She folded the tiny undershirts and set them in the drawer.

Beth’s jaw dropped. Tyler had been hurt and hadn’t told anyone? And what about Charli, why hadn’t she called? “I can’t believe you didn’t call his brothers! What kind of friend are you?”

The other woman whirled on her. “Tyler is a grown man, in case you haven’t noticed. If he says don’t call the family, I’m not calling them. But if the accident had been the slightest bit worse, if the doctors had told me it was life threatening, then of course I would have called.”

“You know how close this family is; you knew they would want to know.”

“Precisely. They would all have descended on him in the hospital, and what good would that have served? He was in no shape to deal with everyone. He felt guilty enough without ruining everyone’s Christmas by having them in Abilene, or worse, Cord having him transferred home.”

Was the other woman really that cold? Did she have no clue what it would have meant for them to know he was hurt? “Still, you have no idea. You don’t have a family like this. You don’t get it.”

The redhead shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. But I know when I make someone a promise I keep it. I don’t say one thing and do something else.”

Beth frowned and slammed her hands on her hips. “That’s pretty wild considering the man you were protecting broke his promise to me and walked away from his family. He doesn’t deserve your loyalty.”

A harsh blue gaze slammed into hers. “I think the world of Tyler. I’m amazed at his ability with horses. I’m blown away when he takes a practically wild animal and gently, patiently turns it into a horse that someone could trust their child to ride. But what I don’t get is why he obsesses so much over what you want.”

Beth narrowed her eyes. Her insides clenched with rage and she fisted her hands against her side. She swallowed hard trying to think of a defense. Charli wasn’t going to listen to her side; she’d spent a year and a half being handed a line of crap from Tyler. “This isn’t your business,” she finally ground out and walked across the room to the doorway.

“Frankly, I’ve always thought you were a bit of a spoiled brat.”

Beth whirled around to face the redheaded witch.

Charli crossed her arms over her chest and tipped her head. “You were doted on by your father, your sisters have always catered to you, and Cord and the others treat you as some type of little princess. You didn’t even have to work to build up your own business; it was handed to you on the proverbial silver platter.” She raised one well sculpted eyebrow. “Have you ever had to work hard for anything in your life? Or, for that matter, have you ever had to put someone else first? It’s always been about Beth—maybe for once, it needs to be about someone else.”

“Okay, Dear Abby, thanks for the advice.” Beth’s face burned and her heart rate accelerated. Not wanting to hear another word about how awful she was and why Tyler was right to leave her, she stormed out of the room and headed to the stairs.

Charli’s voice followed her, and the other woman caught up with her in the hallway. “Beth, I’m not saying all this to be a bitch. Tyler loves you. He’s never stopped loving you. I’ve never seen someone so unhappy and miserable and lovesick as that man. He tried for as long as he could to stay away and make a new life, to leave you alone. But he couldn’t. It’s Christmas, and he’s home. Now it’s up to you to either make sure he knows it’s over, or figure out where you two go from here if you want to work things out. I told you about last Christmas and why he didn’t come home so you’d know all the facts. Now make the right decision.”

“You stand there and tell me I’m an immature, spoiled brat, and yet you think his leaving was the right thing to do? He drove off without a word to his family? He walked away from his responsibilities to this ranch...and he walked away from me. I’m sure you know about the note. You seem to know everything else. Yeah, he left me a note. Big deal. Who does that? Who leaves a note and then doesn’t call to see if the person actually got the note? That’s not childish?” Her voice was shrill and she figured Sara was going to show up any second at the bottom of the staircase and demand to know what was going on.

Charli shook her head. “People make mistakes, especially men. They seem to make more than most.”

Beth stared, not sure right now if this woman was friend or foe. “A minute ago you said I was an immature brat and that’s why he left me. Now you’re saying he was wrong. I’m thinking you don’t know what camp you’re in.”

The other woman slid one hand to the smooth wood of the banister and the other she set on her hip. Beth had an image of a confident model posing for a swimsuit shot as the other woman studied her.

“Doesn’t matter what I know or don’t know. What matters is what you know now—that maybe you were both to blame for this situation.”

Charli brushed past her and walked down the stairs. Beth stared after her, feeling as if all the breath had been knocked out of her. Had she been a little princess? Did everything have to be her way all the time? Had she driven Tyler away?

Her mind whisked back in time; the years they talked about running away and being on their own, the plans they made, and the fun they’d have. Fast forward a few years and suddenly all her talk was about her practice, the house they’d build on the ranch, the six kids they’d have, and how good their life would be in Sweet Meadow. She spoke of how he’d work the ranch with their family; she’d have her practice and how life would be...perfect.

Perfect. Because I said so. The laughter from downstairs drew her out of her thoughts. She brushed at her eyes and drew a deep breath.

Sara and Charli were in the kitchen fixing sandwiches when Beth entered. She picked up her purse. “I’ve gotta get going. I’ll call you later.” She walked to the backdoor and wasn’t going to look at Charli again but something drew her gaze back.

Charli’s blue eyes were warm and full of affection as she stared at her. “It’s going to be okay, Beth. I promise.”

She didn’t reply. Her eyes filled with tears and it was all she could do to slip her shoes back on and get out the back door. Te screen door slammed on her way out and she marched to her truck, jerking open the door and climbing inside before the first sob hit.

The truth was out, she really had been spoiled—she just never realized it.

****

“So, let me understand this again? This supposedly good friend of your sister’s tells you that you’re to blame for why Tyler walked out...and you believed her?”

Beth paced around the clinic office with her cell phone headset on. She picked up another file and tried to fit it into the too-full file cabinet. Grant had called to check in, and the next thing she knew she was spilling her guts. He was her friend, and she trusted him to tell it to her straight. “It’s true, though. How can it not be true?”

“How about the twenty-four-seven workdays we had when we first took over from Doc? How about the fact that we now consider a twelve hour work day to be a ‘slow’ day? That doesn’t sound like the type of life a spoiled, rich girl leads.”

“But most vets are up to their eyeballs in student loan debt, and it takes years and years before they can buy their own practice. I didn’t have to do any of those things. Doc gave this practice to me; just handed it over without a second thought from either of us.”

“So?” Grant snorted in her ear. “Come on, Beth, you’re making no sense. No princess would do the type of dirty work you do. Does this Charli woman have any clue what it’s like to help a horse give birth? Does she know the conditions you work in day in and day out?”

Beth chewed her bottom lip and paced some more. She straightened her certificates on the wall of her office and fixed the curtains at the window. “Look, I’m trying to put a new perspective on this; trying to see if maybe I did drive Tyler away.”

“No. What you are doing is trying to find justification for taking him back. Weston’s a jerk and now he’s letting someone else plead his case.”

Beth sank into her office chair and stared out the window over the back pasture of the ranch. Horses chased each other in the distance, and she noted the dark clouds above their heads. Rain was coming, and with the cold temperatures, maybe even some ice. Great. Bad weather always meant for a long night, and it was Christmas Eve. “All this time I thought he didn’t want to come home for Christmas last year,” she muttered more to herself.

“If he wanted to bad enough, he would have called.”

Beth sighed. With Grant, it was right or wrong, black or white; there was no in between. It was pointless to argue with him. “I’ll talk to you after Christmas, Grant. Give my best to your family. And try not to murder your sister while you’re there.”

Grant grunted. “Listen, I’ve just spent the past week butting heads with my father and my oldest sister. It’s easy for me to understand why Tyler took off, especially if his family drove him away the way mine does. What I don’t understand, or agree with, is what he did to you. No man walks away from a relationship the way he did.”

“I told you about the note,” she defended.

“Yeah, and when you didn’t show up for Labor Day, did he call? Did he even once think that maybe you hadn’t gotten the note? I’m telling you, if it were me, I would have had to know for sure. One phone call is all it would have taken.”

Beth closed her eyes. That’s what she thought too. After an entire lifetime of promises, spoiled or not, hadn’t she been worth at least a follow up phone call?

“When you get back, let’s look at buying that new machine we talked about before you left.”

“I’ve had some time to do some checking on the internet, and I think we can get it for a pretty good price if we’re willing to pick it up rather than have it delivered.”

Beth sat back against the chair and idly twirled around. “Maybe we can go together and get it, a day trip or something.”

Grant snorted. “Yeah, and who is going to stay behind and watch the shop so to speak. That’s another issue we have. We really need to figure out if we can hire another vet. We could use the extra hands.”

“You really think we have enough work for a third vet?”

“Yes, and definitely some office help.”

Beth glanced around at the piles of files on the floor, the bookcase, in the baskets on her desk and the drawers in the file cabinet she couldn’t shut. “You’re right. What if we put an ad in the paper or on one of those internet job posting sites?”

She heard voices in the background of the phone and heard Grant sigh. “I’ll write something up while I’m here—if my sister will get off my back for thirty seconds. I gotta go. Try to have a good day tomorrow, and I’ll see you right after the first.”

“Okay, you too. Don’t kill Laura or your father.” She clicked off the phone and took off her headset, leaving it on the desk.

In the kitchenette, she opened the refrigerator but was out of bottled water and soda. She really needed to get some supplies. Grant usually kept it stocked, but with him gone, she’d been using and not replacing.

The short walk across the corral into the living quarters took only a few minutes. Sifting her fingers through her hair she had a sudden flashback of Tyler doing the same thing when they’d kissed. Pushing that thought away, she opened the backdoor to the small house and turned on the lights. When Tyler first left, and she came home to find this house and clinic, she’d been too raw with pain to even be in here. Over time, with Grant in residence, she was able to look at the entire building without the emotional attachment. But then, she’d never let herself linger on the ‘what if’s.’ As in, what if Tyler hadn’t left? As in what if they had lived here together? This would be where they’d eat dinner together each evening and where they’d make love every night. Where they’d sit and watch TV curled up on the couch together and where they’d fight over whose turn it was to do laundry.

She grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator and leaned against the counter. She had work to do, but all she could do was think about Tyler or, more specifically, her life with and without him. She’d missed him so much at first and then she became numb. Life without him was doable if she didn’t allow herself to remember or look back. But she’d only been half alive. Even achieving her dream of becoming a vet and working in her own practice hadn’t excited her. Nothing had until the other night in Tyler’s arms again. Everything inside her—body, soul, emotions—everything sprang to life again. Now the rest seemed dull in comparison.

Right or wrong, he’d always been the other half to her whole.

That’s what no one had understood last year. It wasn’t just a breakup, some romance that someone could get over. She and Tyler were a connection, and had been since they were little kids. Their mothers would put them in the same playpen while they worked alongside Flo or left for a day of riding with their husbands. The relationship they’d had was one that very few ever experienced. Tyler had been there all the time: next to her, cheering her on, holding her up, wiping her tears. Then he was gone—along with a large part of herself.

Maybe it had been too much for him; maybe while she was enjoying that bond, he felt smothered. She was one more thing that tied him down and made him feel this overwhelming responsibility. He had to get out before he lost himself completely.

Beth grabbed a bag out of the cupboard and filled it with bottles of water and cans of soda. She added a couple bags of chips from the cupboard and the cheese and crackers for good measure. Maybe her life wasn’t exciting without Tyler in it, but at least she didn’t have to worry about getting hurt.

She’d learned to stand on her own two feet while he was gone; she was independent and that wasn’t always bad. And she wasn’t willing to go through heartbreak like that twice. No one was worth it, not even him.

****

Christmas Eve was a big event on the Double B where everyone in the family came together for a large dinner. Tyler looked around the table, wondering if they had left an empty seat for him last year.

“Hey. Wake up and pass the roast.”

He pulled his thoughts back to the present and took the heaping platter of beef that Teddy thrust towards him. The food smelled wonderful. The room was full of laughter as everyone around the table passed the bowls of food, laughed, and teased. Cord sat in his usual spot at the head of the table, with Charli to his right. Tyler caught her eye and she winked. He grinned back.

Across the table, he noticed Beth watching them. Her blue eyes weren’t amused: rather, they were wary. His smile dropped. Did she think he and Charli had a thing going? He studied her for several seconds, and her gaze pulled away. Did it matter to her if he and Charli had been together? In all the years they were with one another, there’d never been an opportunity for Beth to experience jealously. There wasn’t another woman he’d so much as glanced at, and she knew that. Did she really think he’d changed that much since he left?

“Come on, keep up your part in this or don’t eat,” Teddy complained again as he shoved a bowl of mashed potatoes and some vegetables in his direction.

Tyler loaded up his plate and kept the food moving to Susan who was on his other side.

Beth’s sister leaned over, almost across him, and Tyler leaned back as she spoke to Teddy.

“What’s with you, Scrooge?”

“Scrooge? I’m a scrooge because I told him to pay attention?”

Susan shrugged and reached across Tyler for the basket of rolls. “Maybe he thinks Santa is going to bring him coal in his stocking tonight.”

“Yeah, and what’s he putting in yours, Madame Broadway? Another Grammy Award, perhaps?”

Tyler leaned back again as the two of them went at it.

“No, those aren’t given away; they’re earned.”

“Could have fooled me,” Teddy muttered.

Tyler glanced at Susan whose eyes cast darts at his brother.

“Ty? Do you need some protective armor down there?” Cord yelled from the far end of the table.

“Seriously.” Tyler shoved the gravy boat at Susan. “Come on you two, it’s Christmas Eve. And we have guests.”

“That we do,” Teddy agreed with a large grin as he lifted his wine glass. “And I’d like to propose a toast.” He rose and addressed the table. “To our friends Chase Boyd and his absolutely ravishing daughter, Charli. Thank you so much for gracing our holiday table this year.”

“Here, here! Merry Christmas,” the chorus of voices around the room echoed.

Tyler watched as Sara leaned into Buck and he kissed her temple. Charli rested her hand on Cord’s forearm making some point or other. Her father sat across from her and nodded his head every once in a while. Flo and Sam were opposite him, talking with Beth and laughing.

“I need to tell everyone something,” he said. No one appeared to have heard so he caught Cord’s gaze.

The young patriarch of the family held up his hand, and everyone around the table went quiet. “Tyler wants to say something.”

“Thanks,” he said and stood. “Last year, on Christmas Eve afternoon, I decided I had to come home. I couldn’t stay away any longer and I headed this way. Unfortunately, I was in an accident.” Flo gasped and someone else muttered, but Tyler went on. “It was a pretty bad car accident, and they had to airlift me to the hospital. I begged Charli and her father not to call any of you because I didn’t want to ruin your holidays. I didn’t want anyone coming there. I felt, after the way I left, it would have been pretty rotten for me to ruin Christmas, too. I told them both that I’d call home right after Christmas and tell you what was going on. But I didn’t. That was entirely my fault, not the Boyds. They were only respecting my wishes.”

He swallowed hard as the silence continued and glanced at Cord then Buck, looking for some sign of forgiveness or understanding. Anything but the hard, dark looks they were casting his way. He couldn’t look at Flo; he knew the disappointment he’d find there.

Finally, Cord nodded. “I don’t need to lecture you on how rotten that was. Anyone here would have rather spent their Christmas by your bedside than thinking you didn’t want to be here. But it’s behind us now. Last year is past and this year is now.” He lifted his glass and turned to the Boyds. “Thank you for being there and taking good care of Ty and proving once again what very good friends you both are.” He turned to Tyler. “It’s good to know that hard head of yours is intact or the accident surely would have scattered your brains all over the place.” He grinned to soften his words and took a drink of his wine.

Everyone lifted their glasses and did the same, murmuring their own sentiments. Tyler could sense Beth watching him and turned to her, unsure what he’d see in her gaze. Her blue eyes weren’t full of hatred and anger as he expected, but rather almost...understanding.

For several seconds he watched her until she smiled just slightly and went back to eating.

Was he forgiven? Did she understand? No, that would be too easy. He’d grown used to her constant anger for anything he did last year. Maybe it was just the mellow holiday mood that softened her smile.

“So, Cord, is Santa going to finally bring you a wife this year?” Buck teased.

“Just because you got your girl doesn’t mean we all need one,” Cord returned smoothly, digging into his plate of food.

“Cord will find the right girl someday,” Flo insisted.

Sam scoffed. “He’s too fussy. This one’s too blonde, or too short, or too curvy or...”

The eldest Weston brother laughed. “I can’t help it if I’m particular about the future mother of my children.”

“What do you think, Charli? Is Cord too fussy?”

Tyler laughed when Charli grinned and touched Cord’s arm. “Cord is a man who knows exactly what he wants and is not willing to budge on that goal.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “However, I am of the belief that there is no reason he can’t have a little fun while he’s searching.”

The laughter continued and Cord’s neck turned crimson at the redhead’s teasing. Tyler couldn’t picture the vivacious and incredibly sexy Charli with his staid oldest brother, but he sure wished Cord would lighten up a bit and let her show him a little bit of fun. She’d always had a huge crush on Cord, and it would only take him giving in for half of a second for her to show him a good time.

“You know, next year at this time, things won’t be so refined and quiet around this table as they are now,” Buck interjected. His large arm pulled his wife up against him and he kissed her head.

“That’s right. Next year, we’ll have a little one sitting in the family high chair.” Giddy, Flo stood up with the empty roll basket and headed towards the kitchen.

Tyler couldn’t help but be moved by the sight of his brother and Sara. A sudden image of Beth swollen with his baby crept to mind, and he glanced over at her. Her eyes were full of longing as she watched her sister. Did she still want kids?

“I think that with all these adults, this is going to be one spoiled little guy.” Sara rubbed her stomach, not looking as if she minded at all.

“Nothing wrong with spoiling little ones,” Flo said as she walked back into the room. “I spoiled every one of you and look how good you turned out.”

“She spoiled you all, and I had to take you out back and whip you into shape,” Sam muttered, grabbing the fresh basket of rolls before it went too far.

Everyone laughed amongst choruses of, “Yeah we were all so afraid of you.”

The old man tried not to smile but Tyler saw the corners of his mouth tilt up.

Flo leaned over and kissed him. “You old softie. You were the worst of all of us, the way you fussed over these kids.”

“It seems odd that the next generation is coming, doesn’t it?” Susan commented.

Beth’s heart squeezed at the talk of kids and the next generation. Only two years ago, if anyone had been asked, all bets were on her and Tyler to have the first baby. Not that she begrudged Sara and Buck; it was perfect that they got together and were having a family. Still, she’d always imagined she’d be at least married by now and talking about having a baby.

The phone rang and Beth jumped from the table to answer it, thankful for the distraction. “I bet that’s Diane.”

She didn’t wait to hear the replies from her family as she walked quickly through to the great room and picked up the phone on the table. “Hello?” she answered, sinking into the soft leather couch.

“Merry Christmas!” her oldest sister’s sang over the phone line.

“I knew it was you! How are you? How’s Paris? When are you coming home?” Beth fired the questions at Diane.

“Paris is fine. I’m fine, and I’ve got some good news.”

She waited for Diane to tell her she was coming home.

“I got married this morning!”

Beth’s mouth fell open. Her brow furrowed and she wondered if she’d heard right. “What did you say? Married? To who? Not Henri?”

Diane laughed lightly. “Yes, silly, to Henri. Don’t make it sound so bad. I know you guys don’t know him, but you’ll have to trust me on this. He’s asked me before, but for some reason it just felt right this time. We ran off this morning and got married in a little ceremony in this tiny church outside Paris. I’ll email some pictures to you.”

Beth tried hard to find enthusiasm, but the fact of the matter was, no one liked or trusted this Henri LeBeau, including her. Flo called him a snake charmer, and Sam had even tougher names for the French man. She forced all that down and tried to sound cheerful. “Di, that’s wonderful. The family will be, uh, so happy for you.”

Diane laughed. “No, they won’t, but they’ll have to trust that I know what I’m doing. Henri and I have gotten very close since we’ve been here and he makes me happy.”

It didn’t pass her that her sister didn’t mention love. Beth’s heart ached wondering why on earth her beautiful sister would settle for someone like Henri. “Well, let me get someone else on the phone too. Hang on, do you want to talk to Susan first or Sara?”

“How’s Sara feeling? Susan sent me pictures—I can’t believe how big she is. Did you ever in your life imagine her pregnant? I always thought it would be you first.”

“Yeah, I know, me too,” she muttered.

“How’s that going? With Tyler home and all?”

“It’s okay. We’re coming to terms with it all,” she lied. “I-I’ll get Susan.”

Beth set the phone down and slowly walked back to the dining room. She hated to be the one to share the news and ruin everyone’s dinner. “It’s Di.” She couldn’t look at Cord and instead turned directly to Susan. “Um, she and Henri got married this morning.”

No one said a word except Cord. Beth winced as he cussed harsh and short and shoved back from the table.

She put her hand out to stop him. “She wants to talk to Susan.”

He gave a crisp nod and kept on walking. “Yep, right after I’m done with her.”

Sam stood. “Cord!”

The steaming cowboy ignored him, his strides long and purposeful as he left the dining room.

Beth turned to Flo. The older woman shook her head as if she didn’t know what to say. She pleated the linen napkin in her hand as her brows furrowed in concern.

From the other room Cord’s voice raised in anger, and then the doors to the den slammed shut.

“I better go in there,” the older woman declared.

“Leave him be.” Sam grabbed her hand as she stood up. “Won’t do no good for you to get upset too.”

“Sam’s right, Flo. Besides, Cord isn’t going to listen to you right now,” Susan agreed.

“What am I missing here?” Charli’s confused expression went from one to the other around the table.

Beth slipped back into her chair. “Diane moved to Paris to help Henri LeBeau with a major interior design renovation about two years ago. Right after Sara’s wedding actually.”

“I knew that, but when did it turn into a love affair? I thought she had better taste than that.”

Beth took a drink from her water glass, but the thought of eating anything else sickened her. Her mind whirled. Had LeBeau forced her somehow? “We think he’s after her for her money. Cord’s had him checked out. He turned up okay but we don’t trust him. It’s hard to explain.”

“It’s her life,” Charli defended. “Diane is an adult. Why is Cord in there tearing into her?”

“Same reason I’d be on you if you married someone like that,” Chase spoke up. “Cord’s trying to protect not only her, but the family’s assets.”

“The guy’s pure slime,” Teddy commented, the only one still digging into his dinner. “I’ve met him. I don’t like him.”

Sara shook her head. “I never thought she could be buffaloed. I thought she was smarter than that.”

Teddy popped his head up. “Any woman can be charmed, if you do it right.”

Susan instantly turned on him. “That’s what you think. Don’t judge all of us by the bimbos you date. Most of us have a brain and not just plastic Barbie doll boobs.”

“All I’m saying is the guy is a salesman, and he’s sold her a line of goods that she’s buying. He’s good at it, and maybe he’s also good somewhere else. Before you know it, she’s hooked and thinks she’s in love,” Teddy rationalized.

“She never mentioned love.” Beth leaned back in her chair. “She said they were happy, she was happy, and even said he finally wore her down. But Di didn’t use the word, love.”

Susan turned to Buck. “Do you think Cord will go over there?”

Their brother-in-law shook his head. “Nope, he’ll come back and say well, she’s just screwed up her life. He’ll bitch about it for a while, and then he’ll let it go. Not much he can do—like Charli said, she’s an adult, not a child.”

In the distance they heard footsteps and the conversation stopped.

Cord strode back into the room. His hair was mussed as if he’d been raking his hands through it. His face was red and his eyes were cold. He didn’t look at any of them. “Susan, your sister wants to talk to you.”

Beth watched Susan scramble away as if she was a teenager again and Cord had told her to go to her room. Frankly, she was envious of her. She’d love to leave the table too.

Everyone stared at Cord who had resumed eating. Finally he lifted his head. “My first inclination was to go over there and haul her home, but, as she quite elegantly pointed out, this is her business. She’s thirty and I have no control over her life.”

Beth frowned. She’d love to have been a fly on the wall hearing that conversation. Diane could dish it out as well as Cord and, unlike the rest of them, she wasn’t in the least bit intimidated by him.

“I’m going to talk to Jake. I need to make sure that jackass can’t get his filthy hands on the majority of her money.”

“You can’t do anything can you? I mean, Jake told us all when Daddy died that once we reached twenty-five, our full inheritance was ours to do with what we wanted,” Beth questioned. Having just turned twenty-five, her bank account had grown considerably overnight.

“Yes, but there’s a large chunk of it wrapped up in the business, and I’ll be damned to hell before he’ll get so much as a rock of this place. If she is stupid enough to blow most of her inheritance and her designer business on him, I can’t do a damn thing about it. But I will never let him get even a tiny piece of this ranch,” Cord slammed his closed fist on the table and the glassware jumped.