as he cradled her close. “It’s okay, Pearl,” he whispered, patting her.
“She’s beautiful.” Tandy’s words drew his attention. She was stacking the last of the china on the tray, her hands shaking and her gaze averted.
“Thank you.” The words were gruff and hard.
Pearl looked up at him, her light brown eyes full of tears, and her lips drawn into a frown.
“Hey,” he whispered, her expression softening his agitation. The world was scary enough without being frightened of your father. He knew the nightmare that was. He’d never be that man, never make his child cower in fear or cry from physical pain. Dammit. He forced a smile and wiped the tears from her soft cheeks. “No tears, baby girl.”
Pearl blinked, her instant smile unnerving him. She shouldn’t smile at him like that, like she trusted him. Like she could rely on him.
Tandy all but ran from the room, that tray rattling with broken china. Try as he might, he couldn’t stop his gaze from trailing after her. But he stood his ground, bouncing his daughter in his arm.
“Click.” Scarlett was all smiles, transfixed by the temptation of his baby daughter. Pearl had some sort of magical power, attracting women and making even the meanest sons of bitches smile. “When did you get here? Where’d you come from? A baby? Wow.”
He glanced at his watch, deciding now was not the time to open the door on questions. He answered one. “Ten minutes ago. Hate that we missed the funeral.” Traveling with a baby was no picnic. Not that he blamed her. Being strapped into that car seat looked pretty damn uncomfortable. Truth is, they’d sat in the truck through the funeral. He followed the procession to the cemetery but hadn’t been able to get out of the car. Men didn’t cry in public. He was confident Lynnie would understand.
He’d driven his trailer to the back of Lynnie’s place and unloaded the horses into the far pasture—doing it all so he could delay this. “Pearl...” He broke off and shrugged, hoping that would be all the explanation needed.
He was worn out, emotionally and physically. The house was too crowded, the people too loud and curious. After he fed and changed Pearl, he wanted peace and quiet, a shower, a beer and a soft bed. If he was lucky, he could forget the mess his life was.
Tandy washed every dish in Lynnie’s kitchen. She cleaned out the refrigerator and swept and mopped the floor. She was hiding. She knew it and she didn’t care. Until her cousins were ready to go, this was where she would stay. Cleaning was how she processed.
And dammit, she had so much to process.
She’d known seeing Click would be hard. But their past had nothing to do with losing Lynnie. And then... Today had been beyond expectation. He...he was a father.
Fourteen months.
If her heart hadn’t already been shredded, this would have done it.
She’d told him to move on. And he had.
Wasted no time.
Fourteen months. Their time together hadn’t been as special as she’d thought—to him anyway. He’d waited, what, weeks? That baby was evidence of that. She’d been catatonic, consumed by sadness. And guilt—guilt that chipped away what was left of her heart.
He’d been in bed with someone—
She couldn’t think about it, couldn’t stand it. It hurt. Deep, raw and angry.
“You’re exhausting,” Renata said, having planted herself on a kitchen stool seconds before.
Tandy smiled, rinsing out the sponge.
“I say we go get drunk,” Renata said. “It’s the only option.”
Tandy shot her a look. “How do you figure that?”
“My brain can’t stop spinning. I can only imagine what’s going through yours.” Renata’s blue eyes met hers.
She was pretty sure alcohol wasn’t going to fix a thing. Still, she knew her heart wasn’t the only one hurting right now. “Scarlett’s okay with it?” she asked.
“She will be.” Renata winked.
Tandy shook her head and carried the mop bucket out the back screen door, letting it slam behind her. Poor Scarlett—she’d have no say-so in their plans for the evening. But spending a night chatting with Uncle Woodrow and Aunt Evelyn wasn’t Tandy’s ideal way to unwind. She was too wound up. They’d only make it worse. Maybe a drink or two wasn’t a bad idea. Anything to help her forget for a while.
Banshee jumped up from his place on the deck, pushing his massive head under her hand. She patted him, dumped the dirty water out and leaned against the railing, gasping for breath. The past was over and done with. She had no right to feel anything. None. So her anger was a shock. But she was. Really angry.
Worse, she hurt.
I’m done hurting over the past.
Banshee head-butted her hand, groaning in the back of his throat. She rubbed behind his ear, his silky fur calming her. A little.
Fourteen months? Fourteen months. She couldn’t wrap her head around it. Didn’t want to.
“Is that Tandy Boone?”
Tandy jumped, spinning on her heel. “Brody?” She pressed a hand to her chest. “I didn’t know you were here. Last I heard, you were wheeling and dealing in Dallas, or something.”
“Just got here. Nothing like a funeral to get people together again.” Brody Wallace’s hug was warm. “I make the trip once a month, or when Dad needs me. He’s never fully recovered from his stroke last fall. Not that he’d admit it or say I was anything other than a nuisance.”
“You’re being a good son to check in on him so regularly. No thoughts of taking over the family businesses yet?” she asked.
“Soon, maybe.” Brody smiled. “I came to pay my respects. Lynnie Hale was a rare breed.”
Tandy nodded. “She was that.”
“What brings you back to Fort Kyle?” Brody’s brown eyes did a quick head-to-toe. “Not that I’m not glad to see you and all. Who is this?” he asked, nodding at Banshee.
“Banshee, my best friend, of course. We moved for a new job at the veterinary clinic.” She squinted into the setting sun, the fence between Lynnie’s and Uncle Woodrow’s property visible. And just beyond the fence line sat one of Uncle Woodrow’s hunting cabins. Wildflowers carpeted the space between, vibrant pinks and reds and blues a stark contrast to the rugged beauty of West Texas. Nothing like the rolling hills she’d left behind in Stonewall Crossing. Please God, don’t let this move be a mistake.
“So you’ll be around for a while?” he asked.
She shrugged, everything she’d known a few hours ago no longer certain. The job
