Texas Tall (The Tylers of Texas 3)

“I’ll be fine,” Sky said. “The worst part of all this is having to be here when you need me, Will.”

Will knew the words carried double meaning. Whatever happened at the trial, Sky’s help would be sorely missed—especially since, until his burnt hands healed, he’d be unable to ride or even drive.

Which brought Will to the news he was dreading to deliver. Sky might not take it well, but it had to be said. Will hardened his resolve. “We’re going to have to sell off most of your colts,” he said. “We’re asking best offer. That’ll mean taking a loss on them, but with the money situation being what it is, we can’t afford to feed them over the winter. Beau’s already sending out sale notices, not just to the Texas ranches but all over the country.”

Sky’s mouth tightened. Will knew how much work and care he’d put into selecting, breaking, and training the colts. The green young horses had been brought in to shore up the ranch’s finances, in case the drought forced a sell-off of the cattle. Most of the cattle were already gone, at a loss. And with other Texas ranches in similar straits, nobody in the state was paying big money for horses.

“Damn.” Sky exhaled, wincing with pain. “Some lucky folks are going to get a bargain on some great cow ponies. I know you wouldn’t do this if we weren’t scraping bottom. But I’d like to ask a favor. There are a couple of those colts I wouldn’t mind keeping for myself. Would you let me buy them from the ranch at the going price?”

Will knew Sky must be thinking of Quicksilver, the sharp gray gelding that had become his favorite. And he’d likely want a good filly to breed with one of the Rimrock stallions so he could start his own herd on his land. But with the expenses of his new house, Sky wasn’t exactly swimming in money, either. “Tell you what,” Will said. “They’re yours. Call it a wedding present.”

“Not on your life,” Sky said. “I know you’re going to need every cent to keep the ranch afloat.”

“We can talk about that when you’re on your feet,” Will said. “Meanwhile, let me know your choices. I’ll make sure Beau doesn’t put them up for sale.”

Sky was about to answer when two hospital aides, dressed in scrubs and carrying a stack of folded linens, walked in. “Looks like it’s cleanup time,” Sky said, clearly trying to sound cheerful. “Get my woman out of here, Will. Take good care of her. See that she eats and rests.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll all look after her,” Will said.

Lauren took time to kiss her fingertip and touch it to his lips. “You rest, too,” she said. “I’ll see you later. Will, I left my car and my purse at the ranch. You can just take me there.”

She let Will usher her out the door and down the network of hallways to the parking lot. As they walked to his truck, with his hand resting lightly under her elbow, he could feel her falling apart. She was rigid but shaky, her features braced against the emotion that was threatening to crush her. By the time they reached the truck, and she settled into the seat, her jagged breaths had become dry, racking sobs.

“Go ahead and let it out, girl.” Will slipped into the driver’s seat and started the engine. “You’ve been through a hell of a time, and you’re worn to a frazzle. You’re a strong woman—I’ve seen it and I know. But you don’t have to be strong twenty-four hours a day.”

Little by little, Lauren brought herself under control. “Thanks, Will. It’s just, seeing Sky like that, helpless and in pain . . .” She drew a long, tight breath. “Yesterday I didn’t know if I could do this. I almost left.”

“But you didn’t.”

“No, I didn’t. And today he’s doing better. But I was so scared! I never want to be that scared again!”

“Sky needs you, you know,” Will said. “He’s a tough man, and too proud for his own good, but I don’t think he could make it through this time without you.”

“I understand,” Lauren said. “But that’s not the reason I decided to stay. I stayed because I realized how much I needed him.”

“Then all I can say is, he’s a damned lucky man.”

Will lapsed into silence, thinking about Tori—all the times she’d needed him, when he hadn’t been there for her. That last time, when he’d raged at her over the phone, he’d actually been furious at himself for letting her down and leaving her open to another man’s attentions. Hell, he’d known she didn’t care about Garn Prescott. He’d known she wasn’t having an affair. But between the stress of his father’s illness and the fear of losing her, he’d just plain lost it. And that had been the end of everything.

Now there was a new man in her life—the sort of fellow who drove a sedan and wore cashmere sweaters and wingtips. Steady and stable, Drew Middleton was probably just what Tori thought she wanted. All Will’s instincts urged him to stand up and fight for her. But he had nothing left to fight with. Even without the specter of prison hanging over him, he was flat on his back financially, and on the verge of losing the ranch. He had nothing to offer any woman, let alone a classy lady like Tori.

“You know who was responsible for setting that fire, don’t you?” Lauren asked, changing the subject.

“I’ve got a pretty good idea. But no way to prove it.”

“No more than I’ve got a way to prove Stella ruined my father, or that she tried to have his car rammed, and almost killed me by mistake. She’s an evil monster, Will. There’s got to be a way to bring her down.”

She shifted in the seat, turning toward him. “I asked Sky if he’d seen Ralph inside the barn. He said no, but he’d noticed that some of the stall gates were already unbolted. People are saying Ralph was a hero. But what if he’d been paid to set the fire, and on his way out of the barn, he decided to give the horses a chance to get out—or make himself look like a hero—and then something went wrong, and he didn’t make it out?”

“It makes a good story,” Will said. “But with Ralph dead and the barn burned to ashes, we may never know for sure. For all we know, he could’ve seen the fire, run in to help, and passed out from the smoke. The coroner’s report should tell us something.”

“But you’d given the men the afternoon off. Why wasn’t he home? And what about that old truck of his? Why didn’t he drive it to the barn, unless he didn’t want to be seen? Maybe if we looked inside—”

“The truck’s gone,” Will said. “When I drove by the bungalow this morning, it wasn’t there. I’m guessing maybe the sheriff or his deputies impounded it.”

“The sheriff—that’s another thing,” Lauren persisted. “What if he’s on Stella’s payroll, or at least owes her a few favors? That could explain a lot, especially about the way he’s treated you.”

Will shook his head. “Nobody puts much stock in Abner as a sheriff. But does that mean he’s crooked? Like I say, there’s no proof. For now, all we can do is rebuild and move on.”