Texas Tall (The Tylers of Texas 3)

“There’ll be plenty of time for that.” He set two loaded plates on the table and popped two slices of bread out of the toaster. “Eat up,” he said.

“If I eat all this, I’ll get fat.”

“All the more for me to love.”

Laughing, she filled her fork. This was the Sky Fletcher few people knew—laughing, teasing, affectionate, and happy. Opening himself to her as he did was the best gift she could have asked for.

“Aren’t you going to work this morning?” she asked.

“Soon. There’s plenty to do, and I want to be there for Will, in case he needs anything. The inquest is scheduled for this morning. He’s putting on a brave face, but if the decision is to charge him, he’s going to take it hard.”

“How soon will he know?”

“Tori will be at the inquest. She’ll call him as soon as it’s over. Lord, I hope it’s good news. The ranch has enough trouble as it is. We don’t need a trial. We need Will.”

“How’s Erin taking all this?”

“She’s one brave kid—doesn’t want her dad to know how scared she is. But I think Will’s even more worried for her than he is for himself.”

“He would be.” Lauren sipped her coffee. “Lately I’ve been thinking about that piece of canyon land Will wants to buy from me. I know it would please him to get it back. It might even take his mind off his troubles for a little while.”

“You’d sell it to him for that reason? It’s a nice idea, Lauren, but I thought you wanted time to explore the place while it’s yours.”

“I do,” Lauren said. “So why not do it soon? The weather’s supposed to be mild for the next couple of weeks. You and I could take Erin with us and spend some time exploring. Or if you can’t get off work, I could just take Erin. We could pack a picnic lunch, make it fun for her. When we’ve explored to our heart’s content, then I’ll sell the land to Will for a dollar, as I promised I would. That land has been a sore spot between our families since before you were born. It’s time we put an end to it and made peace.”

Sky reached across the table and clasped her hand. “That’s a great idea, and I love you for thinking of it. Do you want me to bring it up to Will, or would you rather wait and do it yourself?”

“Let me do it,” Lauren said. “I could use a few points with the ranch family—especially with Jasper.”

/> Finished with his breakfast, Sky rose. “Don’t worry about Jasper. He’s a prickly old bird, but he’ll come around. Nobody could resist you for long.”

“Don’t count on his coming around anytime soon. Not as long as my last name’s Prescott.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan to fix that.” He strode to her side of the table, lifted her to her feet, and gathered her close for a lingering kiss. As her body molded to his through the silk robe, Lauren felt the warm stirrings of desire. It would be tempting to coax him back to bed and make him late for work. But Sky wasn’t a man to be coaxed into shirking his duties, not even by a warm and willing woman. Maybe that was one of the reasons she loved him so much.

“I’ll call you when I know about the inquest,” he said.

“Thanks. I’ll be waiting to hear.”

She kissed him at the door; then she walked to the window to watch his truck drive away. She was far luckier than she deserved to be, Lauren thought. She had her health, her career as an accountant, all the money she needed, and the love of a wonderful man. It didn’t seem right that someone as fair, honest, and good as Will Tyler should be surrounded by problems—a ranch that was sinking into a financial quagmire, a possible prison sentence, and a failed marriage to a woman he clearly still loved.

What had happened to drive Will and Tori apart? Will had never talked about it in Lauren’s hearing. Tori, although she was Lauren’s friend, had never shared the story of her marriage and how it had ended. Lauren told herself that it was a private matter—as such things should be.

Still, she couldn’t help wanting to know—in part because she wanted to avoid similar mistakes, but mostly because she cared deeply about these two people and their lovely young daughter. They’d become part of her life—her future family. She wanted to understand them.

Lauren turned away from the window and began clearing away the breakfast dishes. She would give anything to help Sky’s half brother and his loved ones through their troubles. But for now, there was nothing she could do but hope and wait.

* * *

Beau found Will in the stallion barn, cleaning out stalls with a shovel and a broom. He was going at it with a fury that Beau understood all too well. Last spring, Beau had been the one facing trial. Things had turned out all right, but he knew how his brother must be feeling.

“Hey.” Beau leaned against a partition, trying to look casual. “We pay teenage boys to do that job. You’re the boss, not a stable hand.”

Will gave him a glance, then went back to shoveling. “What am I supposed to do, sit on the porch with Jasper and wait for the call? Hell, I might as well make myself useful.”

“You’ll get through this, Will,” Beau said. “I know that sounds like a stupid thing to say, but I’ve been in your shoes. You’re a tough man—even tougher than you think you are.”

“Don’t be so sure of that.” Will straightened, bracing the point of the shovel blade on the floor of the barn. “Wait till you have your own child. Then you’ll understand. I’m not afraid of prison. I could survive a few years if it came to that. And I know you’d take care of the ranch. But the idea of leaving Erin, having her grow up without me, with the shame of a father behind bars—that’s the worst. And if her mother marries that prissy school principal, knowing he’d be raising Erin in my place . . . Lord, that’s what I can’t even stand to think about.”