Texas Fierce (The Tylers of Texas 4)

he’d needed to go.

She remembered how he’d looked today—sweat plastering his shirt to his body, his dark hair falling over eyes that were like the hot, blue jets of a gas flame. A man with nothing but land and pride. A man who would fight to keep what was his. Even the thought of him stirred her pulse.

But it was wrong to be thinking about him, especially now, when she was waiting to confront Ferg about his behavior. Not that she’d been perfect herself. She’d willfully kissed a man and enjoyed every second of it. Ferg, she knew, had done far worse. But she was just as guilty. Hers had been a betrayal of the heart.

One thing was clear. If she and Ferg were to marry, have a family, and build a life together, they needed to commit to being faithful—both of them.

By the time the Thunderbird pulled up to the house, she’d drifted into a light doze. Startled awake, she sat up as his key turned in the lock, smoothing back her hair and pulling down her shirt.

He walked through the door, blinking in the unexpected lamplight. His hair was rumpled, his shirt buttoned wrong. His lips looked slack and swollen.

Susan rose from the couch. He stared at her. “What the hell are you doing up?” he muttered, slurring the words.

“Waiting for you. We need to talk.” Something told her this might be bad timing, but she’d made up her mind not to back down.

“We can talk in the morning. I’m goin’ to bed.”

“Now, Ferg.” She stood her ground, blocking the way to the stairs. “I’m not as naïve as you think I am. I know you’re seeing a woman in town. I even know you have an illegitimate son your father is helping support. What I need you to tell me is this. How can I expect to stay engaged to, let alone marry, a man who behaves like you do?”

He leaned over her, seeming to swell in size. For a fleeting instant, Susan feared he was going to strike her. Then he turned away and slumped onto the couch. “Fine,” he muttered. “You want to talk? We’ll talk. Ask me any damn thing you want to know.”

“The woman.” Susan sat down at the far end of the couch. “Just one, or do you have a variety out there?”

“Just one. She’s married. Her husband’s on the road a lot, and it’s all just for fun. No strings attached.”

“I could ask you who she is, but I think I already know.”

“Then you should know she’s no threat to you. It’s just sex, for both of us. That’s all.”

“I see.” Susan gazed down at the diamond on her finger, scarcely able to believe she was having this conversation. “And the boy?”

“Hell, I was just a fifteen-year-old kid fooling around with the preacher’s daughter. I couldn’t believe it when she told me she was pregnant. My dad had to buy off her family. Otherwise, they’d have made a fuss and forced me to marry her.”

“So where are they now?”

“Right here in Blanco Springs. Her folks sent her off somewhere to have the baby. When she came back, they made up some story about having adopted an orphan. The kid passes as her brother, but I don’t suppose many people are fooled by that.”

“What’s his name? Do you ever see him?”

“Not if I can help it. His name’s Garn—not my choice, believe me. The little wimp takes after his mother’s family. If I didn’t know better, I would never believe he was mine.”

“But he’s your son. Don’t you feel anything for him?”

“Not a blasted thing.”

“And his mother? What about her?”

Ferg raked a hand through his rumpled hair. “Hell, she was a cute little thing in ninth grade. But she grew up to be a prissy Bible-thumper like her mother. Believe me, she’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“I’m not worried about her,” Susan said. “You ruined her life. I feel sorry for her.”

“Well, don’t. She was plenty willing at the time. And then her family tried to trap me. She’s lucky my dad helps out with the kid. Even that’s a helluva lot better than she deserves.”

Ferg had been gazing down at his hands as he spoke. Now he shifted on the couch and fixed his bloodshot eyes on Susan. “Now it’s my turn to ask a question. One of the stable boys told me you took the bay mare out today.”

Susan had resolved not to lie. “Yes. I was bored, so I rode over to the Rimrock. Bull was busy working. His two hired boys showed up while I was there.”

“I told you to stay away from him!”