Page 34 of The Texas Cowboy's Proposal
Boots sounded on the concrete behind her, then the soft material of her shawl gently enveloped her shoulders. She settled into it and lost her hands inside the folds, grateful to steady them. The cowboy fell into step beside her. His hands slid into the pockets of his jeans as they walked along the pools of light cast on the sidewalk via the vintage streetlamps.
“If I said something wrong, I’m sorry. I don’t know why you’re upset, but that wasn’t my intent. If there is something I can do, let me help. You aren’t in this alone. I hope you know that by now.”
“Don’t.” She stopped walking and they turned to face each other. The concern in his eyes was another arrow to the chest. “You did nothing wrong. I did it. My family did it. I’m just trying to make amends and end it all. I am the one who is truly sorry. Your words are ones I will treasure always. And it’s because I do that I can’t ruin things for you and Lacy. You both deserve to have the life you want with Lacy’s teacher or someone else who might come into your lives. I’d be a barrier to that. I almost ruined your chances with my being selfish and placing more value on things that won’t matter in fifty years. But a family and love—they matter always. If you are lucky enough to have one that is perfect for you, you grab hold of it and don’t let go. You might not get that second chance. I won’t stand in anyone’s way because I was only thinking of what I wanted, what I thought I would die if I didn’t have. But I won’t die. I’ll go on and make something for myself.”
He looked baffled. Shouldn’t he have some relief?
“Don’t tell me that you’ve listened to any of the insane gossip in town from those busybodies. You should know better than most to not take anything they come up with seriously. A relationship with Miss Crawford, Lacy’s teacher? That is ridiculous. Just as I said before.”
“No matter who it might be, you don’t need to be tied down for three years with some cold, written agreement. That’s not living. It’s serving a sentence. And I think I’m not that bad a punishment, but it’s the freedom to choose for both of us that is the most important.”
She had wanted to end on a halfway upbeat note, but it fell flat. The thought of Beaudry and another woman just didn’t cut it for her. “Whatever this ages-old feud is between the Burkitts and the Hawkes, if it had anything to do with what my grandmother perpetrated with her will, it’s over and done with. It’s just a historic footnote no one will really ever pay attention to in the future. It’s nothing to us.”
Beaudry studied the tip of one boot for several long seconds, the crease in his forehead visible beneath the brim of his hat. Then he lifted his chin and let out a long sigh.
“I see what you’re saying. I don’t agree with some of it. And an old grudge is dead and buried with your grandmother for all I care. But I do honor my word. And my word is this: I told Matt Matteo today to get that agreement ready for me to sign tomorrow at high noon at the courthouse. I suggest you be there to sign on the dotted line too. Unless you’re the type of Burkitt who goes back on a handshake? You and I shook hands, and I don’t intend to be the one to break that. A Hawkes knows how to keep his word.”
His look and tone were dead serious. Sammi Jo was stunned for a moment. So nothing mattered, really, but that he got the three million and the free land deal. A Hawkes to the end. He thought he could call her bluff? Well, not by a long shot. She met his gaze with her own.
“High noon it is.”
Chapter Fifteen
“High noon. ShouldI dust off Granddad’s ivory-handled Colt 45s in the display case downstairs?” Laurel was sitting on the edge of the sofa in the living room, watching Sammi Jo pace back and forth.
“Very funny. I’m twice the better shot than Beaudry Hawkes is, so don’t tempt me. And why you find this so amusing, I do not know. Why are you even here? I am perfectly capable of handling this on my own.”
“I thought I was coming to stop you from throwing away your heritage. But I guess now I just want to make sure everyone comes out alive after the dust settles today.”
“I’m sorry you wasted a trip over this nonsense. I should never have been soft. What was I thinking?”
“You weren’t thinking, not like the usual Burkitt,” her sister agreed. “You were thinking and feeling like a woman with a heart. And that is perfectly acceptable.”
Sammi Jo stopped pacing and looked at her sister. “When you first told me about Grandmother’s ridiculous codicil to her will, you basically said I was a silly fool for wanting to fight to keep all this. Now you find it acceptable that I have such strong feelings. What gives?”
“You weren’t in love back then. You lovedthings: the land and horses and history. But you hadn’t given your heart to what really matters. You fought a battle for one thing, but in doing that, you really won the whole war. Maybe I just wanted to be here to help you see that you shouldn’t let anger or pride get in the way. Don’t miss your chance to have it all, this land and the people on it that you love. And don’t waste my time or yours denying that you fell lock, stock, and barrel for Beaudry Hawkes. Who knows? Maybe this was Grandmother’s true plan after all? If Grandmother hadn’t been such a stickler for the oldest of the two of us being executor and the one to speak with the lawyers at the reading of the will, then you could have asked your questions of them. But given her nature, it was and is one way to settle an old feud, joining the two families once and for all. She always was a wily old coyote.”
“If this was Sarah Burkitt’s backhanded way of settling anything, she should have told me so. No matter what, I’ll watch that man sign and then I will do the same. Whatever happens next, it will just be business. He sticks it out, he’ll get his filthy money and land.”
“Said like a true Burkitt.” Laurel grinned. “I think I’m sorry I’m all the way over on the West Coast and won’t be close enough to see these fireworks unfold. It might make an interesting story for one of my movies.”
“Don’t you even think of writing such a thing. But you should think about coming back to Texas. We have something here in Texas you won’t ever find in Hollywood.”
“What would that be? Tornadoes, rattlers—”
“Jaxson Hawkes.”
Laurel stood, shot Sammi Jo a pointed look. “Subject closed. And the clock is ticking. We don’t want to be late for our first gunfight on the town square.”
*
Jaxson checked thescene outside the attorney’s office through the louvered wooden shutters for the umpteenth time.
“What are you doing? Who are you looking for?”
Jaxson didn’t turn to face Beaudry. “I’m just making sure there won’t be too many bystanders to get in the way of the fight. Don’t need any collateral damage in this Burkitt-Hawkes battle. I just wish I had thought sooner about selling tickets for seats to it. That would have brought in some good money there. Don’t you think, Matt?”
The attorney was propped back in his high-backed leather chair, his feet crossed on top of the edge of the broad mahogany desk in front of him. He had an amused smile. “It’s not too late to take some bets. Of course, as an officer of the court and all, I am not condoning gambling.”