Texas Haven (23 page)

*
*
*
*

The swing jostled as Burke sat down beside her. He didn
’
t know where to start. There was so much he wanted to say, so much he should say, but deep down he felt as though if he didn
’
t get it right this time, he
’
d blow everything for good. If he had his way he
’
d sit right there on the porch swing with Annie on his lap
,
snuggling. He did find a bit of comfort that she hadn
’
t refused to talk to him. He admired her. He sensed an inner strength that he hadn
’
t noticed before.

He took a fortifying breath and dove right in. His head turned toward Annie, looking at her profile. He could see her stiffness and he understood. He wanted to take her hand
, but
somehow he knew that he shouldn
’
t.

“
I meant what I said in the card
.
I was a fool
.
I am a fool, and I
’
m sorry.
”

Annie still wouldn
’
t look at him.

“
The things I finally found out from Alice are diabolical. She planned on doing us both harm, and like a fool I never saw it coming. We
’
d still be together if I
’
d never let her into our lives. She manipulated me at every turn. She deceived me at every turn.
”
Burke put his face in his hands. How was he going to explain everything and make it sound believable? Hell
,
he didn
’
t even believe it and he lived through it. Burke sat up straight and looked at Annie.
“
Sonny and Alice were in cahoots to sabotage our marriage from the get go.
”

Annie gave him a quick look.

He told her about the deal Sonny and Alice had to steal her inheritance and how Alice double-crossed Sonny.

“
They make me sick. Talk about being greedy! They tried to ruin my life for money?
”

“
There
’
s more, much more and I should have believed you,
”
Burke said, his heart in his throat. He explained about the trap and the kitten story
.
She was trembling so badly that Burke pulled her into his arms to offer comfort.

Rubbing her back, he went on to explain how the house and barn door ended up locked that night of the storm.

“
I don
’
t know if I want to hear anymore,
”
Annie said with a sob.
“
Why didn
’
t you ever believe me? I was your wife. I never did one thing to make you mistrust me!
”

Burke looked at her. Her eyes were full of accusations and he knew he deserved it. He let her go and got up from the swing. Looking out at the dark Texas sky, he could see clouds rolling in. Turning around
,
he gazed at her. Even in grief, she was beautiful. It tore at his heart to know that he was as much to blame as Alice. He should have listened.

“
I wish I knew the answer. Nothing made sense so I don
’
t know
.
I just put it on the back burner and went back to what I do best, ranching.
”

Burke sat back down next to Annie, enjoying her nearness.
“
I
’
m a fool plain and simple. I let the past cloud the present and I just didn
’
t give you the respect you deserved. You deserved my belief. You deserved my protection. I knew that you were no match for that bitch, but I only saw what I wanted.
”

Annie put her hand on his thigh.
“
I wish we could go back,
”
she said wistfully.
“
I could never live here in this house again. The memories are sad and full of pain.
”

Burke sighed and went on.

Annie gasped when she heard that Alice had been responsible for her fall and she cried when she heard that Alice had drugged Burke in order to stage their sexual tryst.

Finally, Burke explained how he didn
’
t know about the baby. He had never received any of her messages. He had yelled at her on the phone because Alice told him that Annie was harassing and threatening her. He told her how bitter and upset he was that she had left without saying goodbye and he apologized for all the harsh things he had said to her.

Tears ran down her face as she listened to Burke
’
s bitter story. She knew that everything he had to say rang true. All the tears, the pain, the jealousy, and heartbreak were due to greed. It disgusted her. She was aghast that Alice and Sonny could be so devious, so callous. She felt Burke
’
s arms going around her and she buried her face against his chest, trying to burrow closer longing to feel safe.

“
I
’
m so sorry that I blew up at you for paying off my ranch. Noreen made me see the light on that one.
”

Annie was surprised.
“
Really, how did she do that?
”

“
She told me off,
after I yelled at you. She told me just how generous you had been not only to her, but to the rest of the community.
”
Burke sighed heavily.

“
I always knew that Noreen was in my corner. I kept up with Weltworth gossip through her while I was in New York.
”
Annie grew quiet as she listened to Burke
’
s heartbeat.

Annie pulled away from him.
“
I saw you in bed with Alice. If you were drugged then how did you
…
well
,
you know?
”
She asked, and then held her breath
,
waiting for the answer. She closed her eyes, not wanting the answer. She knew what she had seen. It was
something
she had relived a million times.

“
After she made you fall, she took full advantage of the fact that we couldn
’
t sleep together,
”
he explained.
“
She drugged me twice. She told me the first night she just sat in the room. She said that the second night she could hear you coming up the stairs.
”
Burke turned red as he continued.
“
I guess she worked fast and hard to get me well, you know, able. I swear to you that I didn
’
t even know she was in there. I was out like a light. If it
’
s any consolation, she said that I deflated pretty fast.
”

Annie weighed everything he said. She could finally see that what he was saying was the truth.
“
I thought that you had broken my heart that night, but it was actually Alice
’
s fault.
”
She put her head on his wide shoulder.
“
She caused us so much pain, Burke. There were times that I
’
d thought I
’
d die from my broken heart.
”

“
Me too, darlin
’
, me too. It ripped my heart out when you left me. I didn
’
t know why you left and it
nearly
killed me. It made me crazy
,
wondering what I had done to make you leave. It made me insane not knowing where you were. I missed you every second you were gone,
”
he confessed.

Burke ran his hands up and down her back trying to comfort her. She began to wind down a bit when she felt the baby moving between them. It felt like the baby was doing some sort of acrobatics. Burke pulled away in awe and their eyes locked in a deep searching gaze. They mirrored each other
’
s pain, regret, and love.

“
I feel cheated out of being with you as our baby grew. I wanted to go through each step with you. I
’
ve missed so much because of my blindness to the truth.
”

“
I
’
ve missed you every step of the way too, from the joyous first moment
I realized I was pregnant. I cried for you during the morning sickness and I resented that you were never there during my
d
octor
’
s appointments. The first sonogram nearly broke me. I was so alone.
”

“
I know we have a lot to work on, but I don
’
t want you to go one more step alone. I want to be there for both you and the baby. You are the only thing that brings me any type of pleasure. Hell
,
even the ranch didn
’
t bring me peace after you left.
”

“
I can
’
t make any promises,
”
she said sadly, shaking her head.

“
I know
, but
I truly believe that in time we can make it right, make it work. I want to be a part of your life. I
’
m tired of looking at you from on top of my horse. I know I hurt you
, but
I want to be the one to put the smile back on your face.
”

Annie looked at him in wonder. His word spoke directly to her battered heart. His eyes seemed to be beseeching her to give him a chance. It was a chance that had been denied to both of them.

Her head felt as though it was spinning thinking of all the sleepless nights, all the days feeling devastated. So much wasted time. At least now, her anger was directed towards the right people, Alice and Sonny. Damn them both.

“
What about my horse ranch? Are you okay with it? It used to be your land and I hope you
’
ll like what I
’
ve done with it. I wanted to make it into something our child could inherit.
”

“
Whatever makes you happy. It looks like a fine operation. You should be proud. I know that I am. It
’
s a damn excellent legacy for our child.
”

His praise was a balm to her wounded soul. No one had ever been proud of her before and it touched her unlike anything else. It filled a void within her. It touched her heart and soul. It gave her bliss that was beyond any measure. What a rollercoaster of a day.

“
Would you expect to run it?
”
she inquired.
“
I mean if we were to get back together?
”
Her face grew warm as she realized what she had just said. They hadn
’
t talked about reconciling and here she was the first one to mention it. Maybe that wasn
’
t in his plans. He said he wanted to be a part of her life
, but
he never mentioned what he meant by it. Maybe he wanted separate households. She hoped that he wanted her to marry him again.
However,
just talking like this and spending time together was going to have to be enough for now. She didn
’
t need to borrow trouble.

Taking a deep breath, she decided to enjoy the moment and not worry about the future.
“
Well?
”

Burke laughed.
“
No
,
darlin
’
,
those reins are all yours. I already have a cattle ranch to run. Besides I have it on good authority that you
’
ve surrounded yourself with some of the best in the business.
”

“
Now would this same good authority have told you the exact crib I wanted?
”
she teased.

Burke smiled at her.
“
Mum
’
s the word, but I do have to say her info is always correct. Her advice isn
’
t half bad either.
”

“
Well,
God bless
Mrs
.
Harvy
. She
’
s been like an angel on my shoulder. I don
’
t know how I would have gotten through all this without her help.
”