The Texan's Secret (20 page)

Darcy barreled into Chance, who lifted her and swung her around. She squealed with delight and wrapped her arms around his neck. A moment later she slid to the grass, took Chance’s hand and led him toward Shay.

She didn’t know she was holding her breath until the pain in her chest told her so. She gulped in air.

“See, Mommy? I told you Chance would come.”

And he had. Now what did she say?

Darcy gave Nettie a thumbs-up and whispered, “The love potion worked.”

“What?” Shay looked at Nettie, who was frowning at the child. What had those two concocted? She
decided to let it ride. She had more important things on her mind—like the man standing in front of her.

Nettie grabbed Darcy’s hand. “Let’s go to the car. We’re getting wet.”

Unlike her usual behavior, Darcy went meekly. That left Shay and Chance alone with a gulf of pain between them.

She watched the rain tap-tapping on the plastic cover on his Stetson. She wanted to look into his eyes, but was afraid of what she would see.

“How are you?” he asked in a deep, soothing voice, that gave her the courage to raise her eyes to his. She caught her breath at what she saw there. The fog of pain had cleared, replaced by a look of peace. Dare she hope…?

She swallowed and said what was in her heart. “I need someone to hold me.”

He opened his arms and she flew into them, pressing against him. He held her in a viselike grip, his breath warm on her wet forehead.

“I’m sorry, Shay. I’m sorry.”

“Shh.” She pressed her fingers against his lips. “Please don’t apologize. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“I just got lost in the past.”

“And now?” she asked, staring up at him, tasting the rain on her lips.

“I want a life, a normal life, with a woman I love.”

“Oh, Chance.” She stood on tiptoes to meet his kiss, and gave herself up to him and to everything that was
yet to come in their lives. “I love you,” she whispered against his lips.

“I love you, too,” he groaned. “And that’s what was so hard about all this. Our love was being destroyed by our parents, and I couldn’t seem to change that.”

Shay buried her face against his damp shirt. “What changed your mind?”

“Darcy and Kid.”

“What?” She raised her head.

“Darcy called and said that I had to forgive you. And then she reminded me what I’d told her about forgiveness. It’s kind of eye-opening to have your words quoted back to you by an eight-year-old.”

“I didn’t even know she’d called.” It seemed as if her daughter had been very busy lately. But for the life of her Shay couldn’t find anything wrong with that. “And Kid? What did he say?”

Chance’s arms tightened around her. “He said if what I felt for you was the twenty-four-carat-gold, slip-on-the-left-hand kind, then I’d better hang on to it.”

She looked up at him. “So do we have that kind of love?”

He smiled and her heart melted. “I’m willing to bet that we do.”

“Me, too.” She burrowed into him, feeling loved. She had finally found the real thing.

“Do you know that it’s pouring down rain?” he asked with a note of humor in his voice.

“Yes. Does it matter?”

“No. I’ll love peeling off your clothes later.”

She looked through the rain at this incredible man
who loved her, and said, “I love you. No matter what, I will always love you.”

His lips caught hers in a fiery kiss that bonded them together forever. Later, they would talk about their parents, and would be armed with a love so strong it could hurdle the obstacles of the past. They weren’t looking back. They were moving forward.

Six Months Later

C
HANCE LEANED
on the white board fence, watching Darcy ride her new horse, Sparky. She was born to the saddle, as Uncle Rufus would say, already galloping around the corral like a pro.

So much had changed in the last six months. They’d been married in Shay’s church, surrounded by family—Aunt Etta and Uncle Rufus were there, as well as the Calhouns and the Belles. Shay was a little overwhelmed by his extended family, but it didn’t take her long to love them, too.

They’d searched for a house, but couldn’t find one to suit them. Then Chance found a two-story colonial with barns and a pond, on twenty acres between Houston and Brenham. He thought it was perfect. Shay thought the house was too big, but the private bedroom and bath off the kitchen persuaded her. It would be Nettie’s private space.

But Nettie had other ideas. Once Nettie and Shay put their old houses on the market, she surprised them by saying she’d found an assisted living facility that she
liked, and had signed a contract. Shay was devastated, but nothing she said changed Nettie’s mind.

Petey’s parents got back together and they moved to Arlington. He and Darcy wrote each other and talked on the phone. Darcy didn’t have time to be sad. She had a whole new life.

She galloped toward him now and pulled up, rubbing Sparky’s neck. “I asked Mommy something and she said I had to ask you.”

“What did you ask her?”

The girl took a long time petting her horse. Finally, she looked up and straightened her glasses. “I asked her if I could call you Daddy.”

His heart knocked against his ribs. “Since I’m adopting you, I think that would be nice.” He swallowed. “I am your father now, Darcy.”

“Cool,” she said, and galloped away.

Chance didn’t think it was possible to be any happier. He had everything he’d ever wanted—Shay, Darcy, a new home and a new life. They didn’t talk much about their parents. They didn’t need to. They had finally put the past to rest.

Judd, as promised, had mailed Shay a check for the jewelry, and they had put the money in trust for Darcy’s education. At least some good had come out of the horrible affair.

“Mommy’s coming,” Darcy shouted, waving like crazy.

He turned to see the silver Tahoe he’d given her as a wedding gift roll into the garage.

Moments later, two slim arms circled him from behind. “Ah, this feels good.”

With one arm, he reached around and pulled her in front of him. “Try it from this angle.”

She giggled and pressed into him. “Much better,” she cooed.

He kissed her gently, softly, and rested his forehead against hers. “How was school?” Shay was now going to college full time.

“Same ol’, same ol’.” She played with the buttons on his shirt. “I can’t believe I graduate in three months.”

He lifted her chin. “Then why the glum face?”

“I went by Nettie’s.”

“Oh.”

“I was hoping to find her miserable so I could bring her home, but she was laughing and talking with a group, playing dominoes.”

“So she’s happy?”

“I suppose. She’s telling fortunes, and the lady who does hair there quit, so she’s now doing hair again until they can find someone else.”

“Sounds as if she’s found her niche.”

“I know, but…”

“But what?”

“I would have never gotten through my awful childhood if it hadn’t been for Nettie. I want to be there for her like she was for me.”

He kissed the side of Shay’s face. “Let Nettie have her independence. Further down the road I’m sure she’ll need us, and we will be there for her.”

“I know.” Shay rested her head against him and he
stroked her hair as his other hand crept beneath her knit top.

“Okay, mister, we’re out here in broad daylight with our daughter watching.”

He smiled and took her lips one more time.

“Watch me, Mommy,” Darcy called, and galloped full speed around the corral.

Shay turned in the circle of Chance’s arms. “Oh, isn’t that too fast?”

“Pull her up, hotshot,” he shouted.

“Okay, Daddy.” Darcy yanked the reins a moment before she reached the fence, and dust blanketed them.

“Darcy,” Shay scolded.

“Sorry, Mom.”

Chance pointed a finger at her. “Not again, hotshot.”

“Okay, Daddy.” Then Darcy quickly changed the subject. “Are we going to High Five this weekend?”

“Yes, we are,” he answered.

“Oh, boy. I get to play with Haley, Georgie, Val, Kira—and the twins.” She rolled her eyes as she mentioned the toddlers.

“I thought you liked them,” Shay said.

“I do, but they keep pulling my glasses off.”

“I’m sure you can cope,” Shay commented.

“Yeah.” She nodded. “And I get to hold the baby. I like babies.” After delivering that news, she cantered away.

Dane Cooper Yates, heir apparent to High Five, had been born in July. He was growing by leaps and bounds.

Shay looked at Chance. “That was not very subtle. How do
you
feel about babies?”

“Anything you want.” He felt a grin spread across his face.

“I’d like to wait until I finish my degree.”

“Okay, but we’ll practice a whole lot in the meantime.”

She laughed and burrowed against him. “So we’re going to High Five?”

“Yep, Uncle Rufus found a horse for you. Her name is Goldie. A golden horse for a golden lady.”

She looked up at him, her eyes wistful. “I’m not my mother. I don’t need material things. I just need you.”

“Oh, honey.” He held her tight and for a moment they were lost in a love that had survived against all odds.

She moved her head against him. “She’s calling you Daddy.”

“Yes, and it feels right.”

Shay’s arms encircled his neck and brought his lips down to hers, and nothing was said for some time.

Chance had learned a hard lesson: forgiveness brought immeasurable rewards. And the greatest reward of all was Shay’s love.

He would remember that for the rest of his life.