Buch lesen: «The Texan's Twins»

Chapter One

The numbers blurred on the computer screen as the reality of Danica’s financial situation became clear. The bank statement bore the proof that her dream of a thriving animal sanctuary was morphing into a nightmare. She rubbed her eyes and opened the grant proposal file.

Linda Edward had trusted her to take care of the fur babies. Danica’s father thought it was a waste of time and money, but it wasn’t only her dream in jeopardy. The animals depended on the facility. There were a couple of big cats and a crippled bear that had nowhere else to go.

She leaned back and sighed. Was she fighting so hard just to prove her father wrong? He had always been right before. Glancing above her desk, she took the time to count her blessings.

Most days, the montage of family pictures and her daughters’ artwork inspired her. Including one photo with her and her mother bottle-feeding an injured fawn. It had been taken the week before her mother’s accident. Danica had been the same age her twins were now when she lost her mother.

Her sisters reassured her their mom would be one hundred percent on board with the sanctuary. Nikki, her oldest sister, told her to ignore her father’s grumbling. It was just his way of dealing with anxiety. With her history, he had a good reason to worry.

Scanning the happy memories and big life events, she realized one was missing. The only photo from her wedding. It was hidden away in her room, deep in her closet. She’d thought about burning it, but one day her twins might have questions.

Her daughters. Her fingertips brushed the rhinestone clusters along the edge of the frame the girls had made. They had their father’s beautiful eyes. As much as Reid’s abandonment had almost destroyed her, he’d also given her the greatest gift. Her five-year-old twins inspired her to be a fighter.

Leaning back, she pulled a folder from the cabinet behind her. Enough musing—she had a future to figure out. The past was the past.

Danica needed a plan to save the animals. Otherwise, the wildlife rescue would be forced to close its doors, and she’d lose the land. The spiral of death swirled on the outdated computer. Waiting, she swiveled the old office chair to the right. The large window faced the east.

From here, she could see a couple of ponies playing with a miniature donkey. They’d been rescued from a roadside carnival, and now the trio romped in the sun.

Finally, the file opened. Before she started, a vehicle crunched the gravel in the front drive. Praying it was the exciting news James had hinted about at church on Sunday, she made her way to the door. As the local parole officer, he often sent her workers that needed community hours. Free labor was always a win.

The old unmarked Uvalde County car came to a stop at her door. Hope surged through her veins. James Bolton was also on her board, and he knew she needed someone who could manage the unique diet plans and daily health issues of multiple species, along with transportation. It was hard to find trained and experienced people who were willing to work for free. If he had a parolee with that background, it would be a perfect fit for what she needed to complete the application.

Standing next to the patrol car, James waved. “Hey, beautiful. I come bearing gifts. You can take me to the movies to show your gratitude.” He wiggled his dark blond eyebrows.

She shook her head and grinned. The county officer was always flirting with her, but she never took him seriously. “James Bolton, you’d hate the movie I’d make you see.” She glanced to the passenger’s side of the car. He went around to open the back door, but the man stayed inside. With the partition between the seats, she couldn’t make out much.

If he was a vet tech, she might run and hug him. On the edge of the step, she turned to James. “Please tell me your latest ward is certified in animal husbandry?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Everything inside her wanted to dance and sing. She lifted her face to the sun. Thank You, God.

A hand appeared on the top of the door, and in slow motion the man straightened. His head stayed down, the cowboy hat blocking his face. He was over six feet tall and well built. Younger than she’d expected. He didn’t move. She hoped he was all right.

The man just stood there for a while. He removed his cowboy hat and slowly raised his head. His eyes reached hers.

A rush of ice froze her blood in its place. There was no way. She could not be seeing the person she thought she was seeing. It didn’t make sense. Rubbing her eyes, she looked again. His dark skin highlighted startling gray-green eyes that stared straight at her. The exact same eyes as her daughters’.

“Danica, this is my latest parolee, Reid McAllister. He comes with exceptional references and the experience you need. Reid, this is...”

James kept talking, but he no longer existed in her world. Reid McAllister stood in front of her. The man who had vowed to love her forever, before she knew how short forever was.

After a six-year vanishing act, her husband, the father of her twins, stood at the steps of her sanctuary.

Her heart stopped, and her knees went numb. To remain standing, she wrapped her fingers around the post. Her girls!

In a panic, her gaze darted around the area. The girls weren’t here. They were safe with her sister. Forcing her attention back to James, she took a deep breath and tried to gain control of her brain.

That was a problem she always had around Reid. Crazy sounded fun and reasonable. But the impulsive, reckless girl she’d been was gone now. She needed sensible, rational thoughts.

No one knew she was foolish enough to elope and marry a man her father didn’t even like, except the man standing in front of her. A parolee.

Reid in prison? She was going to lose her lunch.

Strong fingers gripped her elbow. Blinking, she focused on her friend. He was safe. James stepped closer. “Do you need to sit down? Are you sick? What’s wrong?”

He led her to the large wooden bench by the front door. Looking over the uniformed shoulder, she found Reid. At some point, he had moved closer to her and now stood at the bottom of the steps, hands in his pockets.

His expression was as hard as the cold stone of the Texas Hill Country. This man wasn’t her Reid.

Her Reid had always had a smile and a spark in his eyes for her. The gray-green of his irises struck her, but they looked flat and cold now. His black hair was cropped close to his skull. What had he done to end up in prison, and why hadn’t he told her?

She rubbed her head. “It hurts.”

“I’m going to get you some water and aspirin. Don’t move.” James disappeared through the front door.

Reid was as still as a snake trying to hide in the tall grass. He just stood there and stared at her, his full lips in a small snarl. Acting like a rescue animal that didn’t trust anyone, even the ones trying to help. He had no right to be mad at her. She was the injured party here.

“Are you dating him?” Each word tight and low.

Anger jolted through her. Standing, she took a step forward, then stopped. “Six years without a word and...that’s not any of your business.”

There was a slight shift in his expression, but then the I-couldn’t-care-less face was back in place. He shrugged. “Are we still married?”

“What?” Lowering her head into her hands, she dropped back onto the bench. She just couldn’t process this. “I got one call from you, telling me our marriage was a mistake. That was it. No way to get ahold of you to make sure you were all right. You were just gone. I thought you had gone back to New Orleans.”

Through a haze of confusion, she studied his face. His throat tightened, but there was no other change in his expression. “You show up at my door, asking me if we’re still married. You can’t be real.”

She’d thought a new parolee had been an answer to a prayer. Was this some horrible joke?

Reid looked down the drive that had brought him here. “Baby, as soon as he comes back, I’ll tell him I can’t do it. He can take me back to the ranch.”

“Which ranch?” Sweat slipped down her spine, causing her to shiver. His voice made her want to cry for everything he had taken from her. Baby. She used to love the way he called her baby with that accent.

That voice carried her back to the days she loved just sitting and listening to him talk. He had been twelve when Katrina sent his family to Houston. The rhythm and sounds of New Orleans still rolled off each syllable. She shook her head. It didn’t change what he did. “Reid, I don’t understand. Why are you here?”

“I took a job at Hausman Ranch. I’m a wrangler.” The door opened, and Reid retreated. She needed to talk to him, to find out where he’d been. Why had he left her? Prison. Why had Reid been in prison? Questions bombarded her brain faster than she could process them.

Her nails cut into her palm. If she didn’t know yesterday, she didn’t need to know today. He was her past and needed to stay that way.

James sat next to her. “Here, take this.”

She took the painkiller he offered and the mason jar of ice water. Long slow drinks of the cool water soothed her burning throat. She needed time. Her brain was overloaded. “Thank you.” She cupped the large-mouth jar in both hands and studied the ice before risking a glance in Reid’s direction.

He stood with his hands braced on the top of the car, head down. “Officer Bolton, can you take me back? She doesn’t want a convict working at her place.”

James shook his head. “I bring her parolees all the time.” With narrowed eyes, James faced her again. “Plus, she needs someone with your skills. Danica, are you sure you’re okay? Do you want me to call Jackie or your dad?”

“No!” Taking a deep breath, she willed her blood pressure to slow down. “I’m fine. I’ve been sitting all day working on the paperwork for the application. I didn’t eat lunch. I must have gotten up too fast. Just dizzy.”

James didn’t look like he believed her. With one hand on her shoulder, he leaned closer. “Are you sure? You need to take better care of yourself.”

She managed a smile. “Yes, I’m sure.”

Reid turned. Leaving his profile for her to study. There was a harder edge to his jaw than she remembered. A scar that hadn’t been there before cut next to his ear. Her stupid heart missed a beat. No, no, no.

With his back now leaning on the patrol car, he stared out across the five-hundred-acre sanctuary. He crossed his arms, causing his shirt to pull tight over his broad shoulders. He’d filled out, gotten stronger. He’s been in prison.

“Reid was a pre-vet student from your old stomping ground over at A&M. In prison, there was a rodeo program, and he worked with large animals. He was able to finish an associate’s degree in animal husbandry. You need him to get the funding, right?” James turned to Reid. “She’s in a rough place, and the sanctuary needs the global certification to qualify for a grant that will give her the funds needed to keep the place running.”

His gaze found her. “So, you’re the veterinarian?” A line formed between Reid’s eyes as he spoke.

“I didn’t finish college. I had to come home my junior year.” Let him think about that.

James kept talking as he stood. “No, she’s not the vet. Dr. Ortiz out of Uvalde serves as the vet. I sit on the Hill Country Wildlife Rescue Board. When I got your paperwork, it was a true gift from God. Thought I’d surprise her and get to play the hero. You know, save the day, keep the sanctuary open and all that.” He laughed. “Actually get a date.”

“James.” She was not in the mood to deal with his jokes.

Reid’s head jerked around, his sharp gaze penetrating. “Without my help, you might have to shut down?”

She hated to admit it, but yes. She needed Reid McAllister. Well, the animals needed him. She didn’t want anything to do with him. With a nod, she got to her feet. “Yes.” She had to wonder at God’s timing.

Bobby, the groundskeeper, came from behind the building. Even though he was pushing seventy, his tall frame moved with well-earned confidence. He outworked any of the younger guys she had on the property. The sun weathered his face, digging deep creases into his skin. With his steel gray mustache, Danica liked to think of him as her own Sam Elliott.

The officer greeted him and shook his hand. “Reid, this is Robert Campbell. He lives here on the grounds and takes care of everything. Reid here has a degree in animal husbandry.”

Bobby stepped forward and offered his hand. “You’re one of Jimmy’s parolees?”

Reid gave a stiff nod as he shook the older man’s hand. “Yes, sir.”

“What were you in for?” Bobby kept Reid’s hand firmly in his. They stood eye to eye, both over six feet with the muscular frames of hardworking men.

“Transporting drugs across state lines.” His stance and gaze stayed steady as he met Bobby’s question head-on.

She pressed her hands against her rapid heartbeat. She needed to calm down. “Did you do it?” Her voice struggled to climb out of her throat. She couldn’t imagine her Reid doing anything like that. Maybe he’d been framed.

He pulled his hand from Bobby’s and shrugged. “When someone offers you a couple thousand dollars to drive a car from one state to another, you know. Even if you don’t ask and they don’t tell. But I thought a shortcut to money was worth the risk.”

“Sounds like there was a girl you wanted to impress.” Bobby adjusted his cowboy hat. “It’s always about a girl. I had a little run-in with the law myself when I was younger. It didn’t pay off.” He glanced at his watch. “Well, I got animals waiting for me.” He nodded at Danica. “Remember, I’m just one click away if you need anything.” Turning back to Reid, he pointed to his walkie-talkie. “I always have this, so if she needs me, I’m there. Nice meeting you.” With the last word, he left.

James shifted his attention to Danica. “Are you feeling better? I could bring Reid back tomorrow.”

If she wanted a fighting chance to keep the sanctuary running, she didn’t have a choice. “I’m good. Whatever it was, I’m over it.”

She was over loving her husband, too, so why did he have to show up now and throw her heart into an undertow? Pulling her denim jacket tighter over her chest, Danica peeked at Reid from the corner of her vision. She was stronger than some leftover love that had dug into the bottom of her heart. “I could take you on a tour if you still want to do your community service here.”

He nodded. Grim would have been a happy description compared to the hard set of his jaw and eyes.

She was going to have to keep him away from her daughters and her family. What would he do if he found out he was a father? Would he even care?

* * *

Reid fell in behind Danica. Somehow, she was more beautiful than the last time he’d seen her. Of course, he hadn’t known it would be the last time.

Easy money was never really easy. Reid had known better, but he’d thought a few days to make enough money to impress her father would set them on the right path. The few days had turned into six years, and he was pretty sure her family hated him now more than back then.

It was not the path God intended. But being young and impatient, he hadn’t had enough faith to wait. Now the best thing that had ever happened to him was out of his reach.

Officer Bolton took a call and moved away from them. Danica stopped and glanced back at the officer.

Being this close to her was dangerous for his sanity. The sun was high over the hills, and a soft breeze played with her red curls, picking up golden highlights. A random strand crossed her face, and she tucked it away only to have it fall loose again.

Her hair always fascinated him. He’d called it red. She’d told him it was strawberry blond. From that day on, he’d loved strawberries.

She wore it shorter now. In college, it hung below her waist. Fisting his hands, Reid stuffed them in his back pockets to keep from touching her.

This was not how he’d imagined their first meeting, and he had spent hours daydreaming about it. Then again, prison wasn’t in his plan on the day he had promised to love her forever.

She cut a hard glare at him. Caught staring, he suddenly found his worn boots fascinating. He had no right to be thinking of her or looking at her.

From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the porch. She scanned the area with short jerky movements. Taking a step closer to him, she twisted and lowered her head, trying to make eye contact with him. He gave in and stared right at her.

The connection didn’t last long. Danica quickly looked away. “You’ve been in prison? I don’t understand. Why are you here now? After all this time?” She bit her lip and straightened. Back stiff and arms crossed, she looked off to the surrounding hills.

Reid had always loved the way she showed her emotions around him, not afraid or ashamed. But now he could see her fighting back the tears, fighting to be stoic with each blink. Her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth. Instinct told him to hold her, to reassure her.

Stalling for time, he cleared his throat and prayed for the right words. Fully aware there weren’t any. “Baby, I know sorry is not good enough for what I did to you, but it’s all I have.”

No explanation was good enough. He shrugged. “I didn’t mean to show up on your doorstep unannounced this way. I didn’t know he was bringing me to you.” His throat was still dry, but he had so many words he needed to say to her. “He just told me a wildlife rescue program needed a vet tech.”

When his mentor had showed him a list of jobs needing his skills, he couldn’t believe there was a ranch close to her hometown. Wanting to see her so badly, he thought maybe it was God giving him an opportunity to make it right. Now he realized it could have been his pride. “If me being here is a mistake, let me know and I’ll leave.”

An annoyed sound came from her beautiful lips. “What did you hope to achieve? I’ve moved on. You told me you had decided to go home. That our marriage was a mistake and you wouldn’t be back. One phone call and you left me without a way to get in touch. You just left.” Her breathing was short and hard.

The numbness that encased his heart a couple of years ago slipped a bit, and he stood before her with fresh wounds. He rubbed his face and focused on the hills. He didn’t have the strength to be near her and not want to be in her life. She had been his until he’d destroyed their future. He knew right then that without her forgiveness, he was still in prison.

“Danica, our marriage was a mistake. My family tradition is failure, prison and violence. I thought I had escaped, but it followed me. I’m not asking to be part of your life, but I’m here with the skills you need. Let me help until you get someone else.” He clenched his jaw and looked over her shoulder at the building behind her. Chipped paint revealed years of neglect.

His own father had destroyed his beautiful Creole mother. Now the promises he’d made Danica lay shattered on the ground. To keep his hands out of trouble, he stuffed them in his pockets. His gaze was not as easy to control. Tall and lean, she was so much stronger than his mother.

At least he hadn’t brought children into this mess.

Without a word, she stared at him. Guilt and shame were heavy burdens to carry. Lowering his head, he took deep breaths. In prison, he’d learned really quickly to avoid eye contact, and it was hard to change the habit.

Officer Bolton joined them. “Call just came across the radio. During a drug bust on the edge of the county, they got a surprise in the basement. They found a caged bear and an old black jaguar. The cat has a bad leg. There was talk of putting the animals down. I told them I was with you, and we could transport the animals here. I already called Dr. Ortiz to meet us there.” He smiled at Reid. “Initiation by fire. It looks like you’re jumping into the deep end today.”

Reid looked at his wife. No, he couldn’t think of her in those terms. It was too dangerous to get wrapped up in what could have been. Her hard glare felt like heat burning his skin, starting at his neck and traveling down.

Bolton slapped him on the back, causing him to jerk around. The officer laughed. “You go in the truck with Danica. She’ll update you. I’ll wait for you to gather your things, and you can follow me.” With a big smile, he headed to his patrol car. “Welcome to the world of rescue.”

“Come on, Mr. McAllister.” She didn’t wait for him. “I need to get the supplies. Have you moved large sedated animals before?”

He followed. “A few times, Mrs. McAllister.”

She stopped in front of him, and he bumped into her back. His hands went to her arms to prevent her from falling forward. He shouldn’t have been so close. In that instant, he reacted as if she was still his. He closed his eyes and inhaled her scent, savoring the shape of her arms under his hands.

With a twist, she was out of his reach. Her breathing made her shoulders rise and fall in quick succession. “I never changed my name. I’m a Bergmann, and we don’t forget. And we sure don’t forgive easily. So, you will call me Ms. Bergmann. No one knows I married you, and it will stay that way.”

With the precision of a general, she turned and marched to the small house. He followed. He had a feeling he would follow her to his death if she let him.

Sometimes when something was broken, fixing it wasn’t an option. The best a person could do was throw it away and move on. God, is this where You wanted me, or am I being a stubborn fool?