A Moment To Love (24 page)

“That’s not true. I’m here to do my job. I have to finish what I started. Believe it or not, I care about you, and this land deal is what’s best for you.”

“I don’t agree.” He crossed his arms and glared at her.

She withdrew the papers from her oversized purse. “Just sign them. It’s for the best.”

He waved them away. “I don’t want them.”

She paused and glanced down at the papers. Now wasn’t the best time to broach this subject, but if it was part of the reason he was avoiding signing the papers, then it needed to be addressed. “Is it that you don’t want the papers? Or is it that you have a problem reading, and that’s why you’re avoiding going over the offer?”

“What?” He glanced at the ground and shifted his weight from foot to foot. “I don’t know what you’re taking about.”

Oh, yes, he did know what she was talking about. “I could go over them with you—”

“I told you I don’t have a problem. I get by just fine.”

She unfolded the papers and moved next to him. “Would you like me to read the whole thing to you? Or you could just let me know which words you need help with—”

He stormed over to the door. She thought for sure he was going to keep on going outside, jump on his horse and ride away. But he stopped. His shoulders slumped as though the weight of the world weighed down on him.

“If you must know, I’m dyslexic. I bet now you’re happy that you didn’t get further involved with a dumb cowboy.”

“I never, ever thought you were dumb. You are very smart about so many things.” Except when it came to letting go of the ghost town in order to save his home.

“I’m not like you. My choices are limited.”

Then she understood the other reason he’d clung so tightly to the land. It was what he knew—what he could do without feeling inferior. Her heart went out to him. Suddenly so many things made sense to her. “Don’t underestimate yourself. You can do whatever you set your mind to.”

“Yeah, right. I’m a cowboy, and my livelihood depends on the land.”

“Then help me save it. Look over the papers and then have someone in Whistle Stop go over them. Maybe your Realtor or an attorney—”

He turned to her. “I don’t need anyone’s help, because I’m not signing those papers.”

She stepped forward. “Listen, I respect your undying loyalty to your heritage, but you’re letting your pride overrule your common sense. Aren’t you hearing me? Your home is about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. You won’t have any say in who buys it.” She implored him with her eyes to listen to reason. “Please don’t let that happen.”

“You’d say anything now to make this deal, wouldn’t you?”

“You act like you’re the only one with something to lose here. Did you ever think that I might have something precious at stake, too?”

His gaze narrowed. “Your job at HSG?”

“No. My relationship with my father.”

When Cord didn’t say anything, she continued, “You’ve been so focused on your save-the-ghost-town-at-all-costs campaign that I don’t think you’ve listened to one word I’ve said.”

“Of course I listened to you,” Cord blustered.

“No, you didn’t. Sure, you listened when I told you stories about my childhood, but not when I steered the subject around to the land. Not when I tried to explain that we both have a lot at stake.”

He eyed her suspiciously.

She swallowed down her rising emotions. “My father’s entire life has been about building his legacy, a legacy that he can pass on to me. It’s all that matters to him now, and I want…I
need
to make that happen. It’s all I’ll ever be able to give him.

Worse than the anger was the wounded look in Cord’s chocolate-brown eyes. “How can you play on my sympathies like this? I thought you understood that I can’t afford to cut this ranch practically in half. I’d have to reduce my herd size drastically. I…I don’t even know if I could keep the ranch going. If I couldn’t run this ranch, I don’t know what I’d do.”

“We’re both going to lose if we don’t make this deal. You’re going to lose your home, and I’m going to lose my family’s company. Shouldn’t
something
be saved?” She longed to put her arms around him and offer some comfort, but she knew that would be the last thing he’d want. Her arms remained limp at her sides.

“You’re no better than your father.” He raked his fingers through his hair, scattering it in an unruly mess. “The other day when you were on the phone with him you mentioned that you had an alternative building site in mind, and I was foolish enough to believe you understood my need to hang on to the land—”

“I said I was pursuing another site, but this morning I learned that we couldn’t reach an agreement with the owner. There are no other alternatives. We have to move ahead with our plan for Haggerty.” Even though Cord refused to admit it, she was saving his home. Too bad the justification did nothing to comfort her. “I didn’t want to do this, but my company is in major trouble. People will lose their jobs, employees who have been loyal and supportive for years.”

“I know nothing about you.” Cord’s voice cracked with raw pain. “I thought I did. I thought we were building something real—something with a future. But the truth is, it’s all been a lie.”

The dark coldness in his eyes was killing her. “I’m sorry. This isn’t how I wanted things to end.”

His shoulders were held in a rigid line. A muscle twitched in his jaw. “You need to leave now.”

She held out the sales agreement. “You have until tomorrow to sign this, if you want to keep your home.”

When he didn’t move, she placed the papers on the wooden stand by the door. “You’ll sign them, won’t you?” He glowered at her, but he didn’t scare her. She knew he was a gentle giant even when he huffed and puffed. “Don’t you understand that at least this way I could personally make sure the cemetery is protected?” she pleaded. “We could build a rock wall the whole way around it. And your home would still be yours, free and clear. Trust me. This is best.”

“What about the ghost town? Would it be preserved just as it is?”

She shook her head. “Numerous upgrades are required before the insurance company will issue coverage. If you were to talk with the contractors and show them some of your old photos of Haggerty, they could attempt to rebuild it in a similar fashion.”

“I don’t intend to do anything to help you turn my past into some sort of tourist trap.” He threw open the door. “Go home to New York.”

The backs of her eyes burned with unshed tears. She swallowed down the rush of emotions. “You’re going to lose your home, Cord. Is there some way I can make this easier for you?”

“Yes. Leave.”

Regret clawed at her throat, choking her with its foul taste. Unable to speak for fear of losing control of her rising emotions, she turned pleading eyes in his direction.

“Just go. Get off my land before I call the sheriff.” The ice-cold control in his voice chilled her to the bone.

Each step toward the door took effort. It was as though her feet were weighted down. Perhaps giving him some time to digest the news and cool down would be a wise way of handling this, but she was only deluding herself. Even if he came to his senses and signed the papers, he’d never forgive her.

She turned back. “I’ll return tomorrow for the papers.”

For an instant, the devastation showed on his face. He looked as though he’d aged ten years. Regret consumed her. She might be on the eve of saving her father’s company and Cord’s home, but she’d lost the only man she’d ever truly loved.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

C
ord slammed the front door, rattling the pictures on the walls. He strode into the living room. How dare Lexi march in here with her ultimatums? His hands clenched.

What in the world had he been thinking professing his love for her? Had he completely lost his senses? Hadn’t one hasty marriage been enough for him to learn to be cautious when it came to women?

He glanced at the photos of his ancestors. His gaze settled on the photo of his wise grandfather, who had raised him to love the land. He could feel the man shaking his head at him in disappointment. Guilt settled over Cord like a soggy wool blanket, cooling his rising emotions. The image of Lexi filled his thoughts.

You’ve been so focused on your save-the-ghost-town-at-all-costs campaign that I don’t think you’ve heard one word I’ve said about my father…

Her words echoed in his mind. His body tensed as his hands balled into fists. Of course, he’d listened. Hadn’t he?

Was it possible he had such tunnel vision when it came to saving Haggerty that he’d never given any real consideration to Lexi’s needs and the possibility she might end up losing her father and the legacy he’d built for her?

Cord dropped down on the edge of the couch and looked up at the family pictures on the wall. Conflicting emotions churned in his gut.

“What have I done?” He lowered his head into his outstretched hands.

Lost not only the family land…but the woman I love
.

He recalled snippets of his conversation with Lexi about her company and the resort. Maybe he hadn’t considered the people relying on her, such as her ailing father or her employees. He knew too well the burden of worrying about your employees and the need to make sure he could keep all his ranch hands on the payroll.

Cord raised his head, and his gaze landed on the picture of his parents on the mantel. He’d made such a mess of things. What would his mother tell him to do about Lexi—the woman with a successful career on the other side of the country? Did Lexi truly care about him, like she claimed? Or was she playing on his feelings to get what she wanted from him, like his ex did?

The questions continued to whirl through his mind at lightning speed, making his stomach feel sick. He had to get this right—too much was riding on what he did next.

He walked past the unsigned sales agreement and straight out the front door. He jumped into his pickup and fired it up. The back tires spun as he punched the gas. He knew what had to be done, and he didn’t like it one little bit.

Questions and regrets trailed him into Whistle Stop. He stopped by the grain and feed store on the pretext of checking on an order. He then found himself walking from one end of town to the other. He swore to himself that he was only burning off some pent-up frustration, not trying to bump into Lexi.

When he ended up standing in front of the Green Chile Cantina, he didn’t have any appetite, but he sure could use a cup of coffee. Deflated and weary, he entered the restaurant. A handful of tables were occupied, but with it being a few minutes past eleven, the other residents had yet to come calling for lunch.

“Just one today?” Ana asked as she approached him. Her eyes needled him for information…about Lexi, he was certain.

He nodded. “You know me, always the lone rancher.”

She turned her back to him to grab a menu. “Too bad. Thought you and Alexis had something going on.”

So did he.

“You don’t have to worry about her. She’s getting ready to head back to New York. She’ll probably be on the next flight out of here.”

“Really?” Ana led him to a corner booth. “That’s interesting, because she didn’t mention anything to me at bingo.”

“Bingo?”

When had Lexi taken up spending her evenings with the locals? Why hadn’t he heard anything about it? He needed to start getting out more. Maybe joining Tony with the volunteer fire department wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.

Ana laughed, drawing his attention back to her. “What’s so funny?”

“The surprised look on your face. Is it that surprising to find out the woman likes bingo? Or are you worried she might like it in Whistle Stop and decide to stay on?”

“She can do whatever she pleases. Makes no difference to me.” Not even he could buy into that lie. Everything Lexi did mattered to him.

Ana set a menu in front of him. “Ralph Vasquez wasn’t feeling well, so Alexis agreed to fill in as the announcer. You know how important bingo is to the town.”

“How’d you talk her into it?”

Ana rested a hand on her hip. “I didn’t. It was her idea. And she spent an evening at the quilting guild. Don’t say anything, but she still has a lot to learn about working a needle. But the ladies loved her, and they were happy to teach her the basics.”

After he ordered a cup of black coffee, Ana left him alone with his thoughts. Too bad all of these revelations had come too late. Lexi probably already had her bags packed. And even if he had sympathized with her situation, it wouldn’t stop her from returning to New York.

Maybe he’d subconsciously judged her by Susan’s yardstick. Those two were nothing alike when he looked beyond their need to be successful—but who didn’t want to be successful? It was all about how you went about fulfilling your dreams—there was a right way and a bunch of wrong ways to go about it. Lexi did it the right way. She didn’t sneak around. She’d been honest about what she wanted way before they’d shared their first kiss. He’d known what he was getting himself into. And he’d let himself get in deep—real deep.

Now, could he say goodbye to Lexi? The thought of him going to New York taunted his mind. He’d always sworn he’d never leave Whistle Stop, but now he was seriously reconsidering his decision.

♥♥♥

Long before the sun climbed above the distant horizon, Cord’s day started. In fact, he’d never gone to sleep. Instead, he’d lain in bed staring into the darkness, knowing that when daylight dawned he’d have to face facts and choke down his pride.

All morning, he moved through his chores, forcing one exhausted foot in front of the other. His movements were slow and clumsy as his thoughts continued to stray back to his argument with Lexi. The guilt over the way they’d parted ways weighed down his already beleaguered body.

When he was alerted to the fact a windmill pump in the southern pasture had quit working, he heaved a weary sigh. He didn’t need any more problems. Losing Lexi had him tied up in knots. By the time Cord had dropped his wrench for the fifth time and busted a knuckle open, Manny pushed him aside.

“Go home, boss. I’ve got this.”

He gave Manny a questioning look and saw his friend meant business. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. Go do what ya gotta do. Things will be fine here.”

Cord knew he needed to step back and let Manny handle it. His friend had never let him down, and it was good to have someone watching his back. It made him wonder if Lexi had anyone watching hers. She was so busy trying to take care of him and her father that he didn’t think she ever took time to think of herself. How could he have accused her of doing otherwise? Regret punched him hard in the gut. He’d been a bigger fool than he’d originally thought, and that was saying a lot.

He glanced at Manny who was already hard at work on the pump. “You’re sure you have this?”

Manny nodded. “Go.”

“Thanks. You’re a good man.”

Cord headed for the house. His decision had been made, and putting it off wasn’t doing him or anyone else any good. He strode through the front door and immediately noticed how the silence engulfed him. He missed the blissful chime of Lexi’s laugh and her endless chatter. She may not be the best cook, but she’d been willing to try, and that had touched him.

Why did her presence in his life have to be tied to the land? Why did being with her feel like he had to choose between his past and his future? He recalled the distant promise he’d made to his grandfather to protect all of this land, including Haggerty.
Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll take care of the land just like you and Pa did
.

Only Cord hadn’t kept his word. He’d failed long ago—when he’d lost half of the ranch in the divorce settlement. Why hadn’t he realized that before now? Whatever action he took now wouldn’t change that sobering fact. Somehow, in accepting that he’d already failed to keep his word, it freed him up to follow his heart’s desire—Lexi.

After a brief shower, he threw on his newest jeans and the shirt he’d set aside for those rare moments when he needed to dress up. On his way to the door, he glanced down at the stand where the folded papers awaited his signature. Time to put his feet to the fire and save what he could of his past and his future.

He carried the papers into the living room and sat down. With great effort, he started to read. He was pleased to find the document was written in straightforward language. His conscience said he should have an attorney go over it, but his heart told him to trust Lexi. He firmly believed that she’d never swindle him—or stand for anyone else to do it.

Cord walked to the kitchen, grabbed a pen, and took a deep breath. It was for the best. He pressed the tip of the pen to the paper. He noticed the slightest tremor in his hand as he scrawled his name on the appropriate line. When he finished, he expelled a pent-up breath.

He folded the papers—his proof that he’d heard her, truly heard her.

With his Stetson in hand, he headed out the door. He’d reached the bottom porch step when he heard a vehicle approaching. Could it be Lexi? He stopped and waited. The breath caught in his chest. Had she come back to give him another chance to get things right?

A black sedan pulled to a stop in front of him, and an older gentleman climbed out. The stranger stood as tall as himself, but the man’s hair was a bit shorter and silver. The ill-fitting gray suit emphasized his skinny stature. When Cord focused in on the man’s face, he had no doubt this was Lexi’s father.

“Mr. Lawson, I’m Howard Greer.” The man extended his hand.

“I know who you are.” Cord ignored the man’s outstretched hand. “What are you doing here?”

“I thought my daughter might be here. Seems she spends a lot of time with you riding around the countryside.” He looked around as though Cord might be hiding her.

“She isn’t here. Why don’t you call her?”

The man sighed. “She isn’t taking my calls. When I stopped by her motel, some gabby woman said my daughter wasn’t in her room and she didn’t know where Alexis might be.”

“And you naturally assumed I’d what? Taken her hostage?”

The man’s brows furrowed. “I didn’t come here to argue with you, Mr. Lawson—”

“You shouldn’t be here at all. You already caused enough trouble when you were on the East Coast.”

The man pulled a folded white hanky from his pocket and ran it across his brow. “Sure is hot out here in the sun.”

Cord, remembering the man’s heart condition, relented and invited him onto the porch. After Cord retrieved him a glass of ice water, they both sat down.

Mr. Greer drank half of the water before setting it aside. “I flew out here to make sure you don’t take advantage of my daughter.”

“Me?” The man had to be kidding. No one could take advantage of Lexi. She was much too smart for that. “You’re the one who won’t let her use her own judgment to finalize this deal. You’re the one making her miserable with ultimatums.”

The man sat back as though the words shocked him. “You seem to know a lot about Alexis.”

“We’ve spent quite a bit of time together since she’s been in Whistle Stop. Lexi is a very strong, determined woman, who would do anything in the world for you.”

Mr. Greer’s eyes narrowed. “What are you implying?”

“That you need to let your daughter choose her life and not guilt her into doing what you want her to do.”

Color filled the man’s sunken cheeks. “She told you all of this?”

The dam on Cord’s frustrations burst, and the words spilled out. “She’d never say it. She’s too loyal to you. But she’d never leave you. She feels that without her around, you’ll work yourself into the ground.”

Cord paused, realizing he’d probably crossed a line. Lexi would be mortified if she knew he’d repeated the things she’d told him in confidence.

“And you know what my daughter wants?”

Cord wanted to say that he did, but he couldn’t lie. “No, I don’t. But don’t you think you owe it to her to let her choose?”

♥♥♥

Caffeine from the Poppin’ Fresh Bakery plus the sugar from not just one but two dark chocolate cupcakes pumped through Alexis’s veins, bolstering her weary body. She’d almost requested a third cupcake, they were sooo good, but at the last second she’d latched on to a modicum of self-control. No amount of chocolate was going to drown her sorrows.

After procrastinating as long as she dared, it was time for her to face Cord. The coffee sloshed nauseatingly in her stomach. She desperately wanted to see where their future could take them, but first she had to stop him from losing the Brazen H. Just because her attempt to buy the Arizona property hadn’t panned out didn’t mean she didn’t have another idea percolating in her mind.