Blame it on Texas (5 page)

Logan glanced over the top of Katie's head and saw Megan standing alone in the water, a melancholy expression on her face. She looked so damned lonesome it nearly broke his heart.

He remembered what it had been like to be the kid on the outside looking in. He'd felt it every time he'd ridden the bus to school in town. He'd been the "farm boy" with dusty shoes and faded jeans.

He hadn't been the only one, just the one who'd wanted to be part of the town kids' circle, the one who wanted something he couldn't have. The other kids had been content to be who and what they were.

That feeling of being less than the best had fueled his determination to succeed in business, where he could wear custom-made suits and clean, shiny shoes. To be the top in his field so that he
was
the inner circle, never again to watch from the sidelines. He'd made it. So why did it feel so empty?

Maybe because it had cost him his marriage and months of not having his daughter in his life. While his business had flourished, Sue Ann resented his frequent absences until she'd sought company elsewhere. When she'd left and taken Katie with her, she'd taken the joy out of his success. He hadn't really missed Sue Ann. She'd been little more than a stranger by the time she'd left. But he'd missed Katie terribly.

On impulse, he whispered to his daughter. She nodded, her eyes sparkling with mischief. He slipped under the surface and swam silently until he saw Megan's slender legs under the water, then he wrapped his hand around her ankle and tugged.

When she came up sputtering, he lifted her up, gave her a warning to catch her breath, then tossed her back into the water. Katie laughed and joined in the melee.

They played for an hour, and he couldn't remember anything he'd enjoyed more. By the time they crawled onto the rocks, exhausted, he'd forgotten about the fence he still needed to mend and how much he hated the red dust that coated his jeans.

***

Megan was sure she was going to pop. She was used to grabbing a hamburger at the student union or a yogurt from the bookstore in between classes. Sitting down to a huge meal of fried chicken, mountains of potatoes with cream gravy, homemade rolls, and hot apple pie proved to be more temptation than she could handle.

She leaned back in her chair, one hand on her stomach, and watched as Logan loaded his plate with a second helping of everything. He took a hearty bite of fried chicken and she wondered if his other appetites were as big as the one he had for food. And if she'd ever get a chance to find out.

She thought about the way he had pulled her into the playful dunking in the pond. For a little while, she'd felt as though she belonged. But it was a temporary illusion. She was a guest in Logan's home, so naturally he'd felt the need to include her in his romp with his daughter. There was nothing more to it than that.

He'd looked so alluring with water sluicing down his chest that it had taken all of her self-control not to rub herself against him to see if he felt as good as he looked.

Megan glanced up to find Logan watching her, a speculative look on his face. She gave herself a mental shake and looked away, embarrassed at being caught in her wayward thoughts.

Needing to put some distance between herself and Logan, she looked at Carol. "Has your dad had dinner yet?"

Carol frowned and shook her head. "No. I'm almost embarrassed to admit we usually wait until after we've eaten. Feeding him is a major chore and it takes forever."

Megan remembered how hard it was to get more food in her aunt's mouth than on her clothes before she'd discovered the baby food grinder. She still thought it was the best thing ever invented, but she doubted Carol had one on hand. "Do you have a blender?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Have you tried using it to grind up his food so he can eat it more easily?"

"No. We've been feeding him baby food."

Megan shuddered. No wonder feeding him took a long time. "Have you ever tasted that stuff? It's awful."

Carol got up, went to the cabinets, and pulled out the blender. She set it on the counter and took a plate from an upper shelf. "If you can help me fix something he'll eat, we'll all be grateful.  Just tell me what to do."

"You sit down and finish your dinner. I don't mind doing this." Megan reached across the table and snagged a piece of chicken. She moved to the counter, removed the meat from the bone, and dropped it into the blender. After a moment's thought, she did the same with a second piece.

When it was chopped into small pieces, she fixed a plate with the meat, some mashed potatoes and gray, and a slice of apple pie she'd smashed with a fork. She glanced over her shoulder. "Would you mind if I fed him?"

Logan was still watching her with an odd expression on his face. He didn't reply, but he nodded once and she took that for permission. With a spoon, dishtowel, and glass of tea in one hand and the plate in the other, she left the kitchen and headed down the hall.

As Megan walked away, Logan felt lower than a sow's belly. For the last few weeks, he and Carol had taken turns feeding Charlie, but neither of them liked the job. He felt selfish and petty when he realized tonight was his night for the chore, and he was relieved to not have to do it.

Carol glanced over at Katie. "If you're finished, why don't you go help Megan?"

"Sure." Katie started to stack her dishes, but Carol waved her away.

"Go on. I'll take care of those."

When Katie was out of earshot, Carol set the dishes in the sink and poured two cups of coffee. "So, what do you think of Megan?" She handed Logan a cup and sat down across from him.

He thought for a minute before he answered. Too little information would send Carol digging for more. Too much enthusiasm would have her planning his wedding. "She seems nice. Definitely a city girl. She doesn't belong out here."

Carol snorted. "The way you think, no woman belongs out here. But women have survived farm life for hundreds of years, and they'll continue to do so for hundreds more. She seemed to really enjoy her afternoon with you and Katie."

He stirred a spoonful of sugar into his coffee as he swallowed a lump of pain. Maybe some women survived, but his mother hadn't. The harsh West Texas land had sapped her energy, destroyed her as surely as it would an auburn-haired girl with more enthusiasm than sense. And what the land hadn't been able to accomplish, he had. "She's good with Katie. But I'll be glad when she goes back to Dallas. I don't need someone else to watch out for."

"Logan, give her some credit. She's very sensible. Not the type to run headlong into trouble or to act without thinking." Carol nodded toward the hall. "She's very good with Dad. I'm going to be sorry to see her go."

"Don't get any ideas. She's leaving, and I don't want you to encourage her to stay."

"Did I say I was going to try to get her to stay? I was just making an observation. Men! You jump to conclusions based on the flimsiest evidence." She stuck her tongue out at him and stood, then began to hum as she loaded dishes into a sink full of suds.

With a sigh, Logan grabbed a dishtowel and went to help. He knew Carol too well. Something was brewing in that devious brain of hers and he needed to be on his guard. The last time she'd hummed while washing dishes, she'd been plotting to hook him up with the local rodeo queen. He'd had a narrow escape, and he didn't intend to allow a repeat of that fiasco.

He wanted no part of anything that would tie him to the farm, the town, or any part of West Texas. And no part of auburn-haired city girls with living-in-the-country daydreams.

***

Megan stretched and arched her back, drawing her thin tee shirt across her breasts, and her dreams came rushing back with embarrassing clarity. She and Logan had been in the pond without their canine and teenage chaperones. And without their clothes. She knew she wouldn't be able to look at him over breakfast without blushing. Maybe she should stay in bed until he went outside to work.

No, she wasn't a coward. She didn't want to waste this opportunity lazing around in bed, either. She wanted to go into town and find the vet, check out the setup, and talk to him about his practice. Then she wanted to explore the town a bit before she came back and explored the farm. She wished she had more time to spend with Carol's family, but Logan had made it clear the invitation to stay was only for one night.

She'd love to spend the summer here. She could help take care of Charlie and Katie; she could help feed and care for the livestock. It would give her some practical experience. But she knew Logan would never give her the chance to show him what she could do.

For some reason he'd avoided her after dinner, staying outside until dark, then closing himself into the study until after she'd gone to bed. What was up with that?

She threw the covers back and climbed out of bed. The view beyond the window drew her, and she leaned on the sill as her gaze swept the nearest pasture. Blue bounded through the grass, probably in pursuit of a rabbit. A movement at the fence in the distance caught her attention and she watched as Logan stood, placed a hand at the small of his back, then bent over and lifted a roll of barbed wire.

Poor guy. He obviously wasn't used to hard labor. Mending fences wasn't easy to do alone. She'd done her share growing up, helping out on her aunt and uncle's small acreage when she stayed with them for the summer, but always with her uncle by her side.

The thought of spending the day with the local vet disappeared in favor of helping Logan. She hurried though her morning routine, dressed in the jeans she'd brought with her and the boots and long-sleeved shirt Carol had loaned her, and lathered sunscreen on her face and hands.

In the kitchen, Carol was setting out her soap-making supplies. She looked up and smiled when Megan walked in. "Good Morning. I hope you slept well."

"Perfectly. That bed is wonderful." Megan picked a biscuit off the plate on the counter, sliced it, and stuck a piece of sausage in the middle. "How's Charlie this morning?"

Carol turned the fire down on the stove and set a large kettle over the flame. "He seems better today. I used the blender like you suggested and fed him eggs and biscuits and gravy. He ate it without a fuss."

"That's good. If you don't need any help, I thought I'd go help Logan with the fence."

Carol frowned. "I don't know if he'll let you. He has pretty old-fashioned ideas about what women should and shouldn't do. But, then again, he needs an attitude adjustment and you just might be the one to help with that." She went into the mud room and came back with a broad-brimmed hat and leather gloves. "Wear these or he'll send you back to the house for sure."

Megan pulled the gloves on and settled the hat on her head with a grin. "He'll have a hard time making me leave. I've got enough Irish in me to make a mule look cooperative."

CHAPTER FOUR

Megan crossed the field at a leisurely pace, soaking up the early morning sun and watching the antics of the birds in the Juniper trees that provided a windbreak for the house. Blue joined her as she neared the fence and she bent over to scratch his ears and accept the paw he offered. "You're a real sweetheart, aren't you, boy? Someone's taken the time to teach you some manners, too."

"Katie taught him a few tricks the last time she was here."

Logan's deep voice rumbled through her, sending shivers up her spine. She tilted her head back and found him standing close behind her. "Good morning. I didn't hear you sneak up behind me."

"I don't sneak. What are you all decked out for?"

"I came out to help you with the fence."

A scowl marred his tanned brow and his fists clenched.

She lifted her chin. "Before you say no, let me tell you I've done it before and I know what to do. I'm dressed properly, I won't get in your way, and together we'll get it done in half the time."