Texas Hope: Sweetgrass Springs Stories (Texas Heroes Book 16) (24 page)

Instead of keeping him. He clicked it shut and dropped it in Scarlett’s palm. “I couldn’t care less.”

“She’s that baby’s grandmother, Ian.” His father’s voice hardened.

“She was my mother, too, but that didn’t matter.”

“I told you her leaving was my fault.”

“You didn’t throw her out.” Scarlett’s staying hand on his arm just made him angry. “Don’t—” he barked at her and jerked away.

His dad rose. “Don’t you take it out on Scarlett. She’s not the one you’re angry with.”

“I don’t want to talk about that woman.” He wrestled down his fury, then looked at Scarlett. “You should be in bed. I’ll walk you up.”

“I invited her here,” his father said.

He whirled back. “You…what?”

His father’s jaw was clenched just as tightly as Ian’s own. “I’m picking up your mother at the airport tomorrow morning.”

Ian swallowed hard. Shot Scarlett a glance. “Did you know about this?”

“Not until just now. Ian, give her a chance.”

“Why? She didn’t give me one.” He fought his fury once more. “I don’t need her now.” He glared at his dad. “And you shouldn’t have done it.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree on that, son.”

“You’re seriously giving her a second chance?”

“Ian,” Scarlett soothed. “He’s doing it for you.”

“Then he should have asked me first, shouldn’t he? I don’t care about her anymore, and I don’t want to see her. And you don’t need the tension.”

“Do you know what I would give to have my mother here right now?” she asked, voice stricken, eyes swimming. “Our baby deserves to have as much love as possible, and every child needs a grandmother. I’d have sold my soul to have one growing up.”

Fury battled with sympathy. He exhaled hard and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to calm down. He rubbed two fingers between his brows.

No one spoke.

At last he opened his eyes. “I can’t believe you did this,” he told his father. “You can’t expect me to like it, and I am not promising to do anything more than be polite to her.”

“That’s all I can ask, son.”

He couldn’t help feeling betrayed. “Why, Dad? You know how I feel.”

“I do. I also know how big a part I played in that. I am far more responsible for your mother leaving than she is, and I’m the one who wouldn’t let her see you. She’s the one who loved you enough not to put you in the middle of a fight. But she grieves over it, Ian. She doesn’t feel worthy of your love.”

Because she’s not
, he wanted to shout, but he didn’t let himself. “I’ll be civil, but that’s all I’m promising.” He turned away, even though he didn’t enjoy seeing the hurt in his father’s expression and knowing he put it there. “Now I’d like a shower and as much of a night’s sleep as I’m likely to get. Do you need anything from down here?” he asked Scarlett.

Her eyes were soft and brimming with love. “Only you.” She winced.

“What is it?”

“Just more practice contractions. I’m fine. And don’t you dare scoop me up again.”

“Too late,” he said grimly as he strode toward the stairs with her in his arms.

At the bottom of the steps, he spoke over his shoulder. “Good night, Dad. I—” He halted and tried to make his way through all the confusion roiling inside him.

But this was the best he could do for now. “Sleep well.”

“Same to you, son. And thank you.”

Chapter Nine

S
ophia’s nerves wouldn’t steady as she walked down the jetway. The urge to turn around and stay on the plane to go wherever it would land next was powerful.

Would Ian ever forgive her?

She wanted that so badly. Deserved it so little. What kind of mother leaves her child behind, no matter how safe he would be?

She’d been a mess. She’d had so little to offer him.

You’re a good mother
, Michael had always told her, but she hadn’t walked away from Michael. She’d nearly called him last night to ask him to come pick her up at the airport, simply for courage. She would feel steadier with him there. But Laken was in town, and she knew how badly her younger son wanted the visit to go well. He didn’t need the distraction.

She stepped on the down escalator as it moved toward the baggage area. She’d never been in this new Austin airport, and she had to smile when she saw the huge decorated guitars atop the baggage carousels.

Then everything else went right out of her head as she spotted him.

Gordon. Her cowboy. Still tall, still lean. Still so handsome. The cane at his side couldn’t diminish his powerful bearing.

And he still took her breath away.

When his gaze locked on hers, her knees went weak. How, after all these years, after another marriage and a second child, could she feel tossed back in time to that first day she’d seen him?

The end of the escalator surprised her, and she stumbled, had to focus on righting her bag.

A big hand gripped her elbow, steadied her. “How is it you’re more beautiful than ever?”

She looked up in to those gray eyes that had once been her world. “Gordon…” Her voice was barely audible.

He smiled past all the worry she could see on the face that had weathered with time but was still…Gordon. His temples were a distinguished silver, his dark hair threaded with the same.

Age looked good on Gordon McLaren.

He drew her to the side. “Here. You’ll get trampled. Do you have any bags checked?”

“I didn’t bring much. If Ian hates that I’m here, I’m leaving tonight.”

“Don’t.” He squeezed her arm. “Don’t give up so easily, Sophia.” He sighed. “He is angry, and he may not relent real soon, but you won’t win him over by running away.”

Her heart sank. “So he knows. And he’s furious.”

A muscle in his strong jaw clenched. “He promised to be polite.”

Her laugh held no mirth. “I know I should be grateful. I am grateful. I just—”

“He’s a fair man. I believe he’ll do better than polite if you give him time. Anyway, Scarlett was thrilled with the locket, and she’s on your side. She’s about a big as a minute, but she stands up to him whenever she needs to, and she tore a strip out of his hide last night.”

An unexpected champion. “I don’t want to cause trouble between them.”

“You couldn’t part those two if you blasted dynamite. The love between them is real and solid.”

As ours was not
. The lack still grieved her.

“You ready?” he asked.

“Honestly? I’m terrified. Does Michael know?”

Gordon shook his head. “He’s pretty tied up with Laken, and anyway, my read on him is he’d just feel bad for both of you and be torn about what to do. He and Ian are starting to act like brothers, and that’s a bond that will go on long after you and I cease to be. I don’t want to damage it.”

“I agree.”

“Good.” He glanced away. “I need to give you fair warning, though. I had thought maybe you and Ian could hash things out before you see Michael, but Ruby whipped up a Texas Independence Day celebration for today—did it just last night in an effort to help Michael show Laken what’s great about Sweetgrass. The whole town’s involved.”

“So no quiet time with Ian.”

“Probably not. Anything happens in Sweetgrass, everybody turns to Ian to get things done. He’s long gone from the ranch by now.” His expression was rueful. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know anything about this when I asked you to come.” A small chuckle. “I suppose it might work in your favor. He’d never make a ruckus in public.”

She winced. “The whole town will be there?”

“’Fraid so.”

“Everyone who hates me for leaving Ian.”

“There are a lot of new folks in Sweetgrass these days.”

But plenty who weren’t new to town. Who would remember how she never fit in. The urge to turn back to the terminal was overwhelming.

He noticed. “I’ll be right by your side the whole time.”

Her eyes stung at his kindness. “Why would you do that? I left you, too.”

His jaw flexed as he stared ahead. “I didn’t handle anything well back then, so there’s a whole lot of hard feelings behind us, but—” He looked down at her. “We have a grandchild coming, Sophia. We made mistakes with our child. Let’s do this one right.”

He’s still amazing
. Still that rock-solid integrity that had first captivated her so many years ago. Caught in the conflicting worlds of her memories of this man and all that had changed since, Sophia had no idea where solid ground was.

Until he smiled. “Not promising it’s gonna be easy, but we’ll do this together.”

The earth beneath her steadied. She nodded. “Together.”

“All right then.” He returned the solemn nod. “How about I buy you some breakfast before we get on the road?”

Gordon couldn’t stop glancing over at Sophia on the drive back. Her clothes seemed expensive, and her sense of style was as refined as when he’d first seen her years ago. How could he ever have deluded himself that she could be a ranch wife? Everything about her appearance screamed class and elegance.

But despite all her sophistication, he could still see bright flares of the woman who’d captivated him. Her mind was keen, and he’d forgotten her wicked sense of humor. She had once laughed easily, back in the early days…before Sweetgrass had beaten her down.

He shouldn’t have asked her to come. Her fear was evident, and they weren’t even in Sweetgrass yet. He would just have to get between her and anyone who would throw her past in her face.

Even his son.

For the longer he was with her, the more he understood that she was as he’d imagined her so long ago, sweet and loving and kind.

And tender. Easily bruised.

How bad must things have been for her to make her leave? Every memory she brought up was infused with her love for Ian.

What the hell had he done to her? To them?

“Oh.” A reverent gasp as they topped the hill just before the turnoff to Sweetgrass and the Hill Country spread before them in all its glory. Her fingers closed around his forearm. “I’d forgotten this,” she said softly. “It still takes my breath away.”

There was love in her voice.

So how had it turned to such misery that she’d had no choice but to go?

He stared at her delicate hand. When he didn’t say anything, she removed it, and he wanted to grab it back.

“Yeah,” he managed. “I don’t pay much attention anymore.” He glanced over. “A lot I didn’t pay attention to back then, I’m thinking.”

Her gaze locked on his, dark with apology. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“Wasn’t it? Look at you.”

She glanced down. “What do you mean?”

“Only a fool would think fine china wouldn’t get broken in a ranch kitchen. I owe you an apology, Sophia. A whole lot of them.”

“No. You don’t. I let you down, Gordon. I ran away from the life you love.”

Not as much as I loved you
, he thought.

He wondered at how much he still might—which was crazy to even consider. The stories she’d shared over breakfast had highlighted how different her life had been in the years since. Her late husband had given her everything he’d never be able to.

But guilt and blame wouldn’t help Ian, and this visit was about his son and the child who would soon be born.

Gordon shoved away the past. “Let’s make a deal.”