One Texas Cowboy Too Many (Burnt Boot, Texas #3)(78)

He crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. “You realize that means no one to clean your room, make your bed every day, and cook for you. It means taking care of yourself.”

“Just like college, right?”

His dark blue eyes darted around the room. “This place is all either of us has ever known except for those four years at college, and then we came home every weekend.”

She sat down and threw an arm around him. “I’ll miss seeing you every day but, hey, I’m only a few miles away. Polly’s house sits a quarter of a mile back behind the bar, as you well know, and you can come visit anytime you want.”

“How was it today with Tanner?”

“I don’t know, Declan. He says that the two of us could end this feud if we got together.”

“He’s lying. He’ll leave you with a broken heart if you trust him. And, honey, it’ll take more than you and Tanner to end this crap. It will take the deaths of our granny and Naomi.”

Leah’s eyes misted. “But if he’s right, I could end it, and we’d all be free of this damned curse we were born into.”

Declan wiped her tears away with his palm. “Would you be happy with him?”

More tears flowed down her cheeks. “Wouldn’t we all be happier to get away from this constant war? One person’s happiness seems so small compared to everyone being happy after more than a hundred years of fighting.”

He pulled his sister over, so her head was on his shoulder. “Not if it’s your happiness, Leah. You deserve your soul mate. Don’t cry. If you’re determined to move, I’ll help you pack things up.”

“You’ll be in big trouble if you do.” She managed a weak smile.

“You’ve got a house and I can always crash on your sofa.”





Chapter 24


Kinsey, bless her heart, took Granny Mavis to Dallas on Monday to shop and kept her out until Leah’s dad and brother loaded everything into her truck. The backseat was full of her clothing still on hangers and the bed of the truck was stacked from back to front with boxes.

Russell hugged her and pointed toward the southeast. “You’d best get going if you’re going to get all this into your new place before that storm hits. It’s going to be a toad strangler from what the weatherman says.”

“We need the rain, so we’re not complainin’.” Declan opened the door for her. “You sure you don’t want me to go with you and get all this inside?”

“No, Rhett promised he’d be there. Y’all come on over and see me regular. I’m going to miss seeing you every day,” she said.

“Go, before you make me change my mind and chain you to the porch post,” Russell teased.

She got into the truck and rolled down the window. “Thanks for making this…” Her voice cracked.

Declan popped the fender and said, “Move ’em out. Wagons, ho!”

She wiped away the single tear that had escaped and drove away. She thought she might have a panic moment when she pulled out onto the highway and turned north, leaving River Bend behind her. She inhaled deeply and got ready for her chest to tighten. After all, she’d left what she knew behind and was going forward to a shaky future. But all she felt was a sudden burst of pure joy.

Rhett was sitting on the porch with Dammit beside him when she parked in the driveway. He waved and stretched when he stood up, and he had a smile on his face. She hopped out of the truck and opened up the back doors to take out a load of clothing.

“You really did it.” He smiled as he lowered the tailgate.

“And it wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought it would be,” she answered.

Suddenly his arms were around her waist and her back was against his chest. He buried his face in the hollow of her neck and held her for several seconds before he loosened his hold enough to turn her around. His eyelids fluttered shut and she stood on tiptoe at the same time he leaned toward her. His lips found hers in a scorching-hot kiss that left her knees weak. She tangled her hands in his dark hair that fell free that evening and pressed her body against his.

“I was afraid you’d change your mind,” he whispered.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t be here,” she said.

He took a step back and took her hand in his. “Don’t unload anything until you walk through the house. It could change your mind about living here.”

“I don’t think anything could change my mind,” she said.

He led her onto the porch and swung open the door. Light poured in from the bare windows. Two lawn chairs sat beside a wooden crate with a mason jar full of wild flowers in the middle. The kitchen was bare except for a folding card table with four metal folding chairs around it.

She stopped in the middle of the hallway, almost afraid to open the guest bedroom door for fear she’d find it swept clean of everything too. But when Rhett swung the door open, the bed and dresser were still there. No sheets, pillows, or throw rugs, but at least she had a bed to sleep on that night.

“And now…” He swung open the door to the room across the hallway. She recognized the bed they’d shared in the bunkhouse and the dresser. Again, no sheets but the closet doors revealed his clothing and there were a few things on top of the dresser. “I bought this ranch and I’ve moved into this room. If that’s going to be a problem, then Jill says you can live at the bunkhouse. And I will understand. No questions asked. I’ll even go with you and help you move in. I officially take over duties on September first, but I wanted to get moved in now so the man who’s been taking care of the place could show me around.”