Taking Charge (Lone Star Burn #4)(10)

Wyatt wouldn’t say it, but he was risking his job, and they both knew it. Ted didn’t send him. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“No asking necessary.”

Lucy clasped her hands in front of her. Ted had a reputation for firing men with little provocation. He wouldn’t be happy about this. “Wyatt, Ted and I broke up. I’m not his favorite person right now. I’d steer clear of anything to do with me for a little bit.”

Wyatt rubbed his chin. “You know I have my son and his wife living with us now, along with my grandbabies.”

“I heard they’d moved home,” Lucy said in a calm voice, while her stomach continued to do nervous flips.

Wyatt slapped his hat against one thigh. “There’s something about looking into the eyes of your offspring that makes you want to be the kind of person they think you are. And my grandbabies think I put the moon up in the sky.”

“That’s a beautiful thing, Wyatt.”

A flash of frustration hardened his face. “Let me speak, Miss Lucy. What I got to say isn’t easy.”

“Okay.”

“I’m relieved to hear you’re not marrying Mr. York.”

Lucy smiled sadly. Me too. “He has been very kind to me.”

“You mean he was right quick to take advantage of your situation.”

Lucy’s eyebrows shot up. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it as she processed what he’d said. She remembered how Ted had sounded when she’d told him she didn’t love him. He had claimed to love her and she’d believed it, but there had been no passion between them. No reason to believe his claim to have always been sweet on her. “I’ll be fine,” he’d said. “You’re the one I feel sorry for. That ranch is as good as gone now. You won’t find anyone else willing to help you. No one besides me gives a shit about you.”

Definitely not the words of a man who had loved her.

Had his proposal been just about her land and not about her at all?

Did I only see what I wanted to see? “Ted’s a good man, Wyatt,” Lucy said, but she was no longer sure.

Wyatt held her gaze. “Lucy, I work for him. I know his character. Rumor is that one late payment from you and the ranch is his. Did you sign papers saying that?”

“I don’t think so.” Lucy moved to sit down in one of the chairs and covered her face. “At the time, I was grateful he was helping. I don’t know what I signed.” She blinked tears back. “Oh my God. Could I have been that stupid?”

Wyatt moved to sit across from her. He was quiet for a long moment. “It’s not stupid to believe people want the best for you, but, sadly, that’s not always the case. Your parents were the kind of people who would help someone and ask for nothing in return. They gave me a job when I wasn’t the man I am today. Not too many people were willing to take a chance on me back then. My family owes yours a lot. I couldn’t sit back and watch you lose this ranch without warning you. Mr. York wants this land, and I’m not comfortable with how far he’s willing to go to get it.”

“What are you saying, Wyatt? Do you know something?” Please say no.

“Just rumors and rumblings, but where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. You shouldn’t be out here alone. It’s not safe.”

Lucy straightened her shoulders. “I’m never alone. There’s always someone working here.”

“York’s men. If you and he aren’t getting married, why are his men still here?”

A chill went down Lucy’s back. “Out of kindness?”

Wyatt let out a guffaw. “Or he already considers it his.”

“You don’t really believe that, do you?” Lucy hugged her arms across her waist.

“I’ve got one question, Miss Lucy. Why do you want this ranch? Are you holding on to it for the right reasons?”

Lucy stood and walked to the window. “My parents were married on this land. My family was born and have died here for generations.”

“I’m not talking about your family, Miss Lucy. I’m talking about you. Before you go up against a man like Mr. York, you’d better be sure you want what you’re fighting for.”

Lucy looked out the window of the living room. “I spent most of my life dreaming of life somewhere else, but that changed when I came home. Before my mother died, she told me the only real comfort she had was knowing I had returned home. She said she knew I would do whatever it took to keep the land in our family. I swore to her I would. My parents sacrificed so Steven and I could have this land. Their parents did the same before them. If I walk away from it, everything they gave up was for nothing.” Lucy was quiet a moment, then in almost a whisper she added, “I gave my word I’d keep it in the family. I’ve lost so much; if I lose this place, too, I feel like I might just lose myself. I’m not leaving, Wyatt. If Ted tries to take this land from me, he’ll have one hell of a fight on his hands.”

Wyatt stood beside her. “Don’t know if you realize it or not, but you just sounded a lot like your daddy right then. He’s looking down, and he’s proud.”

Lucy kept her eyes averted. “I’m not so sure of that, but I’m not beat yet. I’m starting a business online. If I do it right, I should be in a better financial place soon.”