Taking Charge (Lone Star Burn #4)(69)
“You’re right. He’s not in Sanderson.”
“Then where is he?”
“He’s in Mavis with David.”
That took a moment to sink in. “With David? You mean, at my ranch?”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
“I don’t understand.”
Sarah leaned over and picked up a second flower, then held them both up. “No two flowers are exactly the same. Did you know that? They may look the same, but they’re as unique as people are.”
With her heart thudding in her chest, Lucy asked, “How does this have anything to do with Tony being in Mavis with David?”
“Lies can be like flowers. Not all of them are bad.”
“Sarah, what are you saying?” That sickening feeling returned. No, not you, too, Sarah. Don’t tell me I can’t trust you, either. Please don’t do that to me.
“David asked us if we’d help get you out of Mavis for a while, and we agreed.”
Lucy swayed on her feet. “So, the baby?”
“It’s perfectly healthy.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes,” Sarah said, wringing her hands in front of her. “But it was a lie to protect you. David said York was preparing to do something awful, and he wanted you to be somewhere safe.”
“And you believed him.”
Sarah froze. “Completely.”
“Then you’re a better person than I am, because I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that I can’t believe anything anyone tells me.” She glared at Sarah. “Not even those who call themselves my best friends.”
Sarah’s cheeks reddened, and she advanced on Lucy. “Stop right there. The more you say, the more you’ll have to apologize for later. I have been nothing but a good friend to you. David has been in love with you since the first time he met you. Tony is risking his life because he cares about you and that damn ranch I’m not even sure why you want. I have a baby on the way and a husband who might just get himself killed because David thinks the people in your town need protecting as well. If none of us have earned your trust by now, then please do stop talking to all of us. Really, you’d be doing us a favor.” She threw the flowers down into the grass and turned away from Lucy.
Lucy grabbed her by the arm. “Wait.” Her mind was racing. “I’m sorry.”
Sarah stopped but didn’t turn back toward her. “You should be. You’re wrong about David. You say we’re friends, but if you think I would ever do anything to hurt you, then we have different definitions of friendship.”
Lucy lowered her hand. “I get so scared sometimes, I stop thinking straight.”
Sarah turned. “You’re not the only one who’s afraid. I haven’t slept since Tony left. David doesn’t know if he can save your ranch or help the town, but he’s willing to try. He doesn’t even know if that’s enough to get you to forgive him. The only reason we all lied to you is because we knew you wouldn’t leave if we told you the truth. Your ex-fiancé is a dangerous man, and he’s going to hurt someone. No one knows who, but we’re all waiting for it happen. I don’t blame David for lying to you, and I’m not sorry I did. I’d do it again because I love you.”
“I—I—” Lucy started to speak, then stopped. She was momentarily crushed beneath the profound reality of how little she’d done to deserve the love of the woman who was standing before her. Saying sorry again wouldn’t begin to express how remorseful she felt. “What can I do, Sarah? How can I help?”
Sarah’s eyes teared up. “I don’t know what to do besides wait and pray, but it would be a lot easier to do both if I had a friend at my side.”
Lucy linked arms with Sarah and started walking back to the house with her. “You don’t think we should head to Mavis? See if there is some way we can stop anyone from getting hurt?”
Sarah paused. “Tony asked me to stay here and wait for him. I promised I would, and I don’t lie.” She shot Lucy a quick glance. “Well, usually I don’t.”
It wasn’t funny, but Lucy laughed a little at the joke.
“I thought David didn’t care, but it was because he didn’t think I’d go any other way.” He lied to protect me. He put my safety above his own, let me think the worst of him. My mom always said love was about sacrifice, and David was willing to sacrifice everything . . . for me. He wants me to be happy even if it means not having me. “He does love me.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “You are smart when it comes to business, but when it comes to love—yeesh. How could you miss how much that man loves you?”
“He’s never said it.”
She started walking again. “Yes, he did—a thousand times with his actions. Some men say the words easily, and it doesn’t mean anything. Cowboys aren’t like that. I have a feeling that when David finally says he loves you, he’ll be down on one knee.”
“If he forgives me for doubting him,” Lucy said, voicing her greatest fear.
“If you can say that, you still have a lot to learn about David.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
David was on his way back from picking up grain from a local feedstore when he noticed a white truck riding his bumper. A quick look in his rearview mirror confirmed it was York. David took out his phone and dialed Wyatt. “I’m out on Park Road, heading west. It looks like it’s about to go down.”