Cowgirl Up and Ride (Rough Riders #3)(121)

You could stay right here and you wouldn’t have to go back to Denver.”


“Have to go? I want to go to Denver. I want to finish school because it is the single thing in my life I’m doing for myself and no one else.” She yanked on her jeans. In the last few weeks Cord hadn’t listened to a damn thing she’d said. He wanted her simply because…she suited him.


At one time that might’ve been enough for her, but not now. Marriage should start with a declaration of I-love-you-and-can’t-live-without-you. Period. It didn’t make her childish to expect love, not compatibility, as a reason to spend her life with him; it just made his reasons emotionless and selfish.


“AJ, listen—”


She whirled around. “Do you love me, Cord? Is that why you’re hinting you’d like my boots under your bed every night?”


Cord averted his eyes. “There are more important things in a relationship than love.”


Not for me there isn’t.


The front door slammed and voices echoed in the foyer. Before either of them knew what the ruckus was about, footsteps pounded up the stairs. The bedroom door was flung open and Carolyn McKay raced in, Carson and Ky on her heels.


Carolyn threw her arms around AJ. “Thank God. Oh, thank God you’re okay, Amy Jo. We thought…”


AJ couldn’t breathe, Carolyn was squeezing her so tight.


Ky announced, “Amy Jo had an overnight with Daddy, Gran-gran.”


Cord groaned. Carson cleared his throat. AJ felt her cheeks flame.


“That’s good. Real good that she was here and not there.”


“There? What is going on?”


Carolyn eased back and tucked a strand of hair behind AJ’s ear. “Sweetheart, I don’t know how to tell you this.”


All the blood drained from her face. “Did something happen to my mother?”


“No, but your house caught fire and burned to the ground.”


AJ stared, in utter shock. “What? When?”


“About two hours ago, near as they can figure.”


“You’re sure?”


“Yes.”


“But…how?”


“No one knows. It went so fast the volunteer firefighters didn’t get there in time to save anything. And we thought you were inside…”


“Until I realized your Jeep wasn’t there,” Carson said. “We called Keely when we couldn’t get you on your cell and she told us to check here.”


“The house burned?”


“Yeah, honey, I’m sorry.”


“Is there anything left?”


“Didn’t appear to be. Didn’t spread to the barn or any of the outbuildings so they’re assumin’ it was just somethin’ in the house that somehow ignited.”


AJ nodded numbly. “I know Ma told you we’d been having problems with both the propane and the old coal furnace. Some of the wiring was kinda iffy too. I can’t believe it. If I would’ve been there, maybe—”


“Don’t say it, don’t even think it, AJ,” Cord snapped.


“Not your fault. Sweetheart, we’re just so glad you weren’t there.”


“But everything else was. All our family pictures and furniture and the movers were supposed to come and get it all tomorrow…” Tears broke free like a dam breach.