LITMIR.BIZ

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every ounce of courage she’d managed to build over the years, she replied, “I want to see my daughter.”

      He took a step closer to her. “Does the phrase ‘over my dead body’ mean anything to you?”

      At his uncompromising tone her courage faltered, but she stood her ground. “I’ve already seen her, Falcon. But I would like the opportunity to visit with her for a few minutes to explain about the past. She has a right to know the truth.”

      “Where did you see her? And when?”

      She slid her shaky hands into the pockets of her pants. “I was coming to the ranch this morning and then I saw a red pickup with a young woman. I knew it was her, so I followed her to school.”

      “You didn’t...”

      “No, I didn’t introduce myself. I wouldn’t do that.”

      “Really? Like you would never walk out on her?”

      She looked him in the eye. “I’d like to talk about that.”

      “There’s nothing to talk about, Leah. It’s done. It’s in the past and it’s best if you admit that and go back to wherever you came from.”

      “It’s not done—”

      “It is, and if you get anywhere near her, I will make your life a living hell.”

      Her heartbeat stumbled, but she remained steadfast. “You’re not scaring me, Falcon. I’m her mother and I have a right to meet her and she has a right to know that I’ve thought about her every day since the day she was born.”

      He threw back his head and laughed a sound that chilled her to the bone. “That’s a good one. If you think our daughter will believe that for a minute, you’re dreaming. My daughter is much smarter than that.”

      “I know she hates me and I’m willing to risk her ire.”

      “Then you have no idea about your daughter’s personality. She has a backbone, which is more than you ever had, and if you think ‘I’m sorry’ is going to work with her, then you’re sipping something stronger than water.”

      Leah’s heart skittered in panic. “I knew your mother would take care of her...”

      “I took care of her.” He jabbed a finger into his chest. “She was my daughter and I raised her, not my mother.”

      “What?”

      “The crib stayed in my room and I got up with her during the night. I changed her diapers. I fed her and took her with me when I went out on the ranch.”

      “Why would you do that when your mother was there?”

      “Because she wasn’t my mother’s responsibility. She was mine and yours. Since you bailed, there was only me and I wanted to make sure she knew she had one parent who loved her and would always be there for her.”

      A moan left her throat and she was unable to stop it. Falcon was never going to understand, and she didn’t know if she had the strength to keep trying to explain.

      “Her doctor sent us to a specialist in Austin to find out why she cried so much and after many tests, they found out she had something as simple as acid reflux. With medication, she did much better and was soon able to sleep during the night. But it was rough for a while. The only way she could sleep was on my chest. I was so afraid I was going to roll over and crush her, so I slept lightly and didn’t get much rest. But we got through it. It’s a shame her mother wasn’t there when she took her first step holding on to my finger or when she started running instead of walking, chasing me out the door. She never wanted me out of her sight. I wonder why that was, Leah? Could it be she knew at that early age her mother had abandoned her?”

      “Don’t say that.”

      He stared at her and she felt as if he was looking right into her soul. If he was, he could see all the scars, all the pain and all the sorrow. But there was no sympathy on his face. She didn’t believe for one minute that this meeting would be easy and she wouldn’t let his words discourage her from seeing her daughter.

      “Does the truth hurt?”

      Her eyes met his. “Yes, it does. Is that what you wanted to hear? I’ve been hurting for a long time.”

      He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me. I want you out of Horseshoe just as soon as possible.” He swung toward his truck.

      “I want a divorce.”

      He swung back, his eyes dark and disturbing. She took a step backward.

      “That’s the real reason you came back, isn’t it? You’ve found someone and want to remarry.”

      “It’s just time to end our marriage.”

      He took several steps toward her and she had to force herself not to take another step away from him. “Here’s another saying, Leah, ‘when hell freezes over.’ That’s when I’ll give you a divorce to marry someone else. You have put me through hell and I’m not going to make life easier for you now. So go back to wherever you found what you were searching for. God only knows what that was. I gave you my heart and it wasn’t enough. So if you’re looking for forgiveness, you’re asking the wrong man. I’ll never forgive you for what you did to us.”

      She swallowed the sob in her throat. “Could we talk about that time?”

      “The time for talk is over. I really don’t want to hear your excuses. Nothing can excuse what you did to a three-month-old little girl who needed her mother.”

      “Falcon...”

      “You know how many nights I lay awake with Eden on my chest, waiting for the phone to ring, waiting to hear from her mother, waiting for her to let us know she was okay? The call never came until today, when her mother wants something. How selfish is that? Have a good life, Leah. You will never be free of me.” He strolled off to his truck, his back rigid, his stride rapid and determined to carry him as far away from her as possible.

      Leah sank onto the bench because her shaky legs would no longer hold her. She tried to breathe, tried to think and desperately tried not to pass out. She focused on the water spewing up from the pavement. Splat. Splat. Splat. Calming. Soothing. The dizziness eased and she sucked in a deep breath, praying she would never show this weakness in front of Falcon. He said it was over. It wasn’t. She wasn’t leaving Horseshoe until she saw her daughter. Falcon may intimidate her, but he would not break her.

      Her rights as a mother had been severed with her callous actions, but her rights as a woman—someone who had learned and grown and fought for a life—would never be severed. Not until she drew her last breath.

      * * *

      FALCON WAS SO angry his breaths came in gulps. He pressed his foot down on the accelerator and broke the speed limit all the way to the ranch. At the barn, he slammed on the brakes and the King Ranch Ford spun and stopped about three feet from the barn. Dust blanketed the truck. He jumped out and went into the barn to get his horse.

      Opening the corral, he whistled for Titan, his black gelding. The horse galloped toward him, eager to ride. Within minutes he’d saddled up and he headed out to join his brothers. He kneed Titan and the horse responded with a speed that always elated Falcon. He rode through the valley and over gently rolling hills as if his life depended on it. In a way it did.

      Realizing he was pushing Titan too hard, he pulled up and slid from the saddle. Sinking down by a large oak, he took a moment to collect his chaotic thoughts. How dare she! How dare she come back and demand to see Eden? She had no right and he would never allow her anywhere near their daughter.

      He ran his hands down his face and took a long breath, trying not to even think how damn gorgeous she still looked. She could’ve at least put on weight, showed aging on her face or sported a few gray hairs, but she was as beautiful as she’d ever been. And she’d met someone else. That gnawed at his insides. How dare she!

      Getting

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