Heart of a Texan by Leigh Greenwood Page B

crying hysterically and cursing him for being the one to survive. After she regained her senses, she refused to speak to him, look at him, or stay in the same room with him. She died less than five months later.
    The weight of guilt was suffocating. It was made worse when his father died, and he inherited everything. Knowing he couldn’t return to a home filled with so many painful memories, he’d sold everything and bought a Texas ranch. Despite being rich enough to sit back and let others work for him, he’d devoted himself to bringing Laveau to justice. But that hadn’t brought relief. He was still pursued by the knowledge that his parents wouldn’t have hesitated to exchange his life for Caleb’s.
    A particularly loud outburst from Russ drew his attention back to the discussion of what constituted suitable food for a man convalescing from a gunshot wound. He was relieved from having to intervene by the entrance of the doctor.
    “If you can’t learn to speak like a sensible man, you can wait outside,” the doctor said to Russ.
    Russ pointed an accusing finger at Roberta. “She’s the one who’s not sensible. Do you know what she fed the boss for breakfast? Eggs on toast. Now she wants to feed him a mush she says is peaches.”
    “I suppose your idea of a good breakfast is what those two boys in the kitchen are eating.”
    “I ordered it especially for the boss.”
    The doctor pushed past Russ to get to Nate. “Then it’s a good thing Roberta has some sense. He’ll get well much faster with her feeding him. You can poison him after you get him home.”
    “I’d just as soon not be poisoned at all,” Nate said.
    “Then you had best let this young lady order your meals even after you go home. Now let me look at you.” After a brief examination, the doctor stood back, a satisfied look on his face. “Youth is a wonderful thing. If I’d been shot like you, it would take me a month to recover. You ought to be as good as new in a week. I could let you go home today, but I think I’ll keep you here another day.”
    Nate didn’t want to admit he was relieved. As much as he disliked being confined to the bed, he enjoyed having Roberta take care of him. And there was no disputing that she could hold her own against Russ. He admired her determination to save her father’s crops. He could only imagine how much backbreaking work that required.
    “You want to go home today, don’t you, boss?”
    Nate didn’t know quite what to make of Russ’s distrust of Roberta.
    “I don’t like to impose on Roberta, but if she’s willing to put up with me, I’ll stay here another day. I’m not looking forward to the ride home.”
    “Sensible man,” the doctor said before turning to Roberta. “What do you say?”
    Nate thought Roberta looked slightly uncomfortable at being addressed so directly. Could it be that she really didn’t want him here a minute longer than necessary?
    “Nate can stay here as long as necessary. With one of his men here to look after him, there’s not much I have to do. However, I do have one condition. Well, maybe two.”
    “What are they?” Nate felt a tightening in the pit of his stomach.
    Roberta turned to Russ. “I have to be the one who decides what Nate eats. If he’s going to have a relapse, it’s not going to happen in my house.”
    “What’s the second?” Nate asked.
    “That Russ not set foot in my house again. Grady, Carlin, and any other cowhand he wants to send are fine, but I will not be bullied and shouted at in my own house.”
    Russ apparently had a lot he wanted to say, but Nate cut him short. “Your requests seem reasonable considering all the trouble I’m putting you to.”
    “You’re damned lucky this woman has good common sense,” the doctor said. “You don’t know how rare that is.”
    “What am I supposed to do about food?” Russ asked. “Our cook would quit if I asked him to fix eggs on toast.”
    “Talk to Roberta,” the doctor said. “I’m