Heart of Texas Vol. 2 by Debbie Macomber Page A

ignored his un war ranted amusement. “Neither of us will need to tell him,” she said.
    Glen made a show of wiping the sweat from his brow. “Boy, am I relieved.”
    â€œCal will discover this all on his own.”
    â€œListen, honey, I hate to burst your bubble, but Cal’s a confirmed bachelor. I don’t even remember the last time he went out on a date. He’s sworn off women for good.”
    â€œYou sure about that?”
    â€œWell, it’s been more than two years now, and he still isn’t over Jennifer.”
    â€œThen it’s about time he got over her.” She sounded more confident than she felt, but she wasn’t going to let a little thing like male pride stand in her way. Cal needed someone in his life, but he was too stubborn to realize it. Like most of the male sex he simply needed a little help. She’d aim him in the right direction and leave matters to progress as they would.
    Eventually Cal would see the light; he’d figure it out on his own. As soon as she and Glen were married, Cal would be in that ranch house all by himself. It wouldn’t take him long to discover how large and lonely a house could be with just one person living there.
    â€œYou look thoughtful,” Glen said.
    â€œIt’s going to be up to us.” She nodded firmly.
    â€œUs?” He raised both hands. “Not me! Forget it. If you want to play match maker with my big brother, you go right ahead, but don’t include me.”
    A little respect for the validity of her idea—bringing two lonely people together—would have gone a long way, but Glen was having none of it.
    â€œGood luck, sweetheart,” he said, reaching for a French fry. “I have to admire your spirit.”
    â€œI don’t believe in luck,” she told him with the confidence of one who knows. “I believe we shape our own destinies.” And occasionally someone else’s.
    Â 
    L ATE W EDNESDAY AFTERNOON Caroline drove into the yard of the Yellow Rose Ranch. She’d been looking forward to this all week.
    As she parked, the screen door opened off the back porch and Grady stepped outside.
    Caroline climbed out of the car, and Maggie slipped her small hand into Caroline’s as he approached.
    â€œWill Grady yell at me?” Maggie whispered.
    â€œOf course not,” Caroline assured her.
    Grady smiled at them and it was difficult for Caroline to look away. His face was alight with such pleasure she had to catch her breath. They’d known each other for years, she and Grady; they had a history, most of it un pleas ant. Both were opinionated, strong willed. But she’d always admired Grady, always thought him honorable and decent. She’d carefully guarded her heart for a lot of years, and he was the first man, the only man, to get close enough to make her dream again.
    â€œHi,” she said, feeling self-conscious.
    â€œHello.” His gaze left her and traveled to Maggie. He bent down on one knee to be eye to eye with Caroline’s daughter. “How are you, princess?”
    â€œFine.” Maggie kicked at the dirt with the toe of her shoe and lowered her head to stare at the ground. “I’m sorry I went into the big horse’s stall.”
    â€œYou were looking for the colt, weren’t you?”
    Maggie nodded and kept her head lowered. When she spoke, even Caroline had trouble understanding her. “I won’t do it again.”
    â€œGood for you,” Grady said. “It’s a wise woman who learns from her mistakes.”
    â€œAnd man,” Caroline added.
    Grady threw back his head and laughed loudly. At the sound Maggie leaped two feet off the ground and flew into her mother’s arms, her own small arms tight around Caroline’s neck.
    â€œWhat’d you say to her this time?” Richard asked as he sauntered out of the bunk house.
    â€œRichard!” Maggie twisted around, her face wreathed in