Heart of Texas Volume One by Debbie Macomber

said.
    Richard gestured weakly. “I was never cut out to be a cowboy, even you have to admit that,” he said and glanced up at Grady for confirmation. “I could read the writing on the wall. With Dad gone you’d expect me to help around the place, and it just wasn’t in me. Still isn’t. Cows and me never saw eye to eye. You said it more than once yourself.” He gave a crooked half smile, enticing Grady to agree with him.
    Grady remained cold and silent, his eyes as hard as flint.
    â€œI know it was wrong to take that money. A thousand times since, I’ve cursed myself for being so stupid, so greedy.”
    â€œYou should have phoned,” Savannah chastised. “You could have let us know where you were. Grady and I were worried sick.” She looked to her brother to continue, to explain what they’d endured because of Richard.
    Once again Grady’s cool silence was answer enough.
    â€œI thought about coming home,” Richard said in a small pleading voice. “You don’t know how many times I’ve thought of it. You’re right, Savannah,” he said, rushing his words. “I should’ve called. I know that now, but I was afraid of what you’d say. I didn’t have the courage to face you.”
    â€œWhat happened to the money?” Grady threw the question at his brother with a vengeance.
    â€œThe money,” Richard repeated, and the sigh that followed said it all.
    â€œYou blew it,” Grady said with disgust.
    â€œI put it up as capital in a business venture. My plan,” he said, glancing desperately at Savannah and then Grady, “was to triple it and share the profits with you two. I thought if I did that, you’d forgive me and let me come home. Then we could go on the way we always have. But—” he paused and looked away “—the venture went sour.”
    â€œIn other words you lost everything.”
    Richard nodded slowly. “The investment wasn’t as solid as I was led to believe. It was a bitter lesson. But you have to understand,” he added, motioning toward Grady, “I was desperate to come home.” His voice shook as though the memory was as painful to him as it was to Savannah and Grady. “By this time I missed you both so much I would have done anything to find a way home.”
    â€œYou could have written,” Savannah said. “Even if you weren’t ready to talk to us.…” For months she’d prayed for a letter, a phone call, anything that would explain what had happened. She’d refused to give up hope, refused to believe Richard would steal from them and then just disappear. After six months she stopped making excuses, and when they hadn’t heard from him after a year, his name was dropped from their conversations.
    â€œI wanted to write,” Richard said, leaping on her words. “I tried. As God is my witness, I tried, but I was never good with words. How could I possibly explain everything in a letter?”
    Grady snickered loudly. “Seems to me you’re about as slick with words as a snake-oil salesman.”
    A flash of pain appeared in Richard’s eyes. “You really hate me, don’t you, Grady?”
    â€œHow could we hate you?” Savannah answered in Grady’s stead, fearing his response. “You’re our brother.”
    At her words Richard rallied somewhat and gazed around the yard. “You’ve obviously done all right by yourselves. The ranch looks great.”
    â€œNo thanks to you.”
    â€œThink about it, Grady,” Richard challenged. “What good would I have been to you if I’d stuck around? As far as I’m concerned, cows smell bad, have a negative disposition and are always needing something done to them. If I’d stayed, I wouldn’t have been any help. Okay, I admit taking the money was pretty underhand, but all I really did was lay claim to part of my