Heart of Texas Volume One by Debbie Macomber Page B

them. But then he’d always been weak and easily influenced. Nevertheless he was their brother; it came down to that. If for no other reason than to honor the memory of their parents, she wanted there to be no ill will between them.
    â€œYou’re serious?” Richard’s face clouded with disbelief. “You want me off the ranch?”
    â€œI’ve never been more serious in my life.”
    Brother stared down brother.
    â€œI…I’m without a job. I was working at…at a sales job, and they downsized. I don’t have anywhere to go. I left instructions for the check from my severance package to be mailed here.” He glanced hopefully at Savannah and then at Grady.
    Savannah silently pleaded with Grady, but he refused to look in her direction. It was hell staying quiet, especially when Richard begged for her help.
    â€œYou, too, Savannah?” he whispered in the hurt voice that tugged at her heart. “Do you want me to leave, too?”
    Savannah was in torment, not knowing how to respond. Of course she wanted him to stay, wanted their lives to return to the way they’d been before. But she didn’t know if that was possible.
    â€œI’m ruined,” he whispered brokenly. “The money’s gone. I lost my job and I have no savings. All I could think about was getting back to you and Grady. Making things right again.”
    Tears filled her eyes and she bit her lip, trapped as she was between the strong wills of her two brothers.
    Not waiting for her reply, Richard leaned down and reached for his suitcase. Apparently he was weaker than they realized because he staggered, but caught himself in time to keep from collapsing.
    Savannah could hold her tongue no longer. “Grady, please! He’s about to faint. One night,” she begged, sliding her arm around Richard’s waist. “Let him stay one night.”
    For a moment she didn’t think Grady would relent. “All right,” he gave in, his reluctance clear, “but he sleeps in the bunkhouse. First thing in the morning he’s out of here. Understand?”
    â€œThank you, brother,” Richard said softly. “You won’t be sorry, I promise you that. I’ll find a way to make it up to you and Savannah. I didn’t know, didn’t realize… I’ll do whatever you want if you’ll just let me stay. You’re the only family I’ve got.”
    Â 
    L AREDO HADN ’ T MEANT TO LISTEN in on the scene outside the house. But he’d been in the garden at the time, and it had been impossible to ignore. He wasn’t sure what had finally occurred between Savannah and her two brothers, but the three had apparently come to some kind of understanding. He didn’t see Savannah again until dinnertime, and when he entered the house, she was all aflutter. He smelled biscuits baking, their aroma more enticing to him than the world’s most expensive perfume. An apple pie cooled on the kitchen counter beside a standing rib roast, recently taken from the oven.
    When she saw him, her beautiful face brightened with a shy smile of welcome. “Richard’s here.”
    â€œSo I understand.” Laredo had tried to put the events of the early afternoon behind him and had hoped she had, as well. Kissing her had been a mistake, one he regretted. His weakness for her complicated an already difficult situation.
    The last thing he wanted was to let her believe in something that could never be. His property—three hundred acres in Oklahoma—was waiting for him. That and his horse. They were all he had. And they were almost nothing compared to the Westons’ huge spread. Compared to what Savannah had now. It would be cruel to mislead her into thinking she could be part of his future. But if the kissing continued, it’d be as hard for him to walk away as it would be for her to let him go.
    â€œHe hasn’t eaten in two days,” she said, explaining