Texas Pride by Bárbara McCauley Page A

argue.”
    â€œYeah, well, I’ve seen the strongest relationship dissolve when it comes to remodeling.”
    Jessica threw her hands up. “I’ve just lost my work crew and you’re making jokes. I can’t believe this.”
    He took hold of her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. “Have you considered the possibility that someone staged this?”
    She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œIf no one will work here, you can’t build your town, right?”
    She didn’t like what he was getting at. “Of course not.”
    â€œAnd didn’t you tell me that a review board comes here in January to assess your progress and determine if they’ll grant you a license?”
    She nodded.
    â€œAnd what happens if you don’t get your license?”
    She didn’t want to think about it. She couldn’t. “Why would anyone do that to me?”
    â€œMyrna wants this land. Someone else might, too. Or maybe someone doesn’t want you to build a youth center here. You tell me.”
    It was a strong possibility, Jessica knew that. Especially after what Jared and Jake had gone through the past few months with someone sabotaging their land. Sam and Myrna had both wanted to buy Makeshift, but Sam had never pestered her about it. And Myrna. Well, Myrna was just Myrna. Jessica hadn’t believed before that her stepmother had anything to do with the problems Jake and Jared had, and she didn’t believe she had anything to do with this, either.
    She sighed heavily. But whether it was Meggie and Lucas or whether it was someone else, the effect was the same. If no one would work here, she’d fall behind schedule. She couldn’t let that happen.
    She met Dylan’s steady gaze. “We have to find another crew, Dylan. We have to.”
    He moved his hands up her shoulders to her neck. His fingers were warm on her skin, and she wanted desperately to lean into him.
    â€œI’ll have to bring in men from farther away,” he said, and his voice sounded thick. “It’s going to take some time.”
    He let his hands fall away, then looked at her for a long moment and left. Her skin still burned where he’d touched her. With a sigh, Jessica sank back against the counter. Time was something she did not have in abundance.
    She looked at the blueprints still lying on the table. Makeshift was her town. The kids needed it. She needed it.
    She was going to build it.
    She just had to figure out how.
    * * *
    â€œDon’t cry, Meggie,” Lucas said softly. “Please don’t cry.”
    Meggie sat in the front church pew, her face buried in her hands. “Oh, Lucas, Jessica must be so angry with me.”
    â€œShe’s not angry. She may not understand, but she knows we’d never do anything to hurt her.”
    Lucas sat beside Meggie. It was starting to get dark, and soft evening light streamed in through the tall narrow windows of the church. Meggie looked like an angel, he thought. A true angel. She’d been crying since the men had run off, and it broke his heart to see her so miserable.
    â€œAnd why did that man say we were arguing?” she said between sobs. “We were simply discussing whether they’d properly placed the altar when he sneaked up on us.”
    Lucas smiled. “I’m afraid he was right, Meggie, dear. We were arguing.”
    She sniffed indignantly. “Well, it might not matter to you, but the altar does belong closer to the front row. Mrs. Wimple wouldn’t be able to hear if the altar was set back too far.”
    He didn’t have the heart to remind her Mrs. Wimple was gone, as was everyone else.
    â€œAnd I most certainly did not throw a hammer at him,” she said sharply. “I was simply moving it before it fell on that piece of glass he was replacing.”
    â€œI know.”
    She looked up at him, and the light reflected off the tears in her eyes. “How