The Rancher and the Runaway Bride Part 3. Сьюзен Мэллери

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СКАЧАТЬ And she would, she promised herself, suddenly realizing it was time to stop running from him, as well. As soon as they got back to the ranch, she would tell the truth about her past. She just wanted these few days together, first. Sort of a last chance for them.

      She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tightly. “I’m going to be just fine,” she said. “Enjoy your drink with Travis. But first, I’m suddenly starving.”

      “Rattler taco?”

      She laughed. “You’re an amazing man, Brady Jones.”

      He tugged on her braid, forcing her to look up at him. “That’s what all the girls say.”

      “Guess what?” she teased. “In this case, all the girls are right.”

      * * *

      The smoky bar reminded Brady of countless others he’d frequented when he’d been on the rodeo circuit. Places with scarred floors and cold beer on draft. Whenever he found himself in bars like this, or meeting with friends from the “good old days,” he waited for a yearning to go back to his youth. When a good ride meant the difference between money in his pocket or not, and the women had been pretty, starry-eyed and willing. Not that he’d been all that eager to take them up on what they offered, he thought with a grin.

      But no matter how many old friends he met up with, or how many bars he stopped in, the yearning for those days never came. They’d been lots of fun, a hell of a way to see the country and grow up, but that time was over. Now his life was where it should be. If he occasionally fought the demon of loneliness, he’d learned to win that battle. One day he would find someone to love. Maybe he already had.

      He searched the crowd, then spotted Travis already seated at a back booth. The cowboy motioned him over, then pointed to the frosty glass waiting.

      “I thought you’d be thirsty,” Travis said, and took a drink of his beer.

      Brady grinned his thanks. “You always were a thoughtful fellow.” He took a sip of his beer and leaned back in the seat. “Tell me what’s been happening with you.”

      Travis talked about his injury and the temporary job he’d had driving a cab. When he explained how he’d met his wife, Brady sat up straight.

      “You delivered her babies?”

      “Yup. During one of the worst storms to ever hit Colorado.” Travis beamed with obvious pride. “Twins. It was easy.”

      “You go to hell for lying same as stealing, Travis. It might have been a lot of things, but I’ll bet it wasn’t easy.”

      Travis’s humor faded. “That moment changed my life forever. I’ve got Peggy, and the babies. Me!” He pointed at his chest. “Who would have thought it?”

      “Not anyone who knew you.”

      “Yeah, well, I’m not the only one with surprises. What about you? What are you doing hiding Grand Springs’ famous runaway bride?”

      Brady had raised the glass to his lips. Now he set it down, untasted. His stomach constricted tightly as a cold foreboding swept through his body. “You know Rita?”

      Travis leaned forward and shook his head. “Not me. Peggy. And I know her name’s not Rita, Brady. You don’t have to pretend with me.” He lowered his voice. “Peggy used to work at City Hall in town. She saw Randi visiting from time to time. Her fiancé’s a member of the city council. His mother was the mayor, but now that she’s dead, he’s been acting in her place.”

      Brady couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Rita wasn’t Rita? She was from Grand Springs and she was a runaway bride?

      “Whose fiancé is acting as mayor? Rita’s, ah, Randi’s?”

      Travis nodded. “Sure. Peggy says Hal is a jerk, so I don’t blame the girl for running out. She left him standing at the altar in front of God and everyone. Just disappeared. It was the day we had that big blackout, mudslides, nonstop torrential rain. I remember. Peggy had the twins right then. What a mess.”

      He continued to talk about the thirty-six-hour blackout, but Brady wasn’t listening. He was barely breathing. Dear God, it couldn’t be true. Not his Rita. She couldn’t have betrayed him that way.

      But she had. She’d run out on her wedding, leaving some poor bastard to be humiliated. Just like Alicia had done to him.

      “What’s wrong?” Travis asked. “You don’t look right.” His mouth dropped open. “You didn’t know, did you.”

      Brady slowly shook his head. “I knew she was in trouble, but I didn’t know what kind. She’s been working at the ranch for over a month.”

      “I’m sorry.”

      “It’s not your fault,” Brady said grimly. It was Rita’s—make that Randi’s—fault.

      He felt like a fool, or worse. When he thought about how he’d told her everything about Alicia. Jeez, she must have had a hell of a laugh at his expense, thinking she and his ex-fiancée had a lot in common. Did she get a kick out of destroying men’s lives? Was his next?

      Fury rose in him, fueled by embarrassment and the loss of expectation. He’d had plans for them. Dreams. He’d thought when things settled down for her maybe they could—He rose to his feet and tossed a couple of bills on the table. “Sorry, Travis, but I’m not good company right now. Can we do this another time?”

      Travis nodded grimly. “I didn’t mean to mess things up,” he said.

      “You didn’t. You made things more clear for me. Thanks, buddy. I’ll be in touch.”

      Brady left the bar and drove back to the hotel. Thoughts tumbled through his mind. He tried to figure out what he was going to say to her, but he couldn’t focus on anything but his rage. No wonder she hadn’t wanted to tell him her secrets. There was no way for her to come off as anything but a lying, cheating bitch.

      He crossed the parking lot and walked quickly to the four-story building. Their rooms were on the first floor, in the back. Rooms, he thought with a grimace. He’d given her a room of her own. Ever the gentleman. Ever the sucker.

      When he reached her door, he raised his hand, made a fist and pounded loud enough to wake the dead. There would be no excuses this time. No matter what, he was going to get the truth out of her.

      * * *

      The loud pounding brought Randi off the bed like a shot. She dropped the book she’d been trying to read. “Who is it?” she called.

      “Brady.”

      “Oh, you’re back earlier than I thought.”

      She rushed to the door and unlocked it. Before she could turn the handle, Brady did it for her and pushed into the room.

      “How was your drink?” she asked.

      He slammed the door shut and stared at her. Instinctively, she backed up a step. The anger on his face made her nervous, but what really got her heart rate up was the pain and disappointment lurking in his eyes.

      “Brady?”

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