Chapter 15
Beckett’s chest tightened as the carriage came to a halt in front of Double T’s main dwelling.
Its white stucco walls, redbrick trim, and red-tile roof were as vibrant and well-kept as always.
The arched windows and doorways glistened in the sun, with palm trees planted next to the house to provide shade.
An open gallery lined the front of the house, and the three-story tower rose above an enclosed courtyard at the center of the complex.
Sargeant and Sunshine had built the palatial house a decade ago to replace the original, smaller home they’d first lived in.
The new mansion sat on a hill that overlooked the nearby Sagebrush River.
From the tower, a person could see a good twenty miles out on a clear day.
It was the perfect location for not only protecting the family and staff, but also keeping an eye on anyone approaching the house.
Apparently, everyone had been notified of his arrival the moment the carriage was spotted, and the circular dirt driveway was lined with the vaqueros along with their families, who faithfully worked on the ranch.
They lived in a community just west of the barns and corrals near the river.
Their adobe homes with thatched roofs were traditional dwellings among the Mexicans, many of whose families had been there long before the Anglos came.
The main house staff, too, had come out to welcome him, and they stood on either side of the front portico, all of them attired in crisp uniforms and hats.
“I didn’t realize so many people lived on the ranch,” said Hyacinth, who was also peering out the window at all the people there to greet them. “Are most Mexicans?”
“Most have lived on the ranch their whole lives and are raising their families here.” Blast it all, they deserved to stay.
They shouldn’t have to worry about a distant relative of Sargeant’s firing them and kicking them off the land.
Because that’s what would happen if Richard came and built a fancy horse racetrack.
He’d bring in a team of his own who knew about horses, and he would no longer need the vaqueros.
Beckett sat back in his seat and blew out a breath.
How could he let down the many folks who relied upon the ranch?
Yet, how could he stay? Driving through the property had been hard enough as the ghosts of the past came riding up from the graves to haunt him. He’d never last a year, much less five.
Dad-blame-it. Why did Sargeant have to be such a mean old cuss when it came to his last will and testament?
A middle-aged woman, graceful and poised, stepped out from the arched inner hallway. Sunshine’s blond hair was a shade whiter than it had been seven years ago, but her face was still just as pretty. She peered at the carriage eagerly, as though she really was waiting for her son to arrive.
Beckett’s chest squeezed. The dear woman had loved him selflessly over the years, and now guilt needled him that he hadn’t come to visit her once—not even when Sargeant died last year.
Sargeant’s request to visit Sunshine weekly was one Beckett wished he could do.
Another woman followed closely behind Sunshine.
The petite woman with olive skin and soft brown eyes was Paloma, Rodrigo’s wife.
She was obviously with child, and according to the letters Beckett had received from Sunshine, he knew that Paloma had given birth to two other children over the years he’d been gone.
Beckett hadn’t seen his half brother among the crowds of those waiting outside the carriage, but in the distance near one of the corrals, he caught sight of Rodrigo jogging toward the house.
The man was only a year younger in age than Beckett, and they shared their pa’s lanky build.
But otherwise, Rodrigo took after his Mexican mother with his dark hair, brown skin, and humble disposition.
Beckett had never been close to Rodrigo, hadn’t even known about the brother until his last year on the ranch, when Pa had brought the fella home and made him manager after the previous one had been killed in a shoot-out.
Before then, Rodrigo had been managing his mother’s ranch, a day’s ride toward the Rio Grande. But with his mother’s death and the title to the ranch being disputed, Pa had claimed it as part of the Double T and paid Rodrigo in cash for it.
If there was one good quality about Pa, it was that he’d been generous with his illegitimate children.
Beckett took in the smiling, weathered faces that were waiting for him, old-timers who’d watched him grow up and had always been like family to him.
The same compassion that had been hounding him for the past year was on his trail again, closer than ever.
It was why he’d gotten married and made himself return.
Because he hadn’t been able to escape the need to help these folks before.
How could he walk away from them now that he was here?
Steeling his spine, he shifted toward Hyacinth. “Ready?”
She’d been angry with him since his statement about the annulment a short while ago. Now, as she perched on the leather seat, her green eyes flashed at him with disdain. “Yes, I guess there’s no need to pretend we’re a happily married couple since we’re leaving so soon.”
He hesitated with his hand on the carriage door. He wasn’t ready to call it quits just yet. There was too much at stake, too many people’s lives who would be ruined. “I know this is a lot to ask, but would you pretend we’re happily married until we leave?”
“No. Absolutely not.” Her words came out clipped. “I intend to step down from the carriage and tell everyone that we have a fake marriage and that you’re giving me an annulment once we’re back in Colorado.”
Shoot. That would be brutal. “You’re aiming to humiliate me?”
“I’m aiming to tell them the truth.” This time she reached for the door handle.
He stopped her with a touch to her hand.
She jerked away and glared at him as though he was the devil himself.
He hesitated. He’d been so certain only moments ago that he would never live in Texas again—not for a month, not for a year, and certainly not for five years. But how could he leave? “I don’t know what to do at this point.”
“You had your mind made up earlier about ending our marriage.”
“Reckon I did.” He’d been angry regarding the will and the extra requirements. He still was. But he’d overreacted. “Can you give me a few days to think on things and figure out what’s the best way forward?”
She crossed her arms and stared at him through narrowed eyes, as though trying to test the sincerity of his words.
He glanced again outside the carriage. Everyone was waiting for them to make an appearance. They were running out of time to talk through the issue. But he had to at least make some peace with her. “I’m sorry for getting so worked up. I tend to react first and think later.”
She snorted. “Really? Tell me something I don’t know.”
He wasn’t proud of his tendency to get all fired up. It was something he had to work on. But for now, hopefully she would show him some grace even though he didn’t deserve it. “Then you’ll pretend we’re a normal married couple for now?”
“I don’t know how I can pretend that when I can’t stand being around you.”
He quirked a brow and tried for a half grin. “You could stand me more than fine most of the trip.”
“I tolerated you. But today you reminded me exactly why I loathe you.”
His smile fell away. He’d really made a mess of things. “I don’t want to go back to being enemies.”
This time, she hesitated. “We can’t go back to being friends either.”
Over the past days of traveling, she’d been a fun companion, honestly better than any friend he’d had.
Had he gone and ruined their friendship?
An ache pulsed in his chest—one he didn’t have time to analyze at the moment.
“Reckon we could be a polite married couple who treat each other nicely but aren’t all that affectionate? ”
She pursed her lips together, clearly still ruffled.
Someone knocked at the carriage door. “Ready?” came Cheno’s voice.
“Yep,” Beckett tossed over his shoulder. Then he lowered his voice and spoke to Hyacinth again. “I’ll purchase that new sewing machine you were looking at in the store window we passed by in town.”
Her brow rose. “Are you monitoring what I look at?”
“I just noticed the way your eyes lit up at the sight of it. That’s all.” He’d planned to get it for her either way because during the trip, she’d talked about how she wanted one.
She didn’t respond for a heartbeat but then nodded. “Fine. I’ll play along with the whole marriage thing until we return to Colorado.”
“Thank you, darlin’.”
She sniffed. “I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it to get the sewing machine.”
With that, she pushed past him, opened the door, and forced a smile. She didn’t wait for his assistance and instead allowed Cheno to help her out. As Beckett followed, the ache inside turned sharper. How had he ruined things so quickly with Hyacinth?
Before his feet were planted firmly on the ground, Sunshine was there and reaching for him. With a smile on her face and tears in her eyes, she gathered him into her arms. “Oh, Beckett, how I’ve missed you.”
The regrets from all that had happened clogged his throat. “I’ve missed you too.”
She squeezed him tightly. As she drew back, she cupped his cheek. “You look so mature and handsome.”
“And you look as pretty as a dewdrop.” He gave her the compliment Sargeant had always used.
More tears sprang to her eyes, but she blinked them away, and then with another large smile, she pivoted to face Hyacinth, who was standing beside him. “This must be your wife.”
“Yep, this is Hyacinth.” He slipped a hand behind Hyacinth’s back, and thankfully, she didn’t move away or glare at him. “I’m real lucky she puts up with an oaf like me.” He peered down at her and hoped she could read the apology in his eyes.
She held his gaze a moment.
Before she could say anything, Sunshine was reaching for her. “So happy to meet you, dear. Welcome to the Double T.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Sunshine embraced her, then extended her to arm’s length and surveyed her from head to toes. “Oh my. You’re simply gorgeous. I can see why Beckett fell for you.”
Sunshine wasn’t wrong that Hyacinth was gorgeous. He’d known that from the moment he’d first laid eyes on her. But had he fallen for Hyacinth? Should he finally admit that he’d liked her all along and the days of traveling together had made him like her even more?
“I’m so glad you’re both here.” Sunshine clasped one of Beckett’s hands while holding to one of Hyacinth’s. “I’ve been excited about your visit ever since Mr. Dickinson informed me you were on your way.”
Did Sunshine know about the stipulations in Sargeant’s will? No doubt Sargeant had shared his plan with her—the plan to trap Beckett into having to return to the ranch and live there.
Sunshine released him and looped her arm through Hyacinth’s. “I’m sure you’re hot and weary from your traveling, dear. Why don’t you come inside with me while your husband greets his employees and old friends?”
Without giving either of them a chance to object, Sunshine began to lead Hyacinth toward the front portico.
Beckett bit back a sigh, knowing he had no choice but to greet everyone the way Sunshine had instructed him to do. She was pushing him into his role as owner of the ranch, even though he hadn’t agreed to it and even though the protest was still pulsing through him at being back.
Now that he was here, was he stuck? Was that what Sargeant had bargained on when he’d made him bring his wife back to the Double T? Had he known once Beckett was there, the web would close in around him and snare him into staying?
Beckett hoped he wasn’t snared. But he had the sinking feeling that things were going to get a whole lot worse before they got better.