She lingered at her horse, hoping that he might kiss her, but he didn’t. He put her up into the saddle and rested one hand on her jean-clad thigh, his eyes dark and unsmiling as he looked up at her. When he didn’t smile, that Comanche blood showed in his face, in the high cheekbones and stern expression.
“Remember what I told you about men,” he said shortly. “You can’t live like a hermit, but don’t let Gussie railroad you into anything. Just be careful about the people you trust.”
“You don’t trust anybody, do you, Cade?” she asked gently.
“I trust my family and you. That’s it.” He turned to get back onto his own mount, looking as much a part of the buckskin as the saddle on its back. He was an excellent horseman. His mastery of horses and his skill with a rope had made him a natural in the rodeo arena, but Bess still worried about him.
She stared at him hungrily, hoping for a last-minute reprieve. That he’d propose marriage. That he’d ask her to wait for him. That he’d say, “Don’t go.”
He did none of those things. He stared at her for one long moment and then he turned his horse without a word, not even a goodbye, and went back the way he’d come. She watched him until he was a pinpoint in the distance, tears streaming down her cheeks. At least, she thought, she had one sweet memory to put under her pillow at night. She touched the silver ring on her finger and kissed it softly. She didn’t really understand why Cade would give her a family heirloom when he hadn’t said anything about a commitment, but it was the most wonderful present she’d ever received. She’d never part with it. It would remind her of Cade and help her cope with the hardships ahead.
And she knew Gussie was going to be the worst hardship of all.
IT TOOK WEEKS for all the loose ends to be tied together, weeks during which Bess sometimes thought Gussie would drive her insane. She moped around the small apartment they’d taken in San Antonio, complaining about its size while she moaned about the loss of their fortune and grumbled about her late husband who was the cause of it all.
The sale of Spanish House was the final hurdle. A couple from Ohio bought it, and Bess breathed a sigh of relief when the papers were signed and the money advanced. Donald took over, paying out the last of the creditors. Gussie didn’t know that Bess had given him Great-aunt Dorie’s pearls, which were quietly sold to a jeweler for top dollar. She had to pay back Cade, so that he wouldn’t lose Lariat. Despite what he’d said about the legacy and heritage of those pearls, she’d rather lose them than let him lose his ranch.
The pearls were a small price to pay for the delight they were going to give Cade. But she made Donald promise not to tell him how she’d obtained the money. Let him think they realized a profit from the sale of the house and land, she told their attorney. She didn’t want to tell Gussie, but inevitably she noticed that the pearls were missing.
“Where are Great-aunt Dorie’s pearls?” she demanded petulantly. “They aren’t in your jewelry box.”
Bess was half angry that her mother should still be searching through her things after so many years. It was an old pattern that she’d always resented. “Why were you looking in my jewelry box?” Bess asked with faint indignation.
“Don’t be absurd,” Gussie said indifferently. “Where are they?”
Bess took a deep breath. No time like the present, she thought, to start as she meant to go on. “I sold them.”
“You said they were costume jewelry!”
“I lied,” Bess said with pretended calm. “We had debts to pay off...”
“The debts were already paid off. That man,” she began slowly, her temper rising. “You sold them to pay back Cade Hollister!”
Bess forced herself to breathe slowly. “I couldn’t let his family lose Lariat because of us,” she said.
“Damn his family and damn him!” Gussie burst out. “How dare you! How dare you sell an heirloom like those pearls!”
“It was a debt of honor,” Bess began. “Dad would have—”
“Your father was a weak fool,” Gussie said. “And so are you!”
Bess’s lower lip trembled. Tears stung her eyes. She wouldn’t cry, she wouldn’t...but the tears spilled over.
Gussie wasn’t moved. “I was going to buy a car with those pearls,” she said angrily, “and you gave them away!”
That stopped the tears. Bess wiped them angrily from her cheeks and glared at her mother. Sell the pearls to buy a car, when they could barely meet their rent, and the money from the sale of the house was all but gone. She glared at Gussie.
“Yes, I sold them,” she said, her voice shaking because it was the first time she’d ever spoken back. “And Cade will keep Lariat for his children. Children I’ll never have, thanks to you. No man is ever going to want me because of you!”
Gussie turned her head warily, watching Bess as if she thought the younger woman had a fever. “That’s enough, Bess.”
“No, it isn’t!” Bess’s voice broke. “I can’t take care of myself and you. Dad always looked after us, but I’m not Daddy. I’m not strong. I can’t cope with a job and bills and you!”
Gussie looked mortally wounded. “That my own child should speak to me like this,” she said huskily. “After all I’ve done for you.”
Bess’s lips were trembling so hard that she could barely get words out. “You’re making this so difficult,” she whispered.
“I suppose I could always go on welfare.” Gussie sniffed, reaching for a handkerchief. “And live in the streets, since my own child doesn’t want me.” She began to cry pitifully.
Bess knew it was an act. She knew that she should be strong, but she couldn’t bear to hear Gussie cry. “Oh, Mama, don’t,” she moaned, going to Gussie, to hold her. “It’s all right. We’ll be fine, really we will.”
“We could have had a nice car,” Gussie sniffed.
“We couldn’t have afforded gas and oil for it though,” Bess murmured, trying to make a joke. “And somebody would have had to wash it.”
Gussie actually laughed. “Well, it wouldn’t have been me, you know; I can’t wash a car.” She hugged Bess back. “I know it’s hard for you, but darling, imagine how it is for me. We were rich and now we have so little, and it’s difficult.”
“I know,” Bess said gently. “But we’ll get by.”
“Will we?” Gussie sat up, rubbing her red eyes. “I do hope so.” She sighed shakily. “Bess, you really will have to see about getting a job soon.”
Bess started to argue, but Gussie was right. Her mother wasn’t suited to any kind of work, and the most pressing problem was how they were going to live. After all the debts were paid, Bess and Gussie were left with little more than six hundred dollars and some of Gussie’s jewelry.
“I’ll start looking first thing in the morning,” Bess said quietly.
“Good girl.” Gussie got up. “Oh, damn the Hollisters,” she muttered, glancing irritably at Bess. “I’ll never forgive Cade for letting you pay off that debt in full. He could have refused the money, knowing how bad off we are.”
Bess colored. “Mother, he’s got debts of his own and Dad’s investment scheme almost cost him Lariat. You know how he feels about heritage, about children.”
“I don’t want to talk about him. And don’t you get