Texas Proud (Vincente 2) Read Online Free Page B

Brazos."
    "Our friends and neighbors have always hated
the Vincentes because of their wealth and power.
Most of them would latch on to any excuse to drag
the Vincente name through the mud."
    "Noble is guilty," Rachel stated forcefully, her
eyes like green fire. "I don't want to talk any more
about him. Especially not with you."

    Delia dropped her gaze and said, "It's not Noble's fault that Papa's dead it's mine."
    Rachel was rapidly losing patience. "Never defend him to me. If you think he's innocent, keep
your thoughts to yourself."
    Delia's shoulders slumped and she looked miserable. "I loved him so much that I was sure he'd
love me too. But he didn't." She shook her head.
"If you only knew how kind he was to me at the
time."
    "There's another word for what he did to you,
and it isn't kindness. For my part, I prefer his hatred to his love. And he will hate me passionately
before I'm finished with him."
    Delia grabbed both of Rachel's wrists and dug
her nails into the soft flesh. Her eyes took on a
faraway look, and her voice was so faint it was
almost inaudible. "Noble is not like other men. If
only Papa hadn't died, I believe Noble might have
married me. He has a good heart."
    Rachel yanked her hands free, staring at Delia
as if she were seeing her clearly for the first time.
"My God, your love for Noble has made you blind
to his villainy! I'm astonished at just how far you'd
go to defend him."
    Delia dropped down on the window seat and
drew up her legs, resting her chin on her knees.
"You have no idea how far Noble went to protect
me. If you only knew-" Her voice broke off.
    "If I knew what?" Rachel demanded. "Let's take
the facts as they happened that day. First, you told Papa that you were going to have Noble's baby, so
he went to Casa del Sol to confront him. Second,
Papa's body was found on the Casa del Sol side of
the Brazos. Third, Noble's gun was found beside
Papa. If that doesn't add up to his guilt, what
does? Tell me, Delia what more proof do you
need?"

    Delia tossed her golden mane defiantly. "Let's
look at more truths, Rachel. One, there would
have been no reason for Noble to kill Papa, because he could refuse to marry me and leave the
state, which he did. Two, Noble is too smart to kill
a man and leave his gun behind as evidence to be
used against him."
    Rachel had never fully forgiven her sister for the
part she'd played in their father's death, but she'd
buried her resentment deep, since her sister was
the only family she had left. And Delia needed her
at times. Like now. Rachel knew that her sister's
marriage to Whit was not a happy one, and
whether Delia admitted it or not, when she came
home to Broken Spur it was to find peace.
    "Come on," Rachel cajoled, hoping to end their
discussion about Noble. "Get dressed and we'll eat
supper on the porch, where it's cooler. You know
you like Winna Mae's cooking."
    Delia didn't appear to be listening. She seemed
locked in her own hell. "It's not my fault that
Papa's dead. I was young, in love and foolish. If
only... if only I could go back and change everything."

    "What you should have remembered at the time
is that the Vincentes never married out of their
class you were not of their social standing. Were
you ever invited to any of the grand fiestas that
were held at Casa del Sol?" She shook her head.
"No, you weren't, nor were you likely to be." Rachel's tone became harsh. "The Vincentes spring
from Spanish nobility, and you were only a poor
rancher's daughter, not fit to polish their fine
black boots."
    "As I recall, Noble liked you. He always singled
you out and showed marked attention toward
you," Delia countered pettishly. "He even had a
pet name for you." She bit her lip, trying to remember, and then sighed. "I've forgotten what he
called you."
    Rachel closed her eyes and tried to keep her
thoughts from going back to a time when she'd
adored Noble. He had called her Green Eyes. She
didn't want