The Texan's Secret Read Online Free Page A

blouse and pants. Her dyed blonde hair hung like a bell around an attractive face. From her mother’s description, Shay had expected Renee to have horns and a tail, next-of-kin to the devil.
    Maybe this was good luck, Shay thought. She had a foot inside the house, and soon, when she’d regained her equilibrium, she’d tell this hellish woman a thing or two.
    The cowboy looked down at her with those dark, dark eyes and she resisted the urge to wriggle. What was he thinking? It was hard to tell, since the blackness of his eyes seemed to block out his emotions as if he were wearing sunglasses. Did he know who she was? Of course not. Shay was getting paranoid. She couldn’t think about Chance Hardin.
    She looked around the room. Cathedral ceilings with wagon wheel chandeliers met her gaze. The walls were a rich mahogany done in a picture-framing style. Photos of Judd Calhoun, his wife and twin sons tookpride of place. A huge stone fireplace covered one wall and was adorned with a rustic Texas star. A wedding photo of Renee and Jack Calhoun graced the intricately carved wood mantel.
    Shay stared at the man—her father—and felt no emotion other than anger. How could she? She’d never known him. He’d kicked her mother out when he’d met Renee, his first wife, and wanted to remarry her. He didn’t even care that Blanche was pregnant.
    For so many years Shay had dreamed of being here, inside Southern Cross, to get a glimpse of where she should have been raised. But oddly, and fittingly, she felt out of place. This wasn’t Huckleberry Lane, where she lived with her mother and Darcy.
    Thoughts of the little girl filled her aching head. Darcy didn’t like being alone with Blanche, and Shay had to let her know she’d be back soon.
    “May I have my purse, please?”
    Renee and Chance exchanged a glance.
    “It was in your car,” the cowboy said.
    “I know. I need to make a call.”
    “You don’t remember?”
    “What?” Why was he talking as if she were five years old?
    “After I pulled you out, the Chevy sank into Crooked Creek. I’m sure everything in your purse is ruined.”
    Oh, no! She’d just paid off her car loan and now the vehicle was gone. A wave of regret washed over her. She should never have let Blanche talk her into this. Jack Calhoun was dead and nothing could change the past. Shay had to get out of here and fast.
    “What’s your name, sugar?” Renee asked in a kind, soothing voice. Shay hated that.
    Spit fire or something. Please don’t be nice. She caught the cowboy’s eyes. Chance Hardin’s concerned gaze was doing a number on her resolve. And her conscience.
    “Shay,” she replied, her voice low.
    “How pretty.” Renee patted her arm again. “For a pretty young lady.”
    For some reason tears stung the back of her eyes. Her mother had never called her pretty or ever paid her a compliment. The gesture coming from Renee Calhoun was almost too much, on top of everything else that happened on this horrendous day.
    “Thank you,” she managed to answer, before the sound of a siren startled her. “What’s that?”
    “An ambulance. You need medical attention. I’ll open the front door.”
    Renee walked away and Shay stared at Chance. She didn’t have any choice but to enlist his help—a Hardin’s help. Why did he have to be here?
    “Please, I’m fine. I don’t need an ambulance.”
    “You probably have a concussion.”
    She forced herself to sit up.
    He practically leaped to her side. “Whoa. You shouldn’t have done that.”
    She frowned, which made her head hurt that much more. “What?”
    “You shouldn’t have sat up until the paramedics arrived.”
    “I’m fine, really.” Brushing her hair from her face,she wondered what had happened to her hair clip. And she realized for the first time that she was wet. Damn! Chance must have saved her life. Just what she needed—more guilt. Forcing negative thoughts aside, she appealed to him. “I don’t have health insurance and I