After Tex Read Online Free PDF Page A

herself to face him. “What?”
    â€œI haven’t said it before now, Meggie, but I am sorry about Tex. I know you loved him. More thanthat, I know he loved you. You’ll need to hang on to that in the days to come.”
    There was genuine sympathy in his voice. That alone would have startled her, but she was pretty sure she heard something else, as well. A warning, perhaps, that there were shocks to come? Or was it no more than his awareness that making burial arrangements, the funeral itself, dealing with death’s aftermath would be grueling? That had to be it, she assured herself. What else could he have meant?
    Unwanted and unexpected tears stinging her eyes at Jake’s sympathy, Megan turned away and stared out the window as he put the car into gear and headed for home. The drive took over an hour, with barely a word spoken. He seemed content enough to leave her to her thoughts. More than once she wished he’d say something, anything, just so she could pick a fight with him. Silence left her too much time to grieve, too much time to think about walking into the ranch house for the first time without Tex there to greet her.
    By the time they turned into the ranch’s long, winding drive, the sun had vanished behind a bank of heavy, gray clouds. Snow, thick and wet, splashed against the windshield. The air, when she finally stepped out of the car’s warmth, was raw.
    Leaving the luggage to Jake, she ran toward the front door, only to skid to a halt on the porch when the door was opened by a child of eight or nine, her eyes puffy and red from crying, her hair a tangle of thick auburn curls.
    â€œWho’re you?” she demanded, glaring up at Megan.
    â€œI’m Megan O’Rourke,” Megan responded automatically, then realized that she was the one who ought to be asking questions. “Who are you?”
    â€œI’m Tess. I live here,” she declared with a hint of defiance.
    Megan stared at her, as shocked as if the girl had uttered an especially vile obscenity. “That can’t be,” she murmured, just as Jake bounded onto the porch and tucked a supporting hand under her elbow to guide her inside.
    The child regarded him with only slightly less hostility. “We’re about to have dinner. You gonna stay again?”
    Jake ignored the lack of warmth in the invitation and grinned. “Chicken and dumplings?”
    She nodded. “Mrs. Gomez said they were her favorites,” she said, gesturing toward Megan. She gave Megan another defiant look. “I hate chicken and dumplings.”
    That said, she stomped off in the direction of the kitchen. Megan watched her go, then sank down on the nearest chair. “Who is that child and what is she doing here?” she demanded, already dreading the answer. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that whatever his response was, she was going to hate it. That red hair all but shouted that the girl was an O’Rourke.
    â€œHer name is Tess,” Jake began.
    â€œShe told me that much.”
    â€œTess O’Rourke.”
    The confirmation sent a shudder washing over her. Her gaze shot to his. “Please, don’t tell me…” She couldn’t even say it.
    â€œShe’s your grandfather’s daughter,” he said. “Which technically makes her your aunt, but I thinkyou can be forgiven if you decide not to call her Auntie Tess.”
    Megan had hoped for a distant cousin, maybe. Even a sister. But an aunt? It was ludicrous. “I don’t believe this,” she murmured. “I don’t believe it.”
    â€œBelieve it.”
    â€œBut how?”
    â€œThe usual way, I imagine. All I know for sure is that Tex just found out about her himself a few months back. She was abandoned on his doorstep. He didn’t think he should mention it on the phone.”
    â€œYeah, I can see why he might not want to,” Megan said wryly.
    Jake was studying her sympathetically.