Leaving Liberty, a Western Romance (Book 5) (Texas Hearts) Read Online Free PDF Page A

she was asleep so neither one of them had to feel the pain of goodbye.
    With resolve, she turned toward the office.
    “What are you doing?” Cole asked.
    She turned back. “Jackson Gentry is not going to run you out of Bucking Hills Ranch. If anyone is leaving Liberty, Texas, it’s him.”
    Cole looked down at her thoughtfully. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like him to stay?”
    Shock took hold of her. Cole had always had some sixth sense when reading her. And there was something there. She couldn’t deny that. Something about Jackson Gentry continued to creep into her mind when she wanted so badly to be thinking of something else.
    But before she could say anything, Cole added, “Don’t bother answering, Lib. I know you won’t even tell yourself the truth.”
    No, she didn’t want Jackson to leave Liberty. But how could he stay when Cole was here. There’d always be a threat hanging over their heads, something for Jackson to discover that would ruin the life that was holding them together.
    Cole grabbed his cowboy hat from the rack and propped it on his head as he walked out the door.
    And Libby didn’t go after him.
    * * *
    The house was eerily quiet. Every so often Libby heard a bang or the sound of the wind against the window panes. Funny how she never seemed to notice those things before. Maybe she had but didn’t pay them any mind. Someone had always been with her in the house. This was the first time in her life that she was truly alone. Not just in the house, but on the ranch.
    Libby took a deep breath and reached for the towel she’d set out on the vanity. The scars that had once scared her enough not to look were still red and raw. But they didn’t scare her quite so much. These days she never thought of them like she used to when she’d had her first surgery. Back then, she’d thought everyone could see how her body had been marked forever. But now she only thought of them when she was dressing or showering. She could look at herself in the mirror now and not cry.
    Jackson was going to leave. It was just as well. Libby couldn’t change his leaving any more than she could change the scars on her body. And did she really want to? Well, she’d change the scars if she could. But not Jackson Gentry’s leaving.
    Cole had accused her of not telling herself the truth. Well, it was hard to look at herself and not see the truth. There would be nothing left for Jackson in Liberty when he was done with his investigation.
    The heavy heart that beat in her chest was almost unbearable. She was losing everything. Everyone who’d ever meant anything to her was leaving or already gone. And soon she’d lose this ranch if Jackson Gentry got too close to the truth.
    She glanced at herself in the mirror and touched the scar on her chest. It was just as well he was leaving. When he learned the truth about her, he’d want to leave too. The truth wouldn’t matter at all.
    ###
     

Chapter Four
     
    Her pickup rolled to a stop in front of Clyde’s General Store. Libby hesitated before she pushed the door open and climbed out into the Texas heat.
    “Been a while, Libby,” Mrs. Palmer said as she walked down the sidewalk toward her parked car. “I was so sorry to hear about your daddy.”
    “Thank you,” she said, swallowing the lump in her throat. She wasn’t ready to try to be normal around folks in town. As long as she was busy, she could get through the days ahead.
    “If there’s anything you need, just give me a call.” Mrs. Palmer said, waving to her through the open window after she climbed into her car.
    “I will,” she said, knowing she’d never make that call.
    She waved back to Mrs. Palmer as the woman drove away and then took a deep breath of hot air before stepping through the store door.
    The cool air from the air conditioner bathed her face as she walked down the aisle, picking up items as she went. She had no idea if any of the things she was picking up off the shelf were needed. But it gave