Texas Proud (Vincente 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

to admit that she'd once been among
the hordes of females who'd fallen victim to Noble's formidable charm. She'd been only sixteen
the summer she'd first thought of him as a man.
She had buried those memories deep, unwilling
to examine them too closely. All she wanted to remember was that he'd impregnated her sister, deserted her, and killed their father.
    Delia's voice fell to a whisper. "You seem to forget that Noble was never convicted of Papa's murder."
    "Did you expect that he would be? People like the Vincentes don't hang or go to prison for killing
a small rancher. But Papa has a lot of friends, and
they would have lynched Noble if he hadn't run
away like a coward."

    Delia caught and held Rachel's gaze. "There are
things that you don't know about, so don't go
rushing off and doing something foolish. Just
leave Noble to me."
    "If you really thought he was innocent, you'd
have spoken up long before now. You know only
what your heart tells you to believe." Rachel's
voice grew cutting. "As ironic as it sounds, Delia,
you are probably Noble's only friend."
    Her sister shrugged. "He was kinder to me than
you will ever know. Even after... after-"
    "Of course he was kind to you it got him what
he wanted from you, didn't it? Thank God Whit
loved you enough to cover for Noble's little mistake."
    "Love was not a consideration when Whit married me. But we're alike, Whit and I," Delia added
forcefully. "We're both ambitious and we'll do
anything to get what we want." Her expression
suddenly grew sad and she said softly, "Rachel,
there must be justice in the world, because I
wanted children so badly and have never been
able to conceive since I lost the baby."
    "You may still have children," Rachel said gently. "Just be patient a little longer."
    "You don't understand. Whit says we don't need
children. He says Texas will be our child."

    Disgust rose within Rachel like bile. "Sounds
like a match made in hell." She opened the door
and glanced back at her sister. "Don't get in my
way, Delia. I intend to destroy Noble Vincente,
and I'll do it you know I will."
    "You're just like Papa," Delia warned. "And you
know what happened to him. If you aren't careful,
you'll end up dead too!"
    "I'm not afraid of Noble Vincente."
    "No?" Delia laughed sardonically. "Maybe you
should be."
    Rachel grew weary of the conversation. There
was no reasoning with Delia on the subject of Noble because she was still in love with him. "Take
this for the truth-no one is more dedicated to
Noble's downfall than I am!"
    Delia's quick retort was laced with malice.
"Take heed that Noble doesn't cause your downfall. Beware that you don't fall victim to his
charms, as I did." She moved closer to Rachel, her
eyes suddenly soft. "Noble is like the Texas wind
that soars above us all. You cannot hold the wind
in your hand any more than you can hold Noble."
    Rachel grasped the doorknob. She had to escape; the room was stifling and smelled strongly
of the rose fragrance Delia always wore. "I'll bring
him down," she muttered to herself, and took the
stairs two at a time, hurrying out the front door.
"Somehow, some way, I'll make him pay for what
he did to Papa."

     

Delia pressed a quick kiss on Rachel's cheek before she climbed into her private coach and settled
back into the plush softness of the leather seat.
"Think more on Whit's offer to buy Broken Spur."
    "There is nothing to think about. My answer
will always be the same." Rachel stepped back.
"Have a safe journey, and write me." She watched
the brown-and-yellow coach jolt into motion, and
waved until it was out of sight. Then, with relief,
she went to the barn, saddled Faro, and rode toward the Brazos River.
    After riding for an hour, she reined in her
mount and watched the way golden sunlight
vaulted across the clear blue sky. Her gaze moved
to the buffalo grass that was perpetually stirred by the relentless, blistering wind. She loved this land
because, to