The Texan Read Online Free PDF Page B

didn’t want to tell her mother that he’d proposed. She knew how Sarah felt about the possibility of her marrying Kenneth, and she dreaded the thought of getting into an argument on the night before she was to leave for Texas.
    “Yes, it was,” Sarah agreed. She wanted to ask more, but Emmie had already turned away.
    Sarah was disappointed that there was no exciting news of a proposal, and she realized now that there was no way to keep Emmie from leaving her. She felt completely and utterly alone as she watched her daughter go up the stairs to her room. She was overwhelmed by a feeling of bitterness.
    Hank had known exactly what he was doing when he’d set up his will.
    It was obvious now that he’d never forgiven Sarah for leaving him, and he was taking his revenge from the grave.

Chapter Five
    “
T
here’s a rider coming!”
    Josh was working in the stable when he heard one of the ranch hands call out. He quit what he was doing and went to see who was riding in. He recognized the man as Rick from the telegraph office and figured he was probably bringing news from the lawyer. Les Gallagher had been gone for more than two weeks, and Josh had been wondering how things were going back in Philadelphia.
    “Rick, it’s good to see you,” Josh greeted him.
    “I was hoping you’d be here,” Rick said as he dismounted. “This just came for you.” He handed over the telegram.
    “Thanks.”
    Rick rode out again as Josh glanced down at the message in his hand. He wasn’t quite sure he wanted to read it, but he knew he had no choice. Unfolding the telegram, he quickly read the lawyer’s words.
    “What’s the news?” asked Burley Thompson, a longtime hand on the Rocking R whose name fit hissize. The big man walked out of the stable to join Josh.
    “Looks like things are going to turn out the way Hank wanted.”
    “Emmie’s coming back?” Burley asked.
    “They’re on their way.”
    “I didn’t think we’d ever see her again. I thought her mother would sell the place and be done with it. Is Sarah coming with her?”
    “No.” Josh didn’t reveal any of the details of Hank’s will.
    “Figures.” Burley had watched little Emmie with her father and knew how close they’d been. “So Emmie’s planning to stay?”
    “It looks that way.”
    “I’ll let the boys know. It ain’t going to be easy for her. That’s for sure.”
    As Burley moved off, Josh stared down at the telegram one more time before stuffing it in his pocket and heading back to work. He wondered how a girl raised back East was going to handle the many challenges of ranch life.
    Emmie was staring out the window of the stage at the vast Texas countryside on the final leg of her journey home. She realized as the thought formed in her mind that no matter how many years she’d spent in Philadelphia, the Rocking R was still home to her. She almost smiled thinking of the ranch, but then the memory of her father’s death returned to haunt her, and sadness overwhelmed her again. She’d managed to keep her spirits up during thetrip by telling herself it was just time for another visit, but the game she’d been playing with herself was over now.
    This wasn’t just another trip to the ranch.
    This time her father wouldn’t be there.
    “Emmie, how close are we?” Millie asked. She’d seen the change in her friend’s expression and wanted to distract her. Every passing mile brought them closer to the town of Shotgun—and to the Rocking R. Millie knew Emmie’s sorrow was only going to deepen once she had to face the reality of her father’s death.
    “We should reach town within the hour,” Emmie told her.
    “Thank heaven,” exclaimed Miss Harriet Adams, the very prim and proper chaperone, who’d been hired to accompany the two girls. The endless hours riding in the hot, dusty stagecoach had taken their toll on the older woman.
    Emmie smiled at her, but cautioned, “Once we get to Shotgun, we’re still not finished. From there, we