Free Cowgirls Don't Cry by Lorelei James Page A

it. I had to leave.
    And then, your mom called about a half hour ago.”
    “What’d she say?”
    “That she was sorry about how everything played out after Luke died, but she had no say in the matter since she had nothing to do with the McKay Ranch.” Jessie turned her head to look at him; Brandt had no choice but to meet her gaze. “Joan cried, Brandt. She broke down and basically said she can’t imagine how hard this is for me, but at the same time she feels like she’s been given a miracle.”
    Dammit. “If she said—”
    “No. That’s it. She said she wouldn’t fight her husband when it came to ranch matters, but when it came to matters involving her sons, she’d fight that mean bastard tooth and nail.”
    Brandt knew neither he nor his brothers would’ve grown up to be half the men they were if not for their mother. She gave them the love and affection their father wouldn’t, even if she had to hide that affection from her husband. “Mom said that?”
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    “Yeah. Said she’d do anything to help out, including taking Landon another day of the week to save you boys the hassle. She volunteered to drive here. Told me she’d lie to Casper if she had to, but she doubted he’d notice she was gone unless it was mealtime.”
    “What did you say?”
    “I reminded her the decision wasn’t up to me, that you’re Landon’s guardian, but we’d talk about it and you’d call her.”
    “Is this a good idea, my mom takin’ care of Landon two days?”
    Jessie sighed. “Yes, it’d be good for both of them. Besides, I’ve never had a problem with Joan. We weren’t best buddies, but I chalked it up to the fact she doesn’t have many female friends. Or your dad didn’t want us to be friends.”
    Lexie had inched her way to the edge of the yard and seemed fascinated by Landon and his ball.
    “I never understood why my dad was so mean to you, Jess. Well, besides the fact he’s an asshole and he pretty much acts like that toward everyone.”
    She managed a wan smile. “Probably because Luke felt trapped and I’m the evil sorceress responsible for that entrapment. One time Luke told me Casper said…” Her mouth snapped shut. “Shit. Sorry. Never mind.”
    “Tell me.”
    “It serves no purpose, Brandt.”
    “Wrong. Tell me.”
    “Evidently Casper suggested I’d faked the pregnancy because I knew Luke would never marry someone like me without being forced into it.”
    Brandt’s jaw tightened and he barely gritted out, “Luke just said this to you?”
    “We’d had a fight and he’d been drinking and he said a buncha stuff that was just downright nasty.
    The next morning he’d realized what he’d done, he hated himself for acting like his dad, and he apologized over and over. But it wasn’t like he could take any of it back. It wasn’t like he could pretend he’d just made it up, because we both knew it was true.”
    He didn’t say a word. He couldn’t speak around the ball of rage clogging his throat.
    Finally, Jessie put her hand on his arm. “Brandt? You okay?”
    “No. It’s…I hate that I don’t realize what an assholish thing I’ve done until it’s too late.”
    She frowned. “Like what?”
    Like am I acting just like my dad? Forcing you into doing things my way and following my plan regarding Landon because I know your weak spots and know just how to exploit them?
    Before he could give her a less honest, less painful answer, Landon face-planted and commenced to wailing. Brandt was off the steps in an instant, but he didn’t beat Jessie to Landon’s side.

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    Lorelei James
    She cocked the boy on her hip and murmured, “You’re okay,” and brushed the dried grass from his hair.
    Landon stared at Jessie and then squirmed toward Brandt.
    “Think he’s hungry?”
    “Maybe. Come to think of it, I’m hungry.”
    “Your Uncle Brandt is always hungry so I know you won’t starve when he’s taking