Free Lonestar Secrets by Colleen Coble

would effectively put an end to that idea.
    He studied her downcast face. "In fact, the girls wouldn't have to know anything other than that we're getting married."
    She frowned and raised her gaze. Her guarded expression had vanished, replaced with longing. "I want Faith to know I'm her real mother."
    Blair's face flashed across his mind. Her laughing face framed with red curls, her chocolate eyes dancing with the zest of life. He shook his head. "Blair was Faith's mommy in every sense of the word. They were very close. Faith cherishes the memory of her. I don't want to ruin that."

    Shannon winced, but she nodded. "Fair enough, but you have to be willing to let her know the truth at some point. I want the girls to know they're sisters, twins. That's an important thing for wholeness for them."
    She had a point, though he didn't want to admit it. Still, he wasn't ready to just jump on this idea. There had to be another way around the problem.
    "Don't answer now," she said as if she saw the indecision on his face. "Think about it. Pray about it. Nothing has to be decided yet." Her blue eyes darkened to midnight. "I know I'm hardly the wife material you might have had in mind. And frankly, I don't really trust you, Jack. You broke your word to me once."
    His gut tightened. "I've apologized more than once, Shannon. I was a stupid kid, and it just slipped out. You have to admit it was crazy to think that horse was a unicorn."
    "I never said he was!" Now she was finally looking at him. "I said in the moonlight it looked like he had a horn. I just asked if you believed unicorns could be real. You made me sound like some kind of nutcase."
    "Look, let's just start over. That's all in the past. We were kids, and I was stupid. I admit that. Can't you just let it go?"
    The high color on her face began to ebb, and she finally nodded. He saw Larue approaching. At least he wouldn't have to pursue this until he'd had time to examine the idea.
    Larue's black eyes roamed over Shannon, and his crooked smile held a predatory gleam. He stopped by Shannon's chair, his hip close enough to graze her shoulder.
    She tipped her head up to see who had joined them. "Tucker, were you looking for me?"

    "I've never stopped looking for you," he said in a sultry voice. His hand brushed across her blond locks.
    Shannon's smile faded, and she scooted away a few inches. "Any problems with your horses?"
    "Couldn't be better. I'm going to win this competition and the money." He flashed a grin Jack's way.
    "If you don't need Dr. Astor for anything, then vamoose," Jack said. "This is a private discussion."
    "You trying to hog the pretty lady all to yourself?" Larue's hand brushed her hair again.
    Shannon jerked away, leaping to her feet. "I'll thank you to keep your hands to yourself. I'm an official of this competition and I expect to be treated with respect. I'm not some bimbo out for a good time."
    Larne stepped back and held up his hands. "Whoa, sweet! I like to see passion like that in my women."
    Jack stood with his fists clenched, but he never got the chance to defend her. She jabbed her finger in Larue's chest. "I'm not one of your women and never will be." She grabbed her lunch from the table and stalked off. She didn't look back.
    Jack was grinning when Larue glanced at him. The man strode off with a scowl. Jack's admiration of the little veterinarian rose a couple of notches. She was no man's fool.

     

SHE SHOULD HAVE HER HEAD EXAMINED. SHANNON GROANED AT HER OWN stupidity as she continued her rounds to check on the mustangs. Jack must have wondered at her sanity. She couldn't believe the words had come out of her mouth either. Was she trying for a repeat of the way he'd hurt her in the past?
    She needed to quit worrying. God had seen her through this far. She had to trust he would continue to lead her. The anxiety about her future ebbed. When the day's training was over, she drove to town. She hadn't seen her office yet or set up her answering