Free After Tex by Sherryl Woods Page B

asked, suddenly unsure just how much she was ready to tell him about the upcoming upheaval in all their lives. No matter what her final decision, some things would inevitably change.
    â€œWe’re managing,” he assured her. “What about you?”
    â€œSame here.”
    â€œWhen will you be back?”
    â€œWell, that’s the thing,” she began slowly.
    â€œMegan, is there some sort of a problem?” he asked sympathetically. “I know losing Tex can’t beeasy, despite the way you two argued all the time. We can cope around here for a couple of weeks if you need more time.”
    She drew in a deep breath. “It may be a little longer than that.”
    Todd fell silent. “How long?” he asked eventually.
    â€œI’m not saying it’s going to happen. It’s certainly not what I want—”
    â€œSpit it out, Megan. What’s the worst-case scenario?”
    â€œWorst case? Unless I can find some other way to handle certain things, and believe me I am trying, I could be here permanently.”
    â€œPermanently?” he echoed, as if the word were unfamiliar. “As in forever?”
    â€œThat’s the definition I’m most familiar with.”
    â€œWhat the hell is going on out there?” Todd demanded. “Have you been taken captive or something?”
    â€œThe days of the Wild West are pretty much over,” Megan assured him, grinning despite herself.
    â€œThen what?”
    â€œIt’s gotten complicated,” she said, settling for the same word she’d used with Tess.
    Todd was no more satisfied with the response than Tess had been. “Complicated how? The estate and stuff?”
    â€œYou could say that.”
    â€œMegan, why don’t you just spit it out?” he repeated with a rare touch of impatience. “I need to know what we’re up against here. Are you closing things down? Selling out?”
    â€œAbsolutely not!” It was more certainty than she’ddisplayed with Jake, but she realized she’d made her decision about that overnight.
    â€œThen explain.”
    â€œTex’s legacy wasn’t exactly what I expected.”
    â€œMore money? Less? The ranch? What?”
    â€œAn eight-year-old daughter.”
    That silenced her unflappable assistant.
    â€œTodd?”
    â€œI’m here. I’m just grappling with this. He left you a daughter?”
    â€œThat pretty much sums it up, except for the part where I have to stay here to raise her.”
    â€œYou’ve got to be kidding me.”
    â€œI wish to hell I were.”
    â€œYou with a kid,” he said with evident amazement. “It boggles the mind.”
    â€œDoesn’t it just?” she agreed. “But that’s where I am. I’m still trying to figure out how to make all this work, so don’t go blabbing the news around and set off a panic, okay? My goal is to get back to New York, but that could take time and some legal tap dancing, okay?”
    â€œMy lips are sealed,” he assured her. “Uh, Megan, just what are some of the options you’re considering? Commuting, maybe?”
    â€œIt’s on the list,” she agreed, though even she had to concede that as a practical matter it was seriously lacking. She wasn’t sure Todd was ready to hear another option she’d been toying with all night long. Envisioning Todd and the others—savvy, sophisticated New Yorkers one and all—trying to adapt to life in Wyoming had given her one of the only goodlaughs she’d had overnight. Last resort, she’d finally conceded. That was definitely her last resort.
    â€œCommuting could work,” Todd said, as if eager to convince her. “There are faxes and e-mail. And just imagine all those frequent-flyer miles. Plus you’d be halfway to the West Coast, so trips to L.A. would be a breeze, too. Just say the word and I’ll start writing up a plan.”
    â€œNot