Texas Bluff

“Are you going to hate me forever?” Luke asked.

With more strength than she thought she possessed, Becky pulled her arm away. “I don’t hate you.”

“Well, it sure feels like it.”

“It’s just your imagination.”

“It’s not, Becky, and you know it. It happened so long ago and we were teenagers. Why can’t we get beyond that? Why won’t you let me explain?”

“Because it doesn’t matter any more.”

“It does to me.”

The tone of his voice sent ripples of awareness through her. That teenage love had been the strongest she’d ever felt and his betrayal had hurt all the more because of it. “I was seventeen, skinny with freckles and glasses, and Luke Chisum asked me to a dance. My head was in the clouds and I never even wondered why. I should have.”

He grimaced. “The first date was a dare. I’ve admitted that, but those dates afterwards were because I wanted to be with you.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning, bestselling author Linda Warren has written over twenty-one books. She grew up in the farming and ranching community of Smetana, Texas, the only girl in a family of boys.

She loves to write about Texas, and from time to time scenes and characters from her childhood show up in her books. Linda lives in College Station, Texas, not far from her birthplace, with her husband, Billy, and a menagerie of wild animals, from Canada geese to bobcats. Visit her website at www.lindawarren.net.

Dear Reader,

This is the fifth and final book in the Superromance TEXAS HOLD ’EM mini-series. It’s not too late to pull up a chair and join the fun. You might learn something about poker – or maybe something more important. After all, everyone needs to know how to bluff, when to fold ’em and when to take a risk and go all in.

In Texas Bluff, the hero, Luke Chisum, is known for living on the edge. So when the love of his life, Becky Parker, breaks his heart, he joins the army and leaves River Bluff, Texas. Sixteen years later he receives an honourable medical discharge and returns home to face the past. And to face Becky.

Luke is the type of man who can handle just about anything. I threw some heavy stuff at him, though, and there were times I didn’t know if he and Becky would ever find their way back to each other. But I was rooting for them all the way and I’m hoping you will be, too.

May you always be a winner, in life and in love.

Linda Warren

PS It’s always a pleasure to hear from readers. You can e-mail me at Lw1508@aol.com or write to me at PO Box 5182, Bryan, TX 77805, USA or visit my website at www.lindawarren.net. Your letters will be answered.

LINDA WARREN

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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A special thanks to our nephew Chief Warrant

Office 2 Christopher Lee Barnes – United

States Army – for so patiently answering my

incessant questions about helicopters.

Chris is assigned to the 4th Infantry Division

in Fort Hood, Texas, and is in training to fly an

Apache helicopter. We know that soon he’ll be

headed for Iraq. Our thoughts and prayers will

go with him and with all the young men who

sacrifice so much for us.

CHAPTER ONE

TO LUKE CHISUM, COMING HOME was like walking naked down Main Street. He felt exposed. Vulnerable. Everyone in the county knew every misdeed he’d ever done and they never missed a chance to remind him. He’d spent years running from his past, but the moment he stepped foot in River Bluff, Texas, he became daredevil Luke, eighteen, wild and a little crazy.

The last thing he needed first thing this morning was a confrontation with the woman who more than anyone stirred memories of his misspent youth—Rebecca Lynn Parker. But there she was, standing on the sidewalk in front of the medical clinic. With a sigh, he swerved his truck into a parking spot.

The morning sun glistened off her auburn hair, a display of fiery waves and sparkling sunlight. As he reached to turn off the ignition, he was unable to look away. Not from her, not from a long list of regrets and recriminations.

She’d married, and her last name was Howard now. He’d never get used to that. The thought settled in his stomach like a pile of rusty nails. It had been his fault. He’d had his chance with Becky and he’d blown it—big-time.

One of those reminders that followed him everywhere.

Like the scar across his side and the gash on his leg.

He removed his keys, never taking his eyes off her. She barely resembled the young girl from their high school days. Then, her unmanageable curly hair had been usually pulled back into a fuzzy ponytail. She’d worn glasses, had never worn makeup and had a sprinkling of freckles across her nose. She hadn’t been beautiful by any means, but she’d had a fresh, innocent appeal that even a foolish boy of eighteen could recognize.

Luke shifted uneasily in his seat.

Even though she was shy and quiet, everyone liked her—including Luke. She’d helped him with his homework more times than he could remember. Being the sheriff’s daughter kept her out of the dating scene, though. Sheriff Hubbard Parker got the message across to all the boys—“Mess with my daughter and it’s jail or hell, my choice.” Everyone knew what jail meant but no one was sure what the hell part meant, and they weren’t brave enough to find out.

One night as his high school Texas Hold ’Em poker buddies were playing and drinking, they talked about who they were going to take to an upcoming school dance. Jake, Brady and Cole already had dates. Luke had just broken up with Candace Spangler and decided he wasn’t going.

The guys insisted he had to go, but he pointed out that all the girls had been paired up by now. Jake said he could ask Becky. Everyone laughed. Brady looked right at Luke and dared him. They all knew that baiting Luke got results.

Jake double dared him. Cole topped that with a triple dare.

Luke folded out of the round. “Y’all think I won’t do it.”

Brady called and won the hand. Shuffling the cards, Brady replied, “I don’t think even you have enough guts.” He dealt the hole cards around the table.

Luke picked up his two cards, not comfortable with his friends thinking he was afraid of the sheriff, even though he was. “I’ll ask her.”

Cole folded. “Well, Luke, you can be the first one to find out what jail or hell means. Or which comes first.”

The guys laughed, but Luke had made up his mind. The next day he asked Becky and she accepted. The night of the dance he stood on the sheriff’s front porch thinking he had more guts than common sense. The urge to run was strong.

The sheriff opened the door. He stood over six feet, and was broad and muscular. Luke was tall himself, but Hub Parker seemed like a giant. The gun on his hip reinforced Luke’s urge to run. Then Becky came into the room. His fear quickly subsided. Her blue eyes sparkled and her warm smile welcomed him. For the first time he realized she was pretty.

“Good night, Daddy.” She stood on tiptoes to kiss her father’s cheek.

The sheriff pointed a finger at Luke. “No speeding with my daughter in your truck.” The growl in his voice reminded Luke of Mr. Bailey’s junkyard dog.

“Yes, sir,” Luke replied without taking a breath.

“And, Chisum, you have my daughter home by midnight or I’ll come looking for you.”

“Yes, sir.” Luke backed out of the house knowing hell included a large dose of fear, just as he was experiencing at that moment.

He soon forgot about the sheriff. He kept an eye on his watch most of the night, though, but he and Becky had a good time. They danced, laughed and talked. He didn’t do much talking with other girls, and he found he liked talking to Becky.

At eleven they left the dance and went to the Dairy Queen for a burger and fries. Then he took her home. He didn’t kiss her because he knew the sheriff was on the other side of the door. But he’d wanted to.

The next Monday in school he couldn’t wait to see her. Becky wore a perpetual smile and it was one of the things he liked about her. She was friendly, nice and sweet. That was why everyone called her Sweet Becky Lynn.

He never noticed those qualities in other girls. Hot and sexy were the qualities at the top of his list. A great personality wasn’t required of his dates and neither was scintillating conversation. He had been such a puffed-up idiot in high school. But he hadn’t been a complete loser—at least he’d recognized all of Becky’s good qualities.

They’d started dating and had become an item. The sheriff’s place was next to the Chisum ranch, and he and Becky would meet on weekends by the pond on the Chisum property. The first time he kissed her was under the big live oak that hung partially out over the pond. They’d made love for the first time under that tree. Sweet Becky Lynn had taken on a whole new meaning for him.

Luke ran his hand over the steering wheel. How could something that started so perfectly go so wrong? Even as he asked himself the question, he knew the answer. Someone had told Becky about the dare. He was never quite sure who and it was just as well. He would probably have done them some bodily harm.

That time was forever imprinted in his memory. Becky had waited for him after gym class. She hadn’t been smiling, her eyes had been red and she’d looked as if she’d been crying. He’d known something was wrong. A heavy feeling had settled in his gut.

When he walked up to her, she held out the chain with his senior ring he’d given her for her birthday.

“You don’t have to pretend anymore. I know the truth.”

He stared down at the chain and ring in her hand, not making a move to take them. “What are you talking about?”

“You asked me out because your friends dared you. All the kids are laughing behind my back. I can’t believe you’d do that. You made a fool of me.”

The pain in her eyes was almost more than he could take. He should have told her the truth long ago, but it didn’t seem important. They loved each other—that was all that mattered. Or so his young mind had thought.

“Okay. The first date was a dare.” She flinched at his admission and he realized he was about to lose something vital to his existence. “But after that I asked you out because I wanted to.”

“I don’t believe you. I bet you and your poker buddies had fun laughing about gullible Becky, easy, gullible Becky.” She threw the chain at his chest and it fell to the concrete. “I don’t want to ever see you again.” Turning abruptly, she ran to her car.

“Becky,” he shouted. As he made to go after her, he stepped on his ring. He bent and picked it up.

Brady, Jake and Cole came out of the gym. They stared at Luke, who was blankly examining the chain in his hand.

“What happened?” Brady asked.

Luke glared at his friends. “Who told her?”

Jake frowned. “What?”

“Someone told Becky about the dare.”

Collectively, they took a step backward, shaking their heads in denial.

“Man, that’s bad,” Cole said.

“Why haven’t you told her before now?” Brady asked.

“Shut up.” Luke sprinted for his truck, cursing himself for being so stupid. He had to make Becky understand.

When he drove into Becky’s yard, he saw her car and knew she was home. The sheriff’s patrol car was there, too, but that didn’t deter Luke. He had to see Becky.

The sheriff opened the door before Luke reached it, and closed it behind himself. “Go home, Chisum. You’re not welcome here.” The deep growl in his voice would have frightened a sane person, but not Luke.

“I want to see Becky.” He stepped onto the porch, determined to bypass the sheriff. The next thing he knew, the sheriff’s fist connected with his jaw like a nine-pound hammer, sending him flying backward to the yard. He lay flat on his back staring up at a blurry sky, the fictional Tweety Bird circling his dazed head.

That was his first taste of hell.

The sheriff’s bulky frame stood over him. “Stay away from my daughter or I’ll kill you, Chisum. Now get off this property.”

Somehow Luke made it home. His jaw ached for a week, but he never gave up on seeing Becky. As many times as he tried to talk to her, though, each time she refused to listen. He began to see a side of her he didn’t like—her stubborn side. So he said to hell with her. If she could forget him so easily, then she didn’t really love him.

When she started dating Danny Howard he thought he’d die, and he knew he had to get out of River Bluff as soon as he could.

His second taste of hell.

He joined the army and said goodbye to his family, who were in shock at his sudden decision. He spent sixteen years serving his country, rising to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4. He flew a Black Hawk helicopter. His latest mission in Iraq had been rescuing wounded soldiers and flying them to safety and aid. His fellow soldiers called him the Texas Ace because he was from Texas and when he was free for any length of time he was playing poker.

His last rescue had almost killed him. A soldier was down behind enemy lines, and Luke and a medic flew in late at night to retrieve him. On the way back, the copter was detected and insurgents fired at them. Luke knew the Hawk was hit and he fought to control the unstable aircraft. They were losing altitude, and Luke smelled smoke and fuel and knew they were going down fast. Struggling with the controls, he was determined to land the Hawk. He was never quite sure how he did it, but the helicopter bumped hard, skidded on the ground and spun to a stop. He jumped from the cockpit, helped the medic with the now unconscious soldier and the three of them bolted for safety. They made it about twenty yards when the helicopter exploded.

He woke up in a base hospital and was then flown to Walter Reed in Washington. After many tests he was diagnosed with a severe concussion, dislocated shoulder, broken ribs, multiple cuts, burns and bruises. One doctor told him he was one lucky son of a bitch. Although the medic and the other soldier were alive, too, the soldier had lost a foot, the medic an arm.

In the days that followed, the medical team discovered Luke had other complications. He had an inner-ear disturbance and some vision problems. After several weeks, the inner-ear trouble was corrected and his wounds healed, but he had trouble seeing certain colors. His vision had to be perfect for him to fly. The doctor said he’d served his time and recommended an honorable medical discharge.

Luke fought it. He wasn’t ready to leave the army or to go home. Then he thought of his father’s stroke and knew he was needed at Great Oaks.

In the six months he’d been back, he’d seen Becky several times and she’d always been polite. But when she looked at him, the blue daggers of her eyes could be classified as lethal weapons. He thought they could get beyond what had happened in high school, but he supposed some things just never changed. At least Becky hadn’t; she still hated him.

He usually gave her her space.

Today wasn’t one of those days.

He climbed out of his truck and headed toward her. She was rummaging in her purse, looking for something. In high school they’d spent a lot of time looking for her glasses, her keys and her books. She was always misplacing things. Seemed that hadn’t changed, either.

“Hi, Sweet Bec.”

“Morning, Luke.” She kept digging in her purse, not sparing him a glance.

“Did you lose something?”

“No. I did not lose anything.” She threw the strap over her shoulder, car keys in her hand. “And please don’t call me Sweet Bec.”

Sweet Bec had been his pet name for her and it had slipped out. Or maybe he just wanted to annoy her. Her eyes met his and Luke thought if looks could kill, he would be dead. He hooked his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans. “Why? Does it make you remember?”

“Don’t flatter yourself.” Her hand touched her hair, the only sign he made her nervous. The stylish short cut came below her ears and her fuzzy curls had been tamed. He wasn’t sure if she’d had them straightened or whatever women did to their hair. The fetching freckles across her nose were no longer visible. Neither were her glasses. Evidently she now wore contacts and makeup.

She looked different, older and definitely more mature. For a moment he was nostalgic for the young Becky who’d constantly pushed her glasses up her nose and who could light up his life with just her smile. He wondered if she’d forgotten how to smile.

Had he been the cause of its demise?

“How are your folks?” she asked when he didn’t respond.

He shifted gears to the present. “Fine. My dad is out of his eye drops. The clinic is loaning us some until I can get into San Antonio.”

“I told your mom I’d drop them by if she needed me to.”

Becky was a nurse and worked in the River Bluff High School. She helped out at the clinic, too. She helped anyone who needed her. That was typical Becky. His mom depended on her advice and that irritated Luke. He wasn’t sure why, but in a small town it was hard to keep their lives separate.

“I can take care of my parents.” The words came out harsher than he’d intended.

“Mom! Mom!”

A young boy came running toward them. Luke stiffened. He knew who the kid was. He’d seen him around, but he’d never spoken to him and didn’t want to now. With the controlled discipline he had learned in the army, he stood ready to meet Becky and Danny’s son.

“Shane, what are you doing here?” Becky asked, irritation in her voice. “I told you I’d be at the clinic about an hour and you and Brad were supposed to finish your homework. I was just on my way to pick the two of you up for school.”

“Mrs. Grant got a call that her mother had fallen and was in the emergency room in San Antonio. She and Brad left real fast. She wanted to bring me over here, but I told her I’d walk.”

“I don’t like it when you change plans on me.”

“Chill, Mom. It’s only two blocks and I’m not six years old. Besides, it was an emergency and I know you wouldn’t want Mrs. Grant taking time to drive me to my mommy.”

Becky’s lips tightened. “No. And don’t be smart.”

“Ah, Mom.” The boy threw his arm across Becky’s shoulder and hugged her. “Stop trying to be so tough.”

Luke found he was staring at the boy. He had to be about fourteen or fifteen, tall for his age with wavy brown hair and blue eyes. He looked just like Becky, except for the hair. He didn’t see a lot of Danny in the kid.

“You’re Luke Chisum,” Shane said unexpectedly.

“Yes.” Luke found his voice.

“Do you think you’ll be hiring at the Circle C Ranch for the summer? I’m saving money to buy a truck when I turn sixteen.”

“It’s just the end of February and I’m not sure yet about the summer, but we’re always looking for good cowboys. You’ll have to speak to my brother, Hank. He does all the hiring.”

Shane grimaced. “He’s not too friendly. I already asked and he told me to come back when I was older.”

“Shane, you never said you spoke with Hank.” Becky frowned, obviously displeased. “Your father’s going to help with the truck.” She glanced at Luke. “We don’t need to discuss this in front of Mr. Chisum. Come on, it’s time to get you to school.”

“Dad wants to buy me one of those little Ford Rangers. It’s like a toy. I want a Chevy Z71 with four-wheel drive, all-terrain tires and—”

“Shane…”

Shane winked at Luke. “My mom’s really an angel, but some days you have to search for those wings.”

Mother and son got into a silver Tahoe and drove away. Shane waved and Luke waved back. The kid had a great sense of humor. He was Danny Howard’s kid, though. Luke couldn’t seem to get beyond that. Becky and Danny were divorced, but it didn’t keep that seed of jealousy from sprouting in Luke. How could she have married him?

The past hit him smack in the face then. He felt eighteen and angry. Why did life have to be so cruel?

BECKY CLENCHED and unclenched her hands on the steering wheel. She had to mentally calm herself. Every encounter with Luke was the same—emotionally draining. Why did he have to come home? After all these years, she’d thought he was out of her life for good. But she knew he would never be completely out of her heart.

Unable to stop herself, she glanced in the rearview mirror. In jeans, cowboy boots and a Stetson, Luke was unbelievably handsome. He always had been. And the years had added another dimension—one of maturity. His dark hair and eyes were the same, except his eyes weren’t as mischievous or flirtatious. They were serious. Luke Chisum was now dead serious. His dare-me arrogance was gone, but his cocky smile showed up now and then—like a few minutes ago.

Does it make you remember?

All the time.

She put it down to first love—the all-consuming love of a teenager. Yet it all had been based on a silly dare. And that dare had sent her self-esteem into the biggest nosedive of her young life.

Luke Chisum could have had any girl he wanted. She should have known there was a reason he’d asked naive Becky to the dance. She’d been so young, and wanted to have fun like the other girls, so she hadn’t given it much thought. When a friend had told her the truth, it had broken her heart.

To make matters worse, she’d heard the kids talking. One day after gym class she realized she’d forgotten her purse in her locker. As she hurried back to get it, she heard Bobbie Sue and Stefi, two girls in her class, talking about how gullible Becky was to think Luke really loved her. They went on to say that Luke was just after the sex, all the guys were.

And she noticed the boys glancing at her with pity in their eyes. She just wanted to crawl away and die. All she could think was Luke didn’t love her as he’d said. He was in the relationship for the sex. That knowledge almost killed her and led to restless dreams where he was laughing with his friends at just how easy she’d been.

Through the pain, though, she recognized she might be blowing everything out of proportion. The healing process took a long time and when she was finally ready to listen to Luke, he was gone. She wrote several letters, but never mailed any. His leaving reinforced her original beliefs. If Luke had really loved her, he wouldn’t have been so eager to leave River Bluff.

Even though she couldn’t get Luke out of her head, she’d plunged headfirst into a relationship with Danny. After a couple of years, they’d known the marriage wasn’t working and had gone their separate ways.

But they had Shane.

Becky lived her life for her son. She worked in the River Bluff school system so she could be near Shane. Raising a young boy wasn’t easy, especially since Shane was getting older. The thought of him driving was giving her nightmares. Just like his father, he drove like a race-car driver—fast and reckless.

“Luke Chisum’s cool,” Shane said, pushing the buttons on the radio and twisting in his seat to the beat of Rascal Flatts.