The Cowboy's Return. Linda Warren

Camila didn’t get an invitation in the mail like the other kids, but Patrick asked her to come.

      The moment she arrived, she knew the Danielses didn’t want her there. She wanted to leave, but Patrick insisted that she stay. Through the course of the night, Patrick became a different person, eager to please his classmates and to show them he had a hot number—Camila.

      Patrick was drinking, which she’d never seen him do. He put something in her Coke. She didn’t know he’d done that until she started to feel relaxed and at ease. Patrick said he wanted her to have a good time. When the kids started to dance around the pool, she and Patrick joined in. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tripp watching them.

      Every girl in Bramble had a crush on Tripp and she was no exception. He never paid her any attention, but that night she wanted to dance with him. Later, feeling woozy from the drink, she thought she was going to faint. Then there Tripp was holding her and every foolish dream she’d ever harbored about him suddenly came true. She swayed in his arms to the beat of the music. Patrick had accused Tripp of flirting with her and they’d had a big argument.

      Jilly stirred, but she didn’t wake up. Camila’s arms tightened around her daughter. She’d worked hard so Jilly would have a better life and the Danielses were not going to destroy that. Tripp could demand all he wanted, but there would be no DNA test.

      Not now. Not ever.

      TRIPP DROVE HOME CURSING himself for being so thickheaded. What did he expect Camila to say? But he sure as hell wanted to know the truth. He’d give it a rest for now because he wasn’t getting anywhere barging into her house and demanding answers.

      He’d never been sure about Patrick’s relationship with Camila. They’d never gone on a date that he was aware of. His parents hadn’t wanted him being friends with her and Patrick had always adhered to their wishes. That’s why Tripp had been surprised when she’d shown up at Patrick’s graduation party.

      His parents were furious, but Patrick said that he’d invited all his friends. Tripp could see that she was nervous. None of the other kids spoke to her and he felt sorry for her. Patrick hung onto her as if she were his special gift.

      As the evening wore on, Tripp realized something wasn’t quite right. There was a lot of drinking going on and small white packets being passed around. Camila became mellower, laughing and dancing. All the guys were watching her and Patrick, and nudging each other. When Patrick went to change the music on the stereo, she stood alone, swaying, and Tripp grabbed her before she hit the concrete.

      She pressed her body against his and began to move to the music. He was stunned that she was coming on to him in front of everyone. Before he could push her away, Patrick came roaring back shouting words Tripp had never heard him use before. Over the years, he cursed himself more times than he could remember for coming to Camila’s aid.

      She and Patrick disappeared, and he couldn’t get the scent and feel of her out of his system. At two in the morning, he saw her coming out of Patrick’s room. She was buttoning her blouse and she looked like hell. At that moment, he knew all the rumors he’d heard were true.

      And he was disappointed.

      He went in to talk to Patrick to see what was going on. Patrick was hyped up and nervous, which wasn’t like his brother at all, and he knew Patrick was drunk or on something. Tripp told him to sleep it off and Patrick said things like Tripp was jealous and Tripp couldn’t have her now. Camila was his.

      Tripp helped his brother into bed, hoping that was the last of the insane talk. The next morning, Patrick came out to the barn upset because Tripp had mentioned to his parents that he thought there were drugs at the party. He told Patrick he needed to stop and think about what he was doing and that he didn’t need the drugs. Patrick became subdued, saying that was easy for Tripp to say because the girls loved him. Then all of a sudden he became angry, saying Camila was his and Tripp couldn’t have her. Tripp tried to tell him he didn’t even know Camila and Patrick wasn’t making sense. That made Patrick angrier. He ran out of the barn before Tripp could stop him. He climbed into the Corvette his parents had given him as a graduation present and yelled that he wasn’t coming back.

      And he didn’t.

      He died two hours later.

      One of the ranch hands told his father about the argument and Griffin wanted to know what was going on with Tripp and “that tramp.” Tripp told him the truth and Griffin didn’t believe him, just as Griffin didn’t believe a word about the drugs. And Patrick had already told his father that Tripp had come on to Camila at the party. His father accused Tripp of the unforgivable, hurting his brother when Tripp could have had any woman he wanted.

      Tripp was well aware that Patrick envied him, but he’d always thought they’d had a good relationship. The kids at school called him a nerd, a geek, and Patrick just wanted to be popular. He’d asked Tripp a dozen times about how to fit in. His baby brother had been a sweet kid and a lot of the nice kids had liked him, but Patrick had never seen how people had admired his soft-hearted, caring personality.

      Like Jilly’s.

      Tripp crossed the cattle guard to Lady Luck. After his brother’s death, he hadn’t thought he’d ever return here. When the sheriff had come with the news of Patrick’s accident, it was a day Tripp would never forget. His life, his whole world had changed.

      As had his parents.

      They blamed Tripp for upsetting Patrick. He’d been told to leave and never come back. Later, Tripp had realized they’d spoken out of grief and he’d called home, but his parents wouldn’t talk to him. Even while he’d buried himself in the rodeo circuit, a day hadn’t gone by that he hadn’t thought of Patrick. Of his parents.

      Guilt was his constant companion.

      He’d cursed himself many times for that night, for the way he’d handled it. He’d cursed Camila, too.

      Now, he had a chance to ease some of that guilt. He had to find out if Jilly was Patrick’s, and he knew where to start—by asking the people in Bramble.

      Chapter Three

      After Tripp’s visit, Camila managed to calm her shaky nerves. She fought hard against the memories of that night. She only prayed Tripp stayed out of their lives.

      They ate supper and Jilly went to her room to finish her homework. Camila called Betty Sue and talked about the girls’ punishment. They agreed keeping them apart for a week would suffice.

      As Camila finished cleaning the kitchen, Millie stopped by. She’d gone to Brenham to visit her sister who was in a nursing home.

      Millie took one look at Camila’s face and asked, “What’s wrong, kid?”

      Camila folded a dish towel. “That’s the same thing you asked me when you found me at the bus stop all those years ago.”

      Millie dropped into a chair. “Yeah. One of the luckiest days of my life. I found the most beautiful young woman—inside and out. I’m so proud of you. You and Jilly have brightened my life. I’d be a sour old widow woman by now if not for the two of you.”

      “Thank you.” Camila blinked away a tear. “It was a lucky day for me, too. I’m not sure what would’ve happened to me if you hadn’t taken me in hand.”

      “Pleeeaase.” Millie rolled her eyes. “Don’t you know by now that you’re a survivor?”

      She did. But those insecurities from her childhood sometimes weighed heavily upon her, especially when people questioned her child’s paternity.

      “How’s your sister?” Camila asked, not wanting to think about Tripp anymore.

      “Pretty good. I enjoyed visiting with her and I stayed at my niece’s catching up.” Millie looked around. “Where’s Jilly?”

      “In her room.” She told her what Jilly had done and about Tripp’s visit.

      Millie’s