His To Claim (The Westmoreland Legacy Book 4) Read online

  “And you bought it?” he asked, incredulously.

  “Yes.”

  He stared at her for a minute. “And how did you pay for it?”

  She nervously licked her lips and he immediately knew that he wouldn’t like her answer. Because he could think of only one way she could have paid for it. “Teri, how did you pay for it?” he repeated.

  “I used some of our savings.”

  “Some of it?”

  She shrugged lightly. “A big chunk of it.”

  He stared at her. “How much, Teri?”

  “Not as much as you think.”

  “How much, Teri?”

  “Remember your pardon, Mac.”

  “How much, Teri?”

  She then gave him a figure that made him see red after his head began swimming. He knew how much they’d had in their savings and he now knew how much was left.

  He thought about how long and hard he’d saved. How carefully he’d guarded each purchase. Yes, they had enough, but that money belonged to both of them and she hadn’t consulted him at all. That money was for their future, for their girls. Generational wealth.

  He didn’t want them to worry the way he’d had to worry growing up.

  He drew in a deep breath and then said, “The pardon is off.”

  She frowned. “You can’t do that.”

  “I just did.” He then walked out of the hotel room.

  * * *

  Teri froze the moment she heard the door slam shut behind Mac. He was mad. Furious was more like it. She had expected his anger days ago but when he’d said he would give her a pardon, she had believed him. He’d said it extended to her last purchase, no matter what she’d bought. Granted, a horse was definitely not as expensive as a ranch, but still...

  And now he had left.

  His usual mode of operation whenever he came home and discovered she’d purchased something he thought was outrageous would be to put distance between them to cool off. Then he would return in an hour or so but ignore her for a day or two. Next would be the lectures, where he would do all the talking and like a disobedient child she was supposed to listen. Hadn’t expressing how she felt over the past few days gotten her anywhere other than back to square one with him?

  Okay, she would admit using so much of their savings was something she should have consulted him about since it had been funds set aside not only for emergencies but for the kids’ education. Maybe wanting to buy back the ranch had been selfish of her. Had she put her wants ahead of her family’s needs? It had been her decision not to keep the ranch years ago and it was a decision she should have accepted. She had for years, but then lately she’d begun regretting that decision, wishing she could offer their kids the same lifestyle that she’d had growing up. And she knew that moving to the ranch would be the right thing for all of them.

  Granted, she should have consulted Mac, but he hadn’t been available for her to do that. So she’d made the decision for them. He hadn’t bothered to find out why. She would have gladly laid out the advantages if he’d given her a chance, but he hadn’t. Now they had a ranch house that she wanted but he didn’t. And she and the kids wouldn’t live there without him. Was it wrong to want it all? The Ranch. Mac. She and the girls there with them. A happy family. A marriage that was not filled with arguments. Teri knew she would do whatever it took to keep them together. She would put him and their marriage first.

  Getting up off the bed, she knew what she had to do. She grabbed her purse and reached inside for the business card of Jack Polluck, the man who’d handled the sale for her years ago and her recent purchase. Within minutes she was placing a call to him.

  “Yes, Mr. Polluck, this is Teri Cantor McRoy. I want to put my ranch up for sale.” She paused and then said, fighting back her tears, “Yes, I’m sure.”

  * * *

  Mac tried to cool his anger by walking around a nearby park. He still couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that his wife had bought not appliances, a new television or a horse. But a ranch. And she had used most of their savings to do so. What in the world had she been thinking?

  And he hadn’t bothered to ask her that?

  He rubbed a hand down his face in frustration, realizing he was acting just like he usually did whenever he returned home from being gone for a long period of time to find the balance of their savings account less than what it had been when he’d left. He hadn’t given her a chance to explain her actions.

  He dropped down on a park bench. How could she explain buying a ranch in a state where he’d never lived? But then, she had lived here and evidently liked it enough to want to move back. However, after this morning, would he move to an area where kids could easily be snatched from their parents?

  Mac was fully aware that he needed to be fair. He had to admit such a thing could have happened in any city in the United States. Even in Virginia. It was up to parents to prepare their kids and it seemed like Teri had prepared theirs. They knew how to give out signs. Hell, he hadn’t even been aware of that. But Teri had.

  What was it going to take for him to realize and accept that Teri had never bought anything foolishly? Whatever she did, whatever she bought, was something that would eventually benefit the family. He wasn’t sure how a ranch in Texas would benefit them, but he was certain she would have laid it out for him if he had given her the chance.

  And hadn’t he pretty much acknowledged days ago that the recent problems in their marriage were more than her buying stuff? They included his habit of taking her and what she brought to their marriage for granted. He realized that, yet he was again doing that very thing. He stood up and began heading back toward the hotel. Determined that this time they would handle the situation differently.

  When he got back to the hotel it was to find it empty with a note left in the middle of the bed.

  Mac,

  Sorry. Once again, I blew things. Even though I’d imagined we could all be happy there at the ranch, I thought more of my happiness than that of you and the kids and that wasn’t fair. I’ve called the real estate agent to put the ranch house back up for sale and he feels certain he will be able to sell it for what I paid for it within a month or so. I’m heading back home to the kids.

  Teri

  He crumpled the paper up after hearing the defeat in her words. He glanced around. She was gone. For the second time in less than a week his wife had left him.

  The key to the car was on the nightstand, which meant she’d taken a cab. He grabbed the key and headed for the door, knowing he was the one who was sorry.

  * * *

  Teri flipped through a magazine. She was on standby but she didn’t mind waiting. She would rather sit here than be at the hotel with Mac giving her the silent treatment. There was nothing left to be said. She hoped the note she’d left him explained it all.

  Time passed. She was reading an interesting article and barely noticed the person sliding into the seat beside her until he said, “Aren’t you tired of running away, Teri?”

  She jerked her head up and stared into Mac’s face. He wasn’t smiling but then neither was she. “Why did you come here?”

  He shrugged. “My wife is here and whenever I’m in the States, I like being with my wife.”

  “The same wife who likes spending your money?”

  He chuckled. “Yes, that one. But then, my money is her money.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Yes, until she buys something. Why did you come here, Mac? I left a note.”

  “That note wasn’t good enough.”

  “Well, it was for me.” She then checked her watch. “Are you on standby, as well?”

  “No. I came to get you. Our flight leaves out tomorrow and not today. You were supposed to show me my surprise.”

  She jutted out her chin. “You said my pardon is over. So is the surprise.”

  He didn’t s
ay anything for a minute. “I want to see it.”

  “See what?”

  “This ranch you bought.”

  “The same one that is now up for sale? Well, I have no desire to show it to you now. It doesn’t matter.”

  He reached out and took her hand in his. “Maybe I need to explain something to you, Teri. Everything you do matters because you matter. I’m the one who owes you an apology. I know there’re reasons for you to have bought the ranch and I need for you to tell me what they are.”

  “Why? The reasons won’t change anything.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe not. But this time I’m willing to hear you out before passing judgment.”

  She lifted a brow. “Why? You’ve never done that before.”

  “I know. I’m honestly trying to do better. I told you I was one of those works in progress. Why didn’t you take me at my word? Why were you so quick to walk out on me?”

  She looked away for a minute and then back at him. “Because I’m tired of fighting.”

  “We don’t fight, Teri. We disagree. All couples do it from time to time. We shouldn’t be any different.”

  “But we are,” she implored.

  “Then it’s definitely something we should be working on correcting.” He stood. “Come on. I want to see the place.”

  She looked up at him. “Do you really?”

  “Yes. On the way there you can tell me why buying it was so important to you and how you believe it will benefit us and the girls. That’s what’s it’s about, Teri. That’s what it’s always about with you. What’s always in the forefront of your mind. I know that and truly believe you wouldn’t do anything that wouldn’t be for our best interest.”

  She fought back her tears. “I want to believe that, Mac. All I’m asking is for you to hear me out. And if you don’t agree with my assessment after seeing it, then so be it—we will sell it.”

  He nodded. “Fair enough.”

  She then took his hand and stood. He gave her a wry smile and said, “I have a feeling I’m going to like it.”

  She lifted a brow. “Why do you think that?”

  “I just do.”

  Fifteen

  Mac did like it.

  The moment he drove down the long driveway, he knew he was a goner. Probably before that, when she’d persuaded him to take the scenic route lined with large magnolia and oak trees and a number of bluebonnets. Then there were the lush meadows and valleys and the numerous lakes.

  At one point he’d pulled to the side of the road, a part that had a beautiful view of the lake. He could see himself riding bicycles with the girls around here or having a picnic with Teri. He had visited Bane’s, Viper’s and Coop’s spreads and he thought this place rivaled theirs in size and could be just as productive.

  During the drive, Teri had made her pitch, and a pretty damn good one, too. She told him of the improvements the family that had last owned the ranch had made. They’d been improvements that had been needed but that she hadn’t been able to afford, which was one of the reasons she had sold.

  There was a spanking new barn and several small outbuildings that could be used as guest cottages whenever anyone visited. Another thing that impressed Mac was the size and style of the ranch house. Each of his daughters could have their own room with no problem. It was spacious and built in the ranch style he preferred.

  He’d met the previous owners, who would remain in the house for the next couple of months. He’d done the figures in his head and would admit Teri had been able to buy back her home at a fair price, which showed just what a good negotiator she’d been in making the deal.

  And this had been her home. The glow in her voice and the smile on her lips when she talked about it was a strong indicator of just what this home had meant to her. He hadn’t known. After she’d sold the place, he had assumed she had walked away without looking back. Although that might have been true, losing her home had been a pain she’d refused to let surface. But it had been there.

  She’d never admitted such to him, but it had been revealed in her voice when she’d told him of all the fond memories she had shared here with her grandparents.

  Another plus that he hadn’t yet shared with her was that his investment in Bane’s family land management company, as well as their horse business, had showed a damn good profit last year and that had been passed on to the shareholders. That, along with his bonuses over the last two years, would be enough to replace the money from the girls’ college fund, and they’d still have more than enough left over to start a business here. Already he could envision him going into the horse business with Bane’s relatives, like Coop had done.

  Even though they owned huge spreads, Viper and Coop had hired capable men to run things whenever they were gone. He could see himself doing the same thing.

  “So, what do you think?” Teri asked, when they returned to the hotel hours later.

  Closing his fingers around her wrists, he reached out and drew her to him. “Do you want me to be truthful?”

  She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. “Not want, Mac. I expect you to be truthful.”

  He smiled, remembering when he’d made the same stipulation of her. “I will always be truthful with you.”

  Pausing a moment, he pulled her over to sit on the sofa. “You did good for your family, Teri. You might have thought of your wants with the purchase of the ranch, but you still considered the needs of your family, as well.”

  His eyes held hers. “I can see future growth here and generational wealth we can pass on to the girls. That’s something I’ve always worked hard to do. It’s why I took it so hard when you made purchases. Well, I can see it now. I can see this being a working ranch, one we can make profitable to pass on to the girls. I’m sure one of the four, maybe all four, would want to continue it like you wanted to do.”

  He reached out and took her hand in his. “Spending this week with you has opened my eyes to a lot of things, Teri.”

  She lifted her brow. “Such as?”

  “What a lucky man I am. Hell, you saved my life in that mineshaft. I hadn’t known a rope was under that trough or about any signs kids are taught in case they’re ever snatched. In addition, you’re pretty damn smart. I admit there was nothing you’ve ever bought while I was away that did not benefit us. I know you don’t think I trust your judgment, but I do and I intend to do a better job proving it.”

  He decided to add, “That doesn’t mean I won’t ever question you about anything, because I might. When I do, please take it as my need to have more clarification versus questioning your judgment.”

  She nodded. “Thank you.”

  “No, I want to thank you. You’re my wife, my partner, my soul mate and the mother of my kids. I love you, Teri. Don’t ever forget that. Although I was upset about how you placed yourself in danger with that guy to get that little girl away from him, for you to have the guts and courage to even do such a thing showed just what a strong, capable woman you are. I am so proud to be your husband.”

  “Oh, Mac,” she said, reaching out and cupping his beard, running her fingers through it.

  He reached out and lifted her up to place her into his lap, wrapping his arms tight around her. “And another thing, I do want another baby, Teri. Like you, I didn’t know how much I did until you told me about the son we lost. It doesn’t matter whether we have a girl or a boy—I want to be a father again.”

  “Oh, Mac, I do want another baby, too, but what about all your concerns?”

  “I believe in you. I know you will always do your best for all our kids.”

  “Thank you.”

  He’d entertained the thought of retiring in a few more years. Now that there was a ranch to run, they would run the ranch and raise their kids together.

  “I don’t think you know how happy I am right now, Mac. I was so scared and
worried. What I haven’t told you is that I blamed myself for losing the baby.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I lost the baby two days after I returned home from Terrell. I thought the flight had something to do with it, although the doctor said it didn’t.”

  “And you should believe the doctor and not blame yourself for anything. I don’t.”

  “You don’t?”

  “No, and you shouldn’t, either.”

  “I love you so much,” she said, before burying her face in his chest.

  “And I love you.” He stood with her in his arms. “And I intend to show you just how much.”

  He carried her into the bedroom knowing there would always be days when they didn’t see eye to eye on everything, but at least they would agree on this one thing. They were a team.

  And his wife would always be his to claim, just like he would be hers.

  When they reached the bedroom, he placed her on her feet. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth back down to hers. He had no problem giving her what she undoubtedly wanted. Namely, appeasing the hunger taking control of both of them.

  He knew what she wanted and he was right there with her. Stripping his wife out of her clothes, he proceeded to do just that. His hands were busy, unbuttoning her shirt, then taking it off, unsnapping her jeans and letting her lean on him while he slid them down her hips. Her bra and panties followed and before removing his own clothes, he straightened and stared at the beautiful body before him. Her breasts were absolutely gorgeous and her waist small, even after four children.

  He recalled that after Tia had been born, Teri had hated the stretch marks left from her pregnancy, but he had convinced her that any marks from giving birth to a child of theirs would be her badge of honor. A badge he appreciated her wearing and one he wanted her to do so proudly. After that, she never mentioned the stretch marks again.

  “You know what I think?” he said, still staring at her. He was ready to do more than just look. He was ready to touch.