There was no use denying it. Cookie wouldn’t believe her even if she did. “When I came to Texas, I’d hoped to start over with a clean slate. I had no idea my uncle had such a long reach.”

“In time, folks will disremember everythin’ that happened here.”

She heaved a sigh. Cookie was right; people did forget, but it could take a very long time. “So, what am I supposed to do meanwhile?”

“Lift your head and look ’em square in the eye.”

“That’s easy for you to say.”

He shrugged. “Worked for me.”

Her curiosity whetted, she studied him. “Worked for you how?”

“When Ole Man McKnight hired me, I was what you would call a hoodlum. I didn’t break all the commandments, but it wasn’t for want of tryin’. My downfall came when Chase’s pa caught me stealin’ his horse. Instead of hangin’ me as he had the right to do, he hired me as a drover on his cattle drives. Let me tell you, I never worked so hard in my life. McKnight made me pay back every cent I’d ever stolen before I could keep a cent to myself. When folks saw me makin’ amends, they decided maybe I weren’t so bad after all.”

“I can’t believe you did those things,” Emily said.

“Believe it.” Cookie splayed his hands. “I was orphaned at a young age. Guess you could say I was mad at the world.”

“My uncle hurt a lot of people,” she said. He had also ruined the family’s good name. Her poor father would turn over in his grave if he knew what his brother had done to the company that had been his life’s work. “If there was a way of paying for what he did, I would, but…”

“Your uncle’s debt to society ain’t yours to pay. Nevertheless, what you’re doin’ for the boss is a good start. You’re helping him keep the ranch. You’re also helping Ginny.”

“I’m not doing that much. Anyone could teach her the basics.”

“Maybe so, but I doubt that anyone could make her smile the way you do. Or make her mama feel like she belongs. We all tried to do that, but only you succeeded.”

“You’re a good friend, Cookie. But not everyone feels as you do.”

“The important ones do.”

38

Chase stood outside Emily’s door for a long moment before knocking. Even after she’d called for him to enter, he hesitated before reaching for the doorknob.

She sat at the dressing table brushing her hair, and never had she looked more beautiful to him. He only wished he could tear down the barrier between them. He hated the way things stood. The polite talk. The awkward silences.

Even now, as she met his gaze in the mirror, he could see her put up her guard. She set her brush on the dressing table and swung around on her stool to face him. Only then did he notice the light shadows beneath her eyes. The past week had evidently been as difficult for her as it had been for him.