Page 84 of Texas Destiny
“Yep. It was Houston’s idea to keep it. Said he thought you had Ma’s long fingers. Never expected you to play better than she did.”
“Never expected you to think I played good at all.”
“Well, then, I reckon we both surprised each other tonight.”
Austin’s grin shined through the darkness. “Reckon we did at that.”
Dallas stepped closer to his brother. “Amelia told me about Houston’s stallion.”
Austin’s smile disappeared into the night. “I should have been paying closer attention.”
“A man can’t anticipate all that’s gonna happen in life. If we always knew what the next moment would bring, we’d never look forward to it coming.”
“Houston needed that horse.”
“A horse can be replaced. A brother can’t. We’re damn grateful you didn’t break your neck.”
“Houston said we’d go lookin’ for some more mustangs come spring.”
“And you’ll find them.”
“Still, if I’d been paying attention—”
“Don’t get into the habit of looking over your shoulder and thinking about what you should have done. Regrets make one hell of a shaky foundation on which to build a life.”
With the soft light of dawn bathing the morning, Dallas dismounted and walked his horse toward Houston’s corral, wishing he hadn’t given Amelia his word that he wouldn’t lie. He had a feeling she’d question him about inviting Houston, so he was obligated to ask, even though he knew his brother wouldn’t come.
He watched as Houston led the palomino around the corral with a hackamore, a blanket thrown over its back. A saddle straddled the corral railing. Dallas had seen Houston break enough mustangs to know Houston would get the horse accustomed to the weight of the saddle before he gave it the weight of a man. He’d just never realized his brother planned to breed them. He thought his brother would enjoy a measure of success with this venture, and he ignored the pain that came from knowing Houston hadn’t wanted to share his plans.
Dallas rested his arms over the corral fence. If Houston had seen him arrive, he was doing a damn good job of pretending he hadn’t. Dallas held his patience in check, although he had business to tend to and didn’t have all day to stand around while his brother worked.
Houston removed the halter and blanket. He walked to the corral and slipped through the slats, presenting Dallas with his profile. Dallas stared at the horse. “Looks like a good horse.”
“Will be when I’m done with her.”
“How much you want for her?”
“She’s not for sale.”
“You can’t build a business that way.”
Houston crooked his elbow and placed it on the railing. “You can’t build an empire that way, but then I’m not interested in empire building.”
“There’s nothing wrong with empire building.”
“Nothing wrong with it at all if that’s what you want. It’s just not what I want.”
Dallas shook his head, wondering why some men dreamed of great accomplishments while others were content not to dream at all. “I’m having a celebration this evening in honor of Amelia’s arrival. She wanted me to invite you. Consider yourself invited.”
“Tell her I appreciate the invite, but I’ve got other plans.”
Dallas mounted his horse. “I told her you wouldn’t come. Reckon we both know why.”
He prodded his horse into a hard gallop. When he’d left Houston at the hospital, he’d been swathed in bandages. When he’d returned, Houston had been wearing a shirt. He’d never seen him without one since and hadn’t realized how badly his body had scarred.
When Houston’s place was no longer in sight, Dallas slid off his horse, dropped to his knees, and threw up.
Houston hadn’t planned to come.
