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collapsed on the damp cement. Tears blurred her eyesight. The pounding in her head beat in harmony with the throbbing in her chest. Her throat clenched with each breath, and tears burned her cheeks. Closing her eyes, she tried to inhale small calming breaths.
    “I’m fine. Everything is fine.”
    A popping sound in the alley made her eyes snap open. Was he coming back? Thoughts of the man returning propelled her muscles to move. Summoning strength from somewhere, she rose on shaky legs and searched both ends of the narrow passage.
    Nothing.
    She felt around on the ground for her purse and staggered to the end of the alley. Trudging up the fourteen steps to her apartment, she pushed the key into the lock with trembling fingers and slipped through the door. Falling against the weathered wood, she slid both locks until they were shut tight. Emotion then consumed her, and she slid to the floor against the wall and sobbed.
    Not only was her life once again in danger, but Sandra was being threatened as well. Sandra and Wade were her best friends in the world. She couldn’t stand the thought of them being in danger because of her.
    What was it about Texas? The only connection she’d ever had with Texas was Daniel. Was it Daniel behind the threats? Did seeing her at the reception revive his anger? Rage at the unfairness churned inside her until common sense told her that was impossible. Daniel wouldn’t be threatening her for returning to Texas when it was obvious she’d settled permanently in Tennessee. Whoever was threatening her wanted her to stay out of Texas for another reason. Would he leave her alone if she stayed in Tennessee, or would she have to move again?
    She laid her head on her knees and cried until her eyes hurt.
    There was only one thing she could do—stay put. She lived for three years without knowing the truth about the night of the accident—it wouldn’t kill her to live the rest of her life without knowing. Sandra and Wade were too important to her. She couldn’t risk their lives.
    She would stay in Landeville and forget about Daniel. She did it once; she could do it again.
    Stay away from Texas, and she was safe. Go back to Texas to confront Daniel, and everyone would suffer. As badly as she wanted there to be a choice, there was none.

SEVEN
    TEXAS
    SHANE DUKE PULLED ON THE lead rope attached to Prince’s head and slowed the horse to a walk. The horse shook his head and pranced around the ring adjacent to the stable, but he did exactly what he was supposed to do. Shane smiled in satisfaction. Today’s workout had produced perfect results. Prince’s will was broken but not his spirit. He’d obeyed the commands Shane had given him, but still showed the essence of a strong character.
    Shane tugged the rope one more time, and Prince stopped. He slowly walked up to the horse and patted him on the neck. “Good boy. Mary said you’d learn quickly.” Remembering the day his wife first saw Prince drew his lips into a frown. When he’d unloaded that special bunch of colts he purchased from a farm in Wyoming, Mary picked Prince out of the group and said he was her favorite. She named the horse Prince because he had more “class” than all the others. That memory hurt because it was the day before they found out Mary was ill—brain tumor, the doctors said. After that diagnosis, she gave up on her family, their thirty years of marriage, and living. She died soon after.
    Shane wiped the moisture from his eyes. “You’ll make Veronica a fitting mount—just like Mary planned,” he said to Prince.
    “Did I hear you say my name, Daddy?” Veronica stepped into the wooden corral and stood right inside the gate.
    Shane didn’t answer but looked at her jeans and satin shirt. “I thought you were riding over to Daniel’s house.”
    “I am, in a little while. I wanted to ask you something first.” She waited while Shane led Prince through the gate into the pasture and pulled off the halter. The horse