Read Southern Men: Ballad of a Texas Rose for Free Online Page B

use force against any trespassers, so come out with your hands up.’
    The man beside Clara sighed. ‘Hold on a second,’ he whispered and then turned towards the flashlight. ‘Steve Murphy?’ he called, ‘is that you? Stand down, I’ m coming out.’
    ‘Oh shit,’ the security guard called, ‘I’m sorry sir, I didn’t know you were still here.’
    The flashlight clicked off and the stranger leaned over to Clara’s ear again. ‘As I walk away,’ he said, ‘slowly lower yourself down into a ball. It’ll make it harder for him to see you over my shoulder.’
    Clara nodded silently and then did as he said. The man walked slowly down the channel, his huge form filling out the space completely, and Clara cautiously kneeled down on her knees. She listened as the man joined the security guard, cocking her head in an effort to pick up their conversation. It was no good, she could only hear the faint hum of their voices as they spoke. A moment later the security guard left and the guy came back towards her.
    ‘Hey,’ he called, ‘you still there?’
    Clara stood up and dusted herself down. ‘I’m here,’ she whispered, ‘now why don’t you tell me just who the hell you are?’
    ‘Not now,’ the man said, ‘we need to go somewhere safe. Follow me.’
    He began walking back towards the opening again and Clara set off after him. He waited in the darkness, until she was right behind him. She still hadn’t had a chance to look at his face. ‘Come on,’ he said and set off towards the bigger warehouses. Clara glanced over her shoulder and then followed after him.
    The man opened a door in the side of the warehouse and held it open for her. She stepped inside. It was impossible to see anything and somewhere in the darkness huge machines churned and rumbled.  
    ‘Over here!’ he called from the doorway of a small office against the metal wall. Clara hurried on through and the man closed the door behind her. He switched on the light.
    ‘Well shit,’ he said, ‘that was close. Didn’t I tell you to wait by the opening in the fence? You know what would have happened if they found you in here?’
    Clara stared at the man before her. He was tall and handsome, with grayish-blue eyes and dark brown hair, a shadow of stubble around his thick jawline. She recognized him, but it still took her a second to realize from where exactly. It was the last person she’d expected to see.
    ‘You know how much my pa would like to catch you on his property? Damn…’
    The man’s name was Bobby, Bobby Cooper. He was Ace Cooper’s only son. The heir to the Texxon business empire.
    ‘You look surprised,’ Bobby said, ‘don’t be. You’re not the only one who cares about the people in this state, you know.’
    Clara couldn’t think of a thing to say, she just stared at him in disbelief.
    ‘You’re doing the right thing,’ she said finally.
    ‘Ha,’ Bobby snorted. He turned away, but not before Clara could read a whole world of pain and ambivalence on his handsome, sun-weathered face. ‘Am I?’ he asked, ‘either way I’m betraying somebody. Either way I’m a traitor.’
    ‘No,’ Clara said, stepping towards him, ‘Ace Cooper is the traitor here Bobby. He made his own choices. You’re only a traitor if you stand beside him.’
    Bobby said nothing. He was still facing away from her. It was typical of all these men around here, Clara observed – as soon as they felt one bit of emotion they shut themselves off completely. She was only too familiar with that hyper-masculine cowboy attitude. It was why she’d gotten so frustrated with Harvey, her last boyfriend.
    ‘Look at me,’ Clara said, reaching out to place her hand on Bobby’s strong shoulder, ‘your father has ruined countless lives and now you have the choice to do something about it. That makes you a hero Bobby. I know how much you have to sacrifice here and it makes you a hero.’
    The brooding cowboy turned towards her. She could smell the heat