Linda Warren - Texas Bluff

“Are you going to hate me forever?” Luke asked .

With more strength than she thought she possessed, Becky pulled her arm away. “I don’t hate you.”

“Well, it sure feels like it.”

“It’s just your imagination.”

“It’s not, Becky, and you know it. It happened so long ago and we were teenagers. Why can’t we get beyond that? Why won’t you let me explain?”

“Because it doesn’t matter any more.”

“It does to me.”

The tone of his voice sent ripples of awareness through her. That teenage love had been the strongest she’d ever felt and his betrayal had hurt all the more because of it. “I was seventeen, skinny with freckles and glasses, and Luke Chisum asked me to a dance. My head was in the clouds and I never even wondered why. I should have.”

He grimaced. “The first date was a dare. I’ve admitted that, but those dates afterwards were because I wanted to be with you.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning, bestselling author Linda Warren has written over twenty-one books. She grew up in the farming and ranching community of Smetana, Texas, the only girl in a family of boys.

She loves to write about Texas, and from time to time scenes and characters from her childhood show up in her books. Linda lives in College Station, Texas, not far from her birthplace, with her husband, Billy, and a menagerie of wild animals, from Canada geese to bobcats. Visit her website at www.lindawarren.net.

Dear Reader,

This is the fifth and final book in the Superromance TEXAS HOLD ’EM mini-series. It’s not too late to pull up a chair and join the fun. You might learn something about poker – or maybe something more important. After all, everyone needs to know how to bluff, when to fold ’em and when to take a risk and go all in.

In Texas Bluff , the hero, Luke Chisum, is known for living on the edge. So when the love of his life, Becky Parker, breaks his heart, he joins the army and leaves River Bluff, Texas. Sixteen years later he receives an honourable medical discharge and returns home to face the past. And to face Becky.

Luke is the type of man who can handle just about anything. I threw some heavy stuff at him, though, and there were times I didn’t know if he and Becky would ever find their way back to each other. But I was rooting for them all the way and I’m hoping you will be, too.

May you always be a winner, in life and in love.

Linda Warren

PS It’s always a pleasure to hear from readers. You can e-mail me at Lw1508@aol.com or write to me at PO Box 5182, Bryan, TX 77805, USA or visit my website at www.lindawarren.net. Your letters will be answered.

LINDA WARREN

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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A special thanks to our nephew Chief Warrant

Office 2 Christopher Lee Barnes – United

States Army – for so patiently answering my

incessant questions about helicopters.

Chris is assigned to the 4th Infantry Division

in Fort Hood, Texas, and is in training to fly an

Apache helicopter. We know that soon he’ll be

headed for Iraq. Our thoughts and prayers will

go with him and with all the young men who

sacrifice so much for us.

CHAPTER ONE

TO LUKE CHISUM, COMING HOME was like walking naked down Main Street. He felt exposed. Vulnerable. Everyone in the county knew every misdeed he’d ever done and they never missed a chance to remind him. He’d spent years running from his past, but the moment he stepped foot in River Bluff, Texas, he became daredevil Luke, eighteen, wild and a little crazy.

The last thing he needed first thing this morning was a confrontation with the woman who more than anyone stirred memories of his misspent youth—Rebecca Lynn Parker. But there she was, standing on the sidewalk in front of the medical clinic. With a sigh, he swerved his truck into a parking spot.

The morning sun glistened off her auburn hair, a display of fiery waves and sparkling sunlight. As he reached to turn off the ignition, he was unable to look away. Not from her, not from a long list of regrets and recriminations.

She’d married, and her last name was Howard now. He’d never get used to that. The thought settled in his stomach like a pile of rusty nails. It had been his fault. He’d had his chance with Becky and he’d blown it—big-time.

One of those reminders that followed him everywhere.

Like the scar across his side and the gash on his leg.

He removed his keys, never taking his eyes off her. She barely resembled the young girl from their high school days. Then, her unmanageable curly hair had been usually pulled back into a fuzzy ponytail. She’d worn glasses, had never worn makeup and had a sprinkling of freckles across her nose. She hadn’t been beautiful by any means, but she’d had a fresh, innocent appeal that even a foolish boy of eighteen could recognize.

Luke shifted uneasily in his seat.

Even though she was shy and quiet, everyone liked her—including Luke. She’d helped him with his homework more times than he could remember. Being the sheriff’s daughter kept her out of the dating scene, though. Sheriff Hubbard Parker got the message across to all the boys—“Mess with my daughter and it’s jail or hell, my choice.” Everyone knew what jail meant but no one was sure what the hell part meant, and they weren’t brave enough to find out.

One night as his high school Texas Hold ’Em poker buddies were playing and drinking, they talked about who they were going to take to an upcoming school dance. Jake, Brady and Cole already had dates. Luke had just broken up with Candace Spangler and decided he wasn’t going.

The guys insisted he had to go, but he pointed out that all the girls had been paired up by now. Jake said he could ask Becky. Everyone laughed. Brady looked right at Luke and dared him. They all knew that baiting Luke got results.

Jake double dared him. Cole topped that with a triple dare.

Luke folded out of the round. “Y’all think I won’t do it.”

Brady called and won the hand. Shuffling the cards, Brady replied, “I don’t think even you have enough guts.” He dealt the hole cards around the table.

Luke picked up his two cards, not comfortable with his friends thinking he was afraid of the sheriff, even though he was. “I’ll ask her.”

Cole folded. “Well, Luke, you can be the first one to find out what jail or hell means. Or which comes first.”

The guys laughed, but Luke had made up his mind. The next day he asked Becky and she accepted. The night of the dance he stood on the sheriff’s front porch thinking he had more guts than common sense. The urge to run was strong.

The sheriff opened the door. He stood over six feet, and was broad and muscular. Luke was tall himself, but Hub Parker seemed like a giant. The gun on his hip reinforced Luke’s urge to run. Then Becky came into the room. His fear quickly subsided. Her blue eyes sparkled and her warm smile welcomed him. For the first time he realized she was pretty.

“Good night, Daddy.” She stood on tiptoes to kiss her father’s cheek.