Texas Proud and Circle of Gold (Long, Tall Texans #52) - Diana Palmer Page 0,70
a Rolls back home. You’ve got millions in overseas banks. And people are scared of you, too, kiddo.”
“No kidding?”
“No kidding.”
One corner of his mouth pulled down. “Well, that won’t matter much if I turn my back on the outfit.”
“Sadly, no, it won’t. Hey, there’s always the witness protection program,” Paul teased.
“I noticed how well that worked out for the guy who squealed on the big bosses. He got hit right in protective custody, now, didn’t he?” Mikey chuckled.
“He did.”
“You don’t get out. Hell, I don’t want to get out,” Mikey muttered. “It’s the only life I’ve ever known, from the time we were kids. I like being part of a big family. I like the style and the cachet.”
“Will Bernie like it? She’s more of a butterflies and wildflowers girl than she is a showgirl.”
“Yeah. I know that. But she’s so sweet, Paulie,” he replied heavily. “She’s the sweetest human being I’ve ever known. And I don’t think I can give her up, unless she wants me to. Even then, I don’t know how I’d go on without her. It’s only been a few weeks and I’m lonely when I’m not with her.”
“It was that way with me when I was mooning over Sari and thinking how hopeless it all was. She was worth two hundred million, and I worked for wages.”
“You’re still working for wages,” Mikey pointed out.
“I’m not a sit-at-home type of guy. I love my job.” He glanced at Mikey. “So what are you going to do?”
“Rock along until I’m sure she can cope. Then I’m getting her to the nearest justice of the peace before she changes her mind,” he chuckled.
* * *
Bernie, meanwhile, was still basking in the glory of her first proposal and looking forward to years of happiness with Mikey.
The others were getting ready to go to lunch. Bernie got to her feet a little unsteadily and picked up her cane.
“Rough day, huh?” Jessie asked in a gentle tone.
“Just a little,” Bernie confessed. “I had a bad fall on my way home the other day. A car went out of control and almost hit me.”
“Gosh, here in Jacobsville? People need to learn to drive!” Jessie muttered.
“Just what I was thinking.”
“Bernie, we’ll wait for you outside,” Glory called as they went out the door.
“Be right there,” she said, reaching for her purse.
“Mikey was in the courthouse when I went to take Billie her lunch,” Jessie said. She made a face. “I really shouldn’t tell you what I overheard him say to his cousin.”
Bernie’s heart dropped in her chest. “What?” she asked, and sounded a little breathless with worry.
Jessie sighed. “He told his cousin that he was worried about what you’d be like in a few years, because his grandmother had what you’ve got, and she was twisted like tree roots and almost helpless. He said that it was going to be hard to live with somebody who was sick so much. But that he’d made a promise and he was going to keep it. He said he was going to marry you because he gave his word. But that it was going to be like pulling teeth. He was used to women who could keep up with the pace. He went all over the world on trips for his family, vacationed in foreign countries. He didn’t know how you’d manage the travel. It was hard for a healthy woman, but you’d never keep up. He said,” she added with sad eyes, “that he’d rushed in because he was infatuated with you, and then it was too late to turn back after he’d thought about the difficulties.”
“I see.” Bernie’s heart was beating like a drum. She felt sick inside.
“I knew I shouldn’t have told you,” Jessie groaned. “I’m sorry. But I thought you should know. I mean, he’d never tell you himself.”
“Of course, he wouldn’t.”
“Please don’t tell him I told you,” Jessie pleaded. “I don’t want to make an enemy of him. He gets even with people. You don’t know how dangerous he is,” she added. “I come from up north. I’ve heard things about him. He scares people. Even bad people.” She laughed hollowly. “I don’t want to end up floating down a river...”
Bernie felt sick inside. Even Mikey had hinted at something of the sort, that he had power in his organization. She remembered what he’d said about taking care of the man who’d killed Paul’s first wife and his child. It chilled her. “No, of course I won’t tell.”