Wild Girl (Wild Men Texas #3) - Melissa Belle Page 0,61
but I’m going to make you proud someday. And I’m going to do right by your mother, finally.”
I kneel down and put my hand on his arm. “I know you’re trying, Daddy. And I won’t tell Mama what happened. Logan’s parents will keep it between themselves.”
“That’s not right. Logan shouldn’t take the hit for something I did. He’s a hero, and he deserves to be treated as one. I’m the screw-up. All he was doing was trying to save the family of the woman he loves.” He shakes his head. “I’ve always admired him, always loved the way he treated you. But now—now I owe him.”
“He doesn’t want anyone to know,” I say. “He didn’t even want me to tell you.”
But my father stands up. “One of the things they teach you in the twelve-step program is to take responsibility for your actions. I’m starting with this.”
I chase him out of the garage and into the yard. “Daddy! Wait! You gave me your word!”
My father turns back to me. “That was when I thought I’d be protecting you by staying quiet. Now that I know the truth, I’ll protect you and my future son-in-law by speaking up. It’s the right thing to do, darlin’. You know it is.”
When Daddy reaches Logan and throws his arms around him in a big hug, Mama looks over at me.
“What did you say to him?” she asks me.
Logan wrestles himself out of my father’s grasp and immediately tries to tell me I shouldn’t have said anything. But my father shushes him.
“I’m thrilled she told me the truth,” he says. “I’ve never been prouder of you, son, or more ashamed of myself.”
He turns around and faces his family. “I need to tell y’all the truth. About why Logan was engaged to Gigi.”
When my father’s finished telling Mama and my siblings what happened, a moment of silence follows as everyone stares at Logan and me.
“Holy shit,” Riley finally says. “In a million years, I wouldn’t have guessed that was the reason you were engaged to that New Yorker, Logan. But I like the reason a hell of a lot more than I thought I would.”
Ben shakes Logan’s hand. “I was so pissed at you all summer. I thought you’d really screwed up. I’m happy to know the truth.”
“Me too,” Free says as she puts her arm around me.
Mama’s face is ashen. Then, it turns red. Then, purple for a brief moment.
Who knew there could be so many temporary shades of colors to a human being?
She slaps Daddy across the face and then hurls her body at Logan. He catches her as she mumbles her thanks.
But she’s not finished. With a gasp, she comes for me.
She lands in my arms, her weight nearly pushing me to the ground.
As I’m trying to peel her off me, she says quietly, “He’s a real man, Macey. Just like Mr. Darcy was. A real heroic man with a great heart. I’m so happy for you, baby.”
Daddy takes her into his arms then and whispers, and whispers, and whispers, into her ear. After several minutes of this, Mama plants a kiss on Daddy’s lips. And then, another.
“We can’t stay,” I say. “But we wanted to come by and invite y’all to The Cowherd tonight. There’s going to be a July fourth wedding there after all!”
Mama gives one more attempt at a scream, but it’s all too much for her. She faints right on the spot, and if Daddy wasn’t there to catch her, she may have been in some trouble. But he saves her from a nasty concussion, and by the time we leave, she’s conscious and babbling again about this being the very best Independence Day ever.
“I can’t choose between the two of you for maiden of honor,” I say to Riley and Free. “So you’ll be my two best bridesmaids and Ginny will be the maiden.”
I take Logan’s hand in mine, and we leave the yard quietly.
“Told you not to say anything,” he says to me once we’re safely inside his truck.
“I know. I just didn’t feel right having you shoulder that burden for the rest of your life. It was my father’s sin, not yours.”
His eyes are warm and clear as he looks at me. “I understand. But I was okay. I don’t need to be a hero in this crazy town. I only want to be your hero.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. You’ve always been my hero, Logan.”
Ginny cries so loudly when I stop by her