Read Online THE TEXAS WILDCATTER'S BABY by CATHY GILLEN THACKER - Free Book Online Page A

would eventually be out of commission, at least for a short time. “How about you recuse yourself?”
    More temper flared. “I’m not letting this opportunity go, Rand.”
    He shrugged, knowing she would receive income from this project only if she won it, whereas his fees were guaranteed. “I gave the Boernes my word I would thoroughly review every proposal to let them know the risks. I will be operating with a panel of three others. I’ve been working with them and many others in the county for months now, to ensure land and interests are protected. I’m not backing out.”
    Ginger strode farther away. “Well, neither am I.”
    He studied her, clearly disappointed. He had hoped she would be more reasonable. Clearly this wasn’t the case. “Then I suggest,” he said mildly, “that you accept this is just the way it’s going to be.”
    * * *
    H AD THE COMPLICATIONS ended there, it would have been a tough but not ultimately insurmountable problem, Ginger thought.
    Unfortunately when they got to the meeting at the Boerne ranch, and saw who else was in attendance, she realized her woes were just beginning.
    Not only did she have her new husband looking over her shoulder in a professional sense, she apparently had her new mother-in-law interested in acquiring the work, too. Because Josie Corbett-Wyatt McCabe—the current head of Wyatt Drilling—sauntered onto Dot and Clancy Boerne’s lawn just as the meeting was about to begin and took a seat on the opposite side of the large outdoor gathering.
    Feeling like a player in a minor league team, who had just had a major league player show up and push her out of her long-coveted spot, Ginger turned to Rand in shock. “Did you know your mom was coming tonight?”
    “No.” He stared at his mother, clearly ticked off.
    Josie stared back at her son, giving no quarter, either.
    As far as Rand’s mother was concerned, Ginger noted, this was business, pure and simple. Family connections did not enter into it.
    Ginger couldn’t help but admire that about Josie. She felt that way, too. It was only Rand who seemed to think they should make exceptions.
    Before she had a chance to think about the best way to handle what was bound to be an uncomfortable situation, yet another man joined the hundred-plus oil people on the lawn.
    As their eyes locked, it was all Ginger could do not to groan out loud. Not him, too.
    Rand took in the latest arrival’s air of cool detachment. Unlike most of the other oil folk there that evening, clad in jeans, boots and work shirts, the VP from the midsize oil company wore designer jeans, a trendy sport coat and a tie.
    Tensing, Rand leaned down to murmur in her ear, “Do you two know each other?”
    “Kind of.”
    Rand waited.
    “He’s my ex-husband. Conrad Profitt.”
    Rand blinked in a way that let her know he could hardly believe his ears. Which wasn’t surprising, she supposed. Since they had only referred to their exes by their first names, he had no way of putting two and two together until now.
    “Your first husband was the heir apparent of Profitt Oil?” he asked in stunned amazement.
    “Yep.”
    Another pause. “Did you know he was going to be here tonight?”
    “Nope.” Ginger took in Conrad’s pompous, self-congratulatory air. Could this situation get any more complicated?
    Meanwhile their hosts called the meeting to order. The brawny, white-haired rancher stepped to the makeshift-podium, while his petite and pretty wife passed out folders to all the guests. Clearly ready to get on with it, Clancy Boerne began. “We asked you all here tonight because we want to give you a chance to recover the oil on our property. The deadline for submitting drilling plans, cost estimates and proposed oil-lease terms is three weeks from this evening.”
    Next, Clancy introduced the three experts on seismic mapping, directional drilling and recovery performance that he and his wife had hired to help them sift through the proposals.
    Finally he