Charlene Sands - The Heart of a Cowboy

“You can return it for something else, Sarah. If you don’t need two,” Amelia promptly offered.

“She’ll need ’em both, that’s for sure,” Judy Melcher, another of her old school friends called out. “Case will need one for his truck.”

A rapid rise of heat flamed her cheeks. Sarah thought she must have blushed two shades of red. Ever since Case had moved back one week ago, she’d heard talk. Nothing much had been said directly to her, but there’d been plenty of innuendo about Case stepping in for his brother. Most of the comments seemed innocent enough, a way for folks to ease their curiosity about the goings-on at the Triple R, but Sarah had been hard-pressed as to how to clear things up exactly. Case was home, but he certainly wasn’t “stepping” in for his brother.

At least not where she was concerned.

He was home to tend to the ranch. Finally he’d owned up to his responsibility, but Sarah doubted he’d stay on long. Case had a restless nature; he wasn’t someone you could bank on for the long haul. Sarah knew this just as sure as she knew her baby had just knocked her in the ribs again. She smiled, thinking how rambunctious her child was…and how healthy.

Thank heavens for that.

“That baby will know how to ride a wild bronc before he walks, if Case has anything to say about it,” one woman announced.

Sarah came out of her musings to respond. “Case won’t,” she said, perhaps too firmly as a hush stole over the ladies, “have anything to say about it.”

Sarah noted her friends’ faces, some staring with wide eyes, others averting their attention completely. What had gotten into them? She’d only stated a fact. Case Jarrett wouldn’t have any say as to how she would raise her baby. Heavens, he’d only just come back to the ranch, and the entire town, practically, was making them into a couple. No. Everyone was trying to make them into a family. Sarah had learned the hard way that life didn’t always fit into nicely wrapped packages complete with perfectly tied bows, like the remaining gifts on the table. No, life was more messy than that.

Just then, the back screen door slammed and Sarah turned around. Case stood at the opened doorway, staring at her. In that instant she knew he’d been there long enough to hear what she’d said. Dread mixed with misery as she peered into his eyes. She’d hurt him, yet there he stood, looking as handsome as ever and smiling at her. That smile always seemed to create butterfly flutters in her stomach. “Case, w-what are you doing here?”

Bobbi Sue handed him a plate filled with food and a glass of iced tea. “I thought I’d save Bobbi Sue and Carl a trip and pick you up myself. I brought my truck to haul all the gifts back to the ranch.”

“Oh,” she said, slumping a bit in her chair, “that’s very thoughtful.”

“I thought so, too,” Bobbi Sue said then pointed to a seat on the porch in the shade. “Take a load off, Case. Sarah’s about through, just a few more gifts to open then we’ll have cake. Won’t be but another half an hour.”

Case planted himself down with plate in hand. “Don’t mind if I do,” he said, thanking Bobbi Sue, then winking at Sarah. “You go on and finish up, darlin’. I’ll wait.”

Sarah was handed the next gift, a pretty pink and blue basket. She glanced into the crowd of her friends and smiled tentatively. They seemed to have one eye on Case and the other on her, waiting and watching. For what exactly, Sarah didn’t know but so many of her friends were nodding approval or casting her undisguised smirks.

One hour later, Sarah gave Bobbi Sue a big hug. “Thanks so much,” she said, stepping out onto the front steps. “I don’t think the baby will be wanting for a thing now.”

“Nope, I don’t think so. I’m glad the shower was such a success. You deserve every good thing that comes along, Sarah.”

Sarah sighed and patted her belly. “The baby is all I need now, Bobbi Sue. It’ll be the best thing that comes along in my lifetime.”

Bobbi Sue looked out onto the front yard, where Carl was helping Case load the gifts up into the bed of his truck. “There’s nothing like a child, Sarah, that’s true. My little Maureen has brought us nothing but joy, even if she’s still resisting going to school every day. But honey, don’t sell yourself short. You’ve got a whole lot of living yet to do. And looks to me, there’s more than just one good thing in store for you in this life.”

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