Rebecca Winters: The New Cowboy

“I can’t help it. That’s what family is for.”

Liz was a sweetheart, but no one could help with Avery’s particular problem rooted deep in the past. If time could dim the pain, then she’d pray for that much relief.

Now Avery pulled the truck around the side of the ranch house and hurried through the terrace to the dining room where she found her grandfather Ralph. He was talking on the phone while he ate his dinner.

When he saw her, he ended the call. “There’s my Avery. Come here, darlin’.”

She leaned over to give him a hug. “Hi, Grandpa. How have you been today?”

“Never better.”

“You’ve been doing so much better lately.” Her eyes teared up. She adored the man who’d taken over as both parent and grandparent after her parents had died. “I’m so thankful.”

He squeezed her hand. “Me, too. Guess what? I’ve just received exciting news from Matt.”

Now that there’d been another marriage in the family, her grandfather and Matt Henson had become best friends, the way it should always have been. Watching the national rodeo finals together on the television had bonded the families in new ways.

Avery needed to shower, but she sat down for a minute to hear him out. “Tell me what’s going on.”

His eyes lit up. “The owner of the Corkin ranch is coming home tonight for good.”

“You must be mistaken, Grandpa. He’ll be here on the Fourth of July for his vacation. Not before.”

He shook his head. “You didn’t listen to me. I said he’s coming home for good tonight.”

The news caused the blood to pound in her ears like thunder over the Pryors. Zane Lawson was coming back? “What do you mean for good?” Her voice faltered.

“He’s been transferred from Glasgow to the Billings field office. There’s more. They’ve authorized him to set up a satellite BLM criminal law enforcement office at the ranch so he can cover the Pryor Mountains region from home. He’s back to stay and I’m ecstatic!”

Avery shot to her feet. “You’re joking.” He’d be working next door from now on?

“I wouldn’t joke about a thing like that. Matt and Millie couldn’t be more delighted.” Her grandfather went on talking. He had no idea what was going on inside Avery. “This will thrill Sadie. Ryan asks about his uncle Zane every day.”

Avery knew about that. Often when she went to Sadie’s, her sister-in-law was on Skype with Zane so he and his nephew could see and talk to each other. Last week was a revelation. Ryan had thrown a tantrum because he hadn’t wanted to stop talking to Zane.

Neither had Avery, who loved those rare, precious moments. She’d never been able to get enough of Zane. Sadie would include Avery so that she and Zane could communicate. Her pulse raced during those sessions.

Now he was coming home for good. Avery was so staggered by the revelation, she was trembling. That little boy adored him. So did Sadie. So did everyone who knew Zane.

So did Avery.

“That’s wonderful news, but right now I’ve got to get ready.”

“What for?”

“Mike Durant is coming by to take me to dinner.”

“Is he an archaeologist?”

“No. He works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.”

Her grandfather scrutinized her. “How come I never heard of him? Do you like him?”

“He’s all right.”

“When did you meet him?”

“After Christmas. He was transferred from the office on the Pawnee Reservation in Nebraska, but we can talk about it later.” Her heart was racing with unhealthy speed. “Does Jarod know about Zane?”

“I’m going to call them right now. Matt’s already told Liz and Connor. Millie’s planned a party for everyone later tonight. Too bad you can’t be with us. Zane’s the finest man I know.”

That was high praise coming from her grandfather. “Do you need me to drive you over before I leave?”

“Oh, no. One of the boys will take me. You go on and have a good time.”

Smothering a groan, Avery kissed his cheek. Her grandfather’s news about Zane had shaken her so badly she ran out of the room and up the stairs to her bedroom to get ahold of herself. After removing her snap-up Western shirt, she took off the holster shirt that concealed her pistol. It was a lightweight Beretta Nano pocketed under the left arm. She set it on the dresser and got in the shower.

Avery couldn’t believe Zane was back. Ralph’s praise of him rang in her ears. Little did her grandfather know she thought Zane was the finest man she’d ever known. Heroic. Honorable. Exciting. Fascinating. A man to match the mountains she loved. And desirable beyond belief.

But soul-destroying fear nipped at the heels of her excitement that he was coming home, ruining the news for her. During her years of therapy, Dr. Moser had helped Avery get to the point where she could trust again and accept going out on dates. After the assault, that was progress. But the psychologist predicted that one day a man would come along who would make Avery feel the deep emotions of desire and intense wanting she’d thought had died.

As Dr. Moser pointed out, in order to have a full, loving physical and emotional relationship with this person, Avery would have to end the silence and tell him the truth about the assault on her.

Avery hadn’t been able to imagine the day coming when she’d meet such a man. And when and if she did, how would she overcome the shame, humiliation, depression, anger, fear? The guilt. It had been eight years and yet she was still suffering to some degree from all those emotions, especially shame.

After her attack, she’d called the police from the hospital. Jarod’s aunt Pauline, a nurse on the reservation, had always worried about Avery riding in the mountains and on the reservation alone. She’d continually warned her that if, heaven forbid she was ever assaulted, she should go to the hospital immediately for a thorough examination in order for the police to catch the culprit.

When Avery thought about it, Pauline had given her amazing counsel years ago. But maybe it wasn’t so amazing after all. If she, too, had the gift of vision like her husband, Charlo, it was possible she’d sensed something about Avery’s future and had warned her. According to Pauline, there were too many assaults on the reservation. Being on duty at the hospital, she saw a lot of things and had shared that information with her.

On the night of Avery’s assault, Pauline’s advice had rung in her ears. She went to the hospital and the collected evidence and DNA had been entered in her file to help the police. Since that time she’d prayed every day that her assailant would be caught so he couldn’t hurt anyone else, but in all the years since, there’d been no news until Monday.

The doctor at the hospital had helped her find the right psychologist. Within a few days she’d started self-defense classes and had bought a handgun she learned to shoot. Her concealed weapons permit allowed her a certain amount of protection. She was doing all she could to prevent herself from being victimized again. But if she told Zane the truth about her traumatic experience, it would turn him off.

He was too good a man to be interested in a woman like Avery. On occasion in his line of work as an agent, he had to arrest criminals inflicting that kind of horror on their victims. She could only imagine the kind of taste it left in his mouth. Avery couldn’t bear the thought of him having to put her in that category.

When Zane had walked into the room at the funeral for Sadie’s father, Avery hadn’t been able to take her eyes off him. Everything about him excited her to the very core of her being and she knew she’d met the man her therapist had been talking about.