Rebecca Winters - In a Cowboy's Arms

Jarod bit down so hard he almost broke a tooth.

“It was appalling, but no one else heard him. Sadie didn’t answer him, but I was so angry I broke in on their conversation. That angered Ned and caught Uncle Grant’s attention. He wasn’t thrilled with his son’s behavior, either, and got him out of there as fast as he could.”

“Ned gave me an ultimatum the other night.”

“What kind?”

“Not to show up at the funeral.”

“That’s no surprise. He was jealous of you from birth. It only grew worse when grandfather gave you more responsibilities for running the ranch. Ned couldn’t handle it. But when you and Sadie became friends, that killed him.”

“There’s a sickness in him.”

“I know. Sadie was never interested in any of the guys chasing after her, least of all Ned. He used to wait for her after school and follow her as far as Corkin property. Sadie never paid him one whit of attention because the only guy she could ever see was you.”

Until Jarod had planned to make her his wife. Then she’d run like the prong-horned antelope, putting fifteen hundred miles between them. Had his accident been the excuse she’d been looking for not to marry him?

“After today she’ll like him even less, but I guess it doesn’t matter,” Avery added.

He closed his eyes tightly. “Why do you say that?”

“The chances of her having to deal with him are pretty remote. She’s got a home in California and a little brother to raise.”

“With Zane’s help?” Jarod didn’t want to listen to another word.

“Forget what you’re thinking. I asked her outright if she was involved with Zane. She said no and was shocked at the question. I think it actually hurt her.”

Jarod’s relief had him reeling.

“I have to tell you I’m envious of her. Ryan’s such an adorable boy, I wish he were mine.”

Those were strong words. Jarod heard wistfulness in her voice and eyed her with affection. “Your time will come, Avery.”

Her eyes darted him a mischievous glance. “Are you trying to make me feel better, or did you have a vision about your only female sibling who’s getting older?”

Her teasing never bothered him. He rubbed his lower lip absently. “I don’t need a vision to know you’re not destined to be alone. Ben’s been crazy about you ever since he was hired.”

Avery rolled her eyes. “That has to work both ways, big brother. If anyone ought to know about that, it’s you. You’re pushing thirty and until two months ago you had no prospects despite the fan club you ignore. Am I wrong or at long last has a woman finally gotten under your skin? Leslie’s an extraordinary person, the kind I’ve been hoping you would meet.”

“You and grandfather.” But Jarod was too conflicted over Sadie to get into a discussion about anything. She’d just inherited Farfields, a place she’d loved heart and soul. Jarod couldn’t imagine her leaving the land where she’d been born. But he’d been wrong about her before. Maybe she was involved with another man in California.

When are you going to learn, Bannock?

Chapter Three

It was Tuesday morning. Sadie had slept poorly and got up before Ryan, who was sleeping in the crib Millie had used for Liz. Zane had been installed in the guest bedroom and was still asleep. Though she’d come to the ranch to bury her father and take stock of her new situation, seeing Jarod after all these years had shaken her so badly, she was unnerved and restless. Through her friendship with Liz, she knew he hadn’t married yet, though that made no sense when he could have any woman he wanted.

But recently Liz had dropped a little bomb that over the past few months he’d been seeing an archaeologist working in the area named Leslie Weston. Liz seemed to think it was more serious than his other relationships had been.

Her breath caught. Had they made love? Were they planning to marry? Sadie couldn’t bear thinking about it.

From her bedroom window she watched Liz leave the Hensons’ small house adjacent to the ranch house and head for her truck. No doubt she was on her way to work at the Rafferty vet clinic in White Lodge. Pretty soon quiet-spoken Mac followed and started out for the barn to get going on his chores.

With a deep sigh, Sadie turned away and headed for the bathroom. Once she’d showered and washed her hair, she pulled on jeans and a cotton sweater. After blow-drying her hair and applying lipstick, she felt more prepared to face this first day of an altered life and turn the second stone.

To stay busy she fixed breakfast, woke and dressed Ryan for the day and then returned to the kitchen. She piled some cushions on one of the kitchen chairs for Ryan as Zane joined them to eat. Before the day was out, she’d take her dad’s pickup and run into White Lodge for a high chair and a new crib.

Though she had everything she needed back in California, it would take time to ship her things here. While she was at it, she’d also buy some cowboy boots and start breaking them in.

Millie appeared at the back door. The housekeeper still had a trim figure and worked as hard as ever to keep the ranch house running smoothly. Her brown eyes widened in surprise when she walked into the kitchen and found the three of them assembled there. “Good morning, Millie. Come on in and eat breakfast with us.” It was long past time someone waited on her for a change.

The older woman kissed Ryan’s head before sitting next to him. “I think I’m in heaven.”

“Good. You deserve to be waited on.” Sadie brought a plate of bacon, eggs and hash browns to the table for her.

No sooner had Sadie started to drink her coffee than they heard a knock on the front door. She jumped up from the table. “That’ll be Mr. Varney. I’ll show him into the living room. He’s here to talk about the will.”

The attorney from Billings had come to the graveside service and told her he’d be by on Tuesday morning.

“I’ll take care of Ryan,” Zane offered.

“Thank you.” She got up and kissed her little brother’s cheek. “I’ll be back soon.”

She hurried down the hall to the front room of the three-bedroom L-shaped ranch house. The place needed refurbishing. According to Mac, in the last few years her father had been operating Farfields in the red. He’d ended up selling most of the cattle. Toward the end he’d been too ill to take care of things and there’d been little money to pay Millie and Mac. The value of the ranch lay in the land itself.

Reed Varney had put on weight and his hair had thinned since the last time she’d seen him. He must be sixty by now and had handled her father’s affairs for years. The man knew all the ugly Corkin secrets, including the particulars of the divorce, which was okay with Sadie since it was past history.

“Come in, Mr. Varney.” She showed him into the living room. A couple of the funeral sprays filled the air with a fragrance that was almost cloying. Mac had taken some of the other arrangements to their cabin. “Would you care for some coffee?”

“No thanks.” For some odd reason he wouldn’t look her in the eye. She had the impression he was nervous.

“Then let’s sit to talk.” She chose one of the leather chairs opposite the couch where he’d taken a seat. As he opened his briefcase to pull out a thin file she asked, “How soon do you want to schedule the reading of the will?” For all their kindness, Mac and Millie should head the top of the list to receive the house they’d been living in all these years. She couldn’t wait to tell them.

He rubbed his hands on top of his thighs, another gesture that indicated he felt uncomfortable. Sadie started to feel uneasy herself.

“Something’s wrong. What is it?”