by Debra Webb
She covered her mouth with her free hand to hold back the sob rising in her throat. She ordered the tears to retreat. She would not cry and ruin Court’s perfect proposal. After clearing her throat to steady her voice, she looked deeply into his eyes and said “Yes,” with all her heart.
A FEW MINUTES BEFORE noon Court maneuvered the car through the turnoff that led to the Lonesome Pony ranch. He reached over to ruffle Charlie’s hair. “That’s some trail you cut in that ditch,” he teased.
“Hey,” Charlie shot back, “I got us here.”
From the back seat of Mrs. Cartwright’s car, Sabrina laughed. Ryan cooed from his car seat as if he’d understood the joke as well.
“I wish Mrs. Cartwright would have come with us,” Sabrina said wistfully. “I hate that she spends so much time alone.”
Court glanced at Sabrina in the rearview mirror. “Ah, I don’t think she’s going to be alone today,” he said slowly.
“Really?” Sabrina looked puzzled.
Court parked the car. “She said something about a Mr. Ledbetter coming by later for lunch.”
Sabrina’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding? That old man has been after her for years. I can’t believe she’s finally changing her tune.”
Court quickly got out and opened the back door to take Ryan from his car seat. “Well, maybe that little scare in the fruit cellar made her decide to grab all the gusto she could get before it’s too late.” Court winked. “You think?”
Sabrina smiled back at him. “Maybe.” She picked up Ryan’s diaper bag. “Whatever the case, I’m happy for her.”
“I’ll see y’all later.” Charlie slammed his door and dashed off.
Court squinted after him. Where the heck was he going in such an all-fired hurry? In the distance, apparently waiting for Charlie, Court could just make out another figure. A girl? Jewel? The McMurtys’ granddaughter. Court didn’t know they knew each other. Maybe they’d seen each other in school.
With his son in his arms and the woman he loved at his side, Court led the way to the back of the house. He could smell the food grilling. For the first time in too long to remember he felt completely relaxed. Even Neely’s final remarks to him had stopped nagging him—at least it had since Court had spent last night with Sabrina. All other thought had ceased.
He looked from his son to Sabrina and then to the gang gathered around the grill in the backyard, and Court suddenly realized just how much his life had changed in the past few days. He had gone from single-mindedness about his job to being a father, an almost husband and a new member of the Confidential team. A real member, he hoped. Court still wasn’t sure he had gained Frank and Kyle’s respect. Austin was a different story. Court smiled at the typical American setting before him. He and Austin understood each other, professionally speaking.
“Court! Sabrina!” C.J. called out when she looked up from the grill.
Court had a feeling that she was supervising Frank’s work. Kyle was busy with his daughter, Molly. And Austin, well he was kicked back in a lounge chair, watching the fun. Judging from C.J.’s exuberant greeting, Austin had already filled the crew in on Sabrina.
Whitney waved a welcome, her cell phone attached to her ear as usual.
Smiling widely, Austin pushed to his feet. “Glad you folks could make it.” He gave Sabrina a peck on the cheek, then turned to Court. “Good news,” he told him. “O’Conner picked up Potts about half an hour ago.”
Court’s pulse kicked up. “The Demo?”
A broad smile slid across Austin’s face. “Got it.”
Profound relief rushed through Court. It was over. Whatever Neely’s plan, it would never see fruition. “Thank God,” Court breathed.
“And who’s this young fella?” Austin tugged on Ryan’s bib.
“This is my son, Ryan,” Court said without hesitation.
A moment of awkward silence followed as all eyes shifted to Court. “And this is my fiancée, Sabrina Korbett,” he added before anyone found their tongues. Apparently Austin hadn’t mentioned Ryan. He’d left that announcement to Court.
Within seconds, Sabrina was surrounded by the women. Whitney, C.J., even Dale McMurty, admired her engagement ring. Sabrina literally beamed. The vision took Court’s breath. She had waited two years too long for this moment. He wanted her to enjoy it now.
“Whitney, you owe me fifty bucks,” Kyle shouted over the hubbub.
Her only response was a feigned smile.
“Why does she owe you fifty bucks?” Court shifted Ryan to the other arm.
“Remember—” C.J. answered for Kyle in her elegant accent “—I told you the two of them were laying wagers on who would walk down the aisle next.”
And Court remembered very well his unspoken reply. He was never going to get married. He’d even felt sorry for Foster and his motherless little girl. Court kissed his son’s chubby cheek. Well, that was before. He had all the reason in the world to get married now. Court felt a tug on his pants leg. He looked down to find the little girl in question, Molly, staring up at him.
“Is that your baby?” she asked, her green eyes wide with curiosity. “Or did you b’ar him from s’mbody?”
Court crouched down to her level. “He’s mine. Would you like to play with him? His name is Ryan.”
She nodded enthusiastically, blond curls bouncing. Court settled Ryan on his feet and allowed Molly to take his hand.
“C’mon, Ryan, I gotta dolly ov’r here.” The little girl led Ryan slowly to the blanket where her toys were spread out.
Court did a quick visual survey for anything Ryan shouldn’t play with. He’d heard Sabrina fuss at Charlie this morning for leaving change and some sort of electronic game gadget on the coffee table.
Frank left his cooking duties in C.J.’s capable hands and walked straight up to Court and clapped him on the back. “We’re glad to have you on board, Brody. You did a good job on this assignment.”
Neely’s words nagged at Court again. He shook his head. He couldn’t believe it was really over. But it was. They’d found Potts and the explosives. Yet, it still sounded too good to be true. “I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop,” he told Frank. “I had a bad feeling that Neely wasn’t finished.” But he was, Court reminded himself. Neely was dead, and whatever plans he’d had died with him.
Frank smiled. “Neely’s history, and so is that assignment. Give it a rest, man.”
Court had never seen the man smile before. Maybe there were some people who marriage really did agree with. And Frank was right, Court had done his job. He had to put it behind him now. Neely was gone. He had a whole new future to look forward to. His gaze drifted to Sabrina as she lifted their son into her arms. The kind of future he’d only just realized was the one he’d wanted all along.
The sound of a vehicle approaching jerked Court from his intense reverie. A delivery van from a floral shop in Livingston braked to a stop at the side of the house. Mrs. McMurty pulled free from the women’s circle and headed over to greet the driver.
“I figured that would be UPS,” Kyle said with a laugh. “I swear Whitney gets a delivery almost every day. The woman is a shopping maniac.”
“Whitney has her finer points,” C.J. offered in defense of her friend. “She’s had a tough time of it adjusting to the ‘wilderness,’ as she would put it.”
Kyle looked instantly contrite. “Just running off at the mouth,” he said by way of apology.
Court remembered that there’d been some sort of stink between Ross Weston, one of Montana’s esteemed senators, and Whitney, and she’d wound up exiled to this “wilderness.”
Sabrina stepped up and wrapped her arm around Court’s making him forget all about senators or crazy militia leaders. “Hi,” he murmured.
“Thanks for bringing us,” she murmured back.
“We’re a team now,” Court assured her. “Together.”
She smiled, and Court melted. God, how he loved this woman.
Mrs. McMurty strutte
d in their direction, carrying a huge bouquet of roses and an envelope. “They’re for you, dear,” she said to Whitney.
“For me?” Whitney looked totally confused.
“That’s what the card says,” the older woman insisted.
Whitney accepted the flowers and sat them on the garden table. She glanced at the card, then tore open the envelope while the other women carried on about how beautiful the roses were and how lucky Whitney was to have such a generous admirer. Court decided he had to order some flowers like that for Sabrina. In fact, there were a lot of things he intended to do for his future wife. He had money. Hell, he’d saved nearly half of everything he’d ever earned, and he’d invested well. Sabrina was going to have whatever she needed, he would see to it. If she wanted to shop like Whitney, then so be it.
Court had to restrain a grin at that last thought. Sabrina was too practical for that. Court was pretty sure he would have to do the buying if anything was bought for her.
“My God, they’re from Senator Weston!” Whitney announced, her disbelief and confusion clear on her face. She laughed. “The old sly dog even apologized for everything that happened.” She shook her head. “Can you believe that? After all the trouble he caused me, he thinks this will set things right?” She ripped the letter in half and tossed it onto the table.
“It’s the thought that counts?” Kyle teased with his usual quick grin.
Whitney shot him a death-ray eye. “I have a few thoughts for him, none of which I can say out loud at the moment.”
“How about us menfolk taking a walk down to the corral and checking out that stallion that’s making us all proud,” Austin suggested.
Frank quickly relinquished his tongs to his lovely wife. “Sounds good to me.”
Court followed Austin, Kyle and Frank down to the corral. Charlie and Jewel were already there. Court didn’t miss the little thing going on with their eyes. First Frank and C.J. Then Court and Sabrina, and Mrs. Cartwright and Mr. Ledbetter. Now Charlie and Jewel? There was definitely something in the air—or maybe the water—around here.
“I’ve already been offered five hundred dollars stud fee by a local rancher,” Austin was saying, more than pleased.
“That’s great.” Court had heard of stallions that brought upward of one thousand dollars, but for just starting out, five hundred was an excellent fee.
C.J. shouted for Frank. Something about the grill. He excused himself and double-timed it back up to the house. Court was too busy studying the horse to pay much attention to what had been said. The animal seemed agitated.
Before Court could ask Charlie if anything involving the animal had happened before he and the men arrived, Kyle interrupted his thought.
“Daniel says you’re planning to get the Korbett breeding operation up and running again.”
Court pulled his attention from the horse. “Yeah, that’s the plan.”
“Court’s got a lot more experience than the rest of us,” Austin put in. “We’ll need his expertise from time to time, as well. I hope you won’t mind, Court.”
One corner of Court’s mouth hitched up. “Not at all. I’m looking forward to getting back into the business.” Damn, he never thought he’d hear himself say that. But it was true.
Charlie and Jewel jumped down from the fence and trotted off. To have some privacy, Court supposed. The stallion bolted at the sudden move. He started a nervous trot around the corral.
“He’s a damned fine animal,” Austin said, pride in his voice.
Court instinctively backed up. “I think maybe there’s—”
His ears laid back, the stallion reared and snorted. At precisely that instant Court saw the cause of the animal’s distress. A snake lay basking in the sun at the edge of the corral on the far side. Before Court could shout any instructions the animal reared again, and then burst through the top rail of the corral. Austin threw his arms up to cut the animal off. The horse reared again, neighing his frustrations.
Court slowly moved closer to the animal. “Stay back, Kyle,” he instructed when the other man took a step toward the horse. “Austin, move to your—”
Austin advanced on the horse and it reacted. As if in slow motion, Court shouted “No,” but it was too late. The horse bolted and reared too close to Austin, knocking him backward. Austin hit his head on the side of the barn as he stumbled back, then crumpled to the ground and lay motionless.
“Don’t move,” Court ordered Kyle again. He knew the man wanted to help his friend, but one wrong move could send the horse into another frenzy. Those powerful hooves were way too close to the downed man. Way too close.
Years of instinct and refined skill took over as Court eased closer to the nervous animal. He murmured the sounds his father had taught him that would soothe. He eased a step closer, then paused, careful to maintain eye contact with the horse at all times. Another step, another hesitation, until the animal’s eyes told him it was okay to move again. Court could see the horse struggling with his own curiosity. Just a couple more steps, a few more softly spoken words—
Austin stirred, groaning loudly.
“Don’t move, Austin,” Court said in as low and gentle a voice as he could marshal at the moment. “Just don’t move.”
The disturbance cost Court a tiny degree of trust, he noted instantly. The stallion backed up a step, his right rear hoof now dangerously close to Austin.
Kyle kept the others at bay with an uplifted hand.
“Come on, boy,” Court murmured softly. He gained another foot or so, recovering that one step back he’d taken in the animal’s perspective. At least two full minutes later, sweat trickling into his eyes, Court got within arm’s reach of the horse. Seconds turned to another minute before Court slowly stretched out his hand for the horse to inspect. Hesitantly at first, the stallion nudged Court’s hand, then smoothed his muzzle over his palm, surrendering. Court restrained the sigh of relief he wanted to exhale. Not yet.
Turning slowly, Court faced the corral and slowly, ever so slowly, started to walk in that direction, coaxing the animal with gentle strokes to follow. Once inside the corral, Court looked around quickly for the snake. The ruckus had evidently sent the pesky reptile on its way.
Court patted the horse once more before slipping out of the corral to help Frank repair the top rail. Kyle had Austin back on his feet.
“You okay?” Court asked when Austin came up beside him.
“Yeah, fine. The knock on the noggin just stunned me a little.” He rubbed at his head. “What the hell made that fool horse whack out like that?”
Court inclined his head toward the far side of the corral. “A snake. But it’s gone now.”
“Are you okay?” Whitney asked. She was followed by the other women who crowded around Austin, Molly trailing behind.
“I’m okay,” he insisted, looking a bit sheepish. “Court here saved my neck.” He grabbed Court’s hand and pumped it once. “Thanks, buddy.”
Court grinned and gave Austin’s hand a squeeze before releasing it. “Oh, I can’t say for sure that we saved your neck, but we—” he nodded toward Kyle, including him in the we “—probably saved you a trip to the emergency room.”
Kyle scooped up his little girl. “We didn’t do anything. You’re the hero here, Brody.”
Frank whopped Court on the back. “I say we have some grub on that one.”
Court lagged behind as the rest moved back toward the house, still recounting the harrowing moments. Sabrina, Ryan in her arms, waited for him. When Court reached her, he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“You are a hero, you know,” she insisted, her face aglow with pride.
He kissed the tip of her nose. “So are you.”
She blushed. “I’m no hero,” she denied. “I’m afraid of my shadow when it gets dark.”
Court shook his head. “I know what you risked for Charlie and what you went through alone with the birth of our son. You have more courage than any woman I’ve ever
known.”
“Is that why you’re marrying me, Brody, because you think I’m brave?” she teased.
“Mostly.” Court grinned wickedly. “But partly because—” He leaned down and whispered the rest of his explanation in her ear, ending with the plans he had for her tonight.
Sabrina kissed his lips when he drew back. “You just remember all that because I’m definitely going to hold you to each and every promise.”
Court took his son and followed Sabrina back to the house. Everyone was already lining up to fill their plates with the array of goodies arranged on the garden table. Whitney’s unexpected bouquet served as a centerpiece.
The telephone rang somewhere inside the house, the sound reaching out to them through the screen door.
“Can’t have a minute’s peace,” Mrs. McMurty grumbled as she broke out of the line.
“No, wait, I’ll get it.” Whitney dashed up onto the porch and hurried inside.
Sabrina suddenly turned and looked into Court’s eyes, hers too somber. “Do you think that Ryan will remember the time we were apart?” she asked quietly. The worry etched on her face told Court the thought had only just occurred to her.
He shook his head. “Probably not.” He smoothed the tips of his fingers over her soft cheek. “Besides, I’m planning on making up for lost time. I promise neither of you will ever be without me again except when I’m on assignment, and then only for a few days at most.”
The worry vanished with the smile that widened across her lips. “Just another promise I plan on holding you to.”
Charlie and Jewel skidded to a stop right beside them, interrupting the kiss Court had planned to bestow upon the woman he loved.
“Whoa, buddy, what’s the hurry?” he asked a breathless Charlie.
“We were afraid we’d missed the food.”
Jewel nodded her wide-eyed agreement.
Court started to ask where they’d been, but Whitney’s shout stopped him. He pivoted toward the house.
“Daniel!” She bounded down the steps. “You’ve got to hurry!”
Austin and Kyle met her at the bottom. “What’s wrong?” Austin demanded.
