In a Cowboy's Arms (Hitting Rocks Cowboys)

by Rebecca Winters

  * * *

  “SO, DR. RAFFERTY, you don’t think there’s a need to take an X-ray?” Jarod asked, walking Chief out of the trailer to the paddock behind the clinic with the vet.

  “Not that I can see,” Sam Rafferty told him.

  “His limp does seem to be a lot better. Last night I was really worried about him.”

  “Horses aren’t that different from people. Sometimes we wake up in the morning and everything hurts like hell. But the next day, we feel better.”

  “Well, I’ll take your word for it nothing serious is wrong.”

  Sam nodded. “Give him a day of rest and see how he does.”

  “Will do. How much do I owe you?”

  “Forget it. I didn’t do anything.”

  “You can’t make a living that way.” Jarod put a hundred dollar bill in the vet’s lab coat pocket. “Thanks, Doc.”

  “My pleasure.” They shook hands before he led Chief back into the trailer and shut the door.

  Jarod started the truck and drove his rig away from the clinic. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ned’s Jeep down the street across from the supermarket. That was no coincidence—Ned must still be tailing him.

  Twenty after five. The sun would set at nine. Jarod would have driven to the mountains immediately, but he couldn’t do that with Ned watching him. It would only take a half hour to reach Sadie. He had three hours to kill. Might as well drive Ned crazy.

  After making a U turn, he parked near the supermarket and went in to buy a meal at the deli. Then he took it out to the truck and sat there to eat while he listened to music. Ned had finally disappeared, but Jarod knew he was somewhere nearby watching, hoping to see Sadie show up and join Jarod. The fool could wait till doomsday but he’d never find her here.

  The sun sank lower until it dropped below the horizon. It was time to make his move. His heart thudding in anticipation of making love to Sadie for the rest of their lives, Jarod started the truck and turned onto a road that would eventually lead to the fire road. From that crossroads you could either go to the mountains the back way or head the other way for the reservation.

  But as he reached the crossroads, from out of nowhere, something rammed him broadside. The last thing he heard was the din of twisting metal before he passed out.

  The next day he woke up in the hospital with a serious brain concussion, bruises and a nasty gash near his eye. Frantic, he tried to reach Sadie, but the report from the Hensons came back that she wasn’t at home.

  When he awoke a second time, the nurse brought him Sadie’s note and read it to him. The words ripped him to pieces.

  * * *

  JAROD LAY IN the clover remembering the pain until Volan nudged him. Feeling as if his heart weighed more than his body, he climbed on the stallion and rode home.

  Avery confronted him in the tack room after he returned. Her brunette hair and bright smile reminded him of their father Colin’s second wife, Hannah. She’d been a wonderful mother to Jarod, never pushing him. Avery was a little more aggressive in that department.

  “When you didn’t come in the ranch house with Connor, I knew you’d gone riding. Did it help?” Her hazel eyes studied him anxiously.

  She could read most of his moods, but he didn’t answer her this time. There was no help for the disease he’d contracted eight years ago.

  “Grandfather was hoping to talk to you.”

  “I know. I’ll go see him now.”

  “He’s gone to bed, but don’t worry, Connor and I told him all we could. Great Uncle Tyson came to the funeral with his family. It was so strange, all of us together on Corkin land after so many years of being warned off the property. I think it overwhelmed Sadie. She thanked us for coming, but clung to her little brother the whole time.”

  Jarod’s thoughts were black. “Did Ned behave?”

  Her mouth tightened. “Does he ever?”

  “Tell me what he did.”

  “He asked a lot of questions in such bad taste it raised the hairs on the back of my neck.”

  “Like what?”

  At his rapid-fire question, his sister looked startled. “I was standing by them when he asked if she and Zane had an interest in each other besides Ryan. He said he hoped not because he was planning to spend a lot of time with her now that she was back.”

  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. Throu
gh 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?”

  After clearing his throat he finally glanced at her. “The will is short and to the point. You can read it now. The particulars are all there.” He handed her the file.

  She blinked. Maybe her father had been in more financial trouble than she’d been led to believe. Taking a deep breath, she started to read. After getting past the legal jargon she came to her father’s wishes.

  Mac and Millie Henson betrayed my trust on my daughter’s eighteenth birthday. Therefore they’ll receive no inheritance, nor will my daughter, whom I’ve disowned.

  Over the years several people have wanted to buy the ranch, but so far they haven’t met the asking price. I have their offers on record. If no one else makes an offer within a month of my death, then the ranch and all its assets including my gun collection will be sold to the highest bidder through Parker Realty in Billings, Montana. My horse, Spook, has been sold.

  No furnishings are to be touched. The new buyer will either use or dispose of them. Under no circumstances can the ranch be sold to a Bannock.

  Sadie gasped and jumped up from the chair. Her father had lived to drink, hunt and hate the Bannocks with a passion. The meanest man alive didn’t begin to describe him. Forget the fact that he’d disowned her. When she’d left for San Francisco, she never dreamed he’d take out his fury on the Hensons like this.

  “Does this mean he’s thrown Mac and Millie out with nothing?” Her eyes filled with tears. “After all they’ve done for him over the years? The care they gave him toward the last?”

  Varney eyed her with grave concern before nodding. “However, Mr. Bree at the realty firm has asked that the Hensons stay on to manage things until the new buyer takes ownership. It’s entirely possible Mac Henson will be asked to continue on as foreman for the new owner.”

  Daniel had died nine days ago. In less than a month from now the eighty-five-acre ranch would be sold? She couldn’t take it in. Her father wanted her and the Hensons off his land as fast as humanly possible. When he’d told her to get out eight years ago, he’d meant for it to be permanent. “What is the sale price?”

  “Seven hundred thousand. He was in a lot of debt.”

  Her mind was madly trying to take everything in.

  “What about me, Mr. Varney? Am I supposed to clear out today?”

  With a troubled sigh, the older man got to his feet. “Legally you have no right to be here, but morally this is your home and you can stay until the new owner takes up residence. As for your own personal possessions, you’re free to take them with you. I’m sorry, Sadie. I wish it could be otherwise. To be honest, I dreaded coming here today. You don’t deserve this.”

  Reeling with pain, she walked him to the door. “It’s Mac and Millie I worry about. The ranch is their home, too. I can hardly bear it.”

  When Jarod hadn’t showed up that night eight years ago, the Hensons were the ones who had tried to comfort her. She’d believed he had decided at the last minute that he couldn’t go through with their marriage, and she would never have survived if they hadn’t been there to help her get through that ghastly night.

  Reed Varney shook his head. “When Daniel summoned me to the ranch, I begged him not to do this, but he was beyond reason.”

  She stared into space. “He’s always been beyond reason.” This proved more than ever why her mother had been forced to abandon Sadie.

  If Eileen had stayed in the marriage, who knew what would have happened during one of his drunken rages when he’d threatened to kill his wife. Eileen’s decision to let him keep Sadie had probably saved both their lives.

  When Sadie had found out about Jarod’s accident, her father had threatened to kill Jarod if she went to the hospital to be with him. He’d made
her write a letter telling Jarod she never wanted to see him again and then he’d told her to get out of his house. Millie and Mac were afraid for her life and urged her to leave Montana and go to her mother in California, saving her once more.

  “Thank you for coming,” she said quietly to the lawyer.

  “Of course. The number for Parker Realty is listed on the paper. They’ve already put an ad in the multiple listings section. Things should be moving quickly. I’ll be in touch with you again soon.”

  The second he left, she grabbed the file and hurried to her bedroom to hide it in the dresser drawer. She never wanted the Hensons to know what he’d put in the will about them. They’d been wonderful surrogate parents to her. Somehow she had to protect them.

  With that decision made, she grabbed her purse and left for the kitchen, determined to lie through her teeth if she had to. She found Millie at the sink and gave her a hug. “Hey! I made the mess and planned to clean it up.”

  “Nonsense. How did everything go?”

  “Fine. Tomorrow I’ll drive to Billings and meet with him in his office,” she lied. “Where’s Zane?”

  “Outside with Ryan. If Tim Lawson was as terrific as Zane, then your mother was a very lucky woman.”

  “She was. So was I, to be raised by you and Mac. I love you and Liz dearly. You know that, don’t you?”

  “The feeling’s mutual.”

  “You’re my family now and that’s the way it’s going to stay.” No matter what she had to do.

  “Nothing would make us happier.” They hugged again.

  “I’m going to drive into White Lodge. Do you want me to do any shopping for you while I’m there?”

  “We stocked up for the funeral so I think we’re fine right now.”

  “Okay. See you later. Just so you know, tonight I’m going to visit Ralph Bannock. Zane will babysit Ryan.” She hadn’t asked him yet, but knew he’d do it.