The Heart of a Cowboy

by Charlene Sands

  'Case, what are you doing here?" Sarah asked.

  'I was thinking I'd go in there and give those land agents a piece of my mind."

  "I don't think they'll come around again."

  "Look at that sign, Sarah," he said, gesturing toward the large painted signpost. "Doesn't appear to me that they're going to give up. Looks as though they got this whole thing planned and nothing's going to stop them. I heard that five ranches have already agreed to their terms."

  "Case, I can't say as I blame them. The smaller ranches haven't turned a profit in years. Those folks were just barely holding on. The offer came at a good time for them."

  "And what about McPherson's barn? Don't folks care that these people they're selling to have no compunc­tion?"

  "I know it seems suspicious, Case, but we have no proof that Beckman Corporation had anything to do with that fire. Could have been an accident."

  He scoffed at that. Case was certain that barn burned down because of foul play. He wasn't going to let any­thing like that happen at the Triple R. He doubted the corporation would buckle under just because one woman lifted a rifle and shooed their agent off the property. Brave as she was, Sarah just didn't have it in her to truly intimidate another living soul. That Merriman fella prob­ably just decided to leave the pregnant woman be and find another approach.

  "Besides, Case. It looks like they're closed for the day."

  Case did a cursory glance and found Sarah to be right. Everything looked locked up good and tight as the small Closed sign on the far right window indicated.

  "Yeah, guess you're right." Case would have to deal with them later. It was best Sarah not be around when he did. He wouldn't want her to get upset if things got ugly.

  Case drove off slowly, noting Sarah putting her hand on her abdomen. "Everything okay?" he asked, peering at her from the corner of his eye.

  A warm smile graced her face. ' 'Yeah, just fine, Case. The baby is moving a whole lot."

  Case swallowed a lump in his throat. He'd never been the sentimental type, but seeing Sarah so at peace, en­joying the movements of that little babe, twisted some­thing in his gut.

  "He gets fidgety this time of night," Sarah said softly.

  "Does it hurt, with him moving around like that?" Heck, it wasn't as if there was lots of room in there.

  "No, doesn't hurt at all. Oh," she said sharply, then smiled, "but he's very active. I think he just kicked my ribs."

  "And that doesn't hurt?"

  "Well, it's a good kind of pain and doesn't last long."

  Case nodded and returned his focus to the road. He had a lot to learn about babies. Tonight, he'd read through the brochure Dr. Michaels had given him.

  They drove on in silence. Case noticed Sarah yawning several times. She'd had a long tiring day. He probably shouldn't have insisted they stop to eat, but sometimes he forgot that she needed more rest than usual.

  The sun set on the horizon and it was dark by the time Case pulled up to the house. About fifteen minutes ear­lier, Sarah had fallen asleep, her head lodging uncom­fortably against the truck's window. He hated to wake her, but darn it, she'd get a kink in her neck from the way she'd fallen asleep.

  Quietly Case slid his body next to her. "Sarah," he whispered, "we're home."

  Sarah didn't budge.

  "Sarah," he repeated a little louder. He put his arm around her shoulder and gently shook her.

  "Mmmm," she murmured and turned into his arms. Drugged by sleep, Sarah rested her head onto his chest and snuggled in. Golden strands of hair tickled his hand in a silken caress. Case sat there a moment, uncertain as to what to do. He listened to her deep breaths, taking in the flowery scent that was Sarah's alone.

  "Sarah," he whispered again, but she didn't respond at all this time. The woman was definitely out.

  Case folded his arm around her, holding her against him, letting her sleep. He forced himself to relax and lean back a little bit. Sarah flowed against him, but didn't stir. She wouldn't like this, if she knew. But hell, Case had tried to wake her, several times. The woman was tired and needed her sleep. Case decided to enjoy this secret time with her. How long had he dreamt of holding her this way? Of taking her into his arms, and kissing her until kissing wasn't enough? He'd wanted Sarah for so long, he'd had to banish her from his thoughts at night so he could get some sleep. And now, he held her in his arms, as he'd always imagined.

  Case wouldn't torture himself with those thoughts. He couldn't have Sarah. She had no use for him in her life. He'd made a promise to Reid to watch out for her and the baby. He'd lay down his life doing that, but Case knew that's all it would ever be. He couldn't compete with his brother's memory. For all he knew Sarah was still in love with Reid. At least that's the uneasy feeling he got every time she looked at him, as though she was disappointed that he wasn't Reid.

  Maybe Sarah felt the wrong brother had been taken. Hell, Case rode around with that guilt, too. He was the one with the dangerous profession. Busting broncs nearly took out his eye and crushed his cheekbone, but ironi­cally it was Reid who'd been injured in a nightmarish accident that eventually took his life. If Case had been here at the ranch, helping out, maybe Reid wouldn't have died. In his heart Case believed Sarah would never look at him and see him clearly, for the man he truly was. He'd let her believe him to be a scoundrel for so long she'd never have any other opinion of him. Perhaps it was bet­ter that way.

  When Sarah flinched, Case peered sharply down at her belly. He could see ripples, a small tide of movement. His better sense gave way to desire. Case laid his hand carefully on Sarah's stomach. A little flutter, then a jolt met with his hand. The baby had spunk. Case stifled a chuckle, but a smile split his face wide open. No doubt, this child was a Jarrett.

  A miracle lay under his fingertips. Case sat in wonder, holding the woman he wanted, feeling new life reach up and touch him. He closed his eyes and a deep sense of peace, of tranquillity, of something stronger he didn't dare name, washed over him. For a moment, he knew how Sarah must feel, carrying this child, nurturing it with all the love she had in her heart. Case brushed a soft kiss on Sarah's forehead.

  And wished she'd sleep in his arms all night long.

  Three

  Sarah sat in a lawn chair under a shady cottonwood tree in Bobbi Sue Curry's backyard and opened another gift. Her best friend had insisted on giving her a baby shower and so nearly all the female population of Barrel Springs was upon her. The women chattered and laughed happily as Sarah was presented with just about everything her new child would ever need. Her friends had been gen­erous, even though she knew many were having their own financial difficulties, which made their generosity even more heartwarming.

  "A car seat!" Sarah exclaimed, after opening the rather large rectangular box with the "help" of Bobbi Sue's five-year-old daughter, Maureen. "Now I'll have two. Thank you so much," she said, smiling at Amelia Velacruz, an old high school friend.

  ' '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."

  Sarah directed her gaze to Case. Bobbi Sue couldn't possibly mean...no, she wouldn't even entertain such thoughts. "You're not talking about Case, are you?"

  "He might be just what you need, Sarah. I had a crush on him in high school. Did I ever tell you that?"

  Sarah chuckled. "You and about every other starry-eyed female. I think he made the rounds with almost all of them."

  "Ah, I don't think it was all that many, Sarah. Surely I wasn't so lucky."

  "Consider it a blessing, Bobbi Sue. Case broke more hearts than a dog's got fleas."

  "Did he ever break your heart, Sarah?"

  Sarah's eyes went wide. "Bobbi Sue, you know better. Case and I weren't ever friends, much less anything else." Sarah tried to block out the image of Case, dressed in an elegant black suit, coming to her door on prom night and kissing her senseless. They'd done more than kiss and Sarah still recalled the exquisite sensations Case had aroused in her that night. She trembled at the thought. Case had made her feel things she'd never experienced before. He'd shown her a side of passion, of heat and desire that she'd never known. He'd had no right, yet the memory of being with him, had often haunted her. Sarah couldn't allow her mind to travel that path. She couldn't forget the terrible trick he'd played on her. She couldn't forget that he was Reid's brother, either.

  Bobbi Sue shook her head and sighed dramatically. Her best friend could outshine any Hollywood type with her acting ability. "He's still a good-looking son of a gun, isn't he?"

  Sarah couldn't deny that. The Jarrett twins were tall, dark and handsome. But there were differences between Case and Reid—huge differences—and Sarah wondered again how she'd ever mistaken Case for Reid all those years ago.

  "He won't be around long, Bobbi Sue. I just have a feeling he'll get tired of the ranch and take off again."

  Bobbi Sue shook her head. "I don't think so, Sarah. I think you've got to give Case more credit than that. Give him a chance to prove himself. This time he's got that 'I'm where I belong' look about him. I notice it every time the man looks your way."

  Sarah laughed at Bobbi Sue's obvious attempt to stir up something that wouldn't even budge in the pot. And she didn't think she could give Case another chance. She'd done that so often in the past because he was Reid's brother. All he'd managed to do was disappoint her, time and again. "I'll try," she said to appease her friend, hoping that she could one day work past her re­sentment of him.

  "Good. Well, looks like the men have packed all up."

  Sarah glanced at the truck. Case was leaning up against it casually, one arm slung along the side of the fully loaded bed, speaking with Carl. He straightened up im­mediately when he saw her.

  "You ready?" he asked. "Because I think you've got enough stuff in here to fill up two nurseries."

  Carl chuckled. "I offered to ride up to the ranch to help unload, but Case didn't want my help."

  "Naw, you got a wife to keep happy right here. And little Mo tells me, she's got a new bike for you to put together tonight."

  "That's right," Bobbi Sue called out, "you don't want to disappoint your daughter now, do you?''

  Carl shrugged then shook Case's hand, thanking him for the help. Sarah went down the steps slowly then hugged Carl and Bobbi Sue one last time. "I love you both. Thanks for a wonderful day," she said, tears once again misting up her eyes.

  "Case, take this woman home before I start bawling myself," Bobbi Sue said with a smile.

  Case helped Sarah up into the truck and waved good­bye. He drove slowly as they made their way onto the road leading to the ranch. Sarah fought to keep her eyes open. It had been a long, wonderful, exhausting day but the last thing she wanted to do, was to fall asleep in Case's truck again.

  Waking up, all cozy and warm in Case's arms that night had really thrown her. Before opening her eyes, she remembered feeling so peaceful. So sheltered and safe. She'd been wrapped tight in a cocoon of heat, his male scent drifting up and encasing her in comfort. She'd stayed there a moment, working through her confusion, but once she realized through a thin layer of hazy aware­ness that she'd cuddled up with Case she nearly bolted out the truck's door. Case stopped her, fearing that she'd fall out and get injured. She blushed down to her toes when he told her she'd been sleeping in his arms for three hours. Three hours. He claimed he'd tried and tried to wake her, but finally gave up thinking she needed her sleep more than anything else at that moment.

  "Where do you want all the gifts to go?" Case asked, turning his attention to her.

  ‘‘Most of them go into the baby nursery. Some of the bigger pieces have to be assembled. I'd like to get the crib put up as soon as possible. I don't know why, but I'm getting a little antsy."

  "I'll do it tonight, if you want," he offered. "I was going to give it a try," she said lamely, trying not to sound too stubborn. "But you can help, if you have the time."r />
  "I'll help you after supper, Sarah," he said, looking into her eyes. "I have to check up on things by Red Ridge this afternoon after I unload. There's a few hours of daylight left."

  "That's fine with me, Case. I'll have supper ready by seven."

  "Okay. We'll tackle the crib and playpen after we eat.''

  She felt a renewed sense of excitement now, just think­ing of the baby in the finished nursery.

  Sarah glanced at the beef stew sitting on the table, getting cold. She expected Case to come barreling through the door any minute now, chock full of excuses. It was a good half an hour past the time he'd assured her he'd be home for supper.

  She was tired and hungry and getting angrier by the minute. She'd tried calling him on his cell phone and got nothing. It wasn't unusual for the phone not to work clear up by Red Ridge where Case claimed he was heading. That mountain location had always been the phone com­pany's black hole area, a spot so remote they couldn't ever seem to get service.

  "Just sit yourself down, Sarah, and eat," she muttered. She sat down and ladled a portion of stew onto her plate. She brought the spoon to her mouth ready to take her first bite then lowered it back down. "Darn it, Case," she griped, tamping down her anger and replacing it with worry. Case wasn't trustworthy, she reminded herself. She shouldn't be overly concerned. Perhaps something better had presented itself to Case, like a female ready to give him a good time.

  But in the back of her mind, Sarah felt something was amiss. Intuition told her Case might be in trouble. There had been those disguised threats by the land agents. And what if McPherson's barn burning down hadn't been an accident? What if Jarrett land was next on the list?

  Sarah jumped up and grabbed her car keys. Leaving the meal sitting on the table, she locked up the house and got into her Explorer. Crimson Arizona dust spiraled up as she headed off in the direction of Red Ridge in a hurry.