The Heart of a Cowboy

by Charlene Sands

  Sarah drove deep in the canyon, keeping a steady look out for Case. He'd be on horseback she surmised, since his black pickup had been outside the house, right where he'd left it when he'd unloaded her shower gifts. "He's probably all right," she mumbled urgently, her temper rising at his thoughtlessness putting her through this worry. "He better be all right."

  The mountain was awash in color. Rock formations shooting up toward the clouds in brilliant hues of oranges and reds cast a fiery glow to the barren canyon. Sarah had always loved Red Ridge for its towering magnificence. The land here humbled a person, awing them with the majesty of nature.

  Ten minutes later, she spotted a dark speck off in the distance. She drove forward cautiously until she'd as­sured herself it was Case. He wasn't mounted. Diamond, his favorite gray mare ambled several paces behind.

  Sarah stopped the car a few yards away, the land being too jutted for her to attempt in her pregnant state. The bumpy ride had already caused an ache in her side. She ignored the pain and slowly climbed down from the seat to walk over to Case.

  "Sarah," he said, his eyes blurring. "W-what are you doing here?"

  Sarah gasped when she noticed blood running down the side of Case's face and dripping onto the darkness of his shirt. "Case, what happened to you?" Moving closer, Sarah saw a knot alongside his head. She reached up and gently moved aside a few locks of hair to get a better look. "Oh, that's a nasty bump." She fingered the bump tentatively. "Are you hurting?"

  "Just my pride, darlin'." He cocked his head then flinched from the sudden movement. Taking out a ban­danna from his back pocket, he dabbed at the blood on his face. Sarah stepped back to look into his eyes. He focused on her, but it seemed to take a bit of doing. "You shouldn't have come way out here."

  "It's Saturday night, Case. All the hands have gone home for the weekend and someone had to come check on you. Tell me what happened?"

  Case ran his hand down the side of his face that hadn't been bloodied. ‘‘A big old grouchy hawk swooped down on us and spooked Diamond. She reared back and bucked. The mare caught me off guard. Next thing I know, I'm flying through the air. Landed my head on a hard rock. I think I was out for a few minutes."

  Sarah didn't like the way Case was swaying as he spoke. His eyes looked glassy. He had trouble focusing. "I'm afraid you might have been out longer than you think. It's nearly dark. You were supposed to be home an hour ago. You might have a concussion, Case."

  "Naw. I've had my share of those, Sarah. I know the feeling. Mostly my ego is damaged. I've ridden bucking broncos all my adult life. Getting caught by a spooked mare, now that's a hard one to swallow."

  "Still, you should see a doctor."

  "Nope. Just a hot bath will do. I'll be fine." The cor­ners of his mouth lifted in a smile, but the sudden motion cost him. He winced in pain.

  Sarah felt a sudden tightening in her abdomen. She gripped her stomach. A steady stream of water gushed out, running down her legs. "Oh, no," she cried out, doubling over.

  "What? Sarah, what's wrong?"

  The pain intensified. "I think...oh," she exclaimed, the pain gripping her tight. "I think...the baby's com­ing," she managed to say.

  "Now?" Case's shaky voice filled her with fear. "But you have weeks to go," he said in disbelief.

  On instinct, Sarah knew the baby was coming early. This was no false alarm. And she knew the circum­stances. They were out in a desolate part of the range, with no form of communication. Case probably had a concussion. And it appeared from the intensity of her contractions that the baby wasn't going to wait.

  When the pain subsided, Sarah glanced up. Case's face had gone pale. "Now. Babies don't always come on schedule."

  Case straightened and nodded, a determined light com­ing into his eyes. "Okay, okay. Let's get you into the car. We'll make it to the hospital in half an hour."

  "Okay," Sarah said numbly and walked slowly to the car with Case's arm around her shoulder. He helped her up, carefully. Another contraction hit hard. Her stomach tightened and cramped. She tried to remember to breathe. Relax. Take a deep abdominal breath. Let the muscles go loose and limp. She reminded herself of her childbirth training. "Ohhhh!"

  "Sarah?" Case brushed her hair from her face.

  "Sarah, what can I do?"

  "I, uh, just drive, Case. And hurry."

  "You got it."

  Case got into the car and started the motor. He took it slow on the road, but Sarah felt every pit, every jut. When another hard contraction hit, Sarah screamed. "Stop!"

  Case slammed on the brakes.

  She doubled over again and tried to breathe slowly, taking calming breathes. "They're so p-powerful," she said, gasping when the contraction reached its peak.

  Case grabbed for the car phone. "I'm calling for help."

  Sarah didn't have the strength to tell him the phone wouldn't work. He'd find out soon enough.

  Case cursed up a storm then slammed the phone back into its socket. "Damn it, I can't get through." He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "Sarah, I've gotta get you to the hospital." She nodded and he started the motor up. Just then, another powerful contraction hit. ''Ohhhh.'' This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen. Sarah recalled her childbirth instructor saying most first-time babies take their time. Often, the contractions come twenty minutes apart. Hers seemed to be hitting every two minutes.

  She could see Case's eyes half on her, half on the road. "I'm sorry, honey. If there was anything I could do, I'd do it."

  They hit a large bump in the road. It was dark out now. Case tried to find the best route out of the canyon, but Sarah was becoming increasingly more uncomfort­able. "Case, you have to stop."

  Case slowed the car and peered at her. ‘‘I have to get you to the hospital."

  Sarah shook her head and grabbed on to his sleeve. "No, Case. There isn't time. The baby's coming too fast."

  Case stopped the car again and stared at her, blinking several times. She met the fear in his eyes with her own. There was no way around this, no help for it. Sarah knew what he had to do. The contractions were intense and coming far too frequently. She pleaded with him now. He was her only hope. "Case, you have to deliver my baby."

  Four

  Case Jarrett swore silently, but wouldn't let Sarah see his apprehension. He'd scanned over the literature Dr. Michaels had given him, but had never once thought he'd be called upon to deliver Sarah's baby. Yet, he had no other option. And as Sarah let out another plea when a contraction hit, Case calmed her. "Okay, Sarah. We're going to do this together. Don't you worry, darlin'. I'm here and I won't let you down."

  Sarah's eyes met his, searching. He nodded, keeping her locked in his gaze until her fear slowly dissipated. She was counting on him, he knew, and Case had to muster all of his courage to help her. Lord help him if anything went wrong. Case cast her a quick reassuring smile. "I'm going to get you more comfortable, for one." He opened the trunk, found an old but clean Navajo blanket and pulled out a flashlight as well.

  With the lights on in the car, Case helped Sarah into the back seat. She removed her pants and covered up modestly with the blanket he'd given her.

  Another contraction hit and Sarah moaned. Her re­straint and the effort she made to stay in control was apparent on her face as she took deep calming breaths. Case grasped hold of her hand and stroked her gently. "That's good, sweetheart. Breathe in and out slowly."

  She squeezed his hand tight. "I th-think the baby is m-moving down. I can f-feel it, Case." Sarah began to shake, her body reacting to the intensity of the contrac­tions. "Transition," she moaned. "W-won't be l-long now before I s-start pushing." With wide eyes, Sarah gauged his expression.

  A master of cool, Case smiled again and although he'd broken out in a sweat, he knew Sarah was far too busy to notice. Bending over, he brushed aside a few strands of hair that had fallen into her eyes. He spoke softly, meeting her eyes again, with a calmness he didn't really feel. "That's good. The baby's coming real soon."r />
  Case knew a hundred things could go wrong, but he banked on Sarah's strength, her determination and her love for the baby to put them both on the right path. He gave her hand a little squeeze. "You're doing great, Sarah."

  She nodded, looking deep into his eyes and took an­other deep breath.

  "Let it out, darlin'. Breathe in and out real slow. That's good," Case said, beginning to gain a bit of con­fidence. He'd pushed his hazy mind to the limit, but he had recalled some of the things a coach needed to do in order to help. Thanks to Dr. Michaels and her little bro­chure.

  "I have to push!" Sarah said urgently.

  Case helped Sarah get into place and as awkward as it was in the back seat of the car, they managed to get her into somewhat of a pushing position. "Okay?" he asked. Sarah nodded and took

  a breath. "I'm here for you, Sarah. Don't you worry about a thing. Jarretts are strong. This baby is coming out, no trouble at all."

  She met his eyes again as if connecting with him gave her strength. Case hoped so, they both needed to be strong right now. When she pushed hard, her face con­torted, but not so much with pain as sheer resolve, he noted. Case held her, whispered encouraging words in her ear, helped her with one contraction after another and realized that each guttural sound she made brought the baby that much closer to the birth. "You're doing real good, sweetheart," he said, holding her close. "Won't be long now."

  Ten minutes later, with one last final push, the new baby Jarrett was born. Case caught her as she entered the world and was struck immediately by the wonder of it all.

  Case held the child in his arms, a wiggling, wet, little bundle that didn't look much like a baby at all. Yet, she was beautiful all the same. She was his niece, the child he helped bring into the world. Nothing he'd ever done in the past, meant as much, or had had this profound an effect on him. Awed into silence from the miracle that he'd just witnessed, Case could only hold her carefully for a moment, staring into eyes barely struggling to open. The baby cried, little soft sounds that were heaven to Case's ears. The child was healthy and apparently, no worse for wear. "Here she is," he said softly, handing Sarah her child. "It's a girl." Tears of joy streamed down Sarah's face, a look of pure love shining in her eyes. "Oh, she's beautiful." She took hold of the baby's hand. "Hello, little Christiana."

  Case grabbed the blanket and wrapped the baby, wip­ing her dry in places, covering both mother and child. The baby found her mother's breast easily and began suckling. "She is that," Case said, nearly tongue-tied watching the scene, then he focused on the woman who had just given birth. "You feeling all right, Sarah?"

  "I think so," she said, smiling down at her baby. "We did all right, didn't we?"

  "Just fine, darlin'. Any fainting I plan to do will be in private." He winked and smiled but Sarah didn't smile back. Instead, she grasped his hand in hers and held on tight. Her blue eyes softened and filled with gratitude. She spoke quietly, "I'll never forget what you did, Case. You delivered my baby."

  Case sighed, his chest heavy with emotion. "Ah, Sarah. Don't think I'll ever forget, either." He peered down at the babe and raw powerful feelings welled up, shocking him to his bones at how such a small little life, a new being, could impact him so fully. "Now, are you ready for a drive? I've got to get you two to the hospital. Once we're out of the canyon, I'll phone ahead. You'll be taken care of properlike."

  Sarah leaned back and sighed, a look of total and com­plete contentment on her face as she peered at her baby. Sarah Johnston Jarrett was a woman made for mothering. "We're ready, Case," she said softly, the baby nuzzling at her breast. "But we've already been taken care of pro­perlike."

  Christiana Marie Jarrett weighed in at five pounds three ounces, born four weeks early. For the two days Sarah had been in the hospital, Case had divided his time between working the ranch, visiting Sarah and his new baby niece and building a rocking horse for her.

  Case insisted on picking Sarah up from the hospital and once they reached the Triple R, he helped her out of the car. "You're home," he said to Sarah, then bent into the back seat and lifted Christiana out of her car seat. "And so are you, little one. Welcome to the Triple R, Christie."

  Christiana squawked, bringing a look of concern to Sarah's face. Case handed the baby over to her. "She's fine, darlin'. Just testing out her lungs."

  Sarah laughed, carefully holding her child in her arms. Pete and several of the ranch hands walked over, anxious to catch a glimpse of the new arrival.

  "Ahhh, she's a pretty one, just like her mama," Pete said, keeping a safe distance away. Babies seemed to make most men real nervous.

  "Thanks, Pete," Sarah said, lifting the baby up a bit so that all the men could see her. ' 'Say hello to everyone, Christiana." Sarah and the baby were greeted with cheers of congratulations and good wishes.

  Case put a hand to Sarah's back to brace her, but also to renew the connection they'd shared when they'd de­livered the baby together. It felt right touching Sarah, keeping both mother and baby safe. An uncanny sense of pride swelled within Case's chest. "I think mama and baby need to get some rest now." Lines of fatigue had appeared on Sarah's joyous face. Case knew Sarah was tired. "Let's get you inside the house."

  Sarah nodded, waving goodbye to everyone. Case kept a hand to her back, guiding her up the stairs. "I finished setting up the nursery," he said, "but I'm not sure you're gonna like where I put things."

  "Case, you've done so much already," Sarah said, her voice laced with gratitude. "I'm sure it'll be just fine."

  When Sarah entered the baby's nursery, a look of ad­miration stole over her face as she held back tears. ' 'Oh, it's lovely." Case hadn't been sure where to put the crib, diaper changer and dresser, but he'd arranged the furni­ture the best that he could. An oak rocking chair sat in one corner of the room and the rocking horse he'd made for the baby, he'd placed on the other side.

  Sarah walked over to the rocking horse. "Did you make this?"

  With a slow nod, Case replied, ' 'Will be a while before she's able to ride it, but it's fitting, don't you think? Christiana needs to learn how to ride a horse. I figured this one first, before she gets on the real thing."

  Sarah drew in her bottom lip, her voice unsteady. "She'll love it. Thank you, Case."

  "You're welcome." Case let out a breath. "I'll get your bags from the car. You'll be wanting to move up­stairs now, so you can be closer to the baby's room. Want me to take your room downstairs?''

  "Oh? I hadn't thought about that. No need for you to move on our account. You're settled in up here. Unless, you think the crying will keep you from sleep?"

  "Nothing keeps me from sleep, darlin'." Case grinned. "I'll get to it right away. You okay up here with the baby?"

  "We'll be just fine. I think I'll rock her for a while." With care, Sarah handed the baby to Case then lowered herself down. Once she settled, Case kissed the baby on the forehead and handed her back to Sarah.

  "Enjoy the ride," he said. "I'll get Pete and we'll have you moved upstairs real quick."

  Sarah smiled, but her focus, her full attention was on her baby. Case was nearly out the door, when Sarah called his name. "Case."

  He turned to glance at her.

  Sarah shook her head slightly, her eyes misting up. She said with sweet regard, "I don't know how to thank you for all you've done."

  "I'm glad to do it, Sarah," he offered, leaving her with the baby. He'd do just about anything for Sarah and her baby, though the one thing he really wanted from Sarah, he could never have.

  He had a promise to keep, and he sincerely doubted his brother Reid would approve of the images flashing in his head right now, of how Sarah could thank him prop­erly.

  Hell, there was nothing "proper" about it.

  He wanted Sarah Johnston Jarrett in his bed and in his life. Keeping his distance would test his willpower to its limit.

  Later that night, Sarah set Christiana in her crib, both mother and daughter quite exhausted. Christiana's bright blue eye
s shuddered closed, surrendering the battle of sleep. Sarah covered her with a pretty pink blanket. "Sleep well, sweetheart. I'm right next door."

  Even that distance seemed too far for Sarah. The baby had been alongside of her for two full days while in the hospital. Mother and daughter had yet to be separated. Reluctantly Sarah tiptoed out of the room, desperately fighting off the temptation to return.

  Sarah stepped into the room adjacent to the nursery. It had once been the bedroom she'd shared with Reid. She had no choice but to have her things moved up here again. She wouldn't upend Case. The room down the hall had always been his. As children, Case and Reid had shared that room together. Yet, to be as near her baby as possible, Sarah took the master bedroom again, but it wasn't the same. One essential person was missing and he'd never be back. He'd never know his beautiful daughter or witness her growth, her first smile, her first step.

  Sarah sighed and fought off the melancholy mood threatening to seize her. She'd decided long ago that she wouldn't dwell in the past, but live for the future. She'd loved Reid Jarrett with all of her heart, but he was gone now, and Sarah had a sweet little child to raise and a ranch to run.

  Sarah slipped out of her maternity dress and put on her nightgown, a bout of fatigue finally hitting her. It had been an eventful day, coming home from the hospital, moving back into her bedroom, realizing that she'd be living with Case Jarrett, for as long as he decided to stay on.

  Somehow, it seemed different now, with Christiana here and the three of them sharing the same home, each one to their own rooms. Case was family. He was Chris­tiana's uncle, the man who had brought her into the world, yet Sarah still couldn't help or deny the wariness she felt around him.

  He'd always made her nervous. She'd never trusted him.

  The knock to her door startled her. She jumped out of bed and reached for her robe. "Just a minute," she called out, jamming her arms into the sleeves and tying up the belt.