In a Cowboy's Arms

If he had one regret it was that his siblings wouldn’t be there. But when he brought Sadie home as his wife, they’d understand the measures he’d had to take to protect Sadie from her out-of-control father.

* * *

“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.”