In a Cowboy's Arms

“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.

Zane’s wife had betrayed him with another man while he’d been in the navy. After he’d left the military, they’d divorced and, not long after, Zane had lost his elder brother, Tim. “Honey, I can do that.”

“I know you can, Millie, but you spent enough time raising me. The last thing I want to do is take advantage of you. We’ll be back shortly.”

Sadie reached for the truck keys on the peg at the back door and hurried outside. She found Zane walking around with Ryan. He made the perfect father. His ex-wife had been the loser in that relationship. Sadie knew how much he’d wanted a family. It broke her heart.

She scooped her little brother from the ground before darting Zane a glance. “Will you drive me to town? We need to talk.”

“Sure.”

She handed him the keys to her father’s Silverado and walked over to get in. They’d brought a car seat from California for Ryan and had already installed it in the backseat. Once he was strapped in securely, she climbed into the front with Zane and they took off.

Zane gave her a sideways glance. “I know that look on your face. You’ve had bad news.”

“Much worse than anything I had imagined, but Mac and Millie don’t know a thing yet. The fact is my father disowned me.” She ended up telling him everything written in the will. “I’ve got three weeks from today to come up with a plan. I don’t want the Hensons to find out about this.”

“Of course not. That monster!” he muttered under his breath, but she heard him. “I’m sorry, Sadie.” They followed the dirt road out to the highway.

“Don’t be. With him, the shoe fits. The bottom line is, if I want to make my home on this ranch, I’ll have to buy it from the Realtor in Billings. There was no mention in the will that I couldn’t. I have some savings after working for your brother, but not nearly enough to make a dent. In the meantime I need to find a job in town and put Ryan in day care.”

Zane grimaced. “I could give you some money.”

“You’re an angel, Zane, but you gave your ex-wife the house you both lived in, so you need to hold on to any money you’ve saved. I’ll have to find another avenue to pay off the debt owing the bank so I can hold on to the ranch, but I’ve got to hurry.”

“I’ve got an idea how you can do it.” She jerked her head toward him, waiting for the miracle answer. “I could sell Tim’s house in San Francisco.”

Sadie made several sounds of protest. “After your divorce, mother willed it to you before she died because she assumed I’d inherit the ranch one day. She knew Tim would have wanted you to have it.”

“You’re forgetting she expected you to go on living there with Ryan.”

“But it’s not mine, and I don’t want to live in San Francisco.”

“Neither do I. I have no desire to be anywhere near my ex, so I’ve got another idea.”

“What?”

“The house isn’t completely paid off, but I could still get a substantial amount if I sell it. With that money, plus any you have, we could move here and become joint owners of the ranch.”

Her heart gave a great clap. “You’re not serious!”

“Yeah. Actually, I am. I spent a lot of years in the military and know I won’t be happy unless I’m working outdoors in some capacity. So far I haven’t found a job that appeals to me. I can help with the ranching for a while until I know what it is I want to do with the rest of my life.”

“Zane, you’re just saying that because you’re at loose ends and are one of the great guys of this world.”

“I’m saying it because I have no parents, no brother and I don’t want to lose Ryan. I know you have nothing holding you in California. To be honest, I like the idea of being part owner with you. It’ll be our investment for Ryan’s future.”

Her eyes smarted with unshed tears. “If you’re really serious...”

“I’m dead serious. Take a look around. With these mountains, this is God’s country all right. It’s growing on me like crazy. I already like Mac and Millie. And the little guy in back seems perfectly content. Why don’t you think about it?”

“I am thinking. So hard I’m ready to have a heart attack.”

“Don’t do that! If you wake up tomorrow and say it’s a go, I’ll fly back to San Francisco and get the house on the market. While I’m there, I’ll put everything from the house and my apartment in storage for us. What do you say?”

She was so full of gratitude, she could hardly talk. “I say I don’t need to wait until tomorrow to tell you yes, but I don’t want ownership. The ranch should be put in your name for you and Ryan. I’ll get a job and do housekeeping to earn my keep. In time we’ll build up a new herd of cattle. Anything less and I won’t agree.”

He flashed her the kind of smile she hadn’t seen since before Tim’s death. Zane had dimples, too, an irresistible Lawson trait. “You sound just like your mother when she’s made up her mind, but you need to think about this. There’s a whole life you’ve left behind in San Francisco. Men you’ve dated. Friends.”

“I know, and I’ve enjoyed all of it including my job at your brother’s store. But with Mother gone, it hasn’t been the same. Now that my father has died, I feel the only place I really belong is here.”

After a period of quiet he said, “I can tell you this much. I feel this ranch growing on me.”

Like Sadie, Zane needed to put the painful past behind him and get on with life.

“Tell you what, Zane. When I drive you to the airport tomorrow, I’ll stop by Mr. Varney’s office and let him know we have a plan for you to buy the ranch. He can inform the Realtor and we’ll go from there.”

“Sadie—” There was a solemn tone in his voice. “If things don’t work out, we’ll find another small ranch for sale around here. Montana is in your blood. We won’t let your father win.”

She had no words to express the depth of her love for him. Instead, she leaned across the seat and kissed his cheek.

* * *

ON TUESDAY NIGHT Jarod had just returned from the upper pasture when he caught sight of Daniel Corkin’s Silverado parked in front of the Bannock ranch house. Sadie was still here. The blood pounded in his ears as he let himself in the side door of the den on the main floor. His grandfather’s room was farther down the hallway of the two-story house.

With Connor headed for another rodeo event in Oklahoma, either Avery or their housekeeper, Jenny, would have let her in. He planted himself in the doorway of the den. When Sadie left, she would have to walk past him to reach the foyer. Since it had grown dark, he didn’t imagine he’d have to wait much longer. His grandfather tired easily these days.

As if he’d willed her to appear, he saw light and movement at the end of the hall. She moved quietly in his direction. When she was within a few feet he said hello to her.

“Oh—”