The Heart of a Cowboy

Sarah knew all too well what happened when Case got “interested.” For about five minutes in his life, she’d been the object of his desire on her prom night. That evening had been a disaster. Not only had Case tricked her but he’d also made Sarah doubt herself and her love for Reid. That had been a hard pill to swallow because of all the men in the world, Reid Jarrett deserved her love completely and unconditionally. He was a good man, solid and sure. Sarah had been enraged with Case and his hard-hearted game. He’d proven outright that he could never be trusted.

“But I’m not,” she responded firmly, removing her hand from his chin, “any other woman.”

She was his brother’s pregnant widow and a woman who would always be wary of him. That about sized it up. She couldn’t allow her bouts of loneliness to sway her resolve.

Eyes twinkling now, in direct contrast to the hot look he’d just given her, he had the good sense to back off. “No, ma’am. You’re certainly not just any woman, Sarah.” He lowered his voice. “I’ve always known that.”

The soft way he said those words brought unexpected tingles and Sarah hid her smile. At eight months pregnant, Sarah wasn’t used to hearing too many compliments.

She put her head down and toyed with her salad.

“Well hello, cowboy,” a deep sultry voice called from across the room. Sarah snapped her head up to find Case frowning, then followed the line of his vision. Josie Miller, one of Case’s old girlfriends, sauntered up to the table. The leggy redhead had eyes only for Case.

“Hello, Josie.” Case seemed to eye her with typical male scrutiny.

“How’ve you been, Case. Long time, huh?”

“Yeah, I’d say it’s been a long time.” Case pushed his dish away and stretched out. “Just got back in town, actually. I took Sarah to her doctor’s appointment today.”

Sarah wanted to scream from the proprietary way Case had thrown that bit of information out. She’d just barely allowed him to accompany her to that appointment and Case made it sound as if…as if they would be sharing more than her medical appointments.

Josie’s wide smile faded, glancing from Case to her. “Oh, hello, Sarah. When’s the baby due? You look like you’re ready to pop.”

“Babies don’t pop, Josie,” Case said, coming to Sarah’s defense before she had a chance to respond. It more than irritated her that Case would be answering questions on her behalf.

“The baby’s due in about one month, Josie.”

“Oh, that so?” Josie swung her hip in Case’s direction, but he didn’t appear to notice.

“Yes,” Sarah answered. “I can hardly wait.”

Josie tossed her long red hair off her shoulder. “I bet. You plan on being the surrogate daddy, Case?” The woman seemed truly intent on his answer.

“Well, I, uh.” Case blinked and fumbled with an answer. “Not exactly.”

“My child will know who his father is, Josie. And that Case is his uncle.” Sarah hoped she left no room for doubt.

“I see. Sure. The three of you all, living in that little ole ranch house together. Seems to me, that baby might get a teeny bit confused.”

Heat surged up Sarah’s throat and stung her face. She couldn’t look at Case. She couldn’t look at Josie. The woman hit the nail right on the head. Sarah had been thinking that very thing ever since Case showed up yesterday. She hadn’t expected his arrival and now all sorts of doubts were filtering in about their living arrangements once the baby came.

She’d planned on keeping Reid’s memory alive by speaking of him often and showing her child pictures of his father. But Case was the spitting image of Reid. With all three of them living under one roof, things could get confusing all the way around.

“I’m sure you folks will work it all out,” Josie said smugly, then directed her attention back to Case, “but if you get at all tired of the family scene, Case, you have my number. Don’t hesitate.”

Case pursed his lips and nodded grimly. “’Night, Josie.”

“Same to you all,” she said sweetly.

“She’s not subtle,” Sarah said, once Josie returned to her table across the diner. Sarah decided to keep Josie’s marital problems to herself having never been one to gossip. But the fact remained Josie had been married and divorced twice since high school.

Case chuckled, his tight face giving way to a smile. “She never was.”

“You liked her once.”

“I liked a lot of women, once.” He let out a deep sigh. “Those days are long gone.”

Sarah found that hard to believe. Case Jarrett with his devastating good looks and aloof attitude had been a heartbreaker. He liked women, all kinds of women and had always been the first to admit that. “You don’t mean you plan on settling down, do you?”

That could solve her problem. If Case had a wife, then Sarah wouldn’t feel so doggone awkward with him underfoot.

Case shook his head. “Noooo. Settling down means getting involved with a woman. I’ve just about sworn off females.”

“I give you about a week, Case.”

“I’m serious,” he said, leaning forward. “I’m going to focus on the ranch and…uh—”

“And?” Case was holding something back. She could see it in his eyes and in the way his shoulders stiffened.

“Nothing, Sarah. You ready to go?”

“Yes. I’m all through.”

“Let’s get on back home,” he said impatiently.

Sarah cringed inwardly at how Case used the very same expression Reid would whisper in her ear when he was impatient to get Sarah home. To make love. They’d spend a long sweet night together, loving.

How different her life was now.

There’d be no more nights of love and no more sweet embraces.

The only thing she had to look forward to was the arrival of the baby. That would be enough to see her through long lonely nights.

On the way home, Case pulled up to the Beckman Bridle Homes trailer located just outside of Prescott. The sign out front showed a planned community with a country club, golf course and boasted five hundred new “bridle path homes.” Hell, every damn ranch within a twenty-mile radius was a bridle path home. And if the path wasn’t there, you simply mounted your cow pony and etched one out of the land.

“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.”

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