Free In a Cowboy's Arms (Hitting Rocks Cowboys) by Rebecca Winters Page B

some chance of finding a mate and a territory than to live safely, but have no chance of reproduction. You don’t know how many winters the Great Spirit will grant you, but they will be cold if you continue to torture yourself with insubstantial dreams that give no warmth.”
    Jarod knew his uncle was right. He could see a marriage working with Leslie. While he ranched, she’d be able to continue with her career. Together they’d raise a family. For a variety of reasons he felt she’d make a good wife. But would he make a good husband? The answer to that question was no. Not if he couldn’t tear Sadie out of his heart.
    “Son? Did you hear me?”
    His head reared. “What was that, grandfather?”
    “I said I need you to do me a favor.”
    “Anything.” He sat in the chair next to the bed, emotionally shredded.
    “It turns out Daniel is worse in death than he was in life.”
    Jarod sat forward. After what Sadie had told him about her father, he wasn’t surprised. “What do you mean?” Sadie’s father had cast a pall over their lives for too many years.
    “He cut Sadie and the Hensons out of his will.”
    The news shocked Jarod. She’d said nothing of this last night. He shot to his feet. “But there’s no one else to inherit!”
    “That’s right. On June third, the ranch is to be sold to the highest bidder. Parker Realty in Billings is handling it.”
    So soon?That was only two weeks away. Jarod’s hands formed fists.
    The lunatic was selling the place rather than give it to his own flesh and blood?
    “I would buy it,” his grandfather continued, “but Daniel thought of that, too. No Bannock will be able to touch it.”
    “But Sadie loves that ranch. It’s her home. If nothing else, she’d want to keep it in her family.”
    “She told me she plans to buy it so she and the Hensons can live on the property until they die. It would be just like that lowlife Corkin to force her to come up with her own money to buy it back. You and I know her heart has always been here.”
    Jarod felt his heart skip a beat. Despite what everyone had been thinking, Sadie wasn’t going back to California. Even when the circumstances pointed otherwise, deep down Jarod had known.
    “Does she have the kind of money it will take?”
    “She has savings, but Zane is flying back to California to sell the Lawson house. That money combined with hers ought to be enough to pay off the bank loan so they can hold on to it until they come up with more.”
    “‘They’?”His nervous system received another shocking jolt. “What does Zane have to do with her ranch?”
    “Everything! Being Ryan’s uncle, he has decided to move here with her. Together they’re going to do the ranching.”
    Jarod frowned. “Does he know anything about ranching?”
    “She said he’s a retired navy SEAL who just got divorced after finding out his wife was unfaithful. If he was courageous enough to defend our country and survive thirteen years in the military, it stands to reason he can learn. Mac will be there to help him.”
    His grandfather had an amazing way of humbling Jarod.
    “One day she wants it to be Ryan’s in honor of Eileen. Their mother put her heart and soul into that ranch before Daniel drove her away. What I want you to do is pay a visit to our attorney in Billings. Ned wants that ranch. He wants Sadie, too, but she was never his to have.”
    Their eyes locked. His grandfather’s steel-gray ones stared at him. “If it wasn’t for that accident, she would have been your wife!”
    As if Jarod needed to be reminded.
    “When Ned hears it’s on the market, he’ll try to fight the will on the grounds that a third-party designee won’t stand up in court these days and anyone can buy it. I want you to get to Harlow before Ned does. Inform him of Sadie’s desperate plight and make sure no one else gets their hands on her property. Block him with everything you’ve got.” His gray eyebrows lifted. “I mean everything. ”
    Jarod