Second Chance Cowboy

by Sylvia McDaniel

  He ducked his head and shuffled his feet, “I’m sorry, but you need to know now.”

  Alarmed at the urgency in his voice, she replied, “Let me say goodbye to the rest of my guests; then we’ll talk.”

  Sabrina found Patrick talking to Maria. “Sam wants to talk with me. He says it’s urgent and can’t wait. Would you mind staying while Sam talks to me? Maria doesn’t understand English very well, and with Matt not here. . . .” Unable to finish, Sabrina blinked hard, trying to hold back the tears. She had no one. No one but Patrick to turn to. She reached up and swiped a tear away with the back of her hand.

  “I’ll stay, Sabrina.”

  After everyone had left, the men followed Sabrina into the parlor. The nervous little man took a seat on the sofa.

  What could Sam have to tell her that was so important, he wouldn’t wait until next week? Could the rumor mentioned in the telegram be true?

  Sam cleared his throat nervously. He glanced at Patrick. “Ah, it’s rather personal.”

  “It’s okay, Sam. I asked Patrick to stay.”

  Sam frowned and shifted his eyes to Sabrina. “Two years ago your father bought five thousand acres of land the state had for sale. He bought it because Dove Creek ran across that section of land and he’d wanted it for years.”

  Sabrina sighed and clenched her hands in her lap “He told me about the land. He needed the water.” The banker continued stammering. “When it went up for sale, he was short on capital and the bank arranged a loan for him.” Sam took out his handkerchief and wiped the perspiration from his brow. “He put the ranch up as collateral. The loan came due after last year’s roundup.”

  “I know. Cattle prices were down last year and Dad didn’t make as much on the drive.”

  Sam looked at Sabrina sadly. “That’s true. Your father paid a portion of the loan, but the balance is now due.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “The loan is due in full on September first.”

  Sabrina gasped. “That barely gives us enough time to get the cattle to market!”

  “I know. That’s why I thought you needed to know as soon as possible.”

  Patrick, who had been leaning against the fireplace, asked, “Can’t the bank extend the loan a few more weeks?”

  Sam glanced at Patrick and then at Sabrina. “I can’t. The terms of the loan will not allow any more extensions.”

  Would the bank really take her home away? “Sam, I need more time. My family has always paid their debts to you. You know we’ll pay that loan. Give me until October first.”

  “I’m sorry, I wish I could.”

  Sabrina stared at the red-faced man in shock. What was she going to do? They couldn’t lose the ranch.

  Sam cleared his throat and shifted his eyes away from Sabrina. “Someone is interested in buying the Big C. If you’d like, I’ll contact him.”

  “Sell the ranch? Absolutely not. This is my home.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just doing my job,” he defended.

  Patrick, who had remained quiet asked, “Who is this buyer?”

  The banker’s eyes dropped. “I’m not permitted to reveal that information to you.”

  Anger filled Sabrina. She had lost her father, her brother and now possibly her home. “Go back and tell this buyer the Big C is not for sale. You’ll get your money, if I have to take those cattle to market myself.”

  “Is there anything else?” Sabrina wanted this despicable man out of her house. He might be in control of the bank, but for the time, this house still belonged to her.

  “No,” Sam answered sheepishly.

  “I’ll show you to the door.”

  At the door, Sam looked at Sabrina. “I’m sorry. I wish things were different.”

  “Good night, Mr. Bradley.” Sabrina quietly shut the door and slumped against it, drained from the encounter. What was she going to do?

  Patrick watched Sabrina wearily walk back into the room and slump into the nearest chair. Frustrated, he felt her desperation, but didn’t know how to help her. Then he recalled his conversation with Jed only weeks ago. Jed had been afraid something would happen to him and had confided in Patrick where the money was hidden.

  “Sabrina! Your father’s money box. Have you checked it?”

  “The money box! I forgot all about Dad’s money box.” She whirled around and ran to Jed’s room. Throwing back the rug, she lifted up the loose flooring and pulled out the small cash box.

  Opening it, her face fell. “There’s so little here. What happened?” Her father had told her about the money several years ago, in case anything ever happened to him, but besides her mother’s wedding ring and some other jewelry, there was very little cash.

  Patrick came to stand beside her and looked down in the box. Frowning, he asked, “How much is there?’

  “Not enough to pay the loan off.” Sabrina sat down on the floor with a thud. “I don’t understand, Patrick Where did the money go?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Sabrina looked up at him suddenly, confusion in her voice. “How did you know about Dad’s money box?”

  Patrick saw the suspicion in her eyes. “Your father confided in me several weeks ago.”

  Sabrina slowly put the box back in the floor and covered it up. Her father had wanted her to marry Patrick. He'd been delighted when Patrick asked for her hand, but to tell him about where the family money was kept? Matt was his son. Why would he confide in Patrick instead of Matt? And now the box was twenty-five-hundred-dollars short!

  “There’s no money to pay off the bank note, and Matt’s not here to get the cattle to Dodge City.”

  “I was planning on going with your dad. I’ll combine our herds and drive them myself.”

  Sabrina looked at Patrick. Could she trust this man to get her cattle to Dodge City and return with the money to pay off the bank note? Yes, he had been a Texas Ranger, but money was obviously missing out of the cash box and Patrick had known where it was. Could she sit at home for three months and wonder what was happening?

  Absolutely not! Those were her cattle, and unless Matt could be found, she would go on this drive. She spoke with quiet but desperate firmness. “On one condition; I go with you.”

  “Are you crazy?” Two quick strides put Patrick in front of Sabrina. His eyes blazed with indignation. His calm voice commanded. “No! You’re not going.”

  Hands on hips, eyes flashing, she turned toward Patrick. “Those cattle are all I have left to save my home. I’m not going to sit at home, wondering what’s happening, while they travel five hundred miles across country.”

  “I understand, Sabrina, but the trail is no place for a woman.” Patrick’s quiet firmness shook Sabrina for just a moment. Those were her cattle, and no one was taking them anywhere without her.

  “I have punched cows before,” she informed him quickly. “I have been on cattle roundups before. I’ve slept out under the stars and ridden long distances. I can do this.”

  “Trail life is difficult for men, let alone a woman. It’s too dangerous.” Sabrina watched as he stopped before her, his eyes flashing with anger. The truce of the last few days was obviously over.

  “Seems to me it hasn’t been too safe around here.” Her tone changed to entreaty. “I have to be with those cattle. What if something happened to you and the money didn’t make it back in time? I have to go.”

  Exasperated, Patrick ran his hands through his hair. “What if Matt went? Would that make you feel any better?”

  “No. He couldn’t even show up for his father’s funeral. What makes you think I would depend on him to save the ranch?” Anger filled Sabrina. She’d trusted Matt, had loved him and defended him. In the end he had betrayed her.

  Patrick was staring at Sabrina in amazement.

  “Well, it’s true,” she defended. “Those are my cattle I’m going!” Sabrina crossed her arms across her chest defiantly.

  Patrick turned dark, powerful eyes on Sabrina. I don’t want t
o hear any more nonsense from you about going on the drive. Forget it. I’m leading the drive. Therefore, I say who goes and who doesn’t!”

  “If you refuse to let me go, then I’ll do this by myself! I’ve never led a cattle drive, but I’ll try. I swear I will.” Sabrina stared unblinkingly at Patrick. She had no choice.

  He shoved his hat on his head and walked to the door.

  “Where are you going?” Sabrina cried.

  “I’m going into town, to find Matt.” Patrick glared at Sabrina. “Damn, woman, you have a way of irritating the hell out of me, but Matt’s going, not you!”

  Chapter 5

  As if in deference to Sabrina’s feelings, Friday morning dawned a beautiful spring day. Only four days after they buried her father, the clouds burned away. The sun blazed across a brilliant indigo Texas sky, but Sabrina didn’t notice the change in the weather.

  With a sense of urgency, she got up early to help Buckets load the chuck wagon. The men were packed and ready to leave the next day. They would spend several days out on the range before moving down the trail. If Matt didn’t show up, she planned to catch up with the men before they left.

  Matt. Her heart ached with sadness for the brother she’d loved. The little boy she’d raised from a child into a young man. The adolescent that was full of mischief. Had she been foolish to protect him, believe in him all these years?

  Maria hurried into the kitchen where Sabrina was loading a box of supplies for Buckets. Puzzled, she asked, “Were you expecting Trey to visit today?”

  “Oh no! I forgot. We were going on a picnic, but then everything happened. Is he here?” Sabrina looked down at herself. She had on Matt’s old clothes. Not exactly what a lady wore to receive guests, but she had planned on riding out to the pasture later to check on the men’s progress.

  “Si! He is waiting outside on the porch for you. He has a picnic basket with him.” Maria looked at her questionably.

  “Maria, tell him I’ll be out to see him in less than five minutes.” Sabrina wished she had never agreed to this picnic with Trey, but now the need for information on Matt was stronger than ever. This was her opportunity to talk Trey into revealing what he knew regarding her brother.

  As she opened the door she saw Trey sitting quietly, waiting on the veranda, gazing at the countryside.

  “Hello, Trey.”

  He turned in his chair, an eager expression of hello on his face. Sabrina watched his demeanor change from delight to dismay as he stared at her attire.

  “You’re wearing men’s clothes. . .” he stammered.

  “I’d forgotten our picnic. I plan on riding out to check on the men today.” Sabrina watched his eyes travel from her head to her toes and back up again with a mixture of disbelief and something else. Something close to desire. She squirmed under his close scrutiny.

  “I could wait while you change and then we could go,” Trey suggested.

  “Not today. But we could sit on the porch and talk if you’d like.” She didn’t feel like going on a picnic. With the death of her father less than a week ago, she didn’t want to spend any more time than necessary with Trey.

  “What if I get the basket and we have our picnic here?”

  “I’m not very hungry.”

  “I have all this food. I’d hate for it to go to waste,” Trey insisted.

  “All right.” While Trey retrieved the basket of food,

  Sabrina pulled up a small table and two chairs. Tall cottonwood trees shaded the veranda, making it a pleasant picnic area.

  Sabrina watched Trey hurry up the steps carrying the picnic basket. They had attended the same schools, church, and played together as children, but she’d never felt as if she knew him. Growing up, he’d never fit in with the other children.

  Trey opened the picnic basket, unloading it onto the table. Sabrina observed him as he emptied the basket. His auburn hair shone with a natural brilliance, accentuating his light coloring.

  “Would you like to eat now or do you want to wait?” Trey questioned, arching one eyebrow.

  “Let’s eat now.” Anything to get this over with.

  Trey unfolded a cloth napkin and spread it across her lap. A smile curved his lips as he filled a plate of food and handed it to Sabrina.

  “You don’t have to wait on me,” Sabrina informed him. His actions made her uncomfortable. Strange. She had never thought of being alone with Trey; she had never wanted to.

  Green eyes locked and held hers. He laid his hand on top of hers and squeezed it gently. “It’s my pleasure.”

  Sabrina glanced down at her food. His eagerness to please was overwhelming and left her with a sense of unease.

  Trey filled his plate and hungrily attacked the food. Neither of them spoke as they ate their meal. Sabrina picked at her food until Trey had finished his. Then he produced two slices of strawberry pie from the basket.

  Sabrina eyed the pie with pleasure. “My favorite!”

  “I know,” came Trey’s smug reply.

  Surprised, she asked, “How did you know?”

  “Matt told me.” Trey smiled.

  For a moment her fork hung suspended in midair, dangling from her hand as she gathered her wits about her. Trey had spoken with Matt She glanced down at the strawberry pie, her appetite disappearing. “When did you speak with Matt?”

  “A couple of days ago.” Trey picked up his fork.

  A couple of days ago. The funeral had only been a couple of days ago. Matt had known about their father’s death and had deliberately chosen not to see her. Secretly, she had hoped he would ride in, explain he had just returned and been informed, but he had chosen not to come to the funeral.

  Anger surged through Sabrina. She needed him and he was too self-centered to help. And what about their father? Hadn’t Matt wanted to pay his last respects to the man who had given him life? The brother she knew and loved couldn’t be so cold.

  She took a deep breath and glared at Trey. “Where is Matt?”

  Trey’s green eyes gazed at her. “I don’t know. Eat your pie. It’s delicious.”

  She resisted the urge to pick up the pie and cram it in Trey’s face. “Right now, I want to know where my brother is and why he didn’t come to our father’s funeral!”

  Trey stared at Sabrina. Lowering his fork, he pushed his chair back from the table. “Sabrina, Matt is a grown man. I saw him at the Painted Lady Saloon as he was heading out of town.”

  Sabrina felt as if she’d been punched. Disappointment surged through her. He had left town without bothering to say goodbye. “He’s left town?”

  “Yes,” Trey replied. His voice was full of sympathy.

  Tears began to slide down her cheeks. The last few days had been absolute hell. “I thought you knew where he was and wouldn’t tell me.”

  “You know I’d help you if I could.” Trey stood up and came around to Sabrina’s side of the table. He squatted down beside her chair.

  Sabrina watched as he picked up her hand and slowly brought it to his lips. In shock she felt his breath caressing the back of her hand, and then his lips were touching her skin. Turning her hand over, he kissed her palm, moving his lips until he was kissing her wrist. A queasy feeling filled her stomach as he lifted his green eyes to hers and Sabrina saw the raw desire burning in them.

  “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since the night of the dance. I can’t sleep at night for thinking of you. I know this has been a hard time for you.”

  She stared at him in surprise. They had seen each other three times since she’d come home.

  “Trey!”

  “I have plans, Sabrina. I don’t want to be just a rancher. I intend to be governor of this state someday.” He stood up and placed both hands on either side of her chair, trapping her. Automatically, she leaned back from him as she watched his mouth descend toward her.

  His wet lips touched hers, covering them. With expert finesse he explored her mouth. Sabrina felt awkward, stiff. No passion, no desire,
nothing except queasiness. She placed her hand on his chest and pushed him away.

  But Trey wasn’t finished. He knelt on bended knee, picking up Sabrina’s hand. “I know you’re still in mourning, but you need someone to take care of you. I wanted you years ago, but there was always Patrick. Now things are different.” He squeezed her hand and took a deep breath. “Let me take care of you, Sabrina. Marry me.”

  Shocked, Sabrina simply stared at him. This was the third time she had seen this man in the last two years and he was asking her to marry him? Was he crazy?

  “Trey, please get up.” Sabrina watched him stand up with a frown marring his features. “I can’t think straight. I just lost my father, and I have a cattle drive to worry about. I never. . . we never . . . I’m honored that you asked me, but. . . .”

  “Before you refuse me—think about it. I could help you, Sabrina. I’d take care of getting the cattle sold. I’d pay off the loan at the bank. Most of all, you’d be my wife!”

  “How do you know about the bank loan?”

  Trey patted her hand. “My father knows just about everything that is happening in this town.”

  Stunned, Sabrina stared at Trey. He was asking her to marry him and promising to pay off the bank loan. All her worries would be over. She wouldn’t have to make that long cattle drive. But could she live with this man for the rest of her life? Did she want to? “Why do you want to marry me, Trey?”

  He stood up and walked around the veranda. “Someday I’m going to be elected governor of this state. I’ll need a wife by my side, helping me, presiding over state dinners and teas.” He turned back to her. “You’re cultured; you’re beautiful. You’re everything I’m looking for in a wife.”

  A flood of irritation filled Sabrina. Not only was he blind, but a fool. He seemed to have forgotten the single most important element in a marriage. Love.

  She’d demand that sentiment of the man she married.

  “I don’t want you going on this cattle drive.” Trey sent her a stern look.

  Was nothing in this town a secret? “Who told you I planned to go?”

  “Matt. All I could think about was you out on the trail with Patrick.” Trey spit the last words out as if they left a bad taste in his mouth.