Roping A Runaway Bride

by Honey Jans

  Pipi huffed out a breath. “Rafe said he didn't want to push you anymore. He said he'd conned you into staying here, which I always suspected, and that was no basis for a marriage.” She pulled a document out of her bag. “He waited for me to get here and signed off before he left."

  Sarah gasped.

  Pipi continued, “I told him I figured it was because he found out you weren't rich after all. That you weren't really an heiress."

  "What do you mean she's not an heiress?” Grandfather said.

  "Well you cut her off when she left the family fold, didn't you?” Pipi said sourly.

  Grandfather looked away. “I couldn't bring myself to do it."

  Pipi sighed. “Rafe told me he wouldn't accept your money. Is that true?"

  "Yes it's true. He was majorly teed off when he found out I planned to help finance the dude ranch."

  "Why didn't you come to me for the investment?” Grandfather demanded.

  "At the time we weren't exactly on good terms. I didn't want to put up with the strings that might be attached."

  He looked down. “I guess I've been a little heavy handed over the years."

  "Don't fret over it, Granddad, it's all water under the bridge now."

  Sarah glared at Pipi. “You as much as called him a fortune hunter. No wonder he took off. This is terrible.” Sarah closed her eyes. This couldn't be happening.

  "Cheer up, Sarah,” Pipi said brightly. “He's giving you an easy way out."

  "I love him."

  "Yes, but does he love you?” Pipi countered.

  "Of course. Even a blind man could see it by his actions. Would a man who didn't love me make this noble gesture? Rafe always said actions mean more than words and I guess he was right."

  Pipi turned to Grandfather. “You talk some sense into her. She won't listen to me."

  He glanced warmly at Sarah. “I'd say Sarah knows her own mind."

  "Right,” Granny chimed in. “He seemed like a fine man to me."

  "Darned tooting,” Grandfather added. “A man after my own heart. You two love each other don't you?"

  Sarah smiled with remembrance of their last passionate encounter. “Yes, we love each other very much."

  Pipi snorted. “Then why did he leave? If he cared, he would have stuck around."

  "He left because he didn't want me to stay under duress. Now I don't want to hear any more of your objections, Pipi.” Sarah sat up and her head began to swim. She clung to the mattress to keep from toppling over. She had to tough it out and get to Rafe.

  "What do you think you're doing?” Pipi screeched.

  When the dizzy spell passed, Sarah raised her head and scowled at Pipi's panicked gaze. “I'm getting out of here."

  "Good idea. Let's get back to Boston as soon as possible,” Pipi placated while putting a hand on Sarah's shoulder to make her stay put. “But first the doctors want to keep you under observation for a couple of days."

  Sarah shrugged away and slid her legs off the side of the bed. “No way, I'm getting out of here now."

  There was a tap on the door, and Dr. Phillips walked in. “What's going on in here, World War Three?"

  Pipi rounded on him with her hands on her hips. “You talk some sense into her.” She peered at the doctor's name tag. “Doctor Philips. Sarah wants to leave and I was telling her that it isn't a very good idea."

  Mark Phillips frowned at Pipi then turned to look at Sarah. “Why do you want to leave now?"

  Sarah smiled at his reasonable tone. “I'm okay and I want to go home. There's some urgent business I need to take care of."

  Pipi snorted. “For Pete's sake, Sarah I wouldn't call the cowboy urgent business. You don't actually mean to chase after that husband of yours? You're a heck of a lot better off without him."

  Sarah smiled at her frustrated tone. “Pipi, someday when you meet the right man you'll understand."

  "Bull."

  Doctor Phillips gave a sharp whistle. “That's it. All visitors out so I can examine my patient."

  Pipi glared at him and turned on her heel. She left the room with Granny and Grandfather trailing behind her.

  "You'll have to pardon her, Doctor,” Granny said on her way out. “She's just a little overwrought."

  "She's always been kind of high strung,” Grandpa added.

  Mark nodded. “I understand."

  After they shut the door behind them, Mark turned to Sarah. “Boy, she's really something."

  Sarah grinned. “Who, Granny?"

  "Uh uh, the redhead."

  Sarah shrugged. “Pipi tends to be a little overprotective."

  "Yeah, like a momma bear with her cub. So how are you really feeling this morning?"

  Sarah shrugged. “Like hell, but I can handle it. I need to go home."

  "I'll be the judge of that. Let's take a look.” He shined a light in her eyes, then probed her forehead.

  "Ouch,” Sarah mumbled.

  "You're going to have one beautiful shiner in a couple of days,” he said, slipping his light back in his pocket.

  Sarah smiled. “Gee thanks."

  He cocked his head and gave her a once-over. “Well, you don't seem too bad considering what you've been through. But I wouldn't advise any strenuous activity for several days. I'd rather have you here, but I guess you can go home if you're that gung-ho about it. Just don't overdo it. I don't want Rafe and the redhead to come down on me."

  "Thank you, doctor.” Sarah let out the breath she was holding.

  He walked to the door. “You know, you're one lucky lady. A little harder and you wouldn't have made it."

  Sarah nodded. She knew she had a second chance at life and she wasn't going to mess it up this time. “Thank heaven they caught the guy."

  Mark opened the door. “I heard they arrested one of the ranch hands. They also picked up Nevell Blackthorn. I hear he's making quite an argument about false arrest."

  Thank goodness that Bob Wilson had checked the rifles at the ranch. That was probably how they zeroed in on the hand. She could picture Nevell Blackthorn all huffy and trying to throw his weight around. The man definitely wouldn't take well to confinement.

  But she had more important things to dwell on; Rafe and how much they meant to each other. There would be nothing to keep her from telling him she loved him now. She felt free.

  Sarah eased to the side of the bed and stood up. Keeping one hand on the bed for balance, she walked to the closet. The door opened and Pipi, Granny, and Grandfather walked in.

  "So that stupid doctor is letting you leave?” Pipi carped.

  Sarah continued pulling her clothes off the hangers. “Mark Phillips is not stupid. He's very accommodating. And he's a very good Doctor to boot."

  "I don't care if he's the world's best Doctor. I'll accommodate him with a malpractice suit if anything goes wrong."

  "Will you stop spouting off and come over here and help me get dressed?” Sarah sank down on the bed while Pipi and Granny fluttered around her, helping her dress. Grandfather went out to call for a wheelchair escort.

  Sarah put on the same jeans, camp shirt, and hiking shoes she'd worn yesterday. The scent of wood smoke on the clothes brought back memories of that wonderful camping trip and the surprise attack that followed. She really should have seen it coming, but she thought he was there on ranch business. Her last memory was of Tab's grim face as he brought the butt of his rifle down on her head.

  After Sarah finished dressing and signed the release forms a nurse had brought in, Pipi said, “I'll go call us a cab to take us to the airport."

  Sarah grinned. Her cousin wouldn't give up easily. “While you're at it, call me one to take me back to the Double-H."

  Pipi frowned. “But he doesn't want you."

  "That's not true,” Sarah said cheerfully. “He doesn't want to force me. I'm going back of my own free will."

  "For a lifetime of cows and horses? You know how you hate horses, Sarah."

  Sarah put a soothing arm around Pipi's
tense shoulder and pulled her close for a hug. “No, for a lifetime of love and babies. Don't worry about me, Pipi, I know what I'm doing. And no offense to any of you, but I found the love and family I've always missed right at the Double-H, in Rafe's arms. And guess what, I'm never going to leave."

  Granny smiled and patted Sarah's arm. “Go for it, Sarah. Follow your heart. I did like the look of that young man you married. Besides, we've got all the time in the world to get to know each other."

  Sarah let go of Pipi and reached out to hug her grandmother. “Thanks, Granny Blake. I love you even more for being so generous."

  Sarah turned to get crushed in her grandfather's tight embrace. “Be happy,” he said with a shaky voice.

  Sarah blinked away the tears in her eyes.

  "If that cowboy hurts you, I'll kill him,” Pipi vowed.

  "Don't worry, Pipi, I know exactly what I'm getting into."

  * * * *

  * * * *

  Sarah paid the taxi driver and watched him pull out of the drive. She looked around the grounds but didn't see anybody. Of course, she realized. Today is Sunday and most of the men would be in town.

  She walked toward the house hoping to find Rafe inside. She couldn't wait to see him and tell him she loved him and she was back for good. A loud noise coming from the barn made her stop then change course. Rafe was probably all ready up and doing chores.

  She ambled over to the outbuilding. As she drew nearer, she heard two men's voices. They sounded angry but she was too far away to make out what they were saying. One voice was Rafe's, but she couldn't place the other one. She cautiously stepped forward not wanting to intrude. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light as she walked up to the open doorway. She gasped at the sight that greeted her. Tab Whittacker stood with his rifle pointed at Rafe.

  What on earth was going on? Tab was supposed to be under arrest for attacking her. Unless they got the wrong man! She took a quick side step into the shadows and listened.

  "You're lying, Halliday,” Tab hissed. “I know she's dead."

  Rafe stood in a loose stance, his feet apart as if ready to dodge a bullet. But Sarah knew he'd never make it at this close range. She had to do something to save him, but what?

  "No, you're just incompetent,” Rafe said coolly. “You're probably the one that tried to shoot us and missed."

  Sarah heard a horse nicker and saw Umbriago in the next stall. Could she? She really had no choice.

  "Missed, my ass,” Whittacker shot back. “I was trying to wing her and scare her off. When I aim at a target I don't miss."

  "So it was you who set up Travis?"

  Whittacker sneered. “You're finally catching on, Halliday. It was easy. I knew he was spying on you for Blackthorn, so he was the perfect fall guy. I slipped the rifle out from under his bunk. The kid didn't even know it was missing."

  "And you shot the wolves,” Rafe said grimly. “Was it Blackthorn's idea?"

  "You still don't get it, do you? I did it all, Blackthorn's just a loud mouthed idiot. It was so easy to push his buttons and get him all riled up against you. You always did give him too much credit. You should have looked to your own back yard for trouble."

  "Yeah, and I would have found a yellow-bellied coward."

  "Why you.” Whittacker took a step forward, then stopped. “Uh uh, jerk, I ain't gonna be that easy. You ain't gonna get me rattled."

  "But why did you wait until now to try to destroy me? And why pick on Sarah?"

  "I was biding my time, but I couldn't wait no longer. You were fixin’ to sell part of the ranch to set up your dude ranch. It ain't right to break her up."

  Sarah cautiously inched toward Umbriago, whispering soothing sounds at him the way she'd heard Rafe do. If the horse shied, they were both in big trouble. Umbriago stood steady, eyeing her calmly. Whittacker was certifiable, she had to intervene before he killed Rafe. She stepped up on a rail on the side of the stall and grabbed his mane gently. She eased a leg over his bare back, all the while whispering, “Good horse,” whether to soothe the animal or herself she didn't know.

  Whittacker bragged, “Why pick on Sarah? I knew you'd be easy pickings if she walked out like last time. So that was my first step. I shot the wolves, but she didn't leave. So I winged her, hell I even tried to warn her off but she wouldn't listen. So I had no choice but to kill her."

  "Like I said, Whittacker, you missed."

  "Bull. I didn't miss with all the other stuff I pulled either."

  "What do you mean by that?” Rafe asked in a deceptively calm voice.

  "Figure it out, boss man,” Whittacker sneered. “Who do you think's been causing all the problems around here? Me, that's who. I've been doing all I could do to make you go under."

  "You're just talking through your hat, Whittacker. Why would you do that?"

  Whittacker hissed. “I figured things would fall apart, and I could buy you out. But instead, you came back and dug your heels in. This ranch should be mine, damnit. I loved her. I'd never sell part of her off like you want or have a bunch of city dudes come stay here. It ain't right."

  "You'll never get away with this, Whittacker."

  Whittacker moved the barrel of his rifle to Rafe's heart level. “I don't give a damn. It doesn't much matter anymore. If I can't have the ranch, you can't either."

  Sarah kicked her heels into Umbriago's sides and gave a rebel yell. The horse bolted out of the stall, straight toward the men. Whittacker turned toward her with a growl just as Rafe jumped him with a flying tackle. A shot rang out and the rifle clattered to the floor. Umbriago stopped short and Sarah slid from his back. She ran forward, scooping up the rifle. She pointed it toward the fighting men as they rolled on the floor.

  Good grief, she couldn't shoot for fear of hitting Rafe. Rafe rolled on top of Whittacker and drove a fist square into his jaw. Whittacker sagged against the floor.

  Rafe stood up and turned a wild glance her way. “Are you all right, Sarah? You scared the hell out of me."

  Sarah rushed toward him thanking her lucky stars that he appeared unharmed. “I was thinking the same thing, cowboy. I didn't know if it would work, but I knew that I had to give it a try."

  Rafe took the rifle from her and pointed to a coil of rope on the wall. “Go get me that length of rope and I'll tie him up for the sheriff."

  Sarah grabbed the rope hanging on a peg and brought it back to Rafe. He handed her the rifle and she held it on the unconscious man while Rafe trussed him up. When Rafe walked back to her, she put down the rifle and wrapped her arms tightly around him. “Oh, Rafe. Are you all right?"

  Rafe pulled her close. “Why didn't I ever see what a lunatic he was?"

  "Because he seemed like family. You've known him all your life."

  Rafe sighed and pulled away. “We grew up together. He was like a big brother to me."

  Rafe took Sarah's hand and walked with her out of the barn. He turned abruptly to hold her at arm's length. “Where did you ever get the courage to do that?"

  Sarah smiled and squeezed his hand. “Love can do amazing things. I love you, Rafe. With all my heart. I wanted to tell you before but I was afraid you didn't feel the same."

  "And now?"

  "I know you do and I want to shout it from the rooftops."

  Rafe grinned. “Yes, sweetheart, I love you very much. I'd come to accept the fact that I had to let you go but I sure am glad you came back.” He bent down to brush a burning kiss across her lips. “You always seem to come to my rescue, sweetheart,” he said warmly as he pulled away.

  Sarah smiled up at him “That's my job in life. And I want to help you some more. I want to help fund the dude ranch."

  "Now, honey,” Rafe said calmly. “I told you before, sweetheart, I don't want your money. We can do without it."

  "Am I, or am I not, family?” she asked with a smile on her face.

  "You are,” Rafe agreed with a raised eyebrow.

  "Then what's mine is yours, and vice versa. Agreed?"


  He sighed. “I don't want you to think I married you for your money or family connections."

  Sarah shook her head and smiled at his troubled expression. “I don't, not anymore."

  He sighed. “I may be hardheaded but I can learn. I guess that's another thing I have to thank you for, teaching me to open up and trust. Yes, I agree to let you help. After all, this is your home, too."

  "It's a deal,” Sarah said before reaching up to seal it with a kiss.

  * * * *

  * * * *

  Sarah walked to the table with a fresh bowl of popcorn for Mandy and Pipi to string. She set the large wooden bowl between them.

  "Thanks, Aunt Sarah,” Mandy said distractedly.

  Sarah ruffled her hair. “You're welcome, Mandy."

  Pipi grinned at her. “Yeah, thanks, Aunt Sarah."

  Sarah grinned. “Don't get smart with me or I might invite that nice Doctor Phillips over to put you in your place again."

  Pipi threw a piece of popcorn at her. “You wouldn't dare."

  Sarah laughed and looked into the kitchen. She saw Rose and Granny making fudge while they gossiped. Zeke sat meekly on a chair patiently waiting for samples. Grandfather was out organizing a sleigh ride for the ten guests that were staying there. The dude ranch had been a smashing success and created a closer bond between them all.

  Sarah made her way over to the sofa and sat down next to Rafe. She glanced up at Gabe and Lisa stringing lights on the Christmas tree. “Isn't it wonderful to have all the family here for Christmas?"

  Rafe chuckled and rubbed her expanding tummy. “And we'll have even more family before you know it."

  Sarah sighed dreamily as she felt the baby move. She leaned her head on Rafe's shoulder. “Four more months. I can hardly wait."

  Rafe rested his chin against her head and whispered, “I love you, sweet Sarah. Thank you again for coming to my rescue and teaching me the meaning of love."

  Sarah smiled. “You're welcome. I love you, Rafe. Forever."

  The End

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  Author Bio

  Honey Jans lives in a small Midwestern town with her husband and true inspiration. She is a born romantic with an extraordinarily vivid yet kinky imagination.