Harlequin Romance Bundle: Crowns and Cowboys

by Judy Christenberry

  “Rosie, I’m sorry!”

  “Not to worry. It’s not your fault.”

  Then she went around the campfire, checking on all the men who were sick. Fortunately there wasn’t a lot to do. The virus had to run its course, and no one felt like eating.

  She checked on Jason and found him asleep. No doubt he’d given in to fatigue while waiting for her. She covered him, letting her fingers linger along his jaw as she tucked in the cover. He was a downright gorgeous man, and she surrendered to the urge to study him in the early morning sun.

  After feasting her full, she got into her bedroll and stretched out, this time turning to face him. For as long as she was awake, she’d have him to look at.

  Jason had been determined that he would not succumb to the flu, but when he awakened from a deep sleep, his stomach in distress, he knew he’d failed in that respect.

  Throwing back his bedroll, he managed to stumble a few feet from the camp before he got sick. Suddenly arms came around him to brace him, one hand going to his forehead. Since his legs were weak, he welcomed the support.

  “It’s okay,” Rosemary said softly. “I’ll help you back to your bedroll and get the medicine. You’re running a fever.”

  “I’m sorry, Rosie. I didn’t think I’d get sick.” His voice sounded like an old man’s voice, startling him.

  “Don’t worry, Jason. It’s not your fault. Would you like some beef broth?” She’d made it after she’d napped. “It might give you a little strength.”

  “No!” he said vehemently, though his voice wasn’t loud. He couldn’t bear the thought of putting anything in his stomach.

  She helped him back to his bedroll and put hers over him for additional warmth.

  “I—I can’t g-go ride herd,” he muttered as he closed his eyes.

  “No, of course not,” a sweet voice said, patting his shoulder.

  And that was the last thing he remembered.

  Rosemary stared down at him. He’d tried to help her all he could. She couldn’t resist bending down and kissing his forehead. He’d never know, and she wanted the contact with him. But now she’d be on her own.

  Nick and Ken were finally recovering a little. She gave them each a cup of broth to test their stomachs.

  “This tastes good, Rosie,” Nick managed to say.

  Rosemary grinned. “I’m glad. If you can keep it down, I’ll do a better job of cooking for supper.”

  “I hope I can. I don’t want to go through that again.”

  Ken was a little more reluctant to test his stomach, but she assured him he was on the mend and needed the soup to give him some strength.

  Though she made periodic rounds to the sick, Rosemary noticed she visited Jason more than the others. She told herself it was because her life was easier if he was strong. But she was afraid she was growing too fond of him. Unlike last night when she merely gazed at him, today she let herself touch him. She stroked his forehead gently, let her hand travel over the stubble on his jaw.

  She could no longer deny it. She was attracted to Jason. What she felt was no pretense. It was the real thing. A man-woman thing.

  An attraction she could never act on.

  There wouldn’t be a happy ending, she realized. If she kept the ranch, Jason would go away. If he won the ranch, she would go away. No matter what happened, they only had the roundup.

  Tearing herself away, she checked on the other men and the herd. She had a feeling the three riders might turn up sick before dark.

  Around noon, she made some sandwiches and got Nick to take them to the guys tending the herd. He didn’t come back alone.

  Jerry had fallen ill. Rosemary helped get him off his horse, put him in his bedroll near the fire and gave him medicine.

  His sandwich was untouched, so she ate it herself. She needed to keep her strength up.

  As any of the cowboys woke up without fever, she encouraged them to eat the soup, along with some vanilla pudding she’d made. For the healthy crew she made a chicken casserole and hot biscuits. She served it to the couple of cowboys who’d reached the stage of wanting something to eat. Then she asked Nick and Ken to go ride herd for a little while.

  Their spirits were willing, but she wasn’t sure about their bodies. But, as she’d expected, the two who’d been riding herd all day were doubled over their saddles when they reached camp. As they apologized for causing any trouble, she helped them down. It took all of Rosemary’s strength to get them to their bedrolls. One of the cowboys who was feeling better tended to their horses.

  Giving them the medicine wasn’t as difficult. This virus brought even hardened cowboys to their knees very quickly.

  She surveyed the camp. Finally everyone seemed settled, including Jason, who was sleeping soundly. She longed to climb into her bedroll and shut her eyes, too, but she had to keep the fire going. It was cold and the fever left the men shivering even in their bedrolls.

  As the evening passed, she dozed by the fire. When she suddenly came awake, she checked her watch to see it was nearing two o’clock. After checking everyone and finding no one awake, she saddled her horse and rode out to the herd.

  She sent Nick and Ken to their beds, asking them to send someone else out in the morning so she could come fix breakfast and tend to the sick ones. She wasn’t sure they would remember her request, though; they were exhausted.

  As was she. But someone had to keep the herd in place. Fortunately most of the cows were asleep. As long as nothing came along to disturb them, like coyotes or wolves or a thunderstorm, she’d be okay. She hoped.

  Jason woke up the next morning with a sense of urgency. He quickly noticed his stomach seemed stable; in fact, he was starving. A quick look told him no one else was stirring. He checked the time and realized it was almost seven.

  He shoved back his bedroll and found he’d been covered by Rosie’s bedroll, too. Where was she?

  His legs were wobbly, which surprised him. He managed to get to the campfire and discovered the fire almost out. However, there was a pot of broth on the fire. He threw on some wood, enough to get the fire going again. Then he poured some of the liquid in a cup.

  As he drank his cupful, several others around the camp woke up. Jason recommended they try the soup, but he was more intent on finding Rosie.

  He remembered Rosie’s voice telling him to go to sleep. But nothing more. Somehow he managed to get his horse saddled, though he was amazed at how weak he was. As he finished, Nick appeared beside him.

  “Rosie relieved us at the herd at about 2:00 a.m., I think. I don’t remember much. I was so tired. But I can go ride herd now. I’m better.”

  “Did you get any breakfast? If not, stay and eat something. The soup, at least,” he added, when Nick didn’t look too enthused. “Or try to make something everyone can eat. And add some wood to the fire. Then come to the herd, with someone else if possible. I’m going out to be sure she’s okay.”

  “All right, Jason. I’ll be out as quick as I can.”

  Jason was glad Nick turned away before Jason tried to mount his horse. He had a feeling it wouldn’t be too graceful. He counted it as a big accomplishment when he managed to get upright in the saddle.

  When he reached the herd, he saw Rosie on the far side, moving slowly. She must be completely exhausted, because as he watched, she bent over her saddle. Or was she sick?

  He rode around the herd as quickly as he could. “Are you all right, honey?” he demanded roughly.

  “I’m fine. Go back to camp.”

  Her voice was dull and her eyes glazed with fever. He reached out to touch her cheek, but she jerked away.

  Gently he said, “I think you have fever, Rosie.”

  “Yeah.”

  “That means you’re sick,” he said, afraid she didn’t realize it.

  “Yeah.”

  “Rosie, you need to go get in your bedroll and take some medicine.”

  “I have to take care of the herd. It’s my job.”

  “The h
erd’s not going anywhere. Come on. Some of the guys will be out here as soon as they’ve had breakfast.”

  “I forgot. I have to cook breakfast.”

  Jason was becoming very concerned about her dazed state, but if she thought she had to cook breakfast, that would at least get her moving toward camp.

  “Okay, honey, let’s go fix breakfast.”

  He took her reins, not sure she had any idea where camp was. Once he got her there, he could help her, he hoped, as she’d helped him.

  The men met them as they reached the campfire, all of them realizing Rosemary wasn’t in good shape.

  Jason sprang down from his horse to catch Rosie as she slid out of her saddle. He managed to carry her to the SUV, though his legs were shaking. Nick went ahead of him and opened the door to the back seat.

  “Is she okay?” Nick asked.

  “I don’t know. Where’s Cookie?”

  “He’s coming.”

  Cookie got in the front seat on his knees so he could see Rosemary in the back. He took her pulse and fever, frowning.

  “She’s been sick most of the night, I think,” Jason said, “but she kept riding around the herd all by herself.”

  “I’ll get the medicine. Let’s leave her here in the truck. I’ll keep checking on her. How about you? Are you recovered?”

  “Yeah. Well, almost. I can ride.” Jason wasn’t going to moan and sit around the fire when Rosie had stayed in the saddle all night long, sick.

  “Come eat some breakfast first. Serve yourself while I get medicine for Rosie.” Cookie went to the back of the SUV to collect the stomach medicine and ibuprofen for fever.

  When he came back, he found Jason still hovering over Rosie. “Come on, Jason, she’s going to be all right.”

  “I just don’t remember being this bad. Maybe it’s because she refused to give in to it.”

  Cookie agreed. “But we might’ve lost most of the herd if she hadn’t stayed out there.”

  Jason realized then what a remarkable woman Rosie was. She’d do whatever it took to earn his down payment and to hold on to the Bar G. The ranch meant that much to her.

  No surprise there, since it was her heritage, her birthright.

  What surprised him was how much he wanted her to have it.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  WITH only Rosie down sick, they were able to form two groups of three, leaving three men on the herd. They were to slowly move the herd toward the ranch.

  Cookie would keep camp where it was for today. Jason wanted him to keep a close eye on Rosie. He was worried about her.

  They rode hard all day and pulled in about another sixty head of cattle. By Jason’s estimate, they were over two hundred, as Rosie had predicted.

  When he and his teammates reached camp, his first priority was to check on Rosie. Cookie intercepted him.

  “Jason, don’t wake her. I think it’s the first decent sleep she’s had all day.”

  “Why?”

  “She’s been sick a lot. I tried to get her to eat some of the beef broth, but she couldn’t keep it down. I’m afraid she’s getting dehydrated.”

  “Do we need to fly her to a hospital?”

  “Let’s give it another day. If she’s not better and keeping down at least some water, we’ll consider that.”

  “Okay. I’m just going to look at her. I won’t wake her,” Jason promised as he moved past Cookie.

  He opened the front door and crawled in to look over the seat at Rosemary. She lay curled up under the cover, her cheeks flushed, her lashes lying on her cheeks. He wanted to touch her so badly, he actually linked his hands together, pressing hard to keep them from straying.

  “How is she?” Nick whispered from behind him.

  Jason jerked around. “She’s sleeping. Cookie says it’s her first good sleep all day.” He backed out of the SUV. “Is supper ready?”

  “Yeah. Everyone’s feeling okay. They’ll feel better after a good meal. I hope Rosie recovers as fast.”

  “Me, too.” He was almost out of the SUV when both men heard a telephone ring.

  Jason realized at once what it was. “Rosie’s cell phone.” He bent back over the front seat to dig for it in her pocket. Rosie stirred but didn’t wake up.

  “Hello?” Jason said.

  “Who is this?”

  “Jason Barton.”

  “Where’s Rosie?”

  “Who is this?” Jason asked in return.

  “It’s Sara Beth, Wes’s wife.”

  “Rosie is sleeping. She got the bug, like we all did, but she kept going without telling anyone until this morning.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “Cookie thinks she’ll recover soon,” Jason lied. “How’s Wes?”

  “He’s out of surgery. He’ll have to get around on crutches for at least a week before they’ll put a walking cast on him.”

  “Sounds like he’s in good hands.”

  “Yes. I wish I had Rosie here, too.”

  “I understand, Sara Beth, but we’ll be in probably in five or six days.”

  “Okay. Give Rosie our love.”

  “I will, as soon as she wakes up. I’ll have her call you when she gets well.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  He disconnected the call. “I don’t think I should’ve said that.”

  “Why?” Nick asked, having remained beside him.

  “If Rosie doesn’t get well soon, Sara Beth will worry.”

  “Yeah, like the rest of us.”

  “I know.” He kept Rosie’s cell phone to make sure no one could call and disturb her sleep. “Let’s go get a good meal. I’m starving.”

  He quietly closed the door and retreated to the campfire. After he ate, he would go ride herd for about six hours. Then he’d grab a few hours sleep and be up again to search the hills for stray cows. Though he wanted nothing else, he didn’t have time to moon over Rosie.

  Still, thoughts of her took up permanent residence in his mind. As he rode around the herd with Nick and Ken, he thought about Rosie all the time. She was stronger than any woman he’d ever known. His wife hadn’t been willing to lift a finger. Not that he expected her to do all the work. He’d hired a housekeeper. But their house hadn’t been that big. She’d expected breakfast in bed, after he’d gone to work. Then she’d gone to the gym each morning. Shopping was always on for the afternoon, and parties each night. When he tired of the party circuit, she’d continued without him.

  He later discovered she’d done some other things without him, too, particularly with her private trainer. By that time, Jason hadn’t cared. They had divorced as soon as possible, and he’d paid a lot for his freedom.

  He swore it wasn’t something he’d give up again.

  But he was thinking about doing so now. Rosie was everything he wanted in a woman. She was her own person, and she was willing to work hard for what she wanted. The fact that she was beautiful was a plus, but not a necessity. Her warmth and love for those around her counted a lot more.

  But he wouldn’t know if she cared for him unless he lost the ranch to her. If he won the ranch, she might accept his proposal just to retain control of her home.

  That thought worried him all evening as he circled the cattle. So he’d have to lose the ranch to gain Rosie’s love? It would be worth it, wouldn’t it?

  When Cookie awakened him the next morning, Jason’s first question was about Rosie. “How’s she doing this morning?”

  “I got her to keep down some water last night. This morning I’ll try the beef broth.”

  “Can I give it to her?”

  “Jason, I really think she should sleep as long as she can. I think—”

  Rosie’s cell phone rang. Jason dug it out of his coat pocket. “Hello?”

  “Jason, it’s Wes.”

  “How are you, Wes?”

  “Never mind me. There’s a big snowstorm coming. You need to start moving what you have to the ranch as fast as you can.”

  “Snow? Are you su
re?”

  “As sure as we can ever be about weather.”

  “But we could find more cattle if we had today.”

  “Listen to me, Jason. You must start home today. If a snowstorm hits up in the mountains, you could lose some of the herd. You can get close in enough by tonight that the snowfall won’t be much. But as high up as you are right now, it could get bad.”

  Jason had enough respect for Wes to obey his orders. “Okay, Wes.”

  “We’ll be waiting for you in the early afternoon tomorrow.”

  “Okay.”

  He got off the phone and turned back to the campfire. “That was Wes. He says there’s a big snowstorm coming and we’ve got to head for the ranch as quickly as we can.” The cowboys murmured among themselves about bad luck. Jason hurried to tell them all was not lost. “We’ve got over two hundred head, like Rosie thought. I’d hoped to get more for her, but Wes says we have no choice.”

  “How do we handle this?” Nick asked.

  “Seven of us will drive the herd, and two men will bring the horses. Cookie, you’ll need to break camp and drive ahead of us to the next camp. You’d better pack some dry wood if we’re going to have a hot meal this evening.”

  “I’ll start packing as soon as I clean up from breakfast and make some sandwiches.”

  Jason nodded. “Okay, I need two guys to go with me to relieve the three out there now. We’ll start moving the herd slowly, waiting for the rest of you. And bring our sandwiches when Cookie gets them ready.”

  He paused by Cookie as he moved toward the rope corral. “You’ll keep an eye on Rosie, won’t you?”

  “You know I will.”

  “I’m counting on you, Cookie.”

  He rode out to relieve the other men, surprising them with the news. He chose two of them to bring the horses on ropes. The third one would ride drag as soon as they had breakfast.

  Though it was difficult with only three of them, they began moving the herd. Half an hour later, the others joined them.

  “Did you see any sign of Rosie?” Jason asked, concern in his voice.

  The men exchanged glances, but they told him no.

  Jason sent two cowboys up each side of the herd and he remained behind the herd with two other riders. Already the air was getting colder and storm clouds were gathering. He guessed Wes had been right about the forecast.