Wyoming Strong

by Diana Palmer

  “It was for a good cause. We can’t take the chance that Ysera didn’t know about Sara. There’s still the threat to Wolf.”

  “Not with me around,” Amelia said with a grin. “I’m a dead shot, I am.”

  “Yes, you are, and I ought to know. I trained you myself,” he said, grinning.

  * * *

  WOLF WAS GLARING at the meal they’d brought him. “I don’t like hospital food,” he muttered.

  She went close, opened the tray, picked up a fork and proceeded to ladle food into him.

  “Don’t fuss,” she said softly, smiling.

  He watched her while he ate, his eyes soft and warm. Almost loving, she thought. Then she remembered the night at the theater, the beautiful blonde woman. He’d told Eb it was to throw Ysera off the track. Was it?

  His big hand caught her wrist. He winced, because it was painful to use his hand. The bullet had impacted the muscles in his chest. “I couldn’t tell you,” he said, his face drawn with guilt. “Ysera had a man in the theater that night...”

  “Eb told me,” she said.

  “It was the truth,” he said. “You have to believe that, if you believe nothing else. I couldn’t make you a target. I couldn’t let her hurt you!”

  She saw the emotion. He wasn’t even trying to hide it. His expression calmed all her fears. “She was quite beautiful,” she said slowly.

  “She wasn’t you,” he whispered huskily. The way he said it made her toes curl up in her shoes. “And there isn’t, anywhere on earth, a woman as beautiful as you are. There isn’t a woman I want more.”

  She flushed with pleasure.

  “When I get out of here,” he said huskily, “and back on my feet, I’d love to prove that to you.”

  Her whole body tingled. She lowered her eyes to his mouth. “Would you?” she whispered.

  “You could have a little minor surgery in the meantime,” he said with a wicked smile.

  “Wolf!”

  “Watch out, you’re spilling that coffee.”

  “Sorry.” She held it to his lips and watched him sip it. Her hands were unsteady.

  “It won’t be like last time, Sara,” he said huskily. “I swear it!”

  She drew back the cup. “I know that.”

  He reached up and touched her face, wincing with the movement. “And if you’ll let me,” he whispered softly, “I’ll do my absolute damndest to make you pregnant.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  COFFEE WENT EVERYWHERE. She flushed, dropping the cup on the tray, as she grabbed a washcloth from the table and used it to mop him up. “Sorry,” she said tautly.

  He groaned inwardly. He hadn’t meant to say that, to remind her of the child they’d lost. “It doesn’t matter. I can use something,” he said quietly. “It’s too soon to discuss it, anyway. I’ve got a lot of healing to do. Are you going to come back to the ranch with me, when they let me out?”

  She searched his face. He’d sounded as if he wanted a child, just for a few seconds. But now he was the same as he had been before. Nothing showed in that bland expression. Nothing at all. She couldn’t read him.

  “If you want me to,” she said quietly.

  He leaned back against the pillows. He winced, but this time not because of any physical discomfort. “I’ve hurt you badly, Sara,” he said, his voice deep and tender. “In so many ways. I know it’s going to take time. But there isn’t another woman in my life. Only you.”

  She moved a little closer. “There isn’t another man,” she confessed. “I could...never do those things, with anyone else.”

  His chest swelled with involuntary pride. She still wanted him, at least. “You can do them with me,” he said huskily. “But it will be different next time. Very, very different.”

  Her eyes were troubled. She thought of a future with the two of them being intimate occasionally, no ties, no commitment. It was dismal.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “I was wondering...” She stopped suddenly. She managed a smile. “I was wondering if Grayson is getting impatient. I left her out in the hall.”

  “Grayson?” he asked. He frowned. “Amelia Grayson?”

  Her eyebrows went up. Eb Scott walked into the room before Sara could ask if he knew her companion.

  “Amelia Grayson is working for you?” Wolf persisted.

  “I told you that,” Eb said, and he was making gestures behind Sara’s back that Wolf finally understood. “It’s not the Grayson you’re thinking of. She’s in federal prison, remember?” He turned to Sara, lying through his teeth. “She was an arms dealer, of all things. Wolf and I caught up with her in Barbados. He arrested her in an ongoing investigation into money laundering. She led us on quite a chase. But that was Antonia Grayson, Wolf. Not Amelia.”

  “Oh. Yes.” He drew in a breath. “I’m a little fuzzy from the anesthesia and the pain meds, I guess,” he said with a sheepish smile. “What’s she like, your assistant?”

  “She’s very sweet,” Sara said. “She takes wonderful care of me. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her now.” She smiled softly. “She’s spoiled me.”

  “That’s going to be my job, when they let me out of here,” Wolf said, and his pale eyes were almost eating her.

  “I’m so glad that you lived,” she whispered. Then her face set, and her black eyes flashed. “Why?” she exclaimed. “Why did you do something so incredibly dangerous? There are all sorts of agencies that deal with people like that, but you went storming in by yourself. They could have killed you!”

  “Oh, God, it’s the broom and the flying monkeys again,” he groaned, lying back against the pillows. “Save me!” he pleaded with Eb.

  Eb couldn’t. He was laughing his head off.

  Sara, torn between amusement and fury, just glared. Her emotions were all over the place. Eb knew why. Wolf didn’t.

  “I’m going to get a broom and hit you with it,” Sara promised. “And if you ever, ever, strap on a gun and try to go back into the field, I’m going to have every cowboy on the place rope you to a fencepost, and I’m going to personally make sure they never untie you!”

  He gave her a sardonic look. “Men have to use the bathroom periodically,” he said drolly.

  She flushed. “We’ll find a bedpan or something.”

  He chuckled.

  She smiled sheepishly. “Well, you’re not doing it again. Ever.”

  He smiled slowly. “Okay.”

  Her heart lifted. He didn’t seem to mind if she ordered him around. It was rather intriguing.

  “You can enjoy giving me orders. Until I’m out of this bed,” he mused, pursing his lips. “And then we’ll see who gets to do what.”

  She lifted her chin. “I can unleash the flying monkeys whenever I like,” she warned.

  He laughed with his whole heart. His life had been over when he left the States. He had nothing to come back to, no reason to live. Now, there she stood, the joy of his life, the jewel of his wealth. And he’d never wanted more to live.

  “I have to phone Sally and tell her how you’re progressing,” Eb said. “She likes you.”

  “I like her, too,” Wolf said. “How are the kids?”

  “Growing up all too fast,” Eb said. He wanted to say something else, but he didn’t dare. He couldn’t risk letting anything slip about Sara. “I’ll be back.”

  “I don’t know what I’d have done without him,” Sara said, going close to the bed. “He arranged to fly me up here. I was in such a state, I could never have made it alone.”

  He caught her hand in his and brought the palm to his mouth, kissing it hungrily. “I didn’t know if I wanted to live,” he said roughly. “Until they told me you were here. I thought, if she came, it means she cares, even just a little.”

  “She cares a lot,” she managed.

  His chest rose and fell heavily. “You’re never going to forget that night at the symphony,” he said quietly. “I know that,” he interrupted when she tried to spea
k. “I can’t make it up to you. But I’m going to try, when I’m out of here.”

  “Not out of guilt...!” she exclaimed.

  “Definitely not out of guilt,” he said softly. He searched her eyes. “You still don’t know a lot about men. I want you,” he added huskily. “Want you, Sara. So badly that it’s like losing an arm or a leg. Want you to the point of absolute madness.”

  She colored as she met his narrow, glittering eyes.

  “I can make you want me back,” he whispered. “I can take away all the bad memories, replace them with sweet ones. If you’ll let me.”

  She swallowed, hard, and bit down on her lower lip. Here it was. The bare truth. He wanted to take her to bed.

  “Don’t look like that,” he said. “Don’t.”

  She moved her shoulders restlessly. “I know that I didn’t refuse...anything you did to me, and you think I’m, that I don’t mind, that...”

  “Sara,” he said, tugging her closer to the bed, “I want to marry you.”

  Her eyes were like saucers. “What?”

  “I want to marry you.” He scowled. “What did you think I was suggesting? Some loose arrangement where I’d spend the odd night at your apartment? Honey, if I even tried, Grayson would put me right through a window!”

  “Oh, so you know that she reads a Bible at night,” she faltered.

  “Does she?” he said, backtracking. “Eb said she was very protective of you,” he prevaricated.

  “Yes, she is.” She searched his eyes slowly. “You want to marry me?”

  He smiled sardonically. “I’m too old for you, we both know that...”

  “No! Don’t you ever say that again!” She went closer, putting a soft hand over his wide, sensuous mouth. “You’re not too old.” Her eyes went over him like soft, searching fingers. “You’re beautiful to me.”

  He let go of the last fear he had, that she might one day regret what he was proposing. She was fierce. Like a little house wren, protecting her brood. He could see her being that way with a child. He was sad that she’d given up theirs out of a mistaken impression that he didn’t want her. But they’d have others. He was certain of it.

  “Where do you want to get married?” he asked softly, cradling one of her hands in his.

  “Could we do it at the ranch?” she asked, all eyes.

  He pursed his lips. “Oh, yes, we could do it at the ranch, but let’s get married first, okay?”

  “You devil!” she exclaimed.

  He chuckled at her expression. It was so easy now, to talk to her like this. He watched her with eyes full of wonder, soft with affection. “Sorry. Couldn’t resist it.” His smile faded. “But you will need to see the doctor first, Sara,” he said firmly. “I won’t risk hurting you any more than I already have. You understand?”

  She swallowed. “I had it.”

  “What?”

  “I already had it. Before...I went to the symphony.” She lowered her eyes. She’d had such plans for that night, when everything had gone wrong. Such beautiful plans.

  He drew in a breath, because he knew. He closed his eyes and shuddered. If it hadn’t turned out the way it did...

  She saw the hurt on his face and quickly erased it from her own. She smoothed over his chest. “Anyway, it’s already done,” she said firmly.

  He looked up at her with anguish on his features. “So much pain,” he whispered.

  She traced his hard mouth and nodded. “But no more,” she said huskily.

  He kissed her fingertips. “No more,” he agreed.

  * * *

  IT TOOK SEVERAL days for him to get on his feet. They transferred him down to Jacobsville via an air ambulance. He spent only a couple of days in the hospital before Micah Steele released him, with a grin and a warning about trying to overdo too soon.

  Sara assured him that Wolf wasn’t doing anything he shouldn’t on her watch. The big man, who looked much more like a wrestler than a doctor, agreed demurely.

  * * *

  THE COWBOYS LINED up to see the boss brought in by an ambulance, hats to their chests, almost in tears.

  “When I get up, I’m swatting the lot of you,” he grumbled, glaring at them. “Bullets can’t kill me! I’ve got a cape and a big red S on my chest,” he added, laughing suddenly and then wincing, because it hurt.

  “We’re glad you’re okay, boss,” his new foreman, Jarrett Currier, said, and smiled. “We’re just happy to have you...” He looked past the boss at the two women coming up the walkway, and his blue eyes flashed fire. “What in the hell are you doing here?”

  “Watch your mouth!” Wolf began, thinking the man meant Sara.

  “I’m here looking after Miss Brandon,” Amelia said shortly. “And what are you doing here? I don’t remember anybody saying you worked for Mr. Patterson!”

  “I started last week, when his livestock foreman retired. If I’d known you were anywhere on the place, I’d never have put in an application.”

  He said it with pure malice.

  Amelia just stared at him. “They said you were still in Africa,” she said icily.

  “I came back,” he said flatly.

  “How can Eb Scott bear to part with you?” she said with a cold smile.

  “If that’s a hint, I’m not leaving,” Currier shot back, eyes glittering at her. “Not unless he fires me.” He indicated Wolf.

  “I have just returned from armed combat,” Wolf said from the gurney. “And I would appreciate not being landed in another combat zone until I can recover!”

  “Sorry, boss,” Currier said grimly.

  “Sorry, boss,” Amelia agreed at once.

  Currier nodded to his boss, turned and stomped off toward the barn. The other cowboys murmured, greeted the boss and followed him away.

  “So that’s the reason you didn’t want to come back to Comanche Wells,” Sara said while they were unloading Wolf in his bedroom. “I’m sorry, Amelia. If you want to go back to the Wyoming place...”

  “I can’t,” Amelia said gently. But her face was tragic. Whatever had happened between her and the new foreman was obviously still extremely traumatic.

  “Yes, you can,” Sara replied. “Listen, I’ll be perfectly safe here. You know I will.” She hugged the other woman. “Go on. I’ll be back before you know it.”

  “But you’re getting married.”

  Sara smiled. “I’m not giving up the ranch. Meanwhile, who knows what might happen? Go on. You haven’t even unpacked. Phone the limo company and get a ticket. Business class, Amelia, not tourist. Then you can ramrod Marsden and the others while I’m gone. Okay?”

  “You’re the nicest boss in the world,” Amelia said, thinking that she’d have to talk to Eb Scott covertly and make him aware that she was leaving. But Sara was right. There was enough protection here to safeguard ten threatened people, much less two.

  “Call me when you get home, so I’ll know you landed safely. Okay?” Sara asked.

  Amelia smiled wanly. “Okay.”

  Sara wondered what in the world had caused the misery she saw in Amelia’s face when that handsome cowboy had started raging at her. But it was personal, and she wouldn’t pry. She saw her friend off. Then she went to check on Wolf.

  * * *

  “BETTER?” SHE ASKED HIM, noting his color was normal now, and he looked rested and in much less pain.

  “Better,” he said, his eyes soft and tender on her face. “You sent Grayson back to Wyoming.”

  She nodded then grimaced. “Your new livestock foreman is a pain in the butt,” she informed him. “I don’t like the way he spoke to Amelia.”

  “Neither do I. I’ll make sure he knows it. But it’s not a bad thing for us to be alone here, at the moment,” he added in a deep, soft tone. “Not a bad thing at all, Sara.”

  She colored, but her black eyes smiled at him. “You aren’t that fit just yet,” she said.

  “I know it.” He leaned back against the pillows.

  “Can I get you anything?�
��

  “My computer,” he said. “It’s on the desk. Then grab some pillows and climb in here with me.”

  “What are we going to do?” she asked.

  He gave her a wicked grin.

  She caught her breath.

  He laughed. “No, not that. Not yet. We’re going shopping, precious.”

  “Shopping?”

  “Yes. If Amazon.com doesn’t have it, it doesn’t exist. Right?”

  She laughed. “Right.”

  * * *

  THEY PICKED OUT a set of wedding rings for Sara, emerald and diamond, and a plain gold band for Wolf, and had them sent overnight. Sara had blood work done at the hospital while Wolf was there, and Micah had already drawn blood from him for the tests. They had the results before Wolf was released.

  “Tomorrow we’ll have the rings. I sent Eb off for the marriage license. Two days from today,” he said, searching her eyes, “I’m marrying you. Right here, at the ranch. I want you to go into town to Marcella’s boutique in Jacobsville. She’s making your gown.”

  “A gown? A wedding gown...” She hadn’t considered that.

  “I’m going to stuff myself into a morning coat,” he chuckled. “And try not to faint at the altar.” He shook his head. “I’m not letting you get away.” His eyes narrowed. “You’re mine.”

  She met his eyes. “And you’re mine,” she whispered.

  His chest rose and fell roughly. “Can you put this away for me?” he asked. He cut off the computer quickly, before she could see the icons. She might not recognize video gaming, but he didn’t want to share that part of his life with her just yet. She might be jealous of the unknown woman he’d been playing with for two years. He would tell her. Just not yet. Even though it wasn’t a romantic relationship, it was one of friends. He hoped she’d understand.

  She took the computer, set it on his desk and plugged it back in. She went back to him. “I can fix you something to eat, if you’re hungry.”

  “I’m very hungry,” he agreed, looking at her in the black slacks and black turtleneck sweater she was wearing. “Lock the door and let your hair down.”

  She stared at him. “What?”