His Cowboy Heart

by Jennifer Ryan

  “Better?” Jamie asked as the nurse left them alone again.

  He hugged her close. “Yes.”

  He didn’t let her go until Colt walked in with a bag of clothes for Jamie and Zoey tucked against his chest.

  “You okay?” Colt asked him.

  “I’m good. Jamie needs some love.”

  “I’ve got a bundle of it right here.” Colt approached slowly as Jamie looked up from his chest for the first time.

  She sat up and held her arms out for Zoey. Colt handed over the pup, but hooked his hand behind Jamie’s head and pulled her in for a kiss on her forehead. To Ford’s utter surprise, she leaned into Colt’s kiss without hesitation.

  Colt stared down at Jamie, his hand still at the back of her head. “I don’t even want to think how miserable that one,” Colt nodded toward Ford, “would be without you again. You okay?”

  “I’m getting there. The drugs help.”

  “Bell’s a friend and an outstanding doctor. She’ll keep you comfortably numb if that’s what you need.”

  The door opened and Jamie’s brother, Zac, walked in with Corey in his arms.

  “You guys are what I need,” Jamie said, holding her hand out to Zac.

  Colt stepped aside and Zac moved in close, taking Jamie’s hand and holding it tight. “I seriously think you’ve taken ten years off my life, sis.”

  “It’s all going to be okay now,” she promised.

  “I hope so, because this one wants to get to know his aunt.”

  Jamie leaned in and kissed her nephew’s chubby cheek. “I want to get to know him, too. There’s a long overdue talk we need to have about where he came from.”

  A lopsided grin tilted Zac’s lips. “You mean Ford hasn’t given you the whole birds and bees instructional demonstration?”

  Jamie actually laughed and the sound lightened Ford’s heart and undid the knots in his stomach.

  “He’s an expert in the field.”

  Colt groaned loud and long.

  Zac pinched his lips into a sour pout. “Yuck. You’re my sister.”

  “You started it.” She rubbed Zoey’s belly and patted the bed beside her so Zac would sit Corey next to her and the pup. “Pet nice.” Jamie took Corey’s hand and showed him how to pet Zoey nice and soft. Corey squealed and smiled, trying to grab fistfuls of Zoey’s deep brown fur. “He likes her.”

  “Maybe I’ll get him a puppy. They can grow up together.” Zac smiled at his son. “We’ll have that talk soon about his mother. Maybe if I can make it make sense to you, one day I can make it make sense to him.” Zac brushed his hand over his son’s wispy hair.

  “You can tell me when I come by to pick up all the stuff I have stored in your shed. I’m moving in with Ford.”

  “You are?” Zac and Colt said in unison.

  “Yes. We’re going to be together forever.”

  Ford clamped his hand on her thigh and smiled down at her. “Yes, we are.”

  Chapter 36

  The Fourth of July, one year later . . .

  Independence Day. A year ago, Jamie had been fighting day in and day out to survive every second of the day. Now, months after her past and present collided, she barely thought about her time overseas.

  She’d had the surgery Dr. Bowden recommended and performed after her maternity leave. It cut the pain considerably and gave Jamie back her full range of motion in her shoulder.

  She and Ford had gone to Georgia for her final debriefing with the military about the event that had changed her life and taken all her friends. Including the man responsible. She tried not to think about what Tobin had become. Instead, she thought about the good times they’d shared—Tobin, Catalina, Jo, Pedro, all of them.

  Her life had become filled with family. Hers and Ford’s.

  She and Zac had that talk about Corey and his mother a couple of weeks after she moved in with Ford. Her heart ached every time she thought about what happened. Poor Zac. She really felt for him. She understood his loss and how much he’d wanted to make it right for his son, for himself, and yes, for Corey’s mom, but couldn’t.

  Pride swelled in her chest even now at how he’d stepped up to be the very best father he could be for Corey.

  “I lost you.” Dr. Porter drew her back to their conversation.

  “Sorry. Just thinking about this time last year and all the changes that have happened.”

  “You’ve come a long way. You’re happy living on the ranch with Ford.”

  Not a question. A statement of fact. “It’s so much more than that.”

  “You’re in love.” Dr. Porter smiled at her.

  “Yes. That, too.” Her and Ford’s relationship had grown stronger every day over the last months. She’d thrown herself into the endless work on the ranch as a means to heal and also to help make Ford’s dreams come true. The ranch was thriving. So were they in the home they’d made their own with pictures of them together and with family and friends, things from their past, and other items they’d bought together.

  Ford had been right. She needed something more. Focus and a purpose that was bigger than herself. She joined Luna at Rambling Range and helped her with the equine therapy program Luna had set up after inheriting the ranch. She loved working with the children. Helping them heal helped her heal.

  She and Ford agreed not to talk about the future, but to live each day knowing that, no matter what, they would always be together. She kind of liked things that way, but hoped to one day marry the man she loved more each day.

  “Are you ready to meet Drake?”

  “I met his sister, Trinity, yesterday for lunch. She filled me in on what’s going on at home. Add that to what you’ve told me about his PTSD and physical injuries and I’d say he’s ten times worse than I was when I got here.”

  Dr. Porter gave her a cocky smile. “You could have given him a run for his money.”

  “I will today when I see him at Rambling Range.”

  “You’re sure you’re up to this?”

  She cocked her head, confused. He’d asked her to do this, so why the question? “You don’t think so?”

  “I wouldn’t have asked for your help if I didn’t think you could handle him. He needs someone who’s been there.”

  “Been there, done that, got the scars to go with it.”

  “Be careful, Jamie. His anger is a simmering volcano just waiting to erupt.”

  “That’s why I’m taking the big guns with me.”

  “Ford,” Dr. Porter guessed.

  “And his brothers will be there. Fourth of July family barbeque. A nice ruse to get Drake there, plus it’s time with the family. I can’t wait to see Sadie and Rory’s little boy, John, again.” Rory named his son after their father. Ford and Colt teared up when they found out. Another good day, rushing down to the hospital to be with the family to welcome the next generation of Kendricks.

  “Luna’s pregnant, too, you said.”

  “She is. Colt is over the moon about being a dad.”

  “What about Ford? Is he looking forward to being a dad one day?”

  “He is. Man, you should see him with his nephew.” She smiled so wide her cheeks ached. “And with my nephew, Corey. He’s so great with them, but we haven’t talked about kids in a long time. We’re taking our time, enjoying where we are right now.”

  “You really do look radiant, Jamie. I’m happy for you.”

  “Thanks. It feels like it was really hard to get here, but I’m so glad I did.”

  “Maybe you can tell Drake that and get him to believe it.”

  “I’ll try. I have to go, or I’ll be late. I’ve got to rein in Ford from whatever project he’s working on now.”

  “Go get him,” Dr. Porter said with a wink.

  She signed off and smiled to herself. She enjoyed her every other week chats with Dr. Porter. She didn’t really need the therapy anymore, but checking in with him forced her to look at her life in that moment and take stock of all the good she had in her life.
Their sessions used to be all about the terrible things that happened in her life. Now here she was, about to embark on a whole new chapter. Helping a fellow soldier through a difficult time. She knew it wouldn’t be easy. She hadn’t been easy. But she looked forward to the challenge and connecting with someone who was in the same dark place she’d clawed her way out of this last year to true happiness.

  She wished Tobin had given her a chance to share with him how she felt about what he’d done. She wished he’d given her a chance to forgive him. And she had, because she made up her mind crying in Ford’s arms in the hospital that she wouldn’t spend another day carrying around that kind of guilt, grief, and anger.

  Jamie closed the laptop on the wide plank coffee table she’d brought back with her from her apartment in Georgia. It complemented Ford’s dark brown leather sofa and chair. She smiled up at the photo on the mantel Luna had taken of them horseback riding. She loved seeing Ford atop a horse with his dark brown cowboy hat drawn low over his brow. Sexy. Dangerous looking, but really he was just her tough guy with a huge heart.

  And a lot of love for her.

  She went looking for him, walking out the front door with Zoey on her trail, pulling it closed behind her, and stopping in her tracks on the front porch when she spotted the single red rose and a sticky note on the floor. She picked both up and read the note.

  Firefly, come to our spot at the river. I’m waiting for you. Love, Ford

  Ford had left her horse, Dusty, tied to the gate. Her stomach fluttered with a thousand butterflies.

  What are you up to?

  She couldn’t wait to find out and flew down the steps, down the path, and to the pasture gate. She untied Dusty and mounted, clasping the rose between her teeth as she rode across the field, laughing with excitement. Zoey ran after them.

  He’d had an odd expression the last few days when he looked at her. Like he had a secret. She even caught glimpses of anticipation, like he couldn’t wait to share something with her. She didn’t know exactly what he had planned, but she hoped it was what she’d thought and hoped for since she fell in love with him all those years ago.

  Ford’s horse stood tied to a tree ahead. She reined in and tied Dusty next to his buddy and followed the path through the trees, picking up the red roses strewn along the way, guiding her to their favorite spot and Ford. By the time she cleared the trees at the river’s edge she held a dozen red roses, and she smiled at the man who’d left them for her. Zoey rushed to him to say hello, then ran after a squirrel. Ford stood with his back to the water, his shoulder propped against a huge tree that overhung the rippling river, with a blanket and picnic basket in front of him.

  She stopped on the other side of the blanket facing him and buried her nose in the fragrant blooms. She looked back up at him, smiling and sighing out her pleasure.

  “A year ago today you came back into my life. The haunted look in your eyes is gone. The smile that seemed so hard for you to make comes so easy now.”

  “I’m happy.”

  “You shine, Firefly. You light up my life. I am so glad we found our way back to each other. I fell in love with you so long ago, I don’t remember a time I didn’t love you. I will love you for the rest of my life.” Ford dropped down on one knee and held his hand out to her.

  She covered her mouth with her fingertips, and gasped, “Ford.” Tears flooded her eyes, but she managed to blink them back and walk to him and take his hand.

  “You are the strongest, bravest, toughest person I’ve ever met. But what I love most about you is that you never give up on yourself, on me, on the love we share. I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never have a reason to give up on us. We may not have much yet . . .”

  “We have everything,” she choked out past the tears clogging her throat.

  “I do, if I have you. Be my wife. We’ll make babies and a life together on our ranch.” He pulled a ring from his pocket and held it up to her. She didn’t even look at it, completely lost in the love in his eyes. “Marry me, Jamie.”

  Of course he didn’t ask, but pushed for her to give him the answer he wanted.

  “Yes,” she gasped out and fell into his arms.

  He crushed her to his chest, kissed her again and again, the roses smashed between them, their sweet scent filling the air.

  She fell to her back, bringing him down with her. He shoved the roses out from between them without breaking the searing kiss they shared. His hand slipped beneath her shirt and skimmed up her side, cupping her breast. He swept his thumb over the peaked tip and she sighed into his mouth, then swept her tongue along his.

  In a frenzy to be skin to skin, their clothes went flying in all directions. They lost themselves in each other and the deep kisses and soft caresses that started off sweet and turned urgent and demanding.

  Ford lay in her arms, broke their kiss, and stared down at her, infinite love in his eyes. “Did you mean it? Yes . . . to everything?”

  She knew exactly what he asked. “Yes.”

  He thrust into her, filling her, no barrier between them. Heat and need rushed through her in a wave. She gripped Ford’s shoulder and pulled him in for another deep kiss. They made love, next to the singing river, with the birds chirping in the trees among the windswept rustling leaves. She lost herself in him and the love they shared. It was magical. It was perfect. Like their life had become.

  Jamie lay content at Ford’s side, her head resting on his shoulder and her hand over his racing heart. A soft smile touched her lips. He played with her shoulder length golden-red hair, letting the silky strands slip through his fingers. She’d grown it out over the last many months. She’d changed again on him. She wasn’t the girl he fell in love with long ago. She wasn’t the Jamie who’d come back from the war. The woman beside him was a combination of them, plus a whole lot of who he’d always thought she’d be. He’d waited to ask her to marry him even after she moved in, because he was waiting for that light he’d seen in her to come back to life. It hadn’t been easy, but it had been worth the wait to see her this happy again.

  He kissed her forehead and she nuzzled her cheek into his chest and hugged him with her body wrapped up close to his.

  He pulled the diamond ring from his pinky. He’d shoved it on there when he couldn’t wait to make love to her after she agreed to be his wife. He couldn’t wait. For all of it, including the baby they might have just made.

  He slipped the diamond ring on her finger and laid her hand back on his chest. Her head came up and her eyes went wide at the brilliantly sparkling diamond solitaire.

  “You already have my heart, Firefly, but I thought you might like this, too.”

  “Ford, it’s beautiful. It’s too much.”

  “It’s far less than how much I love you.”

  Her gaze held his. “I love you, too. Without you . . .” She shook her head, unable to put into words all she felt.

  “You already said it, Firefly. We have everything.” He leaned up, hooked his hand behind her neck, and kissed her softly.

  His phone alarm went off. He kissed her one last time and pressed his forehead to hers and stared into her vibrant green eyes. “Time to go. You’ve got someone who needs your help, then we’ll barbeque and celebrate the Fourth under the stars and share our engagement with the family.”

  “You planned the barbeque so we could tell them.”

  “Busted. Plus, it’ll give you a chance to show Drake that you can find real and true happiness after you find your way out of the dark.”

  The easy smile spread across her lips. “I did.”

  Chapter 37

  Ford drove into Rambling Range just behind another truck and trailer. Jamie sat beside him, her face turned to the window and the sunlight.

  “Did I do okay on your surprise proposal?”

  She turned her gaze and pretty smile to him. “It was beautiful. Perfect. Though most of the roses didn’t survive getting crushed between us, or under us when we made love.” A blush
rose up from her neck to her sun-kissed cheeks.

  “You loved it.”

  Her wicked grin made him smile, too. “I always do.”

  “We never opened the champagne I brought.”

  “I liked the way we celebrated better.”

  Ford parked the truck near the house. “Grandpa looks cozy.” He cocked his chin toward Grandpa Sammy sitting in one of the porch rockers with Ruth beside him, holding his hand, and Chip, the golden retriever Ford had gotten him, at his feet. The old coot hadn’t left the hospital without getting the volunteer’s number. They’d been dating for quite some time. According to Sadie and Rory, Ruth spent more nights at the ranch than not. His grandfather might be old, but the old man wasn’t dead.

  “What are you smiling about?” Jamie touched her fingertips to his jaw.

  “He looks happy.”

  “Wait until he finds out we’re getting married. He’ll finally have all his grandsons living in wedded bliss.”

  “He’ll be happy, but he won’t be satisfied until he gets a grandbaby from me.”

  Jamie put her hand over her belly. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

  Ford rubbed his hand over hers. “I was nervous about asking you for so much all at once, but I’m really excited about getting married and having a baby of our own.”

  “Me, too. It’ll be nice to give Corey and John and Luna’s baby a cousin to play with, and of course a new addition to your growing family.”

  “Speaking of, you better get a move on. Luna’s waddling over to greet the McGraths.”

  Jamie smacked his shoulder for teasing his sister-in-law. “I’m telling her you said that and Colt is going to kick your ass.”