She sat up from where she'd been sleeping on the living room sofa with a throw covering her legs. She slapped the light switch on the wall, illuminating the boy creeping toward the kitchen and the back door.
Bando jumped off the couch, where he'd been lying across her feet. He bounced, ready to go for the day even at the early hour. Crazy dog.
Miles threw up one hand over his eyes. "What're you doing?" he demanded gruffly.
He looked about like she’d expected, carrying his shoes and his belongings bundled in a sweatshirt, which he held against his stomach.
"What are you doing?" she returned, even though it was pretty obvious. So obvious that he didn't answer. Leaving.
She stood, and he looked wary, like he might bolt for the door anyway.
"Chill," she said. "I knew you were gonna try to sneak out. I thought maybe we could have breakfast first."
He shifted his sock feet.
"I'm not going to grab you and tie you up or anything," she said. "It's just bacon and eggs." Or cold cereal if she managed to burn the food. She wasn't the world's best cook.
He hesitated. She'd known the food would tempt him. Last night he'd shoveled down the three PB&J sandwiches she'd made for him, plus two full glasses of whole milk. No doubt he was thinking about when his next meal would be. She couldn't forget that lone can of baked beans.
"Fine. But then I'm leaving."
It'd been late when they'd come in last night, and she'd tried her best to prod some information out of him as she'd settled him in the guest bedroom, to no avail. He'd stood with his back to the wall next to the door, arms crossed over his chest, silent and watchful as she'd made the bed.
He was a tough nut to crack, but something about him drew her—maybe his obvious love for the little Chihuahua—and she wanted to help.
Now she shuffled into the kitchen, covering her mouth to stifle a huge yawn that cracked her jaw.
"How come you're not married?" he asked, slumping into a seat at the table.
Yeah, that's the first question she wanted to get asked at oh-dark-hundred in the morning, before she'd had even one sip of coffee.
She punched the button on the machine as his question made her remember a nineteen-year old with dark scruff across his chin and an irrepressible smile.
She blinked the painful memory away. "Because."
She twisted the knob to turn on the stove and crossed to the fridge to pull out eggs, a package of bacon, and what was left of a pint of orange juice.
Bando's nails clicked on the floor as he crossed to the doggie door and slipped outside.
"Can I have some coffee?" Miles asked.
"No." She set a glass and the juice on the table in front of him.
He shrugged and reached for the juice.
She got the bacon sizzling in one half of a skillet and whipped together some eggs in a plastic bowl before she added them to the skillet to scramble.
The bacon popped, and she'd swear she heard a sniff of appreciation from behind her, but when she turned to glance over her shoulder, the boy was staring out the darkened window.
"Where are you from?" she asked. "Taylor Hills?" She doubted it. She hadn’t seen a missing persons poster or heard of a search.
"Why'd you buy this place?" he said. "It's pretty far out of town for a girl to live. By herself."
"I'm building a dog rescue." This was an easy answer. "I'm going to save dogs from all over, dogs people don't want anymore. I'll rehabilitate them if they need help, then I'm going to get them adopted."
A quick glance showed he was thinking on her words, and the softening in his eyes told her that maybe he'd appreciated that answer.
Across the room, the Chihuahua rested in the basket where she'd curled up with her puppies. She looked up, surveyed the space, and then laid her chin on the edge of the basket. It was tiring being a mom. At least that's what Kayla had heard. Her mom had died before imparting much motherly wisdom.
She was chasing one dream, but it hurt too much to think about the dreams she'd turned away from seven years ago. Along with the man.
At the counter, she plated the slightly runny eggs and the bacon that was slightly too crunchy. The toast she scrapped completely, as it was burnt black.
Standing here, she had a view out the window and saw headlights turn into the drive, still a ways from the house.
She turned quickly to the table, hoping her body was enough to block Miles from seeing, and hoping the food provided enough distraction for the next few moments.
It seemed to work, because he didn’t look up until the social worker opened the screen door and slipped inside.
She hadn’t seen such an accusing glare since she’d once borrowed Sarah’s Louis Vuitton handbag. "You ratted me out."
She wanted to explain but doubted he'd listen. "I only promised not to call the cops," she said softly.
He was gone minutes later, back into the system she'd hated so much. His baleful glare followed her in her memories all day long.
Two days later, late on a cold and rainy Sunday afternoon, Chase delivered a bull the Triple H had sold to a farmer not far from Amanda's ranch, and on a whim, he decided to stop and check in.
He saw movement in the open barn doors and headed that way instead of up to the house.
Inside, he found a teary Amanda and her mom.
Her mom saw him first and came to meet him as he stepped into the barn.
"The ewe rejected one of the lambs," she said quietly. "And we can't keep it. It's hard enough just trying to keep our normal routine." She looked a little tearful herself.
Amanda sniffed loudly, wiping her nose with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.
"Did Sarah leave some formula, just in case?" He kept his voice low, but the girl standing several feet away still heard.
"Yeah, but mom won't let me keep the lamb!" Amanda burst out. She shot a teary glare at her mother.
With her red-rimmed, exhausted eyes, Mom looked like she was about to burst into tears too, and he did not want that. "It's too much, with everything... Feedings every two hours?"
He nodded. He got it, he really did.
He wanted to help, wanted to ease their pain somewhat, but the words that popped out of his mouth were a surprise, even to him.
"I'll take her home with me. Raise her up until I can find a 4H kid to take her on."
Three days after James's visit, Sarah drove out to the Triple H. Three days of complete radio silence from Chase.
She missed his emoji-filled texts.
She'd been so distracted by James's arrival and flustered by his profession of undying love that she hadn't noticed anything else. But when she'd gone into the clinic after getting rid of James, Jessie had asked, "Was that Chase I saw in the back of the parking lot?"
She'd barely registered a truck leaving the lot, hadn't seen if it was Chase. But after days of hearing nothing from him, she'd known Jessie must have been right.
She'd wanted to find him to explain, but two late-night calls in a row had ruined those plans. There was no way she was taking James back. She might be stubborn, but not stubborn enough to stay with a man who'd treated her so shabbily. Not when the real deal was right in front of her.
Then today, Amanda's mom had called the clinic and tattled on Sarah’s former assistant.
And Sarah knew she had to do something before she lost the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Now she checked in with the ranch house. It was suppertime, and everybody was clustered around the long dining room table. Everyone except for her cowboy.
The foreman directed her to the barn.
Inside, she found Chase sitting cross-legged in one of the horse stalls, holding a bottle while the tiny lamb sucked greedily.
He had two days’ worth of scruff on his chin and looked shell-shocked and more than a little exhausted. She'd heard directly from Jessie that raising a baby could do that to you.
She stuck her head over the stall door. "Hey, cowboy."<
br />
Instead of the smile she'd hoped for, his gaze was wary as it lifted to her. "Sarah. What're you doing here?"
Well, that wasn't quite the greeting she'd expected.
"I heard I had a new patient out here. I thought I'd better—"
"Right. The lamb." His lips turned down in a frown, and he looked away from Sarah and back to the animal. The lamb sucked the last drops from the bottle.
Sarah opened the stall door and slipped inside. She squatted next to Chase, and the lamb knocked her knee with its head. She couldn't help a small smile as she quickly ran her hands over the animal, noting the little full belly and soft wool. The animal's eyes were clear and alert.
"She looks good." But when Sarah turned her smile on the cowboy, he ducked his head and stood up.
Sarah straightened, too. "Amanda's mom said you were pretty empathetic about the situation, and she was impressed that you were willing to take on the lamb."
The woman's effusive praise had made Sarah jealous.
He remained silent. Scratched the back of his neck, knocking his hat loose. It fell into the straw at his feet, and Sarah snatched it up.
He reached for it, but she pulled it away, and finally, finally, his gaze flew to her face.
"Getting up to feed the lamb all hours of the night must be making you grumpy, because this isn't the greeting I was expecting."
He frowned. "Excuse me if I don't kiss you hello, since I'm fairly sure you're back with Hero and just haven't told me yet."
Hero? Oh. James. Her lips wanted to twitch at the nickname.
She slapped the hat against his chest instead, and he caught it before it fell in the straw again. She turned and stormed out of the stall.
He followed, leaving the lamb behind.
"I'm not back with James. As if I would take him back after everything—"
A firm grip on her elbow kept Sarah from getting any farther away.
Chase slowly reeled her in, turning her to face him. He tipped her chin up with his opposite hand.
"You didn't take him back?" His question was uttered with such disbelief, and the naked hope on his face bolstered her.
She put on her best stubborn face and raised her chin even higher. "As a matter of fact, I've discovered I wasn't in love with him after all. I'm in love with you, you big l—"
He cut her off with a sweet kiss, then moved to spread little kisses across her cheek and jaw. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I love you, and I was so afraid..."
She pulled back to get a good look at his face. "Afraid that I'd forget the last two months?"
His shoulders shifted, his eyes cutting away. "Afraid you'd realize that I'm just a loser without an education. Hero’s smart enough to keep you interested—"
It was her turn to shut him up with a kiss.
When she pulled away, he looked down at her with a heated gaze.
"He wasn't smart enough to keep me the first time," she said. "Or to make me fall in love with him. Not really."
Chase's gaze darkened. She pushed against his shoulders slightly. "Loving someone and being loved in return is far more valuable than a well-tailored suit and a high salary. Having a man with me, a man who cares about me, who sees me and hears me and knows me—that’s worth far more than prestige and power in my book. And I love you."
He touched his forehead to hers. "I’ll never get tired of hearing you say that.”
He held her close and she reveled in the warmth of his embrace. “Then I’ll never stop.”
Epilogue
Nate O'Malley had been waiting for this phone call for nine and a half years.
He didn't recognize the number, but he did recognize Kayla's strident voice coming through the line.
"I just got off the phone with the courthouse," she blurted.
He couldn't help the broad smile that spread across his lips. She sounded mad.
"How is it possible that we're still married?"
Dear Reader
Thank you for picking up Stealing Sarah. This book started with the tiniest seed of an idea—the title! As I got to know Sarah and Kayla through writing this book, their stories stole my heart. I hope you’ll read on to the next book in the series, Keeping Kayla.
Thanks for reading!
Connect with me online:
www.lacywilliams.net
[email protected]
Keeping Kayla sneak peek
A Vegas wedding that never should’ve happened…
Ten years ago, Kayla Campbell made the biggest mistake of her life. She thought the hasty Vegas marriage had been annulled, only to find out she was wrong. So wrong. Desperate to house a needy foster kid, she’s forced to request help from the one man she promised herself to forget—ranch foreman Nate O’Malley.
Nate has waited years for his chance to make things right with Kayla. He was a twenty-year-old kid when he let her get away—and he’s regretted it ever since. She wants to pretend they’re married? Fine by him, as long as it gets him close enough for her to see he’s the kind of guy who sticks around.
But Kayla’s walls are a high as ever, and having a foster kid underfoot reminding her of all the ways they’re not compatible makes Nate’s task seem impossible. Can the stubborn cowboy show her he can provide the forever family she’s always wanted?
Buy now
Also by Lacy Williams
Wild Wyoming Heart series (historical romance)
Marrying Miss Marshal
Counterfeit Cowboy
Cowboy Pride
Courted by a Cowboy
Triple H Brides series (contemporary romance)
Kissing Kelsey
Courting Carrie
Stealing Sarah
Keeping Kayla
Cowboy Fairytales series (contemporary romance)
Once Upon a Cowboy
Cowboy Charming
The Toad Prince
The Beastly Princess
The Lost Princess
Heart of Oklahoma series (contemporary romance)
Kissed by a Cowboy
Love Letters from Cowboy
Mistletoe Cowboy
Cowgirl for Keeps
Jingle Bell Cowgirl
Heart of a Cowgirl
3 Days with a Cowboy
Prodigal Cowgirl
Wyoming Legacy series (historical romance)
The Homesteader’s Sweetheart
Courted by a Cowboy
Roping the Wrangler
Return of the Cowboy Doctor
The Wrangler’s Inconvenient Wife
A Cowboy for Christmas
Her Convenient Cowboy
Her Cowboy Deputy
Not in a Series
Love’s Glimmer
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Dates
Santa Next Door
The Butterfly Bride
Secondhand Cowboy
Wagon Train Sweetheart (historical romance)
Copyright © 2017 by Lacy Williams
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Stealing Sarah: a Cowboy Fairytales spin-off (Triple H Brides Book 3) Page 8