The New Cowboy

by Rebecca Winters

  “We’re not talking about me.” Liz refused to be put off. “I’m serious, Avery. There’s been something wrong with you since you first went away to college in Bozeman. When are you going to break down and tell me what it is?”

  Never.

  Avery had her therapist in Bozeman, whom she’d been seeing for the past eight years, and she didn’t need anyone else. No one but Dr. Moser and the police knew Avery’s secret and that was the way it would stay even though she loved Liz with all her heart. “Please don’t worry about me.”

  “I can’t help it. That’s what family is for.”

  Liz was a sweetheart, but no one could help with Avery’s particular problem rooted deep in the past. If time could dim the pain, then she’d pray for that much relief.

  Now Avery pulled the truck around the side of the ranch house and hurried through the terrace to the dining room where she found her grandfather Ralph. He was talking on the phone while he ate his dinner.

  When he saw her, he ended the call. “There’s my Avery. Come here, darlin’.”

  She leaned over to give him a hug. “Hi, Grandpa. How have you been today?”

  “Never better.”

  “You’ve been doing so much better lately.” Her eyes teared up. She adored the man who’d taken over as both parent and grandparent after her parents had died. “I’m so thankful.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Me, too. Guess what? I’ve just received exciting news from Matt.”

  Now that there’d been another marriage in the family, her grandfather and Matt Henson had become best friends, the way it should always have been. Watching the national rodeo finals together on the television had bonded the families in new ways.

  Avery needed to shower, but she sat down for a minute to hear him out. “Tell me what’s going on.”

  His eyes lit up. “The owner of the Corkin ranch is coming home tonight for good.”

  “You must be mistaken, Grandpa. He’ll be here on the Fourth of July for his vacation. Not before.”

  He shook his head. “You didn’t listen to me. I said he’s coming home for good tonight.”

  The news caused the blood to pound in her ears like thunder over the Pryors. Zane Lawson was coming back? “What do you mean for good?” Her voice faltered.

  “He’s been transferred from Glasgow to the Billings field office. There’s more. They’ve authorized him to set up a satellite BLM criminal law enforcement office at the ranch so he can cover the Pryor Mountains region from home. He’s back to stay and I’m ecstatic!”

  Avery shot to her feet. “You’re joking.” He’d be working next door from now on?

  “I wouldn’t joke about a thing like that. Matt and Millie couldn’t be more delighted.” Her grandfather went on talking. He had no idea what was going on inside Avery. “This will thrill Sadie. Ryan asks about his uncle Zane every day.”

  Avery knew about that. Often when she went to Sadie’s, her sister-in-law was on Skype with Zane so he and his nephew could see and talk to each other. Last week was a revelation. Ryan had thrown a tantrum because he hadn’t wanted to stop talking to Zane.

  Neither had Avery, who loved those rare, precious moments. She’d never been able to get enough of Zane. Sadie would include Avery so that she and Zane could communicate. Her pulse raced during those sessions.

  Now he was coming home for good. Avery was so staggered by the revelation, she was trembling. That little boy adored him. So did Sadie. So did everyone who knew Zane.

  So did Avery.

  “That’s wonderful news, but right now I’ve got to get ready.”

  “What for?”

  “Mike Durant is coming by to take me to dinner.”

  “Is he an archaeologist?”

  “No. He works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.”

  Her grandfather scrutinized her. “How come I never heard of him? Do you like him?”

  “He’s all right.”

  “When did you meet him?”

  “After Christmas. He was transferred from the office on the Pawnee Reservation in Nebraska, but we can talk about it later.” Her heart was racing with unhealthy speed. “Does Jarod know about Zane?”

  “I’m going to call them right now. Matt’s already told Liz and Connor. Millie’s planned a party for everyone later tonight. Too bad you can’t be with us. Zane’s the finest man I know.”

  That was high praise coming from her grandfather. “Do you need me to drive you over before I leave?”

  “Oh, no. One of the boys will take me. You go on and have a good time.”

  Smothering a groan, Avery kissed his cheek. Her grandfather’s news about Zane had shaken her so badly she ran out of the room and up the stairs to her bedroom to get ahold of herself. After removing her snap-up Western shirt, she took off the holster shirt that concealed her pistol. It was a lightweight Beretta Nano pocketed under the left arm. She set it on the dresser and got in the shower.

  Avery couldn’t believe Zane was back. Ralph’s praise of him rang in her ears. Little did her grandfather know she thought Zane was the finest man she’d ever known. Heroic. Honorable. Exciting. Fascinating. A man to match the mountains she loved. And desirable beyond belief.

  But soul-destroying fear nipped at the heels of her excitement that he was coming home, ruining the news for her. During her years of therapy, Dr. Moser had helped Avery get to the point where she could trust again and accept going out on dates. After the assault, that was progress. But the psychologist predicted that one day a man would come along who would make Avery feel the deep emotions of desire and intense wanting she’d thought had died.

  As Dr. Moser pointed out, in order to have a full, loving physical and emotional relationship with this person, Avery would have to end the silence and tell him the truth about the assault on her.

  Avery hadn’t been able to imagine the day coming when she’d meet such a man. And when and if she did, how would she overcome the shame, humiliation, depression, anger, fear? The guilt. It had been eight years and yet she was still suffering to some degree from all those emotions, especially shame.

  After her attack, she’d called the police from the hospital. Jarod’s aunt Pauline, a nurse on the reservation, had always worried about Avery riding in the mountains and on the reservation alone. She’d continually warned her that if, heaven forbid she was ever assaulted, she should go to the hospital immediately for a thorough examination in order for the police to catch the culprit.

  When Avery thought about it, Pauline had given her amazing counsel years ago. But maybe it wasn’t so amazing after all. If she, too, had the gift of vision like her husband, Charlo, it was possible she’d sensed something about Avery’s future and had warned her. According to Pauline, there were too many assaults on the reservation. Being on duty at the hospital, she saw a lot of things and had shared that information with her.

  On the night of Avery’s assault, Pauline’s advice had rung in her ears. She went to the hospital and the collected evidence and DNA had been entered in her file to help the police. Since that time she’d prayed every day that her assailant would be caught so he couldn’t hurt anyone else, but in all the years since, there’d been no news until Monday.

  The doctor at the hospital had helped her find the right psychologist. Within a few days she’d started self-defense classes and had bought a handgun she learned to shoot. Her concealed weapons permit allowed her a certain amount of protection. She was doing all she could to prevent herself from being victimized again. But if she told Zane the truth about her traumatic experience, it would turn him off.

  He was too good a man to be interested in a woman like Avery. On occasion in his line of work as an agent, he had to arrest criminals inflicting that kind of horror on their victims. She could only imagine the kind of taste it left in his mouth. Avery couldn’
t bear the thought of him having to put her in that category.

  When Zane had walked into the room at the funeral for Sadie’s father, Avery hadn’t been able to take her eyes off him. Everything about him excited her to the very core of her being and she knew she’d met the man her therapist had been talking about.

  His tall, hard-muscled physique had created a stir among all the women gathered there. At first everyone, including Avery, thought the brooding, retired Navy SEAL was Sadie’s lover from California. Before Jarod knew differently, it had almost destroyed him to see Sadie with Zane.

  Beneath dark brown hair and eyebrows, his startling blue gaze had swept the living room at the Corkin ranch without really seeing anyone. He’d seemed totally removed from the event and had gathered Sadie’s little half brother in his strong arms to entertain him away from the others.

  It was when he’d smiled at his nephew, Ryan, that his hard-boned features gave way to faint dimples, melting Avery on the spot. In that moment he’d looked up at her and the world reeled away. The male admiration in his eyes lit up every cell in her body and she was never the same after that.

  As Liz had remarked later that day, there wasn’t a female in Montana who could be immune to such a gorgeous man. If Liz hadn’t been madly in love with Connor since high school...

  After meeting Zane, Sadie’s divorced stepuncle, Avery learned he’d decided to stay in Montana rather than return to San Francisco. She’d be seeing him coming and going from the Corkin ranch.

  Shocked by her intense attraction to him, Avery fought it in the only way she knew how and plunged into her work with more zeal than ever. For her to have to divulge those traumatic ten minutes to anyone besides the therapist made her sick inside. But when that someone was a fabulous man like Zane Lawson, she shrank from considering it.

  During Sadie’s honeymoon, Zane had lived at the Bannock ranch house for two weeks. Avery did her best to be friendly, but the thought of encouraging him was overshadowed by the trauma of her past. Mentally, Avery knew she didn’t have anything to feel guilty about, but emotionally she was crippled. She felt soiled by it.

  When Zane went to work for BLM law enforcement in Glasgow, part of her had been relieved, yet secretly the other part of her was devastated that he was so far away. Five months later she’d spent one evening with him and the family in Las Vegas. She’d felt his desire when they’d gone dancing with the others, but even though her fire for him burned hotter than ever, she’d made certain they weren’t alone together.

  She flew home from the trip to Nevada resolved to throw herself into one of her Crow projects, hoping to put Zane from her mind. A while back she’d finally accepted a date with Mike Durant.

  Unfortunately she realized she shouldn’t have accepted because it had been for the wrong reasons. Zane filled her mind and heart. She couldn’t possibly go on seeing Mike when there was no attraction on her end. The only thing to do was refuse to go out with him again after tonight. But how to do it without hurting his feelings was a tall order. He’d be there any minute.

  Zane would be arriving at his ranch any minute, and he wouldn’t be leaving again.

  She could hardly breathe.

  * * *

  TWILIGHT HAD CREPT over the landscape as Zane drove down the road toward the Corkin ranch. This was the kind of evening that called to him. He felt alive and excited. In thirteen months’ time this place had become home to him even though he’d been away a good part of it. The few short visits had only made him long to stay put.

  Out of the corner of his eye he saw a ruby-red Silverado parked in front of the Bannock ranch house. It had the Department of the Interior logo for the BIA. Must be someone from the reservation looking for Jarod and asking for directions to his new house.

  Suddenly Zane saw Avery come out the front door and down the porch steps with a dark-haired man Zane didn’t recognize. Something about the way he cupped her elbow told him he wasn’t there on official business.

  Zane’s stomach knotted as he slowed down to get a better look. She’d dressed in jeans and a leaf-green Western shirt. In cowboy boots she was five foot seven. He was stunned by the feminine picture she made with her rich sable-colored hair pulled back at the nape.

  In a different frame of mind than he was a moment ago, he drove on, but he kept his eyes trained on the rearview mirror. Before he turned into the ranch, he watched the truck disappear in the other direction.

  How long had that been going on?

  Forced to swallow his disappointment, he gunned the accelerator and pulled in the driveway too fast. It forced him to stand on his brakes when he reached the ranch house. With everyone’s trucks parked to the side along with his Volvo, it looked like a gathering of the clan. They’d obviously been waiting for him because everyone came pouring out the front door. A Sadie who looked about ready to deliver led Ryan by the hand.

  “Welcome home!” she cried. “This little guy has been waiting for you.”

  “Come here, sport.” He reached for his nephew who was growing to look more and more like Zane’s older brother, Tim. Already his hair was going darker. Zane hugged him hard and kissed him. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

  “Zen,” he mispronounced his name, causing everyone to laugh.

  The family took turns hugging him before Connor and Jarod brought in his bags from the truck. Because he’d lived in a furnished rental unit in Glasgow, he didn’t have much else to bring home besides clothes and a laptop. It reminded him of being in the SEALs when he could be transferred in the twinkling of an eye and had no baggage but his gear.

  He kissed Liz before turning to Sadie with a grin. “Judging from the look of you, it won’t be long before Little Sits in the Center makes his entrance.” Everyone laughed and went in the house.

  Ralph was already drinking punch in the easy chair and lifted his cup to him. “It’s wonderful to know you’re home for good, Zane.”

  They shook hands. “It feels good. You look well and younger.”

  Ralph beamed while Zane surveyed the room, inhaling the warmth and love. Only one person was missing to make his homecoming complete.

  Millie had laid out a spread fit for a king. Still carrying his nephew, he snagged her around the waist and gave her a special hug. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed your cooking and our card games.”

  She chuckled. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, Zane.”

  Matt called everyone together. “This is a time of real celebration. We couldn’t be happier with your news. While we eat, we want to hear details about your latest capture. It was all over the media and the newspapers. Talk about proud.”

  Zane hadn’t experienced this sense of family for years. He’d lost his parents ages ago. After that his marriage had fallen apart and he’d lost Tim, then Eileen. If he hadn’t had Sadie and Ryan, he didn’t know where he’d be today. If it hadn’t been for Sadie, he would never have met Avery Bannock.

  The little guy hugged his shoulder for the next hour while they all talked and ate. But when he finally fell asleep, Jarod walked over and reached for him. “We’d better get him home to bed while he’s crashed. Come on over in the morning and have breakfast with us.”

  Seeing Jarod with Ryan, you’d never know he wasn’t the boy’s father from birth. Naturally Ryan had Sadie’s looks. Tim’s son was in loving hands. “Sounds good.”

  The party broke up. Zane followed Jarod out to his truck and helped Sadie inside. Jarod put Ryan in the car seat. Once they were settled, Zane approached Jarod’s side of the truck. In a quiet voice he said, “I saw a BIA agent in front of your house with Avery while I was driving in. I didn’t realize she was seeing someone. They should have come over to the party.” Might as well find out the strength of Zane’s competition.

  Jarod’s inscrutable expression made it impossible to read him at times.
All he said was, “Avery’s so private she’d never do that, especially not with someone she barely knows.”

  That was the one piece of good news Zane needed to hear. Now he could breathe more easily again.

  Jarod stared at him with his piercing black eyes. “For all the obvious reasons, everyone’s thankful you’re back for good. Sadie and Ryan have missed you more than you know. And between you and me, we need more law enforcement around here considering all the artifact thefts.

  “As Sadie said, there’s nothing like knowing a special agent is going to be on the premises from now on. I agree. Welcome home. You make a great addition to the family.” He clapped Zane on the shoulder before climbing in behind the wheel.

  Zane watched them drive off before he said good-night to Connor and Liz. They were taking Ralph home. “You can count on me helping you guys with the big move into your new house on Saturday.” With all the family pitching in, Avery would have to be there. “I don’t have to be on official duty until Monday. That’ll give me time to do the things I want and settle in.”

  Connor’s brown eyes lit up. “You’re on. You have no idea how good it is to see you and know you’re not leaving again.”

  With everyone gone he walked back into the house. Millie was cleaning up the kitchen while Matt straightened the living room.

  “You two go on home. I’ll finish up. I can’t thank you enough for throwing this party together. It meant the world to me.”

  Matt was all smiles. “We wanted to do this for you.”

  “Tell you what. In the morning I’m having breakfast with Jarod and his family. Afterward I’ll saddle up Striker and join you at the pasture so you can give me my next ranching lesson.”

  “It’ll be a pleasure.”

  He walked them out, then locked up and headed for the shower. It had been a red-letter day for him and a long drive. He was tired, but when he got in bed, his mind wouldn’t shut off. The vision of Avery coming out of the ranch house with the other man holding on to her arm refused to leave him alone.