by Roni Adams
“When Jake told me what Beau had put in the Will, I was as shocked as you. I never thought, never imagined, that he would take control of the ranch from you. All he ever talked about was how proud he was of his daughters. He told me that your sisters were incredible and he was so excited for the lives they were building, but it was you who he felt understood what the ranch meant. He always told me that one day it would be you and me that would be in charge of the future of this business.” He gave a sharp laugh. “I guess I had no clue what he really meant. Maybe he was trying to put the idea of a marriage between the two of us into my head, but I wasn’t picking up on it. Maybe if I had, I could have avoided this, I could have told him something, anything to make him rethink this insane idea.”
“Once he’d made up his mind, there was no changing it.”
Cord half smiled and nudged her shoulder. “Like someone else I know, hmm?”
“We were a lot alike.”
“Yes. And we’re a lot alike too, although maybe not everyone sees it. This land, this ranch means the world to both of us. Without it, we might as well not even be alive. If I said that to anyone else, my brothers, anyone, they don’t get it, but I say that to you and it’s in your eyes. It’s the same thing you feel.”
She nodded. She understood completely.
“I loved your father and I miss him so much.”
Sara’s eyes filled again and she reached out to cover Cord’s hand where it rested on his thigh. He turned his over and linked their fingers. His palm was rough against her own. It was probably the first time in her life they’d touched like this. “I know,” she said softly.
“I thought he was insane to put that clause into the Will and it’s been eating at me for days. I tried to think the way he was thinking, tried to figure out what he was trying to really do and it came to me. Maybe he wasn’t trying to force you into something you didn’t want. Maybe what he was really thinking was about the future of the ranch.”
“He was trying to control me, make me do things his way.”
“Wait, hear me out.” He shifted more towards her. “Have you ever thought what it would mean if you or I were to marry someone else and it didn’t work out and there was a divorce settlement?”
Sara’s eyes widened at the thought that had never crossed her mind. But what if an outsider did come in and suddenly owned a piece of the Double B?
“By marrying us, he was ensuring that the Double B partnership was protected. Locked up in a way that means far more than just a business contract. He knew me well enough to know I’d do what he wanted and he’s hoping you care more about the land than anything else.”
“So we should set aside any of our own personal feelings and get married for the sake of the business? How could he have asked us to sacrifice like that?”
“I don’t think he was. I think he was thinking that you and I would make a great partnership, and a solid marriage. I think he saw what he wanted to and he saw how much alike we are. Our values are the same, our beliefs, and our goals. Marriages have been founded on a lot less.”
“How could he think like that? My mother was the love of his life. My parents loved the fact that they’d had a whirlwind romance and yet were completely and totally opposite. How could he want to pick out who I married and not let me fall in love the way they did?”
Cord shook his head. “Maybe he was trying to play matchmaker, thinking you and I were perfect for one another. Maybe he was trying to find someone for you who wouldn’t try to make you into something you’re not.”
Cord held her gaze and squeezed her hand. “I would never try to change you, Sara. You are amazing at what you do. There isn’t a cowboy around who can outwork you. If you and Buck hadn’t been running the things you do, I couldn’t be in here doing the rest of it. None of that would change if we got married...but it might if you marry someone else.”
Sara swallowed hard. Why was Cord suddenly making sense? Still, Buck’s words last night popped into her head. “So this would be a marriage in name only. We’d have a partnership, a business arrangement?”
Cord frowned and took a deep breath. “I can’t do that, Sara. I’m thirty two years old. I want a family. If I go into this marriage, I want it to be a real marriage. I want kids, and I don’t want to think that in fifteen years you’ll want a divorce.”
Sara pulled her hand away and shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Cord rose from the couch to squat in front of her and take both her hands. Even though she wanted to look away, Sara stared into his brown eyes. Her face flushed at the thoughts that were racing across her mind.
“Marriages have been based on a lot less than what we have and worked. I promise you that if you agree to marry me, I will give you the best life you could ever ask for. I would respect you and love you and stand by you forever. I would be true to you and only you and I would be proud to call you my wife.”
“I-I don’t know.” Her stomach heaved again. The more sense Cord made, the more nauseous she felt.
“Is it Cole? Are you and he serious?”
She shook her head. “No. Cole and I are friends. I know folks think there’s something more but honest, we’re not anything other than that.”
Cord stared. She shrugged.
“Okay, we’ve maybe been a little more than friends but we both know we’re just spending time together for now. I’m definitely not who Cole wants to marry. We just enjoy hanging together.”
“Well, I’m not seeing anyone and I haven’t for a long time. It’s really hard to date someone and know that they aren’t interested in your bank account. That’s another reason this is so right. In our position, it’s hard to trust someone to know that they are with you for you and not for what you can do for them.”
Sara watched his thumb make slow circles on her hand. It was kind of annoying and she wanted to yank away from him. Cord wasn’t a huge man like Buck, but he was just as strong. His hands were the hands of a working man, strong and rough. She didn’t know what to do. She loved Cord, but not like that. The very idea of him kissing her—or anything else—was beyond weird.
His finger lifted her chin and, for half a second, she was terrified he was going to kiss her. God, she wanted to puke right now.
“I swear that I won’t rush us into anything until you’re ready. We’ll take our time to get to know each other, in that way. And, when it’s time, I’ll make sure you are completely happy. Okay?”
Sara frowned. “Are you trying to tell me it’ll be good between us?”
He chuckled. “I’ll give it my best shot, how’s that?”
She licked her bottom lip, unsure how to ask the next question. “W-what if, um, what if it isn’t? I mean what if there’s just...no sparks?”
Cord held her gaze. “I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
Sara frowned, but decided not to ask him to expand on that. He might be inclined to show her, and she really didn’t want to get into that right now. She pulled her hands from his, hoping he’d stand up and give her some space.
He must have read her mind because he did just that. She stood as well and felt better putting the couch between them. She rested her hands along the back of the soft leather.
“I had an idea,” he began slowly. “I have to go to the Houston Livestock show next week. I was thinking you should come with me—not only because, in your position, you really need to be there, but it would give us a week alone, away from everyone else, to sort of discuss this further, maybe explore our...options.”
She picked at a button on the leather couch. “Sort of try the shoe on, see if it fits?”
Cord laughed. “Well, we’ll see. I’m not sure either of us is ready for shoe trying. I think it would be great to get away from the house, though. I’m thinking we could spend some time alone and...talk. Who knows, maybe you’ll fall head over heels in love with me.”
Sara lifted her eyebrow knowing he was trying to lighten the mood. “I should go to the show either
way. You’re right, I should be there. Where are you staying?”
He named the hotel where her father always stayed. “I already booked a suite. I hate staying for a week in one small room, so there’s plenty of space, and two bedrooms even, “ he added pointedly.
Sara nodded. “Okay, makes sense. I’ll let Buck know I’ll be gone.”
“Speaking of Buck...”
Sara frowned. Buck hadn’t said anything about that scene last week, had he? “Yeah?”
“You know he’s going to do everything he can to talk you out of this. He thinks we’re both insane for going along with this.”
“I know.”
“I won’t force you into this, Sara. But as Jackson said, I’ve got nothing to gain by doing this. I think it would save a lot of future headaches if we were married. We could lock up this partnership tight and ensure the future for generations.”
“If you want me to thank you for sacrificing yourself to me—”
“It’s no sacrifice, Sara. You’re a beautiful woman. I’m a lucky man to be in this position.”
She scoffed and shifted uneasily behind the couch. “You don’t need to pull that crap with me.”
“Its not crap. Any man around would be fortunate to have you even considering marriage to him.”
“You mean sex.”
Cord shoved his hands in his pockets. “We may be marrying for one reason, but I’ve got enough pride that I don’t want men around here thinking my wife isn’t happy to be in my bed. Okay?”
Sara headed for the door. With a hand on the dark doorframe, she ducked her chin to her chest, drew a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
****
“Sara! Your left!”
Buck watched as Sara’s horse jerked hard to the left and cut the stray cows with minds of their own. They’d been out working since early in the day and there were more long days ahead as they moved cattle from the North pasture to the South. Teddy and Cord were with Sam working other parts of the ranch.
He didn’t know what it was today, but he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her. She and her horse were like one as they moved. Her long hair, pulled back in a messy ponytail, bounced on her back as she rode. Around her waist, she wore the flannel shirt she’d stripped off earlier, her white tank top soaked with sweat and covered with dirt. She took his breath away at her sheer raw beauty. She twisted and turned in her saddle, yelling out orders that made cowboys scatter in different directions.
He pressed his thighs into Thunder’s side and turned him in her direction. She glanced up as he reached her and pulled Travis to a halt. “How’s it going?”
Sara picked her hat off her head and wiped her brow with the rag on her saddle horn. Buck watched her breasts rise and glanced around to see if anyone else was as aware of her as he was. The other cowboys worked the herd, moving through them and doing their jobs. They were well used to working around Sara and had been most of their lives. Any that were new and weren’t used to her, learned real quick to keep their mind on their jobs or head out.
The sounds of calves bleating for their mamas and mama cows calling back filled the air.
“The herd looks good,” she said, her voice full of excitement and energy.
“Yeah, it does. I think one more day and we should have the new ones tagged and checked too.”
She nodded and yanked her water bottle off the side of her saddle. She took a long drink, then wet the blue checked cloth and wiped her face, the back of her neck, and down her chest. Buck swallowed hard. He would love to help her cool off. He’d start by stripping off her tank top then he’d remove her heavy jeans and...he blinked as he realized she was speaking to him.
“I think by end of the day today, we should be more than halfway done. We can send those new guys out to the West side. Is Teddy taking the plane up tomorrow?”
“Yeah, he and Cord are going out to do a scan and try to get a count.”
Her horse shifted as she took a long drink from her water bottle. He followed the drop that spilled out against her chin and trickled down her neck.
Buck forced his gaze off her and out to the herd. “I’m going to head into town later, want to go?”
She frowned. “For what?”
He shrugged. “I need to pick up some things and thought I’d grab a burger or something.”
“Nah, I gotta pack.”
Buck gritted his teeth, hard. This idiotic trip she and Cord were taking wasn’t good news. For all he knew they’d come back married! He’d already tried to convince her it was a bad idea. Then he tried to convince Cord he should go too, but his brother made it very clear this trip was just going to be him and Sara. Buck was more than tempted to just show up there, and there wasn’t a damn thing Cord could do about it then.
“This trip is the most asinine—”
Her hand flew up. “Don’t start. We’ve already had this fight.” She dug her heels into Travis and they were gone, leaving him with temper flaring and frustration mounting.
The rest of the day, he barely saw her—not until they rode back and she pulled up next to Buck and his large white horse. She was filthy and looked exhausted, but smiled as she passed on horseback. He nodded in reply. Ahead of him, he watched her slip her booted feet out of the stirrups. She bent forward and hooked her legs up behind her until she lay on her stomach in the saddle, her face against her horse’s mane. It looked like the most uncomfortable position he could imagine but she could ride that way all the way back to the ranch. He didn’t know another person who could ride half-asleep the way she did; he’d known her to take catnaps like that for years. Half of it was that horse; Travis and Sara were almost one when they were together.
She’d work her delectable fanny off today. Not that she didn’t always, but today it was like she’d been driven by some outside force. The ghost of her father maybe? Trying to show him that she was good enough? He blew his breath out and twisted his head back and forth trying to ease the ache in his neck.
Did Cord plan to try to seduce her in Houston? Was he thinking he could convince her that they’d be right for one another with some soft words and a few drinks? If it was any other man, he knew Sara wouldn’t so much as think twice about putting a quick end to that. But the way the situation was, her actually thinking about going through with this insane idea, maybe she was willing to try things out.
More than ever he was determined that, somehow, he was going to be there in Houston. Then again, maybe he needed to leave it alone. Maybe a week with Cord would be enough to show Sara what the rest of her life would be like married to him. He was serious and steady, and a hell of a guy, but he was also no party animal. When he and Sara had been at the Houston show in the past, it had been one late night after another. They’d laughed and partied at every honky tonk they could find, and still managed to get the job done the next day. With Cord, it would be a quiet dinner by seven and in bed by eight.
In bed. That was the part that got him every time. Was Cord going to try and take her to bed this week?
His phone vibrated on his belt. The moment he put it to his ear, his brother began talking a mile a minute.
“Shit.”
Sara jerked up at the tone in his voice and he urged his mount next to hers. “The ATV flipped. Cord’s hurt.”
Chapter Seven
“I can handle Stock Show by myself,” Sara tried to convince Cord in his hospital room two days later.
“You’re not ready to go alone.”
He sounded tired, and winced when he raised an arm to run a hand through his hair. Obviously, he was in a lot of pain, even on the medication. He tried to push himself up but dropped back down to the pillow with a moan. Sara felt bad he was in that much pain, but she wasn’t leaving until she’d convinced him she could go to Houston without him.
The door swished open and she glanced over her shoulder as Buck and Susan walked in. Her sister glanced from Cord’s strained features to Sara’s glare and rushed to the bed.<
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“Sara, this isn’t the right time to argue with him. Can’t you see he’s in pain?” Susan fussed over Cord and fluffed his pillows.
Sara snorted then turned to the window. She grimaced at the boring view of the parking lot below.
“What’s going on?” Buck asked.
“I...” Cord swallowed hard, beads of perspiration breaking out on his face. “I told her...I wanted you to go to the Livestock show…with her and she argued...with me.” His voice broke with the effort it seemed to take even to speak.
“She’ll get over it.”
Sara spun around and glared at Buck. “You’re an ass. I don’t need you to babysit me in Houston.”
Cord went on as if she hadn’t even spoke. “You and I both know...she doesn’t have enough experience to do this alone. I need someone...to go with her.”
Buck shrugged. “If she doesn’t like it, she can stay home.”
Sara raised one brow. “Fine. I’ll stay home then.” Her heart clenched. Another way she was being pushed out of the decision-making. Is this how it will be from now on? Would she be the little woman who didn’t know her own mind and needed someone behind her all the time? This wasn’t what she envisioned when her father told her she’d one day take over his half of the empire.
“That’s mature.” Buck shook his head as if she was being difficult.
Her jaw dropped. Buck never spoke to her like that, as if she was a moron. What was up with him?
Susan, who’d been standing by not saying anything, spoke up. “Have you ever done the show without Daddy?”
Sara shook her head. “No.”
“When you did the show with him, did he ever let you call the shots, make the plans, do anything other than just tag along?”
“No, but I watched everything he did,” she defended.
Susan nodded. “Okay, but don’t you think it would help if your first time doing this, you had someone along you could turn to?” She put a hand up as Sara opened her mouth to argue. “Just to have your back—to make sure you do right. I mean, this is the most important event of the year, right?”