The Lonesome Rancher / Finding Happily-Ever-After: The Lonesome Rancher. Marie Ferrarella

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      As if to emphasize his words, several flashes of lightning shot across the sky, followed by instant crashes of thunder. She jerked involuntarily.

      “Whoa, darlin’, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

      She stiffened. “I don’t need you to play the big, strong cowboy. I can take care of myself.”

      Sloan raised a hand. “I have no doubt about that.”

      He couldn’t help but wonder about the things she’d gone through these past months. He could see the sadness behind her toughness. Maybe that had been the reason he’d spoken so freely to her. It was something he couldn’t let happen again.

      “I should check on the horses.” Tugging his hat lower on his head, he opened the door and fought the strong wind as he stepped onto the porch.

      He went to the railing and placed his hand on Cally’s rump and along her flank. “Sorry, girl, it’s going to be a while before I can get you home.” He’d removed the horses’ tack earlier, but he wished they had more protection from the storm than the two blankets he’d found in the cupboard.

      He checked Amigo, then studied the still dark clouds in the dim light. He needed to get Jade out of his head. The last thing he wanted was her as an added complication. No, in a few weeks Jade Hamilton would be back in Dallas, and he’d be working hard at River’s End.

      That was what he needed to concentrate on now. The ranch. Had he lost any of his herd or his crop from this storm? He didn’t need to think about a beautiful green-eyed woman, but that was exactly what he was doing.

      He wiped the rain from his face, unable to deny the stirring he felt. He just had to figure out a way to stop it.

      Nearly two hours later the freak storm had finally moved on, and Bud had arrived at the homestead with his truck and a horse trailer.

      Jade had never been so happy to see anyone. After Sloan kissed her, she knew she couldn’t give into her attraction for him. For so many reasons. She was thankful that Sloan had disappeared into the bedroom, leaving her alone by the fire until they were rescued by Bud.

      The men loaded the animals and she got in the backseat of the truck. On the trip to the ranch house, she was happy not to have to talk as the men were busy discussing storm damage. She hadn’t thought about the toll the heavy wind and rain took on crops and animals. She knew now that bad weather was a threat to a rancher’s livelihood.

      Bud pulled up at the kitchen door and Sloan climbed out of the passenger seat to help her. The sky was clear, the night cool.

      She looked up at him, trying to avoid his gaze. “I can manage, thank you,” she said and started to walk off.

      He reached to stop her. “It’s for the best, Jade.”

      Ignoring his warm touch on her arm, she looked back at the truck. Bud wasn’t paying them any attention. She still lowered her voice and agreed. “It’s the only way, Sloan, or … I’ll have to leave.”

      His eyes narrowed. “Dammit, Jade, that’s the last thing I want. That’s the reason I’m going to stay away from you. I don’t want you to leave … for my mother’s sake.”

      So it hurt a little that this all seemed so easy for him. “I’m tired. I’m going inside.” She climbed the porch steps and was met by two worried looking women, Marta and Louisa.

      Louisa grabbed her in a hug as Sloan and Bud drove off. “Thank God, you’re okay.”

      “I’m sorry we worried you.”

      Louisa made Jade sit down at the table. “Why? You didn’t cause the storm. That cold front wasn’t even supposed to come this far south.” She shook her head. “I hate to think about what could have happened. Thank God, Sloan was there with you.” Louisa glanced behind her. “Where is my son?”

      Oh, yeah, without Sloan, she might not be confused about everything. “Taking care of the horses.”

      Marta brought her a cup of steaming cocoa. “What would you like to eat?” she asked.

      Jade shook her head. “I’m not really hungry. I just need to get cleaned up and then sleep.” She glanced at Louisa. “If you don’t mind.”

      “Of course not,” Louisa said. “Why don’t you take your shower and Marta will bring a light supper up to your room?”

      Jade was too tired to argue. She stood. “Okay and thank you. Good night.”

      Jade climbed the stairs to her room and began stripping off her damp, dirty clothes inside the connecting bathroom. Once in the stall, she let the hot water erase the chill from her body. Closing her eyes, she suddenly saw Sloan’s face. The look in his eyes before he took her mouth in their first unbelievable kiss. She could still feel the imprint of his body against hers, and it caused a different kind of warmth to shoot through her.

      Stop thinking about him.

      She finished with a quick shampoo, then got out. She used the blow drier on her hair, and pulled on her satin pajamas.

      Returning to her room, she heard the knock. Expecting to see Marta, she called, “Come in.”

      She went to her bed and pulled back the quilt. “Thank you, Marta, for bringing my supper. I guess I was hungrier than I thought.” She turned around and stopped talking. It wasn’t the housekeeper, but Sloan.

      He hadn’t cleaned up yet. But dirty jeans and boots didn’t curb the attraction she felt for the man. “What are you doing here?”

      He combed his hand through his hair as his interest went to her state of dress. “Damn, you even look sexy in pj’s.”

      She refused to act embarrassed. “I was planning on getting some sleep. So could we let this discussion go until another time?”

      “I didn’t like how we left things.”

      “I thought we agreed it was the only sensible way.”

      He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t move from the spot and Jade was grateful for that. She was afraid how willing she would be if he touched her. He needed to go.

      “Look, Sloan, it isn’t a good idea you’re here …”

      “I know. That’s why I came to tell you that I’ll be gone in the morning.”

      He was leaving? “Where?”

      “Does it matter? I need to be out of here and away from you.”

      “I can’t drive you out of your house.”

      “First of all, it’s my parents’ house. I’m only moving back to my home.”

      “Okay.” So he would still be close by. “You don’t need to worry, I’ll take care of Louisa.”

      “I’m going to hold you to that,” he said. “But if you need СКАЧАТЬ