The New Cowboy. Rebecca Winters

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СКАЧАТЬ the thirty-minute drive home, the helplessness she felt over the situation had caught up with her and she needed to calm down. Mike Durant would be coming to the ranch for her soon. He’d driven by the site to make arrangements for tonight. They were going to dinner in White Lodge. For several months he’d been dropping by the site to talk to her about her work and had asked her out repeatedly.

      She’d finally accepted and they’d had one dinner date. But this second date would have to be their final one. He’d asked her out again in front of the other team members and she hadn’t wanted to embarrass him by turning him down. Though she didn’t want to hurt his pride, she couldn’t go out with him again. It was a mistake she’d regretted from the moment he’d tried to turn friendship into something else.

      Earlier in the month when Liz Bannock had learned that Avery had gone out on a first date with him, her new sister-in-law had eyed her with the kind of excitement that made her uncomfortable. “What’s he like?” Funny about happily married people. They wanted everyone else to find their soul mate and settle down.

      “Nice, but I can see what’s in your eyes, Liz, and it’s not going to happen.”

      Her expression deflated. “What’s wrong?”

      “I like him, but—”

      “But what?” Liz prodded.

      “I’m not interested.” On the advice of her psychologist, Avery had accepted a date with Mike in order to get back in the dating loop, but it hadn’t worked and now she was paying for it.

      “I thought you found him attractive.”

      “I did in a way. He works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and he’s a good source of information because of his work among other tribes.” That much was true. “He’s well-informed about the Crow culture, kind of like Jarod.”

      “Wait a minute—you mean you were drawn to him because he reminds you of Sits in the Center?” That was Jarod’s Crow name.

      Avery and her brothers shared the same father, but his first wife, Raven, was from the Crow Nation. After Jarod was born, she died. Later he married another woman named Maddie, who was Connor and Avery’s mother.

      “Only in a certain sense, but after one date I discovered Mike is nothing like Jarod. He’s nice, but that’s all.” Mike was too aggressive.

      Growing up, Avery had worshipped her big brother and everyone knew it. On more than one occasion she’d told her sisters-in-law and her cousin Cassie that she’d never get married unless she found a man she loved more than she loved Jarod. It was an easy excuse that still worked these days on those who were concerned about Avery’s almost nonexistent love life.

      No one knew that a year ago May, love had hit her with the force of a supernova when Zane Lawson happened on the scene. But like the heavens, he was beyond her reach and would remain her secret.

      Unfortunately Liz wouldn’t let it go. She shook her head. “I don’t believe you. What’s the real reason you don’t want to see Mike again?”

      “To be honest, there’s something about his personality that turns me off.”

      “That’s too bad. It makes me sad because I’m worried about you.”

      She had to tamp down a burst of temper. “Not everyone is lucky enough to find the kind of happiness you’ve found with Connor.” To have a normal life was something that had escaped Avery, but the news from Detective Rymer had taken away a gargantuan shadow. With it gone, she had to face a new reality. Her feelings for Zane ran so deep, the last thing she wanted was to give another guy hope that she was interested in him. Especially not Mike.

      “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 СКАЧАТЬ