In a Cowboy's Arms (Hitting Rocks Cowboys) by Rebecca Winters Page A

this receipt, then the case will be reopened to see if there’s a match between the two vehicles.”
    “That means they’ll be contacting the Pearsons about the truck.” Sadie frowned. “What if it has been sold or traded in for another one by now?”
    “The police will track it down. Owen will have to fess up to what happened to his father’s truck. Unless, of course, it’s a huge coincidence and his father’s truck was damaged some other way. But if that was the case, why didn’t he let the insurance pay for it?
    “I’m afraid he has a lot of explaining to do. If he was helping Ned, then he’ll have to make the decision if he wants to go to jail for him or not. But I’m not ready to act quite yet.”
    Sadie’s eyes stung with salty tears. “I don’t know why you have to wait. This couldn’t be a coincidence. Ned could have killed you— All this time I thought it was my father.” Her body grew tense. “Your cousin should go to prison for what he did. You were left to die—”
    Her raised voice alarmed Ryan, who stood and came running to her with an anxious look on his precious face. She swept him up into her arms and buried her face in his neck.
    “But I didn’t,” Jarod said in a quiet voice, tousling Ryan’s hair. “I’m pretty sure he didn’t intend to finish me off, just put me out of commission. As for his plan, it backfired because I was back on the ranch three days later and you’d fled to California out of his reach. Your departure put an end to any dreams Ned entertained about the two of you getting together.”
    “He was delusional.”
    “I agree. But now that you’re back, he’s going to make trouble again.”
    Her stomach muscles clenched. “What do you mean?”
    “I know for a fact he hasn’t given up on you. Avery told me about the incident at the funeral when Ned approached you. Be careful around him.”
    That sounded ominous. “What aren’t you telling me?”
    “I suppose we’ll all find out when this new investigation gets under way. I’ll leave now so you can give your little brother the attention he’s craving. He really looks like his uncle.”
    “It’s the dimples. They run in the Lawson family. Mom fell in love with Tim’s. It kills me Ryan has been deprived of both parents.”
    “He has a wonderful mother in you.”
    “Thank you. I’m planning to adopt him.”
    “Then he’s a lucky little boy. Take care, Sadie, and remember what I said.”
    “Jarod? Wait—” she called to him, but he moved too fast on those long, powerful legs. She couldn’t very well run after him with Ryan in her arms. Her brother needed lunch and a nap.
    Sadie hurried inside, shaken by everything he’d told her and even more shaken by the things he’d only hinted at. Millie stood at the kitchen sink filling another bucket with hot water and vinegar. “Jarod was here a long time. Everything all right?”
    “Yes and no.” She didn’t dare share the evidence Jarod had uncovered until he gave her permission. But one thing had become self-evident. Her longing to be with him was growing unbearable.
    Millie started out the back door, then paused. Sadie thought she detected a faint smile on the older woman’s lips. “After you’ve fed Ryan and put him down, come on outside where I’m working. There’s something you ought to know.”
    With one of those cryptic comments Millie was famous for, Sadie hurried to feed Ryan and put him down with a bottle. The cute little guy had tired himself out playing and fell asleep fast.
    She found Millie washing the windows at the rear of the house. “I’m back.”
    The housekeeper looked over her shoulder at Sadie. “When Jarod drove in, he was pulling a horse trailer. After he left, I saw him drive to the barn and pull around it. Kind of made me wonder what he was doing when the road back to his place goes in the other direction. If I were you, I’d walk down there and find out what’s going on.”
    Sadie’s heart raced till it hurt.