The New Cowboy. Rebecca Winters

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