The Lionhearted Cowboy Returns. Patricia Thayer

including a nature retreat and an authentic working cattle ranch. They’d also built horse-property homes in a gated community that overlooked the famous Mustang Valley where wild ponies roamed freely. That was a big tourist draw.

      Even though Jeff and his sister weren’t blood, they’d always been considered Randells. And he had no doubt that the family would find a place even for a beat-up old soldier like him in the organization. But that was what he didn’t want—pity.

      His father’s voice broke into his reverie. “We know the last several months have been rough, son. So take all the time you need. Just get used to being home again.”

      It was hard to hang on to anger when you had that kind of support. Jeff was touched, but he wasn’t ready to talk about his time overseas, maybe not for a long time. If ever. He’d done enough of that after his rescue, during his months of rehab, and it hadn’t done a bit of good.

      “I appreciate that, but I’m fine.” He forced that smile again. “Of course, I should take advantage of this to get out of work. I’ve never been fond of mucking out stalls.”

      His father grinned. “It’s safe to say we have enough ranch hands to do that task. But maybe you’re up to going for a ride with Hank and I this morning?”

      Jeff tensed. He wasn’t ready to meet up with all the Randell clan. “Where to?”

      Wyatt sighed. “A ranch auction.” He studied his son. “The Guthrie place.”

      Jeff couldn’t hide his shock at the mention of his childhood friend. “Trevor was having financial trouble?” he managed to ask, knowing it was a crazy question. After his friend’s death Lacey would have trouble handling things by herself.

      Lacey Haynes Guthrie. Just hearing her name sent a rush through him. Damn, he hated that she still had that effect on him. In school, she was the girl everyone loved, but she’d only had eyes for one man and that was his best friend. Never him—until that one day.

      “Why didn’t anyone say something sooner?”

      His father looked at him. “First, you and your recovery were our main concern. And secondly, we didn’t know there were problems until I heard about the auction this morning.” He blew out a long breath. “With this economy, so many ranches are in trouble. And Trevor’s illness was costly…” His father raised an eyebrow. “Maybe you can talk with Lacey today.”

      For years Jeff had tried never to think about her. It seemed like a lifetime ago when they’d all been friends. Best friends. Now Trevor was gone. “I don’t know what to say.” He released a breath. “How can I explain why I wasn’t around?”

      “You tell her the truth, son. You were defending our country, and there was your extended stay in the hospital. All those surgeries on your leg. You’ve gone through a lot. There’s no shame in what happened to you.”

      Jeff closed his eyes, trying to push aside the pain of the past year. “Dad, Lacey doesn’t need to hear my problems. She’s had enough to deal with.” He glanced at his father. “And it’s not something I’m ready to talk about yet.”

      Wyatt nodded. “Okay, we’ll honor your decision. But I still think you should get out today.” A truck pulled up to the house. “Come on, your granddad’s here. And knowing your mom, she’s cooked up a storm. If you don’t show up, she gives your food to me.” He rubbed his flat stomach. “I’ve already had to loosen my belt a notch.”

      He hated to worry his parents. “Okay, I’ll save you from blueberry-pancake overload.”

      Jeff smiled and it felt good. His dad kept his pace slow as they walked up toward the house. Breakfast with his parents and Hank would be the easy part. The hard part would be later, seeing Lacey again, knowing he couldn’t say or do anything that would ease her loss. Or the fact he hadn’t been there for his friend.

      Jeff could never forgive himself for that.

      Later that morning, Lacey Guthrie walked away when handlers led out her deceased husband’s best pair of quarter horses. The coal-black stallion, Rebel Run, and the pretty liver-chestnut filly, Doc’s Fancy Girl, were supposed to have been Trevor’s best breeding stock. If they were sold off, there was no way she could keep the business going. But today’s auction was about survival first.

      “Next up for bidding are numbers 107 and 108 in your programs,” the auctioneer began. “Anyone from this area knows the bloodlines of these two fine animals. We’ll start the bidding on Rebel…”

      Fighting tears, Lacey stepped into her kitchen, shut the back door, and leaned her head against the glass pane. She couldn’t watch them go. They represented the last of her dreams with Trevor. Their quarter horse ranch. What they’d worked so hard on for the past ten years was never going to come true. What about Colin and Emily?

      “Oh, Trevor,” she sobbed. “You should be here for us.”

      “Mom!”

      Lacey quickly wiped away the tears and put a smile on her face as she turned around to her eight-year-old son. “What is it, Colin?”

      “You can’t sell Rebel and Fancy,” he said, his fists clenched. “They’re Dad’s horses.”

      “We’ve talked about this, son. I don’t have a choice.” She went to him and reached out to brush his shaggy blond hair from his forehead. He jerked away.

      “Yes, you do,” he insisted. “Go out there and stop it. Dad doesn’t want you to sell ’em.”

      “Dad isn’t here, honey. And I’m doing what I have to do to keep our ranch,” she told him, knowing her words weren’t going to make any difference.

      Anger flashed in the boy’s eyes, eyes a deep blue so much like his father’s. “You didn’t love Dad. If you did you wouldn’t do this.” He turned and ran out, the screen door banging against the porch wall before slamming shut.

      Lacey started after him and got to the porch just in time to hear the auctioneer’s gavel hit the table as he shouted, “Sold, to the gentleman in the back row.”

      Lacey looked out into the crowd at the person holding the numbered paddle. Squinting against the sunlight, she glanced over the man’s square jaw and the deep-set dark eyes. The cowboy hat shaded most of his face, but there was no mistaking who he was. Her heart raced as she followed his movement through the crowd, closely examining the man she’d remembered from so many years ago. Her gaze moved over his long torso to those broad shoulders.

      He might have looked military, but there was a lot of Texas cowboy mixed in. Tall and muscular, he filled out a shirt like no other man she’d seen in a long time.

      He glanced over his shoulder. Their eyes met for a second, and Lacey felt that odd feeling, a mixture of longing, sadness and a little anger. Before she could move or even acknowledge him, he turned and walked away.

      So, Master Sergeant Jeff Gentry had finally come home.

      Jeff couldn’t believe it. He didn’t even know about his own future, but he owned two horses. He’d only planned to bid to help Lacey get top dollar for them. He couldn’t let her lose everything. This ranch had been Trevor’s dream for his family. He knew his friend had worked hard to build a reputation.

      His father caught up to him. “Do you mind my asking what you plan to do with your quarter horses?”

      Jeff shrugged. “Sorry, I guess I didn’t think about where I could board them.”

      Wyatt smiled. “Of course you can bring them to the ranch or maybe take them over to Uncle Chance’s place. He’s better equipped for training anyway.”

      Hank walked over to them. Jeff’s eighty-five-year-old grandfather was grinning. Still healthy and active, Hank Barrett was the head of the Randell family.

      “I’d say you got yourself a fine pair of horses, Jeff.” He glanced around. “I’m surprised Chance didn’t show