Page 88 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
Yet through it all, he remained soothing, comforting, caring. “You did the best you could, Ciara. There was no reason to believe Jasmine had a serious problem. She would get better, then worse and then better again. None of the tests indicated a problem.”
Ciara turned away, stared out the window. Outside was dark, bleak, just like her heart. “She never was truly okay. I should have realized something was wrong,”
“You did realize.” He came behind her. “As did I. But we both thought it was emotional trauma from her ordeal. I know you’re upset, but this isn’t your fault. You talked over your decision with the vet, with me, with Frank. Weallfelt the same way.”
It was true. For a moment, she allowed herself to listen, to truly consider his logic. If the same situation arose with the same information, would she act differently? “I’m just so worried,” she whispered.
When he pulled her against him, she didn’t resist. “I know, sweetheart. No matter what, it’s going to be okay. I’m here for you… always.” He held her, stroking her back, bringing her the peace she so desperately needed.
Only the peace departed all too soon, as their earlier conversation resurfaced. Years ago, he had broken his promises, and her heart. Did their earlier discussion prove he was traveling the same path? Almost any other issue could be addressed, discussed and hopefully fixed, yet if he didn’t want children…
He must’ve misinterpreted her mind’s wanderings when he stiffened. “Are you angry at me for holding you back fromJasmine? I can’t say I’m sorry, because you could’ve been seriously injured, but I’m sorry if you felt like I took control.”
Rowan had done so much for her, for Jasmine, for everyone, these past weeks. She couldn’t be mad at him. “You were right. In her state, she could have seriously injured me. Plus, as much as she needed my comfort, it was more important to get her help.” She closed her eyes, marveling at the man who held her. And suddenly it became apparent how very far gone she was.
She was utterly, completely, irreversibly in love.
Deep down she’d always known. She’d loved him far longer than she’d ever admit, probably from the moment he saved her from falling off that bale of hay when she was a child. What started as a childhood crush blossomed into something far more mature, far more meaningful.
Something that comes once in a lifetime.
She loved everything about him – his kindness, his compassion, his strength. She enjoyed the moments they were together, missed him when he was gone. He was the piece of her she didn’t know was missing, her perfect complement. She could no longer imagine life without him. She didn’t want to.
But she also couldn’t give up the children of her dreams.
What could she do? She’d always pursued what she wanted, risking anything and everything for her campaigns. But this was different, with a thousand unknowns. Still, she had to fight for this, to fight for them. Had to prove he deserved the children he so clearly wanted.
But now was not the time, and certainly not the place, not while Jasmine fought for her life. She would deal with this later, when Jasmine was better, because she had to get better. She couldn’t lose her now. So she let Rowan simply hold her.
And when he leaned down to whisper, “You’ll never be alone,” she believed him.
“How are you holding up?”
Clutching his fourth cup of coffee, Rowan looked up as Quinn and Spencer entered the waiting room. They looked weary in wrinkled t-shirts, jeans and five o’clock shadows, as if they had been working straight for a week. He put a finger to his lips, gesturing towards Ciara, who was cuddled between two chairs pushed together. After hours of waiting with heavy-lidded eyes, she’d finally succumbed to slumber, but only after he promised he would stay up and wake her if news came.
He rose and stretched sore muscles, shaking out the aches from sitting in the small, hard-backed chair all night. Nodding for his brothers to follow, he strode to the far end of the room and shared the doctor’s report. The grandfather clock chimed five times. “What are you doing here? Is there an issue at the ranch?”
“Everything is fine.” Spencer swept his hair back. “No one even knew there was a problem.”
Rowan exhaled. “Good. With all Ciara has to worry about, I don’t want her more stressed. Thank you by the way. Frank said you offered to help while we’re here.”
“For as long as you need,” Quinn extended. “That’s why we came so early. We wanted to check in with you before the ranch got up and running.”
“You got up at 5 a.m. just to check on me?”
“No, we got up at 4 a.m.” Spencer smiled wryly. “Had to get dressed and drive over.”
Wow.With all the work at the ranch, Rowan hadn’t expected his brothers to visit at all, much less during the early hours of the morning. “I appreciate that,” he said quietly. “More than you know.”
“We know things have been difficult for you.” Quinn grasped his shoulders. “You take far more than your share of responsibility, including for us.”
A sliver of apprehension traced Rowan’s spine. “I appreciate it, but I don’t do anything special.”
“That’s not true. We know how much you do behind our backs.” For once, Spencer did not allow Rowan to detract him. “You never hint at the expanse of your charitable work, the thousands you give in donations and personal causes. Like when you saved Dalton’s horses.”
Rowan looked up sharply.
“You didn’t fool us.” Quinn waved his hand. “You’re far too smart to be taken in by that criminal. When we heard he no longer dealt in horseflesh, we figured you had something to do with it. And you didn’t just randomly think of a place to send them. You’d been planning to donate them to the children’s charity all along.”
