The minute Clement Olson tripped Thompson, Savannah, alert for any opportunity to turn the tables and escape, sank her teeth into Larkins’s forearm.

The man cried out and lost his grip on the handgun. It clattered to the ground. Savannah kicked the revolver across the floor.

“Run, Savannah, run,” Matt shouted from outside the barn door where he grappled with Hootie Thompson.

She refused to abandon her man. Determined to protect Matt to the death if necessary, she lunged for Gary’s shotgun behind the barn door.

Abruptly, her head snapped back, and pain shot down her neck as Larkins grabbed her ponytail and jerked. But Savannah would not be stopped. Like a bobcat, she turned on him, arms and legs flailing. She scratched, kicked, spat.

Larkins stared, shocked.

Twisting free from his grip, she lowered her head and butted him in the stomach. The big man grunted and sank to his knees.

Savannah sprang for the shotgun once more, and this time came up victorious. She aimed the muzzle at the ceiling, then pulled the trigger. The resounding boom captured everyone’s attention. Bits of roof rained down around them.

“Nobody move,” she shouted.

All four men stared at her. She was the only one standing, the only one with a weapon.

“You.” She glared at Larkins and swung the shotgun around to point it at him. “Face down on the floor. Arms on the back of your head. I’m sure you know the position.”

Larkins sneered but obeyed her.

Clem moaned, rolled over, and tried to get to his feet.

“Stay put, Clem,” she said. “An ambulance is on the way.”

“One should be here soon,” Matt said, climbing off Thompson. “Joe called for backup.” He dragged the outlaw to his feet, pulled handcuffs from his back pocket, and snapped them around his wrists as he read him his rights.

“What happened to Joe?”

“These bushwhackers got him, too,” Matt said ruefully.

“Here comes the cavalry.” The wail of sirens brought a smile to Savannah’s face. Suddenly, she felt invincible. Not only had she survived the ordeal, but she had also triumphed. Was this the heady feeling that possessed Matt each time he made an arrest? Perhaps she could understand his penchant for law enforcement, after all. “Late as always.”

Matt grinned. “Guess you fellas tangled with the wrong woman, eh?”

While Matt handcuffed Larkins and read him his rights, Savannah said, “I’m going to check on Ginger and Cody.”

Tossing her head, she marched past the men and into the farmhouse. She found Ginger tied to a chair in the kitchen, a gag in her mouth.

The sight tore a hole clean through her heart. This was the flip side of law enforcement. The side that hurt. Innocent victims caught in the middle. Savannah swallowed hard as she realized for the first time what Matt went through to do his job well. Clenching her jaw, Savannah took a knife from the drawer and sawed through the ropes binding her little sister.

Ginger pulled the gag from her mouth. “Oh, Vannah!” She embraced her sister. “I was so scared. I came inside to call 911, but then that awful man jumped out of the closet and ambushed me.”

“Did he hurt you?” Savannah’s stomach constricted.

Ginger shook her head. “He just said rude things and stole your secret money.”

“I’m so sorry, Gin,” she whispered, hugging her sister tightly. “So very sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Ginger patted her arm.

“Come on.” Savannah took her sister by the hand. “Let’s go get Cody.”

The sight of her son sleeping in his crib, his little face stained with salty tear tracks, almost undid her. How could she have been so foolish as to place this tiny child in jeopardy? She should have heeded Matt’s warning and checked into a hotel. What kind of mother was she?

Ginger placed a hand on Savannah’s shoulder. “It’s all right, sis. Cody’s fine. I’m fine. We survived.”

Savannah tugged Cody from his bed and held him close. What would have happened to him if she’d been hurt or killed out there in the barn? Tears burned her eyes as her whole body trembled. Unable to trust her legs to support her, Savannah sank down into the rocking chair and breathed a prayer of gratitude that all had survived.

Matt squatted beside Clem, waiting for backup from the sheriff’s office and the ambulance to appear. He held the shotgun across his lap and never took his eyes off Larkins and Thompson, who lay prostrate on the ground in front of him, their hands cuffed behind their backs.

More than anything, he wanted to be with Savannah, cradling her in his arms, soothing her. She needed his comfort right now, but he was stuck here.

For once, the arrest had not been satisfying. Usually, he felt an uplifting kick, a mental high from bringing outlaws to justice. But this time he felt empty, unhappy. There was no sense of accomplishment in knowing he’d been responsible for orchestrating this disaster. He’d never meant to involve Savannah or cause her harm. He’d only been doing his duty.

His job.

Lawman.

The role that defined him. The job he thought he loved more than anything. But a job couldn’t keep him warm at night or fuss over him when he was sick or exhausted. A job was simply a way to make money—it shouldn’t be an identity or an excuse for a life.

He felt vacuous, hollow.

The nearing wail of sirens drew his attention. He got to his feet. “Well, fellas looks like your escort has arrived.”

Larkins cursed him.

“Anybody ever tell you that you’re a sore loser, Brent?” Matt drawled, but he took no pleasure in goading the thief. Somewhere, somehow, the whole process had lost its magic.

Two sheriff’s deputies hustled into the barn to transport Larkins and Thompson to the county jail just about the same time the paramedics showed up to whisk Clem and Joe off to the hospital in Rascal.

Fifteen minutes later, Matt stood alone in the yard. Neither Savannah nor Ginger had come outside. Matt took a deep breath. He had to see Savannah before returning to the sheriff’s department to write up the paperwork. He had to tell her how sorry he was. Had to make sure she was okay.

Bolstering his courage, he knocked on the back door.

Ginger peered out. Her gold-green eyes, so like Savannah’s, stared at him. “Hey, Matt.”

“May I come inside?” he asked, hesitantly fingering his Stetson.

Ginger stood to one side as Matt passed through the doorway.

“Are you all right? Did Thompson hurt you?” Matt reached out to touch her shoulder.

Ginger shrugged as if she were cool, but she still looked shook up. “I’m fine. He just tied me up.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Not your fault.”

But it was. He should never have left Savannah alone. Should have never started this ploy to entice the thieves to come after her cattle again.

“Where’s Todd?” Matt asked, remembering Ginger was supposed to be in Cancun on her honeymoon.

“We split up.”

“What?” Matt looked at her, startled.

“Yeah.”

“I hate to hear that.” What a shame. Didn’t anyone’s relationship work out anymore? He saw tears glisten in Ginger’s eyes, so he didn’t press for details. “Maybe you guys can still work things out.”

“Maybe,” Ginger mumbled.

“Where’s your sister?”

“She’s in Cody’s room.”

Matt eased down the hallway. He felt like a grammar school kid going before the principal. Cody’s bedroom door hung open a few inches. Matt peeked around the corner and saw Savannah rocking his son.

Their son.

Cody. The unbreakable bond between them.

“Hi.” He stepped into the room.

She glanced up. “How are you doing?”

His eyes met hers. “That’s what I was about to ask you.”

“I’m okay.” She nodded at Cody. “We’re okay.”

He cleared his throat. There was so much he wanted to say to her, he didn’t know where to begin. “Uh... I’ll need for you and Ginger to come down to the sheriff’s office and give us an official statement.”

She said nothing.

“Whenever you can. No hurry.” He raised his palms. “I’m sure you need time to collect yourself.”

“All right.”

“Listen...”

“Yes?” She met his eyes again.

“We need to have a long talk, you and I.”

“Not now, Matt. I have too much to sort through.”

“Okay,” he said because he didn’t know what else to say. “I’ll just head out then.” He paused, waiting. Hoping she’d say something else. Tell him she loved him. Tell him she wanted them to be a forever family.

She did not.

“Savannah?”

“What is it?”

“I love you.”

Her head shot up, and she speared him with her eyes. He yearned to hear her say it in return, and he clenched his fists, feeling the raw emotion claw at his insides.

“Goodbye, Matt.”

“Goodbye then.” He left the room, left her house, and he couldn’t help feeling he was leaving everything important in the world behind him. He’d told her he loved her. She had not said it in return.

He’d been holding on to a pipe dream.

Two hours later, Ginger set a bowl of her homemade chicken noodle soup in front of Savannah. “I spoke with a nurse at the hospital, and she said Clem was in stable condition, but he’s got a concussion. They treated Joe and released him.”

“We’ll have to go see Clem tomorrow.” Savannah shoved the soup away. Her stomach was still roiling.

“Come on, sis. You’ve got to eat something.” Ginger gently pushed the bowl toward her.

“Okay. I’ll try.” She picked up a spoon and stared into the bowl at the chicken, celery, carrots, and onions swimming in the hot broth. She put the spoon back down.

Try as she might, she could not shake the image of Matt’s wounded face from her mind when he’d told her he loved her, and she had not said it in return. She’d cut him to the quick.

But she couldn’t say the words she longed to say. She loved him. She had always loved him, and she wanted him to be in Cody’s life. But what did she have to offer Matt? She was scarred from her surgeries. She was no longer the whole, young girl he’d known two years ago. She couldn’t bear him any more children, and her whole life would be filled with worries about a cancer diagnosis. She couldn’t saddle him with that burden.

You’re doing it again. Making a unilateral decision for Matt. He should get to choose for himself what burdens he wants to carry.

Ginger plopped down in the kitchen chair next to her. Savannah angled a sidelong glance at her sister. “What about you and Todd? Did you ever get hold of him?”

Ginger nodded. “I called him in Cancun, and we talked. You were right. He was crazy with worry.”

“I told you.”

“I suppose I did behave like a spoiled brat.”

“You got his attention, though.”

“Boy, did I. He was so frantic, he had the local authorities combing the beach looking for my body.” Ginger grinned. “I guess he really does care.”

“Of course he cares. Anybody can see how much Todd loves you.”

“Just the way Matt loves you.”

Savannah waved a hand. “Things between Matt and me are a different story.”

“How’s that?”

“I don’t want to talk about Matt right now,” Savannah said resolutely.

“Todd’s catching the next plane home,” Ginger said, tactfully respecting Savannah’s wishes. “We’re planning on some heavy-duty communicating. He’s really upset with me, and I have a lot to make up for.”

“I’m glad you decided to try to work things out. I like Todd. He’s a good man. What made you change your mind?”

“Being tied up and threatened has given me a whole new perspective on things. Made me realize what was really important and how much I really do love Todd. When you get right down to it, love is the only thing that matters, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know,” Savannah admitted. “I used to believe that once.”

She loved Matt more than she ever thought possible. Despite the two years they’d spent apart, Savannah still loved him with a need that frightened her. That was it in a nutshell. She’d lost so much in her short life, and she was terrified to act on love.

“If you love someone unconditionally, you have to accept them as they are,” Ginger said. “Matt’s a lawman, and you have some health issues, but that doesn’t mean you can’t figure out a way to be together. Not if you really love each other and you both fight for each other.”

“When did you get so smart?” Savannah lifted the corner of her mouth in a half-smile.

“I wanted to change Todd, make him over to suit me. But I have to face the fact he’s a hard worker, and he’s willing to invest his efforts in achieving his goals. I’m going to have to learn to live with the fact he might not always have as much time to spend with me as I might like.”

“Are you sure you can live with that?”

Ginger beamed. “I really don’t have a choice.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because, Savannah, I just can’t live without him.”

Just like I can’t live without Matt.

Sheriff Langley clamped a hand on Matt’s shoulder. “Are you sure about this, son?”

Inhaling sharply, Matt nodded. “Yes. It’s a decision I should have made two years ago, but of course, I’ll work the next weeks while you train someone else.”

“I hate to lose you, Matt. You’re one fine lawman.”

Matt shook his head. “Some things are simply more important. It’s time I invested my efforts elsewhere.”

“That woman has gotten under your skin, hasn’t she?”

Matt nodded. “Today, when I saw Larkins holding that gun on Savannah, I lost my objectivity. I reacted instead of acted. I was no longer in control. Knowing that I’d placed her in danger...? Well, Sheriff, I can’t live with that.”

“I understand. If you change your mind, you always have a job here.”

“I appreciate it.”

They shook hands.

“So, what are you going to do with yourself?”

The corner of Matt’s mouth crooked. “Thought I might try my hand at teaching. I have a minor in secondary education. See if I can’t reach those at-risk kids before they’re too far gone.”

Sheriff Langley considered the idea. “Yeah, you might be good at that, too. The things we do for love, huh?”

“A family man has to take care of himself,” Matt said, plunking his hat down on his head. “I have a son now that I want to live to see grow up. That is, of course, if Savannah will have me.”

“I wish you luck, partner.”

“Thanks,” Matt said. “I have a feeling I’m going to need it.”

He walked out of the sheriff’s department and squinted against the late-afternoon sun, his thoughts tumultuous.

He was a lawman, trained to be tough, fearless, and emotionally in control, but when it came to affairs of the heart, he was like anyone else. Insecure. Nervous. Downright scared of losing the one he loved.

But this time, he had to take a gamble. Because Savannah was worth the risk.

Two years ago, when she’d broken up with him over his job, he’d made a big mistake letting wounded pride and hurt feelings get in the way. Yes, he’d learned since then why she’d really broken up with him, but he’d been too stubborn to even consider a job change in those days. He wasn’t going to make that same mistake twice.

So much lost time. So much heartache. He’d been granted a golden opportunity. A second chance to make things right. He wasn’t going to blow it this time. So he surrendered his job in hopes he could persuade Savannah to surrender her heart.

Giving up his identity as a lawman gave him an unexpected sense of freedom. He could be anything he chose. A whole world loomed before him—open, free, just waiting to be explored. There was so much more to life than law enforcement. He could be a teacher, a rancher, a husband, a dad.

Those tender thoughts tugged at him, created a vortex of longing so great, he felt completely overwhelmed. He knew only one thing. He had to go to the Circle B, find Savannah, and say all the things he neglected to say two years ago.

He had to convince her to become his wife.

No matter what it took.