“I hope you’ve got good health insurance,” he added. “From what I’ve heard, having a baby costs thousands of bucks these days.”

Health insurance? Laredo could barely afford to put food on the table, let alone worry about extras. He knew Savannah, too. If there were problems, she wouldn’t let him know because she wouldn’t want him to worry.

“What about her rose garden?” Richard asked next. “We both know how important that is to her.”

“She’s talked about moving part of it,” Laredo responded, but his mind was still stuck on the possibility of something happening to Savannah, miles from town, with few friends or neighbors. The reality of what he was asking hit him hard. It sounded romantic and exciting—the two of them building a home together, breeding quarter horses—until he thought about the risks.

“Moving part of the garden,” Richard repeated. “Great idea.” He sat up, tapping one foot on the floor. “You be real good to my big sister now, you hear?” Clapping his hands together, Richard laughed. “Hey! I’ll bet you want me to keep my mouth shut about this in front of Grady. Right?”

Laredo didn’t answer. The next time he looked up Richard was gone, which was just as well. Savannah’s brother had opened his eyes to a few home truths. While it was fine to dream about making Savannah his bride, a dream was all it would ever be. He couldn’t take her away from everything she knew and loved, couldn’t put her health and happiness at risk. One of them had to keep a level head, and it looked like the responsibility had fallen to him.

He loved her, but he couldn’t marry her. Wouldn’t marry her. As soon as it could be arranged, he’d get out of her life. For her own good, as well as his own.

***

A week later, as Grady sat on Starlight and watched over the grazing herd, his thoughts grew dark and oppressive. Sometimes he could cast off these moods when they threatened. More often, like now, he couldn’t. He worried more and more about Savannah; he wasn’t sure what had happened to his sister, but she hadn’t been herself. Not for days. Outwardly nothing seemed wrong; she was as pleasant and cordial as always. Still, the difference was there. It seemed as if the light had gone out of her eyes somehow. The joy he’d seen in her of late had vanished.

He was no expert when it came to romance, but the answer was obvious. Something had happened between her and Laredo, who seemed equally miserable. Clearly they’d suffered some sort of falling-out. It was bound to happen, Grady realized.

He hated to see his sister hurt, and it made him feel helpless. He had no idea what to do, what to say. He’d even considered talking to Caroline, this being a woman thing and all. Savannah’s best friend might be able to see her through this disappointment.

If only he could talk to someone about Richard. He supposed Cal Patterson, as his closest friend, would be that person. And yet he felt embarrassed. Ashamed. He hardly knew how it had happened, but Richard had managed to sweet-talk his way back into the family. It hadn’t taken long for Savannah to pick up where their parents had left off, Grady thought with some bitterness. She spoiled him, indulged his every whim, pandered to his wishes as if he deserved a hero’s welcome.

Grady still wanted Richard off the ranch, but every time he got to the point of ordering him to leave, he found he couldn’t. Either because of Savannah’s pleading or his own sense of...what? Obligation? Family loyalty? Pity? The one thing Grady had insisted on was that Richard sleep in the bunkhouse, but his worthless brother had found a way to thwart even that.

It had started innocently enough, with Richard cleaning out his old bedroom, sorting through his things. Before long he’d started sleeping up there. Some nights, anyway; Grady never knew for sure. It was another way Richard kept him off balance.

Grady shifted his weight in the saddle, tired after a long day. Just when he was about to head back to the ranch, he noticed another rider approaching at a gallop.

Laredo Smith. He waited for the man to join him.

“Problems?” Grady inquired.

“Not really.”

From the way he’d ridden out here Grady wondered if the house was on fire. “There’s a reason you came to see me, isn’t there?”

“There is.”

Apparently Smith was having a difficult time spitting out the words. He looked even worse than Savannah, pale and lifeless.

“You were right, Grady,” he said without emotion. “Have been from the first.”

Grady liked the way this conversation had started. With Richard pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes, it felt good to be told he was right about something. “How do you mean?”

“About me.”

Grady’s smile faded. This wasn’t what he wanted to hear, wasn’t what he’d expected, either. “In other words, you’re the thief Earl Chesterton suspected?”

“No.” His denial was quick. “Not that.”

Grady would have been disappointed had it been the truth. Smith had proved himself a hardworking and talented horseman, probably the best he’d ever hired. He still didn’t trust him, though, especially where his sister was concerned, and because of that, Grady had made a point of being difficult, demanding, even unreasonable. Laredo hadn’t responded in kind, not once, and in the process had earned Grady’s respect.

“You claimed I wasn’t good enough for Savannah,” Laredo said bluntly.

Grady frowned. He really didn’t like the turn this conversation had taken. “What’s going on between you two?” he asked, eyes narrowed.

Laredo ignored the question. “I need a favor.”

“You got it.”

His immediate response appeared to surprise Smith. “You might not be so fast to agree once you hear it involves money.”

Grady sobered; the wrangler was right. “How much?”

“I need a loan. Enough to pay for the repairs on my truck and get me to Oklahoma.”

“Any particular reason you’re anxious to be on your way now?”

Smith rested his hands on the saddle horn and averted his face. “I’ve got my reasons.”

“I don’t suppose those reasons have anything to do with my sister?”

“They might.”

“You hurt her, Smith, and you’ll regret it.” Grady was torn. On the one hand, Savannah’s happiness seemed to depend on this man; on the other, he’d prefer to see Smith leave, get clear away from her. Grady suspected Smith’s departure would come too late, that Savannah was already in too deep, emotionally committed to a drifter.

“Why the hell do you think I need that money so damned bad?” Laredo asked savagely. “The sooner I’m out of her life the better. Listen, I don’t expect you to give me that loan without collateral. I’ll leave the title to my truck with you until I can pay you back. Agreed?”

Grady mulled it over, not the decision to lend Laredo money—he had no problem with that—but why, exactly, Laredo seemed so anxious to leave. He sighed. He wasn’t sure if he should interfere in the man’s private affairs; he certainly wouldn’t have appreciated anyone meddling in his.

“Agreed?” Laredo said again.

“There’s another way,” Grady said thoughtfully. Laredo stared at him long and hard before Grady continued. “You could stay here. I’ll make you an offer that’ll make it worth your while. A partnership—you and me and Savannah. I understand you’re interested in breeding quarter horses. You could do that here on the Yellow Rose just as well as in Oklahoma.”

Either Laredo was speechless at the offer or he was shocked that Grady knew this much about him and his plans. Grady credited Wiley for the information. His foreman had a loose tongue.

“If you’re trying to bribe me into staying, all I can say is you’ve insulted the finest woman I know.”

“It isn’t a bribe,” Grady insisted, damning himself for his inability to say things the way he wanted. “All I’m trying to do is give you another option.” He stopped and boldly met the other man’s eyes. “You love my sister, don’t you?”