A Cowboy's Heart Read Online Free

flipped it open. His sister said a soft hello.
    â€œYou sound bad. Do you look bad?” She laughed when he groaned an answer.
    â€œOther than a dislocated shoulder, I had a great night.”
    â€œSounds like fun. I’m sorry I missed it.”
    â€œWait until you come down for a visit. Janie is still Janie. And her niece is living here.”
    â€œThe one that used to visit in the summer?”
    â€œThe one and only.”
    â€œIs she still beautiful?” She was determined to see him married off.
    â€œIf you like tall, blond and gorgeous, she’s okay.” He rubbed his hand across his face, trying to rub the sleep away. “She isn’t my type.”
    â€œHave you ever found your type?”
    â€œNope. I’m happily single.”
    â€œI don’t think so, brother dear. I think you need a woman to soften your rough edges. You need someone who will take care of you, the way you’ve taken care of everyone else.”
    â€œI don’t have rough edges. So, what’s up, Sis?”
    He knew there was more to this call. He thought he might need to sit up, because the tone of her voice, even with the laughter,hinted at bad news. Holding the phone with his ear, he pushed himself up with his right hand and then slid back against the box of supplies he left here yesterday.
    â€œWhat’s up, Jen?”
    A long pause and he thought he heard her sob. He didn’t hear the boys, his twin nephews, in the background. His stomach tightened.
    â€œTime to put our Family Action Plan into place. I’m going to Iraq.”
    Not that. He could have prepared himself for almost anything, but not the thought of his kid sister in Iraq. And the boys, just four years old, without a mom. He couldn’t think about that, either. They had discussed it some. He had just convinced himself it wouldn’t come to this—to her leaving and the boys in his care.
    â€œClint, I need for you to take the boys.”
    â€œYou know I will. But there has to be someone better for them than me, an uncle who rides bulls for a living and who’s camping in a house without electricity.” For the moment.
    â€œYou’re it. You’re my only family, their only family. You knew this could happen.”
    â€œI want to make sure this is the best thing for them, that I’m the best thing.”
    â€œYou were the best for me.”
    He closed his eyes, wishing he had been the best for her, and that he’d been able to give her more. He’d done his best. They both knew that.
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œI have to leave for Texas in five days. I’ve known for a while, but I guess I was hoping that something would happen and I wouldn’t have to leave them.” She sobbed into the phone. “Clint, they’re my babies.”
    â€œI know, Jen. And you know I’ll take care of them.”
    â€œIf something happens…”
    â€œWe’re not going to discuss that. But you know I love them and I’m going to take care of them until you get home.”
    She was crying, hundreds of miles away at a base in Missouri. She was crying, and he couldn’t make it better. Sleeping under this roof, in this room, he remembered the other nights she had cried, when they had been kids, and he’d sneaked in to comfort her, to promise he’d make it better.
    He had prayed, and she had doubted God even existed.
    â€œI can’t make this better, Jen.”
    â€œYou do make it better.” She sniffled, her tears obviously over. “Clint, the Army has been good for me, you know that. And I’m ready to go. I know that I have to go.”
    â€œBut it won’t be easy.”
    â€œIt’s easier knowing that you’ll have Timmy and David.”
    â€œDo you want to bring them here, or should I come to you?”
    A long pause, and he heard the sob she tried to swallow. “I want to see Dad before I go.”
    He looked out the dirt-covered