Hi! Are you ready for this chapter? I honestly can't wait for the next one! It's one of my second favorite moments!

But first... I want to give a shout out to a special guest for leaving such heartwarming words! Thank you so much! Also... In later chapters, since it's a rated M fanfic, I will be very descriptive during some naughty loving scenes! Just a little warning! But I have a feeling it'll be okay!

Anyways, thank you so so much!

Chapter 26

Franco was riding on his horse over by the fences and he almost lost his balance at the sight of Sarita riding on hers along with her employees.

She had a serious look on her face when she saw him. He galloped over to her. She took a glance back at her men, who were nonchalantly speaking amongst themselves. The way she did that, made Franco feel a bit uneasy. It was almost as if he were her shameful secret.

"How are you, Sarita?" He greeted her, signaling his horse to walk closer to the fence.

"A little upset about some gossip, Franco." she responded. The sound of her stern voice sent shivers down his spine.

"I guess you've heard about what happened."

Sarita nodded. Franco took note of her hard expression and came to a realization that she's trying to stay in her usual strict character so she won't cause any suspicion to her men, particularly Olegario. Franco noticed him staring at him with a warning look while speaking to the rest of his comrades.

"Can we talk about that?" she asked, her voice small but serious.

"As you wish." he responded, offering her a small grin.

She blushed and looked over her shoulder. Franco tried so hard not to grin widely at her innocent blushes. He will always be smitten whenever she does that.

"But we shouldn't be seen here." she cautioned him, her blush deepening. "I'll wait for you at our spot."

"Okay." agreed Franco, his heart strumming warmly at her words.

Our spot.

She gave him a small smile before turning her horse around.

True to their agreement, Franco met Sara by the boulder where no one would see or bother them. He jumped off his horse and settled his next to Sara's.

Sarita was patiently waiting for him, sitting at the base of the boulder. He quietly sat next to her and offered her a genuine smile and he internally rejoiced when she softly returned the sweet gesture.

He noticed her hands nervously toying with a few strands of grass at her side. He wanted so much to hold them to settle whatever nerves she may have.

There was something about Sara's nervousness whenever she was with him that confused him. They've been alone once, without fighting...but then he kept her confession in mind. She still doesn't trust him. However, there still was no need for her to be this way with him. There has to be a way for him to get her to trust him.

But before he can get into that, he needed to clarify a few things with her, regarding the rumors she may have heard.

"I can't tell you what exactly happened…" Franco began to say. "But there's something off."

Sarita sighed.

"Well, the rumors are that Juan abused Dinora and he managed to set a bomb in her parents' car during a confrontation."

"Those are lies, Sara." he told her.

Sara bit her lip and looked down at the grass.

"I'm sorry." she said. "I'm only saying what I've heard. But your brother is quite violent, so I had to guess it could be true."

"Sara…" sighed Franco, his frustration seeping through at her assumption. "It's not fair to say that because you hate Juan, but he had nothing to do with that bomb."

"So?"

Franco turned his gaze from her, second guessing his attraction to her. He's thankful for everything she's done for him but she's still a very hard woman. His whole plan to help his brother began to seem impossible, but he had to try.

"Look.." he looked back into her eyes again. "I didn't tell anyone but...I think the bomb was meant for me."

Sara's shoulders tensed while her eyes went wide with shock.

"Was it the same men who attacked you?" she asked, concerned written in her voice.

Franco nodded.

"The same bastards."

"Franco, you can't just sit there." she told him. "You really have to report this. You'll get killed if they keep going."

"I don't want to make a fuss." he explained. "Maybe it's just a personal matter."

"A personal matter?" she scoffed in disbelief. "A criminal matter, Franco. These men are capable of kidnapping and planting bombs. Come on, Franco…"

Franco stayed quiet, her worry spiking his anxiety. He didn't know what to add at this point. She's right. If those men were still out there, they'll probably succeed with their plans.

"Perhaps it's a financial problem?" she suggested, shrugging her shoulders. "Maybe you have that kind of problem with somebody, no?"

"I don't have those types of problems, Sarita." he calmly reassured her, his nerves coming at ease at the concern she demonstrated him.

"Okay." she muttered. "Let's think this through. You own many companies. Where there's money, there are interests in the middle, right?"

"Look, Sara, I don't know why I'm saying all this, but don't worry, okay?"

Sarita's eyes softened and she looked down at the grass. Franco could tell she was feeling defeated by her failed suggestions, but felt more at ease by her eagerness to help him. Sarita was very sweet when she needed to be and he appreciated that.

"I got this under control, but tell me something, Sarita…" he said, staring into her eyes, which held such anguish and worry for him. "You care about me, don't you?"

She blushed, stirring a longing inside Franco. He had the sudden urge to tuck the single strand of her dark locks behind her ear.

"Yes." she quietly admitted, her cheeks tinting even more. "I do worry. A lot."

"Really?" he asked, wanting to tease her more. "Why?"

Much to his pleasure, she blushed harder and averted her brown eyes to the ground. She was so precious like a little doll, he couldn't stand it.

"I-I just do.." she stammered nervously. "As I said before I don't like injustices and if something were to happen to you, I would help you."

She looked up at him, a small but shy smile forming on her beautifully pouty lips.

Franco returned her smile, feeling confident for the favor he'd been dying to ask her.

"If you really want to help…" he started to say, his smile faltering as his eyes bore into hers. "Why don't you help me with Juan?"

Her smile slowly faded from her lips. The tender look she'd given him turned into a look of confusion.

"Juan?"

Franco nodded at her. He was desperately counting on her. She was his only hope, despite her dislike for Juan. Instead of corresponding to him right away, she let out a frustrated sigh as she slowly got to her feet.

"Sarita, please…" he begged, also standing.

She turned her back to him and crossed her arms.

"Franco, I-I'm at loss here." she finally said. "How could I promise to help you when all I've done is try to break Juan and Norma apart?"

He paused at her honesty. She did in fact, along with her mother and Fernando, disprove of Norma's infatuation with his brother. Let alone Oscar's marriage to Jimena. He could still feel the sting of her small fist when she struck him the day after the cabin collapsed. But it hurt him more when she stood in front of him with her back to him, dislodging his desperate cry for help.

"Sara, you know that's not fair." he said and she turned around to look at him, sighing disappointingly at her seriousness. "You even told me you didn't like injustices."

She staggered back at how he used her own words against her. She nervously raised a hand to tuck a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.

"I know…" she sighed. "But I've always thought Juan wasn't good enough for my sister."

She crossed her arms again and tore her gaze from his disapproving one.

"And why not?" he probed. "If he loves Norma and would do anything for her and his son?"

She bit her bottom lip and wouldn't even look at him. Franco was getting frustrated by her frosty behavior. How could she act this way? Where was the sweet woman he'd grown to care for? The woman who risked her life to save his? Perhaps, he'd been wrong about Sara...she will always be frigid, cold, and stubborn. But he didn't want to give up. He's caught a few glimpses of her heart, it was pure. He knew she couldn't be this cold.

"Juan is a decent man, Sarita." he reasoned, she still wouldn't budge. "He works hard. Norma and Juan David are his world. They're all he cares about, Sara."

She finally looked at him, he swore he felt his insides freeze at the chilliness displayed in her brown eyes.

"I'm still unsure, Franco…" she sadly told him. "I've never trusted your brother."

Franco gave up. Sarita was his only hope to help his brother. He shrugged his shoulders and bowed his head, dreading the words that were about to come out of his mouth. He looked up at her again. She was so serious, her eyes that shone like fireflies whenever she looked at him, dimmed.

"If you can't trust him, then you shouldn't trust me either." he said. "There's not a better man than Juan."

He was turning to leave but she grabbed his arm, stopping him. She was giving him a tender and lamenting glance. He knew his words had affected her. He looked her over. Her beautiful brown eyes that shone like two precious fireflies, those pouty luscious lips that have once spewed malicious words at him, and her slightly freckled cheeks that would innocently blush only for him. Franco sighed, Sara was his angel, but she still remained cold, especially when he really needed her. It wounded him to admit that it could be possible to end what could be with her.

"I'm very grateful to you…" he confessed to her, his heart faltering when he saw her hand slowly dropping from his arm. "I even feel I could love you…"

Love.

He had to think twice about that word. She had been on his mind too long. He never met a woman like her. So honest, caring, and so selfless. No other woman had offered such things to him. He admired all those things about Sarita and yearned for more of her affection, but she's still so cold as the day he'd met her.

"You're still a tough woman, Sara." he added, watching her eyes glisten causing his own eyes to water. "I'm afraid...I'm afraid that you'll look at me with disdain again."

She stayed quiet, her expression pained as she stared up at him pulling away from her.

"I don't think I could stand that."

With those last words, Franco was wounded when he left her alone to fetch his horse. He looked over his shoulder to catch a final glimpse at her. She was still standing there, her eyes watching him go. He didn't want to leave her alone, but he needed to. Perhaps, she could have a few days to herself to change her mind. He sincerely hoped she would. He didn't want to lose her.

Franco arrived at his house and saw that Oscar was trailing after their older brother, who had his fists swinging at his sides while walking to his beloved red truck.

"What's going on now?" shouted Franco. There is never a dull moment with these two.

"This asshole wants to make a scene at the Elizondos!" answered Oscar, throwing his hands over at Juan, who glared at him.

"Juancho, don't try to force things." Franco told him calmly. "You may ruin everything. You can't fix things by force!"

"I can't fix things by sitting on my ass either!" Juan growled impatiently. "If I don't do anything, Norma will keep thinking the worst of me!"

"You think she'll change her mind with you storming there and fucking shit over?" argued Oscar.

Juan glared at his feet.

"Juancho, if you want to fix things you need to find a better method." suggested Franco. He cleared his throat, his hope rising when he thought of Sara. "I'm already helping you out."

Juan shot him a curious glare and Franco felt the palms of his hands sweating.

"How?" Juan asked.

"I..I asked Sarita to stand up for you." he stammered.

"You asked…" uttered Juan, his eyes bugging out of his head in disbelief.

His face grew hot when both brothers looked at him with bewilderment.

"You asked Sarita?" repeated Oscar, his eyebrows raised at Franco when he crossed his arms. "Wow! Since when do you see her and ask her for favors, hm, Francito?"

Franco began to get defensive.

"Well, I'd do anything to help Juan!" he shouted, trying to change the subject from Sarita.

Oscar sighed and confessed he did the same thing to Jimena. Juan only let out a frustrated groan and reprimanded the two not to involve anyone else in his business. Juan calmed down a bit and decided to ride through the open fields to clear out his troubled mind.

Franco decided to join him, to make sure he doesn't do anything rash. Just as they rode on their horses, the two brothers noticed the Elizondo's employees engrossed in a heated argument with Fernando Escandon, Norma's ex-husband over their fences.

"What's going on with them?" wondered Franco, watching intently as Fernando yelled at one of the employees.

"Seems like they're arguing." answered Juan once they distilled their horses from moving any further to watch the men closely.

"It seems like Fernando Escandon is angrier than usual." commented Franco, observing how shoved one man in the red plaid shirt.

He heard Juan grumble a curse under his breath.

"Every time I hear that bastard's name...", he glowered, "My blood boils at the possibility that Norma could go back to him. Fucking bastard..."

"Calm down, Juan." assured Franco. "If that were true, Sarita would've told me."

"Speaking of Sarita…" said Juan, his eyes looking past the troubled men and Fernando. "Here she comes."

Franco followed his brother's gaze. He was right. There she was. Sarita was coming in strong on her horse, her eyes enraged as he'd never seen her before. Franco's eyes followed her every more until she stopped to where Fernando argued with her employees.

"Fernando!" Franco heard her yell with so much aggression and hatred.

Something was definitely wrong. He had never heard her use that tone with Fernando. He thought they always got along. What changed?

She jumped off her horse, her rage never leaving her. Franco watched in amazement as she strode over to face Norma's ex-husband. That Sarita was a pistol.

"Why do you keep insisting on attacking Adalberto?" she demanded.

Franco felt his blood run cold when Fernando's eyes traveled from the employee named Adalberto, to Sarita. He didn't like where this was going. Franco slid off his horse, and tried to take cautious steps closer to the fences. Juan followed suit.

"He's asking for trouble!" shouted Fernando, pointing at the man in the red plaid shirt. "I told him a hundred times that I've fired him, but Olegario insists on keeping him on the ranch!"

"That's right!" Sara shouted back. "That's because I never authorized his dismissal, Fernando!"

"But Gabriela agreed and you can't ignore that, Sarita!" he told her. "I'm fucking tired of you and Olegario! I'm not your damn doormat! You respect me!"

He fumed when he took a step toward Sarita, nearly towering over her as if to intimidate her. Franco and Juan looked at each other before taking a few steps closer to their fences.

Sarita, as rough and valiant as she is, didn't cower. Instead she leveled with him.

"I'm fucking tired of you!" she shot back at him, her eyes viciously shooting daggers at him. "I don't care that my mother supports you, but I won't let you mistreat anymore of my employees!"

Fernando smirked at Sarita.

"We'll see about that, little one." he sneered. "I will be firing this brute and Olegario too because he's asking for it!"

"Oh really?" challenged Sara, gritting her teeth at him. "Well, then go on! Fire me too if you have to! Come on, do it! I'm waiting, Fernando!"

Fernando circled her, his hands forming into fists at his sides as Sara taunted him.

Franco was trying to settle himself. He had a bad feeling something was going to go wrong. Especially with Sara, who valiantly defended her employee's wellbeing.

"I'm fed up with your bullshit, Sarita." he spat at her as his beady dark eyes glared at her with intense hatred and repugnance. "You're an arrogant and hateful woman."

Before anyone knew it, Sarita planted her fist into Fernando's face who responded by grabbing her by the front of her jean jacket and held her to him, shaking her violently as he did so, making her gasp in fright.

Franco was fuming, his hand at the ready to climb over that damn fence. Seeing that bastard put his hands on Sara like that really had him seeing red. Especially a woman as dainty and petite as her.

"Don't ever do that, again, Sarita…" he growled, giving her one final shake before throwing her ruthlessly on the ground.

Oh hell no.

He proceeded to advance on her as he began to take off his belt.

"I forbid you to insult me in front of the employees! I'm not your fucking puppet! And I'll fucking prove it to you!"

Sarita froze when she saw him raise his hand to whip her with his belt. Franco, ignoring Juan calling out to him, immediately jumped over the fence just before the belt could strike her. He launched at Fernando, punching right into the ground as he deserved.

"Fucking bastard!" Franco shouted at Fernando.

Sarita was finally on her feet and jumped in front of Franco, who was blinded by rage.

"Franco, please stay out of this!" she yelled at him.

"I won't let him slight you even less under my presence!"

Fernando gathered his strength and shamelessly pushed Sarita out of his way to attack Franco, who was ready for him.

He managed to lunge more blows at Fernando, knocking him back on the ground. But it didn't end there, Fernando sought out a way to disarm Franco, which caused Juan to join in. Fernando was no match for Juan, and Franco knew it. When Juan was heated, there was no stopping him.

"Juan!" shouted Franco, pulling his brother off Fernando who looked like he had the lights knocked out of him. "We have to go! I don't want them to think we're some bullies!"

An exonerated Sarita interjected between the brothers, grabbing both their arms as they tried to advance on a weak Fernando.

"Please stop!" she shouted. "You both need to leave! You have no right to be on our lands! Please go!"

"I'd go to hell and back to protect you!" he shouted at her, his eyes glued on Fernando who was being helped by some of the Elizondo workers. "He can't ever slight you!"

"You'll pay for this!" warned Fernando. He shot a glare at Juan. "Especially you, Juan Reyes!"

"Oh yea?" challenged Franco, his blood still boiling as he tried to lunge at him, only to be stopped by Sara's soft touch.

"Franco, please…" she pleaded. "You need to leave."

"Listen.." he panted, staring into her eyes, "If that man lays a finger on you again, I'll be sure to make him pay for it."

"Come on." growled Juan, grabbing Franco around the shoulders to lead him through the fences.

While leaving through bated breath, he looked over his shoulder to Sara, who was watching him with so much emotion and admiration. Just then, Franco realized he cannot let her go. She may be strong and frigid, but he cannot allow anyone, let alone a bastard like Escandon, lay a hand on what belonged to him. He would do anything for Sara. He can bet his heart on it.

Ta da! Just wanted to get into Franco's mind in here, especially when he's asking Sara for help. When watching the novela, I honestly thought he was going to lose hope with her because of her indifference to Juan...but luckily... that little rescue affected the two of them. Tehehe! On to chapter 27! It'll be a treat! I'll be playing more into Franco's mind a lot!