Authors: Stacey Espino
Chapter Two
“You’ve got to be kiddin’ me, Chase. It has to be a joke,” said Matthew, busy shoveling hay beside him. Sweat already rolled into his eyes, despite being in the shade, and wearing no shirt. The weather was brutal, and it wasn’t even officially summer. “Don’t jinx it. If some upper-class suit wants to throw his money away, I’ll be more than happy to take it.”
Chase really did have to read the sign posted in the feed store twice. Who in their right mind would pay a cowboy ten thousand dollars just to help in an old-fashioned cattle roundup? Probably some city slicker looking for fun and adventure. Even on the Garner ranch, they rarely did a roundup solely on horseback. ATVs made the job faster and easier. He talked with Samson, the store owner, who’d confirmed the notice was legit. Apparently the wanted ad had been posted at every major feed store across the province. The title still made him laugh: Cowboys Wanted.
“When do you leave?”
Chase stabbed his pitchfork into the remaining hay and reached for the water bottle on the fence rail. After taking a drink he let his eyes wander across the vast open fields. “Next week. There’ll be hired men and some of the regular staff from the old Williams ranch.”
“Five thousands head by horseback? Have fun with that.” Matthew cupped his hands under the water in the rain barrel and washed his face. He grabbed the checkered rag off the fence and scrubbed dry. “You’ll owe me and Grant for picking up the slack while you’re gone.”
“I said I’d give you each a cut. Don’t go gettin’ greedy on me. Besides, someone had to stay home to keep things running and watch out for Angel.” He’d never have agreed to the three-week-long job if he didn’t have two other brothers to keep an eye on their little sister. It’s not that she was a bad girl, but the other cowboys around town were not to be trusted. She was young and innocent, and could easily fall for sweet words and promises. If there was one goal he had in life, it was ensuring Angel’s virginity remained intact until after she was married. Or maybe longer.
Matthew chuckled. “I’m just pulling your leg. We’ll be fine. If there’s any trouble, we can always call up the Carsons for help.”
“That’s if they can pry themselves away from their woman for two minutes.” Their neighbors and childhood friends on the next ranch over had entered the first ménage relationship Chase had ever heard of. The mere idea had disgusted him from the beginning, but seeing the love in his friends’ eyes for their woman spoke volumes. It wasn’t his place to judge when he’d never seen them happier.
“Make sure you get some money up front. Still sounds fishy to me.” Matthew briefly looked up to the sun before walking toward the house. “Come on. Mom will have lunch ready by now.”
He followed his brother to the ranch, using his Stetson to free most of the dust from his jeans. As he reflected on his brother’s words, a sense of dread filled his blood. He didn’t want to be made to look a fool. When he’d called the number he got a voice mail telling him to email his credentials. Unlike most of their neighbors, they had Internet, which was a bonus for him. He still snagged the last available space, which was either a godsend or a curse. That was left to be seen.
“Sun’s not letting up, Ma.” Matthew sat at the table and reached for a roll, only to have his hand slapped.
“Wash your hands before coming to the table. Are we savages now?” Their mother was a stern but loving woman. He was thankful for her every day of his life, especially seeing how difficult life had been for the Carsons after their mother died.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chase might have been in charge most days, but he still humored the woman who gave him birth. Real men knew how to respect a woman, even under the most trying of circumstances. Sometimes the women in his life drove him to the point of insanity, but he’d button his lip and remember everything his daddy had taught him about the fairer sex. His father still wasn’t too old to dole out a whoopin’, even if they had to pretend it hurt.
Chase and his brothers were workhorses, often spending over twelve hours in the fields or tending the cattle. They towered over their father and were known for their size and strength in their small town. Muscle upon muscle and a thick layer of cowboy skin was the best defense for pain. Besides, there wasn’t time to stop for injuries on the Garner ranch. Work needed to get done, and the cattle didn’t care for themselves just because one of the brothers wasn’t in top form.
Their mother ladled stew into their bowls once they were washed and seated. The familiar scent of beef and potatoes was rich and hearty, making his stomach rumble. Grant came in at the last minute and took his place. He’d been mending fencing on the east perimeter since sunup.
“Chase, I’ve been talking with Wendy, and she found out some things about this cattle drive of yours.”
“What about it?” he asked. Information from his aunt wasn’t always the most reliable. She was the town busybody, but he was still eager to find out about the job he knew so little about.
“She knew Mr. Williams somewhat. He used to come into the diner once in a while. It’s sad that he had no children to pass down such a thriving cattle business. Apparently he willed his entire ranch to a family member.”
“Interesting.” He didn’t want to get into gossip with his mother. As long as he got his money, he could care less about the late Mr. Williams or his mountains of wealth. Whatever snot-nosed brat got the fortune handed to him on a silver platter was not anyone he wanted to get to know. Real men worked for what they had. On a positive note, the new landowner may lead the business into bankruptcy, and Chase could buy some of his cattle at below market value. Regardless, in a month he’d need to worry about his own family cattle ranch and the massive branding and immunizing of new stock.
“Ten thousand dollars is a lot of money, Chase Garner. I hope you have good plans for it. Perhaps a nest egg for a wife?”
Fuck, not again
. Being the oldest brother had as many disadvantages as perks. None were worse than his mother’s constant demand for grandchildren. He just wasn’t ready to settle down. Why should he when his life was perfect? Only a fool would purposely ruin a good thing. He had admittedly started thinking about settling down more seriously after his best friends—Wyatt, Val, and Cord Carson—had gotten hitched to a woman, one woman, but still. Chase believed it was the constant pressure from his family that turned him off of the idea of a wife. Push him, and he pushed back.
* * * *
Jane loaded the last of her bags into the trunk of her car. She took a deep breath, looked back at her building, and then boarded the driver’s seat with mixed feelings. Mr. Seymour was not happy about her taking three weeks off work. Although her lawyer insisted two weeks should be enough for a normal cattle roundup, she wasn’t taking any chances on returning late. She had everything riding on this adventure. It had been a bitch to find three bona fide cowboys to hopefully guarantee her success. She hoped they wouldn’t question the fact they weren’t getting paid unless she was successful.
She hit the highway. It had been well over a decade since she’d visited her uncle’s ranch. Although she hadn’t been especially close to her uncle, the few memories she had of her visits were all positive—bonfires, brushing the horses, staying up late and watching the stars. Jane hadn’t even been to the country since those carefree days of her youth. She was all about modern conveniences and attempting to move up the corporate ladder. Her dreams hadn’t exactly panned out. College was not a possibility for a girl raised by a struggling single mother. As an adult she took as many computer and business courses she could afford, but they still hadn’t helped her advance at work. Making runs to Tim Hortons didn’t earn her any brownie points, only showed that she was easy to manipulate. If the cattle run wasn’t a success, she planned on looking for a new job, one where she was respected and given a chance to advance.
Even though her job wasn’t what she’d hoped, her life wasn’t a forfeit. Jane had good friends and good times. She enjoyed living it up on the weekends, going to the occasional club, and feeding her online solitaire addiction. There were plenty of lonely nights, but she was set in her ways, not willing to give up her freedom for a man who’d just turn out to be another disappointment. It seemed all men wanted was sex, and as soon as they got it, or knew they wouldn’t get it within three dates, they were gone faster than Louis Vuitton handbags at a half-price sale. Her father had been a deadbeat and so had every other loser she’d dated.
She drove for hours, leaving behind the cityscape in exchange for fields of barley, herds of cattle, and impenetrable forest. After driving without reprieve, she entered the sleepy little town. She consulted her road map and the sheet of directions she’d printed off before leaving. Trees lined the quiet streets, and colorful planters of flowers hung from light posts. Such old-world charm, but rather than endear her, it only made her feel claustrophobic. Jane wasn’t a country girl. She already missed the noise, the people, and the modern technology.
The gravel beneath her tires crunched as she slowed her car at the end of the driveway. The sweet smell of hay drifted in the open windows. Before stepping out, she stared at the brick house, forgotten memories filtering into her mind. Her uncle Williams had been a kind, patient man. He’d taught her how to recognize poison ivy, pick berries without harming the plant, and never to walk behind his green broke horses. She hadn’t even gone to the funeral service.
There were a pile of newspapers on the wooden porch. Jane bent down and arranged them to the side of the door. Only after she unlocked the front door and stepped into the spacious foyer did she realize that this home could be hers if everything went well. Would she sell it? Originally, it had been her first and only thought. She could use the money to buy one of the luxury lakefront condos, travel, and do sophisticated things like her boss and his clients. People would look up to her, and the money would give her a sense of security she currently lacked. She couldn’t wait until the day she could wag her resignation in Mr. Seymour’s face.
But being back here was like entering a different world, and she actually questioned her decision to sell it. No, she was just being sentimental when she should be thinking like a wise businesswoman. This was an opportunity for profit and a better life. If she started thinking about her late uncle, her childhood memories, and the endless possibilities, she’d never succeed in her task. In less than an hour she had to head back into town to meet up with her three hired hands, and prayed they didn’t demand half their payment up front. None of this was a done deal, so she needed to focus on succeeding in the cattle run before she thought about spending the spoils.
Her heels echoed with each step on the hardwood. She looked around the empty house, neat, but lived in. There was an old patchwork quilt tossed over the back of the sofa, and a functional fireplace. She’d always loved the smell of burning wood, and realized that scent originated from her visits to the ranch. As she continued walking down memory lane, a gruff male voice had her squealing and whirling around.
The man was well over six feet. His plaid shirt fit snuggly around his muscled shoulders and chest, and as she looked lower, his jeans hung low on narrowed hips. Her eyes became riveted to the large silver buckle on his jeans.
“You like my boots?”
She quickly averted her gaze to his eyes.
The bluest eyes.
He had to know she wasn’t looking at his cowboy boots, but in the vicinity of his crotch. The stranger smirked at her, his face rough with stubble.
“Do you have business here?” she asked, changing the subject. It was time to prove her value as a savvy, no-nonsense businesswoman. She stifled her urge to drink in the sight of the rustic Adonis, and focused on the here and now.
“If you’re Jane Williams, I’m here for you.”
Here for me?
This was beginning to sound like one of her fantasies. But rather than an Armani suit and expensive cologne, he was all country, and smelled of horses and clean sweat. “How do you know my name?”
Should she have admitted he had the right woman? He had a commanding presence, and his eyes held secrets. But she still felt relatively safe. If she could walk the downtown strip alone at night, or brave the dark parking lots after working late at the office, she could handle anything.
“You hired me to help you run some cattle. The offer still stands, doesn’t it?”
“Oh… I thought I was supposed to meet you in town. How did you get this address?”
He narrowed his eyes, plucked off his cowboy hat, and dragged a heavy hand through his hair. “Everyone knows where the Williams ranch is. It’s one of the largest cattle farms in the area.”
“Right. Can I get your name?” She began to dig through her purse for her list, thankful for the distraction.
“Dawson Reed, ma’am.”
She scanned her list. Dawson Reed was indeed one of her three hired cowboys, and would definitely be a distraction during the roundup. She still had to meet Chase and Bradley.