“I’ve been thinking. This is a vast property. It’s seems a shame to have it all go unused. You know about farming. Would this be a good setup for raising cattle?”
Landon’s interest was piqued. He cupped a hand over his eyes and scanned the horizon. “The last owner had cattle. It’s the perfect location. You have the barns, the land, the fencing—everything to get started.”
“Shame. I only know about riding broncs and hogtying calves. Raising cattle is not my forte. Now, if you’d be willing to partner up with me, I don’t see why we couldn’t get a herd started as soon as possible. I have connections through the business, too.”
Angel felt emotions rise up inside her, making her eyes mist. Clay was such an honorable cowboy, giving Landon his dignity and also establishing a future for them all. She was pretty sure her best friend knew what Clay was up to, but appreciated the gesture none the less.
“Tell him, Angel. What’s been my dream since before I can remember?”
“Having your own place, raising your own cattle.” She could barely say the words. She loved Landon so much, and to see him get his dream after so much hard work and rough times made her heart ache.
“Then it’s settled!” Clay clapped his hands once in a joyous celebration, and then shook hands across the fence with Landon.
“Once things get established, I’ll be able to help out my folks.” He never complained to Clay about his parents’ business folding anymore. But she knew there was a hint of resentment there, even though he understood the logic in Clay’s actions.
“That’s another thing I wanted to talk to you about. Your parents are good people, honest and hardworking. I swear they know the people around here and the business twice as well as I ever could at my age. I was planning to run things on my own with the help of my sister, Kayla. But, as you know, things rarely go according to plan. I never took into account that my sister would hate working as my store manager, and I certainly never expected to fall in love. At my age I was ready to call it quits, but now I want to spend my free time at home, not the office.”
“So what’re you saying?”
“I propose your parents help run the new distribution center with me. They can run the town center just as they did before. That way I can spend more time at home with our woman and new cattle business. They won’t have to worry about finances. I’ll pay them a monthly wage that’ll no doubt be more than they cleared before I came into town.”
“My parents mean the world to me, Clay. You know that. Don’t be offering something that you aren’t sure about.”
Clay stretched his arms above his head lazily. “I have no parents of my own. I suppose yours will be the closest thing I have now.”
Angel loved the new plan. She’d have Clay home more often and wouldn’t have to worry about Landon feeling like he wasn’t needed. Running a cattle ranch was no easy task. She should know for all the work she did with her brothers at home. The work was never done.
Clay lifted her up on the wooden fence between him and Landon. They all kept in reflective silence, but there was no tension.
“Can I ride my stallion?” she asked Clay, breaking the hush.
“Are you mad, woman? You’re not going near him. Did you tell her she could ride that horse?”
“Course not! She’s playing us off each other. When one doesn’t give her what she wants, she sidles up to the other.”
Clay palmed her breasts, testing their weight behind the tight, white tank top she wore. “She definitely needs to be punished. Hogtied, no doubt.”
“But my injury.”
Landon kissed her bare arm from behind. “You said yourself you’re perfectly fine. You can’t have it both ways, Angel.”
She’d deny them until they took what they wanted. Angel loved it when her men dominated her as a team—working together to love her, please her, fuck her. Although she’d been through a rough streak the past several years, it was time for her to take back her life. She’d still be herself, of course, just without the toughened skin. But if anyone tried to mess with her men, or question their ménage relationship, they’d learn in a hurry that even an angel could raise a little hellfire.
THE END
WWW.STACEYESPINO.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stacey Espino resides in beautiful Ontario, Canada where she is busy raising her five school-aged children. She loves being a Canadian but could do without the brutal winters.
She enjoys writing erotic romance that will have you squirming in your seat. From hardcore cowboys to alpha shifters, she has you covered!
Stacey also writes alternative M/M romance as Winona Wilder.
Also by Stacey Espino
Ménage Amour: Ride ‘em Hard 1: Hardcore Cowboys
Ménage Amour: Ride ‘em Hard 2: Corralling the City Girl
For all other titles, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/stacey-espino
For titles by Stacey Espino
writing as Winona Wilder, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/winona-wilder
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Espino, Stacey - Hogtying the Cowgirl [Ride 'em Hard 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 14
