Trusting Her Rancher Boss (Mountainbrook Ranch Book 1)

by Holly May

  He led them into an empty enclosed area with no risk of Caramel bolting and going far. Rachel observed the ground ahead of them, focusing on anything but the jarring motion. “How’d you get started with riding?”

  He hesitated but as if realizing that she needed conversation to maintain composure, he spoke. “It took a week after my father’s accident before I tried anything. Was easy to get back into it. I’ve grown up here, never loved the ranch life, but I remembered how to ride. It’s not something you forget.”

  “A cowboy who doesn’t love the ranch?” she teased.

  “Not when I had other things in mind.”

  The animosity in his voice made her flinch. Obviously, returning to the ranch hadn’t been his true intention. His loyalty for his father was impressive for him to overcome his resentment but judging from his tortured gaze, he still hadn’t embraced it.

  “Never really got attached to any horse until Honor but after saving Caramel, I got back into it, no reservations. Okay, we’ve done a full circle now. Squeeze your legs.”

  Choosing to trust him, she did so, and Caramel suddenly picked up the pace, hooves clapping against the grass. Rachel cried out, clinging to the saddle as if her life depended on it. Adjusting to the rhythmic speed, she shot a look at Jared, jogging by their side. He was grinning.

  “You’re liking this far too much.”

  He laughed. “I didn’t say this would be easy.”

  She froze. So he seemed reluctant to have her around, or he was attempting to lighten the mood and make a joke. Well, she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction.

  “Good. I like a challenge,” she retorted.

  He offered a smile, benevolence showing in his eyes. And something indefinable. “You’re doing well. Any faster and I’d need to break a sweat. To slow down, pull on the reins.”

  She did and Caramel retreated back to a walk. “Is this the kind of technique you use to teach riding?”

  “You’re my first student.”

  “Obviously. And hopefully your last.”

  He laughed. “Riding lessons aren’t my forte.”

  The flicker of his smile made her heart flutter. The fine dimples etched on his burnished skin were a sign he used to smile often, but the thought of his lack of contentment due to her provoked an unexpected stab to the chest. It reminded her of the insecurity and unpredictability she’d felt with the last man she’d dated - the gnawing feeling of not being good enough.

  “Don’t tense up,” he added. “Keep your back straight.”

  She followed the curve of the fence line, the harsh glow from the sun caressing her skin. Going at this walking pace was relaxing, and it granted a stunning view which brought out a sense of sentimentalism.

  “I can’t believe I let the past affect my perception of riding. I’ve really missed this.”

  Something flickered across his face. “You glad I gave you this opportunity?”

  She looked at Jared. His actions had pushed her to overcome her insecurity by forcing her out of her comfort zone. He’d changed her life in a small way but an unforgettable one and even though she wouldn’t be around him for long, she couldn’t deny her appreciation.

  “I am. Aside from your teaching methods.”

  His eyes crinkled as he laughed. “You’re an interesting woman, Rachel.”

  She grasped the reins and her hand brushed against his. The heated sensation from his touch sent flutters through her. Thinking of his benign attempt at a compliment, she pulled away from him.

  “What makes me so interesting?”

  “For a start, no one’s tried trespassing to take a photo.”

  The humiliation of their awkward encounter made her cringe. “I’ll never live this down.”

  “Trust me, I won’t tell any of the others. They know you’re a photographer and that’s it.”

  Surprise overcame her at his consideration. “Oh. I appreciate it. It’s something I hoped would stay between us.”

  “My dad will keep it quiet, too. We respect your privacy.”

  Even though I didn’t respect theirs.

  If the ranchers learned of her earlier behavior, she doubted they’d want her working alongside them. Yet on contemplation, it was possible Jared was doing it to protect his decision to hire her and how it would affect their impression of him. Either way, despite his motives, it was one less thing to worry about.

  “You’re handling him great. We’ve made good progress, faster than I expected.”

  Jared helped her pull on the reins to turn him. Rachel’s breathing came evenly and riding no longer summoned the paralyzing state of fear, whether it was a temporary respite or because of Jared’s presence.

  Recalling his comment about time, she asked, “We’re on a schedule?”

  “Work needs to be done.”

  “Okay. I want to try a canter,” she decided, drawing in a breath of cool mountain air.

  “Not yet. You need me to lead you around some more, take it easy.”

  As much as she preferred waiting, she needed to push forward and show she could tolerate a week of riding. To prove that she could, and would, surpass his expectations.

  She squeezed once, the horse moving at the jolting pace she recognized as trotting. Once more and Caramel jerked forward, breaking into a canter, the vibrations shaking her horribly. She lowered, reflexively leaning into him and flinched against the roughness between her thighs, knowing it would hurt there by the end of the week.

  The world shook around her and she clung to the reins until her knuckles went white. They were almost at the end of the fence line, moving at a quick pace. Could she turn at this speed? She had to try. She’d made it this far already.

  Rachel pulled and Caramel responded instantly, turning sharply while sending clumps of grass and dirt into the air. She flinched but as they drew closer to the next corner, she hesitated.

  The tension in her body receded.

  She surrendered to the moment, letting the reins relax in her hold. She was in control and as she neared Jared, she gently pulled back and parted her legs, ensuring no weight was pressed against the horse at the same time. Caramel snorted and slowed to a stop.

  Rachel let out a breath, her heart racing, and swung a foot free from the stirrup. Jared came to her side and she dismounted smoothly, hitting the ground as naturally as she used to.

  Jared stared. “You surprised me, but you did great.”

  She slanted her head to look up at him, trying to catch her breath. “Thanks. It’s just like I remembered. I think I’ll have no troubles during the week, so I won’t let you down.”

  He looked abashed before his features smoothened. “Everything about this situation is gonna take some getting used to.”

  “Tell me about it. Anyway, I’ve freed up some time so we can focus on work.”

  He flashed a wide smile. “Don’t be too hasty. If I decide you need another lesson, don’t take off like that.”

  She straightened, bringing herself even closer to his parted lips. “I handled it no problem. I’ll be fine.”

  “I know. But you didn’t follow my orders.”

  “Not used to someone disobeying you?”

  “I’m not used to you.”

  His face softened, his eyes searching hers. Pools of sharp ice that melted the moment he started to relax. His lips came closer, so tantalizingly, breathlessly close. Her breathing slowed.

  A gust of wind tore through and the brim of her hat collided with his Stetson. The unexpected collision snapped him free. Rachel adjusted her hat, not daring to look at him. Heat flushed her face, and the thought of wanting his kiss to finally claim her made her fall silent.

  “That concludes your lessons.”

  His voice gave no hint of what she’d been certain he’d felt. They’d almost kissed. Well, if it weren’t for the clash of the hats, maybe it would’ve happened. She wanted Jared despite her irritation toward him for forcing her into her current circumstances. Against all rationality
.

  Rachel glanced at him, but he didn’t meet her gaze.

  Caramel whinnied and she rested a hand on his side, relenting to the fact that it was best to ignore the attraction with Jared.

  “I’ve got the standard contract here for you to sign,” he said. “You need to accept the terms, no negotiation, not that there needs to be. No hidden clauses. It’s straightforward. You’re welcome to check it over.”

  She conceded, knowing this was the only option he’d allowed for her, even though it made her feel even guiltier for trespassing. Understandably, it was part of legal obligations.

  Jared withdrew the papers and a pen from his jeans pocket, and after being redirected to the hay strewn bench and giving it a quick read through, Rachel signed on the dotted line.

  “Remember, the day starts at seven,” he said. “I’ll let you get some rest. See you then.”

  Silence stretched between them. She wanted to mention how they’d nearly kissed, but the troubled look in his eyes warned her off. Maybe it was for the best. He was a hardened, lone cowboy unwilling to let anyone in, and yet she still felt something for him.

  For years she’d repressed herself and Jared’s encouragement had let her loose. He’d freed her from her only trepidation, and now she wanted to return that in some way.

  Maybe not by expressing it through a kiss.

  Jared led Caramel back to the stall and she watched him undo a part she remembered as the bridle. Jared didn’t unsaddle him completely, but closed the stall door and faced Rachel.

  “Thanks for trusting me to get you through this.”

  She pressed her lips together. “It was no problem. You’ve done a lot for me, I guess more than I can say.”

  “Glad to help.”

  His compassion both warmed and unnerved her. After all, she’d trespassed on his land and to have Jared thinking badly of her only motivated her to prove him otherwise. That’s why she’d insisted on riding without him, taking off before he could get a word in.

  Yet he perceived all of this as a means of helping her out, to overcome a silly fear that wasn’t as much of a burden as she’d made it out to be.

  “I’ll do the job,” she affirmed before turning and walking away.

  Jared closed the stall door harder than intended. Caramel shook his head, but luckily he wasn’t startled.

  “Sorry, buddy.”

  He didn’t mean to act on his frustration. He knew he’d crossed the line with Rachel by making his attraction so unashamedly obvious, and giving her more emotional leeway than he’d counted on.

  It’d been tempting to kiss her full lips as she pressed up against him, those gentle blue eyes on his. Something about her just set off all kinds of emotions. She was obdurate, insisting on riding without his guidance. Maybe she’d done it to demonstrate she could hack it, to push past her limitations in a futile attempt of conviction.

  An all too familiar feeling. He had to ensure she wouldn’t get overly confident as he’d once done. Watching her with Caramel reminded him of his own arrogance when he’d learned to ride again, desperate to attest he could deal with the ranch for his father, not wanting to let him down.

  That still weighed on his mind. He had a job to do, as always, and he didn’t need Rachel distracting him.

  He adjusted his Stetson and left the stables. Rachel had departed, leaving him to ponder what had passed between them. Showing her the basics had replayed his own mistakes, his misplaced aversion for the horses, all of which made him who he was now, and it was therapeutic as much as it was selfish. He had to accept what had happened, to release his past reservations. He was helping himself as well as her.

  At least, that’s how he wanted to rationalize it.

  The Lord had brought her into his life in the most unexpected way. The least he could do was give her the chance she needed to set herself straight.

  Jared gathered a bunch of hay and checked the troughs, refilling Ember’s before he finally stood back and wiped his brow. The day had only just started. And despite himself, he looked forward to seeing Rachel again. He couldn’t deny that he wanted her. He just had to keep that need tied down to focus on work.

  After all, he’d delegated himself as her boss.

  Chapter Four

  “Spending a day with your cowboy?”

  Rachel sighed at Linda’s comment. Confiding about her attraction to Jared was an attempt to see it as a mistake. How would it feel to kiss him?

  But it had to stay professional.

  She rubbed at her thighs, tender from riding. “I’ll be spending the day recovering.”

  “I knew you’d get back into it!” Linda enthused. She stood in the doorway to Rachel’s bedroom with a familiar upbeat smile. “If you’re meeting any single cowboys today, let me know. Oh, and good luck. I think you’ll need it.”

  “I’m sure I will.”

  If riding for just twenty minutes had made her this sore, she could only imagine how bad it would be after a day’s work. But there was no option of backing out - she opted to be signed over to him.

  Linda moved out of sight and Rachel entered the living room, seeing her friend sprawled on the couch. Their substandard apartment was succumbing to aging. Luckily, Linda had fully supported her endeavor to pursue photography. She’d been willing to compromise over rental costs until Rachel secured a consistent income, especially after the tragedy that struck Rachel’s mom’s store which left Rachel out of a job.

  Linda’s support was invaluable and a blessing in itself.

  “You look great, cowgirl!”

  “When I return all bruised and sore, you’ll think differently.”

  Linda laughed. “Some people pay for this experience.”

  Rachel nodded. “Mountainbrook’s given me a stroke of luck. Maybe I should take daring risks more often.”

  “Please don’t. But one week will go by fast, and you’ll gain what you need. Perfect trade off.”

  That’s all it had to be, Rachel reminded herself. A chance to develop her career, avoid charges and not get closer to Jared. Why the need to contemplate it?

  She turned toward the door, heat burning her face. The truth was that this was both a career opportunity and a chance to know the reclusive rancher. Something about the way he buried himself within his work reminded her of how she’d lost herself in photography.

  “Don’t flirt with the rancher,” Linda advised. Rachel faced her, bewildered, and her friend added, “I know how you can be with men.”

  “I’m not that bad! Just being friendly.”

  Linda laughed and after withdrawing a bottle of black nail polish, started painting her nails. “There’s a fine line there. Remember how it went with Eric? After you rejected him, he told everyone you had sex.”

  Eric was old news from her college years. He’d done that after weeks of supposed flirting, she remembered to her chagrin. Sometimes men mistook her friendliness for serious interest. Or perhaps she really did need to rethink how she acted and not give too much of herself to the wrong people. She’d already embarrassed herself with Jared by proposing a date which he rightly ignored, but at least they’d glossed over it and she could focus on the job.

  She flinched. “We aren’t in freshman year anymore.”

  Their friendship had endured since then. And it seemed there was no point in disregarding the past. Hearing of Eric reminded her instantly of Aaron, the only man she’d given her heart to and after the demise of that relationship, she’d overcompensated for her insecurity and pain by being upfront with men.

  “I’ve changed,” Rachel reminded her. “Jared’s the first guy I’ve even thought about in a romantic sense in a long time.”

  “I just don’t want you getting hurt again.”

  Rachel forced a smile. “It’s okay. He’s not interested.”

  Meeting Jared felt like a sign from God, as her mom would say. It was a chance to end her fears and overcome her desperation in terms of men and the pursuit of her career. She wouldn
’t acquiesce to failure and let any doubts take hold. Besides, after that failed kiss, it was clear they couldn’t work romantically.

  Regardless, she was going to give this week the best she had now that she could ride again.

  Linda sighed. “Sorry to hear that. He seems like a great guy.”

  Rachel adjusted her shirt, trying not to linger on how her love life had turned out. “He is. Okay, I better get to work. Have a good day.”

  Rachel left their apartment, crossing the small parking lot to her car. The air was cool with no breeze, and bare trees stripped by late fall lined the quiet street, the sidewalk overflowing with fallen leaves.

  She drove out to the ranch, hands tight on the wheel, her thoughts drifting to what Jared expected of her. Don’t get close again.

  She turned onto the road to Mountainbrook Ranch. A sign had now been erected, barely visible from the main road, but it was a start. It would be fascinating to watch the ranch develop and become a key attraction, and she knew her photos would do it justice.

  Distant cattle roamed the sloping hills; the sky streaked a dark orange with wisps of yellow. She followed the road curving around the trees to the ranch where four vehicles were already parked. She gritted her teeth. So much for coming early, everyone else had the same initiative. Now she’d have to persist and keep inevitable mistakes to a minimum.

  She parked up. She’d prepped herself by doing some early morning stretches, but on contemplation, doubted it would help her recovery much.

  Attaching her camera to her waist, she left the car and strode across to the ranch door. Taking a breath, she opened it, hearing loud voices echoing within. Following the red carpeted hallway into the living room, she caught sight of five men all wearing Stetsons crowded around the leather couches, sharing laughs and drinking from unlabeled glass bottles.

  They fell silent as she approached. Rachel let her gaze travel over them, stopping as soon as she met Jared’s cool eyes, the intensity of his stare holding her still. She quickly broke eye contact.

  “Morning. Is this how you all start the day?” she asked, plastering on a wide smile.

  Jared tipped his hat at her. “Rachel Mills, everyone. Our newbie cowgirl and temporary photographer.”