by Holly May
“The majority are from Sandpoint,” she said. “All of the night shots and city landscapes are from Spokane.”
“Washington? I’ve been there a few times.”
“I have a sister and some friends there, so I visit often.”
Owen’s eyes widened. “Jared mentioned you’re a local. You prefer the city life?”
She couldn’t help look his way, but Jared didn’t meet her gaze. It was a preference only because she’d run out of options within a small town. People didn’t look at her the same way after Megan’s dalliance in court, and although no one gossiped to her face, she was aware they would regardless. Not that she’d allow her sister’s choices to impact her own life, but her reckless trespassing had almost undone the progress both of them had made.
Besides, living in the city was a chance to make a fresh start and try a new tactic regarding her photography. Selling the occasional photo to someone she knew in Sandpoint wasn’t sustainable long term.
Thinking over Owen’s question, she replied, “I love it. I plan on moving there in a few weeks.”
Jared stiffened, but she paid no mind to it. He couldn’t expect her to remain in Sandpoint, not that it was his concern and if she secured the magazine job, she doubted she’d return to Sandpoint. The thought suddenly elicited a pang of guilt. Of course she’d miss the town she’d grown up in, leaving behind the sights of nature for those of a crowded, energetic city. But it was time to move on, she had nothing else here.
“Could be good for you,” Owen offered. “I know I’ve been tempted to break out of this small town. The ranch calls me back though.”
“Mountainbrook’s done a lot for all of us,” Edward added, pursing his lips.
It sounded like they’d been through a lot, judging from the somber tone that passed over them. She bit her lip and held out her empty plate, offering to clear the table. Some of them agreed heartily and gave her smiles as she took each of their plates and entered the kitchen to load them into the dishwasher.
When it was good to go, she started the dishwasher and turned back, almost freezing in place when she noticed Jared had come into the kitchen.
“Sorry to startle you.”
“It’s okay.”
They were alone, the others filing out the door to the stables. She started heading for the door.
“I know I’m stepping out of line here, but Owen’s flirting with you,” he said.
She raised her eyebrows and halted. For a moment she wondered if he’d admit to being jealous. The look in his eyes was enough to expose it. It threw her off guard.
“He lost his wife a year ago and is still recovering. It was a car crash. The ranch has been like a safe haven for him.”
“Oh, that’s awful. Sorry to hear that.”
Jared rubbed the back of his neck, as if struggling with his words. “I don’t know your intentions, but I don’t want you getting involved with any of the workers here during the week. It’ll complicate matters, and maybe it’s best to keep an emotional distance since you’ll be leaving soon.”
He’s complicating them now. Rachel frowned, incensed that he’d even assumed she had an interest in Owen. How arrogant was he to think he had a claim on her? And, to her shame, she couldn’t help but get the impression he thought of her as someone who flirted with every man in sight. A repetition of her former behavior, going by Linda’s claims.
“Owen is nice and I wish him all the best for what he’s going through, but I’m here to do the job. That’s all I agreed to do.”
She felt Jared’s eyes on her as she walked away. So he was envious, and it was both flattering and perplexing to have him watching over her.
But he was her boss, and he wouldn’t be more than that. She wasn’t one to shun responsibility and trespassing had been her only mistake, one she would make up for. She wouldn’t let getting close to Jared be another, despite the temptation.
As she headed to Caramel’s stall, she overheard Jared sending two of the men out to check the western unit and childishly hoped he would go and leave her be. How could she focus with him standing over her, knowing that his resolve was as weak as hers?
Guiding Caramel out of the stall, she decided to take the initiative and mount him. Placing a foot in the left stirrup, she swung a leg up and almost fell back. Immediately, Jared’s hand was against her side, his touch stealing her breath. Somehow, she managed to straddle Caramel and compose herself.
“I’ve got this,” she told him, setting aside her discomfited attempt at mounting. “I remember how to ride. Like you said, it’s not something you forget.”
“I’ll stay with you over the next few days.” He released her and stood back, watching her with that piercing gaze.
What brought on this protectiveness? She shook her head. “You don’t need to. I can ride and the other ranchers will be around to help.”
“I’m your boss. If I want to look out for you, I will.”
“Thanks for your attentiveness, but I’m a big girl. I can cope with the work.”
She prompted Caramel to leave the stables, knowing Jared’s gaze was on her. He wasn’t the only rancher in Mountainbrook. It frustrated her to realize that she couldn’t understand him. As someone who’d socialized excessively during the years, especially within a familiar small town environment, she was confident in her ability to read people.
But Jared was a contradiction. It was going to be a long week.
Chapter Five
He knew he wasn’t handling this well.
Jared mounted Honor and eased her out of the stables. The air was crisp, the sky slashed with streaks of gold and orange emanating from the sun brimming above the forest. He stared out toward the expansive acres of plains, the mountains prominent behind them. The size of his land never failed to impress, and each day the task of patrolling it all was momentous. It was a welcome albeit temporary change from the boardroom in New York and the endless meetings.
Still, he looked forward to embracing that part of his life again.
Rachel waited for him atop Caramel, turning her gentle sapphire blue eyes to meet him. He looked over her shapely body in the saddle, and even with her glossy blonde hair tied back and her skin pale with no visible makeup, she was attractive. He was well aware of how the men were checking her out, unable to stay away from her captivating smile. Yep, Rachel Mills had to have enraptured many hearts over the years. It didn’t help that she was forthcoming and quick with a dose of sarcasm. And a little spark of feistiness, too.
But that flicker of attraction meant nothing. He’d ensure it. This was how it started with Tania – a consuming infatuation. Rachel was riding with him, the way Tania once had. Yet that didn’t stop the enticement to get closer.
Jared recalled Tania’s svelte face with a curtain of brown hair, the gleam of her green eyes and thin, pursed lips. Everything wholesome he’d once believed of her had been damaged the moment he strode up to her room within the ranch, clutching a bouquet of her favorite cardinal flowers. Only to find….
He clenched his jaw. Rachel reminded him of all the nuances of the love of his life. And his deepest regret.
Rachel’s lips eased into a smile. “What do I need to do?”
He tore his thoughts from the past where they hadn’t strayed for months. “You’ll be heading out with me and Warren. Randall will cover the southern fence line.”
Rachel stared at him, maintaining her composure but he knew beneath that calm facade, she had to be terrified. She’d told him of her apprehension toward flying due to her parents’ accident, a moment of vulnerability that reminded him any veneer of professionalism was fading fast. Her hesitation stemmed from a genuine reason, not his former dislike for horses due to aggravation from his father’s demand to take over the ranch.
Jared once set a goal to become CEO for a prominent financial investment company in New York, a goal he’d achieved with blinding success and earned the wealth he’d dreamed of since he was seven. Yet it wasn’t enou
gh to earn his father’s approval.
So he’d worked overtime at the ranch to make up for his former selfishness. Now that he’d given Rachel a similar opportunity, perhaps both of them would make it through this and be better off. Even if it meant going their separate ways, which for the first time, the thought made him feel uncomfortable.
Shifting his thoughts away from that, he wanted Rachel to ease out of her reluctance. She was willing. And seems willing for a whole lot more.
“Let’s move.” He nodded at Rachel. “Follow us out.”
“Take all the time you need,” Warren added. Jared knew he was saying that to be courteous. They had a lot of land to cover.
Jared led the way, with Warren hanging back to keep an eye on Rachel. All of them were aware of her apprehension regarding riding, and he knew they’d look out for her. They were all good men, hard workers, and he intended to keep them on board after the ranch’s changeover. But that thought amazed him. He was easing away from the ranch, not intent on escalating his involvement. New York beckoned. Even so, he wanted to make sure Mountainbrook was set for a stable, thriving future without him.
Rachel didn’t hesitate to get Caramel moving. Jared glanced back at her and for a moment, their eyes locked. Trepidation shrouded hers, but her body had noticeably relaxed. She was doing better than when he’d first started riding after years of sitting at a desk.
Warren offered words of encouragement and by the time they’d covered a few miles, Rachel coaxed Caramel into a gallop, still trailing behind him. The startled look on her face stirred something within Jared and he slowed to ride by her side. “You all right?”
She flashed that pretty little smile. “Told you I got this.”
He returned her smile. He’d almost kissed her in the stables, but she had her mind set on leaving Idaho. Neither of them wanted to be tied down. Was it wise for professionalism to take a backseat considering the connection they seemed to have?
As midday arrived, they’d covered a reasonable distance even with Rachel stopping to take photos. She impressed him more than he could admit. He watched her on Caramel as she clicked off a photo of the mountains. The foggy clouds were swept away from the base of the mountain range, exposing the tips of the trees. A view he found himself appreciating as much as having Rachel there. Her enthusiasm was infectious and even Warren managed more quips than usual.
“Nice shot! Look at that, she makes the place look like something out of a movie,” Warren said.
Something held him back from looking over her photos like the ranchers had. He’d momentarily glanced over them when they’d first met, but somehow to do it again would seem more personal, to draw them closer. Working with her and guiding her to the right places to snap a good photo was all he could offer.
She looked at him, as if waiting for a comment. He faltered, not sure what to say.
“You’ll do this ranch justice.”
Her smile was small but genuine. And that tugged at something within him.
Jared turned his focus to work. He adjusted the saddlebags packed with materials to patch up the fences. Warren carried their lunches of a few basic sandwiches slapped together, but they’d need to make something better than that for guests. He hesitated, wondering how engaged his father expected him to be with Mountainbrook after the changeover.
Once the ranch was renovated, he’d no longer need to stay. The thought evoked a sense of regret. Of course he’d miss the place, especially Honor. But there was no time to think of that now, to delve in misgivings and introspection. He’d lost himself in them for too long.
“Photo opportunity over. Let’s get moving,” he prompted.
He led them across the small creek that followed the eastern border. Water splashed up beneath Honor’s hooves, sparse droplets clinging to Jared’s boots. He heard Rachel gasp as she led Caramel through.
Warren urged Savannah to a stop. “Hey, I see a break over there.”
He dismounted and headed for the fence, pointing out that the lower wire had snapped free from the post under pressure. The wire above it had slightly bent, obviously from when Rachel had climbed over it.
“Looks like someone’s climbed over the fence and damaged it.”
Jared glanced at Rachel and her lips parted in shock. She had nothing to worry about as the cattle were gated off in another area. He would’ve seen this long before releasing them and fixed it before trouble arose.
He had been so preoccupied he didn’t think to get repairs sorted before she started work. Although, who knows how many private properties she’d breached to claim photos? He didn’t want to think badly of her, but it was hard not to considering how she’d come into his life.
Some part of him had wanted her to see the consequences of her actions up front, and hopefully she would learn from this. As he had learned from his mistakes.
“It’s fine,” he assured Warren, as well as her. “The cattle have been gated off, wouldn’t come out this way until next week.”
The rancher nodded in relief. “Good timing then. We’ll see to this quickly. This fence line’s always getting damaged.”
Rachel kept shifting her gaze from the fence to Warren. Despite what they’d said, she still seemed nervous.
Jared dismounted and pulled the saddle of materials free, throwing them over to Warren. “Won’t take too long. Restring that part of the fence and tighten, and it’s done.”
“Yep.” Warren knelt down and clipped off the damaged wire. “This is partly why we check over the perimeter thoroughly. We catch things like this, and we don’t let the cattle or horses roam as far as we used to.”
“Too much work for us these days,” Jared added. “Now that we’re downsizing on staff and workloads.”
Warren ran his hand across his nose. “Your dad’s looking at selling off parts of the land.”
“Yep. Maybe a few acres to the McKenzies to expand their apple orchard, and to the Graces to build their home. It’ll be done privately by negotiation, but I’ll leave that up to him.”
Rachel coaxed her horse closer to the fence line. “Do you get many trespassers here?”
He knew she was asking that to get an answer from Warren. He stayed quiet.
“Just a few over the years,” Warren said. “People who are drunk or high. Nothing that isn’t dealt with quickly by Derek.”
Rachel nodded. Now her blue eyes shone with a different gleam. “I’m sure whoever did this won’t do it again.”
“Best not to think about people like that,” Warren remarked. “They make their own choices, for whatever reason. It just gives us extra work to do.”
Rachel flinched. “I’m…sorry to hear that. Really.”
He waved it off. “No need to apologize.”
“You’ll be done in no time, right Warren?” Jared had to ask. It was out of compulsion for her benefit, not his, but he didn’t like the slackened look on her face. Guilt.
“Yeah, another ten minutes away.”
Rachel swallowed. He realized his attention had been on her most of the time. She was his employee, he had to reprimand himself, but she was also an enthralling and gorgeous woman with a fondness for horses despite her reluctance to ride. It was a fine line he’d treaded once before.
Could he do so again? Allow himself to get personally attached to a woman?
Rachel looked at him from beneath her wide brimmed hat, her expression unreadable. He was losing his sense of professionalism – not that it had been secure beforehand. No one else exuded sensuality combined with a likable personality like Rachel.
Lord, I trust that you’ve brought her to me for a reason.
“All done here,” Warren said, getting to his feet.
“Good job. We better keep moving,” Jared decided. He could see Rachel was looking uncomfortable to be face to face with what she’d done and he didn’t want to be rubbing it in.
They went through the motions, replacing the salt licks for the cattle, trailing them into the next gated a
rea. They stopped for lunch on a flat bit of land, and it was a quiet affair interspersed with brief conversations about the ranch. Minor distractions to bide the time until he could be alone with Rachel.
Who, at the moment, had been laughing while taking photos of Warren.
She took another photo of him, his Stetson low over his brow, concealing his dark hair as he posed in mock seriousness. “You have a photogenic smile.”
Warren grinned. “I’d hope so, helps with modeling.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re really a model?”
“Yep. The boss caught me in town all dressed up after a shoot and assumed I was a genuine cowboy. He told me they had positions open at the ranch and I agreed just for some fun, but soon as I showed up, it was obvious I was a mess when it came to ranching.”
She laughed and it sounded lighthearted. She fitted right in amongst the ranchers as if she’d been around longer than a few days. It was an assurance that he’d made the right decision to have her here.
Jared had to cut in, “He sure learned quick though. Fell off a few times, but no harm done. Dad didn’t like being made a fool of by hiring a model, though.”
Warren shook his head. “I won you all over eventually.”
“How long have you been working here?” Rachel asked, her gaze lingering on Warren.
“Since last year. Don’t know how the schedule will be once the ranch is all done up,” Warren responded.
Jared looked away. He’d said modifications needed to be done and not all of them could keep their jobs. It depended on Mountainbrook’s popularity and if it was financially sustainable for his father. Job cuts would be a last resort, and he’d do everything he could to keep things relatively stable, even invest his own money if need be.
“We’ll work it out,” he promised. He looked pointedly at Rachel, too.
It took three hours to cover the remainder of the designated land and once back at the stables, he dismounted, looking for Rachel. She’d been mingling with the others for photos but he still couldn’t get her alone, even once all the horses were enclosed and Randall had left.
