I'm On a Ranch?

by Misty Malone

  I’m on a Ranch?

  By

  Misty Malone

  ©2015 by Blushing Books® and Misty Malone

  All rights reserved.

  No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published by Blushing Books®,

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  Malone, Misty

  I’m on a Ranch?

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-62750-942-8

  Cover Art by ABCD Graphics & Design

  This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the author's advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.

  Table of Contents:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  About the Author

  Ebook Offer

  Blushing Books Newsletter

  Blushing Books

  Chapter 1

  Bryce Montgomery was exhausted. He'd been busy all day baling hay, and when they finally finished the west field he and his ranch hands went back to the barn to call it a day. The bunkhouse cook would have supper waiting for his hands. He, however, mounted his big gelding, Thunder, and headed out to check on the herd of cattle grazing in the far south pasture. His foreman, Landon, mounted his own horse and went to check on the herd in the southeast pasture.

  They’d been struggling with predation lately. The government’s program to protect wolves and grizzlies was controversial in these parts. While wolves were known to feast mostly on mice and rabbits, and take out the sick or dying herbivores, they would occasionally turn to beef. He couldn’t shoot them, and guard dogs were not the answer, either. His only defense was to scare them off until the young calves were larger.

  He kept his rifle handy, just in case, as he checked the herd. Everything looked good. There were small calves next to their mothers, and the herd seemed relaxed. He rode the area, scanning for any signs of danger. Luckily, he didn't see any bear or lion prints, and no signs of a recent kill. Satisfied, he headed back toward the house, ready to eat supper and take a shower. He was more than ready to quit for the day.

  He reached into his pocket for his phone to call Landon, when it rang. “Hey, boss, I think you need to get over here right away.”

  Landon was not one to get riled easily, and the concern in his voice put Bryce on instant alert. He turned Thunder around as he asked, “Why, what's wrong? Another dead cow?”

  “No, the cattle all seem to be fine. But there's a woman in a tree over here.”

  “There's a what?”

  “There was a wolf looking up into a tree, and he wasn't acting right, so I thought I'd check it out. I figured it was some kind of animal that had taken refuge in the tree, but I couldn't figure out what kind would have the wolf so interested. When I got to the tree, it's not an animal, but a woman. She's up there, kind of curled around the trunk, lying on a couple big branches. I called out, but she hasn't moved. I'm afraid to be too loud and wake her and scare her. I don't want her falling out of the tree.”

  “Is she hurt?”

  “I don't know,” Landon explained. “I don't see blood, but she hasn't moved. She's breathing, but I don't know if she's just sleeping, or unconscious.”

  “I'm on my way. I will call for a rescue squad and the sheriff, just in case. Where are you?”

  “I'm at the far end of the southeast pasture, right along the creek.”

  “I'm on my way. Watch her and if she wakes up, make sure she doesn't fall out of the tree.”

  “Got it.”

  Bryce pushed Thunder into a gallop as he called 911 and got a rescue squad and deputy both on their way, and then called the bunkhouse. He quickly talked to Garrett, one of his hands who'd been with him several years, and told him what was going on and where to direct the deputy and squad.

  He found Landon and assessed the situation. There was a young lady in his tree, just as Landon had described. He approached the lady carefully. “Ma'am, are you okay?” When he didn't get a response, he reached up and put his hand on her arm. Still no response. He moved to her head and touched his fingers to her neck, checking her pulse.

  He turned to look at Landon. “It's weak, but steady. I'd say she's unconscious.” He got back on Thunder and approached her, taller now that he was on his horse. He could see more of her and did a cursory examination of her. He slid back down off of Thunder. “I don't see visible signs of injury, so let's try to get her down out of there so we can check her better. Be careful because once we move her she may come to, and we don't want to scare her and have her fight us.”

  Landon nodded. “You're the guy with the EMT training. You just tell me what to do and I'll do it.”

  Bryce smiled a little. “I'm glad I took that training, but I never thought I'd be using it to help a lady we found in a tree.” He looked the situation over again before telling Landon what he wanted to do and how he could help.

  Five minutes later they had the lady on the ground, and she was coming around. Bryce knelt beside her, holding one of her hands in his, talking to her softly. “Miss, can you hear me? You're okay. You'll be all right.”

  The young lady moved, like she was trying to sit up. Bryce held her in place. “Don't try to move yet, Miss. Are you okay? Do you feel pain anywhere?”

  Her eyes fluttered a couple times before slowly opening. Bryce could see her trying to focus, and he saw the confused look on her face. “It's okay,” he assured her. “Do you feel pain anywhere?”

  She slowly shook her head, still looking confused. She tried to talk, but no words came out.

  “Wait a second,” Bryce advised. “Your throat's probably too dry to talk. Let me get you a drink.” He stayed with her, trying to soothe her as Landon got a bottle of water from his saddlebag. Bryce took the lid off the water. “We're going to help you sit up so you can drink a little of this.”

  He and Landon lifted her shoulders enough that she could take a couple sips. Bryce pulled the bottle back, with a caution. “Go easy on that at first. Just take a few small sips to start with. Give your body time, then you can have a bit more.” He helped her do just that, keeping the bottle in his hand. After several series of small sips of water he and Landon eased her back down. “Did that help?”

  She nodded and whispered a few words. “Thank you.”

  “You're welcome. Are you okay?”

  Bryce watched as the look on her face changed from confused, to concern, then neared panic. He rubbed her arm again. “It's okay, Miss. You're safe here. Can you tell me how you got in the tree?”

  She looked at him with a look of shock. “I was in a tree?”

  Bryce tried to hide his surprise. “Yes, ma'am, you were in this tree right here when we found you. Do you remember how you got there?”

  The look of panic had returned, and she shook her head. “No.”

  “That's okay,” Bryce assured her, “it's not important right now. Do you have any pain anywhere?” She shook her head
. “Can you move your arms?” She moved both her arms as if questioning it herself.

  “Good. How about your legs, can you move them for me?” She did as requested and was rewarded with a smile from Bryce. “Very good.”

  Before he could ask anything else, she spoke. “Who are you, and where am I?”

  “I'm sorry,” Bryce said with a smile for her. “I'm Bryce Montgomery, and you're on my ranch.”

  Her eyes opened wide. “I'm on a ranch?”

  “Yes, ma'am,” Bryce confirmed.

  “Where at?”

  Bryce was more than a little concerned by that question, but he didn't let it show. He simply smiled at the pretty young lady and answered. “You're on my ranch in Wyoming.” He chuckled a little as he continued, “I told you who I am. Can you tell me who you are, so I don't have to keep calling you Miss?”

  She got a blank look on her face, but was quiet. When her face paled a bit, Bryce became concerned. “Miss, are you all right?”

  “I don't know,” she whispered.

  “You don't know if you're all right? Do you have some pain?”

  “No, I mean I don't know who I am.” She had tears in her eyes as she finished the words.

  He rubbed her hand with his thumb. “That's okay,” he tried to assure her. “That sometimes happens after some kind of trauma or scare. Just relax. It'll come back to you.”

  “Boss, here comes the rescue squad,” Landon said.

  “Go meet them where the lane ends,” Bryce instructed. “Tell them there's no road or lane on over here and have them wait there for the time being. I'll call you in a minute and we'll see what they want to do.”

  Landon took off on his horse, and Bryce turned back to the mystery lady lying in front of him. “Miss, if I help you, can you sit up?”

  “I think so,” she said.

  He helped her, and she was soon sitting beside him. He let her rest several moments before speaking again. “Are you ready to stand?”

  “I think so.”

  “Let me help you try. Be careful, you may be weak.” He lifted her to her feet, but he could tell she was weak. He scooped her into his arms as if she weighed nothing.

  “Oh, my,” she gasped.

  “You're weak, I don't want you to fall and get hurt,” he said. “Put your arms around my neck. I'm going to carry you to the rescue squad.”

  She looked upset. “You don't have to do that.”

  “It’s okay,” he assured her. “You're such a tiny little thing, it's no problem carrying you. We don't know how long you've been in that tree, or how long since you've eaten anything or had any water. You need to go to the hospital so they can check you out. You’re probably dehydrated. Once you get some fluids in you, you'll start feeling better, I'm sure, and your strength will return.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, but she looked troubled. “Will I see you again, Bryce?”

  “That kind of depends on you,” he said with a grin. “I'd like to come check on you later this evening or tomorrow to be sure you're okay. If you'd rather I didn't, though, I'll understand. I know you don't know me, but I'd like to change that, too. I'd like to think we could be friends.”

  “I'd like that, too,” she whispered.

  “Good. I like to get to know all the women I find in trees on my ranch,” he said with another smile. He knew she was upset, and he knew she had reason to be, but he hoped the light conversation would help keep her calm.

  “I wish I knew who I am, or how I got here,” she whispered.

  “Don't worry about it yet,” he suggested. “Give it time.”

  Landon came riding over to them, which didn't surprise Bryce. “Hey, boss, I saw you bringing her over and figured that was why you didn't answer your phone.”

  “Yeah, I heard it ring, but my hands were busy,” Bryce said. “Tell them to keep the gurney there, I'm fine with her.”

  “Got it,” Landon said as he hurried back to the squad.

  A few minutes later Bryce placed her on the gurney and spoke with one of the EMT technicians. “Hi, Tom. I take it Landon filled you in on where she was?”

  “He said he found her in the tree,” the technician answered. “Any apparent injuries?”

  “None that I could find. I did a quick check before getting her out of the tree and another, better one before helping her sit up. I didn't find any obvious injuries, and she denies any pain. She was unconscious, though, and has temporarily lost her memory, including her name. She's dehydrated. I gave her a few sips of water, but kept it minimal until she's checked. Her pulse was weak but steady, but is improving.”

  “Okay, Bryce, we'll take it from here. It's nice having a fellow EMT do part of our work for us,” Tom said with professional respect. Bryce had worked with them for several months while he was taking his EMT training, and Tom knew he was a good EMT. They told him if he ever got tired of ranching he had a job with them, but Tom knew his heart was in his ranch. That's why he'd taken the training in the first place. He wanted to know what to do in case of an emergency, especially since the ranch was a fair bit from the hospital.

  “Take good care of her,” Bryce warned. “I'll be in to see how she's doing after I get some supper. She better not tell me you didn't treat her right.” They smiled at the good-natured ribbing.

  Tom and his partner, Dustin, had been fastening her onto the gurney and were ready to load her into the rescue squad when she stopped them. “Wait a second.” She turned to Bryce. “Thank you, both of you, for all your help.”

  Bryce took his hat off and smiled. “You're quite welcome, ma'am. It's what I do for all the pretty young ladies we find on my ranch.” He walked beside her as they went to the rescue squad. “I'll be in later tonight or tomorrow morning to make sure you're okay. A sheriff's deputy will be by, too, to ask you some questions. You take care and do what these men say. They're friends of mine and will take good care of you.” He saw a small smile on her face just before Dustin closed the back door of the rescue squad.

  Bryce and Landon discussed their mystery guest as they rode back to the barn. When they got there a sheriff's deputy had just arrived and was waiting for them. “Good evening. I'm Deputy Connor Armstrong. Did I misunderstand something? I thought dispatch said you found a woman in a tree out here?”

  “No, you heard right, Deputy,” Bryce said as he held his hand out to the deputy. “I'm Bryce Montgomery. This is my foreman, Landon Snyder. We were just on our way in to get some supper. Have you eaten?”

  “Yes, I have, but you two go ahead, if you don't mind talking while you eat.”

  “I'd appreciate that, Deputy. It's been a long day. Come on in and we'll get you some coffee or iced tea.”

  They went to Bryce's house, where his cook and housekeeper, Lena, had supper ready. The three men were soon discussing Landon's discovery. “They took her to the ER,” Bryce said, “so you can talk to her there. But I've got to warn you, she must have amnesia. She doesn't know who she is or how she got either to my ranch, or more specifically to that tree. She's pretty upset about that, so go easy with her. It's got to be scary enough for her.”

  “I understand, and I agree,” the deputy said.

  “Do you have any idea who she could be or how she got to my ranch?”

  “Not yet,” Deputy Armstrong answered, “but until we have something to go on, I suggest you have your men keep this quiet.”

  Bryce was puzzled. “What has you concerned, Deputy?”

  “We don't know anything about her, Bryce. She could be in trouble, running from someone. If that's the case, we don't want people knowing where she is. On the other hand, she could be running from something she's done.”

  “No, I don't think so,” Bryce argued.

  “Probably not,” Deputy Armstrong agreed, “but until we find out what the story is, we don't know. Either way, it'll be safer for her and everyone else if we keep this to ourselves.”

  “I see your point,” Bryce conceded. “I'll talk to the men.”
<
br />   Bryce and Landon finished supper and saw the deputy to his car before they both went to the bunkhouse. “By now I'm sure you've all heard the news,” Bryce started. “Does anyone have any idea how this young lady could have ended up in a tree on the ranch?”

  When he got no response other than a couple snickers and the clown of the bunch suggesting perhaps she was manna from heaven, Bryce tried again. “Has anyone seen an abandoned car, or a loose horse? Anyone have any ideas how she may have gotten here?” When he still got no response he tried one last question. “Has anyone been in the area of the big southeast pasture in the last few days?”

  “I was in the pasture the day before yesterday, boss,” Garrett offered, “but not down by the creek. I was in the upper portion of the pasture. The cattle were all up in that area, and I just went to check on them. When I saw they were all doing well, not agitated, I came back to the barn.”

  “Okay. Deputy Armstrong wants us to keep this under wraps for a few days. She's having a problem with her memory and doesn't know who she is. Because of the circumstances, until we know who she is or where she's from, we're not to let anyone know we found a lady here, okay? She may be in some kind of trouble and we don't want anyone looking for her to know where she is. So until I tell you otherwise, don't mention a thing to anyone. Be especially careful Saturday night when you go into town. Don't be drinking and talking. Everyone understand?”

  “We got it, boss,” Austin, one of the hands, assured him. “I have one question. Is she pretty?”

  Laughter broke out throughout, but Bryce felt protective of her. “That's irrelevant, Austin,” he said in a serious manner. “Once we know she's not in any danger, you'll be free to talk about it with your friends, but until then, no one mentions a thing.” He turned to leave and paused. He turned back toward Austin, who might be the clown of the bunch, but was also a very caring man. He hadn't meant to sound harsh. “But to answer your question, yes, she's very pretty.” He grinned and added, “Not that I really noticed.”