by Stephy Smith
Why Me, Cowboy?
By Stephy Smith
Published by Astraea Press
www.astraeapress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.
WHY ME, COWBOY?
Copyright © 2014 STEPHY SMITH
ISBN 978-1-62135-382-9
Cover Art Designed by AM DESIGNS STUDIO
Chapter One
“Mom, you know Mississippi will always be my home. It’s time for me to strike out on my own. Make a life for myself.” Tansy Adams hugged her mother, Eva. She wiped the tears from Eva’s face.
“I just don’t like you going all the way to Texas. That’s a long way off.” Eva’s voice cracked as she tried to talk.
“I know. I can always call and besides, it’s a great opportunity for me.” Tansy’s heart picked up a beat.
“You better get going. Jema is a bit antsy.” Eva pointed to the horse trailer hooked to the back of Tansy’s pickup. The five-year-old mare thumped her hoof on the wooden floor as if to back up Eva’s words.
Tansy slid in the driver side and pulled down the drive of the old plantation house she had lived in all her life.
After two days of travel the subtropical climate transitioned to the arid, dust-blown great plains of the northwest Texas Panhandle. Each state Tansy passed through seemed just as beautiful in its own way. She soaked it all in. Tansy and Jema rolled into the small town.
“Millstone, Texas. Population 12,356. We made it, Jema.” Tansy said out loud, even though she knew the horse couldn’t hear her. Her heart picked up a beat. Light, butterfly-type movements fluttered in her stomach.
Tansy drove straight for the Grow ‘em feed yard to meet with Benny Whipple and the cowboy boss. They met her in the parking lot.
She stretched as her feet touched the ground. An older man rushed toward her.
“Benny Whipple. You must be Tansy Adams.” The old man thrust his hand out to her. She smiled and took his pudgy hand in hers. “Get your horse and we’ll get her settled in while we talk.” Benny stood beside the trailer and waited for Tansy to unload Jema. The cowboy boss leaned casually against a nearby pipe fence with his feet crossed at the ankles.
Benny owned the feed yard. His blue eyes were clear and sparkled with a hint of amusement. Although his hair was gray, the fifty-eight year old man seemed to be in better shape than most forty year olds Tansy knew. And he was better looking than they were to boot. He had a pleasant, calm air about him that made Tansy relax.
Jema backed out of the trailer. Tansy caught the lead rope. She retrieved her tack and tossed the saddle blanket and saddle on the mare's back. Jema didn’t even flinch. Tansy folded the bridle across her elbow and followed Benny through the gate he rushed ahead to open. Jema’s ears perked up and she gazed toward a feed bunk.
“There’s your shed to keep your tack and feed in. We expect you to clean your own shed and stall. As calm as your horse is, I get the feeling you’ve put in a lot of hours horseback. It’s your responsibility to keep your tack in good working order. Here’s a lock and key for the door. We like to think no one will tamper with your equipment, but the cowboys are always up for a good, old-fashioned rodeo. They don’t mean any harm even if they instigate it themselves.”
“I know cowboys are just overgrown kids at heart. As soon as Jema, my mare, rest up from the trip, I plan on getting her accustomed to her new surroundings. If that’s ok.” Tansy unloaded her saddle and blanket from the horse's back and carried them into the shed.
Benny thumbed over his shoulder. “This here’s Gulch. He’s the cattle manager and he’s in charge of all the pen riders. If you have gripes about the cowboys, I want to hear about it. If you got questions about the job, go to him.”
Tansy turned to face Gulch. Her breath caught in her lungs. The palms of her hands became sweaty. Every attempt to talk failed as she gazed into the brightest, dreamiest, gray eyes of Gulch. The light of the sun caught in his dark brown, collar length hair, emitting shimmers of gold and red.
Tansy tried to pull her eyes from him. The dimples on his cheeks deepened. A row of white teeth glistened through his parted lips. His arm extended out to her. Tansy slid her hand down her pants leg to dry it and then clasped his hand with hers.
A tingle ran up her arm. A deep, burning desire settled in her core. His large, muscular frame towered over her. Her feet grew heavy as she tried to move away from the attraction pulling her closer to him. She stopped herself from leaning into him. The beat of her heart pounded in her ears.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Adams. Hope you got a tough skin. These guys don’t always act the gentlemen.” The slow, deep tone of his southern drawl caused her knees to weaken.
“A . . . a . . . Tansy. Call me Tansy.” Her tongue seemed to stick to the roof of her mouth.
“Will do, Tansy. Like Benny said, you report to me. I don’t know what all information you received pertaining to the job you are expected to do, so I’ll give you the run down. Safety is first, always first. As I explain these things to you, I will get more into the details.”
A brisk breeze whipped dirt and debris around them. “Does the wind always blow like this?” It was the only thing she could think of to say.
“Yep. We have some pretty bad blizzards in the winter. Part of your job will be to monitor and move the livestock within the feed yard. Watch for distressed and sick animals. That involves taking the sick to the nearest hospital when you are riding your assigned pens. You will have a radio to call for the removal of the dead ones.” Gulch glanced around the feed yard.
“Do you have any questions for me?” Gulch dropped her hand. She was positive he felt the same, odd attraction she did. He only recovered from the shock of the heat of the moment faster than she did.
“What about shipping and receiving the cattle? Do you have a crew that does that or are we called in to assist?” Tansy leaned her elbow on the fence.
“No extra crew. So in answer to your question, yes, we rotate to ship and receive cattle. You will weigh, count, and pen them. To ship, you will gather them and separate strays or withdrawals. That means if a calf hobbles up to the loading shoot or if it is sick or underweight compared to the rest, separate them out and later take them to the sick pens. Be sure to leave a note for the vets. They don’t like to have extras they don’t know what to do with.”
“Great. I’m flexible. Whatever hours you need me to work, I’ll be there.”
“Good. You’ll have minimal supervision. The environment changes in the blink of an eye. You seem to have the ability to deal with multiple events. I think you will do fine.
“Just remember to use caution when moving the cattle from the hospitals. Make sure they get back to their designated pens. Same goes with the stray cattle. Watch for vehicles when you’re changing locations. Even though pen riders have the right away, doesn’t always mean vehicles will yield to you and your horse. If you find anything unsafe report it immediately to me or the maintenance department,” Gulch said.
“Sounds good to me.” Tansy couldn’t wait to get away.
“Anything else?”
“Not today.” He broke their gaze and she turned back to Benny.
“Welcome to the team. I’m sure the crew will be on their best behavior for the first thirty seconds. After that, I can’t say
what they’ll be up to. You still have a week before you start. I hope you don’t change your mind before then.” Benny shifted his gaze between Gulch and Tansy.
“I came too far to change my mind.”
“I hope you like the house I found for you. It’s a small, two-bedroom house. When you get back to town, take the first right. That’ll be Dalton Road. Go down three blocks to Ma Barker Avenue and it sits right on the corner. Ignore that outlaw sign; it’s the best neighborhood in town. There’s never any trouble around there. You can stay there as long as you need to.” Benny pulled a key from his pocket and handed it to her.
“If you need help moving in, I’ll be more than willing to help you. I’m pretty good at lifting heavy furniture and carrying boxes.” There was that breath-stealing tone of Gulch again.
Tansy refused to look at him. It wouldn’t take much for her to throw herself into his arms and homestead her cheek against his massive chest. “No thanks, Mr. Gulch. I can handle it.” Her mind handled the rejection better than her heart did.
“Gulch, plain old Gulch.” Every time he said a word, Tansy grew weak as if she would melt like ice cream on a hot summer day.
Benny led the way back to the parking lot. Tansy hurried over to her pickup. “You have plenty of time to settle in before you have to come to work out here. You’re more than welcome to ride, Jema, is it? At any rate, it will familiarize you and that mare of yours with the feed yard.” His gazed shifted from her to Gulch.
Tansy didn’t miss the gleam in Benny’s eyes. Something was cooking inside the old man’s head and she wished he would just say what was on his mind. She opened the door to her pickup while Gulch unhooked her trailer.
She swiped a strand of hair that had stuck to her forehead as the heat escaped from the cab. Tansy slid in behind the steering wheel and turned the key. The trip to Millstone was short and sweet. She didn’t have any problems finding the house in the small town of twelve thousand.
The quaint, little cottage was perfect. The yard was small with a short, white picket fence and the driveway was close to the front door. Just like a fairy tale.
Tansy backed in. Excitement renewed itself as the reality of a new start settled in. She wondered what her family would think of her first home away from them in another state. The lock clicked as she twisted the key. She pushed the door open and stepped across the threshold.
Her breath caught. She loved it. The house was small and simple. It wasn’t like the plantation house she grew up in. None of that mattered to her anyway. This was hers. Tansy propped the screen door open and began to carry in the boxes, a chair, bed frame, and mattresses from the back of her pickup.
Walking through the house before she unpacked, Tansy pictured in her mind where everything she owned would find its new home.
The stacks of boxes disrupted the wooden living room floor. Her fisted hands rested on her hips. It was distressing to think that twenty-four years could be packed in fourteen boxes. She let out a sigh and walked over to the first with the label 'pictures in frames and trophies'.
After about an hour, Tansy stood back and surveyed her handiwork. Her high school rodeo trophies lined up on the fireplace mantel. The framed pictures of family and friends hung as a personalized backdrop behind them. The house transformed into a home right before her eyes. Her home. All she needed to complete the project was food.
Tansy scribbled her list and headed out to find the grocery store. The doors slid open and cool air rushed to greet customers. Standing inside the doors was Gulch and two women.
Her heart sank. He stood there with his hands in his pocket, flirting! How could he? Especially after such a powerful attraction had passed between them. It was none of her business and she had no right to feel one bit of jealousy. So why did she?
His eyes widened when he looked her way. “Tansy! You should come meet these ladies.”
She casually grabbed the handle of a cart and pulled it from the long line of carts. She pushed it over to the trio. The women smiled as she approached. Gulch moved to Tansy’s side and rested his hand on the small of her back. She stiffened as the tingle of his touch raced through her body.
“Ladies, this is Tansy Adams. She drove all the way from Mississippi to join our crew at the Grow ‘em. Tansy, this is Josie Gibbs, our number one feed truck driver, and Andrea Block, our only truck weigher and record keeper. They’re better known as Jo and Andi.”
Tansy offered her hand to the women.
“It’s nice to meet you. Hopefully Gulch won’t run you off like he has some of the others.” The woman with grayish brown hair and chocolate brown eyes, whom Gulch had introduced as Jo, shook her hand.
Andi pushed her long brown hair behind her shoulders and turned green eyes on Tansy. “If he gives you any trouble, or should I say when he gives you trouble, remember we got your back.”
“Am I really as bad as y’all let on?” Gulch shifted his weight from one foot to the other. His gaze moved downward to the floor.
Jo and Andi exchanged a look and then answered in unison. “Worse.”
Gulch reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a cell phone. He glanced at it. “Gotta go gals, Benny wants to meet with me. Try not to bash me so much she’ll take off before she makes one day of work.”
The three women gazed after his retreating form. Tansy leaned toward Jo and Andi. “Is he that bad?”
“In public he’s a knight in shining armor−” Jo started.
“At work he’s a venomous, slimy snake waiting to sink his fangs into anything within striking distance and−” Andi glanced at Jo.
“If he can’t find a legitimate reason−” Jo left off again.
“He’ll make one up,” Andi said as she nodded. Tansy waited to see if the women were going to start up again.
“Y’all are encouraging. Should I load up my horse and head back to Mississippi?” Tansy shifted her gaze between the two women.
“No, oh no, please don’t. We got your back.” Jo laid her small hand on Tansy’s arm.
“He’s ruthless, cruel even, but we have to stick together to tame the wonder boy.” Andi smiled.
“From what y’all have said, he doesn’t sound much like a wonder boy.” Tansy pulled in a deep breath.
“He leaves us wondering what the true Gulch is like and−” Tansy cringed as Jo started another round of finish-this-for-me.
“Wondering why no one has shot him.” Andi’s head jerked toward Jo.
“Wondering why Benny keeps him around−”
“I get it. I get it.” Tansy jumped in. They all giggled.
“We better get going. It’s nice to meet you and don’t worry, everything will be ok. We really do have your back,” Jo said over her shoulder.
The list in Tansy’s hand shook. What had she done? There was no turning back and no running home to mom even if she wanted to. She had dedicated too much time and expense to making this career move work. The last of her savings wouldn’t hold out forever.
A wheel on her cart went through intermittent bouts of rolling and catching. Tansy hurried through the store tossing the items she needed in the basket. Her mind played the conversation with Jo and Andi repeatedly.
Tansy paid the cashier and headed out the doors. She turned around to look for the sacker and her basket of groceries. The boy had stopped to let an elderly lady pass between the electronic doors before he continued after her. A massive force hit her from behind. A warm breath fluttered down her neck. The sweet familiar aroma of men’s cologne swarmed her face. Either Gulch had come back or another male had ran into her. The body was too pliable to be a vehicle.
As she whirled around, she caught a glimpse of the face of Gulch. In an instant, his lips pressed upon hers. His tongue darted across her lips and through her parted teeth.
She tried to raise her hands to push him away, but was momentarily paralyzed by the heat swelling, drifting, down . . . down . . . down to her core. A sweet rush of desire shivered her delighted soul. It was
the most pleasant, natural kiss she ever had the pleasure to experience. All from a stranger.
A stranger! She found her ability to push him away. Tansy stepped back. Her breath labored. Her gaze darted around the parking lot to see how many eyes were watching. What kind of woman drives into a town and plays a game of lip lock with a stranger in the grocery store parking lot?
Heat rushed up her neck and quickly overcame her cheeks as she scrambled to pull her wits about her. His voice barely penetrated the impassioned confusion running rampant in her brain.
“Welcome to Texas, Tansy.” Gulch whirled around and sauntered into the grocery store.
“Thanks, I think.” Tansy leaned against the back of her pickup. “Why me, Cowboy? Why me?”
Chapter Two
Gulch tapped on Benny’s doorframe. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yes. Come on in and have a seat.” Benny barely glanced up from a folder he held in his hand.
Gulch removed his cowboy hat from his head and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Benny continued to scan the papers. “This young lady has an impressive resume. She also has a world-qualified cutting horse. We need to keep her.”
“You know the circumstances . . . it’s dangerous to bring another woman into the feed yard. We don’t know anything about her other than what you have on that paper in your hand.” Gulch slumped in the chair and crossed an ankle over his other knee.
“We can’t turn her away this late in the game, Gulch. She is due to arrive any time now and I expect you to be courteous to her. Go easy on her. I understand your concerns. I’m not fond of bringing in a woman or a man in under these conditions.” Benny pushed away from the desk.
Gulch let his foot fall hard to the floor when he uncrossed his legs. “I don’t like it. This is going to make things harder on me. I don’t doubt she can do her job. Maybe you can find an office job for her. Just for a while and then I promise I’ll let her do her ride pens and such to earn her keep.”
