Fighting back tears, Sierra called after him, “Who said anything about leaving the ranch? I don’t intend to leave you in the lurch. I’m arranging something…”
Chad kept on walking, never even looked back, never acknowledged the fact she intended to help him anyway she could.
Sierra lost the battle and tears rained down her cheeks. All the times they’d been together, he’d never once said he loved her. Why was he so surprised and angry? She’d never made a secret of the fact she was job hunting and would eventually move back into the city. What the heck had just happened?
Chapter 14
Chad slammed his bedroom door and kicked the boot jack for good measure, which accomplished nothing except to sting his toe. Damn it! Sierra frustrated the hell out of him. Every time he met up with her, he couldn’t decide whether to kiss her or throttle her. Why had she taken another job?
“Because you told her to look for one, you jackass,” he muttered aloud.
He stomped over to the bed, picked up the boot jack, and returned the thing to its place inside the door before removing his boots.
Executive Chef at The Emerald Hotel. That’s quite the title, Sierra. He hated to admit it, but he was impressed. And totally pissed off. Hell, it hadn’t taken her any time at all to find another job. Damn it anyway. He should have just kept looking for another cook. She’d only agreed to work for him until she found another position as executive chef. Which she’d done.
Idiot.
He had no one but himself to blame for this predicament, but the timing sucked. He was alligators-up-to-his-ass busy with responsibilities right now. He still had a ranch to oversee, and add to that Stampede chuckwagon races tomorrow and Sunday. And then back on the pro circuit again. He dragged his hands through his hair. Admit it, buddy. The reason you’re pissed has absolutely nothing to do with the Stampede or the ranch or anything to do with a darn horse.
“You’ve fallen in love with her,” he admitted aloud. The thought of her walking out that front door, walking out of his life forever, frightened the hell out of him. He’d even been seriously considering a trip to a jewelry store in the near future.
Why had he thought she’d be content cooking for a bunch of cowboys on a ranch? Sierra was an executive chef and she loved being in charge of a high-end kitchen. She was a professional. He should understand that. As a pro chuckwagon driver, would he be content pulling a hay wagon full of tourists around a dude ranch? No way in hell! He needed the excitement, the adrenaline rush of the pro circuit. He couldn’t hold Sierra back from savoring her success any more than someone could keep him off the track.
Chad sat on his bed, flopped onto his back and stared up at the ceiling.
That move proved a mistake, reminding him of the time he’d spent on his back in Sierra’s bed last Sunday morning when most of the people on the ranch were either at church or gone to the Stampede. She’d ridden him like he was a stallion, sung a chorus of that song about saving a horse. He smiled, recalling her shouting ‘ride ’em cowboy’ just before she climaxed.
Man, he loved her!
He’d hoped she felt the same way about him, but it appeared she’d willingly toss away everything they could have together in the future for her career.
What the hell was he going to do now?
* * *
Sierra stood in her room in the dark. How could she have believed she was in love with him?
The more she thought about his reaction to her news, the angrier she got. She’d assumed Chad would be happy for her. She’d assumed he’d be willing to work something out regarding her job at the ranch. Just proves the maxim about ‘assume’.
She felt like a total ass.
Why she’d believed him when he encouraged her to look for a more suitable position, she couldn’t imagine. Sierra flipped on the light switch.
“Because you believed him to be a good man,” she reminded herself, aloud. She’d thought Chad cared for her. She’d hoped he was falling in love with her, like she was falling in love with him. She’d thought he was someone to build a future with. Even his mother had come around and encouraged her to pursue a relationship with her son. That notion seemed laughable now. She’d obviously been worrying about the wrong Parker’s opinion of her.
Chad had appeared more upset about losing her as a cook than as someone to share his life with.
Idiot.
She had no one to blame but herself.
She should never have agreed to move to the ranch and work for him.
Chad had disappointed her terribly. She’d foolishly thought she meant more to him. Maybe she was just another woman taken in by a boss dallying with the staff. She grimaced, recalling the similar treatment she’d tolerated from Romeo. What was wrong with her? Maybe she was just useless when it came to judging a man’s character.
How could she have been so wrong about Chad?
Water under the bridge, she recalled her grandma saying. She’d accepted the job, and no matter how much he frustrated and disappointed her, she wouldn’t leave Chad high and dry. She’d even worked out a solution. But had he bothered to listen to her? No!
Sierra peeled off her clothes and tossed them onto the chaise. She slipped a sleeveless cotton nightgown over her head on her way into the en suite. Staring at her reflection in the mirror while brushing her teeth, a smile creased her face.
“Whether he likes it or not, my solution will work,” she whispered aloud.
* * *
Sierra shared her news with Chad’s mother the next morning. When the woman’s mouth dropped open, Sierra ran the solution she’d come up with past Bonnie. Chad’s mom congratulated her on the new job and expressed appreciation of her idea to resolve the issue of leaving the ranch without a cook.
“I think it will work for all of us,” insisted Sierra.
“I agree,” added Bonnie.
“Let me call Jeremy and Jenny, and I’ll get back to you.” Sierra whipped her cell phone out of her pocket and called Diane’s younger twin sister and brother, students from a British Columbia culinary school, home for the summer.
“My plans are a go. Are you guys still in?”
Her question was answered with Jenny’s riotous squeal.
“Yeehaw!”
That was Jeremy’s deep voice.
“Yes!” shouted the twins in unison.
“Get packed. You guys can move in tonight.”
Actually, Sierra’s solution was a win-win for her and the two student chefs. Sierra would be earning a substantial wage at the hotel, and the twins would share the previously generous wage that Chad had paid her. The money Jeremy and Jenny would earn during the next six weeks or so would go a long way to cover their living expenses and supplement their student loans for tuition when they returned to British Columbia in September.
Sierra planned to write up menus and leave detailed instructions for the twins and Celia, allowing them to prepare three meals every day for the ranch hands. She didn’t doubt for a minute the threesome would do a job equal to one she’d do herself. After Stampede, Jenny would remain on the ranch and cook with Celia. And there would be plenty of help with the canning, freezing, pickle making and everything else on Bonnie’s list. Jeremy would travel the pro chuckwagon circuit, sharing accommodations and cooking for Chad and the male ranch hands in their RV. By the time the summer was over, a permanent ranch cook could be found.
Bonnie instructed Celia to prepare the Jack and Jill bedrooms for the twins, and the housekeeper made up the beds and stocked the shared bathroom with towels and toiletries.
Celia returned to the kitchen to help with the day’s meal preparations. “Sierra, this is a brilliant solution. You’ll do the meal planning during your after-hours from the hotel, while the twins and I cook.”
“Exactly. And I’ll do it at no charge in return for allowing me to accept my dream job while still continuing to live on the ranch and oversee the kitchen operations until Chad hires a permanent cook in the fall when th
e students leave. Bonnie will resume responsibility for the ordering, which she’s more than capable of doing from a wheelchair. I’ve talked to my suppliers and they are willing to work with her, extending her the same discounts I arranged with them.”
“Sierra, I can’t tell you how happy I am for you,” said Celia. The senior smiled broadly, reminding Sierra of her grandmother. “I couldn’t be more proud if you were my own grandchild.”
“Thank you, Celia. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.” Sierra hugged the woman warmly. “Now, let’s get busy. I want this kitchen running smoothly by the time I start at the Emerald. And we only have a few days to do it.”
* * *
At four o’clock, Chad strode out of the horse barn, headed up to the house, and wandered into the kitchen. He grabbed a pitcher of iced tea out of the refrigerator and poured himself a tall glass of his favorite summer beverage. Well, favorite other than beer. But he never drank while working on the ranch or on days when he’d be racing. Same rules that he’d set down for his staff applied to the boss.
Celia wandered out of her room off the kitchen. “Chad, what are you doing here?”
“I’d hoped to run into Sierra.” He felt he owed her an apology for his unforgivable behavior last night. He’d treated her terribly. He should have congratulated her on her new job. Selfishly, he’d only thought of how her news affected him. His only excuse was the stress he was under at present. But even that wasn’t a reason to be such an ass. He’d tossed and turned half the night, angry with himself for his thoughtlessness.
“Sierra took the minivan into the city with your mother.”
“With Mom? Why?”
“I have no idea.”
“Did Mom have a doctor’s appointment?”
“No, I’m certain that wasn’t why. Her doctor wouldn’t make an appointment for a checkup on a Saturday,” reasoned Celia. “Your mom and Sierra had their heads together half the morning. It could have had something to do with Sierra’s new arrangement for the kitchen, but I’m not certain.” Celia poured herself a glass of iced tea also.
Chad drank deeply, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “What arrangement?” He’d checked online early this morning for cooks looking for an employment opportunity, but he hadn’t found anyone suitable.
“Sierra hired two young culinary students in need of tuition money, twins, a brother and sister. Her friend Diane’s siblings. They’ll be sharing her salary here. Sierra will be writing up menu plans with detailed instructions for them and me to follow. Jenny will cook here all summer, while Jeremy travels the circuit with you and the ranch help.”
“What?” Chad glared at Celia. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. “Sierra made all these plans without my knowledge or approval? Jeez, Celia, I own this ranch. I’m the guy in charge here! When was anyone going to fill me in on this?”
“Well, I’m telling you now.” Celia clicked her tongue, an all too familiar indication of her disapproval of his behavior.
Chad shook his head; he felt ten-years-old again.
“Everyone on this ranch is busy and when things need doing, someone does them,” admonished Celia. “Sierra needed a solution and she found one. Quit getting your skivvies in a twist. You should be thankful Sierra’s on top of this situation.”
“Is there anything else I should know about?” He polished off his iced tea and refilled his glass.
“Your mother will be doing ordering and a bit of prep work, whatever she can handle from her wheelchair. She’s absolutely delighted to be back in the kitchen, productive again. Anyway, I’ve prepared the twins’ rooms and they’ll be moving in tonight to start work and get into a routine before Sierra’s time is monopolized with her new job.”
“I recall her mentioning she was arranging something. She’s definitely a get-it-done kind of person, isn’t she?” Chad could barely wrap his mind around the sensible solution she’d come up with. Stunned was an understatement for how he felt right now. And he was relieved she hadn’t lied to him. She wasn’t just walking away from her responsibility here.
“That girl is wonderful on so many levels. You couldn’t find a more perfect lady for yourself.” Celia stood with her famous I’m-disappointed-in-you-boy expression that he’d seen a thousand times over the years.
“I can’t argue with you. Sierra is a terrific person.” Chad swallowed hard. “Between you and me, I’m in love with her, Celia. But I don’t think she feels that way about me. After my unforgivable reaction to her news last night, I doubt she even considers me a friend.”
“I know you love her. I’ve noticed how you look at her when you don’t think she’s watching. But she’s not leaving the ranch. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to make amends,” counseled Celia, patting Chad’s arm.
“I hope so. I’ve been feeling like an ass all morning.” Chad set his glass in the sink. “I’m going to…”
“Celia, we’re home,” called Bonnie from the wheelchair-accessible side door. “Would you please come and get these packages from me?”
Chad rushed over to the doorway. “What do you need, Mom?”
“Darling, what are you doing in the house?” she asked, shock and concern evident on her face. “Something’s happened. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just decided to take a break so I could to talk to Sierra.” Chad peeked around behind his mother. “Where is she?”
“Bringing in more packages,” explained Bonnie while he wheeled her into the kitchen.
Sierra strode through the doorway. “Here are your bags, Bonnie. I’ll put them in your room,” she called over her shoulder.
Chad couldn’t tell if Sierra had spotted him or not since she’d rushed into the house and headed down the hallway so quickly. If she had seen him she hadn’t acknowledged him in any way. Could he blame her?
“Thank you, dear,” called Bonnie, pushing her hair off her face. “Celia, will you help me hang up my new clothes after we have a cold drink? I’m so dry I couldn’t spit if there was a gun to my head.”
Celia poured another glass of iced tea. “Did you have fun in the city?”
“We certainly did. We hit my favorite mall on MacLeod Trail and enjoyed a late lunch. I managed to eat without choking.” Bonnie chuckled and peeked over at Chad. “We got our hair and nails done. I’m so looking forward to having that girl for a daughter-in-law.”
“Mom!” exclaimed Chad, looking toward the hallway. “Enough matchmaking. Stop it!”
Sierra stepped into the kitchen. “Stop what?” she inquired, and then halted in her tracks.
“Nothing,” blurted Chad. Judging by the murderous expression on her face, she didn’t appear one bit happy about finding him in the kitchen. “Could I speak to you out on the deck for a minute, please?” He reached for her hand and led her outside.
“What is it?” Sierra glared at him, squinting in the bright sunlight.
“I imagine you’re pissed at me, and I need to apologize,” began Chad, leading her over to a shady spot under the covered portion of the deck. Sierra leaned her arms on the deck railing and gazed across the yard. “Celia told me about your plans to hire the student chefs and have everything organized before you start your new job. By the way, congratulations. I’m happy for you.”
“Yeah, right. You’re just tickled pink,” muttered Sierra, the toe of her boot tapping out a staccato rhythm on the wooden deck boards.
“I know, I know,” muttered Chad. She was definitely pissed. She wouldn’t even look at him, and he couldn’t blame her. “I should have said that last night. I over-reacted because you caught me off guard. I never dreamed you’d find another job so quickly. But I should have known someone as talented as you are would be scooped up.”
Sierra turned and met his eyes.
He couldn’t read her expression. If she gave him a dang good verbal walloping, he’d deserve it. He closed his legs and took a step back, just in case. No telling what a ticked off woman might do.
Sierra seemed level-headed, and he hoped that translated into forgiving.
“I am sincerely happy for you. And I appreciate the cooking arrangements you’ve made.”
“Thank you.” She swung around, giving him her back.
Hell, she wasn’t going to make this easy for him. She wasn’t happy, but at least he didn’t have to fear for his privates.
She shaded her eyes with her hand and looked across the backyard. He followed her line of vision and spotted Barney playing with Sandy near the creek alongside the road leading to the far horse barn.
“Just so you know, I tossed and turned half the night feeling guilty about the way I treated you. I almost knocked on your door to apologize, but I’m not crazy, just sorry. I figured I’d really get what for if I woke you up on top of everything else.” He peeked over at her.
She turned and met his eyes. “Well, thank you for not waking me up, but I was so furious I probably would have been awake still anyway. Okay, you’re forgiven for last night. In hindsight, I should have mentioned the job interviews and reminded you that I was actively job hunting. I shouldn’t have just sprung my announcement about the new position on you.”
He noticed her lips quiver, as if she was holding back a smile. “You’re really looking forward to it, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea. Now I know how it feels to win a lottery.” Sierra beamed. “I get butterflies every time I think about that first day.”
“You’ll do fine.” Chad reached for her hand. “Thank you for forgiving me. Hey, it’s Saturday. Let me take you to the Stampede this afternoon. We’ll leave Mom at home. After her shopping and everything, she’d never admit it, but she’s probably exhausted. She’s attended every race in person. She can watch the chuckwagons on TV tonight. We’ll go visit the horses this afternoon, and you can watch the guys in action, not just sitting around a dinner table.”
“I’d like that,” said Sierra.
Chad believed she meant it, too. She’d forgiven him. Celia was right—she was an exceptionally nice person.
Cooking For Cowboy (Stampede Sizzlers) Page 14
