The Rancher Meets His Match
Authored By
Pamela Ladner
©by Pamela Ladner 2009
Table of Contents
Chapter One 2
Chapter Two 8
Chapter Three 13
Chapter Four 19
Chapter Five 23
Chapter Six 27
Chapter Seven 29
Chapter Eight 33
Chapter Nine 36
Chapter Ten 38
Chapter Eleven 41
Chapter Twelve 44
Chapter Thirteen 47
Chapter Fourteen 52
Chapter Fifteen 56
Chapter Sixteen 59
Chapter Seventeen 62
Epilogue 65
Chapter One
July 2009
It was hotter than usual. The sun was bearing down on the back of Hilary’s neck. She was glad that she wasn’t in the blueberry field today. The season had been over a couple of weeks now. She was now fixing fence on her boss’s farm and she was in the shade. But even with the shade, she could still feel the sun bearing down on her. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of a gloved hand and went back to patching the fence where a couple of heifers had torn it down. She looked at the fence and decided she would let her boss know that she needed a new fence. The barbwire was old and rusty and that made it easy for cattle to get out. “Finally” she peeled off her work gloves and looked at her work. She finished patching the fence and packed up all of the supplies into the small trailer that she always pulled behind the four-wheeler. She would make it back in time, to work with her favorite horse. She was ready to put a saddle on the young quarter horse that she had raised from a baby. She had worked with him from the start. She loved spending time with her horses. It took away all the stress of the day.
She would get home in time to work with him for an hour before dark. She drove back to the shed with the fencing supplies and signed out. She told her boss bye and left for home. She wouldn’t have time to get a shower in but there was really no point when she was only going to get dirty again. She pulled up to her parents’ barn, jumped out of her dually, and ran flat out to the barn to get her saddle ready. She took it out and threw it across the wood fence of the corral and went back to get her young horse. She hooked him onto a lunge line and lunged him in a circle then stopped him and switched directions. Then she walked him over to the fence where she’d hung the saddle. She took the saddle blanket and rubbed it over his body from head to tail. She did this several times before settling it on his back. She then took the saddle and threw it over his back. There was nothing, not even a little buck out of him. She cinched it up but didn’t pull it tight. She wanted him to get the feel of it on his back first. Again, she lunged him in a circle. He was aware of it but didn’t offer to buck. He was a little tense at first but calmed down. She wouldn’t rush him. Tomorrow she would start over again. She would again put the saddle on and if he showed no buck and no fear, she would pull on the cinch.
She unsaddled him and again rubbed the saddle pad over him. “Good boy.” She said. “You’re doing just fine.” She walked him around a little just to cool him off, and then she led him into the barn and snapped his halter onto the two chains attached to each wall. She got her grooming supplies out and brushed him down. She brushed him everywhere. She didn’t want a skittish horse. She then ran her left hand down the horses neck all the way to his front hoof and picked up his foot and cleaned out the mud and dirt that was there then she ran her hand down his back and down his back leg and did the same. Then while keeping her hand on him she ran her hand across his rump and down the other back foot, and then up his back and down his other front foot. She did this every time she worked with him. She was determined to make a good horse out of him. He was out of her favorite mare. This one she would not sell. She would keep him and show him. She wasn’t usually one to make it to the rodeos. However, she did compete in most of the local horse shows. She often won feed and money at these events. She hadn’t ever wanted to travel the rodeo circuit. She wasn’t one for traveling. She preferred to stay close to home, where she could tend her horses. She was taught at an early age to tend her own animals and never to rely on others to do her work for her. She knew she could depend on her parents to tend them if she wasn’t there but she didn’t like to put her work off on them.
“Hilary Joe” her mama called. “Come here, you have a visitor.” Hilary was so wrapped up in her work with her young horse that she hadn’t even noticed the truck that sat in front of her parents’ house. Nor, did she notice the man watching her as she worked with her horse. He had been studying her watching everything she done. He had to admit he was impressed. He watched her as she unsnapped the colt and put him in his stall then she turned and walked to him with her hand out. He reached out and shook her hand. “J.W. Chisholm.” He could see she must have been working hard all day. She had several cuts on her arms that looked as if she'd been cut by barbwire and she had dirt and rust on her torn blue jeans. She also had a smudge of dirt on her face and across her forehead.
“What can I do for you?” She took in his clothes and his build from head to toe. She guessed he was looking to buy a horse by the look of him. He was mighty fine too. She thought his jeans sat nicely on his hips and the button up western cut shirt was just the right color and style for him. It accentuated his large shoulders and muscular arms. And, he had it tucked in showing her he had a flat stomach too. “Are you here to look at the horses? I have a couple of real nice fillies for sale. I guarantee they have been worked with a lot and they aren’t a one of ‘em skittish. That’s kind of my specialty. I can’t stand a skittish horse. Anything can happen and a skittish horse makes it worse.” She said this with pride in her voice. She was very proud of her horses. “Actually,” he said, “I’m here to talk to you about training for me. My daughter barrel races and I hear that you’re the best.” Hilary’s eyes lit up she loved to work with barrel horses, there was something about the adrenaline rush that she got with it all. She loved it. “Yeah, we can talk. Could you walk with me though? I have to feed the horses and Bubba.” She walked toward the barn and J.W. fell into step with her. “How long have you been training horses? I can see you’re very good with them. I was watching you with that colt in the corral. He seems to be coming along. I never saw a buck or a kick out of him.”
J.W. usually didn’t like to make small talk but he had to admit he was a little impressed because she was a woman. He didn’t have much for women. He had had a belly full of them when his wife up and left him. She was going to make it big in Hollywood she said. “Thanks, but you didn’t come all the way out here to talk about my colt. You need a trainer, so let’s talk business.” She said this in business like tone that surprised him. He wasn’t expecting her to be the one to get right to it. He was usually the one who skipped all the small talk. She was pouring feed in several buckets as she spoke. “How many horses are you wanting trained and how far along are they?” He liked how she wanted the facts up front. “There are two, right now. One of them has been barrel raced for years but has recently started to act up and my daughter doesn’t seem to think she can handle him anymore. The other one has only been started on them and needs a lot of work.” She shook her head and looked as if she was taking it all in. “When you say it’s acting up. What do you mean? What’s it doing that she can’t handle it anymore? What I mean is how is the horse showing out, is it bucking or what?” He explained to her how the horse was doing everything right until the last barrel and that it would then start rearing up.
She soaked in all the information and picked up two of the buckets she had poured feed in and walked out of the fe
ed room. He looked at her then picked up the other two buckets and followed her. “Which of these goes where?” he said. She told him which stalls to poor the feed in and then grabbed the buckets and threw them back in the feed room. Then she grabbed some hay and took a block to each horse. After she hayed them, she checked their water then grabbed a manure fork and went into the first stall and began to scoop out the manure in the stall. “Keep talking.” She said. “I’m listening.” He shook his head and began telling her about the two horses while he looked around the barn then he grabbed another manure fork and stepped into the next stall and began scooping the manure out too. He said, “I can help you with this and we can talk while we work.” Hilary was impressed. She had never had anybody offer to help. She considered the barn her office, in a way it was. She always took her clients into the barn when she needed to discuss anything with them. And if she had chores to do, she did them while talking to them. However, this was the first one who had ever helped her.
“So my going rate is 600.00 a horse. It may sound a little high but I won’t take any less. Its hard work and I guarantee my work.” “Actually it’s seems a little low to me. I’m used to people who claim they are trainers and charge a fortune for a half-assed job. The thing is I would do it myself but I don’t have the time. I have a ranch to run. I have a few thousand acres and that keeps me pretty busy. I really need someone who knows what they are doing and I will accept no less from anyone.” “Alright, you can drop the horses here whenever it’s good for you and I’ll get started.” She said and then he stopped what he was doing and turned to her. “I won’t be bringing the horses here. I want it done on the ranch. Like I said I want to be sure the work is not half assed this time.” “I can’t do that, I have a job and horses to tend to here. I can’t just leave my job. I’m needed here. I’m sorry but I guess I won’t be training your horses.” She walked out of the stall and headed for the one on the other side of the barn but he stepped in front of her path. “Look I’ll pay you double if you come to my ranch. My daughter is really looking forward to this.” She stared at him wide-eyed “Double?” Her mouth dropped to say something but she closed it instead. “You can’t be serious what man would pay double?” She thought he was crazy. She had never, been offered double before. “I’m dead serious,” he said. “Let me think about it will you? Come on in the house and have some coffee while I clean up. We’ll discuss it more inside.” He’d won and he knew it. “We’ll leave the rest of this for my brothers.” She said and she set the manure fork to the side and walked to the house. J.W. followed her and quickly fell in step beside her.
“I’ll only be a little while. Mama, is there any coffee made?” “No but I can make some I sure hope you’re gone get cleaned up some before you set down at my table.” “Yes, Ma’am that’s what I’m doing could you keep Mr. Chisholm company till I get back?” “Sure, baby girl.” Her mama always called her that. It had been what everyone had called her and she never liked it. Her brothers liked to tease her and call her a baby. They drove her insane when she was growing up but now that she was grown and they were grown they treated her with respect and they were very overprotective.
While in the bathroom, Hilary had a lot of time to think. She really needed that money. But, she didn’t like to leave her horses for her parents to tend to, especially with her daddy offshore. That left her mama with all the work. She knew her mama was capable of it but she still didn’t like it. Her mama really didn’t like the horses. She never cared for riding and was afraid of them but she wasn’t going to admit it to anyone.
Her mama had been a city girl and had never even been on a horse until she met Hilary’s daddy. William was his name. He had met her in college and fell in love with her. He was determined to help her fit in on the farm no matter what. He knew she would love it there, and she did but she just couldn’t get used to the horses. Hilary had only seen her mama ride a couple of times and she could see the fear all over her even though her mama insisted she was fine. Maybe she could talk her youngest brother, Reid, into taking care of them. She could swap out chores with him or something. He had been after her about wanting to take a vacation. Maybe she would take up all his chores for a month. She would talk to him about it.
She dried off and put on a fresh pair of jeans and a clean button shirt. Then brushed her hair out and blow-dried it before heading for the kitchen. J.W. stopped mid sentence and just stared at her. Something that looked a lot like desire flickered in his eyes and then it was gone just like that maybe she had only imagined it. “That was quick.” He said. “Yeah, I don’t bother with makeup and all the things most women do. It’s a waste of time.” He couldn’t believe how much different she looked once she was cleaned up and let her hair down. She was a damn knockout, and without makeup too. Damn, what the hell, was he going to do for a damn month with her around? Stay away from her he decided.
Hilary walked to the coffee pot stepping over her dog Bubba who instantly came alive when she did. He followed her everywhere. He was by far the smartest dog she had ever owned and the best damn cow dog too. “Mama, do you think Reid would tend my horses while I’m away. I hate to ask but I could really use the money right now. Especially if I’m ever gone get my own place.” She turned and looked at her mother. “Of course, you know how your brothers feel about you. They’d do anything for you,” her mother said.
Hilary knew she had just given him his answer and she could tell he was very pleased about it. Then a frown crossed his face. Maybe, he wasn’t exactly, pleased. She wondered what could have made him change his mind so quick. Never the less, he had a new trainer whether he liked it or not. He had to like it he was the one who came looking for her, so why was he now scowling, like he ate something that did not settle on his stomach too well? “When do you expect me?” she asked. “First week in August” he said. “I’ll call you with the directions to my place a couple days before.” He stood up, shook her hand, tipped his hat to her mama and left. She watched him walk out the door and caught herself thinking too much, on what a nice ass he had. Damn it all why are all they good ones married. She thought to herself.
“So, you must have really liked this man if you are going to travel to his ranch to train those horses. You haven’t left home since you were 18.” Her mama said. “It’s just that I could really use the money. I really want to buy me a small trailer to park on the backside of the property so I can move out of here. I’m too old to be living with my parents.” Hilary told her mama. “You know that he’s probably married. I mean he did say that they’re his daughters’ horses I will be training. But I guess you’re right he did make a pretty good impression on me. He jumped right in and helped me in the barn. He didn’t even ask can I help you; no, he just went to work right along beside me. That was definitely a first.” “All I can say honey is if he isn’t married make your move. Cause, that man has the look of a man that knows what he wants and works until he gets it. And he’s got looks to boot.” Her mama said. “Now mama you wouldn’t be trying to get rid of me would you?” However, Hilary was thinking about what her mama said. She was well past the age of marriage. All of her friends were married and had kids before they were 22. She was about to turn 26 and still yet to find the right man for her.
She wanted a man who could work beside her. She wanted someone who could understand her, and most of all she just wanted a man to love her. It didn’t matter if they fought or if he was good looking. Those kinds of things didn’t matter to her. Now fixing to turn 26, she didn’t think she would ever get married. When people would ask her if she was ever going to settle down and get married she would use the phrase that she read on a t-shirt once. Got my horse, got my dog, don’t need no man. She didn’t mean any of it. She wanted to spend her life with a man that loves her. She wanted the kind of relationship her mom and dad have, the lasting kind, that through thick and thin you stay together.
Chapter Two
On July 30, which was on a Saturday, Hilary was packing he
r things and getting ready for her trip to J.W.s ranch, when the phone rang. She nearly fell over the blue heeler lying on the stairs on her way to answer it. For some reason he wouldn’t get out from under her feet. It was like he knew she was leaving and he intended to go too. She had thought about taking him with her but wasn’t sure how J.W. would feel about it. She figured she might like it if he were along to keep her company. “It’s for you.” Her mother said interrupting her thoughts. “Oh thanks, Mama. Hello!” she said into the phone. She listened carefully to the instructions he gave her and politely said yes sir when he asked her a question. When she hung up the phone, she looked down at the heeler looking up at her with his head cocked as if he was asking her something. She bent down and scratched him behind the ears and a whine escaped his mouth. He definitely knew she was leaving and he wanted to go with her. “I’ll sleep on it.” She told him.
That night she weighed her options. She decided it would be best to have Bubba along with her. He would keep her company and it’s not like he has to stay inside. He could probably sleep on a porch or in the barn. He was good around farm animals and people. He was also very protective of her and was a damn good cow dog. With her mind made up, she rolled over and went to sleep.
5 a.m. came early the next morning. She loaded her suitcases in the truck and went to get her saddle. She would need it. She also made sure to hang a list of to do’s on a clipboard hanging on a nail in the barn for her brother. So he would know exactly what she wanted done. She knew he would do it too. Then she loaded some feed for Bubba and kissed her mama goodbye. She opened the truck door and said, “Load up, Bubba.” The heeler jumped in and sat down in the passenger seat with his head hanging out the window. When they pulled out of the driveway, he barked a couple times to her mother as if to say bye, I’ll be seeing you. Hilary couldn’t help but smile at him. He was so smart sometimes it shocked her. And she loved him something bad. He turned around and lay down with his head in her lap. “Not homesick already, are you boy?” She said laying her hand on his head. “We still got a long way to go.”
The Rancher Meets His Match Page 1
