by Lori Wilde
“What is it?” she asked.
“He specifically asked for you,” Annie said.
“Tell him I’m unavailable.”
“I don’t know what you’ve got, honey, but it’s you he’s after. Might as well get over there and talk to him before he raises a stink.”
Raleigh groaned. Okay. Fine. She could handle this. He was only a man, after all. No big deal. Right?
“I’ll take care of him,” she told Annie through clenched teeth.
“Wish it were me he was interested in. You should have your head examined. He’s gorgeous.” Annie raised her hand. “I took care of the senior citizens, so go ahead and talk to your cowboy.”
“Thanks,” Raleigh mumbled, feeling guilty for getting peevish with Annie. It wasn’t her fault McClintock was sitting there with a good-for-nothing grin on his smug face.
She forced herself to go over to his booth. “What’ll you have?”
“I could say something that would make your back get even stiffer, but I’ll refrain. I want to prove I can behave myself.” A mischievous smile curled the corners of Dan’s full lips.
Lips she found herself longing to kiss. What it would feel like to have his mouth on hers, hungry, searching, demanding?
Egads! What was wrong with her?
Unnerved, she peered out the plate-glass window at the empty street. She couldn’t bring herself to meet his friendly stare. She feared being ensnared by his magnetic dark eyes. If she wasn’t careful, she could fall for this man, and that scared her.
“Raleigh,” he murmured.
Focusing on her order form, she repeated the question. “What’ll you have?”
“A smile would be nice.”
“Sorry,” she said abruptly. “You came to the wrong woman.”
“Are you always this testy? Or is it a superpower you pull out just for me?” he teased.
“Listen, I’m pretty busy; could you just order, please?”
He closed his menu. “Cheeseburger and a cup of coffee.”
She scribbled down the order and spun away.
Before she could escape, Dan grabbed the tail of her apron and tugged her backward. She found herself brushing against his strong, muscular arm. The feel of his skin against hers sparked an inexplicable blaze inside her.
Color burned her cheeks. Not one to sidestep a challenge, Raleigh sucked in a breath, fortifying herself for a fight. She hated how vulnerable McClintock made her feel.
Immediately, Dan released her, a contrite expression crossing his angular face. “Sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have done that. I was out of line. I just wanted to get your attention.”
“Please don’t ever do that again.”
“I won’t,” he promised. “Not unless you give me permission.”
“I won’t do that,” she said, but her pulse quickened. She raced away, only to be waylaid behind the counter by Annie. “So, what’s the scoop?”
“No scoop.”
“Ha! You’re holding out on me. I saw the excited look on your face. You like him.”
“I do not.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
“Waitress,” someone called, and Raleigh was saved from replying.
The cook rang the bell, and Raleigh picked up Dan’s order. Her hands trembled as she set the cheeseburger in front of him, and she tried for a quick escape.
“Got any ketchup?” he asked.
She snatched a bottle from an empty table and plunked it down. “Anything else?”
He smiled innocently. “May I ask you a question?”
“If you must.” She sighed and settled her hands on her hips.
“How come you’re working here?”
“Duh, why do you think? I needed a job.”
“You’re too good of a farrier to be wasting your talents hustling tips.”
“Thank you for your sage opinion, Mr. McClintock.” She narrowed her eyes. “But seeing as how you couldn’t afford to hire me, I took the only job I could find. By the way, how did you know I was working here?”
“I stopped by your house. Your brother told me where you were.”
He’d actually come looking for her? A hot thrill coursed through her. “How did you know where I lived?”
“Pete.”
“What do you want?”
“I came to offer you a job.”
“Oh? And where did you get the money? Rob a bank?”
He laughed. The deep, rich sound thrilled her to her toes, and she didn’t know why. “No. I can’t promise you money. At least, not until the dude ranch is operational.”
“Such a flattering proposition,” she said. “A job that doesn’t pay. What do I tell them at the grocery store when they want cold, hard cash in exchange for some rice and beans?”
“Tell them to put it on my credit card.”
“I can see this job has limitless opportunities. Lucky me. How can I say no?”
“Actually, it does.”
“Yeah? How’s that?”
“Pete suggested it.”
“Suggested what?”
“Invite you and your brother to live in the log cabin. Pete and I stay in the big house, so you’d have complete privacy. Room and board, all expenses paid, plus ten percent of the yearly profits. I’ll have my lawyer draw up a contract.”
She opened her mouth to refuse his offer but hesitated.
He cocked his head and studied her intently. “Well?”
It would solve their housing problem. They had to be out of the duplex by Monday. And it would get her out of working at the diner. But did she dare risk working for Dan? What if her unsettling feelings erupted into something she couldn’t contain?
“Of course, the job entails more than just shoeing horses,” Dan continued. “You’d be in charge of all the animals and keeping the stables in shape. Pete and I have more than we can deal with getting the house, grounds, and guest cottages renovated.”
“Caleb could do mowing, painting, shoveling out the stalls... things like that,” she said.
He nodded. “Sounds good.”
It was the perfect solution to her problem. Except she’d be totally dependent upon Dan, and that didn’t sit well.
“What do you say?”
She tapped her chin with an index finger, then took a deep breath. She started to say something but paused and thought it over. “Before I’d consider accepting your offer, you and I would have to come to an understanding.”
“And that is?” He arched an eyebrow. It gave him a rakish appearance.
“I want things kept on a strictly professional basis. Is that clear?”
“Absolutely.”
Somehow, she didn’t believe him. “You have no ulterior motives?”
“Look, Raleigh. I like you a lot, but I also respect you. I have no hidden agenda.”
“Then why are you offering me this?”
“Because you’re a darn good farrier, and I’d like to help you get out of here.” He waved his hand at the diner. “Your brother told me about the eviction.”
Oh God, now he was feeling sorry for her. That was some rich kind of pathetic. Since she’d met him, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him, and now that he was here, offering her salvation, all she wanted to do was throw her arms around his neck, bury her face against his broad chest, and thank him for rescuing her. Ha! That was a dangerous impulse.
“Plus,” he said. “It would help me too.”
“Oh, yeah? How?”
“Not a very trusting soul, are you?” Amusement crinkled the corner of his eyes.
“Why should I trust you? I don’t know you from a hole in the ground.”
“But you know Pete. Do you trust your godfather?”
She did.
The cook slapped the bell twice and scowled in Raleigh’s direction. “Food’s up.”
“Gotta go,” she said.
“Saved by the bell.” Dan laughed.
“Humph.” She rushed off.
> Considering the feelings Dan stirred in her, working for him was lunacy. But wouldn’t it be great to work as a farrier again? a little voice in the back of her mind prodded.
Once people realized what magnificent blacksmith talents she possessed, others would hire her. Then she could afford to move away from Dan’s ranch and build her own clientele.
Dan lifted a finger as she zoomed past. “Check, please.”
“Sure.” Anything to get rid of him. She went to print off his ticket and laid it on the tabletop.
“Did I happen to mention that I’m desperate?” He ran that charming grin over his face like a flag up a pole. “Not too many folks will work for back-end profits instead of a regular salary.” He touched her hand lightly.
His body heat radiated a warm circle on her skin, and she didn’t draw back. “I-I...” she stammered, thrown off-balance by his simple touch. “I don’t think that would be such a good idea.”
“Try it for a week. What could it hurt?”
“Not interested,” she replied, moving her hand out from under his. His fingers left a ghostly imprint branded on her wrist.
A lazy smile crept across his mouth. He’d found her weakness, and he knew it. “You could use the company truck. That heap you’re driving is a road hazard.”
“I’m not listening to you.” She gathered up his empty dishes.
“Come on, Raleigh. What’s the big deal? You want the job. I can see it in your eyes. They sparkled when I mentioned horses.”
“Sorry, I can’t.”
“You’ve got a teenager to support. What would be best for Caleb?”
Ugh. Guilt trip. Free room and board, all expenses paid. What would it hurt to try the arrangement for a week, a month, even a year?
No. She liked him too much, and she’d been through too much pain to ever let herself become that vulnerable again. If the steady thumping of her heart was any indication, falling for him wouldn’t be such a hard thing to do.
“No,” she repeated. “Afraid not.”
“You don’t have to give me a definite answer today. Sleep on it.”
“I don’t have to.”
Dan slid out of the booth and stood. “Think it over, Raleigh. Discuss it with Caleb. You can call me tomorrow. Oh, and by the way, pink is not your color.” He plunked his cowboy hat on his head and strolled out the door.
“Awesome,” Caleb said when she told him about Dan’s offer.
They were in the cramped kitchen of the duplex, surrounded by packing boxes, dining on the fried hot dogs, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese that Caleb had cooked. He stopped shoveling food into his mouth long enough to swallow.
“It’s not as great as it sounds,” Raleigh cautioned. “For one thing, we won’t have any money of our own.”
“Yeah, but we don’t have any money now and no place to live, either.”
“Fay said we could move in with her.”
“She’s got a tiny home on wheels. There’s barely enough room in there for Fay and her dogs.”
“True,” she conceded.
“If Mr. McClintock pays for all the food and stuff, then we wouldn’t need any money, right?”
“Moving out to the ranch, you’d have to give up your job at Hightower Honey Farm.”
Caleb shrugged. “But we could see Pete every day, swim in the pool, play tennis.”
“Who told you about the pool and the tennis courts?”
“Mr. McClintock did this morning when he came by looking for you.”
Frowning, she pushed a mound of beans around on her plate. Obviously, Dan had already charmed Caleb with promises of things she couldn’t provide. “Do you like Mr. McClintock?”
Caleb nodded. “He’s really cool.”
“There’s another consideration. This ranch is ten miles out of town, and there aren’t any kids around. You’ll have a hard time seeing your friends.”
“Already thought of that, and guess what? Mr. McClintock said I could invite my friends over anytime I wanted. He even said we could camp out on the ranch. Awesomesauce, huh?”
Mr. McClintock said this. Mr. McClintock said that. Raleigh pushed back the ping of jealousy, got up, and scraped the remains of her supper into the trash can. At the sink, she stopped the drain, squirted in liquid soap, and turned on the hot water since the duplex didn’t have a dishwasher.
“Sis?”
“Uh-huh?”
“What’s wrong?” Caleb came to stand behind her. “This is an answer to our prayers. It’s a miracle.”
With strings attached, she thought, irritated.
“That’s the catch, Caleb. It’s too good to be true.”
They did the dishes together. Raleigh cast a sidelong look at him. Disappointment etched his freckled face.
“Caleb, I want to do the right thing for us both.”
“Then quit the diner and let’s move to the ranch.”
“You don’t realize what I’ll be giving up.”
“Oh, like the glamorous world of waiting tables.” He rolled his eyes.
“Caleb Brent Travers, don’t you dare get smart with me.”
He ducked his head and mumbled, “Sorry.”
“Listen, the main drawback in working for Daniel McClintock is that we would lose our independence. I would no longer be a freelance farrier. We couldn’t come and go as we pleased. He would have to pay for everything. We’d be living in his cabin on his land.”
“I don’t see the difference. Right now, you’re working for Fay and not shoeing horses which you love. We’re living in Mr. Vine’s duplex, and he’s throwing us out. Tell me how this is any different.”
Yes, but neither Fay nor Mr. Vine looked like the handsome Mr. McClintock.
Raleigh sighed. “It’s just not that simple.”
“Okay.” Caleb stopped rinsing dishes and turned to face her. When had he gotten so tall? “What’s your answer? How do we get out of this mess?”
She stared at her younger brother, who suddenly seemed to be growing up too fast. “I’ll get another job. I can work two jobs. And we’ll move to a cheaper place.”
Caleb shook his head.
“Not a good idea?”
“You’ll be exhausted all the time and grouchy. You know how you get when you have to do something you don’t like. Besides, what place would be cheaper than this?” Caleb swept his arm expressively, indicating their meager surroundings.
Peeling yellowed wallpaper hung in patches. The aging linoleum was cracked and worn thin. Two burners on the stove didn’t work. The water faucet dripped continuously, and the small refrigerator was at least forty years old.
Raleigh exhaled deeply. Caleb was absolutely right. Where could they find a place more affordable than this?
“Do you really want to move to McClintock’s ranch?” she asked.
Caleb bobbed his head. “It would be good for both of us.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “I suppose we could give it a try.”
“All right, Sis. High five.” Caleb slapped her palm. “This is going to be perfectly great.”
Or perfectly awful.
4
Twilight descended over the ranch in muted hues of deep pink, dark blue, and vivid purple. A yellow half-moon hung low on the horizon. The tantalizing hint of peanuts wafted on the breeze from the peanut field next door. In the distance, a horse whinnied as the joyful chorus of a hundred singing crickets split the silence.
Dan inhaled deeply, savoring the richness of the moment. He’d forgotten over the years how much owning his own ranch meant to him. As a child it had been his constant dream. He and his two brothers, Jamie and Mike, had spent their summers on their uncle’s dude ranch. Despite that his father had constantly scoffed at his plans, Dan had vowed to one day possess a ranch of his own.
He smiled into the gathering darkness. It had taken ten years, but his dream was coming true. By spring break, finances willing, the ranch would be open to the public.
Gazing out over the
pasture, a feeling of pride and contentment welled up inside him so strong he was forced to swallow back a lump of emotion. At thirty-one, Dan had finally found his place in life.
Working hard the entire day, he and Pete had made tremendous progress renovating one of the downstairs bedrooms. Another day or two and that room would be finished.
Dan appreciated the way physical labor made his muscles ache and how he fell asleep the minute his head hit the pillow. No lying awake at night tossing and turning, as it had been when he’d worked at his father’s plastics company.
How had he managed to waste so much of his life at a career he’d neither wanted nor cared about? Why had it taken him so long to gather enough courage to buck his father?
Briefly, he thought of Jenny and grimaced.
Jenny Harris had been a long-legged brunette, with a head for figures and a hunger for money. He’d been completely duped by her winning smile and calculating heart.
Dan winced. Running a hand through his hair, he boggled at his youthful trust and optimism. Even though he’d dreamed of owning a dude ranch, he’d allowed Jenny to talk him into going to work for his father.
Because he’d been so blindly in love, he’d done everything she’d asked. His parents thought Jenny hung the moon, and a career in the family plastics business was the ultimate prestige. His powerful father had shelled out the money and ordered him to get an MBA.
No one had bothered to ask Dan what he’d wanted.
So he’d gone to college and obtained his MBA. Following graduation, he’d started working at the plastics factory just like his two brothers before him.
He and Jenny had set a wedding date. But she’d left him standing at the altar one sweltering July Saturday afternoon to run off with a multimillionaire ski resort owner from Taos.
The memory still hurt.
But with Jenny’s departure, his old hopes and desires roused, and he knew it was his chance to make his dreams come true. He’d kept his job at the plastics plant, saving his money until he’d amassed a respectable pile, purchased this bargain-basement ranch, and told his father goodbye. His dad’s derisive laughter still rang in his ears. “I’ll be here when you come crawling back.”
Closing his eyes, Dan envisioned his goal again. People vying for exclusive reservations at McClintock’s Dude Ranch. Children riding horses, swimming, playing tennis, just as he had as a boy. Guests coming and going all year round.
