The Cowboy Billionaire

by Lorana Hoopes

  “I’ll definitely keep it in mind.” He flashed her a quick wink for good measure. “I’m actually here to do a story on small town life. I’d love to get your input on running an inn in a small town since your place here seems so nice.”

  A fierce pink spread across her cheeks just as he’d expected it would. “It’s really more of a bed and breakfast than an inn due to the personal attention I give each guest,” she batted her eyes at him slightly, “but that was a little long to put on a sign, so I went with inn.”

  Hunter nodded as if he understood though in reality he couldn’t care less. No matter what personal attention she offered, he doubted this place was up to his usual standards. “I bet my readers would still love it, Mrs.?” He drew out the last word to emphasize the point she hadn’t given her name yet.

  “Sanders,” she said with a smile, “but it’s Miss, and you can call me Dixie.”

  “Sounds good, Dixie. So, that room?”

  “Oh yes.” She turned back to her computer and began tapping the keys. A moment later, a printer whirred to life from underneath the desk, and she placed a paper on the counter for him to scan. “There’s a menu with the options we offer for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day in your room. Checkout is by eleven a.m. of the day you want to leave and quiet hours begin at nine thirty p.m.”

  Hunter paused his perusal of the contract to lift a brow at her. “Quiet hours?”

  Dixie shrugged and offered an embarrassed smile. “The town pretty much shuts down at nine, and we have a few older folks who stay here as well as the neighbors, so it works out for everyone.”

  “I see.” As Hunter scribbled a fake name across the signature bar, he began revising the plan he’d devised. He would need to speed up his timeline before he lost his mind in this small town.

  “Okay, I have you in room two. It’s just up the stairs, but I can take you there if you’d like.” Dixie’s smile reminded him of an eager puppy greeting an owner who’d been out all day as she held out the key and stared up at him.

  “I think I’ll be okay,” Hunter said, taking the key from her. Disappointment colored her features as the corners of her smile fell, and Hunter hurriedly spoke again to re-engage her. “But I do have one more question that I’m hoping you can answer. I was hoping to do a story on a rancher or a farmer as well. Do you know who would be best to talk to?”

  “Well, there’s the Roper and Morrison ranch on the east side of town. I think there might be a few more, but I’m not sure of their names. There used to be more on the west side, but I’ve heard that many have sold to some company. However, I think the Keller ranch is still out there. Maybe a few others.”

  Keller. That was exactly the name he was looking for. Obtaining her location was going to be easier than he thought. “Wonderful, can you give me an address or a road name?”

  As if pleased to be helpful again, her face lit up once more. “Sure. I’ll print you out a map and have it here for you when you’re ready.”

  “Thank you.” Hunter flashed Dixie another wink before heading up the stairs she had pointed to earlier. The walls of the upstairs looked much like the ones he had seen downstairs - an eclectic mix of landscape paintings ranging from beaches to mountains to deserts. He wasn’t sure if Dixie had decorated the inn herself, but whoever had definitely lacked the design eye. The place was neat and well cared for, but he wouldn’t call it stylish.

  That opinion deepened as he inserted the key into the handle of room two and pushed the door open. Painted a simple tan color, the walls themselves weren’t offensive, but the desert-themed bedspread combined with the matching pictures on the wall sent Hunter’s stomach churning. He could not imagine spending one night here much less seven. This property had better be worth it.

  4

  Daisy

  Daisy sighed as she sifted through the mail and saw another letter from Garrison and Sons. The firm’s first offer had come about a month ago, and after quickly scanning it, Daisy had tossed it in the trash. It hadn’t even been a starting point, and she’d had no desire to sell anyway.

  The next offer had come roughly a week later. They’d upped their offer, but it still wasn’t enough for Daisy. It had, however, been enough for Ethel Grimrose, who’d owned the land next door. Though Daisy hadn’t wanted her to sell, she couldn’t fault the woman. She was older - in her early sixties - and she’d been working the farm mostly by herself since her husband had passed. Daisy had known the woman’s heart was no longer in it, but she had hoped she would have the money to buy Ethel’s land before she threw in the towel. Evidently, the owner of the land on the other side of Daisy had also sold which left her in the unenviable position of being the problem holdout.

  With trembling fingers, she tore open the envelope and unfolded the paper. Daisy wasn’t surprised to see they’d upped their offer. Without her land, the company would have a hard time doing whatever they planned. Still, she didn’t know if it was enough. She’d told herself she wouldn’t consider it no matter what, but the offer was decent. With it, she’d be able to purchase a smaller house for herself, Cody, and Fanny and give the men a sizable severance pay, but then what? She had no idea what she would do next and she knew the severance pay wouldn’t be enough for Carlos to bring his family here.

  “What are you doing, Daisy? It’s after nine.” Fanny stood in the doorway of the kitchen, her hair already up in curlers and her frayed and well-loved robe belted around her waist.

  “Just thinking.” Daisy pushed the paper toward her aunt. She hadn’t told Fanny about the offer yet, but if she was considering taking it, then Fanny deserved to know.

  Fanny sat down across from her and picked up the paper. Her eyes widened slightly as she read it. “What is this?”

  “An offer to buy the ranch,” Daisy said matter-of-factly. She’d thought that was obvious from the wording.

  “I know that, but why do you have it? Why didn’t you tear it up as soon as it came?”

  “I wanted to, but the truth is, Aunt Fanny, that money is tight. Ethan took out a few loans the year he died and though his insurance paid them off, there wasn’t much left. I’ve managed to save some by letting a few of the men go, but we need to start bringing money in. The fence repairs and the recent drought hurt us.”

  “Then we figure it out together.” Fanny folded the paper and slid it back across the table. “We don’t give up and we don’t sell. This is our home. Cody’s home. I don’t think another big transition like moving would be good for him.”

  Daisy sighed again. She had wrestled with the same thought. On one hand, a new home that didn’t have memories of his father might be good for Cody, but Daisy worried a move would have the opposite effect and send him deeper into his depression. “I know and I’m open to ideas, but I’m fresh out. I can’t get another job, and I don’t have time for anything on the side.”

  Fanny stood and walked to the stove. “What if we rented a few of the rooms?” she asked as she placed the kettle on and turned the burner up.

  “Why would anyone want to rent a room here?” Daisy asked. “We’re out in the middle of nowhere.”

  Fanny shook her head as she grabbed two tea bags from the pantry and then two mugs from the cupboard above. “You’re thinking too small. What’s the best part about living out here?”

  Daisy didn’t have to think long on that answer. It was the first thing she’d fallen in love with when she visited from the city and the first thing she’d made sure to do when she moved here. “Seeing the stars at night.”

  “Exactly.” Fanny pointed a finger at her. “So, we sell it as a getaway from city life - a place to relax, recharge, and see the stars. I can teach people how to cook and crochet. You can show them ranch life if they’re interested. It’s more than a getaway, it’s an experience. Plus, maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll have kids for Cody to play with.”

  The idea did sound intriguing, and if it worked, it would be a way to bring in some extra income without a lot of e
xtra work, but… “But there’s already an inn in town, Aunt Fanny. I’d hate to take business away from Dixie.”

  “Psh.” Fanny waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “First of all, we’re offering something she can’t. Second, there have been many times that the inn has filled up and I took people in at my old house. The fourth of July festival is this weekend, and I’ll bet she’s already booked. We could take the overflow.”

  Daisy had forgotten that. Fanny had almost been running a bed and breakfast out of her home with as many times as she’d taken extra visitors in, so this wouldn’t be much of a stretch for her, and Fanny was right - the ranch offered something different from the inn in town. Perhaps there could be enough business for both of them. It wouldn’t even have to be much, just enough to get through until she could sell the calves. “That might work, but how do we go about letting people know? I’m no expert in marketing.”

  “You leave that to me,” Fanny said as the kettle began to whistle. She shut off the burner and poured water into each mug before bringing them to the table. “I’m well enough known in town that I can make sure the word gets out, and I know Sam has started marketing her business. Maybe she and Brent can help us out.”

  Sam was the town mechanic and auto shop teacher who had married a billionaire actor turned novelist who’d gotten stranded in town, and Fanny had played a hand in getting them together. That didn’t surprise Daisy as Fanny had a reputation for getting couples together. She’d even hinted that Daisy should step back into the dating arena. Unfortunately, Soda Spurs did not boast a large population of single men and the few it did hadn’t managed to garner Daisy’s interest.

  “Okay, Aunt Fanny, we’ll see if your plan works.” Though Daisy wanted nothing more than for her aunt’s idea to work, she also needed to think of other ways to bring money to the ranch. Perhaps she could increase the egg production or find a few new buyers. Her mind played through the possibilities as she finished her tea.

  5

  Hunter

  After a quick breakfast and perusal of the map Dixie had left, Hunter headed toward Daisy’s ranch. Though flat, he supposed he could see the beauty of the area as the sky filled with pinks and oranges. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen a sunrise, and while it wasn’t necessarily a place he would want to go to relax, he could understand why some people would enjoy it.

  The truck bumped over the uneven ground as he turned down the road toward Daisy’s ranch. He wasn’t exactly sure which one it was since addresses were harder to see out here, but he was pretty sure the movement and lack of a “sold” sign out front would point him to the right place.

  Sure enough, about a mile down the road, he saw a ranch with no sign outside. He could see cows grazing in the field and hear the cacophonous sounds of chickens and pigs. Turning into the long driveway, he practiced his story again. He didn’t know Daisy, but somehow he doubted just showing up and telling her who he was and why they wanted her land would go over well with her. So, he’d invented a cover story. It was flimsy, but hopefully, she would buy it.

  Though older, her ranch appeared to be in good condition, and he tried to picture a dude ranch filling the area as he approached her front door. Other than horses, he wasn’t sure how a dude ranch was different from the current ranch.

  He knocked on the door and waited. The seconds ticked by, and he was about to raise his hand again when the door swung open. Hunter’s mouth dropped open in surprise. He hadn’t seen a picture of Daisy, but from Goldman’s insinuation that flirting with her would help, Hunter had assumed she would be close to his age. Instead, the woman staring back at him had white hair and more wrinkles than he could count.

  “Yes?” she asked in a stern voice. “What do you want?”

  “Are you Daisy Keller?” Hunter could hear the hesitation and confusion in his voice, and he swallowed to squelch it.

  “Gracious sakes, no.” The woman let out a sound that was either a deep laugh or a snort. “I’m her aunt.” Her eyes narrowed and scanned Hunter from head to toe. “Who are you and what do you want with her?”

  This woman might be small, but there was a fierceness that exuded from every inch of her body. Hunter had no doubt she had been a woman few would tangle with in her youth. “My name is Hunter Goldsby.” He’d decided to keep his first name because it would be much harder to remember to respond to another name. The best way to lie was to do as little as possible. “I’m doing a story on small town life and was hoping to interview a rancher. Dixie over at the inn suggested I speak with Daisy.” Dixie had actually given him several names and Daisy’s had been near the bottom, but Hunter kept that fact to himself.

  “Oh, she did, did she?” There was a suspicion in her voice, but Hunter was unsure if it was due to him or Dixie’s name. “Well, Daisy is out back taking care of the animals. I don’t know that she’ll have time to talk to you, but I’ll take you there and let her decide. Follow me.”

  Hunter moved to step into the house and found himself colliding with the woman’s hand which was surprisingly strong.

  “Not through the house.” She looked at him as if he had lost what little sense she expected he had. “Strangers don’t go through the house. They go around the house.”

  Right. He’d always heard that small town folk were trusting, kept their doors unlocked and such, but perhaps that didn’t apply when strangers were involved.

  He followed her around the side of the house, surprised at how spry she seemed. For someone clearly getting along in age, she didn’t seem to be letting it get the best of her.

  As they rounded the back corner, the sounds of the animals grew louder and then a female voice filled the air. “Hold your horses. The food is coming.”

  When she came into view, Hunter’s heart skipped slightly in his chest. Her long blonde hair was tied in a low ponytail, but wisps of it lifted and danced in the breeze. A tan cowboy hat sat low on her head, covering her eyes, but he could see the point of her chin and the slender neck that protruded beneath it. A red and white flannel shirt graced her petite shoulders and narrowed to a set of slim hips clad in a pair of form-fitting denim jeans. Confidence oozed from the way she carried herself. A boy with blond hair stood at her side though he looked as if he’d rather be anywhere else.

  “Daisy, you got a second?” the woman hollered as they neared.

  Daisy? An interesting name, but as she turned to face them, Hunter found it appropriate. Her face reminded him of a flower. Little to no makeup adorned her face, but she didn’t need it. Soft pink lips and eyes the color of a sapphire held his attention.

  “What is it, Aunt Fanny?”

  “This is Hunter Goldsby. He’s doing a story on small town life and was hoping to interview you about owning a ranch.”

  Daisy barely afforded him a glance before she shook her head. “I don’t have time to give an interview. Try the Roper or Morrison ranch on the other side of town. They might have time for you.”

  The boy, however, stared at him with wide blue eyes. “Are you from the city?”

  Hunter blinked at the boy, unsure if he should answer him or ignore him. Children were not his specialty, but he’d dated a few women who had children from previous relationships. He’d been able to charm them just as well as the women. He turned on his smile and held his hand out to the boy. “That’s right. I’m from Dallas. Have you ever been there?”

  The boy’s mouth turned down. “No, I’ve never been anywhere but here. Mom says maybe we’ll go someday if we get the-”

  “Cody, that’s enough,” Daisy said, cutting him off. Whatever her son had been about to say, she clearly didn’t want him to hear. “I’m sorry you came out here for nothing, Mr. Goldby, but we have work to do.”

  “It’s Goldsby,” he said, wondering if she had messed up his name on purpose, “and there’s financial compensation for you in it.” He wasn’t sure if that was the right thing to say to her, but he figured it was worth a shot after the way she stopped her son fro
m sharing.

  She paused, then slowly turned back to him. “How much?”

  Hunter thought quickly. How much would be enough to make it worth her while but not seem outlandish? How much would get her to agree but not put her in a position to make his job harder? He honestly had no idea. “A thousand dollars.”

  “A thousand dollars?” The boy’s eyes grew even wider as he looked from Hunter to his mother and back again.

  Daisy narrowed her eyes and walked back to him, her steps purposeful and firm. “You want to pay me a thousand dollars to sit down with you for a few minutes and discuss life on a ranch?”

  Crud! He could tell from the incredulous tone of her voice that he had clearly overshot his target, so he said the first thing that came to his mind. “No, but I’ll pay you a thousand dollars to take me through life on the ranch. Teach me what you do.”

  She tilted her head at him as her eyes scanned him from head to toe. Finally, her eyebrow lifted. “You want to do what I do?”

  Yikes! What had he gotten himself into? He didn’t want to do what she did; he had no desire to get his hands dirty. Not at all, but he was kind of stuck now. If he backed out, she would suspect him - if she didn’t already. “Yes, consider me a method actor. What better way to be able to write about it than by doing it?”

  He waited as she considered his offer. “I’ll tell you what. You make it twenty-five hundred and I’ll let you shadow me for one whole week. I’ll teach you what I know and let you get your hands dirty. If you don’t have the time or the money, then I don’t either.”

  Hunter swallowed. Twenty-five hundred dollars was a drop in the bucket, but working with her for a week? Doing what she did? That looked like more torture than any bill could ever be. Even staying in this town that long seemed like torture. Still, what choice did he have? “Deal.”

  “Good, you can start today. I’ll teach you how to feed the chickens. I was teaching Cody here anyway.”