“Now, don’t be cross, Stet,” Sherrie pouted. “It was Daddy that suggested I come.”
Stet sighed.
“You know how set he was on our getting together. He has been quite depressed since I told him we broke up.”
“Sherrie, what are you talking about? We were barely even dating!”
“Well, that’s not how Daddy sees it. He thinks of you as the son he never had. He even wanted you to take over the company. And you have to be aware that your behavior can affect the company image.” Sherrie brought a handkerchief to her nose. “You shouldn’t be seen hanging out with this type of people.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. No one is gonna care how I spend my vacations.” Though he himself questioned this whole idea many times. He was going to pound Jared when he saw him again. But he felt a sudden desire to defend this place. “I like this type of people.” Stet started walking to the door. “You will be happy to know our privacy is protected here, not that I care. We all go by our first names, so no one will know who you are unless you tell them.”
Sherrie grabbed his arm. “Well, what about your self-image? This isn’t even close to a five-star resort. It smells, and you all look like hicks!”
Stet rolled his eyes. “I’ve got a splitting headache, and I’m going to bed. You should just turn around and go back to New York. I may leave in the morning myself since Jared isn’t coming.”
He sighed. He’d loved getting to know Abby. She was intelligent and fun, and his heart raced just being around her. Even their time in the doctor’s office was great—besides getting the stitches. He had never felt so close to a woman before. She seemed so compassionate and independent. He loved everything he knew about her, and he wanted to know more.
“Well, Daddy is going to be so disappointed. You know he really likes you, and that promotion you got last month was at my urging.” Sherrie ran her hand down his arm.
“Sherrie, that promotion was because I make the firm a lot of money. If your father is evaluating me on whether or not I will date his daughter, I might just be at the wrong company.” Stet left to go to his room, clenching his fists in an effort to not totally unload on Sherrie.
He was worried. He didn’t want to upset his position at the company yet. He was making a big stock purchase for his grandfather, and it would take some time to put it all together. Jayce Morgan would approve the proposal, he was sure, because of the money they’d make on commissions, but he didn’t want to risk trouble over Sherrie.
As Stet stomped out the door, he almost barreled over Henry, who had obviously been eavesdropping.
“Sorry, Henry, I didn’t see you there.”
Stet helped steady Henry, who frowned up at him. “Stet, that girl has nothing over Abby. It’s like night and day.”
Once Stetson was back in his room, someone knocked on his door.
Stet called out angrily, “Sherrie, I am not spending the evening talking to you.” He opened the door and felt his face heat with embarrassment when he saw Henry standing there.
“Can I come in Stet? I am at my wit’s end and wondered if you would be able to help me with a problem.”
“Oh sure, Henry. I would be happy to help. What can I do?” Stet held the door for him.
“Well, we purchased a herd of cattle for the back pasture, and the cowboys I normally hire to bring them down went to New Braunfels to help with last week’s floods. If you could come along with some other people I’m getting together, I think we can manage to get them trailered and down here. We’d be leaving at six, and it’ll take most of the day.”
“Sure, that actually sounds great. The way things are going here, I need to get away.” A little twelve hour roundup, miles away from Sherrie, would be great.
Chapter 5
Henry headed over to AJ’s door. He was a bit nervous about knocking on a beautiful, young woman’s door in the evening. He hoped she wouldn’t take offense.
AJ answered the door and smiled at him. “Henry, what can I do for you?”
“Well, actually I need a big favor. I heard you telling Stet that you have a lot of experience with horses. In spite of that fall you took into the lake.” He chuckled.
AJ laughed. “I had some help with that.”
He smiled and gave her the same spiel he’d given Stetson.
AJ sighed. “That would be perfect, Henry. I was actually hoping to get away tomorrow, so I’d love to help!”
“We’ll meet at the stables at six, then. Thank you so much Abby.”
This ranch house was getting much too crowded for Abby’s taste. Getting away tomorrow would be perfect. And Stet had a girlfriend—a simpering, whiny girlfriend—it was too much. She didn’t know how long she could tolerate being around Sherrie.
Stet’s girlfriend had pretty much ruined any chance she had to get to know him better. Which was probably for the best. He obviously loved city-living, and she wanted to move her company to the country.
AJ slept poorly that night, tossing and turning. She and Stet were out in the middle of Wyoming, racing their horses to the top of a ridge that overlooked a beautiful canyon below. There was a river and a lake and a herd of wild horses grazing. They were so beautiful. Then the scene changed to Fifth Avenue and a sea of taxis. She woke up sweating. It was five o’clock, so she got up and took a shower. She put her hair in a ponytail and didn’t bother with much makeup.
Chapter 6
I t was still a little dark outside when AJ headed for the stables. Just as she was walking around a large cattle trailer, she ran into Stet, who was coming around from the other side. He grabbed her around the waist to keep her from falling. And once she was steady, he didn’t let go of her.
“You’re going too?” She couldn’t hide her smile.
He didn’t answer. His hands rested on her waist as he searched her face.
She stood still, not wanting to be released. Her heart was pounding. His confident smile turned wistful and he looked like he was about to say something.
Henry walked up, breaking the moment, and handed them two cowboy hats. “You’re going to need some protection from the sun. Thanks so much for helping.”
Stetson put on his hat and gave AJ a very charming smile. “What do you think?”
AJ could not believe he was flirting with her when his girlfriend was back at the ranch house. But she had to smile. “Actually, Stet, you make that hat look good.” She put on her hat and gave him a coy look. “And how do I look?”
Stet took her in his arms and swung her around. “I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” He playfully pinched her cheek. “Even with no makeup.”
AJ blushed. She knew she shouldn’t be flirting with a man who already had a girlfriend, but she may never see him again after this week. He would just be a fun memory for her to pine over in years to come.
They piled into trucks, heading west, and two hours later they arrived at a ten thousand acre ranch. They saddled up, readying to go round up the tigerstripe Brangus cows that Rio Lago had purchased.
When Henry asked her what type of horse she thought she could handle, AJ answered, “Give me a great horse with some spirit. I rode and trained horses all my growing up years. It will be fun to have some good horseflesh under me again.”
Stetson smiled over at her. “I can’t even count how many roundups I’ve been on. I need a horse that follows commands and turns on a dime.”
So, he is not a stranger to the country after all.
AJ flashed him her best smile. He laughed and smiled back, looking like he was enjoying this day immensely.
* * *
Mary welcomed Sherrie down to breakfast at ten o’clock. Sherrie complained the water was not hot enough in her shower and that the bed gave her a backache.
“Well, my dear, if you want to have the hottest shower, you can’t be the last to take one. But I will have Henry turn up the water heater so your shower will be hot tomorrow.”
Sherrie retorted, “I am not sure
I will be here tomorrow. Stet said he’d be leaving now that Jared isn’t going to come.”
“Would you like me to call you a cab to the airport?” Mary offered.
“No, no. I have a limo on standby in town, so that will not be necessary.” Sherrie checked her phone. “Have you seen Stet?”
“Yes,” Mary answered. “He is off on a roundup. We purchased some cattle, and he went to help gather them up and bring them back here.”
“What? Why would he do that, for heaven’s sake? Isn’t he on vacation?”
“We’re a working ranch.” Mary smiled proudly. “Some guests choose to just fish or lay around in the hammocks, reading. But some take the opportunity to actually work a ranch while they are here.”
“What a racket! People actually pay to do your work for you?” Sherrie picked up a muffin then pursed her lips and dropped it back on the plate.
“Well, dear, they don’t do all the work.” Mary picked up the muffin Sherrie had handled and put it in the trash. “I have to get to the kitchen now to help Juanita prepare lunch and then get to the garden to pick some fresh veggies for dinner. Please make yourself at home,” Mary said as she left the room.
Mary shook her head. Sherrie was not a happy person. How could she be, finding fault in everything she sees? Stet seemed much too sharp a person to tie himself to someone like Sherrie.
* * *
The Brangus cattle they wanted were in the northwest corner of the ranch, according to the ranch scout. They all mounted up and headed toward the hill country. Henry gave assignments to the six of them, sending Stet and Abby out as partners. They were to return in about four hours with the cows.
Stet stopped to look at the topographical map. He couldn’t be happier with the way things were turning out. The longer he was away from Sherrie, the better. Perhaps she would even head home before they returned.
Her “daddy” had given her everything she wanted from the time she could walk. Now, apparently, she wanted Stet. He worried how far her father would go to appease her—and how much this would affect his job.
Abby’s eyes were lined with worry. “You are pretty quiet. Did you not want to come help?”
“Oh, no. This will be the best part of my day for sure. I couldn’t be happier.” Stet smiled warmly. “Let’s see what these horses can do.” He barely touched his quarter horse in the ribs, and she took off running.
Abby laughed. “No fair, you got a head start!” She gave her gelding a little foot pressure, and he was off and running as well.
They stopped at the canyon creek and looked at the map. Stet surveyed the sides of the canyon. “If I were a tigerstripe Brangus, I would want to be up on the shady side of this canyon, where the grass is still growing.”
Abby seemed impressed. “You know your cows. Pretty good for a stockbroker, I’d say.” She smiled questioningly.
Stet tipped his hat in acknowledgement. But he didn’t really want to talk about growing up on the ranch. “How hard can it be? I will take the high side of this canyon. If you head straight up the shady side, I’ll come down toward you—and I think we are going to find us some cows.”
“Okay, we’ll meet in the middle,” Abby agreed.
* * *
As Stet took off, AJ was impressed with how well he rode a horse. Obviously, he knew what he was doing. And to say he looked good didn’t even begin to express what she was feeling for him. Her whole way up the side of the hill, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
So what was the Sherrie story? AJ wondered. Stet didn’t seem hampered at all by her presence. His flirting was pretty outrageous under the circumstances. It was almost like he and Sherrie weren’t even dating. Some men flirted no matter what, but Stet just didn’t seem the type. He had too much character for shady relationships. She wished he would open up more, talk about himself.
AJ’s horse reared up suddenly and jumped to the right, throwing her off into the grass and rocks. He took off around the bend. She got up and dusted herself off. She looked around to see what had startled her horse. Then she saw it and screamed.
It had to be the largest rattlesnake she had ever seen. Its head was the size of a tennis ball, and it was swaying back and forth and looking right at her as it coiled up again. The snake must have struck at her horse.
She carefully backed up, knowing she just had a few seconds before the snake would strike again. Once she was out of range, she looked around to find her gelding. “Why don’t I have a gun?” she complained to herself. It was foolish to go out on a roundup without one.
* * *
Stet heard Abby’s scream and immediately turned around. After about twenty minutes, he came upon her tracks. It looked like she’d been thrown, and then he really became worried. As he was moving up the path, watching the tracks, he saw the biggest rattler he’d ever seen. “Now, aren’t you a beauty.”
He moved his horse far around the rattlesnake. Alarm growing, he called out, “Abby Jane!” He had to move fast. If she’d been bit, her life was in serious danger.
“Over here!” Abby cried. She was kneeling by her gelding, who was obviously suffering. When he joined her, she said, “Oh, Stet, can you do something? He was bit by a huge rattlesnake, and…” Abby trailed off. “Does he have a chance, do you think?”
“When I saw that snake, I thought you had been bitten.” Stetson took off his hat and wiped his brow, relieved that Abby was alright.
He rubbed his hand over the gelding’s body. The horse’s heart was racing, and his breath was fast and shallow. “We’re too far away for help, and I left my cellphone back at the ranch.” He looked over at Abby. “The poison has to be spreading fast. If his windpipes swell, he’ll die in five minutes. Do you have anything to keep his airway open?”
Stetson was taken back to his time growing up on the ranch and a lesson he’d learned right away, sometimes animals died and there was nothing you could do about it. When his prize calf had been bitten by a rattler, he had slept with it in the barn for five days, rubbing her back and dripping water into her mouth. The vet had put a tube into her throat so she could breathe, but she hadn’t liked it and had to be soothed until the swelling went down.
“Stet, do you have a gun?” Abby asked.
“No. And I’m sorry I don’t. Did they give us anything besides water in our saddle bags?”
“No. I looked in both. We just have canteens.” Abby sat back down next to Stet—handing him some water.
“All we can do is comfort him and hope he doesn’t swell. He has to be thirsty after losing that much blood.” Stet took off his bandana and soaked it with the canteen. “Let’s try dripping some of this water into his mouth.”
Stet rubbed the horse’s neck and talked softly to him. Abby crooned to the horse and shed more tears.
“This reminds me of my mare who died giving birth.” Abby said. Her voice was raw. “I never did bond with her foal. It wasn’t really his fault that Stacy died, but I just couldn’t transfer my affection, as beautiful as he was.”
Stet nodded. “I was just thinking of a prize calf I raised who was bitten by a rattler. She made it, but we had a vet’s help.”
Stet imagined Abby as a determined little girl. He had to smile. She must have been incredible.
“Thank you, Stet. I know I am being such a baby about this. It is so comforting that you know what to do.”
Stetson looked down at Abby and wiped a tear from her cheek. She shyly looked up into his face and smiled.
With one last sigh, the horse passed to the other side.
Abby shook her head. “This was my fault. I was so stupid, not paying attention to the trail. I should have seen that snake and gone around.” She stood up and stomped over to the creek.
Stet walked over behind her, marveling at the character of this amazing woman. She was so loving and kind—so real. She didn’t put on airs and didn’t mind admitting fault. Here she was, in the middle of nowhere, crying over an animal she only met an hour ago. He came up
behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. He turned her around, taking her into his arms.
Abby leaned her head against his shoulder. He held her close, trying to comfort her as she shed more tears. After she calmed down a little, she looked up and Stetson gently found her lips. He kissed her tenderly at first, just meaning to comfort her. But her sweetness, her strength, everything he admired about this woman rushed at him at once, and the kiss became so powerful he lost all sense of time and place. They were the only ones on the earth it seemed, and they were meant to be together.
Stet finally backed away. He wrapped a stray hair behind her ear. “It’s probably best we get back to the scout and let him know what happened.”
Abby swung up behind him on his horse, and they rode back to the camp. He loved the feel of her behind him. He used to think that all he ever wanted was a beautiful woman on the back of his horse while he rode his land. After a few minutes of a slow canter, he turned to her. “Do you mind if I really ride?”
Abby laughed. “Do you think I will fall off?”
“Is that a challenge?” he teased.
“Yes.” She grinned. “Go for it.”
With that, Stet took off galloping down the hillside. This was pure joy. The speed was freeing, and being with Abby was intoxicating. Stet was amazed at this woman who could cry one minute and ride like a fury the next.
As they rode up to the temporary camp, the scout ran over to them. “What happened?”
“Abby’s horse was bit by a rattlesnake the size of an anaconda, there wasn’t anything we could do, so we stayed with him until he died. He’s back in the canyon. If we can get another horse for Abby, we’ll go back and get the cows.”
The scout called another cowhand over to take the wagon and go take care of the horse.
Once they’d led the cowhand to Abby’s horse, they took off up the canyon to round up the cows. This time they stayed together.
Stet was impressed with Abby’s horsemanship. She was just as fast as Stet in chasing down the cows and turning them toward the bottom of the canyon. Stet was amazed at her strength and her endurance on the trail. She didn’t complain or quit.
Her Billionaire Cowboy Page 3
