by Rose Verde
She folded her arms across her chest. “No.”
Yates brows hiked. “No? First, you come late and now you’re throwing a tantrum.”
“You treat me like a charity case. I know you’re helping me, but if I’m getting in the way, let me know. I’ll just go now and not trouble you again.”
Yates stared at the spitfire before him and his heart melted at the defiant, no-backing-down look. “I’m dealing with something else. I don’t hate you.” Rather, I’m fighting my feelings for you. “Satisfied now?”
She frowned at him. “Okay. You want to talk about it?”
He swallowed his frustration. “No. We’re late.” He went into the barn and walked over to his horse, Rainbow. He was named for the different colors on his forehead. Yates took a cube of sugar out of his pocket and held it out to the horse who quickly grabbed it.
“What do I need to take?”
“Nothing. Everything else has been taken. Let’s go.”
She followed him, and soon they had the horse settled into the trailer he’d hitched to his truck earlier. Yates threw the key to her. Even though she hadn’t seen it coming, she caught it mid air. “Drive.”
She unlocked the truck door, her gaze not leaving his. Amira got in. Yates did too.
Seconds later, she pulled out and headed down the dirt road. “You see what I’m saying? It’s all orders now and I really would love to know what’s eating you up. I thought we were friends.”
He rolled his eyes. She’d never questioned him. He knew he was hard on her, and all he could think of was that he was protecting her heart. He liked the vivacious woman driving his truck like it was a toy. But he wasn’t sure if he was ready for a relationship yet. He and Kat had been on and off for the most part. Yet, it didn’t hurt any less that they were done for good. Plus, she was eight years his junior. What did that make him?
To avoid talking, he found a CD and slotted it in, then relaxed against the backrest.
Minutes later, they pulled in beside another trailer. Yates climbed out.
His senses were immediately assaulted by constant wails of complaint from the calves and the undeniable stench of manure. He was used to it after being at it for as long as he remembered.
Amira scrunched up her nose. This was her first branding. “Trust me, they don't smell like hamburgers now.”
“That’s quickly obvious,” she said giggling.
His brothers and brother-in-law were already at work sorting the calves for branding in the cattle pen.
Amira on his heels, they headed over to the corrals where all the commotion was happening, him leading Rainbow.
“Come closer to the action,” Morgan called out.
He turned to explain what was happening to Amira but she’d stopped a distance behind him, her gaze taking in the scene. He loved the look of pure admiration on her face and the smile that graced her pert lips.
“I see the lovely lady kept you,” Marc commented.
“Where’s your wife? I need her to come put you on a leash of sorts.” Yates ribbed his brother-in-law.
“She’s out there.” He pointed to the area set up for the family barbecue where Ronnie and a pregnant Lois were working. A few friends from around were helping with setting up the branding and vaccination site and they were chatting animatedly.
Amira walked over to where Walker and Devon were on the other side, knee-deep in the action. They had over two-hundred calves to brand. Yates tried not to listen to her questions and Walker’s response as he explained the basic steps of the operation to her. He felt a pang of jealousy. Ordinarily he would be the one explaining to her. But he was running from himself. She was supposed to be working for them, not him turning around and dating her. Ugh!
Yates joined in the work and tried to ignore Amira. Another half hour passed before the branding began.
The process was simple; four of them paired up to rope the calves, two people branded, two vaccinated. Amira was one of two helpers who held the calves steady while they were branded and vaccinated.
She seemed to be enjoying herself and chattered continuously with her partner.
After the first half were done, they took a little break to drink water and rest from the heat of the sun. A half hour later, they headed back to work.
“Can I try?” she asked him.
“You want to rope a calf?”
“Yeah. You taught me last summer.”
Yeah, that was when they started spending time together. “But not from the back of a horse.”
“I can ride. I’ll be really sad and probably throw a tantrum if I don’t try.”
Yates chuckled. “Okay. But I need you to rest as soon as you need to.”
She nodded, a huge grin on her face.
“What’s funny?” he asked.
“You’re not barking.”
Yates shook his head. “I don’t bark.” When they got to the coral, she got on his horse like she was born in the saddle. Yet, the first year she came, she couldn’t ride a horse. Yates had denied her application on that note but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. And here they were.
Amira had a difficult start, but working with Devon, she quickly caught on. Devon wasn’t called Mr. Serious for nothing. He was as dedicated as he was gentle and he was a great teacher. As Yates branded, he watched Amira’s determination shine through. She lightened up at Devon’s encouragement.
After another half hour, Yates signaled he needed to take over. She didn’t protest and he figured she was tired. Hiding a smile, he got back on his horse. To someone watching, the operation seemed simple enough, but it wasn’t.
Yates and Devon brought a calf over and as Amira and her partner tried to hold it down, it escaped. She dove for it. Before he could tell her to let it go, she tackled it to the ground but received a swift hoof to the face.
Yates swallowed a groan and closed his eyes briefly. That was a crazy thing to do.
She let the calf go, stood, her hand to her forehead.
“You should go see about your student,” Morgan said.
Yates climbed down and went to her. The work stopped for a moment. He took her hand off her face and the perfect print of a hoof stood out on her forehead. His pulse raced. “Come this way.”
He led her to where his dad and Marc’s father prepared the barbecue. Ronnie and Lois were setting up the table for food. “You got any ice there?” he asked.
“Yes,” Ronnie said. She was already grabbing the ice from the cooler. “What happened?”
“Amira got kicked in the face trying to arm wrestle a calf.”
“Aww, poor you,” Lois said.
Yates took the ice, led Amira to the shade of his truck and after she sat down, he squatted before her. His breath caught at the angry red bruise against her spotless brown skin. Yates bit his lips and held the ice to her head.
He could feel her gaze on him but he didn’t meet it. He needed his racing pulse to calm down.
“Just say it already. You think me stupid.”
“Trust me, you don’t want to know what I think.”
For now, he couldn’t even bring himself to ask her the questions he should be asking to know how she was feeling. She could’ve harmed herself worse.
Amira would be the death of him.
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PS: If you or anyone you know, is in an abusive relationship, please, seek help. You can call the domestic violence line in your area. Too many people have been victims without knowing it, or they knew and felt trapped for a number of reasons and couldn’t leave. The long term effect is a huge price to pay. Please, stay safe!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rose Verde is the author of Finding Love Medical Romance, The Cowboys of BlueSong and A Love Through Time series. She makes her online home right here!. You can connect with Rose on Twitter, on FaceBook, and you can send an email if that feels like something you’d want to do.
ALSO BY ROSE VERDE
Have you read them all?
In Finding Love Medical Series
WHISPERS OF LOVE
Jordyn Rivers has her work cut out for her with her new client. She also has to deal with her client’s brother who proves a bigger hurdle to overcome. Ty Warren thinks his sister’s nurse is incompetent and he makes that very clear. But as he watches her tenderness with his sister, he realizes there’s more to nursing than timetables, and maybe his jaded past is to be blamed for his reaction. His efforts change to aiding Jordyn. As they work together, and through their past, can he convince her to overcome her pain and fear, and give them a chance?
A CHANCE FOR LOVE
As an orphan, Kierra Nash is destined for life on the streets. A Christian agency provides her a second chance, getting her employment in the royal household of Prince Charles St. Vita. Her duty: take care of the spoiled eight-year-old, Princess Elsa who has already run off several nannies with her antics.
Prince Charles’ has never had anyone challenge his parenting skills, except the new nanny. And he’s ready to listen. As Kierra and Charles work together to help Elsa, an attraction grows between them. But can a prince and a street girl bridge their differences?
DESTINED IN LOVE
When bad boy Chase Calder returns to town to fill-in for another doctor, Ruby Campbell knows there will be trouble. Their last disastrous encounter reminds her to keep their relationship strictly professional.
Chase is second guessing his return to a town where people’s sins are never forgotten. And he has a fair share of those. To move on, he has to face his past sooner or later. He’s also determined to win the one person he’s hurt the most.
Ruby realizes as she works with Chase that he’s changed. Can he convince her to trust him again and give them a second chance?
HOME FOR LOVE
After the death of her husband, Allison Myers returns to her hometown for a fresh start. Estranged from her parents, and medical bills piled high, she struggles to take care of her two young children.
Dr. Jared Reid is intrigued by the young nurse who works on his shift. When he finds out the devastation she’s suffered, he offers her and her children the use of his remodeled basement. As the situation forces the two of them together, Jared finds it harder and harder to step away from the woman and two sweet children that have captured his heart. And the longer Allison depends on Jared, the more it will hurt when she has to leave.
If only she didn’t have to leave.
SECOND SHOT AT LOVE
Stormie Johnson’s neighbor continues to steal her designated parking spot, and she has to fix that once and for all. Except their discussion escalates into an argument. Not one to be confrontational, she chooses to ignore him. Until they meet again. In her classroom.
Dr. Jordan Price, a widower in a new city, has only two things on his mind—run a great ER team and care for his son. The attraction he has for his son’s new teacher is the last thing he needs. Can they set aside all those reasons for a Second Shot At Love?
In A Love Through Time Series
A TIME TO HEAL
Having dropped out of college to care for her sick mom before she passed years ago, Raven Jamison only has two things on her plan: go back to school and finally get her life together. Until then, she throws herself into volunteering at the Great Smoky Mountain.
After being medically discharged from the US Marines, Landon Kendall is faced with uncertainties on every side. When he gets invited to spend Thanksgiving at his friend's, he reluctantly agrees. The spark between him and Raven can't be denied and they fight their growing attraction to each other. But the dark cloud that hangs over Landon’s future proves there is no room for someone as fiery, fun-loving, and beautiful as Raven.
A TIME TO LAUGH
After breaking up with her boyfriend, along with the rollercoaster of emotion at home, Izzy needs time away. Not knowing what the future holds, she takes a trip to North Pole, Alaska to spend the holidays.
Luke finally gets promoted to the coveted position of hotel manager. But, he’s faced with the reality that the demands of his job will take him away from his little girl. Finding a nanny in the middle of the Christmas season would be no walk in the park. He enlists the help of his aunt who owns a local inn.
That’s where he meets Izzy, an out of towner who seems to be taken with his daughter. Except that Izzy is on vacation, not babysitting duties. Convincing herself that it’s only temporary, she agrees to watch the young girl. When sparks fly, Izzy wonders if she’s made a wrong decision in agreeing. The secret she is hiding is bound to tear them apart.
A TIME TO LOVE
When Autumn Bryson's meddling aunt signs her up for a honeymoon cruise, Autumn concludes that her aunt has just upped the ante in her numerous schemes to marry Autumn off. Or, just maybe husbands fell from heaven these days. Then her ill mother takes a turn for the worst and her dying wish is to see her daughter married. But to go on a honeymoon cruise requires being recently married ... and that Autumn is not.
Preston is focused on his job and caring for his child. When his boss proposes to him, he’s hesitant to agree. Sure, he likes her, a lot. But – marriage? Except that what starts as an arrangement becomes love unexpected and a family for both of them.
A TIME TO DANCE
Wedding planner Kathy Murray snags a high-profile client for a spring wedding at her family inn. A dream come true for her. But then, her brother insists their friend, her teenage crush, brings his expertise into play. Kathy plans to keep her heart on a leash and do her job.
For Mike Pierce, helping his friend pull off a wedding and bring some much-needed publicity to the family inn is his way of paying back years of friendship. Kathy doesn’t seem to want him around for reasons he cannot fathom. But he’s determined to win her trust and heart in the process.
Is the wedding weekend enough to undo whatever mistrust she has for him? Is it enough time for Kathy to let go and let love?
In Cowboys of BlueSong Series
SAVING AMY JAYDEN
After the news of her father's accident, Amy Jayden returns to the ranch and the memories she'd abandoned long ago. Hoping to be in and out quickly, her plans are crushed when her father doesn't make it. With a heavy heart and a soul riddled with guilt, she has to decide what to do with the ranch her father left to her.
Nevada Logan, foreman of the Water Hole Ranch, is broken to find out his boss and close friend is gone. He has no trust in the daughter who would rather sell than hold on to her father's legacy. The two find themselves bumping heads at every turn. That is ... until love finds its way into each of their hearts.
LOVING ROYALTY
When Prince Eric Arthur Phillips gets left at the altar, all he wants is to escape somewhere for a few days. Then he sees the botched wedding in the papers. Fleeing to rural Ontario, he takes up a job as a ranch hand. Against all he tells himself, a certain horse jumper grabs his heart.
Jorda
n Holt's boyfriend has quit on her because she cannot remember him. Recovering from an accident that left her with amnesia, she's creating new memories. Love is the last thing on her mind, until she meets Eric. She doesn't know he's royalty. Does their relationship stand a chance when she finds out? Can they let go and let God?
LASSOED BY LOVE
When magazine journalist Chrystolle Spencer gets the call to house-watch for her cousin, she declines, knowing her slave-driving boss will never give her the time off. But then, he gives her the task of coming up with a jaw dropping article or packing her bags. Torn between helping her cousin and keeping her job, she comes up with a way to please them both.
Wyatt Danner hasn't been on a bull since the accident that almost left him crippled. But he refuses to give up on his dream and is itching to get back to it. When he agrees to feed his neighbors animals while they are away, he has no idea what is in store. When Wyatt and Chrissy meet, they clash in ways that neither of them are ready for. Will they be able to deal with the feelings that crop up between them or the complications that arise in the process?
DEDICATION
I’d like to first thank God for giving me the gift of storytelling. Without Him, I can do nothing. Thank you to my family who encourage me and my kids who are proud of their author mom. Also, a special thanks to my great friends who read this book and gave their opinion. Your advice and critiques are greatly appreciated. To my editor, Lisa DeBartolomao, thank you!
Copyright © 2020 by Rose Verde
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Loving Her Cowboy Boss is a work of fiction. All Characters and incidents are from the author’s imagination. Any similarities to real people, living or dead, are purely coincidental.
