Meant to Be My Cowboy

by R. C. Ryan

  “Comes with the territory.” Jonah set aside the pitchfork and grabbed the handles of the wagon, pushing it out the side door of the barn.

  Minutes later, he returned and set it alongside the wall while Casey and Brand finished spreading fresh straw in the empty stalls.

  As the three brothers headed toward the house, Casey tried for one more bit of information.

  “So. What did the beautiful Annie order for supper?”

  “Burgers and chili.”

  “So she not only looks good, but she has good taste in food as well.”

  “That would be a yes. And when I learn more, I’ll be happy to share it with the two of you.”

  “What makes you think she’ll be back?”

  Jonah gave one of his famous lazy smiles. “Because I figure she’s having this same conversation about me, bro.”

  The three were roaring with laughter as they washed up in the mudroom and made their way to the kitchen for breakfast.

  The rest of the family was already there, sipping either coffee or Billy’s freshly squeezed orange juice while they gathered around the fireplace, discussing the weather, always uppermost in the minds of ranchers.

  Bo looked over at his sons. “They’re saying it will be a long, hot summer.”

  Brand brushed a kiss on Avery’s cheek before picking up a mug of steaming coffee. “After that last spring blizzard, I’m ready for all the heat I can get.”

  “Amen to that.” Gramps Egan smiled at his wife. “Meggie and I were just saying the summers keep growing shorter while the winters get longer every year.”

  “Bull burps.” Ham, who would soon turn ninety-one, had learned to edit his cuss words when the women were around. “Winters today aren’t anything like the ones in the old days. Why, when I was—”

  “…just ten years old,” his three great-grandsons said in one voice, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

  Ham shot them the hairy eyeball before turning to Avery and Kirby, who were new enough to the family to still hang on his every word. “When I was no bigger’n a pup, I was already hiking the Tetons alone, in search of game, while my pa was tending the herd. It was nothing for me to be gone for a week or more. But I never came home empty-handed, or we’d have starved.”

  “You could’ve always killed one of the cows,” Casey said reasonably.

  “We needed every one of those cows for money. It wasn’t like now, with a thousand head of cattle. We were lucky to make enough at the end of a season just to—”

  “…keep body and soul together,” his three great-grandsons finished in unison, bringing another round of laughter.

  Gram Meg put an arm around her father-in-law’s shoulders and kissed his cheek. “You know they love you, Hammond. This is their way of having fun at your expense.”

  He gave her a piercing look. “Don’t defend them, Margaret Mary Finnegan. They’re being smart alecks, and you know it.”

  “Breakfast is ready,” Billy called.

  Gram Meg winked at Brand, Casey, and Jonah as she led the way to the table, hoping to steer the conversation in a new direction.

  “Great breakfast, Billy,” Casey said as he caught Kirby’s hand. “Ready to head into town, babe?”

  She nodded.

  “While you’re there…” Gram Meg jotted down several items and handed the list to Kirby.

  The young woman paused. “Want to come with us?”

  At the invitation, Gramps Egan spoke for both of them. “We promised Buster and Trudy we’d stop by today.”

  As Jonah started toward the door, Brand called, “Want anything in town?”

  Jonah shook his head.

  “You headed to your cabin?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  Outside, he followed the path to the barn, then veered off and crossed a meadow before starting into the woods.

  The air was cooler here, the sunlight filtered through the canopy of fresh spring leaves overhead.

  Jonah loved this stretch of woods. As a boy, he’d claimed it for his own private retreat, where he’d fashioned a tree house that could only be entered by hauling himself up by a series of ropes and pulleys. Though Brand and Casey had often teased him by hiding the rope or even cutting it, they’d finally given up, leaving him to his own devices.

  Even when he’d outgrown the tree house, he’d continued feeling a need to come here, simply to restore his soul. It was far enough from the ranch to afford the privacy he craved, yet near enough that he could hike home in time for supper. After the publication of his first novel, he’d built a rough cabin and equipped it with a bed and bathroom, a desk, and a tiny kitchen. That first novel had broken records, hitting the best-seller list and remaining at the top for more than six months.

  Since then, he’d added more comforts to the cabin, building a stone fireplace and hewing a mantel from a fallen log. He’d discovered that he loved working with his hands, especially while mulling plot twists. He’d fashioned a glass-topped coffee table over a base made from a petrified tree trunk. A glacial boulder with bits of copper and silver veins served as a pedestal for one of his many awards.

  Lately, caught up in his current work in progress, he often remained locked away in his woods overnight, emerging only when he felt the need to join his loud, raucous family and lend a hand with the ranch chores. Though his brothers teased him endlessly, he knew they understood his need for solitude and took as much pride in his success as he did.

  He opened the door and walked around, cranking open the windows until the entire inside of the cabin was as fresh as a spring breeze and smelled of pine forest.

  Turning on his laptop, he settled at his desk and felt a wave of annoyance when his cell phone rang.

  He looked at the caller ID and brightened. “Hey, Max.”

  His agent, Max Friend, had a calm, relaxed manner that had endeared him to Jonah from their first meeting. “Jonah. Good news. Secrets and Lies is still number one.”

  “That’s great news, Max. Thanks for letting me know.”

  “There’s more where that came from.” Max paused for dramatic effect. “I just heard from the producer of Hello, World. They’re hungry for an interview.”

  “You know what I—”

  “I told them you’ve already refused to fly to New York, London, Paris, or Rome. So the mountain will come to you. Or rather to J. R. Merrick’s remote cabin in Wyoming.”

  “No, Max.”

  “Wait. Listen. They’re willing to fly their entire crew, at great expense, I might add, to your neck of the woods and set up shop wherever, whenever you say.”

  “I’m flattered. But it’s still no.”

  “Jonah, do you know how many writers would kill for this opportunity?”

  “I don’t want to sound ungrateful but—”

  “They love you, Jonah. They love your book. And the speculation that the fictional town in Secrets and Lies could actually be Devil’s Door has them clamoring for details. Especially since there are rumors that the mysterious fire that killed the hero’s wife could be”—he paused, choosing his words carefully—“deeply personal.”

  There was a moment of silence before Jonah spoke. His tone held a thread of steel that hadn’t been there seconds earlier. “That deadly fire may have had its genesis in one fact, but everything else is pure fiction.”

  “Great. Then you can tell that to Duchess, and she’ll have her audience drooling for more.”

  “No.”

  “Jonah, Duchess has the most popular show in the world. She’s the only one to ever hold an international audience in the palm of her hand. The whole world knows her by name. A simple interview with Duchess and your sales will skyrocket.”

  “I’m sorry, Max.”

  There was a long, deep sigh. “I’m not going to give up. There has to be a way to get you to see how important this is to your career.”

  Jonah’s smile returned. “It’s my career, Max. Not my life. Here in Devil’s Door, my life consists of w
earing last year’s jeans, mucking stalls and doing a hundred other ranch chores, and having a beer at the local bar. And I’m not about to change that for a TV interview. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to get to work.”

  “You do that. But if you don’t mind, I’ll call you tomorrow. Maybe you’ll have a fresh attitude.”

  “Bye, Max.” Jonah tucked his cell phone in his shirt pocket and bent to his computer.

  Chapter Three

  Jonah backed up his work for the day before shoving away from his desk. Pressing a hand to his back, he crossed the room and poured himself a cup of lukewarm coffee.

  It had been a good writing day, even though it had taken a while to clear his mind after Max’s phone call. He really liked Max, had since their first meeting in New York. They’d introduced themselves via a series of emails when Jonah was completing his first manuscript and beginning the search for an agent. After reading a couple of chapters, Max could hardly contain his excitement. He’d asked for the rest, insisting this was something he knew he could place with a publisher. A congratulatory phone call had followed, and when the two finally met in New York City, Jonah was pleased to learn that Max Friend was someone he could work with for a lifetime. The connection was instantaneous, and Jonah considered Max a friend as well as his agent.

  He knew Max would continue to push for more publicity. And though he was just as willing to push back, he couldn’t fault Max for trying. He understood the game. Publicity sold books. Max was in the business of making his clients as much money as possible, thereby making more for himself. The only trouble with that was Jonah’s insistence to continue living his life as he always had. He had more than enough money to live comfortably. He really didn’t want to change his life in significant ways. He had drawn a line between his private life and his public one, and he was determined that no one and nothing would cross it.

  J. R. Merrick the writer was successful and famous.

  Jonah Merrick the rancher was a citizen of Devil’s Door, Wyoming, who shared ranch chores with his family and lived as he always had.

  Max would just have to get used to it.

  Jonah finished his coffee and rinsed his cup in the sink before pausing in front of the window. The wildlife in the woods offered a never-ending show for his enjoyment.

  Standing in front of the cabin was a deer nibbling the wildflowers Jonah had admired on his way in this morning. Now they’d become lunch for a hungry animal. A chipmunk climbed onto the plank resting on two sawhorses that Jonah used as a table when he felt the urge to work outside. He’d left a handful of peanuts there, and the chipmunk’s cheeks were soon puffed out as it stood stuffing even more into its mouth.

  Suddenly the deer’s head came up sharply, and it froze before starting away.

  The chipmunk made a dash down the sawhorse and disappeared under a layer of leaves.

  Frowning, Jonah looked around to see what had spooked the animals. A hiker came into view. As he watched, the figure drew closer and he found himself smiling at the sway of a dark ponytail tucked beneath a baseball cap.

  Annie. The stranger at Nonie’s.

  It was evident, by the way she kept looking down, that she hadn’t yet spotted his cabin. No surprise. It blended so perfectly into the woods around it an unsuspecting stranger could nearly bump into it before realizing it was there.

  As he watched, she stepped over a fallen log and lifted her head. He could see the surprise on her face as she halted midstride.

  He opened the door and stepped outside. “Hi, there.”

  Her eyes widened. “Hello. Sorry, am I trespassing? I was told that this was public land.”

  “A natural mistake if you aren’t familiar with the area. The public land is just beyond these woods, leading to the foothills of the Tetons.”

  She started to turn away. “I’m sorry for intruding.”

  “No apology needed.” He stepped closer. “You’re new to the area.”

  She nodded. “The weather is so perfect I thought I’d spend my day off hiking. I couldn’t bear the thought of being indoors on a day like this.”

  He nodded toward the cabin. “I’ve been inside for hours and I’m ready to breathe fresh air. Mind if I join you?”

  She was silent for a long moment, and Jonah was preparing himself for a rejection. Then her lips curved up in a guarded smile. “I guess since you live here, I won’t have to worry about getting lost or trespassing on someone else’s private land.”

  He offered a handshake. “Jonah.”

  “Hi, Jonah. I’m Annie. Didn’t I see you at the saloon last night?”

  “That’s where everybody in Devil’s Door congregates on Friday night. Nonie’s Wild Horses Saloon. You didn’t stay.”

  “I’m not good with crowds.”

  “How was the chili and burger?”

  She chuckled. “You were paying attention.”

  “I couldn’t help overhearing.”

  “They were perfect.” She nodded toward a path in the woods. “Want to head that way?”

  “Sure thing.” He fell into step beside her as they navigated through dense woods until they reached a high meadow.

  “Oh.” That single word conveyed Annie’s delight as she paused to look around. The range grass was knee-high and dotted with colorful wildflowers. A fresh breeze caused the grass to ripple, giving the effect of a giant ocean wave.

  She lifted the sweaty baseball cap off her head and tore the band from her ponytail, allowing the breeze to lift her hair, completely unaware of the way Jonah’s eyes narrowed on her.

  On the far side of the meadow, a herd of mustangs foraged while their leader, a black stallion, stood watch from a rise.

  Spotting humans, he reared up and whinnied a warning. The mares drifted into a stand of trees until, within minutes, they were invisible.

  Annie put a hand to shade the sun from her eyes as she watched their progress. “Were those wild horses?”

  Jonah nodded. “There are a dozen or more herds of mustangs in the area.”

  “They’re so beautiful.”

  He smiled. “I couldn’t agree more. I like the fact that they live the way they always have. Free to roam wherever they please.”

  “I’d been told I might be lucky enough to spot a herd of wild horses one day. I can’t believe I saw them on my first time out.”

  “You’re one of the lucky ones. Lots of people hike these hills and never spot them. As you noticed, they’re not exactly fond of humans.”

  “I wish I’d thought to grab a couple of photos.” She touched her pocket. “I was too caught up in the moment.”

  “There’s always next time.”

  “Oh, I hope there’s a next time.”

  They hiked in silence for a while, until Jonah touched a hand to her arm. Startled, she drew back until she realized he was signaling her to look to her left.

  “Oh.” The word came out in a sigh as she stared at the same mustang herd.

  This time the stallion hadn’t yet spotted them, giving Annie time to remove her cell phone and snap several pictures.

  By the time the herd moved on, her smile was radiant. “Thank you. I was so determined to avoid stumbling over that tumble of rocks I’d have completely missed the mustangs if you hadn’t given me a warning.”

  “I guess the lesson is, when you’re out here in the middle of nowhere, don’t spend all your time looking down.” He was studying her with a steady look that had her blushing. “Sometimes you just have to pause and take in the amazing view.”

  Something in his tone, and that piercing look he was giving her, told her he wasn’t just talking about nature now.

  She felt the heat rush to her cheeks and had to swallow before she managed a smile. “Well, I suppose we should be turning back. How far do you think we’ve come?”

  “Far enough to get your pictures. Close enough that you’ll get home in plenty of time for any plans you’ve made for a Saturday night.”

  “No plans. I’m still s
ettling in. I haven’t even unpacked most of my boxes yet. I just arrived a few days ago.”

  “Where are you staying?”

  “I’m renting an apartment over Julie Franklyn’s salon in Devil’s Door. Do you know of it?”

  “Yeah.” He smiled. “Where are you from?”

  She took a great deal of time before answering. “California.”

  “That’s a big state. Any place in particular?”

  She shrugged. “The Bay Area.”

  “San Francisco? Pretty place. Though I have to say, I’ve never found any part of the country prettier than right here.”

  “You think maybe you’re just a little bit biased?”

  His smile was quick and sexy. “Maybe a little.”

  “Have you traveled a lot?”

  “Enough to know this is where I want to be.”

  “You’re lucky.” When he glanced over, she found herself babbling to cover the heat that rushed to her cheeks. “I mean, some people never find that special place where they feel they belong for a lifetime.”

  “I’m sorry for them.” He nodded toward a barely perceptible trail in the woods. “That way leads back to my cabin. If you keep heading this way, you’ll find yourself down by the lookout. From there it’s an easy walk to town if you don’t have a vehicle.”

  “I left my car at the lookout.”

  “Then you can’t get lost if you follow this path.”

  “Thank you.” She turned to him and held out her hand. “And thank you for taking time from your day to hike with me. I know I’d have never seen those mustangs without you.”

  He accepted her handshake. “My pleasure, Annie. When do you get another day off?”

  “Well, I don’t have to go in to work until noon on Wednesday.”

  “Do you ride?”

  She arched a brow. “Horses?”

  At his nod, she said, “I’ve been riding since I was a girl. It’s one of my guilty pleasures.”

  “Why the guilt?”

  “Where I grew up, it was an expensive hobby.”

  “Around here it’s considered an acceptable mode of travel, right up there with trucks and all-terrain vehicles. If you’d like to ride these hills on Wednesday before heading to work, I’ll provide the horses.”