Playing Herd to Get

by Natalie Dean

  She’d like dancing with him and found his stories to be very entertaining, but she’d still caught herself wondering what Harley was doing and if, perhaps, he’d come and ask her to dance. When he hadn’t, she’d gone home tired and dissatisfied with the night. The only thing that had made her genuinely smile was to see Jasmine almost recovered from being jilted—yet again.

  While Adeline knew it would take time for her friend to completely heal, she felt better knowing that the night’s festivities had been just the distraction she needed.

  Adeline wrote out the night's events then turned her pencil over in her fingers a few times before composing an article about the Swinney Ranch. She felt foolish doing it, not knowing much about ranching in general, but she had the inspiration, so she wrote with passion and made a few connections to the railroad industry that could see Harley’s beef going much further than the small area of Bent.

  When the back door slammed shut, she nearly dropped her journal.

  “Sorry about that,” Chance said, looking apologetic. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  She smiled back. “It’s all right. Were you looking for me?”

  “In fact, I was.” He reached into his pocket. “Beans told me we received yet another order of beef from Mr. Swinney. Would you be able to drop off this payment? Perhaps tell him we’d like to be put on a bi-monthly delivery schedule. While we may have many ladies in this home, we don’t eat that much beef.”

  Adeline was at once terrified and elated at the prospect of seeing Harley again so soon.

  “I—you want me to go?”

  Chance smiled. “You went last time, and things seemed to work out well. If you have the time, I’d be much obliged. You may use my horse again.”

  “Thank you,” she said, hoping the pink in her cheeks didn’t betray her thoughts too vividly.

  “No, thank you. And,” he shifted his weight to the other leg, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you again. Did you have an interest in me searching out another potential match for you?”

  She wanted to say no, hoping upon hope that Harley would see her as a potential in his life, but she also wanted to say yes so she didn’t have to explain why she said no. You couldn’t go on a hope that someone might show interest in you at some point.

  “You know, how about this,” Chance said, “you have an open door to come to me when you’re ready. If you’re ready. I could still find a way to explain to your father what happened and see you back on your way to Virginia if you so wish.”

  It was the first time she’d heard the offer of going home placed on the table. Was it true? Did he mean that he could get her back to Richmond? And if he could, was that what she wanted?

  “Thank you, Mr. Redburn. You’ve been so kind to me and all of the women.”

  He dipped his head and left her alone with her thoughts.

  Back to Richmond? Stay here and see if there was a future with Harley? Pine away when there wasn’t?

  She felt like a foolish schoolgirl who couldn’t make up her mind. The thought of going back home was tempting. The reality that she could pick up where she’d left off made her eagerly consider this option, but then she thought of what she would do. How could she go back to how her life had been before? It almost seemed hopeless that she’d get Harley’s handsome smile and irksome indifference off of her mind. And her parents had sent her away for a reason.

  In her mother’s latest letter, she’d told of the dinners they’d gone to and the trip her father would be taking her on soon. Things that they hadn’t done while Adeline was at home. Had they put life on hold because of her? It seemed foolish, but perhaps she had kept her parents from a new stage of life. Had she also kept herself from one?

  Determination written in every move, Adeline made her way to the barn where the horse was waiting for her. She set off to the Swinney Ranch and decided she would let the day take her where it may. Either to Harley’s side or perhaps away from him. Only time, and his reaction, would tell.

  When she came into the open area between house and barn at Harley’s ranch, the old dog didn’t even bark this time. He merely raised his head, sniffed the air, then went back to sleeping with one eye open.

  She took that as a heartening sign and directed the horse to the barn. At the open door, she pulled back and called out. “Hello? Anyone here?”

  “Hello?”

  Her heart skipped a beat until she realized it was Earl coming out of the shadows of a stall, pitchfork in hand.

  “Why, if isn’t Adeline.” He grinned wide, and she appreciated the look on his handsome features. He was bold and overly outgoing at times, but she had to admit that Earl was good looking and seemed to know what he was after. He’d made it obvious the previous night that he’d been interested in dancing with her for as many dances as she’d allow him.

  “Good morning, Earl.” She pulled back on the reins as Earl came close, his arms extended to help her down. He did, and she fell the last foot or so. Caught off balance, his hands on her hips steadied her.

  “Miss me?” he said, leaning closer.

  Her heart beat rapidly. She’d never been this close to a man before—well, aside from Harley the night previous.

  “I—”

  He looked down at her, so close she could feel his warm breath on her nose and cheeks. “You are the prettiest creature I ever did see.” He spoke the words in a soft, husky tone, and while they were disarming, to say the least, she felt uneasy about his attention.

  Her thoughts had been on Harley the night previously and that morning. She hadn’t come here to see Earl, and yet that’s what he thought she’d done. She had to set this to rights if—

  “I’m going to kiss you now, Miss Miller.”

  The words completely took Adeline by surprise and, before she could say no, Earl pressed his lips to hers. His hands slid around her waist, pulling her closer. Panicked, she pressed her palms against his chest, but he was an immovable force. When he finally pulled back, she sucked in a deep breath, wiping at her lips.

  “If you could get back to work whenever is convenient for you, that would be good.”

  Adeline jolted back, her shock at being observed in this situation, and by Harley, mortifying her.

  “Sorry, boss,” Earl said, a grin in his words and on his lips. “We’re almost done here.”

  “No, we are done.” She looked up at him. “You should not have done that, Mr. Peters. I—I’m not interested in you like that and—”

  He winked at her and walked back toward the stall he’d been cleaning. “You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart.”

  His condescending tone angered her, and she looked to the doorway to make sure Harley had heard her words, but he was gone. Was it possible Earl had just ruined any chance she could have had with Harley?

  He should have known better. Harley barely held his hands back from pulling out his hair, the frustration at the sight he’d walked in on playing on every emotion, every thought.

  He was a fool for thinking that Adeline could still care for him. A fool for even considering a woman like her and a ranching man would be a good fit. Sure, some men did it, but they likely only wanted a companion for the lonely winter nights and perhaps a good cook. He wasn’t that desperate. In fact, he had done better than he’d thought since his parents had gone. And, even if he was a little lonely in the winter and the thought of a warm body appealed to him, what he’d seen was exactly why he couldn’t give his heart to anyone.

  Women were fickle. Ruled by their emotions. They couldn’t be trusted, and Adeline was just like every other one—except his mother, of course.

  “Harley—Mr. Swinney, wait. Please.”

  Head down, Harley pretended not to hear Adeline’s cries for him to stop.

  “Please,” she said. This time her words were breathless and closer to him.

  He couldn’t help himself and looked to the side to see her nearly running to him. He clenched his jaw and kept walking.

 
“Please. I—I need to talk to you. I have a payment for you.”

  So she’d come to pay him from Chance again. Wonderful. Why not kill two birds with one stone—pay him and kiss the hired help.

  He stopped so abruptly she ran into him.

  “Ouch.” She stumbled back, and he turned around to face her.

  “Sorry.”

  Her eyes shot daggers at him, but she didn’t say anything. “Here,” she said, holding out the payment.

  He snatched it and turned to go, but she reached out a hand, staying him with a gentle touch.

  “What you saw—”

  “I didn’t see anything of interest.” His words were ice.

  “But Har—"

  A loud clap of thunder echoed overhead, and Harley nearly cursed in front of Adeline. Not more rain. They’d had a bucket load after the dance last night, and if more came, he wasn’t sure he had the help needed to move the cattle from the river pasture in time.

  “Look, I need to get going. If it’s going to rain again,” more thunder, closer this time, “then we need to move a herd of cattle, and I’m short-staffed.” Yet another man had taken to his bed last night—worst possible timing.

  “I’ll help.” Her statement was so abrupt and so matter of fact, it caught him off guard.

  “You’ll,” he laughed but sobered quickly with the look she gave him. “Uh, thank you for your offer, but I need capable men to do the job.”

  “I can ride, well if you must know, and I’m here now. You won’t have time to get someone from town if that cloud drops what it’s holding.”

  He followed her gaze and knew she was right. The large thunderhead was surrounded by dense rain clouds that would pour forth any moment. He was a fool even to consider her help, but he’d seen his father use his mother—also an experienced rider—as help when needed.

  He held back another curse, his anger getting the better of him. “Fine. You can help. But you’ll need a rain slicker. Go to the barn in the tack room and find one that fits as best you can. A hat too. Get on your horse and meet me there,” he pointed to the gate of the pasture. “Bring along Earl.” He spat out the last name and turned to go.

  She muttered something, but he couldn’t hear it. Instead, he turned all of his focus onto finding a way to move the cattle to the right pasture without losing any of the precious stalk.

  His mind threatened to replay the kiss he’d walked in on, but he mentally forced it back. He couldn’t be distracted like this, but he also felt the agony…of what? Was it loss? That was foolish since he was the one who had turned her down.

  At the moment, he wondered, though briefly, if his name showing up on Chance’s list had been more divine appointment than motherly intervention, but seeing as how it had turned out, he wondered if it were more of a practical joke now.

  Groaning, he pulled his own rain slicker tighter around his neck as fat drops of rain let loose from the clouds above. He had a job to do, and neither his thoughts nor his attraction, for that’s all that it was, to Adeline could get in the way of saving this expensive herd of cattle.

  Chapter 10

  Adeline felt a mixture of adrenaline, fear, and determination as she strode toward the barn again. She was going to do the best she could to help Harley, even if it was something she had no idea about. Herding cattle? No experience. Writing about herding cattle? Now that was something she could do…but that would not help in this situation.

  She burst into the barn’s tack room and began searching through the available gear. She needed to find a jacket that wasn’t overly large on her and preferably one that smelled the least like mold. Wrinkling her nose, she dug through the bulk of jackets until she came to one that was smaller in size and smelled much less…masculine.

  When she tried it on, she found it was only slightly too large around the middle for her, but the arms and length of the coat were perfect. She placed the hat that had been next to it on and found it fit as well.

  Thanking her lucky stars, she turned to go and caught Earl in the doorway. Swallowing hard, she stood up to her full height, though that didn’t mean much to his tall frame, and approached with what she hoped was confidence.

  “Listen, Earl,” she began, but he came forward like he was going to kiss her again.

  “Stop,” she said, holding out her palm. His chest ran into it, and he halted.

  “What?”

  “You should have never kissed me. I—I was not, am not interested in you in that way. You are a kind gentleman, but my heart,” belongs to another, “is not yours for the taking.”

  His brow furrowed. “Really? I thought we had something.”

  “No. We don’t.”

  He seemed to consider her words for a time and then nodded slowly. “I suppose it’s for the best. I won’t be around here forever.”

  She wasn’t sure what that meant. Perhaps he had plans to move on to another ranch one day, or maybe he was planning on leaving Harley’s employ soon. Either way, it seemed like things were working out in her favor.

  Unsure of what to say, she dipped her chin and walked past him. Her horse was still tied up at the front of the barn, so she unhooked the reins, mounted, and rode over to where Harley had said he would be. His other hands were there, also mounted, and she filed in next to them. Each of them tipped their hats, though they didn’t take them the full way off. She didn’t blame them seeing as how the rain had increased in intensity.

  “This way, Johnny.”

  Harley was speaking, and Adeline hoped she hadn’t missed anything important.

  Harley paused, his gaze going to her jacket and hat and—was that softening she saw there?—then he continued explaining what they would be doing.

  He hopped off his mount and opened the gate when he was done and watched them ride through before he closed it up before them. Earl was oddly missing, but it didn’t seem like Harley wanted to wait for the other hand.

  “Just make sure you do what I say,” Harley said, riding up next to her. “You’ll be safe enough on your horse, so don’t get down, no matter what, and listen and watch for my signals. Got it?”

  “Yes.” She desperately wanted to tell him that she hadn’t wanted Earl to kiss her. Hadn’t given permission for the kiss. And yet, this was not the time. The look of determination and focus on Harley’s face told her all she needed to know.

  He was focused on the business of saving his cattle, and she should be too.

  He nodded one last time then rode off toward the front of the herd. She pulled her horse around to the back as he’d shown her, just on the other side of the hand named Beau, and with shouts from the men, the cattle began to move.

  They worked tirelessly, the cattle taking a slow pace as if they couldn’t see the raging river climbing its banks with the influx of torrential rain, but finally, after hours, they made the progress they needed and moved all of the herd to another, safer pasture.

  Back at the barn, Adeline nearly fell off her horse, but suddenly someone was there to catch her. She recoiled, thinking it was Earl, but when she turned, she saw Harley’s slate-gray eyes.

  “Oh, thank you.”

  He lingered, assessing her features with a keen eye, then nodded. “Come to the house. You can eat and warm up a bit before heading home.”

  At least he wasn’t kicking her out, she thought with a wry smile to herself. She followed him and the other men up to the house. They each made her feel welcome and not at all like the outsider that she was. It might have had something to do with the fact that she’d worked alongside them out in the rain, but she’d take their courtesy and honest remarks before well-bred men making a fuss over a woman any day.

  When Harley handed her a bowl of steaming soup and a hunk of bread, their fingers grazed, and he met her gaze. Nodding his thanks, he moved on to the next man.

  Earl had finally shown up in the pasture halfway through their maneuvering the cattle, so he was served last, but she was glad to see he sat on the opposite side of the
room from her. Did Harley notice that too?

  The men talked and laughed, keeping the jokes appropriate for the company of a woman, and soon they nodded their goodbyes to her and set off for other indoor work in the barn. It left her standing awkwardly with Harley cleaning up in the kitchen. It was odd he didn’t have a cook, but she thought perhaps he enjoyed the cooking. He clearly knew his way around a kitchen.

  “Thank you for your help,” he finally said, though he didn’t look up at her when he spoke.

  “It was a pleasure.”

  Now he did meet her gaze with a quirk to his lips. “You must be joking.”

  She shrugged. “I like the rain.”

  “I’m sure you do.” His chuckle warmed her, and she took it as a good sign.

  “I’m glad I could be here. Honestly. I…” she wanted to say so many things. To tell him the kiss with Earl was a mistake, but the stormy look in Harley’s gaze reminded her of the rain clouds, and the words died on her lips. “I suppose I should be going.”

  She turned, but he stopped her at the door. “Take the jacket and hat. They were my mothers.”

  “I—I couldn’t.”

  “They fit you. And they’re of no use to me here.”

  Something about the way he offered them to her seemed almost personal. Almost.

  “Then thank you. They do fit relatively well.” She smiled, looking down at the bulky jacket.

  “They do.”

  She looked up and saw his gaze taking in her form beneath the jacket and finally reaching her eyes again. She saw the heat creep up his neck and he looked away. She sensed rather than saw his embarrassment at being caught looking at her. It made her feel even safer with him for the fact that he wasn’t one to take even a look lightly.

  Still, he hadn’t warmed to her as she’d hoped—and there was a good reason for that. Perhaps if she set him straight about Earl…

  “Thank you again for your help,” he said suddenly, the sound making her flinch slightly. “Have a safe ride home.”

  She paused, noting that something in her heart longed to stay, to bare the truth of what she was thinking and feeling, but the way he looked past her showed her that now wasn’t the time. Perhaps, Lord willing, there would be another time that was right.