Playing Herd to Get

by Natalie Dean

“What? What did you expect? I was supposed to sit around while you made a deal that could wreck my family’s ranch? No way.”

  “Your family—” Harley shook his head. “Clearly you all are doing just fine by my estimation.” He pointedly looked around the room at the expensive objects.

  “We’ve had all this for a long time now. Inherited it. We’re still struggling to survive, just like you.”

  Harley wasn’t going to put up with this song and dance from some kid. “We both know you stiffed me. You took advantage and you had no scruples about it, but if you think I’m going to take it lying down, you’re out of your mind.” It was a resolution he’d all but come to on the ride over and now, saying it out loud, he knew that it was right. He wasn’t going to sit back and take this. “I suppose I just came here to tell you I’m not backing down. You can steal that deal out from under me, but it just won’t work.”

  “I…I,” Earl rubbed the back of his neck. “I admit it was a low move. I’m not saying I’m proud of it, but when it’s your family, you’ll do anything. Right?”

  Harley felt strangely uncomfortable at the young man’s statement. He’d used that same logic to justify his own actions at times, though he’d never stooped to something like this, but was he doing that now? Was he putting everything—putting Adeline—on the line for what he wanted? What he thought his parents wanted?

  “I just…I didn’t know what to do. Our ranch hasn’t been doing as good, and then Adeline handed me that letter, and it all clicked.”

  Harley just stared back at Earl.

  “Well, either way, you shouldn’t have come. This deal isn’t going to benefit anyone.”

  “What…what do you mean?” he asked.

  Earl tried to push away a look of hurt, or was it annoyance? “It’s impossible. The price I quoted won’t even cover our expenses. No wonder they jumped at it. Besides, they want livestock—and I do mean live livestock. We don’t have that kind of cattle to ship off. So, you win.” He said this with a flick of his wrist and a dejected sigh.

  Harley nearly laughed out loud but did his best to tamp down his excitement. They wouldn’t be going through with the plan? Their ranch couldn’t sustain it? Perhaps his could—or, better yet, perhaps he could grow to sustain it.

  As suddenly as he’d fallen into the hole of dejection, Harley felt himself soar to the mountain tops of excitement. In that same moment, his thoughts turned to Adeline. He’d all but ignored her since she’d given him this news, and it wasn’t fair to her. He’d all but punished her for trying to do something good for him. For using her writing talent to help him.

  “Thanks for clearing that up,” he said, jumping to his feet.

  “Could I offer you a drink or something?” Earl offered, but Harley could tell it was only out of obligation.

  “Nope. Got a ranch to get back to.” And, without a backward glance, he strode away and out the front door. His steps felt lighter than they had in a long time. But soon, as he maneuvered his horse back the way they’d come, he began to feel something else. Something more like regret.

  His mind supplied him with the image of Adeline’s tear-streaked face.

  She’d finally opened up to him about so many things and, with the same trust, she’d told him a hard truth. And what did he do? He’d turned his back on her.

  The feelings of elation were quickly replaced with sickening dread. What had he done? Had he pushed her away for good? Would he ever be able to regain her trust?

  The scenery before him blurred into a wash of green and tan pastureland as his mind worked through what he would do when he returned to his ranch. He had many things to put in place, to potentially work out a new deal with those Adeline had corresponded with, but most importantly, he had a woman who needed to be apologized to.

  He felt the weight of discomfort at that thought but shoved it aside. Sometimes a man needed to do the hard things to prove to a woman that they were worthy.

  Chapter 16

  Adeline dipped her toes into the cool, bubbling water. It wasn’t Sunday, but she’d found that a walk to the little white chapel on the hill was in order. After spending time in thought and prayer on a wooden pew, she’d wandered down the trail to one of her favorite places.

  Even as she surveyed the area, changing rapidly as spring progressed, she felt his absence keenly.

  Harley.

  It was foolish. His reaction to her news about Earl should have told her to leave well enough alone. It should have convinced her that there was no way Harley could care for her. And yet…was she just foolishly optimistic? Or was it her determination, something her father had always teased her about, that was ruling her thoughts?

  She pulled out her journal from the small satchel she’d brought with her. Her pencil came next, and she opened the book to a blank page. The white space both invigorated and intimidated her as it did nearly every time she sat down to write.

  As she tended to do when she wasn’t sure where to start, she smoothed her hand across the pages. The resulting smile wasn’t as bright as it should have been, but she did feel a little better.

  But what to fill the pages with? A story about how she’d nearly stepped in the milk bucket that morning? No, she didn’t feel in the mood to write something humorous. Perhaps a letter home? That fit her mood even less. The thought of explaining to her parents that she was still unmarried left a bitter taste in her mouth. Then her gaze traveled the brook and surrounding trees. It was lovely, but still held no inspiration for her.

  Her mind brought up an image of Harley and her fingers twitched.

  Words, her own words, came back to her: confidence, self-assuredness, decisiveness, skill, kindness…handsomeness. Harley was all of those things and more.

  No. She had done enough thinking, crying, praying about Harley to last her for the next several months.

  Still…

  “Adeline?” His deep voice spoke behind her, and she stiffened. Had her thoughts imagined him saying her name? “Adie?”

  Definitely not her imagination. She slowly closed the pages of her journal and turned to see him standing at the widening of the trail behind her.

  “Harley?” Her voice was merely a whisper, but it elicited a smile from his full lips.

  “I hope I’m not intruding.”

  He shifted nervously, his gaze flicking to the water and then back to her. Suddenly, she realized that her dress was still pulled up to reveal her feet dipped in the water. Flushing red, she pulled her feet out and her dress down.

  “I, um, sorry. No. I mean, you’re not. Intruding that is.”

  His smile widened even more, and he came to her, extending his hand to help her up. She accepted the kind gesture, and her heart nearly leaped from her chest at the warmth and strength of his hand around hers.

  “You’re…here,” she said lamely.

  He gave a small chuckle, and she risked a glance at those slate eyes. They were now the color of calm, deep water, and she wanted to stare into them forever.

  Catching herself before she did just that, she looked down where his hand still held hers.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, pulling back as if it were her fault they’d held hands.

  “Adie,” he said, his use of her nickname doing funny things to her stomach.

  She paused and looked up at him, deciding boldness was her best defense. When their gazes collided, she realized there was no defense against him. He was handsome, hard-working, kind…

  “I’m sorry.”

  And he was apologizing?

  “I…” he scratched at the back of his neck. “I acted a fool. Here you did something kind for me—more than kind, amazing. And what did I do? I made you cry, then walked away.” He grimaced.

  “I should have asked you first.” The words were an admission she’d made to herself a few days before, realizing they were true. “I let my impulsiveness get the best of me. I wanted to prove to you that my writing was valuable, and I wanted to help, and—”

/>   “And you did.” This time he stepped close and reclaimed her hand.

  She bit her lip and noticed that it drew his gaze. “I did?”

  He met her eyes and grinned. “I went to talk with Earl.”

  “You did?” She couldn’t hide her surprise.

  He told her about the meeting and what had happened. “It may not be something I can do either, but maybe it is. I want to find out. And I want you to help me.”

  “Help…what do you mean?”

  He released a slow breath as if preparing himself for something. Her heart pounded in her chest at the question of what he would say next. Still, his nearness did funny things to her mind as well, and she had to force herself to focus on what he was saying, not just on his features so near to hers.

  “You had a wonderful idea. One that any businessman should be proud to take into consideration. I should have asked you more about it when you first told me. Should have looked into it with you rather than felt a threat against a dream I’d once held.”

  “What do you mean, once?”

  “I thought that just because I promised my folks I would do my best with the ranch, it meant I had to go above and beyond what they would have wanted. It became a life mission to me. I had to be successful or else I was letting them down. But they aren’t around anymore.” His expression softened, and she squeezed his hand in a show of comfort. “And I can have new dreams.”

  Then, without preamble or warning, he leaned toward her. She could see the question in his eyes. Could he kiss her?

  In response, she tipped her head up and closed her eyes. The next instant, his lips were on hers, and she felt a peace she’d never known before.

  Harley hadn’t exactly thought this through. He’d wanted to tell her about the conversation with Earl, about his plans for the ranch, and especially about how wrong he’d been, but now those things seemed less important than the woman in front of him. The woman he was kissing.

  His hands slid to her waist and pulled her closer. Her fingers slid around his arms, and he felt her clutching at him. He pulled back, afraid he was taking liberty with her, but the hunger in her eyes drew him in for one more kiss.

  When they parted again, he was breathing hard, and her cheeks were flushed.

  “I—I hope that was all right.”

  She giggled behind a hand. “More than all right.”

  His eyebrows rose at her bold statement. That’s what he liked about her; she said what she thought. Why had he kept her at a distance?

  “So,” she pushed, “what are your new dreams?”

  It was his turn to grin back at her. “I’ve been a fool, Adeline. It was all there—my name and yours as matches, and I messed things up.” He snuck a glance at her and noticed her hopeful expression. “Adie, you’re my new dream.”

  Her goofy expression sobered. “Harley—”

  He held up a hand to stay her questions. “I knew that when I came to see you before. I think I knew it a long time ago, but it had to work its way through my thick skull. I can be a rancher and a…” he hesitated, meeting her gaze. “And a husband too.”

  Her eyes widened. “Husband?”

  His shoulders moved up near his ears, then dropped. “That is, if you’ll have me.”

  “Harley Swinney, first you play hard to get, and now you’re proposing?” She burst into laughter. “You are the most difficult man I’ve ever known.”

  He waited there, in the moment between her next words, and stared back at her.

  "But I do think I love you.”

  “I know I love you.” And he did. He loved her more than he’d thought possible. He didn’t feel as if he deserved her love. Didn’t deserve a talented and strong woman like Adeline Miller. And yet he felt so grateful she seemed to want him too.

  “And he finally admits it,” she said with a teasing grin.

  “I do. Very willingly.” He stepped in close, his hands encircling her waist. “And you should know something else.”

  “Yes?” she asked, her eyelashes sweeping up.

  “I hope that you’ll keep using your writing skills to help with the ranch. Do you think you could do that?” He saw something shift in her eyes as they filled with tears. “Did I say something wrong?”

  She laughed, reaching up to wipe the moisture away. “No. You said something completely right, Mr. Swinney.”

  He was confused, and she knew it.

  “All my life I’ve wanted to use my writing for something and…this is perfect.”

  He couldn’t help it: he leaned in and kissed her again, though he pulled back before he wanted to. They’d have plenty of time for that after a ceremony in the little white chapel.

  “So you’ll be my wife, Miss Miller?”

  She grinned up at him, her hand falling into his as if it were meant to rest there. “I will, Mr. Swinney.”

  He waited for her to pick up her satchel and journal, and then they walked back up the hill. It was time to talk to Mr. Redburn about the courting process. It seemed that Aunt Viola—or whoever had placed his name beside Adeline’s—had been right after all.

  She was his perfect match.

  Other books by Natalie Dean & Eveline Hart

  NATALIE DEAN

  BROTHERS OF MILLER RANCH (Contemporary)

  Her Second Chance Cowboy

  Saving Her Cowboy

  Her Rival Cowboy

  Her Fake-Fiance Cowboy Protector

  MARRYING A MARSHAL SERIES (Historical)

  An Unexpected Treasure

  The Dangers of Love

  The Outlaw’s Daughter

  Falling for the Marshal

  No Time For Love

  MARRYING A MARSHAL BOX SET (includes the above five books, plus the previously unreleased 6th book of my Marrying a Marshal series)

  LAWMEN’S BRIDES SERIES (Historical)

  The Ranger’s Wife

  Benjamin’s Bride

  Carson’s Christmas Bride

  BRIDES AND TWINS SERIES (Historical)

  A Soldier’s Love

  Taming the Rancher

  The Wrong Bride

  A Surprise Love

  The Last Sister’s Love

  BRIDES & TWINS Box Set / Mail-Order Bride Compilation (My best-seller! It includes TWO MORE unreleased heartwarming mail-order bride series)

  LOVE ON THE TRAILS SERIES (Historical)

  A Love Beyond Suspicion

  Picture Perfect Love

  Love of a Wild Rose

  A Dangerous Time to Love

  A Cold Winter’s Love

  Brides, Trails, and Mountain Men

  Historical Western Romance Compilation

  Includes my Love on the Trails Series plus an exclusive series titled Marrying a Mountain Man

  BOULDER BRIDES SERIES (Historical)

  The Teacher’s Bride

  The Independent Bride

  The Perfect Bride

  The Indian’s Bride

  The Civil War Bride

  BOULDER BRIDES BOX SET

  BRIDES OF BANNACK SERIES (Historical)

  Lottie

  Cecilia

  Sarah

  Though I try to keep this list updated in each book, you may also visit my website EVELINEHART.COM for the most up to date information on my book list.

  Exclusive Books By Natalie Dean

  I’ve got TWO EXCLUSIVE historical western romance stories waiting for you.

  Spring Rose - A feel good mail-order groom novelette about a broken widow finding love and faith.

  Fools Rush In- A mail-order bride novelette based off a true story!

  Get both of these stories as a gift when you join my Exclusive Readers List.

  COMING SOON… A FREE CONTEMPORARY WESTERN Novella! This will be sent to all of my Exclusive Readers List once I complete it!

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  About Author - Natalie Dean

  Born and raised in a small coastal town
in the south I realized at a young age that I was more adventurous than my conservative friends and family. I loved to travel. My passion for travel opened up a whole new world and new cultures to me that I will always be grateful for.

  I was raised to treasure family. I always knew that at some point in my life I would leave my storybook life behind and become someone's mother, someone's aunt and hopefully someone's grandmother. Little did I know that the birth of my son later in life would make me the happiest I’ve ever been. He will always be my biggest achievement. The strong desire to be a work-from-home mom is what lead me down this path of publishing books.

  While I have always loved reading I never realized how much I would love writing until I started. I feel like each one of my books have been influenced by someone or something I’ve experienced in my life. To be able to share this gift has become a dream come true.

  I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have enjoyed creating them. I truly hope to develop an ongoing relationship with all of my readers that lasts into my last days :)

  www.nataliedeanauthor.com