Falling For The Cowgirl

“Not exactly. I’m actually a volunteer and I have my own place in town.” Rue shrugged. “Often it’s easier to stay in the bunkhouse. Like last night. I was monitoring an asthmatic child over at the girls’ ranch.”

“I see.”

“Don’t worry, I’m tidy and mind my own business.” Rue winked. “Heavy emphasis on mind my own business.”

AJ couldn’t help but return the smile. “Good to know.”

“Delighted to have another woman around.”

“Thanks. Um, is this a permanent women’s bunkhouse?”

“Sure is. Why, Lucy Maxwell used to stay here all the time when things got busy. That is before she married Jack Harris and adopted triplets.”

“Triplets!” AJ blinked, attempting to wrap her head around the information.

Rue nodded. “Emma and her twins have been known to spend the night when the roads are icy between here and town.”

“And I suppose you’re going to tell me Travis has a dozen kids, too.”

Rue laughed. “Not hardly. Although our Travis does loves children, he’s highly allergic to relationships.”

AJ didn’t know what to say to that. She glanced at the road that led to the bunkhouse. “Can you point me to the stables?”

“You haven’t had the official orientation? Met with human resources and all?”

“That’s scheduled for Monday. Travis wanted me to start immediately.”

“That’s our Travis. Workaholic and then some. Even on a Saturday.”

“Not a problem. I like to stay busy. Especially on a Saturday.”

“You two will get along nicely then,” the older woman said.

Thoughts whirled at the irony of the comment but AJ held her tongue.

“Where did you park?” Rue asked.

“In front.”

Rue pointed to the black utility vehicle that was parked on the gravel. “Take the Ute. Keys are in the ignition. The main equestrian center is a quarter mile down the road, on the right. We have a smaller stable on the girls’ ranch.”

“Are you sure you want me to take the vehicle?”

“You’re staff now, and the Ute is easier to manage on some of the dirt and gravel roads on the ranch.”

“Thank you.” She looked at Rue. “I have to admit, I’m not used to such hospitality.”

“No? Well, you’re going to find that things are different at Big Heart,” Rue returned. “Love and the good Lord reign here. You’ll see.”

AJ couldn’t help but ponder Rue Butterfield’s words as she drove the Ute around the bend in the road. Was Big Heart Ranch different? The looming question was would things be different for her?

Ahead, a road sign indicated the equestrian center was to the right. She pulled the Ute into the gravel parking area and tucked the keys in her pocket.

In a small corral outside the stable doors, a group of young boys ranging from six to sixteen were being instructed by a young cowboy wearing a long-sleeved black T-shirt with the words Big Heart Ranch Staff on the back. Each youth took turns mounting a sorrel mare in the middle of the corral.

AJ tossed her saddle on the top rung of the roughly hewn fence and stood to watch for a moment. The scene lifted her spirits and brought a smile to her lips. She well remembered her first official riding lessons though it was the unofficial lessons with her father that were the most heart-tugging. Those were special times that she’d never forget.

“You found us.”

Travis Maxwell. She turned around. He wore creased black jeans and a plaid Western shirt. The Stetson on his head matched his black hair. As usual, there was a no-nonsense expression on his beard-shadowed face.

“Yes, sir,” she said, avoiding direct eye contact.

“Sir?” Travis shook his head. “Ouch.”

“Mr. Maxwell?”

“Travis is fine.” He looked around. “Got your saddle, I see. Are you boarding a horse with us?”

“No.”

“No?”

What would be the point of hauling Gus all the way here? She had zero expectation that this job would last long enough to get her horse settled in. So as much as it pained her, she’d left Gus with her stepfather where daily boarding fees continued to accrue.

Thankfully, Travis didn’t probe further and started walking in the direction of the stable entrance.

She followed, with her saddle slung over her shoulder.

“Let’s see what’s available,” he said. “Most of the animals are on the schedule for lessons. Our equestrian manager, Tripp Walker, will assign you a ranch horse later today.”

“Thank you.”

He picked up a clipboard from outside the building and flipped through the papers. “Looks like Ace is all yours this morning.”

“Ace?”

“She’s a fine animal.” Their boots echoed on the plank floors as they headed in. Despite the hour, the center was already busy. Horses whinnied and their hooves clomped on the stable floor as they were led outside. The soft crooning voices of riders grooming animals provided a white noise around them.

AJ peeked in past the gates of each stall, savoring the scent of animal and straw, pleased at the cleanliness of the premises. She inhaled deeply. Happiness did indeed have an aroma. This was it. The hay, the horses, the leather.

Travis stopped halfway down the center aisle. A chalkboard on the outside of the stall indicated this was Ace, a palomino mare with low white stockings on her forelegs. The animal’s dark velvet eyes assessed AJ with interest.

“Good morning, Ace,” she murmured.

The names Joey and Tim were also written on Ace’s chalkboard.

“What does this mean?” she asked, pointing to the names.

“All the kids have chores. Joey and Tim are Ace’s team. They do everything. Feed, groom, stall mucking and turnout. We pair up a younger child with an older one.”

He pointed to an office, whose door was shut, lights off. The sign on the door read Tripp Walker, Manager.

“Tripp’s the top of the food chain for anything to do with the horses. I’ll introduce you when he gets in. He was on call last night.”

“On call?”

“Yeah, and now that you’re here, you can be in the rotation. We take turns being the point of contact for livestock problems after hours and weekends.” Travis nodded to the right. “Here we go. Tack room.”

Once they’d tacked up their horses, AJ followed Travis back outside and into the April sunshine. His black Mustang stallion nickered and playfully bumped his muzzle into Travis’s shoulder.

“Midnight is spoiled rotten,” he murmured. Pulling a carrot from his pocket Travis fed the treat to the stallion.

AJ bit back a smile. So her boss had a soft spot, after all. She found that oddly comforting. Maybe he wasn’t all black and white.

“Let’s ride the fence line. After today the schedule is all yours. You’ll be assigning the chores, including the fences.”

“Mind if I ask how many ranch hands there are?”

“Rusty Parnell and Dutch Stevens are my only full-time wranglers. Dutch claims to be about one hundred years old and keeps reminding me he’s retiring in a year. He’s been reminding me since I hired him five years ago.”

“And Parnell?”

“Rusty is a piece of work, which is why I’m praying Dutch doesn’t really retire.”

“Two?” Her jaw sagged. “That’s all?”

“There are also a couple of college students, Big Heart Ranch graduates. They live in one of the two men’s bunkhouses and work part-time for their room and board.”

“That’s not a lot of help for a spread this size.”

“Tell me about it. Hiring will be a priority real soon. Once we get the cattle program fully launched, we’ll have our own student wranglers on board.”

“What do you mean ‘student wranglers’?”

“We’re raising sixty or so children in family environments on Big Heart. The ranch is their home, which means they get the awesome privilege of contributing to managing the place. Helps them understand the value of a strong work ethic.”

“Girls will be assigned, too?”

“Yeah.” Travis paused, his eyes steely. “Girls, too.”

Gaze unwavering, AJ refused to back down. After all, he was the one who had a problem with females, not her.

Silence stretched for a moment before Travis nodded toward the administration buildings in the distance. “Stop by HR on Monday. They’ve got a phone contact list and maps and all sorts of boring paperwork and classes for you that explain how everything works around here.”

“Will do.”

AJ’s glance swept the buildings around the stables. “Where are the men’s bunkhouses?”

He raised a gloved hand and pointed. “Behind the equestrian center. My office is in that barn. It holds tools and equipment, as well.”

“How do I reach you? I mean, if I need to?”

Travis moved the stallion’s reins to his left hand, reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He handed her a business card.

When their fingers touched, AJ stepped back, startled at the connection. The card fluttered to the dusty red dirt. She bent to retrieve the card at the same time as Travis. It was only his hand on her arm that prevented a full collision.

“Whoa,” he murmured.

“I...” Tongue-tied and overwhelmed with awareness, AJ froze. Travis’s dark eyes were round with intense scrutiny. She didn’t look away.

A woman working in a man’s world knew how to shut the door to a man’s assessing glance. Why did she find herself hesitant to close the door on this particular man? Heat warmed her face as she chastised herself.

“I’ve got this,” Travis said.

Her heart continued to trip wildly as she took the card he handed her, using care to avoid contact this time.

“Ready?” he asked.

AJ slid her boot into the stirrup and heaved up into the saddle. She followed Travis and Midnight through the stable yard and onto a well-worn path.

A cool spring breeze stirred the air, bringing with it the scent of Oklahoma red clay, grass and a familiar fragrance.

“Lilacs,” she murmured.

“Yeah, Lucy and Emma planted dozens of them.” He stopped Midnight and gestured to the left. “Over there by the pond.”

“Why so many?”

“Our mother loved lilacs.”

“You lost your mother? I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“We lost both of our parents. The three of us ended up in foster care. Lucy was ten, I was eight and Emma was five. That’s the reason we started the ranch.”

“I wasn’t aware.”

“They’ll give you a history lesson on Monday.” He urged Midnight ahead as if to indicate the topic was closed.

AJ did her best to keep up with Travis’s more spirited animal. “The ranch is about five hundred acres?” she asked as she caught up.

He nodded. “Yeah, most of that is grazing land.”

“How many head?”

“Fifteen. The goal is to triple that. We’re looking to be self-sustaining and hopefully take some product to market after they feed for a year. Grass-fed cattle are in demand right now.”

“Do you live on the ranch?” she asked.

“That depends on what’s going on. Nothing worse than getting home and having to turn around and come back to put out fires.” He looked at her and pushed his Stetson to the back of his head. “That’s where you come in.”

“I’m here to make your life easier,” she said.

“So they tell me.” Travis’s phone rang and he pulled it out. “Maxwell.” He released a sound of frustration as he listened and then slipped the cell into his shirt pocket. “I’ve got a missing ranch hand.”

“Missing?”

“Normally, this is Rusty’s day off, but he volunteered to lead an early morning trail ride. He’s a no-show.” With a disgusted shake of his head, Travis turned his horse around. “Putting out fires is getting mighty old.”

“Let me put out the fires.” The words rushed from her lips before she could stop them.

“Sounds like you think you can do that.”

“Yes, sir. I can.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“I mean, Travis.”

He paused as if considering her words. “All right, then, let’s go find Rusty.” His eyes met hers and he smiled.

One smile and her pulse started a gallop that she fought to control.

When Travis nudged Midnight into a canter and took off toward the stables, she sat in the saddle for a moment, staring at his retreating form.

For the first time someone was giving her a chance to prove she could do the job. And it didn’t hurt that he was smiling at the time.

AJ urged Ace forward, her spirit soaring as the wind whipped past. Travis Maxwell held her future in his hands. She’d have to be very careful he didn’t hold her heart, as well.

Chapter Two

Travis slammed through the bunkhouse and stood at the foot of Rusty’s bed. He jerked back slightly at the pungent odor that rose up to greet him. The place smelled like dirty socks and leftover pizza.

The linens had been pulled and sat in a pile on the floor. There was nothing to indicate whether or not Rusty had slept there last night or why he hadn’t bothered to show up for work today.

Dutch was gone for the weekend, so he’d get no help there. He pulled out his cell and once again punch-dialed Rusty’s number, with no results.

“Way to make me look good in front of my new assistant foreman, pal,” Travis muttered. He pushed through the back door and got back in the Ute.

“Do I smell funny?” he asked AJ.

“Excuse me?”

“That place looked and smelled worse than a locker room. Just want to make sure it didn’t follow me.”

She leaned close and gave a wary sniff. When she did, the scent of chocolate tickled his nose.

“You smell like chocolate.”

AJ’s eyes widened and she scooted away from him. “I thought this was about you,” she said.

“It is. That was just an observation.”

“You’re fine,” AJ murmured.

“Good.” He shoved the keys in the ignition, annoyed that his mouth had taken off before his good sense realized what he was doing.

“Cocoa butter,” AJ murmured.

Travis’s ears perked as he tried to catch her words. “What?”

“It’s cocoa butter. You know. Cream.” Though she turned away, he glimpsed the pink of embarrassment that touched her face.

“Ah, yeah. Right.” Travis put the Ute in gear while silently blaming Rusty for everything and anything, including the awkward exchange with his assistant foreman.

“I take it he wasn’t there?” AJ asked.

“No. Maybe we passed him. Let’s double back around and check the stables.”

Travis did a visual sweep of the stalls as AJ followed. A light was on in the office of the equestrian center manager. Though Travis rapped his knuckles on the glass, Tripp was not fazed. He took his good old time lifting his gaze from the laptop in front of him to acknowledge Travis’s presence before waving him into the office.

“Hey, Tripp, do you—”

“Nope.” Tripp returned his attention back on the screen.

“What do you mean ‘nope’? You don’t even know what the question is.”

“Rusty.”

Travis shook his head. “No pick-up from his cell. I’ve checked every hidey-hole on this ranch. If he’s not dead or near dead, he’s going to wish he was.”

Tripp shook his head. “You shouldn’t have hired him.”

“Talking to Lucy, huh?”

“Saw that one coming all by myself.”

“Great. By the way, this is the new assistant foreman.” He nodded in AJ’s direction. “AJ Rowe, meet Tripp Walker.”

Tripp slowly unfolded his lanky frame and got to his feet. The man stood at least six-five and carried a scar down the left side of his face.

“Pleased to meet you, ma’am,” Tripp said.

“I, uh, thank you,” AJ murmured.

“She’ll need a horse,” Travis said.

A slight nod was the only indication that the stable manager had heard the request. He looked to AJ. “Ace okay?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

He nodded again.

“Thank you.”

“We’re going to head over to the girls’ ranch. Can you find someone to untack our horses?” Travis asked.

“Yep.”

“Thanks,” Travis said. He cocked his head and AJ followed him out of the stables.

“Quiet, isn’t he?”

“They call him the horse whisperer.”

“What happened to his...? The scar?”

“Doesn’t talk about that, or much of anything.”

As they headed back to the Ute, Lucy appeared from around the corner. He recognized the fire in his sister’s eyes and the determination in her stride.

This couldn’t be good.

“Good morning, AJ,” Lucy said with a smile that didn’t include him. “Great to have you with us.”

“Thanks, Lucy.”

“What are you doing here on a Saturday?” Travis asked.

“My kids have riding lessons.” Again she directed her conversation to AJ. Finally she turned to him. “We need to talk.”

“Whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of my right-hand man—er, woman.”

“Fine. I just received a phone call from the esteemed police chief of Timber.”

“Aw, that’s nothing. In fact, it’s my fault. Sorry. I should have told you. I promised him a discount for renting the retreat center for the law enforcement ball this year.”

Lucy crossed her arms. “No, Travis. He was not calling about the ball. It was a courtesy call to inform me that one of our employees is sitting in his jail.”

“What?” Travis was all ears as he pulled the Ute keys from his pocket. “What did he do?”

“You know who I’m referring to?”

“I can make an educated guess since I can’t find Rusty. What’s the charge?”

“Disorderly conduct. Disturbing the peace.”

“I’ve known Rusty for years. Never saw him take a drink, ever.”

“Oh, he wasn’t drinking. He was, however, dumped by the love of his life. While I feel for the man, this is not the example of leadership and problem-solving skills we want our children to emulate. Plus, we have donors who will hear about his behavior. Rusty is putting everything we’ve worked hard for these last five years at risk.”

Travis took a deep breath at the I-told-you-so that laced his sister’s voice.

“Chief Daniels says he’s been singing mournful country-western songs since 5:00 a.m. The man is tone deaf and it’s driving everyone crazy. He’d like us to bail Rusty out immediately.”

“We’ve got this covered,” he assured Lucy. “As I have turned over fire extinguishing, along with the management of the ranch hands, to her, AJ will be letting Rusty go.”

He looked to his assistant foreman for confirmation.

AJ pasted a smile on her face and offered a firm nod of confirmation.

Lucy’s eyes rounded. “You’re good with that, AJ?”

“Absolutely. My job is to make Travis’s life easier.”

His sister’s expression remained doubtful as she looked from AJ to Travis.

“Lucy, we’ve got this. Trust me,” Travis interjected. He put his hands on his sister’s shoulders and turned her around. “Go.”

“All right, then.” Lucy hesitated. “I guess I’ll go watch my children ride horses.”

“You do that. We have everything under control.”

AJ fell into step with him as he moved in the direction of the Ute. “I’m firing Rusty?” she asked.

“Yep. Come on. We’ll take my truck.”

“Uh, Travis. What exactly did you mean by ‘management’? What will I be managing?”

“Everything that concerns the wranglers.”

“You’re okay with me hiring, too?”

He looked at her. “All part of the job, right?”

“I guess so,” she said softly.

“Don’t let me regret my decision.”

* * *

The drive into Timber was quiet. Travis was thankful that AJ kept her focus out the window, eliminating the need for conversation. She was an employee, he reminded himself. Nothing more. No need for chitchat.

When Travis pulled into town, he circled the block, looking for a parking spot.

“Why are there so many cars in town?” AJ asked.

“The Timber Diner.”

“I’ve never in all my life seen this many cars for the diner,” she said. “As I recall, their coffee could take paint off a wall.”

“New owners. Best food in Timber and it only has a seating capacity of twenty-five. Early bird gets the Denver omelet.” When his cell phone rang, he pulled the device from his back pocket and glanced at the screen. Big Heart Ranch again. He nodded to AJ.

“Do you mind if I take this call? I’ll catch up.”

“No problem.”

“I’ll drop you off at the station and circle around until I find a parking spot.”

When the truck stopped, AJ reached for the door handle.

“Check in with Chief Daniels,” he said. “But be warned. He’s going to regale you with a story about his latest fishing expedition or his grandchildren. Just nod and smile.” He paused. “Oh, and if Rusty gives you any problems—”

AJ placed a hand on his arm and he froze, his mouth wide open as her baby blues met his. “I have this,” she said. “Trust me. I have everything under control.”

She was tossing his own words right back at him.

Then she opened the passenger door of the truck and hopped down. For a moment he watched her walk down the street, hat in hand. AJ Rowe’s mettle was about to be tested. They were both about to find out if Big Heart Ranch’s new assistant foreman could do the job she’d been hired to do.

His cell rang again and he put it on speaker phone as he pulled into a parking spot. He put out a few more fires at the ranch before heading to the police station.

The door to the City of Timber police administration building swung open just as Travis placed a hand on the metal push bar. A large man wearing a black Stetson barreled out the door, his shoulder grazing Travis as he stormed past.

“Careful there, friend,” Travis said.

The man stopped and turned around, his expression thunderous.

“No. You be careful, Maxwell. Or I might have to mess up that pretty face of yours.”

Travis nearly groaned aloud. The man that stood facing him down was none other than Jace McAlester. What the cowboy lacked in height he made up for in bulk. McAlester was as huge as a double-wide and as intimidating as an angry bull just out of the chute.

He stomped through each day with a permanent attitude problem, along with a grudge against Travis that dated back to their professional rodeo days. No telling what had set him off today.

“Good to see you, too, Jace.”

“Only good thing about seeing you, Maxwell, is another opportunity to wipe that smile off your face.”

“Not today, buddy.” Travis raised his hands.

“I am not your buddy.”

“That’s too bad. No reason old competitors can’t be friends.”

“In your dreams. I hear your kiddie farm is up against us big boys for that government grant.” McAlester sneered.

“That grant is for emerging ranchers.”

“The McAlester Ranch deed was turned over to me when my father retired last summer. That means I qualify as manager and foreman of my new ranch.”

“That so? Good for you. As I recall, you and I always favored a bit of competition.”

“Only when I win, and you can be sure I will. McAlester Ranch is certain to take that grant.”

“It’s not over until the fat cow sings.” Travis chuckled, unable to resist a parting shot for the uptight cowboy.

“What did you call me?” McAlester raged as the ham-hock-size hands he held at his side curled into fists.

“It’s an expression, Jace.” Travis released a weary sigh. Lucy was going to be very unhappy if he got into a tussle, especially with this sorry excuse for a cowboy. He’d be no better than Rusty, setting a poor example for the kids of Big Heart Ranch.

So instead of drawing his fists, Travis braced himself as Jace pulled back his arm, ready to strike.

“Jace, stop!”

AJ pushed out the door of the police station with Rusty behind her. She jumped between Travis and Jace.

“What are you doing here?” Jace cocked his head, confusion all over his face.

“None of your business,” AJ said. “But if you don’t stand down and keep moving, I’m going to get Chief Daniels and then I’m calling Lem.”

“You’re defending this guy?” Jace asked. He rubbed his fist into the palm of his other hand, eyes wide with annoyance, steam practically rolling from the space between his ears.