Falling For The Cowgirl

“Mr. Maxwell is my boss.”

Jace’s eyes rounded. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Does Lem know?”

“I don’t report to Lem these days, but yes, he does know I’m back in Timber and working for Big Heart Ranch.”

“What about Gus?”

“I’ll come and get Gus when I’m able. Lem says he can stay.”

“Lem’s not in charge. I am, and Gus’s keep isn’t cheap.”

“I’ll pay you as soon as I can.”

Jace stared at her for a long moment and then shook his head. “So you’re telling me that you chose Maxwell over your own family? Over your future?”

She winced at the verbal jab, which opened a truckload of questions in Travis’s mind.

“We aren’t family, Jace, and you took my future years ago.”

At the words, Jace’s jaw tightened and he narrowed his eyes. “You think Maxwell has anything to offer but a temporary wrangler position? Wake up, Amanda Jane. No rancher with any sense is going to let a woman run his ranch. Your daddy did you no favors letting you believe that fairy tale.”

“The only mistake my daddy ever made was telling me that all cowboys are honorable men.”

The silence stretched as everyone froze.

Though AJ had paled, she stood her ground, her gaze unwavering as she looked at the big man.

Jace released a breath, his eyes steely with fury. “You’re going to regret siding with Maxwell.” The words were low and ice-cold. “Mark my words. He’s going down and you’re going to go down with him.”

“Easy there, McAlester,” Travis said as he gently moved AJ aside. “Those are pretty strong threats you’re tossing around.”

Jace McAlester looked him up and down, contempt all over his face, before he stalked off.

“You okay?” he asked AJ.

She offered a shaky nod and wrapped her arms around herself.

Travis glanced up and down the street, where several people had stopped to see what was going on. He had a hundred questions for his new assistant foreman, but he wasn’t going to ask them in the middle of the sidewalk in downtown Timber, Oklahoma.

Instead he turned to Rusty, who sported a black eye and a split lip. The man’s red hair stood on end and his wrinkled, pearl-buttoned, white Western shirt was buttoned all wrong. Drops of blood spattered the once pristine shirt and his Stetson was dusty.

Rusty’s eyes were wide and his mouth open as he stared at AJ.

Travis shook his head. “So, Rusty, I see you’ve met the new assistant foreman.”

“Uh, yeah.” He blinked and turned to AJ. “She bailed me out.”

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Travis asked.

Rusty bowed his head. “I let you down, and I apologize.”

Travis turned to AJ. “Did you—”

“She fired me.” Rusty looked at AJ and wiped his eyes. “You were right, ma’am. I’ve got to get my act together. I’m going to look into that counseling. I appreciate your concern.”

Travis’s eyes popped wide open when Rusty folded him into a bear hug. “Thanks for putting up with me for so long.”

“Ah, yeah. Sure, buddy.” He stepped back, far from Rusty’s reach. “No problem. You understand we’re between a rock and a hard place here?”

“Oh, yeah. Absolutely. AJ explained that I was endangering the ranch and the kids.”

“She did?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Stop by the office on Monday and you can pick up your last check and your personal stuff.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Uh, Rusty, I’ll need your keys and your gate security badge.”

Rusty dug into the pockets of his baggy Wranglers and pulled them out along with a pair of pliers, a barbed wire stretcher–cable puller and a roll of electrical tape. “Here you go.”

Travis blinked at the sight. “How did you get all that in your pockets?”

“I don’t know. I was fixing fences when my girlfriend called yesterday. I shoved everything in my pockets and headed to town.” He shrugged and turned to leave. “Thanks again.”

“Ah, yeah.” Travis stared in stunned silence as Rusty moved down the sidewalk. When the wrangler was out of earshot, he turned to AJ. “Nice job.”

“Thanks.” She cleared her throat. “So I passed the test?”

“First one,” he said without meeting her gaze.

“Mind if I ask how you know Jace?” she asked.

“Rodeo. Seems like a long time ago.” He cocked his head in question. “What’s going on between you two?”

“Going on? Nothing. Jace McAlester is my stepbrother.”

Travis blinked, digesting the words. “I did not see that one coming,” he murmured. “Jace McAlester is your...”

She nodded.

He shook his head. His new assistant foreman was kin to the man who considered Travis his arch enemy. Oh, yeah. This day just kept getting better.

* * *

“Where are you going?” AJ asked as she double-timed her steps to keep up with Travis. She dodged people and pots of geraniums, trying to keep up with the man’s long strides down Cedar Avenue and around the corner to Main.

“Back to the ranch. I had to park around down by the library.”

Suddenly he stopped and she rammed right into him. “Oomph.”

Travis turned and grabbed her arm, steadying her. “You okay?”

Dazed, AJ met his dark eyes and nodded. Yes, she’d be fine once her heart slowed down and breathing commenced. “Why did you stop?”

He pointed to the sign in the office window of the Timber Independence on Main Street. “Timber Rodeo. We can sign up here at the newspaper office.”

“‘We’?”

“One of the things the grant committee looks at is our community involvement.”

“You run a ranch for kids. Isn’t that overkill?”

“That’s our job. They want extra stuff, like volunteering for activities that support the citizens of Timber and participating in local events.”

“Are you and your sisters signing up?”

“Guess you hadn’t heard. Lucy’s pregnant.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” AJ said.

“Sure it is. But no rodeo for her. The really exciting news is that she’ll have four kids soon. My sister will be too busy with kids to mess with me.” He smiled.

“And Emma?”

“Her twin babies are almost two. They’re into everything. She’s doing well to maintain her sanity.” He reviewed the ad on the window listing the categories. “We’ll sign you up for barrel racing.”

AJ held up a hand. “Whoa, stop right there. I don’t have a barrel racing horse.”

“Emma does.”

“You can’t volunteer your sister’s horse.”

“Sure I can. Besides, she’ll be thrilled.” He gestured toward the door. “Come on. Let’s sign up.”

AJ moved back two steps. “I don’t have the entry fee on me.”

“Big Heart Ranch will sponsor you.”

Her mind began a frantic scramble for a way out of the situation. There was no way she was going to volunteer to make a fool of herself in public and in front of her new boss, too.

“Look, Travis,” she said, her voice low as she glanced up and down the sidewalk. “I haven’t raced since college.”

“Relax. The grant aside, the rodeo is for charity. The idea is to make a showing for the ranch.”

Travis pulled open the door to the newspaper office. “Hey, there.” He offered a greeting to the young clerk at the reception desk.

Her eyes rounded and she released a small gasp of surprise. “It’s you.”

Travis glanced around, praying she was talking to someone else. “Me?”

“You’re the guy on the cover of Tulsa Now.” The perky brunette reached for the magazine on the corner of her desk.

“You’re new.” He frowned with obvious annoyance.

“Yes. Avery Barnes, aspiring journalist. I’m an intern here for the semester.”

“Travis Maxwell and this is AJ Rowe.”

AJ smiled, but the young woman had eyes only for Travis. AJ could have walked in tarred and feathered and Avery Barnes, aspiring journalist, wouldn’t have noticed.

“Sooner or Cowboy?” Travis asked.

“Neither. University of Tulsa. May I have your autograph?”

“I guess so.” The words rode on a long-suffering sigh.

She handed him a marker and he scrawled his name on the cover of the magazine.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Maxwell,” Avery gushed.

“Now, may I please have a couple of applications to the Timber Rodeo?”

“You’re participating?” Her eyes lit up.

“Yeah. So is my assistant foreman here.”

“There are some really nice sponsor prizes this year,” she said as she collected the paperwork.

“We’re here to support the event. If we win, we’ll donate the funds back to the community.”

“May I quote you?” Avery asked.

“This isn’t an interview.”

“It could be.” Her eyes rounded with hope. “The paper hasn’t gone to press this week yet. This would look great on the front page with your picture.”

“The ranch director could help you out with that. In fact, she could give you a tour of the ranch. That would make for a nice feature article.”

“But you’re the Bachelor of the Year.”

“That’s old news,” Travis said.

“But—”

“Here’s my card. That’s the ranch number on there. Call and ask for Lucy Maxwell Harris.” He glanced around. “The paperwork for the rodeo?”

“Right here.” She handed him two packets. “Turn everything back in by the end of the week.”

“Will do. Thank you.”

AJ followed him out the door.

“Was it just me or was that girl plain irritating?” he asked AJ.

“She was crushing on you.”

Travis groaned. “I blame Lucy,” he said as he strode toward the truck.

“How is that Lucy’s fault?”

“Trust me, it is, but, generally, even if it isn’t her fault I blame Lucy. That’s how it works. You blame your big sister.”

“I don’t have a big sister,” she murmured.

“Brother?”

AJ shook her head.

“You’re the oldest?”

“I’m an only child.”

“Well, I’m sorry to hear that. My sisters do come in handy at times.” He grinned.

Travis got in and closed his door. He stared at the newspaper office and shook his head. “That just rubs me raw.”

“That I don’t have siblings?”

“No. I’m talking about the clerk in the newspaper office. You know, the way some folks act like it’s all about the package. What’s on the outside and not on the inside. Judge me by my merit, not my face on some magazine.” He paused and turned toward her. “Know what I mean?”

AJ met his gaze without blinking. You have no idea, cowboy. The words nearly escaped before she bit them back. “I think I might,” she said instead.

Travis stared for a moment before his eyes widened. Then he lowered his head and focused on putting the key in the ignition. “Yeah. I guess you do,” he murmured.

Silence filled the cab as he backed up and headed back to the ranch.

“Did I mention that you did a nice job with Rusty?” Travis said minutes later.

“Pardon me?” She turned to look at him.

“Rusty. Nice job. Did I say that?”

“Yes, you did. Thank you.”

They drove in awkward silence until Travis glanced over at her, a question on his face.

“What is it?” she finally asked.

“You’re an only child and Lemuel McAlester is your stepfather?”

“Yes. When I was in college, my mother married Lem and they renamed my father’s ranch. Lem is a good man, but he never really knew what to do with a grown stepdaughter. He takes care of Gus for me and I try to stop by or call when I can. Not as often once Jace left the rodeo circuit and moved to the ranch.”

“Lem turned the spread over to Jace?”

She nodded. “Jace is his only child. Our parents married after we both had left home. Me for college and Jace for the rodeo circuit.”

Travis shook his head. “Bet that was a surprise. Finding out Jace was your family.”

“It wasn’t so bad when my mother was alive. She provided a buffer. Once I lost her, my entire world was turned upside down. Jace made it clear everything would be his when Lem retired, so I never looked back.”

“I’m sorry, AJ.” His dark eyes were warm with concern.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

“I don’t understand why Lem didn’t step in. After all, that ranch was yours, as well.”

“My stepfather is no different than most of the old-timers in Oklahoma. He believes a woman’s place is in the kitchen.” She shook her head. “He forgets that, besides cooking, I can also mend fences, rope and brand cattle.”

Travis offered a solemn nod. “How long ago since you left?”

“Nearly ten years, though it turned out the joke was on Jace. His father didn’t trust him enough to retire until this year.”

Travis rolled down the window. “You mind?”

“Not at all.”

His fingers tapped out a beat on the steering wheel in time to the country-western song on the radio.

“Funny our paths haven’t crossed before now,” he finally said.

“How long have you been in Timber?”

“A little over five years.”

“How did you end up here with the ranch?” AJ asked.

“After we were fished out of foster care, by a cousin of our mother’s, we lived in Pawhuska. My sisters and I didn’t even know about the land in Timber until she passed on and left it to us.”

AJ nodded and watched the tall prairie grass out the truck window.

“So what’s your plan?” Travis asked.

“My plan?” She looked at him.

“Yeah. I’m guessing you aren’t here for the long haul.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Big Heart Ranch obviously is not the last stop on your trail.”

AJ stared at him, suddenly bone-weary. If only he knew how much she longed to be in it for the long haul, as he put it. She took a deep breath, shoving back the emotion burning behind her eyes. The emotion she could never reveal because every time she did, she was disappointed. Again.

“I’ll stop when I know that I’m where God wants me to be. Then it will be time to put down roots.”

“What’s if that’s Big Heart Ranch?”

“I’m not ruling it out.”

Silence hung in the air as AJ considered his words. Her plan? God’s plan? She’d take either at the moment, praying one of those plans included an end to her drifting, and finding a place where she was actually wanted. Needed.

“Mind if I ask a personal question?” he finally said.

“I won’t know if I mind until you ask.”

“Fair enough.” A small smile lifted his lips. “Who’s Gus?”

“My horse. A gift from my mother.”

“Why don’t you move him over to Big Heart?”

“It’s complicated.”

“I understand complicated. Why don’t you try me?”

“Look, I’d rather not move Gus and have to move him back if this job doesn’t work out. Besides, Gus had a pretty big vet bill a while back and I’m still paying Lem for that.”

“This is your call, but I’m happy to help.”

“I’d rather do things my way.”

“Understood.” Travis cleared his throat. “Any idea how Jace knows that we’re applying for the grant?”

“What?” Her head jerked up at the quietly spoken question and she met Travis’s gaze.

“How does—”

“I have no idea.” She paused, struggling to read between the lines of his question. “You don’t think I told him, do you?”

“Just asking.” Travis took a deep breath.

“‘Just asking’ sounds an awful lot like an accusation to me.”

“Whoa.” He raised a hand. “I’m just doing the math.”

“You can subtract me from your equation.”

“I apologize,” Travis said.

AJ was silent, uncertain if he was sincere.

“Look,” Travis said. “You don’t know me and I really don’t know you. All I’m doing is trying to figure things out.”

Trying to figure things out. She turned to look out the window without answering. What was there to figure out? In truth, she and Travis were alike in many ways. Maybe too many ways. The thought was far from comforting and it wouldn’t secure her position at Big Heart Ranch. Not if her boss didn’t trust her.

“We sure have our work cut out for us,” Travis mused aloud minutes later. “Take tomorrow off to study the grant material. On Monday we hit the ground running. You’ll go to Tulsa with me to look at starter calves. There’s a special sale going on at an auction house near Sapulpa and then we can pick up the supplies I ordered in Pawhuska on the way back.”

“What about hiring? And who will do Rusty’s work in the meantime?”

“I have confidence you’ll figure it out. That’s what days off are for.”

“You just said—”

“Welcome to my world. You’ll be juggling saddles from this point on. And remember, that grant is my number one priority. We’re competing against Jace McAlester and he’s going to do everything he can to see that he wins.”

Juggling saddles she could handle, but why did she feel like she was caught in the middle of a tornado and the chance she’d make it out untouched was slim to nothing? She was a woman of her word, though, and was willing to pledge her heart and soul to Big Heart Ranch for the next ninety days with the hope she wouldn’t regret the decision. Once the grant was behind them, she’d reevaluate her position on the ranch. That was unless she didn’t last ninety days.

Chapter Three

AJ stood on the porch of the bunkhouse, looking out at the ranch while sipping a cup of coffee. Dark clouds covered the sky, shrouding everything in black and gray, even as the sun struggled to wake the land at 6:30 a.m. The month of April brought the heaviest amounts of precipitation to this part of Oklahoma. Today was about to give evidence to that.

Her first Sunday at Big Heart Ranch. Despite the weather, there was a peace to the land that reminded her of days on Red River Ranch, her daddy’s spread. What would her life be like if her parents hadn’t died? AJ pushed the thought aside.

The only thing she carried from the past was the promise she’d made to herself when she’d buried her mother. Someday she’d be a permanent part of a ranch that needed her. Wanted her. And she intended to keep that promise.

Something moved to her left and AJ switched on the porch light. A roadrunner dashed across the yard, his long, slender legs kicking up red dust.

Sunrise would arrive within the hour. Her plan was to be well on her way to checking the fences by then. She’d be done and could shower and catch the late service at the Timber Community Church if all went well.

Stepping back into the bunkhouse she rinsed out her cup and tidied up, leaving everything the way she’d found it. Nothing out of place. Rue Butterfield had left last night and now AJ had the bunkhouse to herself. She remained unsettled and a bit afraid to hope that she might have a future here. Lucy and Emma Maxwell were her biggest supporters. Now all she had to do was to continue to prove to Travis she could do the job.

Rue’s King James Bible was still on her bed and AJ peeked at the open page as she walked by. A verse had been underlined with a red pen. Proverbs 3:5–6. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

AJ put a hand to her heart and swallowed. That was pretty much the story of her life. She said a silent prayer as she tucked a disposable rain slicker into the pocket of her denim jacket, grabbed her hat and carefully closed the bunkhouse door behind her.

The air was ripe with the scent of rain and, despite her prayer, an undefinable dread followed her as she headed to the Ute. Shivers danced down her arms all the way to the equestrian center. Why the ominous feeling? She’d checked spread fences dozens of times before. She could do this job.

AJ parked the Ute and hurried her steps. The stable door creaked with the effort of sliding open the latch to reveal the glowing amber of floor track lights.

Her hand searched the wall, finally locating the switches and turning on half the overhead lights. She walked down to Ace’s stall and called a soft greeting.

The horse nickered in acknowledgment. AJ dug in her pocket for the apple she’d brought and pulled out her pocketknife to cut it. She smiled as Ace inched closer, sniffing and snorting with anticipation.

This was the same routine she and Gus had each day.

She missed her horse. Gus was a gift from her mother. The blue roan ranch horse wasn’t getting younger, either. Lem had promised her he’d look after Gus when she’d left, and she prayed he’d kept that promise. Mostly she tried not to think about the situation, because if she did she’d get all teary-eyed. There was no room in her life for sentiment.

Once Ace finished chomping the apple, AJ grabbed a brush from the tack room and found her saddle and a blanket. She entered the stall and gave Ace a gentle nose-rub before brushing the animal’s coat and examining her legs.

“Morning, AJ.”

AJ jumped at Travis’s voice and the brush tumbled from her hand to the ground.

“Sorry,” he said.

“I was thinking, and didn’t hear you,” AJ murmured. Picking up the brush, she faced him. As usual Travis’s eyes did the talking. Today they spoke of his surprise at seeing her in the stables this early and maybe a hint of respect.

She turned back to Ace and, for moments, the only sound was the rhythmic strokes of the brush, along with horse’s nickering.

AJ focused on the job at hand, trying to block out the man. The rapid tripping of her heart when he was near confused her. Once again her mind scrambled to understand. Why this man? Why now? In her line of work she couldn’t afford romantic notions about cowboys she worked with.

Bitter memories crowded in. Hadn’t she learned anything at her last position? The range boss had taken a liking to her and though she’d kept him at a distance, rumors had persisted. Enough so that the other ranch hands had made her life impossible. She’d been forced to walk away after giving that spread two years of her life.

It took all her concentration to tack up Ace while Travis stood by with his arms looped over the top of the stall.

Settling the blanket on Ace’s back, she hefted the saddle into position before turning to Travis again. “Are you planning to observe for the duration?”

“I’m trying to figure you out. I thought I told you to take the day off. It’s Sunday. I’ll be in big trouble if my sisters think I kept you from church.”

“You juggle saddles, too, as I recall.” She smiled. “And I plan to attend the late service.”

“I’m going to have to watch my words. This is the second time I’ve had them dangled in my face.”

AJ adjusted the cinch, tucking her head away so as not to laugh.

“You’re going to check fences, aren’t you?”

“I am.” She nodded. “I looked at the schedule. Rusty was on for this morning. I’m his supervisor, so it’s my responsibility.”

“Two days in and you’ve exceeded expectations. I’ll give you points for that alone.”

She met his gaze, unable to hide her surprise. “Is that a compliment?”

Travis shrugged. “I guess it is.”

“Maybe you should have raised your expectations before now.”

His lips curved into a begrudging smile. “Maybe.”

AJ opened the stall and led Ace to the center of the stable.

“I’ll meet you outside,” Travis said.

“You’re joining us?”

“Don’t want my new assistant foreman to get lost out there.”

“I’m actually very good with directions.”

“I haven’t given you any directions.”

“You said to check the fences.”

“Good to have company the first time,” he said as he headed to Midnight’s stall.

AJ shook her head. Was the man determined to be contrary? The odd thing was that she’d never once had company doing anything on any other ranch. No, everyone had steered clear of her, careful not to divide their allegiance, because they all knew she was only a place-holder. They were happy to spread rumors but silent when it came to admitting she was always one of the hardest-working ranch hands on duty.

Now she had a handsome cowboy following her around and, while any other woman would be glad, it raised red flags for AJ. Travis Maxwell was the boss. Her father had taught her long ago that fraternizing with someone you worked with was like walking through a minefield.