“What’s that?”
“Take it one day at a time.” Nate gave him another smile and said, “Okay, so you’re going to meet a bunch of people at once. Don’t try to remember all of their names. You just need to know Ginger’s.”
“Ginger,” Ted repeated. “Got it.”
Nate climbed up the couple of steps and opened the door, and Ted followed him, a little weirded out that there wasn’t any clinking of chains accompanying his footsteps. Just like he’d had to get used to life at River Bay, he’d have to figure out how to get used to life here at Hope Eternal Ranch.
“All right, guys,” Ginger said over the gaggle of people inside, most of whom were talking. Ted saw several more men wearing cowboy hats. Women wearing cowgirl hats. One in an apron. All of them looked fresh, and happy, and almost like they glowed.
Ted felt completely out of place, and he’d wished he’d asked Ginger to pull over so he could change his clothes. He stood halfway behind Nate as Ginger continued with, “This is Ted Burrows, our new cowboy. I expect everyone to welcome him to Hope Eternal Ranch the way we do.”
He wondered what way that was, and Nate glanced at him, questions in his eyes.
“I need to change,” Ted hissed, and recognition lit Nate’s face.
“Emma has your clothes.” He nodded toward a brunette, who was walking toward them with the widest smile on her face. “Ted, this is Emma Clemson.”
Ted blinked at her, because he knew that name. He knew this woman. His eyes narrowed at her, because she didn’t quite look like the woman he’d thought he’d known. He’d compartmentalized things from his past, and he wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
Emma smiled at him, and everything in Ted’s world got brighter. She had a gorgeous smile, with straight, white teeth, and an inner light that shone out of her dark eyes. She wore a sleeveless, purple shirt with a pair of jeans, and she said, “I’ll show you where you can change.”
Her voice sounded familiar to him too, and he followed Emma while another woman started explaining the food covering the counter. Ted hadn’t seen so much food in a long time.
He followed Emma away from the fray, ready to be away from the crowds. He’d lived the last five years with dozens of other people in close quarters, and he just wanted to be alone.
“Here you are,” she said, handing him an obviously brand new backpack.
Ted took it but hesitated. “Have we met?”
Something like fear flickered across her face, but she kept her smile hitched in place. “I don’t think so.”
“Of course not,” he said, feeling stupid for asking. But her voice was so familiar, and he’d definitely seen her face before. At least he thought he had. “Thanks.”
He ducked into the bathroom and closed the door, locking it behind him. And finally, it was quiet.
Oh, I think they’ve met… Find out what happens between Ted and Emma in OVERPROTECTIVE COWBOY, coming soon! Preorder today.
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HOPEFUL COWBOY
Hope Eternal Ranch Romance, Book 1
by Elana Johnson
Copyright © 2020 by AEJ Creative Works Inc, Elana Johnson
All Rights Reserved
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book can be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the author. The only exception is by a reviewer who may quote short excerpts in a review. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in, or encourage, the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Cover design by Carpe Librum Book Design, https://booking.carpelibrumbookdesign.com/
Interior design by AEJ Creative Works Inc.
Hopeful Cowboy: A Mulbury Boys Novel (Hope Eternal Ranch Romance Book 1) Page 20