by Roxy Wilson
He nodded. “I got the message. Don’t worry. I don’t want to add to any mess in your life. It’s fine.”
“I hope we can be friends?” She thrust out her hand and much to her delight…he shook it.
“Friends,” he declared.
She breathed a sigh of relief. It would be awkward to work with him if he didn’t understand, and she felt glad that he was so nice about it. Once more, her heart ached as she gazed at his face. It was crazy to deny herself the pleasure that he seemed so willing to offer, but she felt that with this guy, nothing would be easy. If she got involved with him, her life would change—and she didn’t want that.
They walked around the cows, and much to her relief, they weren’t attacked again.
“Cows are generally docile,” he explained. “Not the bulls, of course, but we don’t have any.”
“The one who ran towards me didn’t look docile.”
“You didn’t notice, but she had a calf.” He laughed. “We got too close to it and she became uncomfortable. Generally, they would do anything to avoid a confrontation. That’s why it’s easy to herd them from one place to another. When we move closer to them, they automatically start moving forward to maintain the distance between us.”
It was easy to read the excitement in his voice. “You love this job, don’t you?”
“I do. It’s great to work outdoors with animals. Maybe…I guess you can’t imagine it.”
“I can,” she admitted easily. “My father loved it, remember? I grew up on a farm, and even though I haven’t inherited the passion for it that my sisters have, I do enjoy being outdoors.”
“You have to love nature, respect it, and only then you can make a living out of it. I don’t like people abusing the natural resources, which is why I like Cullen’s approach. She doesn’t want to overburden the farm with too many animals because she’s aware that we need to keep the land fresh, so it keeps yielding more. That’s why she’s selective about the breed of animals she buys.”
“She and Graeme went to look at sheep,” Shayne replied. “So, that’s next on the agenda.”
“Graeme knows what he’s doing, and Cullen is a fast learner so I bet when they make the final purchase, it will be the right selection.” Juston tipped his hat a bit and used his index finger to flick away the bead of perspiration that was rolling down his forehead. “We should sit for a bit. It’s going to be a while before the animals are ready to be moved and we shouldn’t use up all our energy.”
They sat under the same tree. Since all the other men were gone, it was quiet. She should have felt awkward, especially after that kiss, but Shayne felt just at ease as she did, ever since she met him. Some deep connection existed that she shared with this man, and no matter how hard she tried to deny it, it was right there. “Why did you move from the farm where you were born? You could have kept working there.”
“I went away to college, and when I came back, there was no place there for me. My friend is running it now, and I thought it wasn’t fair to burden him with the responsibility of giving me a job.”
“You went to college?”
“Graduated with a degree in animal husbandry.”
She blinked her eyes. She’d never imagined him as someone who spent four years slogging in classrooms. “Why didn’t you get a job in an office somewhere?”
Juston shrugged his shoulders. “This is what I love doing. Going to college was just something my father wanted me to do. His requirement was that I get a degree and then if I didn’t want to use it, he wouldn’t say a word. But he wanted me to have options and to think about another lifestyle I could possibly have.”
“Smart man, your father.”
“Yeah, I think he did the right thing. Now I know for sure that this is what I want to do, and I make a decent living, so it’s all good. I do some research work on the side for the State’s Husbandry department. They hire me to do some legwork for them, which I can accommodate along with my regular job.”
No wonder she felt attracted to him. He might look like someone who spent all his time on the land, but he was an intellectual. “I would like to see some of your papers.”
“Sure, why not?” He glanced over at the cattle. The calf was running away from the mother but she bellowed a command and it came back obediently. “What are your plans for the farm?”
“Oh, I’ve got some ideas. Now that Cullen is expanding at such a rapid pace, we need to have greater revenue coming in. So, I’m going to line up some buyers for the cattle, and then for the fleece that comes from the sheep. I’m also trying to convince her to get into organic dairy. We have enough cattle to do that, and all we need is some investment in equipment.”
“That’s going to be a hard sell. Dairy is complicated.”
Shayne nodded her head in agreement. “But very lucrative, especially if we go into organic milk. With the right marketing, we can start our own brand and sell it in the local markets for a premium. People love to feed their kids organic stuff, and if we offer that, I think we could go a long way.”
He nodded. “You’re a marketer at heart.”
“Is there something wrong with that?”
“No, I think it’s damn sexy,” he admitted. “We need that in order to get this farm going, and I think you sister will do just fine.”
She would’ve said something but the men came trudging back.
After they let the animals go towards the stream to drink water, Blade and his company sat under the tree.
“So, the fence is fixed?” Juston asked.
“Ran into Max’s men over there. I swear they’re breaking the fences on purpose, knowing that it would rankle us because we have cattle now that can wander onto their land.”
Juston sat up straighter.
Shayne felt him tense up next to her.
“Deliberately? Are you sure?”
“Looked like it.” Blade shrugged. “Fences don’t break with such regularity, and these were clean cuts.”
Juston took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “Damn it!”
Shayne kept her gaze away from his face because if she did so, she would have been tempted to run her fingers through his umber colored hair. “Why would they do that?”
“Max is known for playing dirty tricks,” he answered in a clipped tone. “And he has a problem with Cullen. This is something we need to tell her.”
“Sure have to.” Blade nodded. “I told his men to keep their saws off the fence, and they just laughed. I know they’re doing it on purpose on Max’s say-so.”
“We’ll have to prove it, of course, and that cunning snake knows it,” Juston seethed.
She could tell that he really didn’t like Max. What could be the reason for it? He’d said that he didn’t like men who didn’t work, but then there had to be something more.
They all shared the cake that her mother gave and then as the men stood, she joined them.
Rest time was over. They mounted the horses and herded the cattle across the stream. It was a slow process. If they got too close, the cattle would bolt, so the aim was to keep the pace slow and meandering. Even though this was hard work, Shayne realized she enjoyed it. Sure, she didn’t relish the idea of doing it every single day but once in a while, it would be nice to come with the men and mind the cattle.
The weather was hot, but a breeze wafted around them and the breathtaking view was a sight for sore eyes. The men talked very little as they worked.
She felt Juston’s gaze settle on her a few times and then flit away but he didn’t say anything. The kiss was something she wouldn’t forget. Even now, she could smell his cologne. Damn it, something about the man called out to her. She wanted to get to know him better, but Shayne knew it was important to keep her distance. He was dangerous, not because he would hurt her, but because he had the potential to grab her heart.
She just didn’t want to risk something like that. Getting over her divorce wasn’t a piece of cake, and she didn’t think she
could tackle any new problems right now.
As dusk fell, they reached the farm. By now, she did feel exhausted and yet, she felt alive in a way that was hard to describe. After she tied her horse, Shayne wiped him down. She gave him water and feed, then when she was satisfied that he was okay, she ventured out of its stall. The sight of Juston leaning against the wall was like a punch straight to her gut. Desire licked her skin in big, greedy gulps. She wanted to put her arms around him and kiss him again. Oh! She wanted to do so much more, but with an effort, she forced herself to walk quietly and with grace. “Why didn’t you go home?”
“I was waiting for you to finish.” He straightened. “To be honest, I wasn’t sure if you knew how to take care of a horse.”
She lifted an eyebrow. Perhaps she should’ve been offended that he underestimated her, but instead she was touched to know that he regarded the animals with such concern. “My father taught me. If I hadn’t done that, Cullen would have skinned me alive.”
He laughed. “That’s true.” Juston paused briefly before he took off his hat and tucked it under his arm. “May I walk you home?”
No, no, no, she wanted to say. Shayne wanted to run a mile away. This man was big trouble. Yet, the words didn’t reach her throat. Instead, she nodded and sauntered along with him out of the barn. “So, now you’re going to go home and make yourself a hearty meal?”
Juston chuckled. “Blade said a bit too much. I’m not really that good.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why do I have a feeling you’re being awfully modest?”
He sighed. “Busted! Actually, I don’t want to deprive myself of Jackie’s cooking. If she realizes that I can do an okay job, she might stop inviting me over, and I love her food.”
Now it was her turn to laugh. The man sure did have a devious mind. She quite liked it. “I promise not to tell her. Although I have to admit that she would be delighted and might even invite you to cook with her one day. She also doesn’t mind trying out other people’s food. It’s just that she doesn’t get the opportunity all that much.”
“I’ll keep that in mind then,” he said.
As they neared the farm, she saw the light in the kitchen window and Shayne was reminded of the time when they were young and did farm chores with their father. It always felt comforting to come back home and even now, she felt the same way. The only difference was—the man who walked beside her made her insides curl with desire. It became difficult to keep her fingers from reaching out to him.
He opened the door for her.
She expected him to take the opportunity to touch her, perhaps kiss her, but he merely smiled. It was enough to make her heart lurch. After she went inside, he walked away, and for a moment, she watched him. Shayne jumped when her mother cleared her throat. “Hi, mom.”
“How was your day?” Jackie asked with a gleam in her eyes.
“It was tiring, but good. I had fun.” Shayne expected her mother to ask a few questions, but Jackie only offered her dinner. She washed up and sat to eat. It felt good to be back home, but much to her consternation, her heart was still with the guy who sauntered off without a backward glance.
What the hell am I going to do about this situation?
Shayne didn’t have a clue.
Chapter Four
Juston didn’t quite know what to do with the feelings congealing in his heart. He backed away easily when she asked him to, but he wanted more than anything to be with her…to kiss her again. Of course, he promised to be her friend, and now he regretted that decision more than anything. The good news was that Graeme had returned and he could ask the man for some advice. Over the past few days, he’d developed an admiration for Graeme. The man knew his work, and he respected the land.
Yet, when he approached Graeme, he was busy talking to Cullen—no way would Juston discuss his feelings in front of her. “Welcome back,” Juston greeted them. “How was the trip?”
Cullen's smile was easy, warm.
He admired how she treated a man as if he were the most important thing at the moment. She wasn’t as beautiful as Shayne—and on that, perhaps Graeme wouldn't agree with him—but she did have the same quiet strength and that same spine of steel.
“Not very successful, I’m afraid. I wasn’t very happy with the quality. We’ll have to keep looking.”
“It’s an important decision. Are you planning to start building the barn for them?”
“We’ve finalized a location, and work will begin soon,” she replied. “Why do I have a feeling that you’re here to give me some bad news?”
He’d decided to give her news as soon as he saw her. “Well, actually…” He filled her in on Blade’s observation that the fences were being broken deliberately. “I can’t think of a reason why they would do that. If the cows go onto their land, we would have to round them up but they would lose their pasture.”
Graeme’s face tightened. “I can think of a few reasons why that asshole would do such a thing.”
He’d never heard Graeme use such language. Maybe there was more to this than what met the eye. “What’s going on?”
“Max hates my guts, but I don’t think he would do that just to spite me,” Cullen answered. Her gaze flickered to Graeme. “I think he’s trying to close our farm, so that we’ll agree to sell to the developers he has lined up.”
“The bastard!” Juston exclaimed. “How could he even think about giving this land to developers? What the hell are they planning?”
“From what little I’ve heard, they want to build a resort here.” Graeme made a sweeping gesture with his hand. “The place is perfect. There are three towns within driving distance, and look at those mountains…anyone would want a piece of that.”
“We can’t let him get away with this,” Juston stated.
Cullen smiled. “I’m glad you agree with us. Don’t worry, we’ll think of a plan. He believes he can drive us out with silly tactics, but we’re made of sterner stuff.”
“We sure are,” Graeme agreed.
Juston didn’t think they were taking Max seriously. The man was capable of doing some serious damage if he put his mind to it. “We need to be really careful.””
“Short of patrolling the fences day and night, there isn’t much we can do,” Cullen told him. “We don’t have the manpower to do it and even if we did, it’s a waste of our time and resources. The only thing we can do is to make sure our cattle is monitored at all times, so that they don’t step through any broken fences and trespass on his land.”
He ran a hand through his hair, feeling frustrated. There was more that he wanted to do, but of course, she was right. They could thwart Max’s plans by doing their jobs well, and that would be the perfect revenge. “Okay. For now, that will have to suffice. I should go then. Got work to do.”
Graeme waved. “See ya!”
“Wait a minute, Juston. I just want a moment of your time.” Cullen fell into step beside him. “How has your experience been at Westbury Ranch up until now?”
“It’s been great. I like working here.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Her smile was warm. “Why don’t you come up for dinner tonight at the farmhouse?”
He’d been aware of how she always made an effort to include the ranch hands in the family. Very different from the other ranches he worked at. He liked the warm welcome and the family atmosphere. “Sure, I would love to come by. Only an idiot would say no to Jackie’s cooking.”
She laughed. “Great then, I’ll see you. Around seven?”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
After she left, he went off to do his chores. Juston loved everything about ranches. He loved the smell of horses and cattle, the daily grind of work, and the atmosphere. It was hard work but it paid well enough, and he just plain loved it. One day, he hoped to have his own ranch, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready for the responsibility. When he passed by the barn, he saw Shayne deep in conversation with another ranch hand. He bit on his bottom lip, unsure if
he should approach her. Sure, they decided to be friends after the kiss, but he wanted more. She didn’t want that. Maybe he should leave her alone. But if he did, he would never get to peel back the layers of her personality and figure out the secrets that coiled in her eyes.
She waved at the guy and turned.
He felt amused to see how her eyes glazed over at the sight of him. So, she wasn’t as unaffected as she pretended to be. The knowledge gave him some comfort.
“Hi.” She recovered quickly and gave him a smile. “How are you doing?”
“Good. What about you? Settled into your new office already?”
“Yes, actually, it’s going well.” She tried to step past him.
Juston then angled his body, so she couldn’t walk away so easily.
“What?”
“I was just wondering if you would like to go out with me.”
“We agreed to be friends.”
“And friends can have dinner together.” he countered.
As if she felt panicked, her hand flew to her chest.
He could understand her reasons; he was coming on too strongly, but with this woman, Juston felt the need to do so. If he didn’t do it, she would brush him away and he just didn’t want to let go. If she needed a friend, he was willing to be one until she sorted out her issues. But she had to give him a chance.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Scared?”
Her eyes widened when she heard the challenge in his voice. “I’m not scared, only cautious.”
“I see, well. In that case, I’ll see you tonight.”
“Why?”
“Cullen invited me for dinner at the farmhouse. Good day to you, Shayne.” Whistling, he walked away. Juston wasn’t as immune to her rejection as he pretended to be. She was a tough nut to crack, but he was patient and willing to take his time. She wouldn’t go far. He wouldn’t let her. There was a vulnerability in her eyes that called out to him. This woman was special. He just knew it in his gut, and Juston was ready to fight tooth and nail to win her trust.