Learnin' The Ropes

by Shanna Hatfield

  When it was their turn to check out, Ty anxiously watched the salesgirl ring up his purchases. Most of his paychecks had gone to Nate and Beth. He hoped he had enough in his account to cover the expenses of the clothes and still pay his few bills. If he didn’t, he’d have to put it on his credit card and pay it off with his next paycheck.

  When she gave him the total, he pulled out his credit card, but before he could pay, Swede whipped out a handful of cash and peeled off enough to cover the bill.

  “What are you doing?” Ty asked, caught off guard.

  “Payin’ for these ranch supplies.” Swede stared at him as the salesgirl took the cash and gave him change.

  “These aren’t ranch supplies, they’re my clothes. I’m paying for them.” Angry that Swede ignored his protests, Ty glared at him as he gathered a handful of bags and sauntered out the door. Ty couldn’t very well remain in the store brooding, so he grabbed the rest of his things and followed the older man outside.

  “Accordin’ to the boss, these are beyond what is required in yer job description and therefore, the ranch is payin’ for them.” Swede opened the pickup’s back door and set the bags he carried inside.

  Livid as he set down the boot box and the rest of the bags, Ty’s pride was thoroughly stung. The fact that he couldn’t afford to pay for all these purchases and Lexi knew it grated on his nerves. He was not a charity case.

  “Quit standin’ there like ya sucked a bad lemon. I’ve got a hankerin’ for a piece of pie and a cup of good coffee. Then we’ll run by the drug store and git somethin’ for yer other problems,” Swede said, starting the pickup.

  Ty got in but didn’t say a word all the way to the restaurant. He and Swede talked about what he could expect in the upcoming weeks as they rounded up the cows and went through branding, but Ty had a hard time focusing on the conversation. The more he thought about being a charity case to Lexi, the angrier he became.

  Once they left the restaurant, they swung by the grocery store’s pharmacy. Swede showed him what to get for his sore muscles. Ty picked up a few other things, including a large tube of antibiotic cream. Swede had a grocery list from Lexi he filled and Ty helped him load everything into the pickup before they headed home. To pass the time, Swede gave Ty a lesson in taking care of his boots and hat as well as proper hat wearing etiquette. He mentioned multiple times to “tip yer hat to a lady comin’ or goin’ and never wear it in a church, in someone’s home, or any public place ya might block someone’s view.”

  “Got it,” Ty said, sullen and resentful of Lexi telling Swede to buy his western wear.

  “Look, son,” Swede said, giving him a narrowed glance as they drove down the ranch’s driveway. “I know ya got somethin’ stuck in yer craw, so ya might as well spit it out before it chokes ya. If yer mad at Lex about buyin’ yer stuff, go talk to her. She’ll listen and the two of ya can work somethin’ out.”

  Ty glowered at Swede, but nodded his head.

  Swede stopped the truck at Lexi’s house. Together he and Ty carried her groceries inside. Lexi hurried down the hallway and greeted them both warmly. She helped them carry in the rest of the bags and couldn’t help but notice the dark cloud of thunder that had settled on Ty’s face.

  “Ty, do you mind coming back in once you help Swede with the rest of the supplies?” she asked, wondering what happened to make him so mad. His brow was puckered and his jaw muscle twitched angrily.

  “Sure, just give me a minute,” he said quietly, closing the kitchen door behind him.

  He and Swede hauled groceries into the bunkhouse then Ty took his new purchases to his room. While Swede parked the ranch truck back in its designated spot, he walked to Lexi’s house, fury pounding out of every step.

  Curtly knocking on the back door and studying the toes of his work boots, he glanced up when Lexi opened the door with a smile.

  “Want a glass of iced tea?” she asked in a friendly tone, motioning him inside.

  “No, thank you,” he said, staring at the floor.

  “Let’s go sit in the office.” Lexi led the way down the hall to the big, open room. Instead of sitting behind the desk, she took one of the two chairs in front of it. Ty sat in the other.

  If possible, he looked even madder than he had when he and Swede first returned from town.

  “Okay, buckaroo. Out with it. What’s the problem?”

  Ty was surprised she cut right to the chase, but Lexi didn’t seem like the kind of girl to waste time beating around the bush.

  “I pay my own way.” Ty barely restrained himself from grinding his teeth, clenching his hands as he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “I don’t need your charity.”

  “My charity?” Lexi asked, confused. “What are you talking about?”

  “The stuff you told Swede to pay for today. I don’t… I can pay for it myself. I’m not a charity case.” Ty raised his gaze to hers. Suddenly, he felt like he was seven years old, dragged shopping for school clothes by some well-meaning woman at their church. Ty hated every single item he came home with because the woman made it clear he and Beth were her personal charity case. From that day on, he would rather have worn rags than feel that small and insignificant again.

  “Oh, that.” Lexi waved her hand dismissively, as though she chased away a bothersome gnat. “That’s not charity, Ty. That’s business. You would never, in a million years buy, or need, any of that stuff if I wasn’t making you learn how to be a cowboy. It isn’t your primary job so I look at it as additional equipment. You shouldn’t be forced to pay for a uniform that is far beyond your job description.”

  “I don’t care how you see it. I’m still paying for the clothes. How would you like me to pay you back?” He sat so stiffly, he thought his back might actually spasm.

  “Ty, this is ridiculous.” Lexi glanced at him and caught the look of humiliation and anger in his eyes. Aware of the damage she’d done to his pride, remorse and regret assailed her. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him. “Look, if it’s that important to you, why don’t I split the total between your next two paychecks. Will that work for you?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Ty released his breath and ran a hand through his hair as he relaxed against the chair. “I’d appreciate that very much.”

  “I’m glad that’s settled, although I better get something in writing.” She walked around the desk to the computer and sat down. “Sit still a minute while I type something up.” Lexi typed a document, printed it, and slid it across the desk for Ty to date and sign. When he read it, he raised an expressive eyebrow her direction.

  I, Tyler Jaxton Lewis, being of sound mind, mulish attitude, and an abundance of stubborn pride, agree my employer, Lexi Ryan of the Rockin’ R Ranch, will deduct the following amount from my paychecks for the next two pay periods...

  “Think you’re funny, don’t you?” Ty tried to keep from smiling, although a corner of his traitorous mouth kept tipping upward. He filled in the amount, signed the paper and slid it back to her.

  “No. I know I’m funny.” Her sassy smile and a flirty wink zinged across the desk and tickled his heart.

  “Maybe a little.” Ty stood and moved to the outside entrance of the office. “Thanks, Lexi. I really do appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome, Ty, and I’m sorry.” Contrite, she had no idea Ty would be so upset over something that seemed trivial to her.

  “For what?” he asked as he held the doorknob in his hand.

  “For hurting your pride.”

  Ty nodded his head then stepped outside. The discussion had gone much better than he expected. Now that he wasn’t feeling quite so worthless, his mood lightened. In addition, his sore muscles had loosened up during the course of the day. By tomorrow, he hoped the friction sores would also feel better.

  Whether they healed or not, he would be riding again tomorrow and quite likely for the next several weeks.

  Lesson Eight

  Earn Your Spurs

  “Hard work never
killed nobody.

  At least nobody I know.”

  Lexi savored the peaceful beginning to her morning from the back porch. She sipped a cup of hot coffee as she watched the sunrise fill the spring sky with gold and orange hues. It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day. Although chilly at that moment, the temperature was supposed to be in the mid-sixties by afternoon.

  Normally it didn’t get that warm this early in the year, but Lexi would take any nice days Mother Nature decided to share with them.

  The men filed out of the bunkhouse, ready to begin work. Cal and Keith teased Jimmy while Gus and Swede walked together. No doubt, the two older men rehashed a story from the good old days.

  The sip of rich brew she’d just taken nearly spewed out of her mouth when one fine-looking cowboy swaggered his way across the ranch yard to the shop. From the top of his new Stetson to the tips of his shiny brown boots, Ty looked like he stepped out of an advertisement for a western apparel company.

  She wished she had binoculars so she could get an up-close view. Even from her seat on the big wicker porch chair, she could tell those Wranglers fit him like a second skin, highlighting taut muscles and long legs that were definitely going to make it hard for her to keep a professional distance from the man. His blue plaid shirt accented the breadth of his shoulders and the way his chest tapered down to a narrow waist.

  Had she known those Wranglers would fit him so perfectly, she might have thought twice about teaching him riding and ranching. She had a hard enough time keeping her head on straight where he was concerned when he was dressed in his baggy jeans and sweatshirts. It would be even more of a challenge with him dressed up like a cowboy straight from her dreams.

  When Ty turned and waved at her, she almost dropped her coffee cup. She hoped he couldn’t see the heat flaming into her cheeks from her wayward thoughts.

  However, Ty had his own worries. He was convinced that his pants were too tight. He’d grown up wearing relaxed fit jeans and couldn’t recall every owning a pair that fit so… snug. Without appearing to study their jeans, he tried to look at the rest of the guys. Finally, he decided theirs weren’t any tighter or looser than his.

  Swede warned him that his boots would take a few days to fit just right and might cause a few blisters. With that thought in his mind, he was glad he bought a large tube of antibiotic cream and a big bottle of ibuprofen. Until he and his new clothes were broken in, he was certain some pain would be involved.

  Movement on the house porch drew his gaze to Lexi. He waved, hoping she couldn’t sense his thoughts. Ty felt like he wore a costume that was not quite his size. The hat felt strange, although not exactly uncomfortable, and the shirt fit well. The boots, so far, felt good on his feet. Given time, he supposed he’d get used to the jeans.

  After removing the hat and hanging it on a peg by the shop door, Ty rolled up his shirtsleeves and worked on putting together the pieces he’d disassembled from the riding lawnmower. The grass would need to be mowed soon and Lexi couldn’t get the mower to run. It didn’t take long for him to find the problem last night. The simple repair took less than an hour for him to complete. He was tightening the last bolt when Swede ambled into the shop.

  “Are ya ready for yer next ridin’ lesson?” Swede asked, bending down and watching him finish the repair job.

  “Sure.” Ty moved over to the sink to wash the grease off his hands. When they were dry, he rolled his shirtsleeves down and snapped them, picked up his new gloves from the workbench, and grabbed his hat as they went out the door.

  “Boss said to git ya saddled up and have ya go out with her to the north herd. She wants ya to git used to bein’ around the cattle. Shouldn’t have much runnin’ today, jes workin’ around the herd. We’ll start bringin’ them in next week.”

  “Okay,” Ty said as they walked to the barn. Swede had Kitty saddled and ready to go, but Delilah stood patiently waiting with her lead rope tied to the fence. Ty got the saddle blanket and saddle from the tack room, putting them on like Lexi taught had him.

  He smoothed out the blanket and made sure of its placement before settling the saddle on top. After adjusting the position, he pulled up the cinch, waiting a minute for Delilah to let out her breath then finished pulling it tight. He dropped the stirrup into place, slid on her bridle, and removed the lead rope.

  Swede made sure the saddle was cinched tight, checked the bridle, and gave an approving nod.

  “Good job, son. Yer a fast learner, fer sure,” Swede said, beaming with pride at Ty. From the first time he spoke with him on the phone, Swede took a special interest in the young mechanic. The foreman decided to make him his special project and wanted him to succeed. “Let’s head out.”

  Ty mounted and followed Swede to one of the pastures he hadn’t been in before. It took almost an hour to get there, although they never urged the horses above a walk. Still a little sore, Ty appreciated not bouncing on the saddle. It was hard enough as it was to keep his seat without showing his discomfort.

  When they arrived, Swede waved at Lexi before veering off to the west, leaving Ty to ride to her alone.

  “Hey, buckaroo,” Lexi teased as he rode up beside her. “Looking good. How do those new clothes feel?”

  “Odd, strange, and uncomfortable,” Ty said honestly, although he added a grin that made Lexi’s heart skip a beat or two.

  “You’ll get used to them. Maybe even like them,” she said, knowing how different everything had to feel to him. This entire lifestyle had to feel odd and strange to him, although he fit in remarkably well. So well, in fact, she often forgot he was a city boy who had no rural experience. When Swede talked her into hiring him, she was sure they’d have a mess on their hands with a city guy unwilling or unable to adjust to the country.

  Ty continually surprised her with his ability to not only adapt, but also thrive in his new environment. He faced whatever they threw at him head-on and was proving to be a very valuable employee.

  In an effort to keep him in her thoughts as a student instead of a gorgeous, virile man, she talked to him about the cattle, their behaviors, and how to move them. She went over the reasons they would bring them in for branding and what she expected him to do during the next few weeks.

  Together, they moved the herd to a pasture closer to the main portion of the ranch. Ty quickly picked up on what she taught him.

  “Are you sure you haven’t ridden before?” Lexi asked, watching him ride Delilah with growing confidence and ease. He was a natural and looked entirely too appealing on the back of a horse.

  “I’m positive,” Ty said. If he got off the horse, the odds were high he wouldn’t be able to lift his leg high enough to get it back in the stirrup to remount. He hoped Lexi couldn’t tell how much pain he felt in his posterior. After a few days, he supposed the unaccustomed position he was in wouldn’t seem so different or painful.

  “You’re doing a great job,” Lexi called as she trailed after the cattle.

  Ty worked the other side of the herd. He urged Delilah forward to keep one ornery cow from escaping into the brush. When he did, the horse lunged forward, bucked a few times, and sent Ty flying over her shoulder as she came to an abrupt halt.

  Lexi wheeled Rowdy around and hurried to Ty. She jumped off her horse and bent near his head.

  “Ty, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” Concern and something else, something Ty couldn’t define, filled her voice.

  Embarrassed, he sat up and shook his head.

  “I’m fine,” he said. He could wiggle his toes and fingers. Nothing appeared to be bleeding or broken and he could take a deep breath without anything hurting. Slowly rising to his feet, Lexi looked intently into his eyes before placing a warm hand on his arm.

  “You’re sure?” she asked, trying to gauge if he was hurt and hiding it or telling the truth.

  “I’m sure,” he said, attempting to walk normally to where Delilah and Rowdy waited. He wondered what had upset the horse. “What did I do to make
her throw a fit?”

  Lexi laughed and the sound of it made Ty smile.

  “She didn’t throw a fit.” Lexi patted Delilah on the neck. “The ol’ girl was just feeling her oats and having fun. Besides, she only bucked a few times. You would have stayed on if she hadn’t stopped so quickly. I haven’t seen her do that in years, so I wouldn’t worry about her doing it again anytime soon.”

  “I think I’ll keep my guard up just the same.” Ty stared at the stirrup like it was ten feet above his head instead of a couple feet off the ground.

  “It’s okay if you’re a little afraid. Everyone gets bucked off now and then.” Lexi took his hesitance to mount for fear rather than his inability to move his stiff muscles.

  Ty wasn’t sure what was worse — having her think he was afraid of the horse or letting her know he couldn’t lift his sore leg off the ground. His pride told him fear was worse than soreness, so instead of admitting to either he took a deep breath and forced himself to put his foot in the stirrup, mounting Delilah.

  When he settled himself in the seat of the saddle, Lexi placed a hand on his thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’m so proud of you, Ty.”

  The moment her hand made contact with Ty’s leg, she realized the error of her innocent touch. She could feel the tight muscles and strength. Even through her gloved fingers, scorching heat blazed a trail up her arm and burned all the way to her mid-section. Unsettled, she hurried to Rowdy, mounted, and turned back toward the herd. She had no business entertaining thoughts about her mechanic. None at all.

  Ty tried to focus on moving the herd but it was difficult when he could still feel Lexi’s touch on his leg. When he removed his jeans, he was sure he’d see her handprint embedded in his skin. He had to quit thinking about her as a woman, an incredibly desirable woman, and focus on the fact she was his boss.

  Throughout the rest of the morning, Ty didn’t have any problems and managed to stay on Delilah. Other than being saddle sore, he thoroughly enjoyed himself. It was a perfect spring day, he was out in the fresh air learning something new, and a pretty girl kept flashing him her beautiful smile.