A Cowboy to Kiss

by Mary Leo

  That barometer was heading up toward the bursting point, and Jake loved every minute of it.

  “I hear you loud and clear,” he said, trying his best to avoid showing the smile that tugged at his lips. “Now, where’s that guest cabin?”

  * * *

  THE CABIN WAS in worse shape than Kenzie had envisioned it to be. Not only was it filled with Carson’s things, but some of the furniture had water damage from an apparent open window and the wooden floor in front of the window had warped.

  Carson had not only stored boxes inside the cabin, but it seemed as if it had turned into a catchall for everyone in the family except Kenzie. The front door had to be shoved open, which Kenzie managed to do without Jake’s help, thank you very much, and some of the windows were swollen shut.

  Jake had to open those, but only after Kenzie had loosened them with brute force, at least that was what she told herself.

  Plus, some animal must have died in there because the whole place reeked.

  “And my parents are going to stay...where?” Jake waved a hand in front of his face, trying to get the smell to dissipate.

  “Here,” she said, hopeful they could get it cleared out in time.

  “Maybe a nice motel in town might be better.”

  “Not an option. Along with guests from Joel’s family, and from our extended family, both inns are booked and the one motel that’s within easy driving distance has an Idaho potato convention going on that weekend. We have no choice but to get this cabin cleaned out pronto.”

  “Seems impossible.”

  “That’s where you and I differ. I look at it as a challenge to overcome, while you look at it as an insurmountable obstacle. Seems you still suffer from a lack of imagination.”

  She knew that Jake hated to admit she was completely right on that point. He never could dream like she could, never could imagine himself anywhere else but working his family ranch, and with a few exceptions, most likely in the exact same way it had been worked for generations.

  Kenzie on the other hand had chosen to run her family ranch. She’d had the grades to do almost anything else she’d put her mind to, but ranching had always been her passion...and maybe being a ballerina, or for a short time, a priest, like her cousin Father Beau, who was going to perform the ceremony for her parents at Saint Paul’s Catholic Church in town. The church where her siblings had gotten married, and where she might one day do the same.

  But most definitely not to Jake Scott, even though that vision had crossed her mind several times while she was growing up...at least until he kissed her and laughed. After that, she’d pushed that stupid thought right out of her head.

  Until now.

  “You might be right about that,” he said.

  “What? Did I hear you correctly? Did you say I might be right?”

  “About my imagination, yes? About all your chemicals, no.”

  Jake made a beeline past several clear plastic containers neatly stacked until he came to cardboard boxes filled with preservatives for hay.

  “You don’t actually use this stuff?”

  She didn’t like his tone.

  “Sometimes. When we cut our hay and it’s too wet to bale.”

  “It’s not good for your animals to eat this junk.”

  “There’s no evidence to support that, and it keeps our hay from molding or, worse, from generating too much heat once it’s baled.”

  “Wait until it’s not raining to cut it down, usually late morning, and give it a day or two to dry before you bale it.”

  “We used to do that, and we ended up with a lot more mold and had to destroy the bales. Plus, we don’t always have the time for that.”

  “You just aren’t doing it right. I can show you exactly what you need to do.”

  “Will it save me time and money?”

  “In the long run, it should. Yes.”

  “Have you crunched the numbers like I have?”

  “Ranching isn’t just about dollars and cents. It’s about the all-around health of your land, your crops and your livestock. You can’t put a price tag on those kinds of things.”

  She knew he was right, but that kind of thinking had almost brought this ranch into bankruptcy. Something had had to change, and she’d made those changes, even at the cost of using a few chemicals to speed things up.

  “How many acres do you have?” she asked, knowing perfectly well the Scott ranch was much larger than the Grant ranch.

  “Just over sixty thousand.”

  “We have just under four thousand, and most of it is too rugged to use. We can’t afford to lose any hay to mold, or bugs, or what have you, and we can’t afford for any of our heifers, cows or mares to go barren for a season. That’s the reality of a small ranch like ours. Now, if you want to help, you can carry these boxes out to my truck. Anything else, like your opinion on my ranching style, is best left unsaid. Or you can load up your trailer and drive on out of here right this minute, despite what my dad says.”

  She knew there was absolutely no way he would leave, especially now that he knew what she was adding to the hay. He’d be even more determined than ever to prove to her that there were more natural methods to do things that were just as effective, and all around much better for both the animals and for the handlers.

  But she didn’t care. Ranching these days was all about the bottom line, and right now, the Grant ranch had a profitable bottom line, and that was all that mattered.

  “I’ve been invited down here by a man I respect and my family respects a great deal. He’s asked me to help turn this ranch back to a more natural state without stepping on your toes. If I have to tread a little lighter then so be it, but I don’t intend to disappoint him by leaving just because you and I can’t seem to come to terms.”

  “I assume it’s until my parents renew their vows. Am I right?”

  “Yes. I have a roundup to get back to. My brother Curt is still in Portland and Lucas depends on me to head up our team of hired wranglers, so I’ll be heading back the next day, along with everyone else in my family.”

  Kenzie shook her head as she tried to ease the tension that was building behind her eyes.

  “My dad is a smart man, but on this issue, he’s just wrong and so are you.”

  “I’m not going to stop giving you suggestions. It’s what I was asked to do.”

  “And I’m not going to start listening. Modern commercial ranching is what I was trained to do, and what I believe in. It’s also the only solution to keep this ranch lucrative.”

  She knew a lot of small ranchers who felt exactly like she did. Some of them had made it, but the majority of them had eventually converted over to a combination of natural and commercial means. Jake apparently leaned more on the natural side, so he wouldn’t understand the middle-of-the-road approach, and if he did, she felt certain he wouldn’t admit it...especially not at the moment.

  “And is it working so far?”

  “Yes, it’s moved us away from having to file for bankruptcy.”

  “I had no idea the Grant ranch had come that close. Neither had my dad. Henry never mentioned it. I get why you’re so adamant about your methods. I know that kind of fear. Every rancher does. My family ranch means everything to me, as I’m sure it does to you and your family. Or why else would you be fighting me so hard?”

  For the first time since he’d arrived, Kenzie felt as if he understood some of what she’d been going through, but it still didn’t justify his arrogance about natural ranching.

  “Because my methods work for this ranch.”

  “Then we’ve reached an understanding of sorts,” he told her, sounding almost reasonable.

  “How do you figure? Seems to me we’ve reached an impasse.”

  It was never going to work out between t
hem. She felt certain about it now.

  “Not really. What we’ve done is we’ve agreed to disagree. So the way I see it, we only have one recourse.”

  She threw him a sly little smile. “For you to leave?”

  But she knew he wouldn’t be willing to pack it in just yet.

  “No. I won’t do that, but we can try to do our best to convince one another that each of our ways of ranching is the best way. I mean, I don’t know squat about commercial ranching.”

  She knew that wasn’t true. He was too smart to be that dumb. She’d bet the ranch that he knew quite a bit about it from neighboring ranchers, but maybe he’d be willing to give her methods a fresh look.

  He continued, “And from what I can tell, you know about as much about natural or organic ranching. Maybe for the next couple of weeks, we could each try to learn from each other. I’m willing to have an open mind if you are.”

  He held out his hand as a gesture.

  She gazed down at it as if he was asking her to take hold of the wrong end of a branding iron. Her forehead furrowed, and a skeptical grimace was about all she could muster.

  “I don’t know if I can,” she said. “I’ve worked so hard to get the ranch where it is today that I would feel like I’m taking a step back.”

  “All I’m asking for is an open mind. If this old cowboy who’s set in his ways can do it, certainly you can at least try...for your dad’s sake, if nothing else. And it’s only for a few days. It’s not like you have to commit to anything. All you have to do is listen. You’d make your dad happy. What do ya say?”

  She could tell he was laying it on thick. And if truth be told, she knew he meant it...maybe not completely, but he seemed willing to try if she was.

  “I can’t promise I won’t fight you on every suggestion.”

  “I would expect nothing less. Besides, I intend to fight you on your suggestions, but I’ll still listen to what you have to say.”

  Her shoulders slackened a bit. She shuffled her feet and reluctantly stuck out her hand.

  As soon as she touched his skin, a warm sensation swept through her. His face told her he’d felt it, as well. Suddenly all the arguing seemed unimportant, all their differences floated away. She didn’t quite understand what was happening. Why she wanted him to take her in his arms. Why she wanted to start over and take the time to get to know him better. To try to figure him out.

  “Kenzie, I—”

  But she slipped her hand out of his grasp before he could finish his sentence.

  “I’ll empty this room, if you’ll take the bedrooms,” she said. “I’d like to drive into town early before the shops close. I’ve got to stop at the hardware store for some supplies, if that’s okay with you.”

  She could feel the flush on her face, on her skin, and hoped he didn’t notice. Something had happened between them, but she didn’t want to pursue it, and he seemed willing to back down, as well.

  “Anything you want to do is fine by me,” he said, and she could tell he meant it.

  Chapter Four

  “You know you didn’t have to do this,” Carson repeated to Kenzie for the third time. “I had every intention of picking up my stuff this weekend.”

  He’d been using that same stale line for the past several months.

  “I couldn’t take the chance, dear brother,” Kenzie told him as Jake slipped the last box into the storage shed in Carson’s backyard. The three of them had made several trips back and forth to Kenzie’s pickup to collect everything, and now Kenzie and Carson stood just outside waiting for Jake to secure the last of the load.

  Carson and his wife, Zoe, still lived in the small rental they’d taken before they were married. Zoe’s wedding planning business, We Do I Do’s, had an office in town inside the bridal shop, All About the Bride, and she and Carson had decided that living only a few blocks away was a lot easier for her than living twenty minutes away on the ranch, especially during the winter months. “Besides, now that Jake is staying for a couple weeks, he needs a place to sleep.”

  Carson turned to her while Jake rearranged a few of the boxes inside the large metal shed. Married life agreed with her brother. Now in his early thirties, he looked more content, and he’d just gone an entire year without a broken bone, a cracked rib, a dislocated shoulder or a torn muscle of any kind. Although he’d won the Nationals for bronc riding, and the town and his family were proud of him, it was nice to know that part of his life was over, and had been replaced with teaching young riders.

  “No reason why he can’t take my old room,” he told Kenzie. “I haven’t used it for any length of time in years.”

  Kenzie didn’t want Jake sleeping in Carson’s room. It was right next to hers, so no real improvement over Jake sleeping on the porch, and well, she wanted him as far away from her as possible. Ever since that handshake she felt different toward him and wanted him to keep his distance. It was bad enough that they’d had to ride to town together...in the same truck...sitting next to each other...breathing the same air.

  She hated that she was attracted to him when he stood for everything she was opposed to, everything she didn’t want in a man, starting with the fact that he lived in Montana. Not that she would ever even consider Jake as anything but a pain in the neck, but if by chance she did let her guard down, she would never leave the Grant ranch. It was where she intended to raise her kids. Precisely the reason she fought so hard to keep it.

  The Grant ranch was her future, her family’s future, and no matter what kind of sparks flew between herself and Jake Scott, no matter how warm she felt holding his hand, nothing was going to pry her off the ranch she loved.

  Her mind raced for a logical reason why Jake couldn’t sleep in Carson’s room. When she finally settled on one, she felt proud of herself for having the presence of mind to think on her feet...something she’d always been good at.

  “You know perfectly well your room isn’t fixed up for guests. You still have your posters glued up on the ceiling and on the walls. Some of your clothes from when you were in high school are still in the drawers. Your stuff is everywhere, and besides, Mom’s been using it for a sewing room.” The sewing room part was a complete fabrication, but she was desperate.

  “Since when?” Carson accused.

  “Since last month when we all bought her that new sewing machine for her birthday.”

  Carson couldn’t argue with that. They’d all pitched in and surprised her, but so far, she hadn’t even taken it out of the box. She’d been too busy working with Zoe planning her anniversary gala to try to learn all the bells and whistles on that sewing machine. For now, she was still using her old machine that was set up in the laundry room.

  Fortunately, Carson didn’t know that.

  “Do you need any more help setting up the cabin for Jake’s family? I might be able to give you a couple hours tomorrow after we move those heifers to the open pasture. I won’t have to be at the riding school until around noon. My class doesn’t start until twelve thirty.”

  Carson taught several different classes on horseback riding over at M&M Riding School four days a week on top of helping out on the family ranch whenever Kenzie really needed him. Plus, with all the work he had to do for the Cowboy Days next week, she knew his time was limited. Still, she didn’t think she could take care of everything before her mom and dad renewed their marriage vows, a week from Saturday.

  “Well, someone left a window open in the living room, and the floor under the window can probably use some work.”

  Not only was Carson a world-class National Rodeo Champion, a certified riding instructor and an all-around great brother (most of the time), he was also a talented craftsman. He could repair just about anything, including a warped wooden floor.

  “I’ll bring my tools and have a look.”

  “Thanks,�
� she told him just as Jake emerged from the storage bin, a thin layer of sweat glistening on his forehead. He’d left his hat inside the cab of the truck, and his dark hair only accentuated those emerald eyes of his. He wiped his forehead on his arm in a manly gesture that reminded Kenzie that she really needed to get away from him, needed to get back to the ranch where she could isolate herself from him by doing some bookkeeping, or bedding down the stalls, or checking on the cows or doing any number of tasks to keep him off her mind.

  “I believe that’s it. I emptied everything out of the truck. Hope you didn’t mind my moving some of those boxes around inside there, but I needed a little more room.”

  “Not a problem. Sure you don’t want another beer?”

  Both Carson and Jake had already downed a beer each. Even though the temperature wasn’t up in the eighties, the sun had been brutal, and even Kenzie had gone for a cold one along with a tall glass of water.

  “No thanks. One will do me for now.” He turned to Kenzie. “I’ll swing that tailgate back up and wait for you in the truck.”

  Jake made his way back, as Kenzie said, “Well, we better get going. I’ve got to pick up some things in town, and Jake has to bring the mares in from the pasture.”

  Carson seemed to bristle at her words.

  “Seems like your hired hands can do that. Last I heard, Jake is a guest.”

  Kenzie hated when her brother, or any of her siblings, second-guessed her authority on ranch duties. They’d all agreed the ranch was hers to run as she saw fit, and now it seemed that everyone, including Carson, was questioning that decision.

  She wasn’t in the mood for Carson’s opinion, not after she and Jake just unloaded about thirty of his boxes.

  “He brought my mares out there, he can bring them back,” Kenzie said, using a decisive voice.

  “According to Joel, the two of them led your mares out because you were sleeping, and Jake needed somewhere to keep his stallions...which I hear are mighty fine quarter horses. Aren’t his stallions in the corral now?”