Cowboy For Hire

by Isabelle Drake

  “Nonsense,” Susie called over her shoulder as she hurried to the kitchen. “Your father and I love helping you.” She peeked out through the doorway, “Whatever we can do for you, just way the word. Anything, anything at all. For the next few days, we’re all yours.”

  That’s what she was afraid of. Why couldn’t they spend their time relaxing on the porch? Or playing cards? Victoria didn’t even bother suggesting those alternatives. The two of them were bound and determined to help her whether she wanted them to or not.

  So much for doing things on her own.

  Her father pushed himself from the table and rolled to his feet. “You’re coming with me, aren’t you Victoria?”

  If she let her father make himself useful on his own, there was no telling what he’d uncover. He’d probably find problems she hadn’t even found herself.

  “Of course she’s coming with you.” Susie zipped back in, rounding the table to pick up the rest of the coffee cups, then pushing Victoria toward the door. “This ranch is her place.”

  Her father grumbled at Susie’s comment but waited by the door, looking ready to take on a task even though his beefy arms were crossed over his chest.

  Once they were outside, Victoria turned to her dad. “I know you don’t want to waste time looking at those chicks. We can skip the barn too. Why don’t we start by checking on the horses? It was dark last night when they were delivered. I had to use the flashlight, maybe—”

  “Don’t be silly,” he took her arm and started toward the barn. “I know you want to look at those fluff balls. You always did have a soft spot for cute critters.”

  Like a lamb being led to slaughter, Victoria trailed beside her father. If only she didn’t feel so inadequate and unprepared. If only she could shake the sense that her father was spending each minute looking for problems so he could bring them to her attention and point out her shortcomings.

  That nagging worry, topped with her pent-up, nonstop craving for Lang…it was all too much.

  Beside the barn, Lang was bent over a makeshift pair of sawhorses. Despite the early hour, sweat glistened across his taut skin, making his shirt cling to his broad shoulders. Victoria tried to keep from gawking at the way his jeans pulled across his powerful thighs but she couldn’t. Stepping closer was out of the question.

  Even though he’d been giving her the cold shoulder ever since he’d told her dad he was working at the ranch, she’d been thinking about him constantly. And seeing him was even worse. With him only a few feet away, all she could do was stare and ache with desire. Thinking about how alive she felt when he touched her, the way her body turned hot, liquid and expectant.

  She held back, letting her father move away from her side, closer to Lang.

  “Morning, Lang,” her father called as he marched forward to inspect the boards piled near a box of nails. “We missed you at breakfast. You aren’t on one of those crazy liquid diets are you?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Glad to hear it. Susie was real disappointed when you didn’t come to dinner last night. She claims she’s never met a real cowboy before. She says all the ones she’s met just had a bad case of cow fever.”

  Lang chuckled but didn’t look up from the boards he was measuring. He ran the tape across the wood, his biceps popping out of his rolled-up shirt sleeves.

  “We’ll see you at lunch?” her dad pressed. “I don’t want Susie disappointed two days in a row.”

  Lang stood, wiping the back of his hand across his tanned forehead. He turned and his gaze flashed past Victoria to settle somewhere in the pasture. “I’ll be there for lunch.”

  “That’s settled then.” Her father continued on toward the barn, his sturdy legs moving quickly across the dust and dirt. “Come on, sweetheart, let’s go look at your birds.”

  Victoria’s gaze zigzagged from her father’s swaying back to the pile of boards, then on its own, focused on Lang’s rugged face. “Thanks for working on the barn.”

  He barely glanced at her as he reached for the saw and lined it up with the pencil marks he’d made. “I said I’d do it.”

  “Still,” she paused, trying to think of something to say. “I appreciate it. Um, thanks.”

  “No problem,” he muttered, uninterested.

  Although almost everything about Lang confused Victoria, one thing she knew for certain was that he had a firm sense of right and wrong. He probably resented being made part of the deceit with her father.

  There wasn’t anything more to say, so she sidestepped in the direction her father had gone.

  “Victoria?”

  She turned to find Lang staring at her, his mouth set, his velvety eyes searching.

  “I know you wanted to do all this by yourself but your father and Susie, really care about you. They’re your family—and family is what matters. Not ranches. Or success. You’re lucky to have them. Don’t forget that.”

  Without waiting for her to respond, he turned back around, sliding the handsaw back and forth with sharp, jerky motions.

  Obviously he was relating to her situation somehow.

  How?

  His ex-wife?

  She must’ve hurt him badly. With a pang of jealousy, Victoria assumed he must’ve loved her deeply. A woman would have to be a total fool to walk away from a man like Lang.

  What kind of woman was Lori Anne?

  Funny? Smart? Pretty?

  Had she enjoyed taking care of Lang?

  Those questions would never have answers. Right after she slipped into the barn, Hank jogged through the door at the opposite end. His words tumbled out between breaths, “Miss Moore, the horses…did you…move them?”

  She stepped back, trying to make sense of Hank’s question.

  “The horses…your new herd…did you move them?”

  Alarm gripped Victoria, flashing through her body and making her muscles tense. “Move them?”

  Her father strode across the dirt floor, his stout arms swinging at his sides. “What’s the problem? What’s going on?”

  Hank’s gaze darted between them, then he ran his hands over his flushed face. “The horses aren’t in the corral. They’re not there, they’re gone.”

  Icy fear slashed through Victoria. “Gone?”

  “The gate’s wide open and the corral is empty.”

  Empty?

  It didn’t make sense.

  “I thought you did a head count last night,” Hank said. “Miss Moore, did you double check that latch?”

  Victoria crammed her fingers through her hair. “Of course I did.” But she’d been so tired, after everything that had happened with Lang, then her father and Susie showing up…

  Maybe she hadn’t been careful enough.

  She raced past Hank and her father, through the door and on to the corral. The area was empty. Her beautiful animals were no where in sight.

  How could she have let this happen?

  “What should I do Miss Moore?” Hank asked as he reached the open gate. Her father was close behind. The two men stared at her, waiting for her to do something, say something.

  Worry for the animals’ safety and well-being chased away her embarrassment. “Can you ride bareback, Hank?”

  “Of course but—”

  “We’ll each take a bucket of feed, a lead rope and a bridle. Use the feed to lure the first horse you find, then mount up. These animals know each other, so once we find one, we’ll probably find the rest. Bring the ones you find to the corral, then go back out.

  “I’ll go get the feed buckets, Hank you get the leads, Dad you get bridles.” Victoria started for the small shed where they kept the feed. “We’ll meet back here, then split up.”

  —

  The sun hung directly overhead when Victoria led the last horse into the corral. Sweat ran into her eyes and down her back. Fatigue clung to her like a second skin.

  She accepted the jug of water her father offered as soon as she latched the gate and took a long drink. “I still don’t unde
rstand how it came open,” she said.

  “It’s done and over with now. Come on up to the house. Susie made lunch.”

  Victoria took another drink from the jug then nodded weakly. “She didn’t want to miss out on meeting a real cowboy?”

  Her dad laughed as he wrapped his thick arm around her weary shoulders. “That—and it gave her something to do while she worried about me falling off. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden bareback.”

  “You could’ve taken a saddle with you.”

  “No, you were right. If we tried to lug saddles we wouldn’t have been able to move as fast.” He brushed his hand across her back. “You impressed me, honey. I didn’t realize you could think so fast.”

  Did her father’s compliment mean he was finally accepting her choice? Victoria was too bushed to decide. “Thanks.”

  Inside, Lang and Susie were seated at the table, laughing like old friends. He turned and grinned at Victoria, his gaze skimming across her weary muscles. “You look as tired as a mule that walked a mile in East Texas mud.”

  Victoria scowled, ignoring the constant vibrations that hummed through her whenever he was around. “I’m not impressed with your cowboy charm.”

  He laughed as she dropped into her seat with a groan of disgust, then said, “You could’ve told me you needed help.”

  She didn’t have the energy to deal with the rush of emotions he let loose, so she did her best to ignore him, turning instead to her stepmother. “Thanks for making lunch, Susie,” she said, gesturing to the stacks of sandwiches and bowls of sliced fruit.

  The other woman beamed. “It was no trouble.” Then looking out into the yard, she asked, “Where’s Hank?”

  “He’s worn out, so he’ll be up after a while.”

  “I’ll join you all after I get the pie out of the oven, you all go ahead and get started.”

  Victoria didn’t have to be asked twice. She piled her plate with food and dug in.

  Lang scooped some fruit out of the bowl. “Your paneling was delivered while you were out chasing the horses.”

  The mouthful of salami and cheese kept her from replying but her father chuckled. “I had to chase down a few but from what I can tell, my little girl just sweet talked them in.”

  Lang turned a skeptical gaze her way. “That so?” Was it her imagination or did he seem bugged by her father’s praise?

  She shrugged and picked up the fruit bowl while her father continued. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think Victoria had been taking riding lessons from a rodeo pro instead of that stiff-lipped coach at the stable.”

  Although the compliment was indirect, a warm sense of satisfaction and acceptance flowed through Victoria. Maybe her dad was starting to see that she was capable. Maybe he’d see things her way by the time that starter arrived. She could only hope, then he’d finally butt out of her life.

  Susie sashayed into the room, humming and smiling. “That pie is for after dinner, so don’t ask for any before then.” After she put half a sandwich on her plate she swiveled, giving Lang her full attention. “Now you can finish that wonderful story.”

  Victoria only half listened to Lang’s irritating yarn about the time his cousin dared him to ride blindfolded through town and his horse stepped on the sheriff’s hat.

  Oh please.

  Blindfolded.

  Hmmm…now if he were blindfolded for her pleasure, that wouldn’t be so bad.

  In fact, the more she thought about it the more she warmed up to the idea. There might be something wickedly sinful about having her way with a man who couldn’t see her, he wouldn’t know what to expect.

  She’d start by popping those buttons, like she’d thought about that first day in the bunkhouse.

  No, back up.

  First she’d tie him to one of those rough posts near the fat, potbelly stove, binding his wrists gently behind his back with soft twine. That way she could do whatever she wanted. He wouldn’t be able to walk away just when things were going the way she wanted.

  After she pulled his shirt open, she’d spread her fingers across the hard muscles of his chest, trail her fingertips over the tight curves of his stomach. Then she’d loosen that belt he always wore, unzip his jeans, ready to get an answer to what she’d been wondering—did that bulge look as big outside his pants as it did in?—slide her hand and—

  “Victoria? Honey? You okay dear?”

  Victoria blinked. “Wh-what?”

  Susie shook her head, a knowing smile lighting up her face. “Never you mind dear, I’m sure your face is just flushed from all that sun, that’s all.”

  Good grief.

  Victoria slumped in her chair, managing, just barely, to not roll her eyes at her own stupidity.

  —

  “Bath time ladies.”

  Cassie, Prickly Pear and Sasabe eyed Victoria warily as she tugged at the hose. “Don’t look at me like that. You want to be pretty for our guests tomorrow don’t you?”

  Not willing to be put off by their lack of enthusiasm, Victoria tossed down the bottle of horse shampoo, then jogged back to the yard hydrant. When she got back, Hank was scratching Cassie’s neck.

  As always, he tipped his hat. “Afternoon, Miss Moore,” he said over Cassie’s nickers.

  Victoria nodded to the black pony. “She’s a sweet little one.”

  “That she is. You gettin’ these girls cleaned up for the opening tomorrow?”

  “Yep. I don’t know how they got so dirty but I want everything perfect for our first day with guests.”

  As she ran the hose across the pony’s back, she turned to Hank. “I finished the paneling in Cactus Cabin and the trim in Paradise Hideaway this morning. Susie and dad are hanging the curtains and putting on the fresh sheets right now.” A grin split across her face. “We’re actually ready on time.”

  “That’s wonderful, Miss Moore.” The old hand stepped back to keep from getting sprayed. “I got the feelin’ you weren’t so happy about your dad being here but he and Miss Susie sure have pitched in.”

  Victoria chuckled. “You’re right on both counts, Hank.”

  “Miss Susie says they’ll be on their way either tonight or first thing tomorrow.”

  Scooting around to douse the pony’s tail, she asked hopefully, “The delivery man brought the new starter?”

  “Not yet, he called to say he’d be out here later today.”

  Hank stepped onto the path that led to the bunkhouse. “I’m going to rest a spell.”

  “That’s a great idea.” She waved him on. “I’ll send Lang down to get you when dinner’s ready.”

  The old man took a few steps, then paused. “You’ve got a lot to be proud of.”

  Affection washed over her. Hank had done so much for her, she never would’ve been ready without his help. Words of thanks stuck in her throat, so she nodded.

  Hank turned, waving over his shoulder. Victoria moved from Cassie to hose down Sasabe. The horse nudged her elbow then swung its head around to watch the bright wildflowers tip in the slight breeze.

  When she’d left home, Victoria never would’ve thought she’d be grateful for help from her father and Susie. Just the idea of Susie helping had been foreign. But she had and without complaining.

  For the second, or maybe it was the third time, Victoria realized she’d never really given her stepmother a chance. She’d always assumed the perfectly dressed, carefully preserved woman she saw every day was all there was to Susie. She’d been wrong about that.

  “Okay, Prickly Pear, it’s your turn.” Victoria held the hose low, ran water across the mare’s front left hoof and then slowly raised the stream of water. “So far, so good. Now let’s do your back.”

  The animal only flicked its tail once, then stood quietly while Victoria continued to wet her down. “That’s a good girl, we’ll be done in no time, then I can put my feet up for a few minutes before cooking dinner.” Soon the Appaloosa’s coat was sleek with moisture.

  Pleasure settled
around Victoria. She was proud of what she’d achieved but like Hank suggested, she knew that without the help of her family she never would’ve been ready on time. She’d been wrong about having to do everything on her own too. It was okay to take help from some people, like family. It didn’t lessen her accomplishment.

  Once Prickly Pear was completely wet, Victoria reached for the shampoo bottle and twisted off the cap. The gentle wind caught the strange scent of the thick, yellow liquid and she frowned at the mares.

  “Smells a little yucky,” she held up the bottle, “But see how pretty she looks on the label? You girls will look twice that good. Even you, Prickly Pear.”

  Washing all three at once would be a great way to save time so she poured four, fat puddles on each horse’s back.

  “Victoria?”

  Susie rounded the corner of the barn and tottered over. “Have you seen the cooking oil? I was sure you had a big bottle of it in the cupboard and I’ve looked everywhere for it but it’s just not there. I’m making Lang a surprise for dinner and I can’t make it without that oil.”

  Victoria stretched up on her toes to rub the slippery shampoo across Cassie’s dark coat. “I can make dinner tonight, Susie.”

  “I know but, well, Lang’s been talking about how much he loves authentic Mexican food and I want to make him some homemade tortilla chips to go with that salsa I made yesterday.”

  “You’re spoiling him, Susie.” Bubbly, white foam rose up, mounding across the horse’s back.

  “Don’t worry, I explained to him that once I’m gone he won’t be getting any more special treatment and that—”

  “Afternoon, ladies.”

  “Lang.” Susie picked her way across the streams of sudsy water rippling across the ground. “Have you been eavesdropping on us?”

  “Course not. I just happened by.”

  Victoria turned her gaze away from his wicked grin and concentrated on sweeping her arms down Cassie’s chest, the foam continuing to build. It got so thick it dripped onto the ground, making little white mountains on the dark brown dirt.

  “Getting those mares good and clean, Victoria?”

  Instead of answering, she left the pony, moving to start rubbing the shampoo across Sasabe. What could he want? Ever since her father and Susie had arrived, he’d all but ignored her. She’d been painfully aware of him yet the days passed easily enough for him.