Chapter Four
What a Surprise
LeAnn gasped as she stared out at the brilliant green under the light blue cloudless sky. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything this pure and untouched,” she whispered in awe. “I thought you told me everything got fried in the Texas sun, all brown and withered.”
“It does. They’ve had some rain lately, and it’s helped stave off some of the worst effects of the sun, but in a few weeks, all of this will be yellow and dry. Trust me, I’ve seen it year after year.” She was glad, though, that everything was blooming for once. It made for a lovely drive and a much happier prospect in terms of weather in the days ahead.
The cab turned off the road onto a dirt path, under a sign that stretched above, declaring the name of the ranch and attached to the fence that cordoned off the property. The vast, open space was flanked by a line of trees at the edges on all three sides, the dark green of which was a perfect backdrop to set off the huge white house that sprawled amidst several outbuildings, many of which were nearly as large.
The car stopped in front of the house, where there were several people milling around, most with luggage much like Kristin’s. As she opened the door and stepped out, the sounds of the country comforted her above the muttering of the gathered guests. The horse paddock was somewhere nearby, snuffles and whinnies the loudest noises, with pigs, sheep, and cows more distant. Kristin ached to go exploring, all alone, but she had a feeling that wasn’t allowed, and she would have to wait for the grand group tour.
“I’m glad you told me what to wear,” LeAnn muttered in her ear. “Some of these girls look like they’re going to be in trouble pretty quick.” She gestured toward a young woman, maybe five years their junior, wearing shorts that barely covered the essentials with a tank top and flip-flops, exactly what Kristin had told LeAnn to avoid.
Kristin sighed. Some people just didn’t get it. The woman was probably from Florida and thought this was going to be a lot of posing and taking pictures, like going to the Caribbean and having a picture taken with a monkey or a Macaw. She was going to be sorely mistaken, literally.
The group’s attention shifted, everyone turning as the door to the house opened and a man with a cowboy hat and red plaid shirt and jeans stepped out. His back was to them, and Kristin waited to see their host, Mr. Prescott, presumably. As he turned to face the small crowd, Kristin felt the blood drain from her face, and she quickly ducked behind LeAnn, trying to hide and still keep the man in view. This wasn’t possible!
“What are you doing?” LeAnn moved and turned toward her, but Kristin grabbed a handful of the back of her friend’s shirt, forcing LeAnn to stay in front of her. “Kristin, what kind of game is this?” She slapped at Kristin, annoyed, but Kristin just took it, her eyes wide as she stared at the owner of the Slanted P Ranch.
Dale Prescott.
“Just stay here,” Kristin hissed through her teeth. “I can’t believe this.”
“Can’t believe what? What the hell is wrong with you?” LeAnn’s voice grew louder, despite Kristin’s attempt to shush her, and she knew it was pointless to try and hide, since several faces were already turning their direction in curiosity at the commotion. Now, Kristin’s cheeks were hot with her humiliation, and she turned away before their host could get a good, solid look at her. All she could hope was that, when he did finally see her, she’d be just another face in the crowd to him.
“Okay, ladies and gentlemen, listen up!” Kristin flinched at the familiar voice, and LeAnn tried to get her to turn around, but she adamantly refused. “Welcome to the Slanted P Ranch. I’m Dale Prescott, and I’ll be your host for the next ten days, or as long as you decide to extend your stay. I’m not gonna brag, but we tend to have a lot of people book a few extra days, not quite ready to exchange the dirt under their nails for the grit up their asses in the city.”
Several people laughed, including LeAnn, who leaned over and whispered, “You’ve got to see this guy, Krissy. He’s drop-dead gorgeous.”
“I’ll look later,” she hissed irritably. She was well aware of both Dale’s charm and his looks. She doubted he’d changed much over the years, considering how easily she’d recognized him, which meant he had broad shoulders, a strong body, and angular face, and eyes the green of early spring moss.
“Over the next few days,” he continued, his voice like chocolate silk and booming, “you’ll learn how a ranch works. It’s a vacation, but not like any vacation you’ve taken before. I’ll teach you to enjoy the labor, love the animals, and feel the countryside in your bones. Not everything will be a task. We’ve got the lazy river, horseback riding, and social events, but you’ll also be milking cows, sheering sheep, and learning how to break a stallion.”
It sounded amazing, but Kristin couldn’t wrap her head around the fact she’d be with Dale Prescott the whole time. She listened as he finished. “I’ve got about ten ranch hands that’ll handle a lot of the training with me, including my cousin, Rob, and his wife, Shelly. Right now, we’re going to hike over to the public accommodations so we can check you in and get you to your rooms. Once you’re settled, meet up in the lobby. You’ll be taken to the mess hall for a big dinner and introductions.”
As the group began to shift and walk toward what appeared to be a rustic bed-and-breakfast style facility, Kristin caught sight of Dale, making his way to the head of the group, guiding them down the trail. With him facing forward, away from her, she felt more comfortable following along, and she hung back toward the edges of the group, keeping a distance in case he looked back.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” LeAnn demanded, her frustration crackling in the air. “You’re acting like a damn fool.”
Kristin sighed. “I don’t want to talk about it right now. Let’s just get to our rooms, and I’ll be better later.” She doubted she would, but she had to say something to get her friend off her case. To her great relief, it was a woman checking them in and passing out keys.
Kristin stepped up to the counter, and woman gave her a sincere welcoming grin. “Hi, I’m Shelly. Welcome to the Slanted P. Your name?”
“Kristin Jenkins.” She spoke quietly, looking over her shoulder and feeling paranoid as she checked to make sure Dale didn’t hear her.
“Excellent. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Jenkins. You’ll be staying in room 112, adjacent to your traveling companion, Ms. Hardwick. The two of you will share the restroom directly across the hall with Anna Shillings and Trish Markham. Towels and washrags are stored in the closet adjacent to the bathroom, and if you need anything else, feel free to ask. You’ll find coffee and snacks stored in a pantry in your room, as well as additional blankets and pillows. Do you have any questions for me?”
Kristin shook her head. “It sounds like everything is covered. Thank you so much.” She took the key to the room and stepped back, finding a corner to wait in while LeAnn went through the process, and she couldn’t help but cast stealthy glances at Dale. She’d been right; he looked very much the same, though his face had filled out with maturity, and he was all the more handsome for his manner of dress. The ranch life suited him, a bronze tan accenting the angles and planes of his face, which was shadowed with a day’s growth of dark hair.
He looked up, and their eyes locked. Kristin’s breath caught in her throat, and her heart skipped a beat, but Dale merely gave her a courteous nod with a genial smile before looking away and starting a conversation with an employee. He hadn’t recognized her, and that made Kristin infinitely more comfortable. Perhaps this was going to be a relaxing vacation after all. With keys in hand, she and LeAnn shuffled down the hall toward their rooms, bags in tow.
(3 Book Box Set) "Romancing The Bull Rider" & "Craved by The Cowboy" & "Cruise Away with Him" Page 11