Wind river rancher, p.5
Wind River Rancher, page 5
Her heart went out to Reese because he was the only officer in the group. Everyone else at the table had been enlisted in the military. He had to be feeling a lot of shame because of his lost career and fall from grace. If he did, Reese didn’t show it. Instead, she saw him relax, as if he were among friends, not enlisted people that he was used to shepherding around as an officer. What touched her heart was Max lying down next to Reese’s booted feet, his chin on his paws, watching him with great affection. And sometimes Reese would lean over and place his hand on his head, scratch his fur gently and then resume eating.
“Hey,” Noah spoke up, looking toward her. “I got a call from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, Shay. They’re interested in purchasing three of our horses. I guess when Sarah and her deputies have to go into the mountains, searching for lost kids and adults, they figured horses might be better than hiking.”
Shay brightened. “Wow. Really?” She smiled at Noah, who sat at her left elbow. He was five foot eleven inches tall, well built, with short black hair and gray eyes. Like everyone else at the table, he had cleaned up and changed clothes before sitting down for dinner. Noah liked plaid shirts, and tonight he wore a red, green, and white one, the sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows. She saw the excitement in his intelligent eyes.
“Yeah,” he said, giving her a wide grin. “Potentially, that’s a lot of money for us. I guess I’m getting a name in the valley for turning out well-trained horses, huh?”
“Could you sell horses to sheriffs’ departments in other Wyoming counties?” Reese wondered.
Noah nodded. “Exactly what I was thinking, but I have to pass muster first under Sheriff Sarah Carter.”
Shay asked, “What does this all mean, Noah?”
“In the phone call, Sarah said she wanted to buy three well-trained trail mounts for their department. They’re getting called out more and more often on searches for children lost in the Salt Mountains east of our valley and the Wilson Range to the west of us,” Noah said, pulling open a hot roll and slathering butter on it. “Sarah wants to come here in the next week to look at the stock I’ve chosen for her department. She’s no stranger to horseflesh and she knows a good horse from a bad one. With your permission, I’m going to meet her tomorrow at her office and we’ll talk over her specific needs for her department.”
“How close is she to actually purchasing them?” Shay wondered. She liked the fact that Reese took part in the conversation and had something of value to contribute to it. From time to time, he’d look up from eating, but he was listening and saying little. It made her feel protected and it was a strange sensation because none of the other three vets made her feel that way. They treated her like a much beloved kid sister. Reese had her back in a different, more personal way. She gently tucked those realizations away for now.
Noah rolled up another forkful of spaghetti. “When Sarah called, she said she and two of her deputies want to give our three mounts some test rides after they’ve made their selections. I said that’s fine. So, they’ll take the horses out in the back country and give them some trial situations. If they pass, she said she had it in her yearly budget to buy them.” He waved his fork at all of them, bursting with good news. “Even better, Shay? Sarah asked me if you would consider boarding their horses here at the ranch. I told her I’d talk to you about it. But it would be a huge plus to have the sheriff’s horses boarded here. Word gets around fast, and other valley people would jump at the chance to put their horses into a nice place like what we’re building.”
“That’s great, Noah. What kind of money is involved?”
Noah shrugged. “As you know, I train breed and non-breed horses. Sarah wants Appaloosa or quarter horse types. Animals that are real quiet.”
“You have two quarters and an App out there,” Shay pointed out. “Are they trail trained?”
Giving her a satisfied smile, Noah nodded. “Yes, ma’am, indeed they are. A well-trained horse can cost anywhere from three to eight thousand dollars apiece. Sometimes more. It just depends. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department is going to cut me a check for these three once they pass their tests.” He assessed her for a moment. “That means, I would guestimate, fifteen thousand dollars coming in next week, so cross your fingers.”
Her eyes widened enormously. “Really? That much?”
“The horses they specify take a year to train, so they want someone like me, who has a lot of experience, to find the right ones for them. It’s not an easy process and it takes time. They’re basically buying my knowledge and suggestions on which are best for their needs.”
“Of course,” Shay said, reaching out, touching his forearm. “This is what it’s all about, Noah. You’re here to build a business for yourself, and now you’re expanding. Look how people are coming to you! Remember? I told you it would happen.”
Noah nodded and gave her a warm look. “Yeah, I was pretty down in my cups when I arrived. I was like a tramp dog on your doorstep, wasn’t I?”
“You’ve never been a tramp, Noah. Don’t you dare use that word around here!”
All the men except Reese chuckled and gave one another sly looks of amusement.
Garret looked over at Reese. “We call Shay our cheerleader. She makes us self-correct words we use to describe ourselves. She’s hell on wheels if we use words that aren’t positive.”
Reese nodded and saw how upset Shay had become. She was more than a cheerleader. More like a fierce mother bear with her cubs. The set of her jaw and the flash of fire in her eyes finished the visual for him. “I think it’s a good idea.” He saw all the men grin, nod, and return to eating.
Shay smiled over at Noah. “You should be so proud of yourself. That’s a lot of money.”
“Yep, and fifteen percent of whatever it is, will go back to the ranch.” Noah lost his joviality and became serious, holding her gaze. “I know we’re shaky money-wise, so this is a great break for all of us.”
“It sure is,” Shay whispered, suddenly emotional. She gave him a sweet look. “This is just such wonderful news. Congratulations, Noah. It’s a breakthrough for you. It means you’re on your way up and out. Quit the dog training and focus solely on horse training.”
“I can take your place while you work with the folks from the sheriff’s department,” Reese told him. “I’m experienced with horses. If you want me to take over your chores with them, I’ll be happy to do it.”
Noah glowed. “That would be great, Reese. I don’t expect you to do any training with them, but feeding, watering, and handling them would be great.”
Reese nodded. “Consider it done.”
Shay felt her heart expand with good feelings as she looked at Reese. He was a team player. He was pitching in where he could to help others. “That would be great, Reese. Thank you.”
“Yeah,” Garret said, his mouth stuffed, “I ain’t gonna clean horse poop out of the box stalls for you, Mabry.” He held up his large, wide hands. “I do cooking only.”
Harper, who was the medic among them, snickered. “Wouldn’t want those soft, lily white hands of yours to get dirty now, would we, Garret?”
The whole table chuckled darkly.
Shay saw Reese following the conversations, lifting his head, studying the men from time to time. He had finished his first plate of spaghetti and meatballs. Only after everyone else had helped themselves, did Reese take a second helping from the steel pot sitting on a trivet in the middle of the table. Garret always made a lot of food for them. There were a lot more baked rolls tonight, and Shay figured Garret had taken one look at how thin Reese was, and made extra. Reese was stuffing those rolls down him, no question. Each vet, as he came to the Bar C, was at least thirty pounds lighter than he should be. Right now, only Reese looked like a scarecrow among the men. In time, he’d regain that lost weight and fill out once more.
“Hey,” Garret said, glancing over at Reese, “be sure to take your vitamins.” He jabbed his index finger at a small white paper cup sitting in front of his plate. “Shay wants us strong and healthy.”
“I see ’em,” Reese muttered, eyeing the cup filled to the brim with colorful vitamins and minerals.
“Shay will skin you alive,” Garret warned him, giving him an evil grin, “if you don’t suck ’em down like a good boy. You’ll be getting that little white paper cup in front of your plate three times a day for the next two months. So make friends with ’em. It’s part of her plan to get us healthy.”
“Yeah,” Noah muttered, “highlight of my meals when I first arrived. God, there’s so many of them I felt like a horse choking all of them down.”
Harper chuckled. “You bunch of wimps. She’s right to slug you with nutrition. We all were malnourished by the time we arrived here.” He looked at Reese, who was at his elbow. “Take ’em and don’t bitch.”
Reese gave him a sour grin. “I think I can manage a few pills.”
“Shay doesn’t let you leave the table until they’re all gone,” Harper promised him smugly. “Just do the duty. She won’t give you dessert, either, until that cup is empty.”
“Oh, come on, guys,” Shay pleaded, “you make me sound like a witch.”
Garret snorted. “There are days when I swear I see you with a broom in your hand, Shay.”
The whole table burst into chuckles and traded teasing looks with Shay, whose cheeks turned bright red.
“In truth,” Harper told Reese in a confidential tone, “we’re just teasing Shay. You’re going to find that this place isn’t a ranch. It’s a home. And she’s the mothering type who thinks all of us are her grown-up children huddled beneath those invisible angel wings of hers.” He lifted his chin, smiling over at Shay. “And you aren’t a witch. You’re an angel to all of us, so relax. For being in the Corps, you sure don’t take ribbing very well, Shay.”
Her hands fluttered. “Oh, don’t worry, Harper, I took a lot of ribbing in the Corps. It’s just that here, I’m out of practice.”
“Except from us,” Garret noted, giving her a gentle glance. “And you know we don’t mean it. Right?”
Shay finished her plate of food. She placed her silverware on the empty plate. “Most of the time, but I have my moments when you guys catch me off guard.” She felt Reese’s gaze upon her and felt too vulnerable at the moment to meet his eyes. That same powerful sense of protection blanketed her once more, like a lover caressing her, holding her close. Holding her safe. The sensation flowed hotly through her and she didn’t dare look at him. She might burst into tears, ruining the evening meal. Shay had learned a long time ago not to cry in front of any of the vets. A woman’s tears upset them to no end. They were always trying to fix whatever made her cry. Sometimes, Shay just needed to cry and release, it was that simple. But men didn’t seem to understand that and it stressed them.
“I’ve made good progress on the roof of the indoor arena,” Harper told her, breaking the thick silence at the table. “Got one more ten-foot section up on the roof.”
“That’s great,” Shay murmured. “I don’t know what we’d do without you, Harper.”
Reese saw the medic blush and he said nothing, paying attention to his quickly disappearing food. One thing for sure, these men ate hearty and there was plenty for everyone. Reese caught the medic’s gaze. “Maybe tomorrow, Harper, you can show me the ropes? I can swing a hammer pretty well if you’ll tell me what to do.” Reese knew the vets were aware he’d been an officer. And it wouldn’t go well if he tried to push his weight around because they were all enlisted men. That would be a disaster. Instead, he was asking for help, direction, and he saw Harper’s deeply tanned face grow relaxed.
“Sure. I usually start at 0800.” And then he looked over at Garret. “Our chief cook and bottle washer over there don’t like any of us to miss one of his spectacular meals. Breakfast is served at 0700 sharp.”
“That’s because my cooking is five star,” Garret said proudly. “And none of you have died from it. All you’ve done is gained weight, which we all needed.”
Chuckling, Noah said, “Haven’t had food poisoning yet from you.”
More laughter floated around the table.
“Tomorrow afternoon, Harper,” Shay said, “I want to steal Reese from you for a while. He’s got an accounting background and I want him to look over the ranch books.”
Shrugging, Harper said to Reese, “Better you than me. Numbers aren’t my gig.”
Reese nodded. “You okay with me leaving at that time?”
“Sure. Some help is better than none.”
“Great,” Shay said, giving Reese a glance. “Garret wants everyone here at noon for the meal. Afterward, you can come down to the office with me and take a look at our accounting books.”
“Be happy to,” Reese said, using his sixth roll to mop up what was left of the tasty marinara sauce still on his emptied plate. His stomach was full for the first time in a year. He slipped Max a tidbit of the roll, which he slurped down in one gulp his gold-brown eyes shining with thanks.
* * *
The next afternoon after lunch, Reese saw Shay was nervous as they walked into the office. It was a small place compared to the massive bedrooms on the first floor. The top of the rectangular maple desk was overflowing with files. It looked like a disorganized mess to him, but he knew Shay was doing the best she could. There was a large stained-glass lamp on one corner, shedding bright light around the cozy room. Above the desk was a glass chandelier with six hurricane lamps attached, giving the pine room a glowing, golden ambience. There were two windows in the room because it sat in one corner of the log home. The lavender curtains were feminine and frilly; he was sure Shay had chosen the color and style.
Shay gestured for him to sit down. When he did, the chair squeaked mightily.
“I think it needs to be oiled,” she offered apologetically. “I just haven’t had time.” She pulled one of six huge black ledger books from the bookshelf above the front of the desk. Handing it over to him, she said, “This is the daily accounting log. You should probably start there.” Their hands met and touched. Shay felt warmth tingle up through her fingers. It was such an unbidden pleasure to connect physically with Reese.
Today, he wore a blue chambray shirt and a red kerchief around his thick neck. She saw dark hair peeking out from beneath the opening of his shirt and swallowed convulsively. Reese was like a sensual, dark, primal animal to her. She’d spent half the night awake, tossing and turning, her mind going to secret places about him as a man. She hoped he couldn’t read her mind, because right now she was shaky, nervous, and bothered all at once due to his proximity. Never had a man made her feel more feminine or more aware that she hadn’t had sex in a long, long time.
“Thanks,” he murmured, taking the heavy book from her hands. “It’s the right place to start. If I find anything, I’ll note it as I go along. Then, maybe tonight after dinner we can talk about what I’ve found.”
Rolling her eyes, she said gratefully, “Yes, out of earshot of the guys. They know I’m not good at this, and bless their hearts, they’ve all tried to help me with it, but I know it’s screwed up something terrible, Reese.”
He gave her a reassuring look as he opened the ledger. “Relax, okay? Accounting is part art and part dog work. If you don’t know the rules, you’re bound to make errors, and that’s to be expected.” He saw her move her fingers nervously through her hair, which fell around her shoulders.
Reese wanted to tell Shay how beautiful the soft pink blouse looked on her. The jeans she wore were loose but didn’t hide her curvy figure. She’d been outside working with Noah at the horse training facility until lunchtime. Reese could look from the roof of the indoor arena being built and see in every direction. She was cleaning out the horse stalls while Noah worked with each of the horses he had in training at the nearby oval arena. He admired her work ethic. Shay was humble, and any woman who could shovel horse shit was all right in his world. Just another thing to like about her: She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, because ranch work required it.
“Okay . . .” she said, chewing on her lower lip. “I’m so nervous about this. I have horrors of having made terrible errors, and we owe the bank thousands of dollars I didn’t know about.”
He laughed a little. “I doubt you’ve done that.”
“Oh,” she muttered, hesitating at the open door, “you don’t know Marston Conroy.”
“Who is he?”
“Our banker.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste. “He’s an evil person. He makes me feel like two cents when I have to go crawling into his bank to ask for a loan or to stretch out a due date for a loan payment.”
Rankled, Reese held her anxious blue gaze. “Well, from now on,” he growled, “if there’s any meetings to be had between us and Conroy, I’ll be at your side. I won’t let him take a chunk out of you next time. All right?” Reese saw utter relief flood her expression and he wanted to get up, walk around the desk, and slide his arms around her. Shay was terribly vulnerable. More than he’d initially realized. Or maybe accounting was her weakness, and that’s where her vulnerability raised its head. It would take a lot of time for him to understand her better.
“Conroy is an arrogant bastard,” she breathed in warning. “I hate having to see him. When the ranch went into foreclosure shortly after I got my father to the nursing home, he gloated over it. He told me I would lose it, that I was stupid. He said no woman could run the ranch by herself.”
Reese saw the damage from the banker’s cruel remarks in her expression. “I’m going to look forward to locking horns with him, then. You’ve made this ranch solvent. That says everything good about you, Shay.”
She folded her arms against her chest. “Now, I have you. You’re my big, bad accounting guard dog, Reese.”
He smiled a little. “Is that how you see me?” It made him feel good. Did he want to protect Shay? Damn straight. Did he want her in his bed? Hell yes. Reese cautioned himself because he had just arrived at the ranch. Wanting her and getting her were two very different things. But he didn’t lie to himself. This woman turned him inside out, and his dreams last night were torrid. For the first time in two years, he’d had a helluva good dream. No nightmares. Shay was magic to him, Reese decided. Hot, beautiful magic. His hands itched, wanting to touch her, explore her, and kiss her until she melted like hot honey into his embrace.
