Rancher And Protector

But she wasn’t the first one in line. Others had gone before her. She wasn’t standing on ceremony as Ted seemed to expect. Jason had to admit he was fascinated by Rosemary, but he assured himself it was only because of the contrast between the woman as he’d seen her in Denver and the woman who stood before him now.

When his bowl was full, Jason followed Rosemary to the canvas stools Cookie had set up around the fire. Selecting the one next to her, he sank down, relieved to have canvas under him instead of leather.

“Long day?” Rosemary asked.

“Yeah, but you seemed to hold up well.”

“I’ve done this before.”

“Surely not recently.”

“No, not recently. My father let things slip on the ranch the last two years.”

“I thought maybe it was Wes’s fault.” Jason didn’t mean his remark as an insult, but he realized he’d offended Rosemary again.

“How dare you?” she said before she stood and moved to another camp stool, making her disdain obvious to everyone gathered around the fire.

Wes, who was just now being served as the last man in line, watched Rosemary as she moved to another seat. Then he crossed to the seat she’d abandoned and sat down.

“How you doing, Jason?” he asked.

“Fine. Cookie makes a mean stew.”

“Yeah, he does.”

“Who is Sara Beth? He said it was her recipe.”

“She’s my wife. She’s been the housekeeper on the ranch for a long time. That’s how I met her.”

Conversation had resumed around the fire. The men had all been watching Rosemary, as if to determine she was all right. But with Wes’s approach and general conversation, he’d apparently reassured his men.

“What did you say to Rosie?” Wes asked, his voice lower.

“I’m sorry, Wes. I spoke without thinking. She thinks I insulted you.”

“How’d you do that?”

“She said her dad hadn’t done much on the ranch the last two years. I said I’d thought it was your fault.”

“That’s not unreasonable.” Wes took a spoonful of the meat and vegetables. “Rosie is a little touchy about things right now. She feels she abandoned her dad when he needed her. In truth, the old man sent her away. I think he was just too tired, and didn’t want to admit that to her.”

“That must’ve made things hard for you.”

“Yeah, but I couldn’t abandon him or the men who worked for him. And Sara Beth would never have agreed to leave him or Rosie.”

“I see,” Jason said. “I’m sorry I upset her. I didn’t realize the circumstances. I’ll apologize to her whenever she’ll let me.”

“No need. I’ll talk to her. Just remember this is a hard time for her. Give her a little space.”

Jason knew what Wes was telling him, but something inside him didn’t want to listen. “I’ll be more careful about what I say to her.”

Wes gave him a considering look, and Jason tried to conceal his response. He didn’t want Wes to forbid him to talk to Rosemary.

“Okay. I’ll try to patch things up when I talk to her.”

Jason let out a soft sigh. “Thanks, Wes. I appreciate it.”

“No problem. We don’t want any fights in front of the men.”

“No, of course not.”

Rosemary watched Jason and Wes out of the corner of her eye as she ate her stew. She would demand Jason leave if he upset Wes. She wasn’t going to allow that. Wes and Sara Beth were her family—her only family, now that her dad was gone.

Her eyes filled with tears at the thought of her father. He’d obviously been too tired, too ill, to handle the running of the ranch. Wes had apologized to her, but he’d said her father wouldn’t agree to anything that required any money. Clearly he’d been in financial difficulty, too, though she hadn’t known. She wondered if Wes and Sara Beth had even been paid all their wages, though they’d both told her they had.

The biggest question, for her, had been whether Robert had sold the ranch because he didn’t believe she, a female, could handle running it. Even thinking the thought that she’d hidden in her heart almost brought her to tears.

One of the cowboys sitting next to her leaned over and said, “You okay, Rosie?” Apparently mistaking her upset, he added, “If the man got fresh, we’ll take care of him.”

“No! No, I’m just tired, Nick. There’s no problem.” She even managed to smile. “I’m just thinking about my dad. I wish he was here.”

“Yeah, he was a good man. We all miss him.”

“Thanks,” she said softly and finished her stew. She certainly didn’t want the men to think Jason Barton had insulted her. In truth, he’d insulted Wes, but she supposed she couldn’t hold it against him. He couldn’t know why things had gone downhill at the ranch.

After she finished her meal, she carried the bowl over to the big tin dishpan Cookie had filled with hot, sudsy water. Each man was expected to wash his bowl and spoon and put them back on the tailgate of the SUV. She had suggested that system when, as a teenager, she’d come out on a roundup and seen how hard Cookie had to work.

Rosemary was glad Jason followed Wes to the dishpan to wash his own bowl. Then he motioned to Ted to do the same. She noticed Ted’s reluctance until Jason spoke to him. From what she’d seen of Ted in one day, he seemed ill equipped to lead men. Especially the men on her ranch who were accustomed to a fair, hardworking manager like Wes.

What would happen to Wes and Sara Beth? Surely they would lose their jobs if Jason got the Bar G. Would they hook up with another ranch in the area? She didn’t want to lose touch with the couple she loved dearly. Another reason to fight for her ranch.

She retrieved her bedroll and saddle where she’d left them near the rope corral. She’d put her bedroll next to Wes, and he’d keep an eye out to be sure she was undisturbed by anyone.

Not that she’d expect any of the men who worked for them to be a problem. Everyone had worked there for years, except for Nick, and he’d never caused a problem in the time he’d worked for them.

But with Jason and Ted in the mix now, she wouldn’t take any chances.

Wes got his bedroll and saddle and joined her. He always had her put her bedroll next to the SUV and he slept on the other side of her. They followed the same routine tonight.

“You okay, Rosie?” Wes whispered.

“Yes. I’m sorry about that. I know it was rude.”

“What he said was reasonable, you know. He didn’t know any of us.”

“I know, Wes, but it upset me that he’d criticize you for Dad’s behavior.”

“Don’t worry about it. He understands now. So everything’s okay?”