Roping In The Cowgirl

“Neither,” Blake said, although he’d assumed that a man his uncle’s age... Well, hell. Clearly his assumption was wrong, and he was glad to know that. He’d hate to think he’d ever “outgrow” the need or desire for sex.

“And just so you know,” Sam added, “I don’t need any little blue pills, either.”

Blake had no response for that, other than to hope he’d inherited some of the Darnell strength, stamina and hormones.

“Go ahead and make yourself at home,” Sam said. “I’ve got work to do. We’ll have to talk more later.”

A nap did sound good. Blake hadn’t been able to sleep on the plane.

“Lunch is at the big house at eleven-thirty sharp,” Sam added. “I’ll see you then.”

After Sam left, Blake scanned the ten-by-ten-foot living room, with its brown leather sofa, dark oak coffee table and the colorful Navajo rug that adorned the hardwood floor. The place was cozy and clean, although it was a far cry from the high-rise condo in which Blake lived.

But Blake was prepared to stay as long as it took to bury the hatchet. He’d also do whatever he could to protect Uncle Sam’s heart and bank account while he was at it.

And if he had to buy off the gold digger and her niece, then so be it. He’d be damned if he was going to just roll over and let nature—or greed—run its course.

* * *

If there was one thing Shannon had learned during her first few days on the job at the Rocking C, it was to be prepared for the unexpected. There seemed to always be one minor crisis or another occurring that would keep her busy from morning until night.

And today had been no different. From the traffic jam at the bridge to Blake Darnell’s surprise arrival, nothing had been routine. Even dealing with Nate’s injury hadn’t been easy. She’d had to override his objections and insist upon cleaning and dressing the wound properly.

After the cowboy had gone back to work, she’d called Doc Nelson, who’d be coming by this evening for the weekly poker game, and asked him to arrive early so he could take a look at it. In the meantime, the doctor had prescribed an antibiotic, as well as a tetanus shot. So she then had to get into the all-terrain vehicle and drive the injections out to the south pasture, bushwhacking the young cowboy, who’d rolled his eyes but let her do her job.

Once that was out of the way, the rest of her morning went as usual. It was just after noon when she prepared the midday medications. As she passed them out, she took time to visit with each of the elderly men, all of whom she’d grown to care about.

The last one on her med list was Rex Mayberry, one of her favorite old cowboys. She often found him outside, seated in one of the rockers on the porch, so that’s where she started her search.

She’d barely reached the screen door when she heard him blurt out a curse. Sure enough, she’d found him. She adjusted the small tray she carried with disposable cups of water and medications labeled with residents’ names, then went outside.

As she opened the screen door, the hinges squeaked. Rex, who’d been watching the younger cowboys try to gentle a yearling in the corral, turned and watched her approach. The scowl he’d been wearing morphed into a wry grin. “Well, if it ain’t my personal Florence Nightingale. I was beginning to think you’d abandoned me.”

“My favorite resident? No way would I ever forget you.” She’d only been working at the Rocking C for three months, but everyone here had managed to touch her heart, especially Rex, who could be a real hoot when he wasn’t complaining. And even then she got a big kick out of him.

She handed Rex his pill in a tiny paper cup and waited until he’d taken it and chased it down with water. Turning to go back into the house, she spotted Blake Darnell approaching and stopped in her tracks.

He’d changed out of the khaki slacks he’d been wearing earlier and into a pair of jeans. He might be trying to fit in around here, but he was much too polished around the edges. Even the denim didn’t make him look like a rancher, let alone a cowboy. And in spite of the fact that both he and his uncle were attractive men, considering their respective ages, they didn’t seem anything alike, especially in temperament.

So when Blake tossed a smile at her and again apologized for being rude earlier, it took her by surprise—a rather pleasant one at that.

“I didn’t get any sleep last night,” he added, “and then I got stuck in some backed-up traffic about two miles from here. Someone lost a load of hay, although it was pretty much picked up by the time I drove through. So that’s why I was a little snappish with you earlier.”

As much as Shannon wanted to stay angry at him, she’d never been one to hold a grudge. And the fact that he’d been delayed by the same teenage driver who’d spilled hay all over the road made her smile. “I was probably a few cars in front of you when you crossed the bridge, so I can relate to your frustration.”

“Can we start over?” He reached out his hand for a proper greeting, and she took it.

The warmth and strength of his grip sent an electrifying tingle zapping along every one of her nerve endings, a physical reaction to his touch that she hadn’t expected and didn’t appreciate.

Blake Darnell was a charmer, and she wasn’t about to allow herself to be roped in by him. But she’d have to agree with her initial assessment. He was drop-dead gorgeous when he smiled.

He was also the kind of man who was too busy to spend time with his aunt and uncle, something she found bothersome. Family was important, especially when you didn’t have many relatives left.

What she wouldn’t give to have one more opportunity to talk to her father.

“Dang it,” Rex hollered out. “Would you look at that?” He pointed a gnarled finger toward the younger man in the corral with a bay gelding. “Oh, for cripe’s sake. That guy Sam hired doesn’t know squat about horses. Will you go down there and give him a few pointers?”

“Me?” Darnell asked the sweet but crotchety old cowboy.

Rex shot him a frown. “No, not you. I was talking to Shannon. Who the hell are you, anyway?”

“I’m Blake Darnell, Sam’s nephew from California.”

“Oh.” Rex sat back in his chair, eyeing the attorney. “I heard about you.”

Actually, there weren’t many people living or working on the Rocking C who hadn’t. Sam might be a sweetheart most of the time, but he didn’t hold back when he blew a fuse.

Shannon couldn’t hide a smile. She loved these old cowboys who had no problem telling it like it was.

“So,” Rex said, returning his attention to Shannon. “Are you going to go out there and give that boy a lesson on the right way to handle a horse? I’d do it myself, but I left my cane inside.”

“I’m afraid that’s not in my job description,” Shannon said. “But just so you know, Sam told me he’s been working closely with those new hires and expects them all to make good cowboys someday.”

Rex swore under his breath. “Maybe those youngsters are still learning the ropes, but they’re doing it while they’re on the Rocking C’s time clock. Why, even a pretty little nurse like you knows way more about roping and riding than those fool kids.”

That might be true, but Shannon’s days of riding herd were behind her. She had a new career now, one she liked a whole lot better.

She glanced at Sam’s nephew, saw him watching her intently. A rush of heat washed over her, warming her cheeks and setting a flutter in her stomach.

“Can I talk to you?” he asked.

As his eyes locked on hers, the tingle in her belly grew stronger. If she had any sense, she’d tell him she had work to do. Instead, she said, “Sure.”

He nodded toward the barn. “Can you take a walk?”

The question, the requested private conversation, sent her thoughts scrambling.

What did he have to say to her? Maybe he only wanted to sway her opinion of him and to ask her to intercede with Sam.

“Okay,” she said. “I just need to stay within hearing distance of the house.”

Blake held out an open palm, indicating an “After you.”

She set the tray with the now-empty paper cups on the table next to Rex, then started down the steps, with Blake and his woodsy cologne and musky male scent following close behind.

“So what did you want to talk about?” she asked.

“For starters, I’d like to know more about the Rocking C and my uncle’s position here.”