A Cowboy To Keep

“He’s our new wrangler,” Dani blurted, heat creeping in her cheeks at the shrewd look Nan was giving her.

Nan’s rocking chair slowed. “Diane and Larry didn’t mention a new hire.”

“It was a last-minute thing. They should be home soon, right?”

The cat on Nan’s lap purred loudly as she scratched behind its ear. “They’re about an hour out. Got a nice deal on a seven-year-old finished heel horse.”

“Good,” Dani observed absently, her mind flashing to Milly. The mare had been one of her best roping horses and they needed a replacement. When they put on their weekly rodeo, she’d always gave a show. Had relished performing as much as Dani did. No, more. She stopped petting Beau and straightened. “Hey. You haven’t seen Smiley, have you?”

Nan rubbed the side of her nose. “Not that I’m certain.”

“What do you mean?”

“Thought I might have spotted him a couple of days ago, but haven’t seen him since. I heard rumours that he got into some trouble, though, so I must have been mistaken.” She held up the glasses that dangled from a chain around her neck. “Whatever you do, don’t get old.”

“Who’s old?” Dani avoided Nan’s playful swat and kissed her soft, creased cheek. “Would you ask Diane and Larry to page me when they get in?”

“I will. Nice meeting you, Jack. I expect you’ll be at the welcome-back square dance tonight.”

“Same, ma’am. As for the party, I’m not much of a dancer.”

“Dani here can teach you, can’t you dear?”

Dani opened her mouth, thought better of her words and swallowed them. “I’m sure Mr. Cade’s got more important things to do.”

“Well, now.” The corners of his mouth hooked up, the attractive half smile that got under her skin flashing at her. “Don’t know if I can turn down such a tempting offer.”

Nan’s hand clap shooed the cat off her lap. “Of course you can’t. I knew I saw something between you two.”

“Goodbye, Nan,” Dani said firmly, then shot her elder a significant look before traipsing down the steps after Jack.

Bella and Beau wove through their legs and Jack’s hand came up, quick and warm around her elbow, his touch firing along her skin.

“Nan saw Smiley,” he observed, as they passed an old-time stagecoach, which the guests still got to ride in. Chickens meandered through its spoked wheels.

“She thinks she did. Beau. Stop.” The rambunctious dog quit jumping and took off after his sister.

“Tanya’s hiding something.”

She rounded on him, her patience wearing thin. “How do you know?” Overhead, an American flag hung from its rope in the still air. The fragrance of the newly planted petunias encircled them.

“I saw two glasses on her coffee table.”

“So?”

“She said we were her first visitors.”

Her mouth opened then closed. Brain cells, get moving, she ordered, but they just rolled in her skull, sluggish. He was too observant by half. “Tanya wouldn’t lie. She must have used both of them.”

“Is she a sloppy housekeeper?”

“No...”

“Food for thought.”

“Corn bread,” she blurted, not sure if she was doing the right thing, but suddenly needing to speak when the source of the cherry scent came back to her. “It’s Smiley’s favorite.”

Jack nodded slowly and a smile lightened his eyes to dark amber with gold flecks. “I appreciate that.”

“And her hair.” Was she really saying this about her friend?

“Go on.”

“It smelled like one of his cigars.” Her chest burned at her admission...but she couldn’t hold it back. There had to be reasonable explanations for this...

But another part of her worried. Was there a chance that she’d befriended the kind of people she’d come all this way to avoid...the sort of friends that brought out her old trouble-making self, the person she no longer was...or wanted to be?

“Can we get inside Tanya’s cabin?”

“This doesn’t feel right.”

“Her employee agreement gives—”

“Consent to search,” she finished for him.

“And my search warrant request is just waiting on official approval.”

“Larry and Diane won’t want a fuss made,” she protested, feeling defensive of her friends. “I’ll think of something when I drop by to see her later.”

Jack nodded slowly, then chucked her under her chin. “Thanks, partner.”

“I’m not your partner,” she called to him as he doubled back and headed for the trail behind Tanya’s house.

He turned and the gleam of amusement in his eyes got her heart thumping. “Right. Thanks, boss.” After a long look he turned and disappeared into the forest.

She stared after him far too long, then let out a breath.

Honestly.

Mooning after a cowboy who was all kinds of wrong for her...and dangerous. Had she learned nothing from her mistakes?

CHAPTER SIX (#u48e3b601-4dcf-5d6b-adba-429c9629c524)

DANI HUNG HER hat on a hook, dropped into her office chair and powered up her computer. Exhaustion pressed on her eyelids until they drifted shut. She stretched out her legs, crossed her boots at the ankle and tipped her head back to rest on the cushion as she waited for the old-school dial-up connection.

What a crazy eighteen hours. When she’d pictured her first season as stable manager, she’d never imagined everything would go smoothly, but she hadn’t envisioned an undercover bounty hunter, a suspicious avalanche and friends who might be lying to her.

But haven’t you been deceiving them, too? came the sudden question, echoing in her brain, louder than if she’d actually heard it.