Rancher and Protector
Judy Christenberry

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER ONE

“I NEED to see Mr. Barton at once. It’s urgent.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you need an appointment.”

“But I’ve come from Wyoming and I need to go back this evening. Please, can you just get me a few minutes?”

“What is your business in reference to?”

“I’m here about the ranch he thinks he’s buying.”

That sentence got Jason Barton’s attention. The door to his Denver architectural firm office stood open and he had heard the entire conversation between his secretary and the interloper. Normally he depended on Janice to deflect any unscheduled visitors, but in this case he hit the call button. “Janice, send the woman in.”

He didn’t think he was buying a ranch! He’d made a fifty thousand dollar down payment and was due to close the deal in two weeks. He watched the door, interested in seeing this person who thought differently.

A beautiful young woman appeared in the doorway, wearing a fashionable blue suit that displayed long legs and a trim figure. Her hair, auburn in color, was in some kind of fancy hairdo piled on her head. She exuded confidence as she entered his office.

“Mr. Barton?” Her voice was low, sexy.

He glared at her, refusing to be swayed by her appearance and tone. That had happened to him once before and the result had been devastating. “Yes?”

“I’m Rosemary Wilson. My father offered to sell our family ranch to you.”

As if to dismiss her, Jason remained seated, not offering his hand. “Ms. Wilson, I suggest you talk to your father. I’ve made a down payment to buy the Bar G ranch and we’re closing in two weeks.”

To his surprise, her eyes filled with tears. What happened to the self-assured woman from a moment ago?

“I can’t do that, Mr. Barton. My—my father died last week.”

He frowned, studying her face as she tried to regain composure. “I’m sorry for your loss, Ms. Wilson.” He paused. Then he said, “But I’m afraid that doesn’t cancel the contract.”

The young woman lowered her eyes, no doubt struggling to regain her composure. Jason took the moment to appreciate her appearance, though he missed her big hazel eyes. He wouldn’t be doing her bidding, but he wouldn’t mind spending some time with her. Aside from the hour at the closing, of course.

Acting impulsively, which he rarely ever did, he said, “We could discuss the situation over dinner this evening.”

She looked up at him and shook her head. “I have to get back to Wyoming this afternoon, but I could have lunch with you—if you’re free.”

Without responding to Ms. Wilson, he leaned forward and pressed the intercom. “Janice, get me a lunch reservation for two at the club.”

“Yes, sir.”

He looked up at his visitor. “If you’ll let me sign a couple of papers, I’ll join you out by Janice’s desk in five minutes.”

“All right.”

He watched her walk out of his office and called himself every kind of fool. But he told himself he wasn’t going to be taken in by another gold digger. He was just going to enjoy the company of a beautiful woman for a couple of hours. That was all this was.

And he certainly enjoyed entering the club with Ms. Rosemary Wilson on his arm a few minutes later. But once they were seated, she immediately began her plea.

“Mr. Barton, the ranch has been in my mother’s family for four generations—”

He held up a hand. “I think we should order first, Ms. Wilson, don’t you?”

She nodded, sitting back in her chair.

After the waiter took their orders and disappeared, Jason turned to her. “Now you can make your case.”

“But it won’t matter, will it?” she suddenly asked. “You have no intention of giving in to me.”

“Probably not.” He wouldn’t lie to her.

“Then why am I here?” she demanded, and pushed her chair back to leave.

“Because I got the impression that your family ranch mattered to you, and I’d hear you out in case it mattered to me.”

She stared at him and gradually relaxed in her seat again. “Very well. As I said, the ranch has been in my mother’s family for four generations and I had no idea my father had intentions of selling it. Please reconsider, Mr. Barton.”

He didn’t want to reconsider. He’d fallen in love with the ranch in the foothills of the Rockies, away from city life. Having been raised on a ranch, he treasured the idea of returning to that life one day. He could understand the pride in the tilt of her chin at keeping the same home for generations. Too bad his father had sold his family spread. He stared into her hazel eyes, seeing the determination there at war with the fear of losing the homestead, and he could feel his resolve wavering. He wasn’t so far gone that he didn’t realize how unlike him this was. Normally he was steel-willed, a visionary with the strength and fortitude to back it up. But there was something about Rosemary Wilson…

He wouldn’t give up his mission of owning a ranch. He’d find another place that he liked just as much as the Bar G. And Rosemary could have her family inheritance.

Still, he couldn’t help feeling he wanted to keep the transaction quiet. If his business competitors discovered how he wavered on this deal, there was no telling what they’d try to get over on him.

With a sigh, he said, “All right, Ms. Wilson. I’ll let you keep the ranch. Just return my down payment.”

Having met her demand, he was surprised to see an uneasiness on her face.

“I—I can’t.”

“Can’t what?”

“Return your money.”

“You expect me to cancel the contract and take a fifty thousand dollar loss? I’m afraid I’m not in the business of losing money, Ms. Wilson.”

“No, of course not. But if you’ll give me one month, I believe I can return your money to you.”

Before he could ask any questions, the waiter arrived with their lunch. He waited until the man walked away.

“How do you think you’ll do that?”

“Apparently my father neglected a lot of things on the ranch, including roundups. My manager says there are a couple hundred head of cattle in the foothills. If we round up those cows and take them to market, I’d have enough to pay you back.”

“That’s all supposition, Ms. Wilson. I see no reason to give up the ranch based on such information.”

“I understand that, Mr. Barton. But it’s only a month, and I’m willing to make it worth your while.”

He was interested.

“If I’m unable to make back the fifty grand,” she said, “then I’ll reduce the sale price of the ranch by an additional fifty.”

“You realize you’re risking a hundred thousand dollars? On the possibility you’ll manage to raise fifty.”

“I’m not an idiot, Mr. Barton. I know what I’m offering and keeping the family ranch is well worth the risk.”

She folded her arms over her chest and glared at him.

“Eat your lunch and let me think,” he ordered, not bothering to coat his words with sweetness.

She picked up her fork, but she didn’t actually eat anything. He figured she was one of those women who ate a few lettuce leaves and claimed to be full.

His thoughts were interrupted when a woman stopped by the table to say hello. He recalled meeting the leggy redhead at one of the must-do business engagements he’d attended a few months ago. She effused and gushed all over him, batting her long lashes at him.

After several minutes, when he didn’t ask her join them, she finally moved on.

Across from him Rosemary sat stiffly in her chair. “I’m sorry to be interrupting your social life, Mr. Barton.”

Jason stared at her with jaded eyes. She didn’t sound like she was sorry. And he wasn’t sorry, either. He wanted nothing to do with any of the socialites in Denver.

“You weren’t.”

“I should’ve thought to ask your wife to join us,” she said, no doubt trying to make him feel guilty.

“Not necessary. This is a business lunch.” He didn’t bother to tell her he had no wife now. He certainly didn’t want her to think she could flirt her way out of the contract. Or, he suddenly thought, had she done that already?

He felt a little guilty taking advantage of her by agreeing to her deal. But she’d made the offer. He hadn’t demanded it. He found it hard to believe that this woman could manage a roundup and recover cattle from the rough foothills of the Rockies. She didn’t look like she could even stay on a horse, much less find the cattle.

Of course, she might try to fool him and sell cattle that had been counted in the contract. That thought had him changing his initial response. “I’ll agree to your offer on one condition.”

“What?” she asked, hope lighting her face.

“I and my ranch manager will accompany you on the roundup. After all, I need to make sure you don’t try to sell cattle I’ve already paid for.”

The anger on her face surprised him. “How dare you accuse me of trying to cheat you!” She glared at him. Then, after rethinking her lesser position, she changed her mind. “Fine. I don’t care who comes. But if you try to sabotage our efforts or even try to slow us down, I promise I’ll sue you for all you’re worth.” She jumped up and hurried toward the door of the restaurant, then she must have thought of something else, because she whirled around. “Be at the ranch for the start of the roundup at 6:30 a.m. Monday. And if you’re late, too bad. We won’t be waiting for you.”

He gave her a small smile. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

When Rosemary reached the ranch that evening, she tried for an upbeat air, knowing Wes, her ranch manager, and Sara Beth, his wife and longtime housekeeper for her father, would be waiting.

And she should be upbeat, she told herself. After all, Barton had agreed to her proposal.

But the man was coming with them, she reminded herself. She didn’t look forward to having Jason Barton on the cattle drive. He made her…uncomfortable, and she’d need all her wits about her on the roundup.

“What did he say?” Sara Beth asked as soon as Rosemary came through the door.

Wes was standing there staring at her. She tried to smile, but she wasn’t very successful.

“He—he agreed to my proposal.”

“So why aren’t you happy?” Wes asked.

“He insisted that he and his ranch manager come with us.”

“That’s not an unreasonable request, Rosie.”

“I know, but—but he makes me nervous. And he accused me of trying to cheat him!”

“That’s only because he doesn’t know you, honey,” Sara Beth said, putting an arm around her. Sara Beth had been the closest thing to a mother for Rosemary since Linda Wilson had died ten years ago when Rosemary was fifteen. “He seemed real nice when he was here looking at the ranch. And he’s so handsome!”

“I guess.” Rosemary had no intention of raving about Jason Barton’s appearance, even though the man was tall, broad-shouldered, with perfectly styled brown hair and the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. He was gorgeous, actually, and wealthy. But that didn’t make him right. She was determined not to let his looks sway her, in spite of the unfamiliar feelings he aroused in her.

“So when did you tell him we’d start?” Wes asked.

“Three days from now. He’s going to provide his own mounts and I told him not to be late. We’re not waiting for him!”

“Now, Rosie, he’s doing us a favor. Let’s not make him an enemy.” Wes turned to his wife. “Is dinner ready? I’ve got a lot of work to do for us to be ready by Monday.”

“Yes. I’ll just put it on the table. Are you ready to eat, Rosie?”

“Yes, I’ll go change and then be back down.” She ran upstairs, eager to put on comfortable clothes. Back in Cheyenne, she’d had to dress well as a publicist, but she no longer had that job. Now she was a ranch owner, she needed to feel the part. In her well-worn jeans and boots, she was able to think like a rancher. At least, that was what she believed, and now more than ever she had to give herself every advantage, real or imagined.

Over dinner, she and Wes discussed what they needed to do before the roundup began. Sara Beth added her opinion. She was not only an experienced cook, but she had occasionally gone on short cattle drives when she was younger.

Rosemary jotted lists, which was how she normally organized large projects at work. By the time Sara Beth finished the dishes, they had everything organized.

At least Rosemary hoped so. The roundup was too important. If she couldn’t pull it off, she’d lose the only home she’d ever known. And she would know she’d failed her mother. Linda Wilson would’ve expected her to keep the ranch in the family. The Bar G was named after her mother’s family, the Gables. They were long on hard work but short on sons to carry on the ranching tradition. That left it up to Rosemary.

As for her father, she wasn’t sure she knew what he would’ve wanted. After all, he’d sold the ranch.

She asked herself over and over why her father hadn’t at least discussed such a big decision with her. She’d come home for the weekend only a couple of weeks before his fatal heart attack.

They’d spent some time together on horseback and talked about her mother. It had been a special weekend. She’d remembered reiterating her promise to come home if he needed her. He’d looked a little tired, but she hadn’t thought much about it, as ranching wasn’t an easy life.

But it was a life she loved. She’d only gone to Cheyenne in the first place because her father had told her she needed to use her degree for at least a couple of years. She’d enjoyed her job and had learned a lot in Cheyenne. But her heart was here, on the ranch.

The memories of her mother and the times they’d shared had happened on the ranch. Her mother had taught her to cook, of course. But they’d also ridden together, though her mother had left the running of the Bar G to Robert, Rosie’s father.

Then, after her mother’s death, which had been devastating for a young teenager, she’d turned to her father, and had trailed after him all over the ranch. Though he’d always been disappointed that his only child was a daughter, not the son he’d wanted so desperately, he’d taught her all those things he would’ve taught a son. It hadn’t been easy, but she’d learned them, along with rules he wouldn’t have taught a son. Rule number one: Tears were forbidden.

But Robert Wilson wasn’t here now, and she choked back those forbidden tears.

How could she survive without those memories? Without the ranch? She loved it here with the rolling hills, the mountain peaks in the distance. She loved being away from the city, where she could get up in the morning and look out her window and see blue skies all the way to the mountains.

So once again the question was why hadn’t her father at least told her?

She’d discovered he’d used Jason Barton’s down payment to pay off debts and set aside the rest to pay for his funeral. There wasn’t much left. She hadn’t wanted to give Jason Barton a discount on the price of the ranch, but she couldn’t blame him for not giving her the month with nothing in return. She knew how powerful men like him operated. They always had to get something in return.

It was the stipulation he’d made that bothered her most of all. She didn’t want to spend the two weeks of the roundup with the man. He was too handsome, too powerful, too…she didn’t know what.

From her initial response to him, she knew it would take a lot of energy to resist that charming smile. Better to be angry with him than to let him get under her skin. She could lose her ranch and her heart if she wasn’t careful.

Monday morning, Rosemary was up early. She had her breakfast at five-thirty and then gathered her bedroll and saddlebags, along with her father’s rifle, and hurried out to mount up. She certainly wasn’t going to be late.

But first she had to tell Sara Beth goodbye. “Thanks for all your work, Sara Beth.” Just fifty years old, the woman was tall, attractive, with a slightly rounded figure. Her hair, blond with only a few strands of gray, rested in a mound atop her head.

“Child, you just be careful,” Sara Beth replied. “And keep an eye on Wes. He still thinks he’s a youngster, but he turned fifty-one last birthday.”

“I know, Sara Beth. I’ll make sure he doesn’t overdo it.”

“All right. Hurry home. I’m going to miss both of you.”

Rosemary gave her a hug and then hurried out to the barn, where she could see Wes talking to a couple of men. They looked like cowboys, but Wes hadn’t mentioned hiring anyone new.

When she reached the small group, she was shocked to see that one of the men was Jason Barton. He looked even better in well-worn jeans than he had in his designer suit and silk tie. Beside the barn was an expensive horse trailer attached to a dual-cab truck.

“Ms. Wilson,” Jason Barton said in acknowledgment of her appearance.

She nodded in return. He wanted to keep it formal? That was fine with her. She looked to Wes to introduce her to the other man.

He did. “Rosie, this is Ted Houston, Jason’s ranch manager. He’s going with us, too, as you know.”

She nodded again. “Fine. Are we ready?”

“Yeah, the boys have the horses ready. Your horse is tied to the corral, with the others.”

“Is Cookie packed up and ready?”

“Yeah, he’s already left. He’s going to set up camp for us halfway there. We should make camp about four this afternoon.”

“Good. Then let’s mount up.”

Without waiting for an answer, she turned toward the corral. Maggie, the sorrel mare she’d been riding since she was sixteen, stood waiting. Rosemary untied the reins, put her things on the saddle and then petted Maggie before she mounted.

Alongside Maggie was a gelding, large, strong, able to carry a big man like Jason Barton. A few days ago she’d faced him in spike heels, but today, in her cowboy boots, as was he, he towered over her.

As she swung into the saddle, he moved to the gray’s side. Swinging into the saddle with great ease, he backed the horse up and moved in Wes’s direction.

“Nice mount,” she said quietly.

“Thanks. Shadow and I have been together for a few years.”

“Did you bring a second mount?” All of her employees had two mounts for the roundup because of the hard work.

“Yes, both Ted and I brought two mounts.”

“Good. Take it from me, Mr. Barton. You’ll need them.”

Jason followed the woman up to the group of cowboys already assembled. He introduced himself to all of them, though he’d met some of them when he’d come to look at the ranch. He also introduced Ted.

But his gaze followed Ms. Wilson’s movement. He’d been shocked by her appearance this morning. Gone was the makeup, the earrings, the designer suit and especially the spike heels. Even her hair was different. It was in a braid down the center of her back. Not only was she simply dressed, but none of her attire looked new. She acted as if this was a normal activity she’d been doing all her life.

He hadn’t expected her to be experienced, but she sat her horse with ease. Maybe she knew what she was doing…Still, he wouldn’t believe it until she proved herself on the roundup. Almost anyone could learn to ride a horse. Working on a roundup took more knowledge. Certainly Wes knew what to do. He hadn’t hired Wes to stay with the ranch because he felt the ranch was a little run down. He figured Wes was responsible for that.

Now Jason was beginning to wonder.

Wes set the pace at a lope. While Ms. Wilson stayed close to her manager, she seemed to know all the cowboys.

Jason had expected her to ride with the trail cook and to help with the meals. Not to round up the cows. Was her horse trained as a cutting horse? If the mare wasn’t, its lovely rider wouldn’t be of a lot of use on the drive.

Maybe she intended to supervise from camp, he suddenly thought. Only time would tell. Right now he was ready to do his best, to do the job in front of him. All his employees and business rivals would agree: Jason Barton believed in playing fair—as long as the other guy did, too. Guy or woman.

He clicked at his horse and Shadow obeyed, picking up the pace.

After about five hours Jason had to admit he was feeling stiff. A few weekend rides didn’t equate to five straight hours in the saddle.

The irritating thing was that Rosemary Wilson looked as fresh as she had at 6:00 a.m.

Wes told everyone to dismount and eat their bagged lunch under the shade of some tall trees. Like all the cowboys, Jason took care of his mount before he fed himself. There was a creek nearby and he led Shadow to it.

Rosemary Wilson didn’t ask anyone else to take care of her mount. She led her horse to the water and waited until the horse had drunk her fill. Then she tied up the mare where the grass was green. Once her horse was grazing, she took her canteen and her sandwich and joined Wes.

Jason knew she wouldn’t welcome him anywhere close to her; she’d communicated that clearly enough by her attitude. He joined them anyway, as did his manager, Ted.

“You certainly picked a nice day for the start, Ms. Wilson,” Jason said, offering an easy smile to see if she’d relax a little.

She didn’t. “Thank you.”

“Do you think this kind of weather will last for the entire two weeks?”

“Who knows?”

“Wes, what do you think?”

“It’s September. We sometimes get some cold fronts, even snow. But we’re hoping, since it’s at the beginning of the month, we’ll be all right.”

“How rough are the foothills we’re going to be covering?” Ted asked.

Wes and Ms. Wilson exchanged a look. Then Wes said, “Some of it is pretty wild.”

“We didn’t bring rifles,” Jason said. “Should we have?”

Wes looked him in the eye. “Yeah. But we’ve got rifles, so if we run up on a bear or something, we’ll take care of it.”

Jason turned to look at Ms. Wilson. “Did you bring a rifle?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Can you shoot it?”

Wes laughed. “This little girl is one of the best sharpshooters I’ve ever seen.”

The “little girl” only said, “Yes.”

“I’m surprised, Ms. Wilson.”

She raised one slim eyebrow. “Why?”

“When you came to my office, you looked like you had conquered the world of fashion, not sharpshooting.”

“You were mistaken, Mr. Barton.”

Wes frowned. “Are you two going to be so formal the entire roundup?”

“I don’t mind Ms. Wilson using my first name, though I can’t use hers unless she says it’s okay.”

“Come on, Rosie,” Wes interjected. “Quit standing on ceremony. This is a roundup, not some fancy social affair.”

Jason almost burst out laughing. He could see the stubbornness on her face. She wanted to remain cool, aloof, to hide behind formality. But she couldn’t admit it in front of Wes.

Finally she acquiesced. “Fine. I’ll be glad to call you Jason, and you can call me Rosemary.”

“Thanks, Rosemary.”

She nodded and took a bite of her sandwich.

Wes was watching him, as if he was wondering why Jason was pushing Rosemary from her comfort zone. But as Wes had said, they couldn’t be formal for two weeks.

In spite of Wes’s bragging about Rosemary’s skills, Jason still wasn’t sure she would be of much use on the cattle drive. He would just have to wait and see.

After a half-hour break, they were all in the saddle again, facing another four to five hours before they reached their first camp. Wes had explained that they would be at the halfway point this evening. Then they would travel another eight hours the next day. The day after, they would begin the search for cattle, at the farthest point and the highest elevation, beyond which the terrain was too rough for cattle to venture. Then they would gradually move back toward the ranch, sweeping the hills for the cattle.

It would be a much slower trip coming back than it had been going.

When they reached the camp set up by the cook, they could smell dinner cooking and see a large campfire. The warmth would be welcome, Jason admitted. As the sun lowered behind the hills, the air had changed from crisp to cold.

And the food would be just as welcome. His body was tired and in need of fuel. He’d tried not to slump in the saddle because Rosemary certainly wasn’t slumping. The woman must have a lot of muscles in that trim figure, he reasoned.

Ted was apparently feeling much as he did. “I’m glad to see that fire. I don’t like the cold.”

Jason frowned in surprise. “Haven’t you had to go out in bad weather to take care of the cattle?”

“I usually get some of the men to do that work.”

Jason thought he knew Ted Houston fairly well. He’d come highly recommended, and he’d ridden with Jason on a couple of weekends at a stable outside Denver, where Jason kept Shadow and several other horses. But a leader didn’t ask his men to do things he wouldn’t do.

After they dismounted and tended their horses, including putting up a rope corral that would hold the horses for the night, they all moved quickly to the fire where the cook had an appetizing stew cooking over the fire.

“It smells good, Cookie,” Rosemary said, finally smiling.

“It’s Sara Beth’s recipe, Rosie, so you know it’s good.” He turned to Jason and held out a hand. “I don’t believe I’ve met you. I’m Albert Downey, but everyone calls me Cookie, for obvious reasons,” he said with a grin.

Jason shook his hand. “Glad to meet you. I’m Jason Barton and this is Ted Houston.”

“Welcome, boys. The tin bowls are stacked on the tailgate of the SUV. Grab one and a spoon and get in line. It’s chow time.”

Jason waited for Rosemary to advance first. He fell in step behind her, his eyes on the sway of her hips in those tight jeans. They’d ridden through some of the most beautiful scenery in the west today, but Jason had to admit this was the prettiest sight he’d seen all day.

CHAPTER TWO

AS HE walked to the SUV, Ted came up alongside Jason. “That Cookie obviously doesn’t know who we are,” he said with an edge to his voice. “If he did, he’d be more respectful.”

Jason spared him a quick glance. “We’re helping with the roundup, Ted, nothing more. There’s nothing wrong with how he treated us.” He took a bowl and spoon and moved after Rosemary who had gone to get her bowl and spoon in front of him.

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?”

“Yes, of course.”

“All right. Go take care of business while I keep an eye on everyone.”

When she returned a few minutes later, she found Wes talking to Jason again.

She spread open her bedroll and sat down on it to remove her boots. Then she tucked them in the bottom of her bedroll.

“Why are you doing that?” Jason asked, distracted by her movement.

“Doing what?”

“Putting your boots in the sleeping bag.”

“Because I don’t want any creepy crawlies in there when I put them on in the morning.”

Jason raised his eyebrows and looked at Wes. “Does that happen?”

Wes chuckled. “Not often. But it happened to Rosie once, and she refuses to leave her boots out of her bag. But she’s got a little more room in her bag than most of us, ’cause she’s a lot shorter.”

Rosemary ignored the two men and settled her head on her saddle after removing her coat and pulling up the sleeping bag.

Jason was staring at her, but she pretended not to notice.

“If you’re worried, you can set your boots inside the SUV. Cookie doesn’t mind,” Wes told him.

“Nope. I’m not asking for special treatment. Where shall I bed down?”

“Anywhere near the fire. But be sure you leave Cookie a pathway. He’ll be putting wood on the fire in the morning so he can cook breakfast.”

“How about I put my roll next to you?” Jason asked.

“Sounds good to me,” Wes said with a grin.

Rosemary ground her teeth. At least Wes was beside her. She’d never sleep a wink if she thought the sexy millionaire was in the next bedroll. Her nerve endings seemed to be on full alert whenever Jason was near.

Slowly the camp settled down. The only noise was the crackling of the fire, even though it was banked up so it wouldn’t spread, and the howling of the coyotes and wolves.

Cookie’s activities the next morning awakened Rosemary. She unzipped her bedroll and immediately shrugged into her coat to ward off the cold. The sky in the east was showing some light, but the sun hadn’t yet put in an appearance.

Taking her boots out of the bedroll, Rosemary pulled them on just as Wes sat up. She silently motioned to tell him she was going away from the SUV for a few minutes. His nod meant he’d make sure none of the men went in that direction. When she reappeared, Jason was awake, too, though most everyone else was still asleep.

Cookie had the big coffeepot on the fire and he was getting out the huge skillet he used every morning. Without saying anything, Rosemary got out a large bowl and began breaking eggs in it.

She saw Jason lean over and whisper something to Wes. Though she wondered what he was asking, she forced herself to ignore him. Wes would take care of whatever was his concern. The scent of coffee was waking up the men as much as the small noises Cookie and Rosemary were making. In another five minutes, everyone would be up.

Wes led Jason to the stack of tin coffee cups. After each taking one, they made their way to the fire and Wes poured them both a cup of coffee. They squatted down by the fire, cowboy style, and enjoyed their drinks.

Rosemary handed Cookie the bowl of beaten eggs and took out a loaf of bread he had baked in advance. Taking a sharp knife, she put the bread on a cup towel and began slicing it into fifteen slices, one for each person on the roundup.

“Grub’s ready,” Cookie called.

The men hurried to get their tin plates and get in line for breakfast. Rosemary set the bread in a tin plate near the fire. Cookie served up the bacon and the scrambled eggs.

When Ted received his eggs and bacon, he reached for two pieces of bread. Without hesitation, Rosemary said, “Ted, we each get only one piece of bread.”

“But there’s extra.”

“Because Wes, Cookie and I haven’t eaten yet.”

Behind her a quiet voice said, “Ted.”

That was all Jason said, but Rosemary figured Ted could hear the threat in it as well as she could, because he returned the top piece back to the plate. “Sorry,” he muttered and walked away.

Nothing else was said. They seldom had conversation in the mornings. Some people didn’t want to chat while they were still waking up.

As everyone got ready to ride out, Wes called out, “Has everyone filled his canteen?”

Several nodded since they’d done this for years, but there were always a couple who forgot. Jason and Ted came back to fill theirs, too.

Rosie was looking forward to the start but she couldn’t help worrying about riding with Jason. She felt her life would be simpler if he left. He just made her nervous. And that was unusual for her. In Cheyenne, she’d never felt nervous whether she was speaking to the press or making a presentation to a client. Of course, her “clients” were other states. She worked for the State of Wyoming, promoting tourism. It had been a dream job.

Wes rode up, leading her second horse, a dun named Sandy. He always saddled her horse while she helped Cookie. “Here you go, Rosie. Maggie looks good today, but I thought you should give her the day off.”

“Of course. Yesterday was a long haul. Today won’t be quite as long, will it?”

“Not in distance, but the ride will be rougher as we move on up into the foothills.”

“Will Cookie be able to drive as far as we need to go?”

“Almost. We’ll head farther north before we turn back toward the ranch. He won’t have to move far for the next camp.”

“Good. He’ll need a little rest after yesterday and today.”

“I know.” He waited until Rosemary was in the saddle and got her sandwich before he headed out. The rest of the party was waiting for them.

“Watch for rocks so you don’t lame your horse,” Wes called out to the cowboys. “We’ll be riding a little slower today because of the roughness of the terrain.” Then he led them away from camp.

About half an hour later, Cookie passed them by in the truck, waving a hand as he continued on to the ultimate camp.

Rosie glanced over the cowboys, at the two men in the rear who led the extra mounts on two long ropes. When she caught Jason’s eye, she quickly looked forward. If she looked at him very often, he might realize how fascinated she was with him. Besides, she didn’t want to be the one who caused her horse to go lame because she wasn’t watching.

To her surprise, Jason rode up beside her.

“Everything all right?” he asked.

“Yes, of course. Everything all right with you?”

“Sure.”

“Was your wife upset about you being away for several weeks?”

“No.”

“I’m glad she—”

“I don’t have a wife,” Jason said abruptly.

Rosemary stared at him. When she’d learned he was the supposed buyer for the ranch, she’d look him up on the Internet. In addition to his successful architectural business she found pictures of Jason and his beautiful wife attending society events in Denver. “But I saw—”

“We’re divorced.”

“Oh. Sorry.” She spurred her horse to move a little faster, but Jason fell back beside Ted. Just as well, she told herself, now that she knew Jason Barton was a bachelor.

When they reached camp that afternoon, the sun was just sinking over the rims of the Rockies. In a matter of minutes, it was dark, in spite of the millions of stars visible at night. Rosemary loved the sky out on the ranch. In Cheyenne, there were a few too many city lights.

Cookie had everything ready to eat as soon as they’d taken care of the horses and put up the rope corral. They’d picked their way through the rocks and foothills and the ride actually took longer than the ride yesterday. No question but that everyone was hungry. Tonight, Cookie had made skillet meat loaf and a pot of vegetables. After he’d served everyone, he promised mashed potatoes tomorrow night since he wouldn’t be traveling a long distance.

Of even more interest was the chocolate cake he set on the tailgate of the SUV. “Now don’t you be thinking I made this cake. Sara Beth sent it along. I just had the feeling you’d appreciate it more tonight than you would’ve last night,” Cookie informed them all.

There was a cheer from around the campfire and Cookie grinned at them. “I’ll tell Sara Beth you’re much obliged.” Then he filled his plate and sat down to eat.

Rosemary kept an eye on Ted. She couldn’t help thinking he might do something wrong again. After he’d eaten his dinner he started to get up, but Jason, who was sitting next to him, said something and Ted sat back down.

Jason must’ve figured out that no one got dessert until Cookie finished eating. A cook on a roundup worked hard, and he needed to have time to eat his meal. Rosemary wondered what kind of a roundup Ted ran, or if he ever had. Maybe she’d ask Jason that question if she got a chance.

When Cookie finished his meal, he cut the cake and served each cowboy his piece in his own plate. Even Ted accepted his cake with good spirits.

Jason, who was sitting next to Wes, leaned over and asked something, but Wes smiled. Rosemary wondered what Jason had said that amused her manager. She’d have to remember to ask Wes later.

She guessed Jason had convinced Ted to follow the rules. He certainly hadn’t caused any problems this evening. He was even making conversation with the cowboys around him.

Rosemary let out a breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding. But when Jason squatted down beside her, she jumped.

“Is everything going okay?” he asked with that charming smile that always made her pulse accelerate. She told herself she was safer if she kept her eyes on her cake, rather than the man too close to her.

“Yes, of course, everything’s going well. Doesn’t Wes think so?”

“I assume so. He hasn’t said anything to me about any problems.”

Which made Rosie think of his prospective manager. “Have you ever seen Ted in action, on a cattle drive?”

“No. But he came highly recommended. You can be sure I’ll be looking at that recommendation again when I get back to Denver.”

“I’m not trying to pressure you, but Wes and Sara Beth will be out of a job if you get the ranch. I would feel better if you hired them in place of Ted.”

“I’ve been wondering if you would mind me hiring them.”

At that, she turned and looked at him, and was struck by his deep blue eyes dancing in the firelight. Her effusive enthusiasm tempered into a more professional tone when she finally was able to speak. “I’d be pleased.” She cleared her throat. “If you get the ranch, I’ll go back to Cheyenne, but I’d keep in touch with them. I want them to be happy, and I can guarantee their work.”

“What exactly did you do in Cheyenne?”

She was surprised by that personal question—and more surprised that she answered. But Jason seemed to be drawing her in, and like an oppositely charged magnet she had no choice but to go. “I worked in publicity for the Tourism Department of the state government.”

“You mean you’re responsible for those catchy ads about visiting Wyoming?”

“Well, I worked on the team that came up with them. They were great, weren’t they?”

“Yes, they were. I’d looked for some land in Colorado, but after seeing one of those ads, I turned my attention to Wyoming. I wanted somewhere with roads less traveled,” he said, almost quoting the ad.

She smiled. “I’m glad you liked it, and I suppose I’m glad you considered Wyoming.” She shook her head. “Will you look around Wyoming again if I get to keep the ranch?”

“Probably.” He gave her a devilish grin that nearly stopped her heart. “Shall I hire Wes and Sara Beth even if I don’t get the ranch?”

She wagged her finger in front of him. “Oh, no. They’ll stay with me. But if you do get the ranch, I’d like you to consider them. They’re the best.”

In a quick action he snagged her finger, their first contact sending shivers up her spine. “And what do I get if your guarantee doesn’t pan out?” he asked in a low voice.

“You can name any penalty you want, because I’m sure of my guarantee.”

“Fine.” Then he leaned in close to whisper in her ear, “If I’m not totally satisfied with their performance, you owe me a kiss.”

She almost fell over as she jerked away from him. Jason Barton was a smooth operator—and she’d best remember that. And their deal. She lifted her chin in an indignant pose. “Don’t hold your breath!”

CHAPTER THREE

THE NEXT morning as they all sat around the campfire eating breakfast, Wes organized them. They would begin their search in groups of three. Of course, since Cookie wouldn’t be rounding up cattle, Wes ordered two men to help Cookie move the spare horses and set up the rope corral in his new camp. Then they would maintain the cattle the others brought back to the camp. That left four groups of three.

To Rosemary’s surprise, she was in with Wes and Jason. Since Jason showed nothing on his face, Rosemary wondered if he’d talked to Wes earlier. They had again gotten up a little early and drunk their coffee by the fire.

“After you finish breakfast and wash your dishes, let’s mount up.” Wes had given each group an area to search, so they wouldn’t overlap each other.

Rosemary helped Cookie pack, as she usually did, and Wes saddled her horse for her. Today she’d be riding Maggie, which eased any tension she might feel. Maggie had been trained by Wes, and she was a great horse.

Wes, mounted on his horse, led Maggie over to the SUV. “Here’s Maggie, Rosie. You ready to go?”

“Sure. Where’s Jason?” Not that she really cared, she told herself. But he was a part of their team.

“He’s coming.”

As Rosemary swung into the saddle, Jason joined them. “Are we taking a lunch with us today?”

“Nope. Cookie will have something ready later, after he moves the camp. If we get hungry we can grab something when we bring in any cattle we find,” Wes explained. “Did you talk to Ted?”

“Yeah. I’m not sure he’ll be of much help. I’m beginning to think he’s a complete fraud.”

“Could be. He doesn’t seem to understand how to blend in with the other cowboys,” Wes said as he led them toward the area they were to search. “You, on the other hand, seem a natural.”

Jason chuckled. “I’m just following your lead, Wes. You’re the expert.” Then he added, “You and Rosemary. If you’d told me last week that she’d blend in anywhere, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

“I don’t see why not!” Rosemary said, irritated.

Both Wes and Jason laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Have you ever looked in a mirror?” Jason asked, turning in the saddle to stare at her.

She frowned. “Of course I have. What are you talking about?”

“You’re a beautiful woman, the only woman, in a band of cowboys. But they treat you like you’re one of the guys. It’s amazing.”

She ignored the compliment. “I’ve known most of them for years, and they know Wes would fire them on the spot if they harassed me. So I don’t think it’s so surprising.”

“I guess you’re right.” He faced forward again and tugged on his hat. After a few seconds he asked, “So you always accompanied your father on the roundups?”

“No. I wanted to, but Mom wouldn’t let me. After she died, though, Dad always brought me along.” She remembered the times she’d spent with her father on horseback; they were her best memories. Out on the roundups they were equals, each with a job to do, each relying on the other. Memories—good memories—flooded her, and emotion built in her throat.

“He didn’t have a son, and he talked about how I’d need to understand ranching if I was going to run the place after he was gone.” Overwhelmed, she ducked her head as tears began to well in her eyes.

“Rosemary, I’m sure he—”

But she never got to hear his remark because Wes called out, drawing their attention.

“We’ve found the first of the cows. Let’s circle behind them.”

There were about fifteen head grazing, appearing undisturbed by their approach. Wes silently indicated where both Rosemary and Jason should go. Then they began driving the small herd toward the new campsite.

Rosemary eased up on a steer that had come to a halt. She had her lariat out to use to prod the reluctant animal. She slapped the steer on its rump. To her dismay, the steer turned and charged her.

Even as Maggie jerked out of the way, Rosemary heard both Wes and Jason yell. But Rosemary reined her in, struggling to stay in the saddle.

“Rosie, are you okay?” Wes asked as he raced to her side.

“Yes, I’m okay. Maggie took care of me.”

“He turned on you so fast, neither Wes nor I could get here in time,” Jason said. “Do you need to get off your horse and rest?”

“Not with that killer steer in the neighborhood. I’ll let you two deal with him,” she said with a shaky laugh.

“Right,” Jason agreed and turned his mount to force the steer back into the herd.

“I think Jason’s got his number. Are you okay to go on?”

“Of course I am, Wes. Thanks to Maggie.”

“Okay. I’m going to let you and Jason take this little herd on in and I’m going to search out more cows. I’ll see you two in a little while.

“I don’t think you should, Wes. It’s not safe to be out here alone.”

“I know Sara Beth made you promise to take care of me. That’s ridiculous, Rosie. I’m a grown man and I’ve been doing this kind of work all my life. But I’ll be careful, I promise. And you do the same.”

“Okay,” Rosemary agreed, but she wasn’t happy about it.

“Keep an eye on her, Jason,” Wes said.

Rosemary huffed in indignation. “I’ve been doing this all my life, too!”

Jason grinned. “Come on, Rosie, we’ve got to get moving so we can get back quickly.”

She was so used to Wes calling her Rosie that she didn’t even realize Jason was using her nickname until it was too late to protest. She’d have to do that later. Right now the cows demanded her attention.

It only took them about half an hour to reach the new camp. The two cowboys left to maintain the herd were having a cup of coffee with Cookie. When they caught sight of Rosemary and Jason’s herd, they mounted their horses and met them.

“Good job! Where’s Wes?” asked Nick, the newest hand.

“He’s looking for more cows,” Rosemary replied. “We’ve got to get back with him. Have you got these?”

“You bet! Be careful,” Nick called as she and Jason turned back to retrace their trail.

“I think that cowboy has a crush on you,” Jason said as they rode along.

“Who?” Rosemary asked.

“Nick. He watches you all the time.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t,” Rosemary protested.

“I know he does. I’ve watched him.”

“He’s probably thinking the same about you.”

“What? That I’ve got a crush on him?”

She laughed, in spite of herself. “Why are you watching him?”

“Because he’s watching you.” After a moment, he added, “Wes and I talked about it. He said he thinks the same thing. He’s keeping an eye on things.”

“He always keeps an eye on everything. Wes is a great ranch manager.”

“I know he is. You don’t have to sell me on him. I’ve already talked to him about staying on if I get the ranch.”

“Did he agree?” Rosemary asked anxiously. She hoped he would. She knew Wes and Sara Beth would be happy staying there with Jason. He would be a good ranch owner.

The admission surprised her. But it was true, she realized. In just these two days Jason had exhibited some of the most important qualities for an owner, including his willingness to perform any task he’d asked of his men.

Still, Rosie wondered how he’d own the Wyoming ranch when his business was in Denver. She asked him.

“I was wondering when you’d be getting around to asking me that,” he said. He reined his horse out of a gallop to answer her. “I intend to live here full-time.”

“So you’ll be closing your architectural firm, then?” From the looks of the plush offices, she figured it was successful.

“No, I’m not retiring yet,” he said with a laugh. “Actually, it’s a long story. You see I’m an architect by trade. But during the summers to earn money for college, I worked for a builder. After I got my degree, I designed some apartment buildings. I had to finance the first one myself. I intended to sell it once it was built, but I ended up keeping it. And I’ve gone on from there. I now have six apartment buildings in Denver that I own, plus I design other things, like malls and office complexes.”

“Do you own them, too?”

“Only some of them.”

So Mr. Barton was even richer than she’d thought. Would he ever be satisfied with the simple life of a rancher? Out here there wasn’t much call for a tuxedo and shiny shoes. Surely he’d figured that out. Deciding she had to ask, if only to protect Wes and Sara Beth, she said, “Are you sure you’re going to fit in out here?”

Jason grinned. “Absolutely. I can’t wait to leave Denver. I can do all my work from the ranch. I’ll fax my designs to my clients. I’ll have to go to the city to check on the progress of the construction and, occasionally, on my apartment buildings, but other than that, I’ll be a rancher.”

Somehow she could picture him in that role all too easily. “If you’re into architecture, why do you ride like you were born to it?”

“I was raised on a small ranch outside of Denver. We had a couple of horses and I started riding as a little boy.”

“Why not go back there?”

“Because the city has overtaken the property. My parents sold it ten years ago for a nice sum and moved to Arizona.”

“Quite a change. Seems—”

Just then Wes called out their names. She looked up ahead for Wes, but she didn’t see him.

“Where is he?”

Jason pointed up on one of the slopes above them. “Up there. Looks like he’s found more cattle.” Jason picked up his speed and Rosemary followed.

When they got close to Wes, they pulled up and looked at him for guidance. He’d found almost another twenty head of cattle, but they were spread out on rocky terrain. For a moment, the only sound was the wind blowing through the aspen trees.

Wes directed them with hand signals, in order not to startle the cattle. Gradually the three of them managed to pull the cattle into a compact group and moved them down the slopes into the small valley that fed into the larger one where the camp was located.

When they reached the camp, they discovered the herd had tripled in their absence. With the cattle they had found, they were already close to seventy head of cattle. Rosemary was greatly cheered to already have that number on the first day.

Wes, however, after talking with Cookie, discovered the trio that included Ted still had not shown up.

“You two grab some lunch. I’m going to go check on that group. I’m hoping they’re not in trouble.”

“Wes, you need some lunch, too,” Rosemary protested.

“Then see what Cookie has that I can take with me.”

Rosemary hastily made a quick sandwich and handed it to him. “Give me your canteen and I’ll fill it quickly.”

After she handed it back to him, she opened her mouth, but he spoke first. “I know, be careful. I promise.”

Jason stared after him. “I think I should go with him. Ted is my responsibility.”

“Yes, we could do without Ted, but Wes will take care of everything,” Rosemary said.

“We don’t know that he’s caused any difficulties today,” Jason said stubbornly.

“How much do you want to bet?” Rosemary returned, anger in her voice.

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