The Cowboy’s Christmas Proposal
Judy Christenberry

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

PROLOGUE

TWO attractive young ladies held hands as they stood by the four graves, tears streaking their cheeks as they struggled to overcome their emotions.

“At least we know they didn’t suffer,” one of the girls said, sniffing away her tears, the morning sun glinting off her shiny blond hair.

“No,” the brunette agreed, “but they were much too young to die so soon.”

“I know.” She gulped back her emotions. “It means we’re our only family now, you and I. We’re going to have to stick together if we’re going to continue.”

“Yes. And that’s what they would’ve wanted, for us to continue.”

They were interrupted by the townspeople in Bailey, Colorado, wanting to express their condolences. The young cousins stood shoulder to shoulder and greeted their neighbors and friends. The deaths of their parents in a car accident, having traveled to Denver for a football game and run head-on with an eighteen-wheeler on the way home, had been totally unexpected and the tragic loss had taken everyone by surprise.

“You girls should ask for help when you need it. You’re awfully young to be on your own,” one neighbor had told them. They exchanged looks but received the piece of advice graciously. They were both twenty-five, a reasonable age to be independent, but neither had wanted it to be like this.

They received many offers of help, but they didn’t expect to ask for any. They both thought they had a plan laid out to carry on their lives and their beloved family traditions.

But then they hadn’t planned to be alone, either.

CHAPTER ONE

PENNY BRADFORD strode toward the bunkhouse, knowing she was getting there late, but she needed to talk to Gerald Butler, her ranch manager.

She was grateful she had her father’s trusted manager to rely on. Because of her brother’s unexpected death at the age of sixteen, she hadn’t been taught much of anything about ranching. Grieved by his death, her father had feared she might die also and had decided that Penny would instead be sheltered from ranch work and showered with affection. She had become her father’s princess and his tragic death in a car wreck with her mother had devastated her.

But now it was time for Penny to start learning about running a ranch and Gerald had agreed to teach her. She had planned to meet him later that morning, but something else had come up and she had gone in search of him earlier than anticipated. She reached the bunkhouse and stood for a moment to draw a deep breath and prepare to knock on the door. Before she could do that, there was an uproar of laughter.

Leaning forward, she listened to determine what could be so funny and froze upon hearing her manager’s betrayal.

“I don’t see why I shouldn’t continue. If I could fool her dad, the girl ought to be ridiculously easy. She’ll never have any idea that I’m skimming off the top. Why, I’ve collected more than fifty thousand a year for the past four years.”

Penny backed away from the bunkhouse in shock. When she thought she couldn’t be heard, she turned and ran back to the ranch house.

Inside the house, she reached for the phone and called her cousin. “Oh, Sally, thank goodness. I—I just heard Gerald bragging that he’s been skimming at least fifty thousand a year off Dad for the past four years! What do I do?”

“Oh, my! Penny, that’s awful. Well, there’s really only one thing you can do—you’ll have to fire him. Clearly the man isn’t to be trusted so you make sure he leaves with nothing that belongs to the ranch. Will you be able to do that?”

Penny took a deep breath. “Yes, I can do that I’m so angry that he would treat my father that way. The only problem is, what do I do then? You know I know nothing about ranching. Dad refused to teach me, afraid I might have an accident, and Gerald is the only one who knows how the ranch works.”

“I know, you are going to need some help. Wasn’t your dad friends with Dexter Williams? He’s the biggest rancher in the area, maybe he could recommend someone trustworthy to replace Gerald.”

“Good idea. Thank you. I couldn’t think for a moment. I think I’ll get the sheriff to escort Gerald off the ranch. I’ll go see him first thing in the morning and let him come back out with me. I doubt I could prove what Gerald has done, but I should be able to scare him enough to send him on his way.”

“I’m glad I could help. Let me know what happens.”

“I will, Thanks, Sally, I’ll call you tomorrow.” Penny hung up the phone and prepared to take her first difficult step as ranch owner.

“Mr. Williams, I appreciate your taking the time to talk to me. I know you and Dad were friends, and I need your advice.”

“Of course, Penny. How can I help you?”

“I need a ranch manager, someone known for his honesty as well as his ranching skills, and who would be willing to teach me about ranching.”

“Hmm, that’s a tall order, my dear. What happened to Gerald?”

“I fired him this morning after I discovered he was ripping Dad off. Now I need a replacement”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Penny, your father was a good man. Decent honest ranch managers are hard to find.” Suddenly, as if a lightbulb went off in his head, he said, “But I may know just the man for you. He’s ready for a managerial job but there isn’t an opening here for him.”

“What’s his name?”

“Jake Larson. There’s only one thing about him.” The old man began to chuckle as he decided how to phrase his next words. “He has a bit of a reputation…as a ladies’man, so you’d best keep your distance.”

“Oh, I’m sure I can do that, Mr Williams, as long as he can be trusted on my ranch.”

“Oh, he’s completely trustworthy. I’ll send him over to talk to you first thing in the morning.”

“Thank you, Mr. Williams. I appreciate your assistance.”

“I’m glad to help out, Penny. Now you let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.”

Penny replaced the receiver, pleased that she had found an answer to her problem, but curious as to exactly what kind of man Jake Larson was.

Jake Larson walked up to the big house, gritting his teeth. He hoped it was Dexter who wanted to see him and not the much younger Mrs. Williams. She’d been chasing Jake all summer and he’d been expecting to be fired.

It wouldn’t be fair, because he had no interest in the woman, but he couldn’t convince her of that. He had even less of a chance to convince Dexter it was his wife who was doing the chasing.

So he’d take what was coming as well as he could.

He knocked on the back door and waited. Dexter appeared and opened the door to him. “Come on in, Jake.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let’s go to my office and have a chat.”

Jake figured he’d be lucky if Dexter gave him a recommendation.

Once they were seated, Dexter said, “Jake, we both know things can’t continue as they have been. I didn’t want to let you go, because you’re a good man. That wouldn’t be fair. So I’ve found you another job.”

Jake’s head came up and he stared at his boss. “I usually find my own jobs.”

“Okay, I’ll be honest with you. You’ll be doing me a favor if you take this job. You’re ready for it. The daughter of a friend of mine who recently died needs a new manager. Someone who can run the ranch and also teach her about ranching.”

Jake frowned. He’d been wanting a managerial job. That was great news. Teaching a woman about ranching didn’t appeal.

“I’m not sure I’m right for the job.”

“You’re right for it, Jake. And we both know you can’t stay here.”

“Yeah, I know, but—what ranch?”

“The Rocking B ranch, on the other side of town. It’s a good operation, but she’s just found out her manager has been skimming the profits for the past four years.”

“That’s the one with the brand that looks like a hat?”

“Yeah, that’s them.”

“I guess I could talk to her.”

“Good. She’s expecting you this morning. Pack your things. I’ll let my wife know you’ve moved on.”

“Yes, sir.” Jake figured he’d talk to the lady about the job. Then, if he didn’t like the situation, he’d move on. He’d saved some money and would be all right for a few months.

When he got back to the bunkhouse, the men had already gone out on their assignments. He’d call a couple of them after he got settled. They all knew the situation, so they wouldn’t be surprised to find him gone.

It didn’t take long to pack up his belongings. The main thing he would take with him was his mount. He and Apache had been partners for the past four years. He was well trained and Jake had had a lot of offers for Apache, but he knew the value of his horse.

His truck and trailer had been well-maintained and would come in useful wherever he worked. He loaded Apache in the trailer and connected it to his truck, then he threw his belongings into the back seat and took the hour-long drive to the Rocking B ranch.

Penny paced the kitchen, waiting for Jake Larson to show up for his new job. She hoped Dexter Williams had explained everything. She thought he should be there at any time.

It would be a relief to have someone in charge of the ranch. She knew so little about the decisions she should make. She intended to study hard to learn what she should do, but she would have to have some help.

She heard a vehicle turn in her long driveway. She peeked out the window and saw a truck and trailer come to a halt. Holding her breath, she waited until the truck door opened and a tall, rangy man got out. Dexter had told her he was a ladies’man, and she intended to make her lack of interest very clear.

When he came closer, she was surprised to see he wasn’t what one would call a “pretty boy.” He had rugged good looks that might tempt many women, but not her. She needed to learn ranching, not find a boyfriend.

The man strode toward the back door. She waited until he knocked and taking a deep breath, she opened the door. “Yes?”

“I’m Jake Larson. Mr. Williams suggested I come talk to you about a job you have open.”

“Yes, come in, Mr. Larson.” She moved back to give him room. Then she walked toward the cabinet. “Coffee?” she asked.

“Yes, please.”

Okay, so he had nice manners. She poured him a mug of coffee and one for herself. Then she offered him a seat at the table. She sat down across from him. “I hope Mr. Williams explained that you’d also be doing some teaching. I don’t know much about ranching.”

“Yes, ma’am, he mentioned that. I’m not sure I’m the one for the job. I’m not used to explaining the hows and whys of my job.”

“I can understand that, Mr. Larson, but I’m afraid that aspect of the job is absolutely necessary.”

“If you trust me to do the job, why do I need to teach you?”

“Because I believe I need to know the job as well as you. Otherwise, I can’t give my opinion.”

“It’s not something easy to learn. You realize I can’t teach you what I know in six months or a year. It takes longer than that.”

“I understand. But I have to start somewhere.”

“Do you understand that you may have to postpone asking questions until the end of the day? There isn’t always enough time to do that during the day.”

“Yes, I can be flexible.”

He stared at her for several minutes, and she held her breath. His dark brown eyes were hard to read. She had no idea if he’d accept the job or turn her down.

Finally he extended his hand across the table. “Very well, Miss Bradford, if you want me, I’ll take the job.”

She shook his hand, liking the strength of that hand as it grasped hers. “Yes, I’d like that. May I show you your quarters?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She got up and led the way out of the kitchen to the bunkhouse. She had cleaned out a private room at the end of the building yesterday after her talk with Dexter Williams.

“This is the manager’s room. I hope it will be satisfactory for you, but let me know if there’s anything else you need. You can put your dirty laundry in this basket. I’m hiring a housekeeper and I’ll instruct her to do your laundry once a week.” Penny paused and looked at the ground before continuing. “I didn’t fire any of the other cowboys, but if you catch any of them cheating, feel free to fire them.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Will your quarters be satisfactory?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Then I’ll leave you. The men should be in before sunset. One of the men will come in early. He’s the designated cook.”

He nodded his head.

Penny returned his nod and got out of there before she started answering yes sir in response to his yes ma’ams. She strode across the grass that parted the main house from the bunkhouse. Hopefully Mr. Larson would do his job well and teach her about ranching for many years to come.

Jake watched her walk back to the house. She seemed awfully young to him. Maybe it was her name. It made him think of a child. Not that she looked like a little girl. Her body was definitely that of a woman.

But he didn’t intend to show any interest in her. He’d learned his lesson. Romance and ranching didn’t work for him. He intended to avoid any hint of flirtation.

Looking around the room, he decided he liked having a separate room from the rest of the men. He’d tired of sharing large rooms with everyone else. If the cook was good, he’d be happy. Good food made the difference in some jobs.

Before he settled in his room, he went out and unloaded Apache and put him in a corral. “You’ll be okay here, Apache. I’ll be back in the morning.” He checked the water barrel before he went back in and stored things away, making himself at home. Having his laundry done was handy, too. And he had a desk for doing paperwork.

Dexter had been right. He was ready for this job. And he’d even teach the woman about ranching. After all, it was a job he loved.

Penny ate some lunch and then began pacing the floor again. She had someone coming to interview for the housekeeper’s job and she was feeling anxious. Penny had always helped her mother in the house, but if she was going to be on horseback most of the day learning ranching, she wouldn’t be able to keep the house in order or prepare good meals. A housekeeper was a necessity.

But she wasn’t sure she could stand to have a stranger live with her, in the same house. She’d always shared the house with her parents and brother, but no one else. Penny was more nervous about this interview than she had been with Jake Larson.

Another vehicle pulled into the driveway. Penny watched through the window at the lady who got out. She guessed her age was about fifty, a little overweight, but not much. Even better, she had a pleasant expression on her face.

Again, Penny waited until her visitor knocked and then opened the door. The lady introduced herself as Harriet Buckner. Penny invited her in.

“My, what a lovely kitchen,” the woman said, looking around.

“Yes, my father had it redone last year for my—my mother.”

“Oh, yes, I heard. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you. I helped my mother with the housework and cooking, but now I’m going to be riding out each day with my new manager to learn the business and I don’t think I’ll feel like cooking and cleaning also.” She drew a deep breath. “So, I’m looking for a housekeeper who can do all those things herself.”

The woman nodded. “I’ve been cooking since I was a little girl and I enjoy it. And I’m good at cleaning. Are there any duties you’re especially looking for?”

“No, I don’t think so. But I did tell the new manager you’d do his laundry. I put a laundry basket in his room. And maybe occasional baking for the men. They seldom have time for any cooking that takes time.”

“Of course. So it’ll just be you and me for meals here in the house?”

“Yes, unless I invite someone. My cousin and I try to visit as much as we can. Or I might ask the manager to join us occasionally so I can ask questions about something that happened. I’m a raw beginner at ranching.”

“I see. I could always prepare enough food for three. Then I’d eat the leftovers the next day for lunch, so it wouldn’t go to waste.”

“Yes, that would work. Do you think you’d like the job?”

“It sounds perfect to me.”

Penny drew a deep breath. “I’ll show you your room.” She’d already decided the guest room on the first floor would be perfect for the housekeeper. She led her down the hall and opened the door. “This bedroom would be yours and it has an attached bathroom for you.”

“Oh, my, it’s quite lovely. I’ll be very comfortable here.”

“All right. Do you need to go back to Trinity to get your belongings before you move in?” To Penny’s surprise, the woman’s face turned a bright red.

“No! I—I took my belongings with me. You see, the rancher I worked for previously decided he—he was interested in marrying me, but it had only been a month since his wife had died. I thought he was looking for a way to have my services without paying me a salary. I wasn’t interested.”

“Oh, yes, I understand. That would be awkward.”

“Yes. I really appreciate you giving me this job. I promise I’ll do my best. You just let me know what you want me to do.”

“I will. I’ll take care of my own bedroom. You’ll just need to clean the downstairs.”

“You’re making the job sound too easy.”

“No, I’m sure you’ll be busy.”

“Okay. What time do you want breakfast on the table?”

“Oh! I didn’t ask my new manager what time he wanted me to be ready. I’ll go ask him while you’re getting settled.”

Penny stepped out on the back porch and gave a sigh of relief. Harriet seemed like she’d be okay and easy to get along with.

She walked down to the bunkhouse and knocked on the door. When there was no answer, she stepped inside and moved to the manager’s room. No answer there, either.

Moving back outside, she noted that the truck and trailer had been parked out of the way but were still there. She moved to the main barn that held some of the hay supply but also housed any cows that had problems with their calves, or injured horses.

No one there.

Then she heard that deep voice that fascinated her. It was coming from the nearest corral. She moved out into the cold air again and found him petting a horse.

“Beautiful horse. Is he yours?” she asked.

Jake spun around as if she’d crept up behind him. “Uh, yeah, he’s mine. His name is Apache. I—I took a little hay to feed him.”

“That’s fine. The men usually put their rides in a corral in winter. It makes it much easier to get started in the morning and more efficient to feed them when they are in a corral.”

“Yeah, I figured.”

“I needed to ask you what time you wanted to start in the morning.”

“I usually eat breakfast at six-thirty. There’s barely enough light at seven in the winter. That’s when you’d need to be in the saddle. Have you ever ridden a horse before?”

“Yes, I’m a proficient rider. It’s the one thing my dad insisted I learn.”

“Okay, then I’ll see you at seven.”

“Do we take our lunches with us?”

“Would you like us to have a picnic together?” he asked, sarcasm in his voice.

Penny stiffened. “No, I didn’t mean to have a picnic, but I’m used to eating lunch. I didn’t want to waste time coming in for lunch.”

“You go ahead and bring along what you need to eat, but it has to be eaten while you’re in the saddle. I don’t eat lunch.”

“Fine. I’ll see you at seven in the morning.”

She didn’t wait for an answer. Spinning on her heels she headed for the house.

CHAPTER TWO

PENNY marched back to the house, her teeth clenched. The nerve of the man! He thought she was hoping for a romantic picnic? He had the wrong idea about her. She would have to be on her toes to make sure he didn’t get that idea again!

When she reached the house, she went to Harriet’s bedroom. The lady was storing away her clothes.

“Is everything okay, Harriet?”

“Yes, ma’am. What time did the manager expect you to be ready?”

“He said seven. His name is Jake Larson, by the way, but don’t expect him to be friendly.”

“Oh? And you hired him anyway?”

“I was warned that though he’s honest, he has problems with thinking he’s a ladies’ man. When I asked him if I should bring a lunch tomorrow, he thought I was expecting a romantic picnic!”

“And that’s what he wanted?”

Penny looked at Harriet, frowning. “No,” she said slowly, “his question was sarcastic, as if that was the last thing he wanted.”

Harriet didn’t say anything.

“Maybe he’s changed his tune, but I’ll be on my toes anyway. I’m not looking for a boyfriend.”

“So you’re not taking a lunch?”

“I need something to eat that I can manage in the saddle. Do you know what I can take with me?”

“A sandwich will work. It won’t spoil in winter. An apple works okay, too, and what you don’t eat can be fed to your horse.”

“Good idea. Oh, rats. I didn’t think about bringing my horse to the corral. I’ll be back in a little while. You might want to check the supplies in the kitchen when you have time.”

“Right. I’ll do that.”

Penny hurried out of the house after pulling on her coat and adding a wool cap and gloves. She walked to the barn, collected a bridle and opened the gate that led to the pasture where the active horses were kept. She saw the horse she preferred to ride, a dark colored mare named Stormy that her father had given her when she’d first learned to ride.

It took a few minutes to reach Stormy and talk her into accepting the bridle. Then Penny led her to the corral where Apache was waiting. She got some hay for Stormy and settled her down in the corral. Then she removed the bridle and, after patting Stormy’s neck, replaced her bridle in the tack room and headed back to the house.

When she entered the house, she could smell fresh coffee. In the kitchen, she found Harriet going through the pantry.

“I’m going to have some of that coffee, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course not.” Harriet stepped out of the pantry. “You’ve got just about everything I can foresee for the immediate future. Your freezer is well stocked, too.”

“Good. I’ve got my horse penned up ready for tomorrow. I’ll need coffee in the morning and oatmeal with bacon and toast or eggs with bacon and toast. Either one, or you can rotate them. I like pancakes on Saturday morning and even Sunday morning when I can eat more leisurely.”

“That sounds good to me. Though I might suggest cinnamon rolls one of those mornings. I make them from scratch, and they’re quite good, if I do say so myself.”

“Mmm, I agree. They sound perfect for a cold morning.”

“Good. I’ll cook a couple of steaks for dinner because I can thaw them quickly, if that’s okay. And do you like salads?”

“Yes, I do. I’m willing to try most anything.”

“Then we’ll get along fine.”

“Thank you, Harriet. I’m glad things are working out well for one of my new employees!”

It was quite cold the next morning when Penny stepped outside. She had a wool cap on her head under the cowboy hat her dad had always worn. Leather gloves with wool lining were on her hands, and her jacket was snapped closed to her throat over a wool sweater.

She carried a package that held her lunch. She wasn’t going to try to be tough just to impress Jake Larson. She knew the day would be hard on her as it was. She was a good horse-woman, but she seldom rode more than three or four hours.

A canteen was strapped over her shoulder and would be added to her saddle. Also over her shoulder was a plastic raincoat her dad had always taken with him.

She had her dad on her mind today. He’d never expected her to be in this situation and never prepared her for the job. She had always been his little girl and no matter how many times she had asked, her father had always discouraged her from learning the ropes. Certainly learning about ranching now was important to Penny, especially if she was going to make a success of the ranch, but more important now was proving herself to her father, even though he wasn’t there.

When she reached the corral, after getting her bridle and saddle and saddle blanket, she found Stormy and got her ready for the day ahead. She added the raincoat, carefully tied it down so it wouldn’t startle the horse and placed her canteen in one side of the saddlebags. The other side held her lunch.

Swinging into the saddle just at seven o’clock, she was ready to go, she hoped, as the men came out to mount up. Jake was talking to several of the men and looked up in surprise when the others greeted her as Penny.

She spoke to the men, but she remained silent as Jake approached her. Nervous, she licked her lips and waited for his response.

“I thought I’d meet you up at the house.”

“I assumed it’d be quicker to meet you here, ready to go.” She kept her voice crisp.

“Very well. I’ll be saddled in just a minute.”

He efficiently prepared his horse and swung into the saddle. She moved ahead of him and opened the corral gate. He followed her out into the pasture.

“I thought we might ride over the property to make sure I know the perimeters this morning. Are you up for that?” he asked Penny.

“Of course.”

“Do you know the perimeters?”

“Yes, I do.” She led the way and gave a good description of each pasture. She’d listened avidly to her father’s talk at the dinner table. They came across several of the other cowboys already at work. Jake told her he’d talked to the men about the assignments they had been given before the past manager had left. “I told them to continue with what they were already doing until I figured out what I wanted to change.”

“Did they all agree with that?”

“Yes, they did. If they hadn’t, I would’ve fired them on the spot.”

“I see.” She didn’t really have an argument against such behavior, but she didn’t want to say so.

She was able to answer most questions he asked, though he didn’t ask many.

Around noon, Penny took her lunch out of her saddlebag and quietly ate as she rode. She was feeling the strain of five hours in the saddle, but she didn’t intend to ask for a break.

Fortunately, after she finished her lunch, Jake suggested they stop. They dismounted by a mountain stream that ran through the property. Jake told her to stretch her legs after she had returned to her mount, they both walked in the direction of a nearby stream. She took both horses to the water and let them drink. Then she took her apple core and broke it in half, feeding each horse its share.

Jake gave her a quick look when she returned. “What did you feed the horses?”

“They each got half of my apple core,” she told him, a challenge in her voice.

“Okay. Thanks for sharing with Apache. He’s particularly fond of apples.”

“So is Stormy.”

“Ah. I wondered about her name.”

As much as she dreaded mounting again, she turned to do so.

“Mind if we walk a little ways along this stream? I’d like to see how full it is.”

“All right.” She took Stormy’s reins and walked along the stream, grateful for the chance to stretch her legs.

Much to her surprise, Jake began talking about the use of this particular pasture, noting what he’d read in a ranching journal about the treatment in vogue among ranchers. She asked several questions, hesitant at first.

Jake answered each of her questions calmly, not changing his manner if the question was good or bad. Then he asked some questions about her dad and how he had handled certain things. Some questions Penny couldn’t answer, but she suddenly realized she might have the answers at home.

“I’d forgotten about it until now, but Dad kept a journal in which he recorded what he did each year. Then he could look back from one year to another. Would you like to take a look at it?”

“I’d like that very much if you don’t mind. I promise I’ll return it in the same shape it is now. I assume you value things like that.”

“Yes, thank you, I do. I haven’t had much time—I haven’t gone through their things yet.”

“It can wait if you’re not ready,” he said gruffly.

“No, I can—I’ll look for it tonight.”

“I appreciate it. I assume your dad’s ranch was profitable?”

“Yes, but I hadn’t realized how much until I overheard my previous manager brag about collecting fifty thousand dollars each year without my father even realizing it.”

Jake whistled. “That’s a hefty sum not to be missed.”

“I know. I can only assume that my dad trusted him completely.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. One of the things I’ll teach you is how to recognize things like that. I did a lot of the paperwork for Dexter—I mean, Mr. Williams, so I can show you how to check over your accounts.”

“Good. I’ll look forward to that.”

“Okay, I think we should mount up and get under way. I’d like to get back to the barn by dark.”

The walk had helped Penny’s legs. She didn’t know if the break had been for her benefit or not, but she had appreciated it.

However, five hours later, when they’d still only covered half the ranch, she barely managed to hold on to the saddle horn as they’d reached the barn. The men were already in the bunkhouse, so she didn’t have to worry about an audience other than Jake. She slid out of the saddle hoping she could hold on long enough for her legs to bear her.

Much to her surprise, Jake said from right behind her, “You can go ahead to the house. I’ll unsaddle your horse.”

“No! I—I’ll do it.”

“Penny, you did well today, but I know you’re not used to riding for so many hours. After you get used to it, you can unsaddle Stormy, but today I’ll do it.”

She took a brief look at his eyes. They were warm and brown and something in them told her to trust in Jake a little. The feeling made her nervous. Then she nodded. “Okay, thanks.” She forced her fingers to release the saddle horn and almost fell, but strong hands caught her arms. A tingling sensation ran the length of Penny’s spine and she knew that the day had tired her more than she thought.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yes, thank you.” She pulled away and stumbled to the gate and went through. Gradually the walking helped her legs unkink and she managed to get to the ranch house.

When she opened the back door, she was almost knocked off her feet by a wave of warm air that smelled so good. She made it to the breakfast table and fell into a chair.

“Long day?” Harriet asked, sympathy in her voice as she sat a full mug of coffee in front of her.

Penny didn’t answer until she’d had her first sip of coffee. “Oh, my, that tastes good, Harriet. Yes, it was a long day. And we only covered half the ranch. We’ll finish the tour tomorrow.”

“Maybe it will get a little easier as you go along,” Harriet said. “Do you want dinner now, or do you want a hot shower first?”

“Mmm, do you mind? I think I might enjoy the food more after a hot shower.”

“Of course I don’t mind. It’ll be ready when you are.”

“Thanks, Harriet.” She stood and left the room, taking her coffee with her.

Half an hour later, she sat down at the table for a delicious meal. She and Harriet chatted a little, but Penny was too tired to talk about much. However, when dinner was through, Harriet suggested she go to bed at once.

“I can’t. I promised Jake I’d find Dad’s journal. He’d like to see what Dad was doing with the pastures.”

“Can I help you look?” Harriet asked.

Penny took a deep breath. “Would you mind? It shouldn’t be that difficult to find, but—but I haven’t been in their room since—since they died. It might help having someone else with me.”

“Of course I don’t mind. Let me rinse the dishes while you rest. Then we’ll go up together.”

Penny sat there finishing her coffee, fighting the guilty feelings as she watched Harriet work. “I feel bad leaving all the work to you, Harriet.”

“Nonsense, child. That’s why I’m here. Believe me, if I’d ridden a horse all day, I wouldn’t be able to walk.”

A few minutes later, the pair went up the stairs together. Penny felt her feet dragging and blamed it on her day’s activities. But she could feel the emotion building in her throat.

Her parents had been dead now for a number of months. It hadn’t been until recently that she’d thought about cleaning out their room, but she just hadn’t had the courage to go through with it. It had been impossible to face erasing all memory of her parents.

“Do you want a few minutes alone or do you want me to go in with you?” Harriet asked.

“No, I—I don’t want to go in alone.”

Harriet opened the door and walked through, letting Penny take her time.

“My, your mother was a good housekeeper.”

“Yes, she didn’t like to leave a mess behind.” Penny looked at the room that hadn’t changed since she was a child. The lavender print on the bedspread had faded with the years, but it still looked good.

“Do you have any idea where the journal would be?” Harriet asked gently.

“I think it’ll be in his bedside stand. Mom always complained about him writing in it when she was trying to go to sleep.”

Penny moved to the right side of the bed and opened the drawer. There it was. He bought the same brand every year. She took it out of the drawer, letting her fingers rest on the binding for a moment. Slowly she opened the book, looking for his last entry. Then she found the book that preceded that one, in case Jake wanted to go back any further.

“Is this room much bigger than yours?” Harriet asked.

“Yes, it is,” Penny answered in surprise.

“I could clean the room out for you, if you want to move in here.”

“Oh, no! I—I couldn’t do that.”

“It’s up to you, Penny, but your parents aren’t going to be able to enjoy the room anymore—it’s your home now.”

“I know, you’re right, but it still feels too soon—maybe in a week or two.”

“You just let me know, but the clothes could be put to good use, the ones you don’t want to keep. It gets cold up here in winter.”

“That’s true. I’ll come up tomorrow night and take out any clothes I want to save. Then you can clean out their closet for me. If you have time.”

“I’ll have time.”

“Thank you, Harriet.”

Penny donned her coat and wool cap and gloves and went back outside in the cold night air.

She knocked on the door of the bunkhouse. There was the sound of scrambling as men grabbed for clothes. She waited patiently. When the door opened, she recognized one of the men, Barney. “Would you tell Mr. Larson that I need to see him?”

“Yes, ma’am, Penny. Just a minute.”

Leaning against the wall of the building, she waited for the door to open again. When it finally did, Jake stepped outside. “Yes, ma’am?”

“I have my dad’s journals for this year and last. Take your time with them.”

Jake took the leather bound books and held them in his big hands. He turned the books over gently as though he knew their value and a sudden pain struck in Penny’s chest. “Thank you, Penny. I appreciate you loaning these to me.”

“Yes, well, good night Jake.” She didn’t wait for him to respond. She spun around and headed back to the house. In the distance she finally heard him say good-night.

Jake had learned several things about his new employer over the last day. One thing she wasn’t a flirt, and further she didn’t complain when the going got tough. Both of those won high marks in his book.

He’d worried about her asking for a lunch break, thinking she would complain about the hard day they faced. But it turned out he’d been wrong. She hadn’t made her eating any big production. In fact, she’d almost acted as if she were ashamed that she needed to eat. And although she clearly wasn’t used to riding such long hours, she’d never complained.

Now she’d delivered her father’s journals, trusting them into his care. They would help him a lot in understanding the workings of the ranch. He already had a lot of questions and he didn’t think she could answer all of them.

He took the books back inside.

“She assign you some homework, boss?”

“Yeah, she did. It appears her dad kept a journal about the place. I thought it could bring me up to speed quickly.”

Several of the cowboys sat up, staring at him.

“Journals? You mean he kept notes about everything?”

“Yeah. I take it you didn’t know?”

“Uh-no. You think he wrote things about us in there?”

“I don’t know. But I’ll let you know after I read them.”

“Oh, yeah, sure, you do that, boss.”

Jake went into his room and closed the door. It shut out the television the cowboys seemed to enjoy after a day’s work. He wanted peace and quiet for what he was about to read. After only half an hour, he had already found the journals immensely helpful. The man hadn’t wasted ink on poetry and the information he’d written had been detailed and to the point.

Settling back against his pillow, Jake turned back the pages and read to the day before the man died. Described there was just an ordinary day without a hint of the tragedy that was to follow. Penny’s father had written about the cattle in the top pasture and how much he was expecting to make for them at a sale. He’d also documented his concerns regarding Gerald and a number of the other cowboys that still worked on the ranch. Jake knew that some of them would love to get their hands on the books now in his possession. He put the journals in a lock box he took with him wherever he lived. After he locked the lid, he slid the box under his bed, out of view. He’d read more tomorrow night, but he wanted to guarantee their safety until then.

He’d noticed the reaction of some of the men when he’d mentioned the existence of the journals. He hadn’t taken a liking to one or two of the men right away. He might be wrong, but he’d thought those men might deserve a little extra attention.

There had been several comments in the book about some of them, but each time, Gerald assured the man he was wrong. Penny had been right—it seemed her father had trusted him implicitly.

Jake decided to tell Penny that her dad had been cleverly lied to by his manager, but that his instincts had been true. Maybe that would take away some of that pain he’d seen earlier in her blue eyes. He’d noticed how beautiful she was, but she was also young, and not to mention, his boss. He didn’t intend to give in to any urges.

Jake thought back to Dexter Williams’s wife. He hadn’t had any urges for her, even though a lot of people had thought her beautiful. But her beauty had been paid for by her husband. After the death of his first wife, Dexter had fell headlong into marriage with a woman thirty years his junior. He had never realized that he couldn’t trust her.

As far as Jake was concerned, he hoped Dexter’s marriage worked out. Dexter obviously still believed that his wife was to be trusted and although Jake hadn’t done anything to change that belief, Mrs. Williams had certainly tried.

Jake believed in honor, in a man or a woman. That was an attribute he looked for in everyone he met. It wasn’t often easy to see, but time would always tell.

It was way too early to tell about Penny. Her beauty was evident, but he still couldn’t be sure about her true character. What little he’d seen of her today had impressed him though and she was definitely from a good honest family. He was already forming a good opinion of her father’s character, and he had never had the opportunity to meet the man. He looked forward to reading more tomorrow night.

Now he turned out the light and climbed into his bed. He settled down under the covers and closed his eyes.

Again the next morning, Penny was waiting for him when he reached the corral.

He hadn’t slept well last night and was in a tetchy mood this morning. He looked at her, afraid his tiredness might be reflected on his face. “Are you wanting to start earlier than seven, ma’am?”

Penny stared at him, blinking her big blue eyes. “No, I just didn’t want to be late.”

“I can stand to wait a minute or two. Quit worrying about it.”

“Okay. Are you okay, Mr. Larson?”

“I’m fine.” Jake answered, angry at himself for losing his cool with her. She was his boss, even though she was only a young woman.

“Then let me know when you’re ready.”

“Did you bring your lunch with you today?”

“Yes. Did you want something?” Penny stared at him with her big blue eyes, determined not to be intimidated by him.

“I wouldn’t turn down an apple if you’ve got an extra one.”

“I’ll ride up to the house and get an extra one.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but she was already on her way. Maybe that was best. He’d get his horse saddled without her staring at him.

She was on her way back when he rode out of the corral to meet her. She handed over a big, red apple to him. “I’ll let you carry it in your own saddlebag.”

CHAPTER THREE

OKAY, so maybe he’d asked for her response. He swung down from his saddle and stowed the apple in his saddlebag. Then he mounted again. “Ready?”

“Yes,” she said, not bothering to look his way.

He started out in the opposite direction of their ride yesterday. After a few minutes, when they were well away from the barn, he said, “I thought you might want to know that your father had doubts about several of the men riding for him.”

“He did?” she asked, her eyes wide.

“Yeah, but every time he talked to Gerald about them, he told him he was wrong.”

“And Gerald convinced him?”

“Not entirely, but your father didn’t want to go against Gerald without proof. He was keeping watch, intending to let them go as soon as he caught them red-handed in slacking off, or doing anything they shouldn’t be doing. He hadn’t come to the conclusion that Gerald was the main problem, but he was making his way there.” After a moment of silence, he added, “I thought it might make you feel better to know that.”

Penny was silent for a moment as she took in Jake’s words. It had been kind of him to tell her about her father’s concerns and it did make her feel better. When she spoke her voice was shaking slightly. “Thank you. Are you going to do anything about the ones he didn’t trust?”

“Not unless I catch them red-handed, like your dad intended. They could change their ways. It certainly alarmed some of them that your dad had kept a journal.”

“How could you tell?”

“By the fear on their faces when I told them.”

“Then I doubt you’ll be able to return the books, as you promised.”

“Don’t worry, I locked them in a box and hid it. It will be obvious if anyone tries looking for them.”

She didn’t look pleased with his security measures. “Let me know if they destroy them!”

“Penny, I’m sure no one will try.”

She nudged her horse ahead of him, indicating she didn’t want to chat about the journals any longer.

He let her lead for the next hour until he had some questions about the use of a pasture they were passing, but Penny didn’t have the answer.

Jake didn’t push her. He felt sure he’d find the answer in the journals. “Isn’t it about time you ate your lunch?”

She looked up in surprise. “I suppose so. Is that a problem?”

“Not for me. I’m looking for an excuse to bite into that apple, but I didn’t want to admit my weakness. But you don’t seem in a hurry to eat today, even though it’s after twelve.”

“I didn’t realize the time. It’s flown by quickly.”

“So are you ready to eat?”

“Yes, of course.” She took out her lunch. “The sandwich I have is rather large. Would you like some of it?”

He looked at her, as if trying to determine her motive.

“I’m not trying to bribe you or gain some advantage. I’m just offering to share my sandwich.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I’d like part of your sandwich if you’re sure you can spare it.”

She managed to separate about half her sandwich and hand it to him. He finished his share before she was half through.

“Thanks, that was good.”

“I’ll have Harriet make two sandwiches for tomorrow, if you’d like?”

“I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

“She won’t mind. I don’t think she has enough to do actually. When I left she was making pies for your dinner this evening.”

“Pies? What kind?”

“Apple.”

“I can’t wait.”

She studied him more closely. “You like sweets?”

“Sure. Doesn’t everyone?”

“Yes, I guess so.” He smiled a warm, genuine smile and Penny instantly reciprocated. The somber mood from before lifted between them. Penny was beginning to realize that there was a lot more to Jake Larson than just ranching.

“How are the meals in the bunkhouse?”

“Not bad. Cookie does a good job on regular stuff.”

“Maybe Harriet’s baking will make the meals better.”

“So Harriet’s working out fine for you?”

“Yes, she’s a good cook. And she’s willing to do whatever I need her to do. I’m feeling guilty because she does everything around the house.”

He grinned. “You’re putting in a full day, Penny. Let her do her job.”

She glared at him. “I am.”

They topped a hill and Jake discovered a source of water in the form of a pleasant lake. “Is this spring-fed?”

“Yes. Even in the middle of the summer, it’s always ice cold.”

“And does the water level change much?”

“No, not at all.”

“Hmm. Your dad must’ve relied on this water supply a lot.”

“Yes, I think so.”

Jake swung down from his saddle and stuck a hand in the water. “You’re right. It’s certainly icy today.”

“It is winter, Jake. Everything’s cold.”

“True. Want to dismount and eat our apples out of the wind?”

“I’d rather keep going so we get back before dark. Part of the perimeter is hard going.”

“Have it your way,” he said, swinging back up into the saddle. He reached back and took out the apple. “Okay, let’s go.”

They both ate in silence and continued on their journey. They stopped only to feed their horses the cores of their fruit and stretch their legs before carrying on. Jake didn’t make an effort to linger. Penny had already made her feelings clear.

The afternoon ride wasn’t easy, he’d admit. They seemed to climb mountains and then ride down them again. Jake didn’t have to worry about conversation since they rode single file.

When they reached the barn, again just as daylight was fading, he told Penny that he wanted to spend the next day checking out what the cowboys were doing, but he’d rather she not mention that to any of them. He wanted his appearance to be a surprise.

“Fine,” she replied and said nothing else until they reached the corral. No cowboys were in sight, but she simply said, “Tomorrow at seven?”

After taking care of her horse and putting away her tack, she left the barn area without even saying good-night.

Jake turned and stared at her retreating figure. Okay, so she was unhappy with him. So be it. They’d had a long day today, but she was the one who wanted to learn about ranching. He wasn’t going to make it easy for her just because she was a woman.

He headed for the bunkhouse. Opening the door to his room, he knew at once someone had been in. It wasn’t Harriet because his laundry was still in the basket. He slowly closed the door and found his lock box under his bed. Turning the lock, he opened the box and found both journals still in place. He took them out, relocked the box and replaced it under his bed.

Then he hid the journals inside his shirt, covered by his jacket, and went out into the main room. Once there, he noted several of the men watching him. He suspected those were the ones who had gone into his room.

He mentally noted the names and pasted on a smile. “I hear we have pie tonight boys.”

“Aw, boss,” Cookie complained, “I was keeping them pies a secret.”

“Sorry, Cookie, I didn’t know.” He kept his gaze on the two men he suspected, noting they weren’t swayed by the idea of pie. Suddenly, neither was he.

Penny dragged herself into the house that evening, feeling even worse than she had the day before.

Harriet took one look at her and poured her a cup of coffee. “Shower or dinner first?”

“I think I’ll just wash up in the bathroom down here. I’m not sure I could even climb the stairs.”

“I should mention that your cousin, Sally is coming to dinner. She called for you earlier and she seemed a little down so I invited her. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

Penny jumped to her feet and then groaned as her aching body protested. “Oh, Harriet, thank you, it’ll be so good to see her. I’ll go take a shower. Do you need any help?”

“No, honey, I’m fine. I’ll have the table set before you get back down here.”

Penny wasn’t as fast as she’d intended. The hot water held her captive, easing her strained muscles. But she finally dried off and slipped into clean clothes. Then she hurried downstairs.

Sally was already there, but she jumped to her feet to hug her cousin.

“I’m so glad you came. You’ve met Harriet?”

“Yes, I have. She convinced me to come to taste her apple pie.”

“She had to convince you?” Penny demanded.

“No, not really. It was just a good excuse.”

“Okay, I’ll forgive you. Harriet, is there anything we need to do to help you?”

“No, just sit down. It’s all ready,” Harriet assured her, carrying dishes to the table. In no time, all three were enjoying Harriet’s good cooking.

“So tell me, Penny, how’s the new manager working out?”

“I don’t know yet,” Penny said, keeping her gaze on her plate.

“What do you mean?” Sally asked.

“Well, we’ve spent the last two days riding the perimeter of the property and he’s been asking me lots of questions. The thing is I don’t have too many answers.”

“I thought he was supposed to be teaching you.”

“I thought so, too, but I suppose he has to get to know the place first. I loaned him Dad’s journals hoping that might help him, but I’m afraid he’s going to get them destroyed.”

“Why?” both Harriet and Sally demanded.

“Because when he told some of the men that he was reading Dad’s journals, he said several of them looked alarmed, as if afraid they might have been mentioned in them. I’m just worried that the books won’t be there when he returns.”

“Didn’t he hide them somewhere or do anything about safeguarding them?” Sally asked.

“He said he put the books somewhere safe, but who knows where that might be. I just wish I’d waited a while before handing them over.” As if to underline her feelings, there was a knock on the back door. Penny got up to answer it.

“Penny,” Jake said, “I’m sorry to interrupt your dinner, but I wanted to give these back to you before they are damaged. I think someone was in my room today while we were out. Luckily they didn’t get to the books, but given time, they might.”

Penny took the journals from him and realized that she had been wrong about Jake. She suddenly felt rather guilty for her earlier outburst in front of Sally and Harriet. “But how are you going to read them to learn about the ranch?”

“I think they will be safer with you, but I thought maybe on Sunday, you’d let me come to the house and read them.”

“Yes, of course.”

There was a slight pause as Jake prepared to take his leave. But suddenly Penny wanted him to stay for just a little longer. “Did you get your dinner, Jake?”

“No, I slipped out while they were all getting in line. I’ll get some food when I get back.”

Harriet came to the door. “There’s plenty of food here. Maybe you should ask Jake to join us.”

Penny looked at Harriet. Then she turned back to Jake. “You can join us for dinner if you want. We have plenty.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“No, I don’t mind. You must be hungry.”

Once Jake stepped into the kitchen, he realized there was another guest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company.”

“Sally, this is Jake Larson, my manager. Jake, this is Sally Rogers, my cousin.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Sally. You run the general store, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.”

Harriet put another place setting on the table. “Sit right here, Jake. Go ahead and serve yourself.”

“This looks great, Harriet. I can see why Penny’s pleased with your work.”

“Why, thank you, Jake,” Harriet said with a big smile.

Penny felt like everyone was smiling at Jake but her. “How could you tell someone had been in your room?”

Jake swallowed a mouthful of food before answering, “Well, a few things were moved around a little, not like I’d left them. I also found some scratch marks on the lock box that I’d stored the books in. There’s no way that could’ve happened with it stored under my bed, so somebody has definitely been snooping around.”

“When did they have time?”

“Cookie didn’t say anything, but I believe some of them came in early. I intend to ask him about it when no one else is around.”

“Have some rolls while they’re hot,” Harriet urged.

Jake took several rolls and began eating. Penny wanted to ask more questions, but she’d been raised by her mother’s rules of etiquette. It was rude to interrupt a hungry man’s meal.

When Harriet brought out her apple pie, Jake’s eyes glowed. “Man, that looks good, Harriet.”

“I hope it tastes good, Jake.”

She had no doubt about its taste when Jake finished. He raved about her pie.

“I’ll have to make some more for the bunkhouse, too. But I thought I’d make a cake next. I don’t want you boys to get bored with the same dessert.”

“We’ll look forward to anything you send us, Harriet.” Jake wiped his mouth with his napkin and put it beside his plate.

Again, Penny noted his good manners and felt a little pang for not trusting him more. But that didn’t mean he hadn’t risked her dad’s journals by mentioning them to the cowboys.

He stood and thanked Harriet and Penny for inviting him to join them. Then he told Sally how pleased he was to meet her.

Penny wondered if there was any attraction there. She guessed she had no problem with that. But the sudden thought of Jake and Sally together made Penny feel decidedly uncomfortable. Penny didn’t know why she was feeling this way, since she hardly knew Jake. She realized that she must be more tired than she thought. She said good-night, hoping her emotions didn’t show. The look in Jake’s eyes told her she wasn’t as successful as she’d hoped. Blushing slightly, she turned to meet Jake’s chocolate gaze, “Tomorrow at seven?” she asked.

“Right. Good night, everyone.”

Once the door had closed behind him, Sally said, “Well, I think he’s very nice, Penny. He’s charming and polite and I’m sure he will make a wonderful manager.”

Penny sat back down at the table. “I don’t know what to think. But I’m grateful to have Dad’s journals back.” Penny gently ran her hand over the cover of the journals, her mind a riot of thoughts and feelings. It had been surprising how easy it had been to relax with Jake over dinner and she found herself looking forward to the day ahead.

She picked up the journals. “Harriet, if anyone asks you, you never saw these journals.

“Sure, Penny. What are you going to do with them?”

“Dad had a safe put in because a lot of cowboys liked to be paid in cash. He didn’t want to keep a large amount of money here without a place to keep it secure. I’ll put the journals in there where they’ll be nice and safe.” Penny stood up from the table.

“Sally, will you come on up with me?”

“Okay.”

Upstairs, Penny went to her parents’ room and opened the safe. Inside, she moved aside some papers and stored the two books there. “I think there’s room for more of the books. Would you bring them here from Dad’s bedside table?”

“I’ll be glad to. I see you haven’t changed anything in here. I’d wondered.”

“Have you cleaned out your parents’ bedroom?” Penny asked.

“No. It just seems…so final.”

“I know. Harriet has volunteered to clean out the clothes that I don’t want, to give to charity so someone will use them.”

“I suppose that’s a good idea. Maybe I can do it a little bit at a time.”

“If you like you could ask Harriet to come help you on Saturday.”

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