Rancher And Protector. Judy Christenberry
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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