Mountain Country Cowboy. Glynna Kaye
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Besides, could neither of them see she had no intention of being trapped in a relationship that chained her to Hunter Ridge? She had a dream of helping others who, like herself, were victims of college dating violence. The last time she looked, though, tiny Hunter Ridge boasted no sprawling campus of higher learning where she could attain the needed counseling degree.
With a hasty wave in the direction of the two men, she dashed across the graveled parking lot, slowing to catch her breath when she reached the front porch entrance of the building that housed the inn and restaurant, as well as her grandmother’s apartment and office.
She smoothed her shirt, somewhat wrinkled from the California flight and a three-hour drive from Phoenix’s Sky Harbor airport. It had been an emotionally, physically and mentally exhausting retreat focused on spiritual preparation for those intending to minister in the area of dating and domestic violence. Not only had she learned more about the spiritual aspects of how to reach out to victims of dating violence, but she’d been pressed to prayerfully dig deep down inside and relive her own experiences and further confront her fears. Every minute would be worth it, though, if she could apply what she’d learned to helping others in the future, the first step being when she returned to college in the fall—keeping the vow she’d made to God in exchange for His saving her mother’s life after her cancer diagnosis.
With a silent, heartfelt prayer that she could convincingly express her concerns regarding Cash to Grandma Jo—and that she wasn’t too late—she pulled open the heavy wood door. But she was immediately forced back as a ball-capped boy of seven or eight pushed out past her.
“Joseph!” a male voice bellowed from inside. “Get back here.”
She peered into the dimly lit interior where a solidly built, broad-shouldered man rapidly approached from across the lobby. Dressed in dark jeans and a burgundy shirt, his head of jet-black hair topped by a Western hat, the grim set of his mouth clearly spelled out his exasperation.
Suddenly aware of someone holding open the door from which the child had bolted, the man paused, then touched the brim of his hat in acknowledgment. Midnight-dark eyes met hers with an unmistakable flicker of male interest, and her own betraying heart leaped in response to the approving appraisal. But his expression shuttered as he briskly nodded in the direction the escapee had taken.
“Pardon me, ma’am. I have a young’un to round up.”
He obviously didn’t recognize her after fourteen years. But she had no doubt as to his identity—and that she was too late to prevent Cashton Herrera from signing on at the Hideaway.
* * *
Cash couldn’t lose a single second in pursuing his son, but for some reason his booted feet remained glued to the floor as he looked down at the petite young woman.
She gazed up at him as if in recognition, but while he might not be in the market for a lady these days—he’d learned his lesson the hard way with a cheating ex-wife—he’d not likely have forgotten that long, sun-streaked blond hair scooped high in a cascading ponytail. Or the slightly crooked nose, sparkling blue eyes, and trim figure tucked into jeans and a light blue, fitted chambray shirt. Ear studs glimmered with silver and turquoise, a match to the Southwestern-styled watch gracing her wrist.
“So that was your boy, was it, who shot out of here like his pants were on fire?” Her voice was firm, direct. Like she knew him and was calling him out for an offense.
He’d sired Joseph Cashton Herrera when, at eighteen, he’d gotten involved with and married a pretty—and highly unpredictable—young woman. But the past forty-eight hours had been his first attempt at full-time, hands-on single parenting. As much as he’d dreamed of more time with his son, he hadn’t been given any warning that his ex would abruptly relinquish the child they shared. No time to prepare.
As a result, things weren’t going all that well.
“Yeah, Joey’s mine.” Had the youngster gotten himself into trouble and fled the scene while his beleaguered daddy was filling out employment forms that would keep a roof over their heads? Cash squinted one eye. “Why do you want to know?”
A tiny crease formed between the woman’s dark slash of brows. “No reason. Except I’m not surprised that a child of yours appears to be a handful. Kind of amusing, actually. What goes around comes around?”
He frowned. “Do we—”
“Rio! You’re back.”
Rio?
He turned to where his new employer, Josephine “Jo” Hunter, descended the staircase into the rustic inn and restaurant’s lobby, her hair swept atop her head and secured with combs as he remembered she’d always worn it. Somewhere around eighty, she nevertheless donned jeans and a collared shirt and carried herself as regally as she had during the three years Cash’s dad worked at Hunter’s Hideaway. She’d been kind to him back then. Even kinder now. At the moment, though, her challenging gaze rested on the young woman next to him.
He turned to stare at the blonde now offering what looked to be a forced smile.
This was Rio? Princess Rio? The spoiled, freckle-faced ripsnorter who’d shadowed him while he did his chores, got underfoot and dared him to try to do something about it? He’d landed in trouble more times than he cared to remember for taking desperate measures to keep her out of his hair.
She thrust out her hand. “Hey, Cash. Long time no see.”
Still stunned, he briefly took her surprisingly firm grip in his. “Guess it has been.”
He’d been thirteen the last time he’d laid eyes on her. She’d have been—what? seven?—when his dad had been booted from Hunter’s Hideaway in disgrace.
“Cash accepted an offer to fill in for J.C. this summer,” Jo informed her evenly, and from the tone of her voice he got the sneaking suspicion she expected her granddaughter might object to that decision. But why? Surely Rio didn’t hold it against him that her cousin had once talked him into locking her up. Not that it had required much persuasion.
“Then,” Jo continued, “if all goes well—which I expect it will—he’ll move into the managerial role when you leave.”
Wait, wait, wait.
Little Rio Hunter—okay, not so little now—was the manager of the Hideaway’s horse operation?
During the interview, Jo had talked in general regarding a current manager’s imminent departure—J.C., he’d assumed—and expectations for the position. Then she’d touched on the summer hires. And she’d mentioned that a potential events booking agency would soon be inspecting the family-run business, including the horse-related part of the outfit. Rio’s name hadn’t come up. He hadn’t seen her when he’d toured the facilities.
But did that mean he’d be...?
“Looks like you’ll be reporting to me, Mr. Herrera.” Deep blue eyes that a man could get lost in gazed up at him with a hint of amusement.
Reporting to the Princess? When pigs fly. He glanced at Jo, seeking confirmation that there was a misunderstanding.
“Temporarily,” the older woman assured. “Rio departs in August.”
Two and a half months. Not exactly what he had in mind when he’d decided to leave wrangling at a dude ranch in hopes of bettering his financial situation, but he could live with that, seeing as how he didn’t have much choice. Not if he wanted to give his son a home and gain legal custody.
Speaking of which...he glanced out the door Rio was still holding open. No sign or sound of Joey. He’d better get moving.
“If you don’t mind, I need to track down my boy.”
“Then let’s plan to meet at the main barn at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow.” Rio’s chin lifted slightly. “You’ll have plenty to learn in a short time about how we do things here.”
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