Trusting Her Rancher Boss (Mountainbrook Ranch Book 1) Read online

  Edward and Warren arrived and started gorging themselves on the food.

  Derek gestured toward the buffet before turning his attention back to her. “You think this’ll be good enough for discerning guests?”

  She smiled. “Definitely. It’s more of a meal than I can whip up for Thanksgiving.”

  He seemed delighted with her approval. Rachel opted for the salad and some fruit alongside some soup. “You’ve added some heathier options,” she noted.

  “After that comment you made yesterday about needing something light, I went to the market and threw a few things together.”

  It was just a passing comment she’d made over lunch, but it mattered that he considered her opinion. “You’ve done really well. I bet Jared is proud of how things are going.”

  “He hasn’t said a lot, but yeah, he’s much happier these days.”

  A flutter went through her. “Not long until the ranch opens. You must be looking forward to it.”

  Derek flashed a wide smile. “It’s going by fast! I know it’ll be a welcome addition to this town, and I can’t wait for you to see it. Will you be here in October?”

  His enthusiasm sobered her. “I’m really sorry, I don’t think I can make it. I have a job interview scheduled tomorrow out of town.”

  If she was accepted, work would begin next week right when she’d planned to move. She wouldn’t have the time nor the inclination to return to Sandpoint. After all, this was supposed to be a professional, not emotional, endeavor.

  Derek held her gaze. “Best of luck with it. If you have your heart set on something, follow it. Don’t stay out of loyalty or that’ll lead to resentment.”

  It seemed as if his words echoed the choice Jared had made to stay for him. The distress in Derek’s eyes was obvious, and sadness overcame her for the distance between the two of them. She couldn’t see herself letting anything stand between her family for long. Even after Megan’s run in with the law, none of them held grudges and learned to forgive.

  “Is Jared excited about the renovations?”

  “Well, I’d say he is. But I don’t know what he plans to do once we open. Might head back to New York.”

  His admission made her wonder what compelled Jared to leave. He loved the ranch, whether he was aware of it or not. What happened to cause his reluctance to stay? Perhaps New York was the better option for him, not that she’d know.

  She gave Derek a smile before joining the ranchers at the table for breakfast. Glancing back, she saw his father shuffle down the hallway to eat alone. She hoped he’d be able to patch things up with Jared before it was too late.

  Her sudden concern made her smile fade.

  She cared for the Westons. And within days, she’d be out of their lives.

  Chapter Seven

  Moving into a gallop sent a flash of uncertainty through Rachel yet easing it was as simple as focusing on the cowboys riding with her. It was comforting to be out in the open air with people she’d grown to trust. To be riding Caramel, a horse she’d grown attached to.

  The thought of leaving with only photos to remember Mountainbrook by brought a stab of regret. Rachel thought she’d seen all of Sandpoint, enough to feel overly familiar and jaded by the quiet life, but the ranch had shown her a side of it she didn’t consider - that maybe the serenity and alpine wilderness was all she needed.

  Her monthly visits to Spokane left her energized, and she’d thrived on the rush of the city and how a shopping spree with Megan lasted a whole afternoon. Plus, she never ran into someone she knew. Comparing the two left her conflicted. It seemed clear before to choose a life in Washington, but was that solely due to being somewhere different from Sandpoint?

  She exhaled softly. The upcoming interview would prove it was the life for her, after all, she’d prepared for it. Had made risks to get there.

  Jared pulled back on the reins and stopped. “I’ll move ahead, scope the area. You two replace the salt lick on the fence.”

  He rode off down the perimeter, leaving her alone with Warren who dismounted and retrieved a pink salt lick from his saddlebag. Rachel remained on Caramel, knowing that dismounting would intensify all the stiff pain between her thighs.

  Still, she had to ask, “Need help with anything?”

  “Hey, for a new rancher, you’re doing pretty good already,” Warren said with a wide smile. “I’ll be quick.”

  After removing the rock of salt from the fence, he attached a new one. “Cows need the right balance of minerals, just like us. If they don’t get enough sodium and chloride, they’ll go off their food. Lose weight. We want them in the best condition they can be for when they get shipped off.”

  “You’ve learned a lot here,” she said.

  “Yeah. You wouldn’t think I started off the way I did, huh? But Mountainbrook is like my second home.” He stood and went to stroke his horse’s mane. “Best thing to happen to me, actually. You’re new and all, so if you need to know anything else, hit me up.”

  “I’m new to ranching, but not riding,” she clarified.

  “Jared said you were a bit hesitant about it. Good to see you’ve relaxed lately, though.”

  “Yeah, I’ve really enjoyed my time here,” she admitted.

  “Will be sad to see you go. Jared…he’ll miss you.”

  That struck her hard. Maybe Warren said it out of politeness, the same way Jared had brushed off the damage to the fence line and said it was fine. Either way, she knew she’d miss him, regardless of whether it was reciprocated.

  Watching Jared take Honor over a sloping hill, she couldn’t help mull over his solitary behavior. “He’s very dedicated to his job.”

  Warren grinned up at her. “We all say he’s too involved. His father can handle what he needs to, but no, Jared’s stubborn that way. Wants to take on the bulk of the work.”

  Interesting. The other ranchers noticed his workaholic tendencies. She got the feeling they’d tried to coax him out of it before without success.

  “He told me he’s here for his father,” she said. “To help him out after the accident, which is good of him.”

  “Wish I shared that kind of devotion with my parents.” Warren nodded in agreement. “Jared’s changed with you being here and all. More subdued than usual. Nothing like when Tania worked here.”

  A name she hadn’t heard before. An ex? Was he still nursing a broken heart? It explained his disinclination to get close.

  “Oh. If you don’t mind me asking, was she a rancher, too?”

  Warren’s smile faded. “His ex. I’d say we’re the closest Jared has to friends, but he still didn’t say a thing about it. One week he’d planned to propose to her, the next it was all over. She’s the reason he’s sworn off relationships.”

  Completely? She couldn’t imagine abandoning the concept of love entirely. Even after her heartbreak with Aaron, she hoped to find love in the future. It took her parents multiple failed relationships before they found their enduring happiness together.

  Before she could delve further, Jared rode within earshot. “Got it sorted. Rachel, you up for roping?”

  Her eyes widened. Warren mounted his horse, astonishment visible on his face. She hid her own. The breaks of silence between them were foreign, not like the open banter she had with the other ranchers. Part of that was due to the simmering tension between them, most likely.

  Especially since she’d turned down his offer to stay at Mountainbrook overnight.

  Rachel couldn’t decipher the look in his eyes, but perceived it as a test. One he knew she’d take. He seemed to be provoking her constantly, from overcoming her fear of riding to now attempting to rope a calf and she thrived on the opportunity. Now free of any reservations, it was liberating.

  She drew in a breath. “Sure. What do I need to do?”

  “We’ve got a calf that’s unsteady, looks like it injured its leg. We’ll need to guide it away from its mother. Follow me.” He turned the reins. “Warren, you can replace the lick fo
r unit three? Eastern side?”

  “I’m on it. Sure you don’t need help?” he asked.

  Rachel glanced between them, acknowledging that they were cautious of her. She didn’t know how to rope but was determined to give it a go.

  “Thanks, but we’ll manage,” Jared said. “Meet you back at the stables.”

  Warren set off along the fence line. Now alone with Jared, Rachel faced him, Caramel snorting beneath her. She stroked the horse’s side, her hands warming beneath the sun. Within a few days, she’d found herself getting attached to the horse, but Jared?

  She tilted her head back to meet his vigilant gaze. He looked powerful, all six feet of cowboy muscle atop his horse, his Stetson shrouding those piercing eyes. Sky blue eyes that stirred her desires to life.

  He faced her, the sunlight showcasing his deliciously rugged jaw line and the twinkle in his eyes. “I assure you, I do this often. Roping ain’t as difficult as separating the cattle.”

  She smiled, touched that he was attempting to alleviate her discomfort. “I don’t doubt you.”

  “I noticed. You’re eager to get out of your comfort zone.”

  “Ah, I can say the same about your dedication to the ranch.”

  He shrugged. “Hmm. Not many people confront their fears willingly. You continue to.”

  “It felt like the right time to get over it. Also, how could I say no to you?”

  Honor pawed the ground, tearing Jared’s attention away. After calming his horse, he glanced back at her. “You did the other night, I recall.”

  She caught a wisp of a smile curving his lips. So he held no grudges about her rejection, he was merely teasing. “I really did visit my mom,” she said. “She’s pleased I somehow turned an awful situation into a beneficial one.”

  “I like how optimistic you are about this.”

  “Well…” She hesitated, tempted to divulge just how beneficial the situation had become. “I can help my mom, finally. This week’s paycheck will go towards the debt for her store.”

  Jared frowned, looking concerned. “She’s in financial trouble?”

  “Yes,” she said tentatively. “A few years back, it burned down. Arson. Since then, my parents have been living day to day and I’ve always wanted to help, but couldn’t contribute anything substantial. Until now, thanks to you.”

  He faced away, as if pondering what she’d said. “It’s very kind of you to help them, in light of your circumstances.”

  She nodded. “At least something good has come from my trespassing.”

  “It has.” He looked at her, and she got the sudden implication he was hinting at something else.

  That made her swallow nervously. “We should get back to work, right?”

  “Yep.”

  After telling Rachel to stay close, he set off. She urged Caramel into a gallop and followed, noticing the saddle shaking wildly beneath her. Glancing down, she saw it sliding loosely from side to side, threatening to fall apart completely.

  No! She attempted to pull at the reins, but everything moved in slow motion. Fear held her still in its recognizable, tightening grasp as she swung to the left, unable to stop the momentum of the saddle. With her feet caught in the stirrups, she couldn’t break free.

  She fell, her left shoulder crashing onto the ground. She cried out in shock, but with her hands still grasping the reins, Caramel jerked violently to a stop. Now she hung over the side, her left arm propping her upright and her right leg caught on the stirrup at an elevated, uncomfortable angle. Her heart pounded, thudding wildly in her ears, drowning out the sound of Jared’s approach.

  “Rachel! You okay?”

  He dismounted and ran to her, scooping her into his arms. With him to lean on, she ignored the intimacy between them and pulled her leg free. She checked over her camera which was attached to the side that hadn’t taken the brunt of impact. With that distraction over, she turned, her head pressing against his chest. Close enough to hear the pounding of his heart matching her own.

  Jared’s eyes raked over her and the heat of his hands burned through the fabric of her shirt to lightly tease her skin.

  She gathered a breath. “The saddle—”

  “Are you hurt?”

  Fortuitously, she only felt the subtle stings of bruising. “Nothing major. Just shaken up.”

  “These kind of accidents happen often. You’re lucky to be unharmed.”

  Rachel swallowed, her mouth dry. It felt like her stroke of recent luck had run out. She’d fallen, almost injuring herself badly again but most of all, she’d lost her pride. It felt ridiculous forcing herself to be a cowgirl, something she’d never wanted but endured for the sake of obligation.

  What am I doing here? I should’ve accepted the charges. That would’ve been the normal way to deal with things.

  She closed her eyes, shutting out the serene view. Falling had only confirmed her niggling uncertainties - attempting to rope when she had no experience, trying to get closer to Jared, a man who obviously wasn’t ready for intimacy. She wanted to be in Spokane, taking photos and involving herself in low key, predictable activities; akin to how her father had abandoned flying after the accident. She understood his decision unambiguously now.

  Because now, this was like a slap to the face. A reminder that she had no place here.

  “I can’t believe this.” She sighed heavily. “I don’t feel like riding back.”

  “I don’t blame you.” Releasing her gently, he strode over to Caramel and checked over the horse. “The saddle was loose, the girdle wasn’t tightened properly. It happens. Mistakes happen and it’s not worth beating yourself up over. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  She flinched. She’d refused his aid this morning with the saddle due to the desire to avoid their attraction – an attraction that had proven to jeopardize their working relationship.

  “Don’t take what I’m about to say personally, but this whole situation…it’s a mistake.”

  He frowned, the gleam in his eyes fading. “You truly believe that?”

  The visible hurt on his face made her vacillate. “I-I’m a photographer, not a cowgirl. You’re welcome to press charges, I deserve it. I don’t need to be here.”

  Despite what her family would think of that. It was a feeling that sunk deep to her bones – that she didn’t belong in Mountainbrook. With Jared. She’d finally met someone she felt a connection with, and yet it was going in the wrong direction.

  “Then why are you here?” Jared prompted. “You only need tell me and I’ll let you go. I’m not forcing you to do ranching. It was simply an opportunity for you.”

  Shock claimed her. Now that he’d freely given a chance to leave, she cursed herself for not wanting to take it and flee. Being at the ranch was…no, she knew this was completely because of Jared, and the guilt she still harbored over trespassing. Not that she’d allow him privy to her true feelings.

  My feelings for him.

  She settled on a reason that held some truth. “I can’t leave now. I need to help my family, and this is the best way.”

  “Even if you dislike me for it?”

  She blinked, stunned that he perceived it that way. “That’s not how I feel about you!”

  “This morning, you were in such a rush to get started. You were practically avoiding me. Avoiding eye contact. Like you didn’t want me around.”

  Because I’m struggling with us.

  Her hands fell to her hips. “It’s not that at all. Besides, why are you still here, working out of obligation for your father when you’d prefer to be in New York? Why not just leave?”

  Something unreadable flared in his eyes. “You shouldn’t be getting into my personal business.”

  “Sorry, it’s long past that. You allowed me to face my fear. When will you confront yours?”

  Jared ran a hand through his tousled brown hair, a dubious glint in his eyes. “I’m grateful you trusted me with something like that, but I can’t share my own fear with you.”r />
  She boldly raised her chin. This seemed to be his way to deal with obstacles, turning away instead of facing them. Well, she wouldn’t tolerate it or the way he acted differently around her, according to Warren.

  “Fine. I understand. I know I don’t exactly come across as dependable.”

  “Sorry, but yeah, you trespassed on my ranch. It’s been a hard situation.”

  There it was. Jared thought poorly of her. Imprudently, she’d harbored the notion she’d win him over, that his lack of animosity proved he liked her.

  Her teeth clenched together, irritation surging through her. Jared incensed her like no one else. Her words had been an attempt to distance herself from this tension, a raging need that almost consumed her every thought. These feelings had thrown everything out of perspective, and made her forget what she needed to focus on.

  “Just to make it clear, I don’t judge you at all about it,” he added. “But I have my reservations. They’re personal.”

  Watching him tighten Caramel’s saddle, something about his dismissal eased a little of her irritation. Only time would help him deal with his misgivings, and it wasn’t her business, as he’d pointed out.

  Still, the thought of leaving Mountainbrook behind, never to see it again, evoked an unexpected pain. She’d grown fond of the horses but the fall, and Jared’s reaction, had diminished her conviction. The line of professionalism had broken and they were both struggling to stay afloat.

  She exhaled slowly, trying to relax. Her heart was racing in her chest from the influx of adrenaline, fear and frustration. Jared was shutting her out emotionally, and her frustration stemmed from that. But why? She shouldn’t be so riled up about what he thought of her.

  He glanced at her briefly, his blue eyes a mirror of cool steel. “You doing all right? Must’ve given you a scare, falling off a horse again.”