Page 1 of Rafe

Chapter One

Rafe made his way to the tool shed inside the barn, to retrieve the necessary equipment for mucking out the stalls. It was his turn to take care of them, and although the day was unbearably hot, he would rather sweat in the barn than be scorched by the blazing sun outside. July seemed to be throwing a tantrum with its unrelenting high temperatures all week long. Rafe preferred working in cold weather over this oppressive heat.

As he pushed the wheelbarrow toward the first stall, he heard a vehicle pull up outside. He knew they weren’t expecting any deliveries today, and it didn’t sound like a large truck anyway. Curious, Rafe stood in the doorway of the barn and observed his boss, Fred Hancock and his daughter-in-law, Maggie, chatting on the porch. Rafe found it admirable that she kept in touch with her father-in-law even though her husband, Fred’s son, was in prison. It was unusual for her to show up during the week, but she handed him something, then after hugging him, she ran down the steps, hopped into her car and drove off.

Rafe had always thought Maggie was a stunning woman, with her light brown hair and dark eyes, but unfortunately, she had been married to Frederick; a total asshole who mistreated her. Rafe remembered how Frederick used to treat her when they were still together, and he wanted to knock him on his ass. But he also knew that if he did, Frederick would just make things worse for Maggie and accuse her of having an affair with Rafe.

Rafe despised men who resorted to violence against women, children, and animals. He hoped Frederick would rot in jail for stealing horses from his own father and trying to sell them. When Rafe learned that Frederick had once broken Maggie’s jaw, he wanted to go to the jail himself to beat the hell out of him. But Fred had only found out about it recently and hadn’tbeen aware of his son’s abusive behavior toward Maggie. It was no wonder that Maggie left him and filed for divorce.

Thinking about Frederick made Rafe clench his jaw in anger. Not only was he a horse thief, but also a man who enjoyed hurting women. Rafe never liked him from the beginning. He always looked down on Rafe, even though Rafe towered over him in height. He remembered how Frederick would try to intimidate him, but Rafe always stood his ground and let him know that he was not afraid of him.

He pushed the wheelbarrow to the first stall. He wanted to finish the job as soon as possible. As the manager, it was his responsibility to not only oversee the ranch but also lend a hand when needed. He couldn’t just sit back and watch others work without doing anything himself. This earned him respect from the ranch hands.

*****

On Sunday, even though Rafe wasn’t working, he decided to make sure the stalls were clean. As he heard a vehicle outside, he walked toward the doors and saw Maggie stepping out of her car. A smile spread across his face as he watched her being greeted by Fred at the door.

Rafe couldn’t help but admire her beauty, but he knew she was strictly off limits. He was glad that Maggie got away from Junior, though.

He chuckled at the thought of how much Frederick hated being called “Junior”, so Rafe intentionally used that name whenever he was around. However, it would be a while before Junior could come around again; he was currently serving time for stealing his father’s horses and Rafe secretly hoped he’d stay there for a long time.

Something wasn’t right in Junior and Maggie’s relationship, and it bothered Rafe. Just mentioning Junior’s name causedMaggie to go pale. Rafe had no doubt that Junior had hit her plenty of times, but he couldn’t figure out why she had married him in the first place.

Reflecting on the day he had asked Junior about his marriage to Maggie; Rafe couldn’t help but wonder if Junior had somehow threatened her into it. With a heavy heart, he knew he would probably never know the truth.

Walking back through the barn and out into the sunny weather, he climbed into his truck and drove to the cabin he had been living in for years. When Fred hired him twenty-six years ago, he had told Rafe that one day he would become the manager of the ranch. So, Rafe worked hard to prove himself and at the young age of twenty-five, Fred made him manager and even had a cabin built for him.

The previous manager had been married and lived off the ranch, but Fred knew that Rafe had nowhere else to go. As he approached the cabin, he parked his truck and decided to take a dip in the pool today. Although Fred had built the cabin with ten acres surrounding it, Rafe had personally had a pool installed. Swimming was one of his favorite pastimes and it helped him stay in shape along with his duties on the ranch.

Entering the house, his dog, Booker, ran toward him, his entire body wiggling in delight at seeing his master. Rafe rubbed his head, then sat on the sofa to relax.

After watching some TV, Rafe stripped out of his clothes and headed outside toward the pool. He always swam in the nude; it was his private space, and no one ever disturbed him on his days off. Placing a towel on the table nearby, he walked over to the deep end of the pool and dove right in. Enjoying the refreshing water against his skin, he swam several laps underwater before coming up. A few more laps and he’d get out and take it easy for the rest of the day.

****

The following weekend, Maggie stood to put her cup in the sink and also picked up Fred’s. She loved spending time with him, even if he was no longer her father-in-law since she divorced his son, she loved him and still called him Dad.

She stared out the window and gasped when she saw Rafe riding into the yard on his horse, Rocket, the dust billowing up with the rhythmic clopping of hooves echoing in the sultry afternoon air. The sun blazed overhead, casting shimmering heat waves across the dusty landscape. She had witnessed this scene countless times, yet it never lost its charm. Rafe’s shirt clung to his skin, drenched with sweat, revealing the toned muscles beneath. She watched intently as he dismounted, allowing the reins to fall loose. The horse, eager for refreshment, plunged its muzzle into the trough, the water splashing as it drank, then tossed its head, causing the reins to slap against its neck with a gentle thud. She raised the window to see if she could hear Rafe talking to his horse, since he always did.

Rafe removed his white straw cowboy hat and peeled off his soaked shirt, revealing his sun-kissed skin. He plunged the hat into the water, the cool liquid cascading over his head as he lifted it. Maggie’s lips curled into an appreciative smile as she watched him drop the hat, bending to submerge his head fully into the trough. When he straightened, rivulets of water raced down his chiseled features and strong shoulders, the droplets glistening in the sun’s golden light. It was an arresting sight, one of the sexiest she had ever witnessed. His chaps hugged his jeans snugly, accentuating his lean form.

Her laughter bubbled up when Rocket, with mischievous intent, lowered his head and seized Rafe’s hat in his teeth, then let it fall into the trough with a splash. Rafe retrieved it, shaking his head at the playful horse. “It was already wet, I was hopingto let it dry, but no, you have to be a pain in my ass and drop it in there again,” he muttered, as Rocket bared his teeth in a horsey grin, as if sharing the joke. “Come on, I’ll get you some fresh oats, though you don’t deserve it,” Rafe chuckled, and goosebumps formed on her skin. She’d love to hear that deep voice whisper in her ear.

Suppressing a shudder, Maggie watched the horse follow Rafe into the barn, its hooves clicking against the cement floor. As Rafe led Rocket inside, she sighed with disappointment when he disappeared inside the barn. She knew that Rafe was cooling the horse, tending to him with the kind of care and affection that spoke of their deep bond. He’d settle Rocket into his stall, offering fresh food and water. Maggie understood that many cowboys cherished their horses, but the connection between Rafe and Rocket was something extraordinary. It was a partnership built on trust and mutual respect, and she was certain that Rocket would do anything for his master.

“Do you like your job at the antique store, honey?”

Maggie smiled. “I do. Vanna is a wonderful person, and I love having her as a boss. You need to visit, and I’ll show you my apartment above the store.”

“That was very kind of her to let you live there.”

“I’m telling you, she’s amazing. I’d love for you to meet her. I’ve told her all about you.”

“Does she know about Frederick?”

Maggie sighed and nodded. “Yes, but she won’t tell anyone how he treated me or you.”

“I don’t care who knows how he treated me, it’s you who got the worst of it. I’m so sorry, honey.”