Page 2 of Taming the Billionaire Cowboy (The Billionaire’s Bidding #3)
CARLY
S ome people run away to the circus. In my case, it’s a ranch. It has fewer elephants, sure, but it makes up for it in sheep and goats, among other things.
Brushing a lock of hair out of my face, I tilt my hat against the sun and soak in the smell of dust and grain and Texas, a smell so familiar it’s like seeing my mother’s face. It’s another gorgeous day at Blazing Trails Ranch, my home away from home, where everything has its place, including me.
“CARLY! Get your lazy hide over here!”
Smirking, I turn around from where I’m facing the West Fields and take my gloves off. Mack is just kidding — I know my boss would take a bullet for me before actually insulting me — and I already have a few ideas for retaliatory insults brewing in my head.
Tucking my gloves into my jeans, I head his way, past Wyatt, the other ranch hand, who’s fixing up the tractor. Mack’s sitting at a makeshift table outside the office with two glasses of lemonade and an expression I can’t quite read.
“Better be good lemonade if you’re interrupting my work for it,” I say, then tack on an “old man.”
“Best you’ve ever tasted.” he drawls. “It’s fresh out of the can.”
We both laugh, but I can tell there’s something on his mind. He’s quiet for a moment, which is unusual. Mack doesn’t do quiet, unless there’s a reason.
“Listen, Carly.” His lips are drawn thin.
I take a seat next to him. “What? What is it?”
“I’ve got news, and I need you to hear it from me.”
“Mack, you’re scaring me. Did Scooter eat your mustache again?”
He gives a half-hearted chuckle — that damn goat is always getting into everything — but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve gone and sold the ranch, kid.”
My glass of lemonade stops halfway to my lips. “You’ve done what?”
“Sold it,” he says, more certain this time. “And before you get that look on your face, let me explain. Some billionaire decided he wants to live out his cowboy dreams, and the offer was too good to refuse.”
I put the lemonade down. My whole world feels like it’s been turned upside down. “Mack, I—” I can’t even finish.
Ten years working here, and it’s like everything is suddenly vanishing. This was my first job out of high school. The only job I’ve ever had. The only job I want to have.
And I’m good at it. I love the animals. I’m strong. Hell, even when I was nine months pregnant, I was still working on the ranch — albeit lifting lighter things — and my doctor said it’s probably why I had such a healthy pregnancy and smooth birth.
He’s watching me with a softness that makes it so much worse. “I know what this place means to you, Carly. But I’ve got my own dream, and I’m not getting any younger.”
The retirement move. He’s always talked about it like a fairy tale.
“I thought you were just telling stories,” I say.
“Nope. I’ve got real plans. I’m going to see more of the world than this stretch of highway.” He tries to lighten things up, but I can’t get past the fact that he’s leaving.
I swallow hard. “And I want that for you,” I quietly say, and it’s true. “What about Wyatt? Did you tell him?”
“Yep. He’s heading off to college, the little squirt. Says he’s going to study something that doesn’t smell like manure.”
“And me?” My voice is smaller than I want it to be.
Mack reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze. “I need you to stick around for the handover. New owner’s moving in quick. He wants a crash course on how to run this place. If anyone can teach him, it’s you.”
A crash course. That’s exactly how this feels, like I’m hurtling toward something I didn’t sign up for, and don’t want. I don’t know if I should cry or scream or pack my bags and hit the road with Mack. But instead, I nod because that’s what I always do. I say yes.
“Okay,” I manage to say, even though it feels like nothing is.
“Tell you what,” he says, getting up. “You stick around and make sure this city slicker doesn’t ruin the joint, and I’ll give you a bonus that’ll make your head spin.”
“You don’t have to do?—”
“Did I mention that he shelled out big time for this place? Cash, too. I can afford it, hon.”
I let that soak in. Who is this billionaire?
“Take that boy of yours on a vacation or something with it,” Mack says. “I wish I could find you another job somewhere?—”
“No, it’s okay. You’ve done so much for us already…” I can’t help it. I tear up, just a little. Mack has been more like a father to me than anything else, and as much as I want to see him spend his golden years happy, it will suck not having him around.
And it will suck not being here on the ranch every day. Maybe I can pick up some shifts at Ramblin’ Roses, the bar my mom and aunt own. That could get me through the next few months, even if I hate being inside. But will it be enough? I do some quick math in my head, and it doesn’t add up.
I’ll need to find another full-time job to support Bradley and myself. But damn it, I don’t want any other job. I want this one
Maybe the new owner will keep me on. He’ll need help around the ranch, anyway. Except that’s assuming that I’ll even like him and want to work for him…
I push the thoughts away, knowing I’m getting ahead of myself and overthinking. I don’t have all the answers yet, and I’ll give myself a migraine from worry if I’m not careful.
“All right,” I say, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I’ll stick around. But you owe me more than lemonade, old man.”
“Deal.” He laughs, and the sound almost makes me believe things are going to be okay. Almost.