Page 17 of Unforgettable Cowboy (Montana’s Rodeo Cowboys #1)

“Y ou got a puppy?” Trev sounded amazed. “Mr. Free as a Bird?” The phone-averse Matthews brother had finally called to touch base with his family.

“I don’t have her yet. I can pick her up in three weeks.”

“Big commitment,” Trev said.

Hayes opened his mouth to say it was no big deal when it struck him that his brother was right.

Because of his profession, he hadn’t committed to a pet since leaving the Tree Fork Ranch at the age of nineteen.

Things weren’t much different on the dating scene.

None of his relationships ended up being long or exclusive.

He’d let his lifestyle get in the way and hadn’t minded one bit.

He liked his freedom, and tended to date women who felt the same.

So why was Bailey, who was all about freedom, tying him in knots?

“I think I can handle having a dog,” Hayes replied dryly. “I ran into Chance Meyers in town. He’s interviewing for a job in the area.”

“There’s a local opening for pompous ass? How do I apply?”

“I think you’re overqualified,” Hayes said to his brother who laughed and called him a fuckwit.

“Honestly, though. I’m thinking about finding work closer to home.”

“Wade’s going to need someone nearby.” And for some reason Trev was one of the few people their stubborn uncle listened to. Hayes had no idea why. Maybe something about being the youngest.

“How long will you stay?”

“As long as I can. It’s going to take at least two people to get through the winter and I’m concerned about what Parker will be capable of when he returns.

He’s in his late fifties and back surgery can be rugged to come back from.

On the other hand, Wade can’t pay both of the Parkers and me.

Despite wishes to the contrary, I’ll need a steady paycheck eventually. ”

“We’ll talk when I get home,” Trev said.

“I bet we will. When will we see you?”

“I’ll roll in on Friday morning. Don’t want to miss the street dance.”

“I’ll tell Wade.”

“Looking forward to seeing you guys. Can I name your puppy?”

“No. See you in a few days.”

*

Despite the decrepit outbuildings, Bailey’s homestead was a peaceful place during the day.

It was only after the sun had set and the shadows grew that she started feeling jumpy, but during the golden hours of late afternoon, her homestead was downright bucolic—the perfect place to unwind after a day spent on the hill dealing with bad wire.

The grain had ripened. The golden heads bobbed in the light breeze as she sat in the lawn chair near her trailer next to a small folding table, polishing her silver pieces with a cloth before packing them into individual bags with a small square of tarnish inhibitor in each one.

Tarnish was the bane of her existence, but much better to deal with than a micromanaging boss.

Or even a handsome cowboy who was pushing his way into her thoughts way too often.

She picked up a buckle, sterling with inset turquoise, her mind flashing on Hayes’s plain brass belt buckle.

He’d won a drawer full of sterling trophy buckles yet didn’t wear them.

Maybe he didn’t like to battle tarnish. Her lips curved a little as she gave the buckle a final rub and slipped it into a velvet pouch before picking up a set of bangles.

Silver stock was expensive, so when she’d started her career, she’d focused on small items—bracelets, earrings and necklaces.

From there she’d segued into fancy bridle buckles, sometimes in silver and sometimes in brass.

Belt buckles followed and as soon as this season was over, she was going to try her hand at embellishing bridle bits and spurs.

The investment in the larger pieces was financed by selling smaller pieces, which moved more quickly.

Coming up with an inventory was a slow process, but now she had a nice stock of jewelry and enough buckles of various sizes to encourage people to make custom orders if they didn’t care to buy off the table.

She sealed the bag around the shiny bangles, set her rose cloth aside and then sipped from her water bottle.

It had been a full day on the Tree Fork cleaning out the clogged pipe that Hayes had found.

He’d intended on coming with her but had been waylaid at the last minute.

Bailey had been both relieved and disappointed.

Relieved that she didn’t have to monitor her treacherous hormones all day long and disappointed that she didn’t get to banter with the man.

Push-pull was not her thing, yet she was dealing with it on a daily basis since Hayes had returned to the Tree Fork. What was it about the man that made her want to suspend her carefully constructed parameters and just, well, go for it?

Her thoughts had been drifting that way more and more since that kiss, which instead of being sweet and nostalgic, had felt edged with tantalizing possibilities.

Bailey closed her eyes in an attempt to center herself. They popped open again at the sound of an approaching vehicle. Her first thought was Hayes. Her second was holy shit.

She knew that rig. Hated the sight of it. A wave of anxiety rolled over her as she visualized what was ahead, then she girded herself. Whatever shit Chance Meyers brought, she would deal with it.

Chance pulled his shiny red Chevy one-ton dually to a stop next to her much more sedate blue Ford three-quarter ton.

Bailey rose from her chair and took a casual stance as he got out of the truck.

The game was on. She wasn’t ready, but damn it, she was going to fake it.

Pulling a deep breath in through her nose, she took a few steps forward and waited, one hand propped on her hip, wishing her phone wasn’t in the trailer.

“Chance?” How did you find me? “This is a surprise.”

She’d told Hayes that if Chance managed to hunt her down, he’d find her living on the homestead with no mare, and it’d be no big deal.

The first part was true, but she felt less certain of the second.

Facing the man alone, a good mile from another living being, suddenly made the situation feel a bit less cut and dried. Almost like it was a big deal.

Heart hammering, she managed to hold her neutral, yet openly curious expression.

“Nice place,” he said without a hint of irony.

“Yes.” She waited. She had no reason to expect this to be more than a fishing expedition for Dakota Sunshine, but she was still glad that the keys were in her truck.

He took his time studying the barn, which was listing to one side and obviously not capable of holding an animal safely, then the chicken house and finally the broken corrals. If there was a place that didn’t have a horse, this was it.

“Can I help you with something?”

“Yes.” He took a few steps toward her, but Bailey—nerves buzzing like a bee caught in a jar—held her ground. “You can tell me where the mare is.”

“Jenna’s mare?”

“Our mare. Community property.”

“That’s none of my business, Chance.”

He tipped his hat back, fixing her with a cold look. “I think it is.”

“How so?” It was all she could do not to take a step back, but if she did, she instinctively knew that he’d keep her backing up.

“Cut the crap. You know where the horse is.”

She rolled her eyes. “Really? That’s why you’re here? Look around you. Would you keep a horse here?”

“Why are you here?”

“I grew up here, as I’m sure the good townspeople of Marietta told you. I was looking for a quiet rent-free place where I could focus on my silver this summer. I have some big shows coming up this fall. Important ones.”

Total truth.

He set his hands on his hips as he looked past her at the trailer Bailey had bought from his soon-to-be ex-wife. Then he turned his hard gaze back to her. Charming Chance was long gone, and Bailey was getting a strong hint of what her friend had been dealing with.

“I know nothing about your horses, Chance. Jenna and I haven’t been in contact in months. Not since you guys split.”

“Isn’t that odd?” he said. “That she’s not crying on your shoulder about this?”

They’d covered this in Big Z’s, but apparently Chance had not been convinced.

“Jenna’s not a crier,” Bailey said in a low voice. An odd sensation went through her when Chance gave her a want-to-bet look.

“I know you guys cooked something up.”

“And I know you’d better get off my property before I call the sheriff.” She was getting a very bad vibe from the guy and despite her attempt at bravado, Chance seemed to be reading her.

“Bailey, Bailey. We never really got to know one another.” He started forward, closing the space between them with a slow, insolent gait.

Bailey lifted her chin as he approached, trying to breathe evenly to counteract her hammering heart.

It was all she could do to stand her ground when he entered her personal bubble but stand ground she did.

Right up until he reached out to lightly run his knuckles down the side of her face in a mocking caress.

“But know this about me. I don’t like being fucked with. ”

“Chance.” She said his name as a warning.

“Bailey. Tell me where the horse is.”

He stepped even closer, showing her who had the power in the situation.

Bailey inhaled sharply, then instinct took over.

She reached for the front of his shirt, yanked the surprised man forward, then kneed him as hard as she could.

A satisfying oof escaped his lips as she let go of his shirt and he doubled over. Take that, asshole.

While Chance was fighting the pain and gasping for air, she dashed for her truck, jumped inside and hit the door locks before fumbling with the keys she’d left on the seat. She had no phone, and all she could think of was to get out of there. To get to a phone and call Hayes.