Page 4 of Unforgettable Cowboy (Montana’s Rodeo Cowboys #1)

The old homestead hadn’t been much when Bailey lived there, just a double-wide trailer, which her mom had kept spotless in order to keep Bruce happy, a hay barn, a chicken house and a few sheds for storage.

It was worse now. The double-wide and the memories it contained were long gone, thus saving Bailey the trouble of torching the place, but the barn and chicken house were still standing. Kind of.

Bailey parked her truck next to her live-in horse trailer, a fancy affair she’d bought from her friend and college roommate Jenna Meyers after she’d seriously embarked on her career as a silversmith, with living quarters in the front and room to sell her wares in the back.

It worked perfectly driving from rodeo to rodeo.

It had also worked perfectly to help Jenna hide her beloved mare from her soon-to-be ex, who was trying to claim the horse as his own.

It had been quite the affair, stealing the mare away while Jenna and Chance had been at a rodeo on the other side of the state, but Bailey had no qualms about helping her friend keep what was rightfully hers.

When she’d asked Wade if she could board her horse on the Tree Fork Ranch, he had inspected the mare’s brand, gave Bailey a long look, then had simply nodded.

He’d asked for no details, and she gave none; but she was certain he knew that she didn’t want anyone to know that Dakota Sunshine was at his place.

Bailey sat in the truck, waiting for the headlights to fade and her eyes to adjust to the darkness before she opened the door. And then she listened. Just in case. She was still on high alert due to the events of the evening.

You need to get a dog.

Indeed. She might have gotten away from Hayes with the help of a canine protector, but that would have opened a new can of worms. If she hadn’t known who’d been chasing her, then she would have called the sheriff, who may have then discovered Dakota Sunshine hidden on the ranch, which would have led to even more trouble…

Stop.

Bailey headed to her trailer, which she kept locked despite the isolated location of her property.

She was, after all, a woman living alone.

The jangling of the keys sounded overly loud in the silence of the night, then the lock clicked and a few seconds later she was inside with the door closed behind her.

Bailey stood, once again listening, then snapped on the lights and crossed the small space to pull a bottle of water out of the tiny fridge before sitting in her work chair.

She took a drink as she studied the engraving tools laid out on the table in front of her.

She’d hoped to get the silver concho blank that was secured in the ball vise at least partially engraved before she went to bed that evening, but she wouldn’t chance working while adrenaline was still thrumming through her body.

Too great of a possibility of her hand slipping and then she’d either have to abort mission or come up with something creative to incorporate the mistake.

So much for a few more peaceful weeks working for Wade during the day and focusing on silversmithing in the evenings.

She’d keep working on the Tree Fork, because she and Wade had an agreement, and frankly, Wade needed the help as much as she needed to keep Dakota out of sight.

His permanent ranch hands were due to return in two months and she’d been concerned about who would fill the gap she left when she hit the road again after the Copper Mountain Rodeo.

Hayes’s arrival had solved that problem.

He could take up the slack until Wade’s ranch hands returned.

In the morning, she was going to make certain that Hayes understood how much Wade needed help, so that he didn’t head back to that fancy-ass ranch up north once he arranged care for his uncle.

*

Hayes stood in the center of the driveway, studying the peeling paint, broken windbreak boards and loose fence rails.

When he and his brothers had lived here, their chores—painting, fence repair, mowing—had been meant to keep them out of trouble.

It hadn’t worked, but the ranch had been properly kept up.

After they’d left home, and the Parkers had moved in as permanent employees, the place had continued to be well maintained.

That was no longer the case.

Hayes grimaced as he watched a loose soffit board on the barn thump in the light fall breeze. This had to be dealt with before the whole damned thing came off.

A distant noise caught his attention and he turned to see a rooster tail of dust swirling in the distance, the opaque cloud tinted pink by the rising sun.

The day crew from Jim Reed Farms, no doubt.

Due to Parker’s leave of absence, Wade had leased out the land instead of working it himself, leaving only the cattle to care for along with the inevitable fencing repairs and water maintenance…

which led Hayes to the question he hadn’t asked Bailey the night before.

Who was helping with the cattle side of things besides her?

Hayes ambled to the parking area and waited until the pickup pulled to a stop a few minutes later. Two lanky men in their early twenties climbed out of the cab.

“Morning, Hayes,” one of them called cheerily, as if seeing Hayes on the ranch was an everyday occurrence. “Any news on Wade?”

It took Hayes a moment to recognize the guy who spoke because the last time he’d seen Ben Reed, he’d been fifteen or sixteen.

Now he was in his twenties and sporting a fierce black beard, which gave him a pirate-y look, despite the well-worn straw hat he tilted back as he approached Hayes and held out a hand.

“He was doing all right when I called yesterday but was still sedated. I couldn’t talk to him.”

The other man introduced himself as Andy Bird, Jim’s son-in-law. “Bad luck, what happened. Good thing Bailey was here. Who knows how long he might have lain out there if she hadn’t seen the mare running across the field?”

That was something to think about. Wade wasn’t getting any younger and, as Jordan had suggested, probably shouldn’t be living alone for much longer. Another thing to consider in the life equation Hayes was putting together. He’d definitely stay until Parker was back and could resume full duties.

“I heard you’re riding in the Copper Mountain.”

Hayes smiled a little. He might not be a pro anymore, but he liked keeping his finger in the pie. And it was a rare year when he’d missed riding in his hometown rodeo. “Thought I’d give it a go.”

“Warning—you’ll be up against my brother and he’s good.”

And Hayes felt old because he was old in the rodeo world.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Ben laughed then glanced at the sun, which was climbing over the treetops. “We better get to it. Let us know if you get an update on Wade.”

“Will do.”

He watched them head off, Ben to the tractor and Andy to the baler, then frowned as he heard the sound of another engine, coming from the direction of the barn.

Instead of traveling on the main road, as she’d done when she’d left the night before, Bailey had taken the barely maintained back road between their two properties.

The distance was shorter, but the travel time was about the same, due to ruts and rills.

She pulled to a stop and Hayes approached her truck, wondering if—despite what she’d said the night before—she was there to work, or to pick up her last paycheck.

For that, she’d have to wait for Wade. She opened the truck door and dropped to the ground, pushing her long braid over her shoulder before approaching, walking with the cowgirl swagger he remembered so well.

“Do you have coffee?” Her tone was businesslike, and he wondered if she was setting the stage for their future relationship or getting ready to quit.

“As it happens, I do.”

“Just thought we could sort through a few things. And I’m out of coffee. I was supposed to make a food run yesterday, but all the business with Wade kind of got in the way.”

He held open the yard gate for her. “Are you okay?” When she gave him a puzzled look, he said, “After last night?”

“I guess I can ask the same question.” She tucked a few strands of loose hair behind her ear as she spoke. “It’s been a while since I punched someone.”

“You do a lot of that? Punching?”

A half-smile tilted her full lips. “When the need arises.”

Hayes did not ask for details. Bailey had been tough back in the day, but he’d been privy to a softer side that he didn’t think many people saw. That was part of what had drawn him to her. Now he wondered if the softer side was still there. The woman in front of him was all business.

“What do you want to talk about?” he asked after she sat in Wade’s chair, and he’d poured two mugs of coffee from the pot he’d left warming.

“Wade,” she said simply.

“Okay.”

“He’s been trying to do too much after his full-time guy left.”

“Parker.”

“Yes. Your uncle’s down one guy but thinks he can keep up with everything. Now that he’s laid up…” she gave a shrug “…he’s going to need more help.”

“He was supposed to hire day help to take Parker’s place.”

She spread her hands in a here-I-am gesture.

“I meant more than one person.”

“I don’t know what to tell you there. I’m the only one who’s been helping him since July. I think he might have lost someone in June.”

Which he’d never mentioned. Classic Wade.

“And I don’t think Parker was much use before he left for his operation,” Bailey said.

“I can understand that, but frankly, I had no idea Wade was shorthanded.”

“Why not?”

The simple question touched a nerve. “Have you met my uncle?”

She answered with a careless shrug then got back to business. “I assume then that you don’t come home that often to see what’s going on?”

He might not have come home that often, but he did keep in regular contact.