Page 10 of Wrangled

“I’ve been thinking about this for months,” Declan confessed. “And now I’m here, I know the next two weeks are going to fly by so fast.”

Butch stared at me in the rear-view mirror. “Hey, San Francisco? Can you ride a horse?”

“The name’s Toby, and it’s been a while, but yeah, I can.”Is he really as red-necked and blunt as he comes across, or is it an act?

I couldn’t tell. Then I recalled the questionnaire I’d had to fill in, where they’d wanted to know my experience level.

You already know all this.

That told me one thing about Mr. Butch Buchanan—he was being a dick.

Maybe it’s a test. Maybe he does this with all the guests.

I still didn’t like it.

“I’ve never done that.” Garrett sounded scared to death.

What’s he doing here if he’s too scared to get on a horse?

Whoever he was in therapy with had done him no favors, suggesting a dude ranch. Well, maybe not a ranch like Salvation. There’d been another not that far out of Bozeman that might have been more suitable. Luxury accommodation, all kinds of activities, a five-star chef…

“Have you got maybe… a beginner’s horse? Something slow and steady?”

“Dude, they don’t come with training wheels, all right?” Butch said with a chuckle. “Slow and steady wouldn’t be much use around here, not when you’re riding hard into the bushes to drive the steers out. But don’t worry. We’ll be gentle with you.”

I thought he was teasing Garrett, but then I realized he’d spoken with absolute sincerity, and with far less attitude than he’d shown toward me.He recognizes Garrett is a little on the fragile side.

Okay, maybe he was less of a dick than I’d thought.

“Are you in charge?”

That earned me another derisive snort. “Hell no. I’m the one who gets to babysit you guys until you know how the land lies. I’m in charge of the bunkhouse, which is where you’ll be sleeping.” His eyes met mine again in the mirror. “I hope you ladies weren’t expecting any fancy five-star hotel accommodation.”

And just like that, he was starting to piss me off again, until I realized this was still part of his test.

Well, I wasn’t in the mood to play.

I locked gazes with him. “Your boss know how you talk to his clients?”

He flushed, and I knew I’d hit a nerve. “Sorry. My mouth kinda runs away with me. But that’s how we roll on the ranch.”

“I can assure you, I don’t need a babysitter.” His contrite tone softened my ire. “And you calling me a lady is not about to make me clutch my pearls, all right?” I grinned to show him there were no hard feelings.

He chuckled. “You’re okay, Toby.” And just like that, the air was cleared.

I guess I passed the test.

Declan hooted. “You do this every year, Butch. It’s obvious from the website Salvation is a working ranch.”

Butch shrugged. “I gotta make sure they read the fine print, don’t I?”

“Who owns the ranch?” I asked. I must have read it someplace, but I’d forgotten.

“Robert Thorston. His dad owned it before him, and his granddad before that. Now, his dad?Hewas a tough old bird.” Butch cackled.

That implied the present boss wasn’t, but I said nothing. I’d find out soon enough.

“I didn’t know you’d been there that long,” Declan said.