Page 8 of Daddy's Little Cowgirl

“I’ve worked at a fast-food place, a small diner, a clothing store, a candy shop, and now a bar.”

All four men shook their heads. Even Ridge showed his displeasure.

“Absolutely not,” they all said in unison, making the women’s eyes widen.

“But, wait. You can’t tell me what to do,” Ellie said and then turned to the girls. “Can they?”

They all nodded.

Ridge could tell the woman was getting desperate to find a solution. He wanted to talk to the men before he laid his idea out in front of them.

“Darian, may I speak to you guys … privately?”

Darian nodded. “Girls, go on up to the playroom. We’ll call you when we need you.”

The girls filed out, and then Darian closed the door and turned to him.

“What’s up?” Darian asked.

“You all know Ellie. Do you think she’d do well on the ranch?”

The other men looked surprised and then thoughtful.

“I don’t know if she’s ever been out of the city,” Gage said.

Kaleb nodded. “Or around animals.”

Darian sat and took a drink from his glass. “I think she’d thrive in that environment. The only thing I’d worry about is her being alone all day and not able to see her friends.”

Ridge waited because he saw that his cousin was thinking.

“Would she be with you as a housekeeper or a little or both?” Darian asked.

“Definitely a housekeeper, and we’ve got Maggie in the house all day so she wouldn’t be alone. As far as her friends go, they’re all welcome at any time, or I can take some time every few months to come here. As far as the little goes, I find her to be very sweet and beautiful, and the more I’m around all of you, the more I see the attraction. I guess I’d say we’d give it time and see how we both felt.”

The other men nodded.

“Would you want to take her back with you tomorrow?” Gage asked.

“Yes. From the way it sounds, she’s not in a good place. Do you think she’ll want to live on the ranch?”

Darian shrugged. “I’m not sure. I think so, if she has you and Maggie, who will help. Will you put her in one of the small cabins behind the house?”

Kaleb shook his head. “I wouldn’t. Girls like her don’t do well alone like that. Is there a room inside the house?”

“I’ve got plenty of rooms upstairs. Maggie has the one downstairs.”

“Would that bother you?” Gage asked him.

“No. I’m worried it might bother her.”

Darian shook his head. “No, Ellie is very trusting, and if you say something like you need her to be close just in case, she’ll gladly go where you want.”

Ridge nodded. “Should I ask her alone or with you and the girls?”

The men looked at each other.

“I’ll bring her down here so we can talk to her since she knows us, but I think the girls will complicate the matter a bit,” Darian said and walked out of the room.

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