Page 1 of Old-Fashioned Rancher

Chapter 1

Grady

Iswore under my breath as I navigated traffic on my way to the Denver airport. Big cities put me on edge and made me cranky—well, crankier than usual, at least. I preferred my small, rural hometown of Ash Ridge, where there were more horses and cattle than people, and the only skyscrapers around were the mountains rising in the distance.

A car swerved in front of me. I hit my brakes hard enough to burn rubber on the road. I gritted my teeth so tightly with irritation that my jaw ached.

God only knows why I ended up marrying a woman from New York—a city girl on vacation, who preferred shopping at high-end boutiques, and dining at five-star restaurants. She always loved visiting Denver when we were together. All I could offer her was a life working cattle, riding horses, and bossing around ranch hands.

No wonder Diana wanted a divorce.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I finally reached the airport, grateful for a respite from the stress of traffic, no matter how brief it was. I grabbed the bouquet of flowers I’d picked up on the way—exorbitantly priced in Denver, compared to the little florist in Ash Ridge. But I didn’t give a damn about the price tag as long as they put a smile on my daughter’s face.

I was barely out of the truck when Avery came striding out of the airport to meet me at the curb. My heart squeezed at the sight of her.

My little girl had grown up so fast, right before my eyes. At twenty-five years old, she had the confidence of youth, ready to take on the world. Her breezy linen pants, crop top, and smooth tan served as a reminder of just how much her college years in California had changed her. The only mark that hinted of her Colorado home was her cowboy boots.

Avery abandoned her suitcase and ran toward me, flinging her arms around my neck in a crushing hug. Even though she’d paid me a surprise visit at the beginning of summer, it still felt like a lifetime ago. With October in full swing, the autumn chill that lingered in the air promised snow would be around the corner soon.

“God, it always feels good to come home,” Avery murmured against me.

I smiled softly to myself with a twinge of inexplicable relief to hear her say that.

“Does that mean you’re not moving to California with your mother?”

She pulled back and huffed a laugh.

“Not a chance. Hanging out with Mom is fun, and California is wonderful, but it’s not the ranch.”

“Then let’s get you home,” I replied, passing the flowers into her arms and opening the passenger door of my truck for her.

Deep down, part of me had always been holding my breath a little bit. Waiting for the day when Avery would follow in my ex-wife’s footsteps and leave High Plains Ranch behind.

I’d built my cattle empire from the ground up with my own two hands. Now that I was in my early fifties, I was faced with the reality of naming an heir in my will. I didn’t want to leave the land to Diana. She wasn’t a bad person, but she didn’t understand the value of the place. As soon as I was buried, she’d sell the land and some gaudy strip mall would be built on it.

Running the ranch would be a monumental responsibility to place on Avery’s shoulders, but she was serious about taking the task head on. I would do everything in my power to make sure she was ready for it.

After loading up Avery’s luggage, I started the truck and braced myself to get back into traffic. I cleared my throat.

“So, how was college? How much homework do you have to get done over fall break?”

Avery sighed and leaned her head back against the seat.

“More than I want to think about right now.”

“Things are going well in school though?” I ventured.

“Oh, sure. I have a fantastic roommate, and a great group of friends I hang out with. This one guy is a genius and he’s usually willing to lend a hand with my assignments when I need help.”

I gripped the steering wheel so tight that my knuckles turned white.

“Are you two…close?”

My voice turned gruff on the last word as my overprotectiveness leaked out. I always knew the day would come when my wild, beautiful, headstrong daughter would give her heart away to someone, but now that I faced the likelihood of it actually happening, I realized just how poorly prepared I was for it.

“Relax, Dad,” Avery said with amusement. “He’s a friend. That’s all.”

“Would you tell me if he was something more than that?” I countered, casting a glance in her direction. “As I recall, you were doing a lot of sneaking around when you were seventeen. There were a number of boyfriends tiptoeing in and out my back door that I never got a chance to meet.”

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