Page 14 of Some Cowgirls are Worth Protecting

Rachel stared at him for a long, hard minute. Then her gaze shifted to his little setup. “So, what is this exactly? You’re going to camp out on this land for thirty days if not more? Just to keep an eye on the fences and the trees?”

“If that’s what it takes.”

She shook her head with disbelief. “You sound crazy.”

“So?” He launched the word at her like a cannonball. “I don’t care if I sound crazy. I’m going to protect what I can so those horses have a place to stay. Your friend is the first sane person I know of who didn’t actually grow up here.”

Her head reared back slightly. “You really think that?”

“Of course I do. I don’t want this place to change. Of course, it’s already on a trajectory that I can’t control, but I’m going to do my best to slow that down.”

She blinked, and her hands dropped to her sides listlessly. “You seriously want to help.”

He groaned. “What is it with you and not believing a thing I say? I’ll say it one more time. I don’t care if I’m paid. I don’t care if I have to sleep in a tent. I don’t care if I have to dig a hole to do my business.”

Rachel laughed and then covered her mouth, but it was too late to hide it.

Hudson bit back a smile and continued. “I’m going to stick it out until this place is up and running. I’ve already cleared it with my brothers. They said they’d help if I need it, but for now, they’ll just take care of my chores at the ranch.”

She sighed, her eyes never leaving his face. Then she nodded. “Fine. I’ll make another call. But you’re not sleeping out here in the middle of the property.”

Hudson was momentarily confused. “I didn’t see a wrangler’s cabin anywhere.”

“Wrangler’s cabin? What? No. You’re gonna stay in a room at the house.”

His brows shot up. “You want me to move into the house?”

“Why not? You’ve been here twenty-four-seven. Wouldn’t it be easier to stay in the house?”

Hudson shook his head. “Not really. What happens at night when I’m tucked into bed? Those people could come back and do plenty of damage in the dead of night.”

“I’ll get a dog.”

He snorted.

“What? A camera system, then. Look, I have a crew coming out here starting on Monday to start building the enclosures. There will be people out here working in various areas. You can make security runs whenever you want. If you’re going to be here, working for scraps, the least I can do is make sure that you have a warm bed to come back to.”

Hudson glanced at his tent. She was right about that. He really did like having a roof over his head. “It’s a deal.”

“Good. Now pack up and head back to the house. I have supper ready.” Her eyes drifted toward the fire and the opened can of chili. “Unless you’d prefer eating what you’ve already started…”

He followed her gaze. “I wouldn’t dream of turning down a home-cooked meal. My sister usually cooks supper back home, and she’s one heck of a chef.”

Rachel nodded. “Okay. Fifteen minutes, then?”

“Make it ten.” Hudson watched her slip, quite ungracefully, through the fence line and once again get stuck before she was able to get clear of the wire. She climbed into her car without another word and drove off.

He didn’t know how long she’d known of his presence on the land, but that didn’t really matter. It was only somewhat strange that she had chosen to stay in the house on the property. The owner of the place must really be paranoid that this project wasn’t going to work out. Either that or Rachel was going above and beyond to make it happen.

For that kind of dedication, she probably needed to be paid more.

Hudson got cleaned up quicker than expected, but that was mostly because he tossed everything into the bed of his truck with the intention of putting it away after dinner. He pulled up to the house, and that was when he started second-guessing his decisions. He didn’t like people. Even his own family frustrated him to the point that he preferred to work on his own.

This could turn out very bad.

He’d practically agreed to be under house arrest with a woman he wasn’t sure he would be able to tolerate. She was simply the bridge between him and whoever the genius was that bought this place.

It’d be fine. He’d figure it out. All he had to do was sit down to dinner with her and keep her informed of all the stuff going on at the perimeter of the property. Hudson headed toward the house, but before he had a chance to knock, the door opened. Rachel’s hair floated around her face with the swoosh of air that surrounded her.

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