Page 2 of My Billionaire Cowboy Protector

“Breakfast is at six, lunch at noon, and supper is at six,” he said. “I give out the daily assignments right after breakfast.”

She nodded. “Thank you for the opportunity.”

“Let’s introduce you to the others.”

He led her outside.

“Robert, this is Taylor. She’s our new hire,” Lane said. “Robert has worked on this ranch since he was eighteen. I’m pretty sure he knows more about it than I do.”

“Welcome to the Rocking J Ranch,” Robert said. “Let me know if I can help.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it,” Taylor said.

They walked over to the barn. “This is Anthony. He’s been with us for a couple of years. Anthony, Taylor is going to be working with us.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. We need a man who can keep up with us and get work done – not some dainty butterfly we’re going to have to babysit.”

Taylor lifted up her chin, puffed out her chest, and narrowed her eyes. “I assure you. I can keep up with you.”

Anthony looked her up and down and said, “I doubt it. You probably don’t even know how to collect the eggs right.”

She put her hands on her hips and said, “I don’t know who hurt your feelings, but you don’t have a right to take it out on me.”

Lane held back a laugh when Anthony actually hissed at her.

“Is he always like that?” Taylor asked as they walked away.

“I’ve never seen him be rude to anyone before, but this is the first time I’ve ever hired a female ranch hand. I’m sure that he’s stuck in the 1950s and thinks that women belong in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant and certainly not working on a ranch.”

“I guess there will be some people who think that a woman doing the same work on the ranch as a man is impossible. I know it’s hard work.”

“If you’re as good as you say you are, he’ll figure it out pretty quickly,” Lane said.

“I hope so. I really would hate to hurt his feelings even more,” Taylor said.

Lane had the idea that she wouldn’t hate hurting Anthony’s feelings. He had just met the woman, but in a fair fight, his money was on Taylor. He grinned to himself at the thought.

“Let me introduce you to Sam,” Lane said.

Sam was setting up the bottles for the orphaned calves.

“This is Taylor. She’ll be working with us.”

Sam looked at her for a second and said, “Your mama owns the diner in town.”

Taylor smiled and said, “She does.”

“You look exactly like her. I know your father two. They are good people.”

“Thanks. I’m partial to them.”

Sam grinned and said, “It’ll be a pleasure working with you.”

“You too.”

They went back to the house where he introduced her to Franny, the cook, and Della, the housekeeper. She met Willow, Lane’s younger sister, who took care of the bookkeeping for the ranch. “You’ll meet Colton later. He’s out on the swather.”

She filled out a ton of paperwork.

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