Page 2 of Rowdy St. Nick

“Have I ever let you down before?”

We both laugh. She knows my stubbornness and I know her slightly uptight way of doing things. It’s what makes this ranchrun smoothly so I really don’t mind. Casie and Clay head off to get started on their work with the animals and I finish my breakfast. By now, the hands should have finished the morning work with the horses, and I can get going exercising and training them.

We have a few spirited fillies in the stables, gearing up to be trained for racing. They’re almost ready, just need some more time learning the bit and pressure commands. I spend the rest of the afternoon galloping out their extra energy and preparing to work on training after lunch.

First, I have to go take care of that fence. I don’t usually eat lunch in the main house. It’s as, if not more, chaotic than breakfast and I don’t like that interrupting my day. I take Daisy out to the back fence again and pull the materials out of the saddle bags I’d brought.

For the next couple of hours, I get into a rhythm of finding the spots I saw needed mending before, getting the materials together, pulling the wires taught, and making sure it’s all secure before moving on to the next spot. In the fall, when the temperature drops at night, we get a lot more critters trying to break through.

Daisy grazes out in the pasture, waiting for me to mount back up to head to the next portion of fence needing to be fixed. She doesn’t ever go too far from my side. I didn’t bring any music or even my phone out here, opting to bask in the quiet as I do my work. This is something I’m good at, something I know how to do.

Before I moved out here a few years ago, I still lived in a small town, but not in as rural an area as Lone Star Dude Ranch. I always did whatever my family needed me to do when it came to working on the ranches. That dedication cost me a lot of relationships, although it’s probably for the best that they didn’t work out if they can’t handle who I am.

The truth is that I love horses more than people. My older brother Ryan loves to make fun of me for it and I let it happen because he’s usually right. The horses are trustworthy. They listen to me. They’re predictable and I don’t have to worry about any of them leaving me because I’m dedicated to my career on the ranch.

Once the fence is finished, I ride Daisy back up to the barn and head to my cabin. I’m not really into having dinner with everyone tonight, opting to read a book in front of the fire on my front porch. I have some great leftovers in the fridge and giant marshmallows for roasting in my cabinet. That and a good beer is all I need for the rest of the night.

At home, I see that my phone has a bunch of messages from my mother and brother. They’re always wanting to stay in touch since Ryan had that health scare half a decade ago. I humored it at first, but it’s been long enough that they should be comfortable with me wanting to be left alone. Ryan has the same habit when it comes to Mom calling so he really should get it.

I send a couple of short replies but leave my phone inside after that. I don’t need the distractions while I’m outside with my book, my marshmallows, and my beer. My little cabin is barely more than a shack, wood panels showing and all, and that’s theway I like it. Give me the sky and stars any night and I’ll opt for that over a roof. Even when it’s raining.

I build my fire and settle in. After a few pages, I sigh and look back up at the stars I love so much. I hate to admit it but part of me sometimes wishes there was someone who understood sitting next to me. Someone who isn’t going to resent me loving my life on the ranch and wanting to work all day. I have no idea if that person even exists. Maybe one day I’ll find out.

Chapter 2

Tess

I love driving past middle-aged men on the highway and watching their jaws drop as they see who’s driving the vintage mustang under my ass. It’s even better when I stop at a red light, and they try to flirt. I rev my engine and speed past them, letting the wind whip through my hair and a smile spread over my face as I do.

I put the top up so I can call my brother, Lucas. He’s probably getting off work right now as I head to The Castle for my hostess shift, plus I have several training clients booked for the night. I can’t do the nine to five life. I’d die of boredom within the first week. The nightlife is where I’m at, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Lucas answers the phone on the second ring.

“Hey Tess! Headed to work?”

“Yep! How was your day at the salt mines?”

“Ha ha very funny. I work in an office, far from any sort of mine.”

“You sit in front of a computer in a cubicle all day. I have no idea how people like you survive that!”

“People like me? You mean Mom, Dad, Jordan, millions of other people in the population who live the corporate life pretty contentedly?”

“Contentedly? Really?”

“Well, I have a 401k and paid time off so yeah.”

“I get paid time off.”

“When?”

“Okay fine I never use it, but I have it. Excuse me for loving my job.”

“You’re a hostess at a sex club. I don’t know howyoudo it every day.”

“With whips, chains, and a lot of leather.”

“Fuck, Tess! I don’t want to hear that about my sister!”

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