Page 1 of Don't Trust the Cowboy

Chapter 1

Billy

“Lookatthisone,here.” My older brother Cassidy says to me. “This the one you’re interviewing today?”

I take the printed resume from him, as he snoops through the folder on the table. After I scan the document, I nod. “Yeah, that’s the one. I sure hope this one turns out to be better than the last one.”

“What happened with the last one?” He asks, propping his foot up on my table, which would normally rattle me, but today I barely notice, I’m so stressed.

“She was one of them, ‘I don’t do this, I don’t do that’ sorts. Useless to me. I mean, look at this place.” Lifting my hand, I gesture to the table, covered in papers, receipts, booklets, you name it. And that’s only because my office is even more crammed with shit. I’m hiring an assistant, to help me run this ranch, since my last one bailed on me. Trixie made out like she was so devoted to me and my budding ranch, only to walk out when her boyfriend found her a slightly higher paying job on the other side of town.

He smirks sourly. “God, it’s just as bad as that Trixie chick. Can’t say I blame her, though. You ain’t exactly earned a great reputation in this town.”

“Shut up with that shit, man. Not in the mood.”

He chuckles, like he wants to goad me. “What are you talking about? You’re the one pissing everyone off with your attitude. You know kids are afraid of you, man? They think you’re an ogre. That you hate everyone.”

“Well, I do. Ain’t met anyone yet in this town that gave a rat’s ass about anything other than who’s got money and who doesn’t. Shit, I got fucking shot and nearly died, but nobody seems to give a goddamn about that. Never mind that I’m bringing this shit town some money with this ranch. Nooooo.”

“That’s not true.” He lifts a finger, eyes dancing. “They also care who’s fucking who, and right now you’re not fucking anyone, so that’s the only thing they’ve got on you.”

“So, I nearly die in combat, get sent home for good, start building a ranch, living my dream, doing what I’ve always wanted to do, and now this.”

He pulls his foot off the table with a grunt. “You ask me, you just need to smile more.”

My hands rise into the air. “Tell me what the fuck I’ve got to smile for right now. Look at this place. Trixie left me three weeks ago, no notice, nothing, I’ve got a horse about to go into calf, fences that need mending, a house that’s falling apart while the other one’s being built, my leg still fucking hurts, mama and daddy aren’t talking to me, my one brother won’t leave me the fuck alone, while the other ones and my sister aren’t talking to me, either, and now I’ve got to interview some chick.”

His eyes go back to the small pile of resumes on the table. “Now, just wait, hold everything.”

I’m irritated. “What now.” I sneer.

“Did you see this one?”

“What one.” I whine, combing a hand through my hair.

“This one yougottainterview.” He says urgently. “I know this chick.”

“Who is it?”

“Piper Charlton.”

A ‘v’ forms between my brows as my voice rises an octave. “Who?”

“Her folks, they both died in that car wreck, the one that happened a few months ago. Left her with nothing, not even the house. She’d been away at college, I think. Shit, mama’d heard that she left Copper Cove, but she didn’t know for sure.”

“Well, if she was away at school, then she left town, stupid. And what’s she doing here...and, tell me...why do I care? And how do you know about this girl, anyway?”

“Her mama was friends with our mama, idiot. How else do I know everyone in this godforsaken place.”

“Good for you. Frankly, I don’t give a shit, so long as she doesn’t tell me more of what she won’t do than what she will do.”

“You just make sure you ain’t doing that other thing that the town’s looking out for, man.” He makes a lewd gesture with his pelvis.

I shove his shoulder. “Fuck off. If she’s in school, then she’s just a damn kid, and never mind that, I’m not interested. That’s the last thing I need. Some woman coming in here showing me what’s what, and then showing me what’s what, too.”

“She’s a kid to me, but not to you, Billy. Just watch your ass.” Cassidy is five years my senior. He’s my oldest brother.

My chuckle is mirthless. “Did you not hear me, man? I said I’m not interested in that kind of shit. I need someone who’s going to clean this shithole up, keep my bills paid, keep my accountant happy, and hire me ranch hands, that’s all. Nothing else.”

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