Page 16 of Seized by the Lawman

Nix shrugged a broad shoulder and she wanted to refuse a quick scoping of his thick chest and flat stomach in the black T-shirt, but heaven help her, if she had to give up coffee and sugar for a healthier pregnancy, it just wouldn’t be right to give up looking at a slice of heaven in Wranglers too. A little sneaky peek wouldn’t hurt her. His growl brought her eyes back on his scowl. “I’m sure you’d like to go back up to the house and take it easy.”

She blinked. Did he really just say that to her? “Wrong. I’m here, aren’t I?”

“We’ve been working for two hours now. Should we be grateful that you decided to finally show up?” he forced through clenched teeth.

“I’m sensing some hostility here.” She sighed, not letting him send her packing back up to the house.

“I’ll just go, Melly—”

“No, Randy. I want to do this. You’re right. The sooner I get acquainted with the ends and outs of the ranch, the better.” She took the leather reins from him and he tipped his hat and disappeared probably as fast as his worn, dusty boots would carry him. She turned her attention back on the scowling cowboy. “Should we clear the air?”

“I don’t think there’s a big enough hose to suck out all the tension.” He looked at her over the saddle of his horse.

“Well, I don’t know what crawled up your behind and died, but I don’t appreciate you talking to me like you just did.”

He marched around the front of the horse and only a few feet separated them. “And I don’t appreciate you ignoring your responsibility. Ranch life starts early. If you can’t step up and go to bed a little earlier, then hand the keys over to your father and go back to the life of a spoiled reality star,” he snapped.

The heat of his stare burrowed into her. “You’d like that wouldn’t you? That would mean you could go back home too. Nothing is keeping you here.”

“And so you say,” he whispered.

“Let’s get something clear. I’m here to stay, no matter what you think of me.”

“You’re right, let’s get something clear. Sore muscles are a big part of ranch life and we don’t get those by sleeping in and taking our time. Livestock has a timeline of their own. The day begins at daybreak and lasts all the way until sundown, even when you’re not feeling up to it. Also, as far as your remark about what crawled up my ass, well you should know I’m here to help you. If you don’t put your one hundred percent into this, not even a tenth of a percent less, then that’s fine. And when the month is up, I’ll let your father know exactly what happened here.”

She could practically feel the heat pouring from him. His anger was apparent in his ice-cold eyes, thin lips, and hard jaw. Swallowing the acid coming up her throat, she took a small step, meeting his gaze without shame or humiliation. “Don’t worry, Nix. I’m in this from roots to toenails. By the end of the thirty days you’ll have only to tell my father to hand over the deed along with a smile. Daybreak you say? No problem. Question is, can you keep up with me because if you can’t, maybe you should run back to my father’s office and let him know that you can’t handle this. But just so we have an understanding, you don’t own this place and you’re not the boss so if you ever feel the need to speak to me in a coarse tone then you best make sure that none of my hands are listening. They need to see me as their leader, not some disrespected woman. Got it?”

Two seconds passed, and she thought he’d have something savory to say, but instead one corner of his mouth lifted, not quite a smile, but close. “Loud and clear. Now are you ready to climb into the saddle and get to these fences? Every second matters here on the ranch.”

“I was born ready. I used to barrel race and was one of the best.” She rounded the horse, stuck her foot in the stirrup and climbed in. With her head held high, she trotted the mare toward the field.

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