Page 1 of Longhorn Findlay Farm

CHAPTER1

ARCHIE

My brother Jamesonsays I don’t do any work out here at Findlay Farms, but right now I’m kicking dust and gravel with my boots as I head out to the edge of our ranch. A car’s been parked way out by the longhorn for at least an hour, according to our ranch hands, and I’m going to see what’s happening.

As I get closer to the small green Toyota, I see the front tires buried deep in the red mud. There’s a bumper sticker that has a dog wearing glasses and some sort of Lego creation hanging from the rearview mirror. This dude isn’t from around here.

I look in the driver’s seat to find it isn’t a dude at all. All I can make out is long hair and the fact that her nose is buried in a book. I tap the hood. “What are you doing?”

The woman spins around, her head whipping up in surprise. When she looks at me, her eyes are like two pools of liquid ink. She’s absolutely breathtaking.

“Oh, you scared me. Don’t worry I called my roadside assistance. My tires got stuck in the mud and it seems to have turned into some kind of cement. So I’m just waiting for them.” She looks at the clock on her dash. “I suppose that was a while ago now. But I’m sure they’ll be here. You can go. Thanks though.” She flips her book back open and that captures my attention.

There’s a reason I’m the face of our farms. Most women light up, smile, and hang on to my every word. But here she is, more interested in a book. She isn’t getting rid of me that easily.

I clear my throat. “Before that, Sweetheart. What were you doing when you drove seventy miles outside of town and turned down my road that only the longhorns occupy.” I can’t help the ghost of a smile that plays on my lips.

She glances up at me from beneath long, dark, lashes. “Oh, I was trying to turn in a job application. I saw the position for ranch hand that comes with room and board. I’m up for a new adventure, and I’d like to apply. I know I could submit online, but I thought I’d check out the place and turn in my application in person.”

“Ranch hand?”

She snaps her book closed. “Yes. Do the owners of this farm have a problem with women applying for ranch hand positions?” She tilts her chin up in defiance.

“Well, I’m the owner, Archie Findlay. I can tell you on good authority that we make a habit of hiring plenty of female ranch hands, but none of them could manage to get a car stuck in six inches of mud. Step on out and I’ll get you unstuck.”

Her face flushes red and she gives me an ear-to-ear smile that causes a dimple to appear on her cheeks. She climbs out of her car and my eyes rake up and down her body taking in each delicious curve. “Oh, thank you. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Carly and I don’t make a habit of getting my car stuck. Do you have some kind of tractor to use or…”

“No Sweetheart, all you need to do is crank the wheel. The hardest part will be fitting behind the wheel. This thing is more like a go-kart, isn’t it?”

I watch her watch me and her gaze lingers for a moment too long. I crank the wheel a few times, rocking the car back and forth until the tires free themselves. Our dirt out here is like clay and as much as I enjoy teasing her, anyone could get stuck out here.

When her car is safely recovered I climb out of the car and she thanks me, but I’m not ready to let her go. She stares up at me, the air between us goes electric and it makes my heart race with anticipation. I want to peel back every layer and uncover everything about this woman.

“So, about that ranch hand position. I actually went to the library and printed out a physical application. Would I be able to give it to you?”

One thing’s for sure, there ain’t no way I’m turning a woman like that out into the fields with them good old boys we’ve got working for us. They’d be proposing by noon and that would stop me from having the chance.

“I hate to tell you, the position’s been filled.”

Her eyes go glassy and the sight stabs at my chest. “Oh, that’s so disappointing. I spent time on a farm once years ago and I thought it sounded like fun. But okay, thank you.” She turns and my heart rate ticks up.

“I do have one position I’ve been trying to fill. I’m looking for an assistant. Someone to help me plan this grand opening party for the inns on our property. It pays double what the ranch hands make and it comes with room and board too. If you’re interested.” The words spill out of me before I can think them through.

“Really?” Her mouth falls open, and excitement flashes on her face, but she reels it in just as quickly.

“Yeah, and you know what, if you want it, it’s yours. You can start today.”

Jameson’s going to be all up in arms about this. Robinson Ranch, our local dude ranch that can’t farmland if their lives depended on it, has been plotting a scheme to buy us out thanks to an agreement we made with the county a few years back. He’s over the top about profit margins for the farms right now. But I can’t take it back now, besides, I don’t want to. The way her eyes light up makes warmth bloom in me.

“I’ll take it.”

CHAPTER2

CARLY

The last twoweeks have been an absolute whirlwind. I’ve spent time on a ranch before, but life at Findlay Farms is a dream. The farm itself is breathtaking. The prairies are never-ending, stretching into the horizon and beyond. Every evening, I sit on the front porch of my cottage and take in the stunning sunsets that fill up every inch of the sky with a myriad of colors.

And then there’s my new boss, Archie. He’s too good to be true. For starters, he’s charming and startlingly handsome. But on top of that, he’s like an old-fashioned cowboy. He’s constantly holding doors open and walking me to my new home across the property in the evenings.

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