Page 6 of Claimed By the Cowboys
“A little. I trained to be a teacher originally, but my pack wanted me to study something more fitting to their social status, so I switched to communications. I hated it, though.”
Evelyn nodded, deep in thought. “Well, are you going to stay in town a-while?”
I shook my head. “I need to go home, but ‘home’ is the apartment I’ve been sharing with those cheaters…”
“Do you have any family you can stay with?”
I shook my head again.
The older lady cocked her head to the side. “Now, what if I were to tell you there’s a job locally that has room and board, and it’s working with the cutest little girl you ever saw? The Blackwood Ranch is looking for a little house help. They’re single fathers and can’t cook to save their lives.”
Working with a little girl and cooking? Those were two things that appealed to me—I was a star in the kitchen and took any opportunity to work with children. My mind was reeling at how quickly everything was changing. An hour ago, I was under the impression that I was in a happy, caring relationship with my pack, and now I was considering working for a pack of strangers.
“Is it a live-in position?” I asked. “With a pack of single alphas?”
That sounded like trouble.
“They’re good boys! I know their families. Clayton Blackwood’s mama made one heck of an apple pie, god rest her soul. They would be completely professional. Otherwise, I would tan their hides myself!”
With the stubborn look on Evelyn’s face, I didn’t doubt her.
She was giving me an opportunity, and while it wasn’t ideal, what else could I do? Go back to the penthouse apartment I shared with the assholes and keep living with them like nothing happened?
Strangers, while not ideal, may have been my best bet.
“I’m not sure, but I sure as hell can’t go back tonight. Are there any hotels nearby that have vacancies?” I asked.
Evelyn’s lips pressed together as she shook her head. “The local place is full, and that fancy-pants place you're staying at is obviously out of the question.”
I glanced back at the car I had stolen from Lance before turning back to Evelyn, plastering a smile on my face. “Well, that car will work for the night. I can plan my next steps in the morning.”
“That car will give you back pain like no tomorrow. If you had a proper vehicle, maybe, but cars like that aren’t comfortable to sit in, let alone sleep.”
“Well, it’s not like I can get a hotel.”
“No, but I may have something that will work. We have a pull-out in the office out back. It’s nothing fancy, and smells a little musty, but my Judd uses it sometimes when he stays late. You can sleep there tonight, have a proper breakfast in the morning, and plan appropriately.”
“You’ll let me stay here?” I asked dumbly.
Evelyn nodded. “You seem like good folk, and no one wants to go back to cheaters, so it’s the least I can do. If I had a spare room, I would offer that to you…”
I was close to tearing up at the offer from the sweet older lady.
“If you’re sure it won’t be an imposition…”
Her face lit up. “Perfect! Now, eat your pie, and then we’ll get you settled in for the night.”
Chapter 4
Montana
It had already been a long day on the ranch when I got Evelyn’s call about the front door of the diner.
Maisie had eaten dinner—I’d made macaroni and cheese, along with chicken and veggie nuggets shaped like dinosaurs—and Zeke and Dakota were on bath duty, followed by a story and bedtime.
Luckily, the Berry Bunny snacks had worked wonders and ended her meltdown the night before, and now she was still one very tired little lady.
I was wondering what the boys and I were going to do for dinner ourselves once Clayton got home when Evelyn called, asking if I could spare a couple of minutes to come down to the diner and give her a hand.
