Page 2 of Claimed By A Cowboy
“For five grand, I hope he can make me forget who I am entirely.”
Giggling at the impossibility of that chance, I pour myself another glass. Sipping it slowly, I look over the profile for Wylder at least fifteen times. Lord, he is a handsome man. Those bright blue eyes and that strong jaw. I trace the scar with a fingertip, wondering the story behind it.
“What makes those eyes so dark, Wylder?”
Laughing again, I close the laptop as I sink down in my bed. I pull my fuzzy blanket up to my shoulders with a sigh. I close my eyes and listen to the soft whir of the ceiling fan I refuse to turn off. Its soft hum calms me as I consider what comes next for me.
Going to a dude ranch in Oklahoma will just be a minor distraction. Not having a destination planned beyond that, not having something lined up is making me anxious. I always have a place to be. My luggage is always packed and my passport ready for another stamp.
“Jillian was right,” I mumble against the blanket I tuck under my chin. “I guess it might time I call it. Am I done seeing what is out there?”
Sighing as I curl up, I decide to think about it another day. I might not be ready to stop hopscotching the globe yet. Not until I go to Oklahoma.
Won’t I have a story to tell after spending a day with a cowboy?
Chapter Two
Wylder
I have been sold. I agreed to it, sure, but it still makes me feel cheap.
“They bidfive grandon you, Wylder. What is cheap about that?”
Chuckling with Cody, I shake my head and hide my smirk. Five grand is not bad at all. Not that I want to be paid for this crazy scheme of Cody’s. If it helps out the ranch, and hell we need help, then so be it.
I will spend an entire day with some broad who thinks I am worth five grand. How bad can it be? Show her the ranch, get her on a horse, let her feel good about being on a dude ranch. I can handle that.
“This entire thing is cheap, brother,” I tease him, shoving some Big League gum in my mouth. It has been my go-to since I gave up cigars.
Cody explains again why we need to do this. How it will bring new people to the ranch. Kickstart the dying dude ranch. I don’t know if it will work, but we all agreed to do it hoping it will. I chew thoughtfully on the sweet bubblegum, lifting my shoulder.
“It will get fresh faces here, sure. Will they bringotherfresh faces?”
“That is the hope, Wylder. That is all we can hope for,” he replies with a sigh, and I wince in remorse.
When I came here, Cody did not have to trust me the way he did. I had a bad past, one I am not proud of. One I have tried to atone for. This place, the horses, the people, they all gave me a reason to keep going.
Cody gave me a place to call home and something to feel good about. I love it here at Iron H Ranch, and I want to see it come back to life. It was a special place once. When I first came here, it was like Disneyland to me.
Being on a ranch, working with the horses, it’s the one thing I am proud of. I am good at what I do. Good with the horses and good at working with the ranch hands that come and go. I have been a long time with no plans to bail just because the place is struggling.
“I am sure it will be good for the ranch, Cody,” I tell him, meaning it.
“Sure as hell hope so. If not,” he trails off, looking out at the acres beyond, the hands milling about in the warm morning sun. “I won’t know what to do if this place doesn’t work.”
“We will get through it all, brother,” I tell him, lowering my voice as if we’re sharing a secret. “Whatever it takes, we will see it through.”
Cody thanks me, clapping a hand on my shoulder. We talk a little more about this bidding business. About how many of the other hands were “bought” and how all those funds will keep us going a little longer.
“Can’t say I am surprised you got that big bid,” Cody teases me with a smirk and a wink. “You sure look pretty on a horse, Wylder.”
Flipping him off as I saunter down the steps, I can’t hide my smirk now. It does feel pretty good to have gotten bid on. For five grand, not too shabby. Who would ever think I am worth that much?
Chuckling as I reach the stables, I shake those thoughts away. It does not matter who or why they bid on me. All that matters is those funds going to the ranch. Keeping this place going is what matters.
Walking past a few of the stalls, I pause at the corner one. It houses a horse we call Hyde. Because she can be Ms. Jekyll or Ms. Hyde, depending on the day. I am one of the lucky few she lets get close to her.
“How you doing, sweetheart?”
