Page 8 of Healing Her Cowboys
Chapter Five
Atlas showed Reese around the ranch so she could get a better feel for it. She was surprised to learn how big the property was and how much land it covered. He took her through the large stable to see the rest of their horses. Lori had already settled down to sleep with her new baby.
Reese had been too worried about the delivery to notice how big the stable was at the time, but it fit eight horses with a few empty stalls for more.
“You don’t have to worry about caring for the horses here,” Atlas said. “We have enough help to handle all the heavy ranch work. You can help with the house chores, especially the cooking.” He stopped and turned to look back at her. “Do you know how to cook?”
“I’m no Michelin chef, but I know my way around the kitchen,” Reese said confidently.
“Great. Then you’ll probably fit in here just fine. Most of us can’t cook worth a damn to start with.”
“Not even you?” she asked. There was something about Atlas that said he could do anything he put his mind to and knew how to work that solid physique of his. She chastised herself for that one. Although he was handsome and not her patient, she still shouldn’t have been lusting after him. It was even worse that she thought Brik was handsome too. He was just a cockier version.
“All I know how to cook well are steaks and burgers,” Atlas said.
“Which should never be cooked well done,” she added. “Never anywhere past medium.”
He offered her a big, proud smile. “A woman after my own carnivorous heart. Well done only destroys the natural flavors. You might as well ask for dried-out chicken.”
He showed her a cluster of four smaller houses out in the distance. They were painted the same blue and white shades as the main house and large stable. He said that the smaller houses kept all the working ranch hands who lived on the property.
Although she could see a few workers in the distance, she didn’t get to meet any of them one-on-one.
Reese couldn’t help but notice how easily Atlas seemed to fit into the ranch life around him. “You really like living here, don’t you?” she asked.
“Yeah, I do,” he said. “It’s not an easy life, by any means, but it keeps you honest and focused on the things around you. I guess it just grows on you.”
There was something warm and tender about how he talked about the place, which only made him sexier. Was he able to do anything to make him unattractive?
“It must be nice to have a sense of belonging like that,” she said. “I’ve been traveling around for so long that I’ve forgotten what home feels like.”
“Maybe being here will make you want to stay longer this time.” His eyes met hers, and the warmth inside her felt like an explosion waiting to go off.
Her eyes fell to his parted lips, and when she realized she had been staring at him for a moment too long, she looked away. Something was seriously wrong with her.
“Come on,” he said. “I’ll grill some steaks for your first night here.”
When they returned to the main house, Brik sat on the porch swing. “I was wondering when you two would get back,” he said. “I hope Atlas gave you a good tour.” He stood up and walked back into the house without saying another word.
If she wasn’t mistaken, he sounded jealous. What did he have to be jealous about?
“Don’t worry about him,” Atlas said. “He acts even more like an asshole when he’s hungry. Means it’s time for dinner.”
Reese watched as Atlas manned the grill and flipped the steaks like an expert grill master. It didn’t take long for all the other ranch hands to come to the main house to have dinner with them. She finally got to meet each one: Harry, Colton, Jenson, and the newest one, which was Tony.
She ate with them and listened to stories about their time on the ranch. All of them were veterans, except for Tony, who had answered a help wanted ad for an additional ranch hand. Reese realized they all knew each other from another ranch called Silver Creek.
“What are we having for dessert?” Harry asked.
Atlas gave all of them a stern look. “Aunt Bee sent us another care package.”
The men hooted and hollered.
“Dessert is on Aunt Bee!” Colton said.
“Don’t even think about it!” Atlas shook his spatula at them. “Last time, you all ate every cookie and left me none. This time, I have first dibs. Keep your greedy paws off!”
Reese couldn’t help but laugh at their jokes and banter. They were a lively group to be around. Although she was the only woman among them, no one made her feel uncomfortable or like she didn’t belong there.
