Page 32 of Shared on the Ranch

“No one’s mad at you, if that’s what you think.”

Chyanne was now convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt Ashley was a mind reader. “Are you sure?”

“Welll, maybe Veronica, but don’t let her bother you.” She shrugged a shoulder, her eyes glimmering. “She’s hard on everyone at first. I’m still not sure what she thinks ofme. But”—another shrug—“I’m the newbie, so that’s just how it goes.”

Ah. Suddenly, her doubts disappeared and she felt a rush of kinship for the other woman. She knew all too well what it felt like to be the ‘new girl.’ As far as Discipline Ranch was concerned, she might as well be on anotherplanetand the only one who didn’t understand the language.

“So… how do you… ah…”

“Cope?” Ashley offered succinctly.

“Yeah.” There was comfort in just being understood without having to explain, and Chyanne felt more and more comfortable with her new friend.

“Well, Justin—that’s my daddy,” she said without a trace of a blush or a hint of a stammer. “He tells me it just takes time and she’ll warm up eventually. And all the other girls have taken me in, so…” She beamed. “That’s good enough for me! So I kinda figured it’s my duty to check in on you and see how you were making out.”

“Oh.” She couldn’t help but return Ashley’s infectious smile. “I really appreciate that, but I’m not new here. I mean, I am, of course, but… what I mean is, I’m not staying.”

“Oh,” Ashley echoed, her brow crinkling. “I thought I heard you were working here.”

“Well… I am. I mean, IthinkI am. Nate—that’s the boss, right?”

Ashley nodded.

“Well,he’sthe one who gave me this crapshoot assignment, so I’m not really sure I’m ever going to see my way into a barn.” She sighed and her shoulders drooped. Here, away from the guys, she didn’t have to maintain a tough front and she could admit just how disappointing that was.

Ashley gave her a sympathetic side hug. “I know just how you feel!”

“You do?” Chyanne asked, surprised.

“Well, okay, maybe notexactly…” She giggled, her eyes crinkling mischievously. “But I can still sympathize. So, this is the hoop Nate’s got you jumping through?”

Chyanne nodded sadly.

“Well, then, we’ve got to get it done!” she said, as though there was nothing to it.

“But how—”

“Veronica may still be on the fence about me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have connections.” She winked. “Now, come on!”

* * *

Ashley had been true to her word and more. She had all the women from the day before assembled plus two more that she introduced to Chyanne. Most of them had a pair of scissors and were working with admirable concentration. Lora had chosen a weed-whacker for her tool of choice and was whacking away.

Veronica was the only one not helping. In fact, Chyanne could feel the judgmental stare of the other woman who was watching them with her arms folded across her chest.

“We could use you over here, Ronnie,” Betsy sing-sang.

“No, thank you,” she answered primly.

Chyanne tried to focus on snipping the grass in front of her and ignoring the ice queen, but her ears couldn’t just turn off.

“I’m not going to be a party to something that weall knowcan only end one way.”

“Stop being such a downer,” Lora scoffed over the noise of the weed-whacker. “It’s not like the rest of us aren’t risking the same thing. I know Thomas has a hard hand, but no harder than Nate’s. Not to mention, hetrainedall of them!” With that, she went back to work.

“Look, I just don’t think—”

“We know,” Ashley drowned her out. “She’s just saying that we’re all risking a spanking. So why don’t you help us out so we can get done before anyone finds out?”

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