hand.
Sierra took hold of it and jumped down beside him.
“How did you like riding in Big Bertha?”
Josh stepped down beside them and handed Sierra her parka before saying, “She didn’t just ride in her, Big Jim, she drove her.”
The old man gave her a long look. “You handled the controls?”
“I did. With Josh coaching me.”
“Well, doesn’t that beat all.” The old man paused to hang his keys on a hook while shaking his head from side to side. “City girl, I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Neither did I,” Sierra said with a laugh. “I guess if I stayed here long enough, I’d turn into a real manure-shoveling, truck-driving cowboy.”
Josh tugged on a lock of her hair. “You might get the first part of it down, but I doubt you’ll ever be a cowboy. And believe me,” he added with a simmering look, “that’s just fine with me.”
“You don’t like kissing cowboys?” Sierra asked with mock innocence.
“I’ve just discovered that I prefer kissing city girls with long, long legs and hair the color of a wheat field and a body like sin.”
His words, spoken in that gruff tone, sent a little thrill coursing along her spine.
“Come on, boyo.” Big Jim stepped between them and dropped an arm around each of their shoulders. “Let’s see what Phoebe and Ela cooked up for our supper.”
The two of them matched their strides to Big Jim’s loose, easy gait as they headed toward the back door. Once inside they hung their parkas and shed their boots before washing up at the sink.
Quinn and Cheyenne came in, windblown and apple-cheeked, as they laughed together over a private joke.
When they trooped into the kitchen, Phoebe and Ela looked up from the stove.
“There’s beer and soda on the counter, and cheese on a tray by the fire,” Phoebe called.
The family gathered around a blazing fire and caught up on the day’s events.
Quinn sipped a long neck. “Cheyenne talked to Micah.” In an aside he said to Sierra, “Micah Horn’s been with Cheyenne’s family since she was a baby. He andher wranglers make it easy for us to go back and forth between the ranches without worrying. Anyway,” he said to all of them, “Micah said they got over a foot of snow at their place. So the higher elevations took a hit last night.”
Cole nodded. “I talked to Jake. He made it up to the high country, and said they hoped to bring the herd down by tomorrow. It all depends on how much more snow falls.”
Big Jim glanced at the clouds hovering over the peaks of the Tetons in the distance. “There’s more of it coming. But I think he’ll get a break tomorrow.”
“All he needs is a day to get them down. Then it can snow all it wants.” Cole nibbled a slice of cheese. “Crazy weather. Shirtsleeves one day, parkas the next.”
“Hey, you’re in Wyoming, son.” Big Jim laughed. “Like I always say, if you don’t like the weather, stick around. It’s bound to change by morning.”
They all smiled in agreement.
“Dinner’s ready,” Phoebe called.
They made their way to the table, which was groaning under a feast of thick steaks, mounds of whipped potatoes, fresh beans from the garden, and a salad of tomatoes and red onions in a dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
As they took their places and began passing platters, Sierra turned to Josh. “This feels like a holiday.”
He glanced over. “Why?”
She blushed when she realized that everyone was listening. “The only time my family ever ate together was for a special occasion.”
Big Jim glanced at his son at the far end of the table. Cole was studying the girl seated beside his son. When helooked up and caught his father’s eye, the two men smiled knowingly at each other.
“I guess we sometimes forget how lucky we are.” Big Jim helped himself to a thick steak before passing the platter to Quinn. “As long as we have our family, every day’s special here.”
“It’s been special for me, too.” Sierra held the
Sierra took hold of it and jumped down beside him.
“How did you like riding in Big Bertha?”
Josh stepped down beside them and handed Sierra her parka before saying, “She didn’t just ride in her, Big Jim, she drove her.”
The old man gave her a long look. “You handled the controls?”
“I did. With Josh coaching me.”
“Well, doesn’t that beat all.” The old man paused to hang his keys on a hook while shaking his head from side to side. “City girl, I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Neither did I,” Sierra said with a laugh. “I guess if I stayed here long enough, I’d turn into a real manure-shoveling, truck-driving cowboy.”
Josh tugged on a lock of her hair. “You might get the first part of it down, but I doubt you’ll ever be a cowboy. And believe me,” he added with a simmering look, “that’s just fine with me.”
“You don’t like kissing cowboys?” Sierra asked with mock innocence.
“I’ve just discovered that I prefer kissing city girls with long, long legs and hair the color of a wheat field and a body like sin.”
His words, spoken in that gruff tone, sent a little thrill coursing along her spine.
“Come on, boyo.” Big Jim stepped between them and dropped an arm around each of their shoulders. “Let’s see what Phoebe and Ela cooked up for our supper.”
The two of them matched their strides to Big Jim’s loose, easy gait as they headed toward the back door. Once inside they hung their parkas and shed their boots before washing up at the sink.
Quinn and Cheyenne came in, windblown and apple-cheeked, as they laughed together over a private joke.
When they trooped into the kitchen, Phoebe and Ela looked up from the stove.
“There’s beer and soda on the counter, and cheese on a tray by the fire,” Phoebe called.
The family gathered around a blazing fire and caught up on the day’s events.
Quinn sipped a long neck. “Cheyenne talked to Micah.” In an aside he said to Sierra, “Micah Horn’s been with Cheyenne’s family since she was a baby. He andher wranglers make it easy for us to go back and forth between the ranches without worrying. Anyway,” he said to all of them, “Micah said they got over a foot of snow at their place. So the higher elevations took a hit last night.”
Cole nodded. “I talked to Jake. He made it up to the high country, and said they hoped to bring the herd down by tomorrow. It all depends on how much more snow falls.”
Big Jim glanced at the clouds hovering over the peaks of the Tetons in the distance. “There’s more of it coming. But I think he’ll get a break tomorrow.”
“All he needs is a day to get them down. Then it can snow all it wants.” Cole nibbled a slice of cheese. “Crazy weather. Shirtsleeves one day, parkas the next.”
“Hey, you’re in Wyoming, son.” Big Jim laughed. “Like I always say, if you don’t like the weather, stick around. It’s bound to change by morning.”
They all smiled in agreement.
“Dinner’s ready,” Phoebe called.
They made their way to the table, which was groaning under a feast of thick steaks, mounds of whipped potatoes, fresh beans from the garden, and a salad of tomatoes and red onions in a dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
As they took their places and began passing platters, Sierra turned to Josh. “This feels like a holiday.”
He glanced over. “Why?”
She blushed when she realized that everyone was listening. “The only time my family ever ate together was for a special occasion.”
Big Jim glanced at his son at the far end of the table. Cole was studying the girl seated beside his son. When helooked up and caught his father’s eye, the two men smiled knowingly at each other.
“I guess we sometimes forget how lucky we are.” Big Jim helped himself to a thick steak before passing the platter to Quinn. “As long as we have our family, every day’s special here.”
“It’s been special for me, too.” Sierra held the
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