The Cowboy's Property (Siren Publishing Classic) by Calico Daniels
Authors: Calico Daniels
Tags: Romance
Ads: Link
THE COWBOY’S PROPERTY
CALICO DANIELS
Copyright © 2010
Chapter One
Kayla McCoy gripped the leather cinch strap and tightened the girth on the big sorrel. He was the last, as all the other horses were tacked up and ready to go. Laughter, coming from the lodge, drifted on the breeze. The guests were obviously finished with breakfast and on their way to the barn for their morning ride. Great. The muscle behind Kayla’s right eye started to twitch.
Most of the time, she had no complaints about her job at the Rocking Star Guest Ranch. The country was breathtaking, and let’s face it, what better job was there than spending all day working with horses, but this group seriously made her reconsider her choice to stay on another year. From the second they arrived for their ten-day stay, they had treated the staff like crap, making outrageous demands from any employee within shouting distance. It was only the third day of their stay and already a waitress, a cook, two housekeepers, and the youth director had threatened to quit.
Kayla led the gelding to one of the hitching rings on the side of the barn and tied him. With an affectionate pat on his shoulder, she turned and started toward her own mount. The sky was crystal blue and not a cloud in sight. It was the perfect morning for a ride through the national forest.
“Kayla?” Jerry, the head wrangler, stood in the doorway of the barn office.
She walked over to the aging man and smiled. “Hey. The horses are all tacked up and ready to go. It looks like it’s going to be a great morning for a ride.”
Jerry offered her a sad smile and shook his head slowly. “I just got off the phone with Laura. She wants you to help with the housekeeping this morning while the guests are out on the ride.”
The excitement she’d felt while prepping the horses fizzled like the morning mist, and a heavy weight settled in her stomach. “I haven’t gone on a single ride this week, Jerry. She’s had me doing everything else.”
He pulled the tattered cowboy hat from his head, slapped it against his leg, and replaced it. “You know we’re shorthanded right now. I understand your frustration. You were hired as a wrangler, but I really need you to do this. You’re the only one in my group who can do these other jobs, and the guests really like you.” He pulled a cigarette from his shirt pocket and lit it. “Come on, kid, be a team player.” His brows came together in a silent plea.
“Low blow, Jerry. You of all people know I’m a team player, but this is getting ridiculous. I’ve been pulling housekeeping duty since this group arrived.”
The wrangler glanced around and motioned her into the office. After closing the door behind them, he turned and stared at her. “You know Laura has the ranch up for sale.”
Kayla nodded. Laura had not really made it much of a secret. She had been overheard on several occasions saying she would be glad to be rid of the whole mess. It was nothing new to the employees. They all knew Laura was only in the business for the money. She never cared for the day-to-day business. All she wanted was to flaunt the fact that she owned the ranch.
“Laura doesn’t see any reason to hire new staff while she’s trying to dump this place. That’s assuming she can even secure a buyer. We really need things to go well if we want to keep our jobs after the sale.”
Her heart fell to her feet. “Are you worried, Jerry?”
“Kiddo, I’m too old to lose sleep over things like this. Whatever happens will happen, but I would like to stay here.” He drew hard on his cigarette. “I just wish I knew for certain what was going to happen so I could make you feel more at ease.”
Kayla pulled him into a brief hug. “Everything will be all right, I’m sure of it.” She chuckled. “It can’t get much worse. I don’t think any other person on the face of the earth could be a worse owner than Laura.”
Jerry dropped the cigarette to
CALICO DANIELS
Copyright © 2010
Chapter One
Kayla McCoy gripped the leather cinch strap and tightened the girth on the big sorrel. He was the last, as all the other horses were tacked up and ready to go. Laughter, coming from the lodge, drifted on the breeze. The guests were obviously finished with breakfast and on their way to the barn for their morning ride. Great. The muscle behind Kayla’s right eye started to twitch.
Most of the time, she had no complaints about her job at the Rocking Star Guest Ranch. The country was breathtaking, and let’s face it, what better job was there than spending all day working with horses, but this group seriously made her reconsider her choice to stay on another year. From the second they arrived for their ten-day stay, they had treated the staff like crap, making outrageous demands from any employee within shouting distance. It was only the third day of their stay and already a waitress, a cook, two housekeepers, and the youth director had threatened to quit.
Kayla led the gelding to one of the hitching rings on the side of the barn and tied him. With an affectionate pat on his shoulder, she turned and started toward her own mount. The sky was crystal blue and not a cloud in sight. It was the perfect morning for a ride through the national forest.
“Kayla?” Jerry, the head wrangler, stood in the doorway of the barn office.
She walked over to the aging man and smiled. “Hey. The horses are all tacked up and ready to go. It looks like it’s going to be a great morning for a ride.”
Jerry offered her a sad smile and shook his head slowly. “I just got off the phone with Laura. She wants you to help with the housekeeping this morning while the guests are out on the ride.”
The excitement she’d felt while prepping the horses fizzled like the morning mist, and a heavy weight settled in her stomach. “I haven’t gone on a single ride this week, Jerry. She’s had me doing everything else.”
He pulled the tattered cowboy hat from his head, slapped it against his leg, and replaced it. “You know we’re shorthanded right now. I understand your frustration. You were hired as a wrangler, but I really need you to do this. You’re the only one in my group who can do these other jobs, and the guests really like you.” He pulled a cigarette from his shirt pocket and lit it. “Come on, kid, be a team player.” His brows came together in a silent plea.
“Low blow, Jerry. You of all people know I’m a team player, but this is getting ridiculous. I’ve been pulling housekeeping duty since this group arrived.”
The wrangler glanced around and motioned her into the office. After closing the door behind them, he turned and stared at her. “You know Laura has the ranch up for sale.”
Kayla nodded. Laura had not really made it much of a secret. She had been overheard on several occasions saying she would be glad to be rid of the whole mess. It was nothing new to the employees. They all knew Laura was only in the business for the money. She never cared for the day-to-day business. All she wanted was to flaunt the fact that she owned the ranch.
“Laura doesn’t see any reason to hire new staff while she’s trying to dump this place. That’s assuming she can even secure a buyer. We really need things to go well if we want to keep our jobs after the sale.”
Her heart fell to her feet. “Are you worried, Jerry?”
“Kiddo, I’m too old to lose sleep over things like this. Whatever happens will happen, but I would like to stay here.” He drew hard on his cigarette. “I just wish I knew for certain what was going to happen so I could make you feel more at ease.”
Kayla pulled him into a brief hug. “Everything will be all right, I’m sure of it.” She chuckled. “It can’t get much worse. I don’t think any other person on the face of the earth could be a worse owner than Laura.”
Jerry dropped the cigarette to
Similar Books
