Falling for the Rancher Page 7

  “That’s Panda, Vicki’s favorite. My sister has her spoiled and now Pan expects everyone to bring her carrots or pear slices. You can pet her,” he encouraged, reaching up to pat the horse’s neck.

  “Oh, no. Thanks.” She would have moved even farther away, except that would only bring her closer to the stall on the opposite side and the beast lumbering therein. Why did horses have to be so big? If only the Twisted R stabled ponies. Maybe those cute, super-shaggy ones. She was reasonably certain those wouldn’t alarm her.

  Jarrett quirked an eyebrow, looking amused. “Let me guess—you’ve never been around horses before.”

  “Actually, I have.” She kneaded the muscles of her lower back, as if she could rub away past pain. “I...fell off one.” Technically, she was thrown. More arrogant than experienced, she’d decided she was ready to try jumping the horse. Her mount had not agreed, balking at the last minute.

  “A bad fall?”

  She managed not to shudder at the memory. “Yeah.”

  His eyes widened. “The day I hired you, you told Vicki you’d suffered a spinal injury. Was—”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m sorry you were hurt,” he said, stepping away from Panda, “but I respect the hell out of what you do—building from a painful experience of your own to help other people. It’s... Will you laugh at me if I call you heroic?”

  She was used to combating disapproval about her methods or her personality; Jarrett’s earnest praise left her discomfited. Beneath his admiring gaze, her cheeks heated. Good grief. Since when did she blush? “Hero’s a new one,” she joked. “Most people just call me a dictator with a Napoleon complex.”

  “I’m serious. Your work matters. Some people are so damn selfish, barreling through life with no impact at all on those around them.” His mouth twisted, his expression one of sheer disgust. “Except to hurt them.”

  She didn’t know who had wounded Jarrett with self-absorbed actions, but the righteous fury in his eyes almost made her feel sorry for the guilty party. “Well. Thank you,” she said awkwardly. She had that same errant impulse to soothe him that she’d had while sitting at the back of the barn, as if she wanted to go hug him.

  Stupid. Not one of her brothers would appreciate a sympathetic hug—what made her think the strapping cowboy would? And, if she were being honest with herself, she wasn’t sure the urge was that altruistic. Empathy aside, she couldn’t deny the feminine thrill that shot through her at the idea of being that close to him, feeling the body sculpted by years of ranch work and rodeos against her own. Get out of this barn before you start entertaining any trite roll-in-the-hay fantasies.

  With one final nod in his direction, she hurried outside. At the moment, potential critters in the dark weren’t nearly as alarming as the pull she felt toward Jarrett Ross.

  * * *

  “YOU’RE GIVING ME the afternoon off?” Vicki narrowed her eyes, regarding Sierra with suspicion. “Why? That’s not like you.”

  Sierra shrugged. Chopping vegetables at the kitchen island provided a convenient excuse to turn away from Vicki’s scrutiny. “Even taskmasters take the occasional break to have lunch with their friends.”

  “You have a friend in Cupid’s Bow?”

  “Kate Sullivan.” It was a stroke of luck that the woman had turned out to be on the festival committee. “I met her my first day in town, and she’s nice. Which is a welcome change from your company.”

  “What?” Vicki feigned confusion. “I’m delightful. Ask anyone. You must bring out the worst in me.”

  Sierra’s lips curled in a grin. In some ways, Vicki reminded her of a younger version of herself. She wondered if her patient would take that comparison as a compliment. Why should she? You’re a pain in the ass. True. But she was a pain with a purpose. When she’d called Kate this morning to ask about the Harvest Day Festival, the woman had said her timing couldn’t be more perfect.

  “The committee meets every Tuesday at the Smoky Pig for lunch,” Kate had told her. “Are you free to join us today?”

  Sierra had promptly rearranged her schedule. Jarrett had promised to come to the house for lunch, so he could eat with Vicki while Sierra went into town. She hadn’t yet told her patient about the festival idea. This way, if there was no pressing job open for the young woman, she didn’t need to know about the rejection or worry that the other members had turned her down because they viewed her as incapable. Besides, while Sierra and her patient had steadily been building a productive relationship, Vicki still had her prickly moods. Sierra would rather present the opportunity as a fait accompli than have Vicki balk at the suggestion.

  “As soon as I get lunch prepared for you and your brother, I—”

  “Hold that thought,” Vicki declared, pulling her cell phone out of her hoodie pocket. Her eyes widened and, by the way her face lit, Sierra knew immediately who the caller was. “Aaron? Wait just a second. I’m taking this in my room,” she informed Sierra. Then she rolled herself from the kitchen with speed normally reserved for professional racetracks.

  Watching the giddy display of young love, Sierra felt simultaneously charmed and jaded. Had she ever cared about anyone with that much enthusiasm? She’d adored Paul, but in a more...practical way. He was a good person who shared a lot of the same values she did and didn’t mind her outspoken nature. But as much as she’d enjoyed spending time with him, she’d never moped if a day passed without his calling. Well, you weren’t nineteen.

  The door to the mudroom creaked open behind her. She turned to find Jarrett tilting his black cowboy hat on his head so he could rub a bead of sweat off his jaw with the sleeve of his T-shirt. Her heart stuttered at the absent male gesture.

  She gave herself a mental shake. What happened to mature and practical?

  “Sierra? You okay?”

  She swallowed, trying to bring her thoughts into focus. “Um...don’t I look okay?”

  He cocked his head, studying her. “You looked...intense.”

  “Oh. Probably because I’m busy plotting.”

  “Global domination?”

  “Nah. I thought I’d start at the state level and work my way up.” She glanced past the kitchen to make sure Vicki was well out of earshot, then lowered her voice. “I’m making lunch for you and your sister, but I won’t be staying to eat. Kate Sullivan is picking me up soon. For a festival meeting.”

  “Great. But why are we whispering?”

  “I haven’t exactly told Vicki about my brilliant idea yet. Her reactions can be a little...unpredictable. So I’m going with the ethically questionable maxim that it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission.”

  “You’re going to volunteer her time without asking her first?”

  “That’s the plan,” she said cheerfully. “Assuming you’ll okay my taking a few hours off for the meeting.”

  “Of course. That actually works out well since I have a lot of office work to catch up on. So I can be in the house while you’re gone.” He paused. “Wait. You and Kate already arranged for her to come get you.”

  “Yep.”

  “But you’re just now asking if it’s all right. Out of curiosity, what would you have done if I’d said no?”

  “Changed your mind.” She gave him what she hoped was a winning smile. “I’m a very pushy person.”

  “I hadn’t noticed,” he drawled, his expression deadpan. “Do I have time to take a shower before lunch is ready?”

  Since they were sharing a bathroom, it was far too easy to picture him in the generously sized shower stall with its clear door and chrome finishing. Annoyed with herself for the undisciplined—and highly erotic—mental images, she snapped, “Make it quick.”

  He raised an eyebrow at her tone. “Careful, darlin’. You rush a guy, you don’t always get the results you deserve.”

  He
at flooded her. The idea of Jarrett taking his time wasn’t any safer to dwell on than the vision of him wearing nothing but a few soapsuds. Whistling under his breath, he left the room. She waited until he’d disappeared around the corner to stick her head in the freezer.

  Chapter Eight

  “I’m so glad you called me,” Kate said as they rolled over the cattle guard and onto the road. “I was already thinking about getting in touch and inviting you to lunch sometime, but I didn’t want to be pushy. I know it can take time to settle in.”

  Sierra pulled a pair of sunglasses out of her purse. “Not much settling to do—I’ll only be here three more weeks, give or take.”

  “And you want to spend part of your short time here involved with the festival? Do they not have cable on the ranch?”

  “This isn’t an act of boredom so much as me scheming to get Vicki Ross reengaged with the community. My interest in the festival is to get her signed up for a job. Will you help me convince the rest of the committee? Vicki’s bright and has ample time on her hands.”

  “Sure. I don’t know her well, but she’s always struck me as smart and energetic. According to my fiancé, she used to babysit the twins before she left for college. Anyone who can successfully manage Alyssa and Mandy has my respect.”

  The ride into town didn’t take nearly as long as Sierra remembered. It probably helped that she could just enjoy their conversation—which touched on everything from Kate’s search for the right wedding dress to college football—instead of worrying about getting lost. Soon, they were parking in a public lot at the end of the picturesque—if unimaginatively named—Main Street.

  “From here we walk.” Kate grinned. “Which gives me the chance to burn off at least a couple of calories before I stuff my face with barbecue.”

  They climbed out of the car, greeted by energetic gusts of wind. Sierra’s polka-dot skirt whipped around in a breeze perfumed with sweet, earthy scents from the nearby flower shop. Her hair blew in her face, and she regretted not wearing it pulled back.

  “When I left Gram’s farm,” Kate said, “Luke was decorating kites with the girls to fly in the pasture, but with the way it’s picking up, this wind might be too strong for them. No clouds yet, but you can tell a storm will be rolling in.” Glancing up at the blue sky, she inhaled deeply. “I love that sense of electricity in the air before it rains.”

  Electricity. Maybe Sierra could blame the impending change in weather for the zing that had gone through her in the kitchen earlier, for the not unpleasant way her skin prickled when she locked eyes with Jarrett. That hum she felt through her body could be some trick of barometric pressure instead of wildly unprofessional lust. Absolutely...and Santa Claus and unicorns are real, too. Physical attraction was one thing. If Jarrett were only a hot cowboy, without an intriguing personality to match those mesmerizing silvery eyes, she could ignore her baser instincts. But the chiseled face was paired with gallant protective instincts and his heady admiration for Sierra. He’d labeled her a hero. How was a girl supposed to resist that? And then there were those fleeting, unexpected moments of wicked teasing. If she didn’t know better, she would swear he’d been flirting with her before she left.

  Careful, darlin’.

  Sierra’s mother called everyone “darling.” The way Muriel said it was impersonal, the verbal equivalent of an air-kiss. But when Jarrett drawled the word, it was rich and beguiling. An invitation.

  Consider it an invitation mailed to the wrong address, she told herself. Whatever you do, don’t open it.

  “Wanna be a little bit bad?” Kate asked.

  “What?” Sierra jolted, startled by the question. Could people tell just by looking at her what she was thinking? That would make dinner tonight with Vicki and Jarrett extremely awkward.

  “Trying on wedding dresses has made me resolve to lose ten pounds,” Kate said as she slowed beneath a striped awning and reached for the restaurant door, “but this place has the best desserts. I was hoping you’d split one with me after lunch. Then it’s only half bad. Which is practically half good.”

  “So my enabling you would be my good deed for the day?” Sierra grinned. “I like the way you think.”

  As they walked inside, Sierra pushed her sunglasses up on her head to better see. The wood-paneled walls and exposed railing made the interior of the restaurant dark, but judging by the mouthwatering smell of barbecue, people didn’t come here for the decorating.

  “We’re back there,” Kate said, leading Sierra to where three tables had been pushed together to accommodate a group of women, ranging in age from their twenties to over seventy.

  “Which one’s Becca?” Sierra whispered.

  Kate paused, pursing her lips. “I don’t see her, which is weird. She’s usually the first one here. Although, maybe today is one of the days she’s meeting with her contractor. She’s about to start substantial house renovations. And woe to the contractor who does not give that woman exactly what she wants.”

  “Is she really so scary?”

  “She’s nice, if you get to know her. But she’s detail-oriented, with a very specific idea of how things should be done, and a little intimidating. Gram calls her ruthlessly efficient.” As they reached the table, Kate beamed at the assembled women. “Afternoon, everyone! I brought a new recruit with me—Sierra Bailey.”

  “Oooh.” A brunette seated in the middle flashed a teasing smile. “Fresh blood. Did you warn her what she’s in for?”

  “I’m actually here on behalf of Vicki Ross,” Sierra said. “I’ve been working with her, and—”

  “That poor girl,” an older woman murmured.

  Nods of agreement followed around the table, making Sierra want to roll her eyes.

  “Everything that poor family has been through,” a woman with a sleek blond bob said mournfully. “I’ve been meaning to go out to the ranch and check on Vicki. Maybe take her brother a casserole.”

  An auburn-haired woman across the table snorted. “That’s not all you want to give him.”

  “Why, Anita Drake! That is so dirty-minded of you. And, also, true.” The blonde shrugged apologetically at Sierra. “Jarrett Ross is hot.”

  No argument here. “Mr. Ross isn’t really my concern,” she said neutrally. “But I’ve been working as his sister’s live-in physical therapist. I’m pleased to report Vicki’s making great progress. Everyone in Cupid’s Bow has been so sweet in their concern for her, and she wants to give back to the community. I’m hoping we can find a way for her to help with the festival.”

  “Which I think is a wonderful idea,” Kate seconded. “I—”

  “Disaster!” A woman in pearls and a pink sweater set looked up from her glowing phone screen. “Becca just texted me on her way here from the park. There’s been minor flooding around the river, and with the additional rain expected this week, entire sections of the park might be underwater for the festival. Ladies, we need a new location immediately!”

  * * *

  “SO.” SIERRA HAD been quiet for a few minutes after leaving the restaurant, needing time to process. When she finally spoke, they were halfway down the sidewalk. “That was Becca Johnston, huh?”

  Kate smiled. “She can be a lot to take when you first meet her.”

  “I think she’s my new hero.” Sierra was used to being the bossiest redhead in any room, but the tall strawberry blonde had her beat. The woman was a force of nature. One glare from her and any gossiping or dissension around the table stopped immediately.

  “And you haven’t seen her at full strength,” Kate said. “That was Becca on a preoccupied day.”

  The committee head had admitted as much, saying that her life was about to be turned upside down with home renovations and she needed the festival problem solved now. Kate had offered her grandmother’s farm, which Becca dismissed as too small.
Another committee member was suggesting they ask a rancher named Brody Davenport when the would-be casserole bearer who’d earlier declared Jarrett hot interrupted to say the Twisted R would be perfect. Apparently, his parents had hosted local events there in years past.

  “Done,” Becca had decreed. “We’ll have it at the Twisted R.”

  Someone had wondered aloud if they should secure Jarrett’s formal permission first, but Becca didn’t have time for naysayers. The specifics of the conversation were fuzzy, but Sierra remembered nodding along with Becca’s sound reasoning. Yes, they did need a new home for the festival as soon as possible. And hosting the festival at the Twisted R was a perfect way to involve Vicki, who could help work out where all the proposed activities should be situated.

  Becca had eyed Sierra, sizing her up. “You don’t strike me as the type of woman who takes no for an answer.”

  “Definitely not.”

  “Wonderful. Then you’re the perfect point person to give Jarrett Ross the good news.”

  Climbing into Kate’s car, Sierra wondered how angry Jarrett would be when he discovered his ranch had been selected without his approval. On the plus side, at least I didn’t sign him up for a bachelor auction.

  * * *

  WHEN SIERRA ENTERED the house, she was surprised to find Vicki at the kitchen table doing wrist exercises.

  “I’ve been waiting for you to get back! Can we try some chair stands?” Vicki asked. They’d discussed how they were working up to Vicki holding the back of a chair and slowly standing, getting a sense of how much weight she could actually put on her legs.

  “Eager. Cooperative.” Sierra rocked back on her heels. “Who are you and what have you done with Vicki Ross?”

  “Guess who’s coming to see me this weekend?” Her face was rosy, and she was practically vibrating with joy in her wheelchair. “Aaron! You were gone when we got off the phone, so I didn’t get the chance to tell you, but that’s why he called. He’s going to skip his afternoon class on Friday and drive to Cupid’s Bow as soon as he finishes his calculus test that morning. I can’t wait to see him! I want to show him I’m getting stronger.”