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He grumbled and shoved his hat back, revealing Cupid-like blond curls, matted to his forehead.
“Hell, Beau, you ain’t gonna stick around.”
“What makes you say that?” I demanded. “I’ve been here for fifteen years, and I’m not looking for a change of scenery any time soon.”
Cody snorted.
“Bowen says a woman will steal your heart one day. And then you’ll leave High Plains to start your own spread of land.”
I turned to stare at the cab where Bowen’s figure was visible through the rear window. I knew he could hear our conversation, but he didn’t turn around, or give any indication that he was listening.
When I’d arrived at High Plains, Bowen was the one to take me under his wing with his even temperament and laid-back demeanor. He didn’t talk much—certainly wasn’t the type to entertain idle gossip—and I’d never seen him with a woman. Not once.
The fact that Bowen made such a baseless claim surprised me. I wasn’t looking for anything long term. And I definitely wasn’t entertaining the thought of starting my own spread somewhere else. My home, my family, and my life were here, in Ash Ridge.
“Every woman I’ve met has stolen my heart, Cody,” I replied. “That’s why I’ll never settle down. Too many options to choose from.”
Twenty minutes later, we arrived at the fairgrounds, teeming with people. The smell of fried chicken and lemonade lingered in the air, making my mouth water and my stomach rumble. We’d skipped lunch in an effort to get our work done faster, and that plate of pork and beans over breakfast seemed like a lifetime ago now. Knowing Rory’s pie was waiting for me at that auction tonight made me even hungrier.
Cody scrambled out of the truck bed before Grady could pull to a stop. He headed straight for the arena to sign up for the rodeo later this evening. The fairgrounds were set up in a massive open field, with a handful of buildings clustered together for showing smaller livestock, and exhibiting vegetables, flowers, and arts and crafts. Behind the arena on the left were the rides and games.
“Dad!”
Avery McCall emerged from the crowd with a wave. The only time I ever saw Grady’s stoic face split into a smile was when his daughter was around. At twenty-four years old, she was a beauty. Tightly coiled dark ringlets framed her face. Even though she was the spitting image of Grady’s ex-wife, Avery still had the same intelligent gray eyes as her father. For the past few years, she’d been attending some big, fancy college in California for a degree in business.
And she was strictly off-limits to every cowboy at the ranch. I didn’t have a death wish, so I simply touched the brim of my hat with a polite, good day, Miss McCall, whenever I crossed paths with the boss’s daughter.
“Hey, sweetie,” Grady said, gathering Avery into his arms with a kiss to her cheek. “I had no idea you were in town. Aren’t you busy with summer classes?”
She broke away, hooking her hand through his elbow.
“I sweet-talked my way into getting an extension on my homework for the weekend. California is beautiful and I’m having a great time in college, but I miss Colorado. I miss the ranch.” Avery gave his arm a squeeze. “I miss you.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re here, honey. And what about your mother? Is she around somewhere, too?”
Avery shook her head.
“You know Colorado never suited her. I came on my own.”
Grady nodded. I could have sworn his shoulders relaxed with relief. It was no secret that his ex-wife had hated her life on the ranch. When Avery followed in her father’s footsteps, living and breathing to work the land, Grady’s ex-wife knew she was outnumbered and filed for divorce, moving to California.
As Grady and Avery walked off, I caught Bowen watching them go.
“Better not stare like that, Bowen,” I said lightly, even though I knew he was too level-headed to ever lay a finger on Avery. “Boss will bury you alive for looking at his daughter.”
“He’d bury you long before he bothered with me.”
“I’ve never been anything but the perfect gentleman around Avery.”
Bowen snorted as we headed toward the fairgrounds.
“That’s exactly why the boss watches you like a hawk. The longer you’re on your best behavior around his daughter, the more suspicious you are.”
***
After signing up for the rodeo, I went in search of the auction. As I slipped into the exhibition hall, the first pie was going up for sale. Over a dozen more pies lined a long table at the front of the room.
“Take a look at this pie, ladies and gentlemen,” the auctioneer said, gesturing to the pie on the stand next to him. The crust was buttery and golden brown, with a ruby red filling that glistened with syrupy, sugary sweetness. “This pie was donated courtesy of our newcomer, Callie McClaren. She settled here last year and we’re lucky to have her. This strawberry rhubarb pie comes straight from her garden, with the fattest, juiciest strawberries you’ve ever seen in your life. Who wants to start the bidding this evening? Let’s hear it!”
