Page 4 of Ironwood Ranch Cowboys

Silas leads me down a variety of halls, pointing out rooms I’m sure I’ll never need, much less remember. Every one of his strides is long and powerful. His eyes scan everything as if the walls themselves might betray a weakness.

Everything smells faintly of pine cleaner, leather, horses, and a hint of wood smoke.

“And this,” Silas says, pushing open another door, “is where Duke spends more time than anyone should. The kitchen.”

I blink.

The room is enormous, light streaming in from high windows, copper pots hanging from racks, and an island so large it could probably double as a conference table.

A man leans casually against the counter, tossing a spatula from hand to hand. His brown hair is intentionally tousled, hazel eyes bright and teasing, and a grin spreads across his face the moment he notices me, and it makes my heart stall.

Which is… inconvenient. This man is one of my bosses.

I swallow that feeling down quick.

“Well, look who it is,” he says, all warm and easy, like he’s teasing an old friend instead of sizing up a stranger. “You must be Annie, right?”

“Uh… hi,” I say, gripping my bag a little tighter, unsure what protocol is with someone like him.

“I’m Duke,” he continues, offering a hand and leaning forward, just enough to make his grin feel invitational instead of an interrogation. “I cook, I lift heavy things, I stop people from setting the barn on fire… basically, I’m here to make your life easier. Or at least more interesting.”

His hand is warm when it closes around mine, and it lingers there. Like he’s in no hurry to let go.

I raise an eyebrow, caught somewhere between amusement and wariness. “Interesting is one word for it.”

Duke laughs, the kind of laugh that makes his eyes crinkle and feels disarmingly genuine. Already I’m struck by how he’s nothing like the other two.

“Trust me, you’ll need all the distractions you can get with my brothers.” He nods toward the hall where Silas is already checking a list on his clipboard. “Silas is all business. Cody’s all math. And me? I’m… chaos with a heart. Welcome to Ironwood, Annie.”

I manage a small smile. “Chaos with a heart… got it.”

He claps me on the shoulder and leans against the counter, still grinning. “We’ll get you settled. Let me show you your room.”

Duke opens a door at the end of the hall from the left of the kitchen, revealing a room with a large window overlooking the paddocks, a neatly made bed, a desk, and a small reading nook.

“Home base,” he says simply. “Feel free to unpack, hang your stuff, make it yours. Don’t let the perfect lines of the ranch fool you… your space should feel lived in.”

I set my bag down, taking a slow breath. It’s small, simple, but there’s comfort in that. For the first time since I pulled through the iron gates, I feel a flicker of belonging.

“Yeah, thanks.”

Duke wins playfully at me and I can’t help but smile. “Well, I’ll see you soon. Let me know if you need anything.”

And just like that, he’s gone, the sound of his boots fading down the hall. I sink onto the edge of the bed, letting my shoulders relax at last.

My fingers fumble for my phone. I need to let my brother know I made it.

It doesn’t matter how many temp jobs I take and how much I move around, I always like Evan to know where I am.

I don’t want him to have to worry about me.

Annie: Made it. Survived introductions. Ironwood is definitely… different.

Evan: Different how? Good, bad, dangerous?

I chuckle softly, fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Annie: Intimidating. I don’t know if I’m going to like it here.