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From the time Kalie graduated from college, this was all she’d known. She’d grown used to the sounds of the bustling city even if she didn’t love living there.
“It will be a nice vacation, and in the end, I hope I learn more about the people who are giving me their land. I’ll be back in New York City and looking for a new place to live. And I’ll once again go through the dating pool on one of the dating apps looking for Mr. Right.”
“Or Mr. Right Now,” her friend said. “Call me and let me know you’re all right.”
She laughed. “And if I’m not, are you going to fly out to Texas and rescue me?”
“Of course,” she said laughing. “I just don’t want you to fly to Texas and disappear, never to be seen again.”
That wasn’t going to happen.
“Even if I meet a handsome, hunky cowboy?”
“Even if,” Stacy said. “Someone has to watch over you.”
Warmth filled her chest. Stacy was her best friend and the only person who cared about her.
“Thanks, Stacy. I’ll let you know what’s going on when I get there.”
CHAPTER2
Preston Nash rubbed down the golden mare and wished for the hundredth time that he could afford to purchase the Sweet B Ranch. He’d worked here since he was sixteen. Sure, he’d gone away to college, but when he returned, he knew exactly what he wanted to do, and he adored the people he worked for.
Sadly, both Will and Lillian Parker had now passed and no one was certain about what would happen with their ranch.
The thought of finding another ranch to work on or even working on his family’s ranch was not what he wanted. For some reason, this place felt like home, and if he had the money, he would buy the land. But the value far exceeded his million-dollar trust fund, and he wasn’t going into debt for this place only to lose it later because of financial burdens.
The bunkhouse, his home away from home, was nice with two bedrooms, a kitchenette, and a bathroom on the backside. He and Colby shared the space. They had done their best to take care of Mrs. Parker right up until the night she told them it was her time.
And sure enough, she’d died a few hours later, the two of them by her side with the hospice nurse. The Parkers were good people and it was a damn shame their family wasn’t there when she passed.
“The stalls are cleaned and fresh hay has been put down for the horses,” his coworker and close friend Colby King said. “Do you think we’re going to get paid?”
“I have no reason to believe otherwise,” Preston replied to his friend. “The Parkers took good care of us, and you know they wouldn’t want their animals to be neglected, and I don’t see Nathan, their lawyer, out here shoveling shit. Until he says so, I’m staying to care for this place. Or until the next owner takes over.”
That was the problem. No one knew anything about who the Parkers had left the Sweet B Ranch to.
“I don’t like uncertainty. It makes me want to run,” Colby said.
“Rub down Sadie and maybe that will ease your anxiety,” Preston told him. “Do you want to grab a beer tonight?”
Colby shuffled into Sadie’s stall and pulled the brush from the nail it hung on then ran it down her spine. She gave a rumble deep in her chest in appreciation.
“No, I’ve got to go mail off the money to my parole officer. If you want me to, I could stop and pick up a six-pack at the store,” he said.
“That’s a good idea and maybe some hamburgers as well. I’ve got a hankering for a good hamburger,” he said as his stomach grumbled in reply.
The man shook his head. “You’re as bad as that fool on those Popeye cartoons about hamburgers.”
“Yeah, so what?” Preston said. “Nothing beats a good hamburger.”
The door to the barn flew open and Preston wanted to groan. The devil had just walked in wearing a black cowboy hat, crisp jeans, and an expensive shirt handmade to fit him with perfection.
The man looked like a million dollars but had the soul of a snake.
“You boys keeping things going here?”
“Yes,” Preston said curtly. Short and precise answers would hopefully have the unwelcome visitor crawling back to whatever hole he slithered out of.
