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“I’ve been here ten years. I started here when the ranch opened. I started as the foreman, but I’ve been manager for nine years.”
“What did you do before that?”
“I was a foreman at a cattle ranch.”
“Why did you leave?”
“The bank foreclosed. I worked there from the time I was eighteen.”
“Do you like it here? I mean, it’s so different than what you did before, right?”
“Yes. We deal with cattle here, but nowhere near as many as a cattle ranch.”
“Do you live on the Bur Oak?”
“No, ma’am. I live in Clifton.”
“Willa Callahan took me into Clifton yesterday. It’s a beautiful little town.”
“Yes, it is. I was born and raised there.”
Eden nodded, then clenched her jaw when she saw the brunette heading toward them, then she sat on the other side of Ian. Eden bit her lip to keep from laughing when she heard him sigh.
“I wondered where you’d gone, Ian.”
“I can’t go too far, ma’am.”
“Bonnie.”
“Bonnie.”
When Eden snorted, he glanced at her with a frown, then she got to her feet.
“I’ll leave you two to talk. I’m going to go for a walk.”
“Don’t go far, Ms. Fairchild. There are wild animals here.”
Eden looked at Bonnie then him and raised her eyebrows.
“Yes, there are, and some are closer than you think.”
****
Ian watched her walk off toward the creek. He jerked when Bonnie touched his arm, and he looked at her.
“Can you walk me to the creek?”
“I’m sure you can walk there alone. I have other people to check on.”
“I’m only here two weeks, Ian. Could we get together for dinner one evening?”
“No, ma’am. I’m sorry, but if you read the brochure, you’ll know we can’t get involved with guests.”
“Who would know?” she asked him with a smile.
Ian got to his feet and looked at her. “I would. Enjoy your day.”
With a deep sigh, he walked around the campsite making sure everyone was good. He needed to get it through her head that he wasn’t interested in her. It wasn’t just the no fraternizing rule, he just didn’t feel a connectionwith her. Even if he did, there was no way he could act on it, and she needed to see that. Maybe she got the hint this time.
