on the ranch long before the girls had come to live there when their parents died fifteen years ago. He’d had a casual male influence on their lives, but mostly, he’d been a friend. Beth had learned from Barney to whittle in rare moments of leisure. She trusted him.
The other cowhand, Dirk, kept to himself. He’d been on the ranch a little over two years, but he had forty years’ experience on the range. He might not be overly friendly, but he worked hard.
Now Jedadiah Davis would become a part of their lives. As she made the bed, Beth couldn’t help wondering if he’d stay long enough to get to know them, or move on, still a stranger.
A shiver passed through her. Something about the man bothered her. She believed his reputation, so there were no doubts there. But when he’d shaken her hand, she’d wanted to snatch it back, to retreat.
One look into his piercing blue eyes and she’d felt exposed, unable to hide. And then there was his response to her comments about sugar.
She hoped the man didn’t think there were any extracurricular benefits to training her. You wish, her inner voice taunted.
Grinning ruefully, she admitted he was attractive. Her social life, in the face of Beulah’s need of their help, had suffered. She didn’t know much about men in that area. Her one attempt to gain some experience had been a disaster.
Fortunately, the man had moved on, leaving her at home to lick her wounds, never having to see him again. She sure wouldn’t want to ruin her training with any…messiness.
“I can do that.”
The deep burr of a voice didn’t need identifying. She snapped straight up from her bent position over his bed. Spinning around, she put her hands on her hips, hoping to looked composed.
“No problem. We’ve just finished. That is, Melissa helped me, but she went back to the house to check on dinner.” She scooped the towels up from the one chair in the little room. “Here’s a set of towels. Toss the dirty ones over in that laundry basket. We pick up the dirty clothes every couple of days and return them washed the next day.”
“I’ll take care of my own laundry,” he growled.
“Suit yourself, but if you’re picturing me bent over a washtub, don’t. We have good equipment and share the work.” She didn’t add that the new washing machine and dryer had arrived only a couple of weeks ago.
He nodded but said nothing else, just staring at her.
“Well, dinner will be at six. The other two men are Barney and Dirk. Introduce yourself and I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Did you ask Abby about my training other horses?”
She was glad she’d remembered to ask. They had plenty of space for the man to train horses. In fact, she hoped she might learn something about it. “Yes. She said that’s not a problem.”
“Good.”
He continued to stare at her, not moving out of the doorway. Something warned her not to push past him. It was as if sparks would fly if she touched him.
“Need anything else?” she asked.
“No, I guess not.”
“Then, welcome to the Circle K. Hope you like it here.” She took a step forward. Still he didn’t move.
Her mop, broom and pail were against the wall by the door. She moved to pick them up.
His big hand circled the broom and mop. “Want me to carry these to the house?”
Startled by his offer, she looked into his eyes. Beautiful blue eyes. “No, of course not. I’m no debutante, unable to do for myself.”
Her aunt had worked them hard because it had been necessary. Or at least, they’d thought it had. And taught them a lot. But she’d done more than that. She’d given them a home together when Social Services had intended to separate them into three foster homes. She was their uncle’s widow, no blood kin, but she’d taken them anyway.
“We’ll see what you’re made of tomorrow morning,” he warned, as if he didn’t believe her words.
But Beth wasn’t about to show any fear. “You bet you will, cowboy.”
Chapter Two
In spite of her brave words, Beth didn’t sleep well that night.
After a meal where her stomach rolled every time Jed spoke, which, fortunately, wasn’t often, she’d maintained her ground until the man had left the house. Then she’d hidden in her room, poring over the books she’d found on barrel racing. And any information she could find about Jedadiah Davis.
There was little written on Jed’s early years. He’d made his mark on the rodeo circuit as a roper. Twice he’d won the national championship. Three other times he’d been in the top five. Then he’d hurt his arm in an auto accident and had turned to training.
And never looked back.
For the past four years, he’d been the man in demand. All the reports said he was a stern taskmaster. But he got results.
If he believed in his pupil.
One moment she was holding her breath, hoping he’d believe in her. The next moment she’d find herself pleading he’d move on down the road, leaving her to find another trainer.
He made her nervous.
When she reached the breakfast table, Abby offered her the entire morning off from ranch work, so she could have plenty of time to give to her training. But Beth couldn’t be so selfish. She knew Abby was already shorthanded with Melissa working in the house all day.
“I haven’t set up a specific time with Jed, yet. I thought I’d put in three or four hours, then head back to the house. After lunch, I can ride out with you again.”
“That won’t be enough time for you to get much done,” Abby protested.
“Until you find another hand, Abby, I’m going to help.”
Abby sighed. “I admit it would make things easier. Even though we finished the roundup, we had to neglect the fences, and we’ve got to bale the hay, and I’d like to move the larger herd to the south pasture.”
“All in one day?” Melissa teased from the stove.
“If it’s possible,” Abby agreed with a grin.
“Seriously, I can ride out if it’ll help,” Melissa offered.
Abby and Beth exchanged grins. Though the two of them had taken to the saddle, Melissa, while able to ride, preferred to spend her time in the kitchen.
“We won’t ask for that much sacrifice,” Abby assured her sister. “Someone will come along looking for a job any day now. You just keep feeding us.”
“Yeah, last night’s dinner was terrific,” Beth added.
“How
