The Rancher's Prospect

“That isn’t what it looks like from my standpoint.”

Josh closed his eyes in obvious frustration.

“I’ll talk to my grandfather about the computer work,” he finally told her.

“Talk or demand?”

His jaw tightened again, but he picked up the armload of horse tackle and headed for the door without saying anything else.

“There’s something I don’t understand,” Tara said before he could leave.

He froze. “What?”

“Walt has a huge amount of experience running a ranch, and caution isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Why are you so opposed to learning from him? Has the business really changed that much?”

“You’d be surprised. As for learning from my grandfather, he can be challenging.”

She smiled faintly, knowing it would annoy Josh. “Actually, I think he’s delightful.”

* * *

AS JOSH WENT DOWN the steps of the office, he saw his grandfather coming from the direction of the horse barn.

Delightful? Much as he loved the old guy, delightful wasn’t the word he’d choose.

“This was in a filing cabinet,” he said, indicating the armload he carried. “I’ll get rid of it if there’s nothing useful.”

“I don’t give a crap. But I’m telling Tara I want everything computerized since you’re so highfalutin sure it’s needed.”

“I just asked her to do that,” Josh returned, all too aware that his request hadn’t gone anywhere. Tara was one of the most infuriating women he’d ever met.

“She’s working for me, so I’ll do the asking.”

Why couldn’t his grandfather let go of one blessed thing?

Tension crept up Josh’s neck. He could have bought a different ranch years ago when a spread south of Schuyler had come up for sale. He’d checked the place out and almost made an offer, but in the end it had felt as if he would be giving up on his heritage.

Josh glanced toward the rolling grassland studded with trees and livestock. His roots were here; the Boxing N had been in his mother’s family since the 1800s, and in the distance it gave way to mountains that were strikingly beautiful. Back then the land had been cheap, and his Nelson ancestors had bought a vast section of the lower mountainous region as part of the Boxing N, even though it didn’t support many cattle per acre.

Walt was slowly limping toward the office.

Josh sighed and followed. He caught up and endured his grandfather’s sour frown as they mounted the three steps. Hellfire, he wanted a good relationship with Walt, but few people, if any, had ever gotten close to him. Walt was like the land itself—unyielding, sometimes unforgiving, and oblivious to the changing times.

Inside they found Tara lifting an old hand water pump from a drawer; she glanced up as she dropped it onto the desk. She’d removed her suit jacket and there were smudges of dirt across the breast line of her blouse. Josh swallowed. Tara was bad news from start to finish, and he had no intention of allowing his attraction to her to go anywhere.

“Is something up?” she asked, her face becoming expressionless.

It struck Josh that her reactions generally seemed measured. Even when arguing with him, he’d had the impression her emotions were carefully controlled. He didn’t trust that kind of restraint. As a rule the McGregors and Nelsons were passionate people; it might mean extra conflicts along the way, but at least you knew where you stood.

“My grandfather wants to expand your work parameters,” he said before Walt could explain.

Walt deserved his dignity, but so did he. He certainly didn’t deserve to be treated as if he was thirteen instead of thirty-three.

“I’ve been thinking about my grandson’s la-di-da modern ideas.” Walt huffed. “So I’ve decided you should take care of that computer stuff. Do it whatever way you think it should be done. You’re the expert.” His tone plainly indicated he didn’t think Josh possessed expertise of any kind.

“Of course,” Tara replied. “Do you also want me to set up a system where bills can be paid online and checks can be printed?”

“Online?” Walt asked.

“Through the internet.”

How anyone could be unfamiliar with the concept, Josh didn’t know, but he suspected Tara was speaking a foreign language as far as his grandfather was concerned. Josh would have lunged forward with an emphatic yes, but something in her eyes kept him quiet. She’d aligned herself with Walt and would find a way to do things his way, even on the computer. When the time came, Josh was sure he’d have to do a lot of extra work getting things changed to the way he wanted.

“Is that how other ranches do business?” Walt asked.

“I can’t speak for other ranches,” Tara said, “but I’ve seen how much time the process saves.”

“Okay, do it. Get whatever you need for that inter...online thing.”

“Well, it’s not quite that simple...”

Behind Walt’s back, Josh shook his head and gave her an intense glare, to which she only raised an eyebrow.

“You have to have internet service here at the office,” she explained to Walt, “along with a computer, of course.”

“Get whatever you need.”

“All right.”

He limped out, and Josh smiled blandly at Tara. “I already told you that, as the owner, I will make the arrangements for whatever is required here at the office.”

“Certainly.” She returned his smile with one as carefully bland as his own.

He’d always preferred women who were more easygoing, so why did this chilly cucumber make him so aware of her?

“Why didn’t you want me to explain the internet to Walt?” she asked.

“Because he’s an old-time cattleman and doesn’t understand.”

“That doesn’t mean he can’t understand, provided the people around him don’t treat him as a senile old man. Or as a child, for that matter. He’s obviously still sharp.”

“I’m not treating him that way.”

“Ha.” She shrugged, and he glanced away, not wanting to watch the movement of the soft fabric of her blouse.

“Incidentally,” he said, “you might find jeans and a T-shirt more practical on the Boxing N than silk.”

“Thank you so much for the advice,” she returned with an edge of sarcasm. It was probably deserved; he didn’t have any business suggesting what sort of clothing she should wear.

“Just leave the nonoffice items near the door,” he said. “I’ll get them out of your way later.”

“If that’s what Walt wants me to do.”

Seething with anger, Josh left. At least he was going to get the office and accounts computerized, but he wasn’t sure if he’d won or lost the latest skirmish. He didn’t even know if winning and losing was the point. If he won, then his grandfather lost. But if things didn’t get into shape soon, his reputation would suffer, and the ranch might be hard to keep going.

Josh’s trust fund was generous, but he’d quietly used some of it to pay his grandparents’ medical bills not covered by insurance. There was also the question of gift taxes on the Boxing N, which he fully expected to pay instead of his grandfather. The remaining principal, while substantial, couldn’t support a failing proposition forever.

* * *

LAUREN MOVED FROM one patient to another as quickly as possible. If she wasn’t careful, she’d end up behind schedule, and that wasn’t fair to Tara—her sister was cutting her first day at the Boxing N short so they could spend the afternoon together. They had planned to do it the previous Friday, but the other physician’s assistant had called, asking her to trade shifts because his wife was ill.

Her nerves were on edge for fear that Carl might stop by again. It was ironic, because she’d enjoyed her date with him even more than the first ones. After dinner, they’d walked along the river while the sun dropped low in the sky and cast a rosy light over the landscape.

When she’d described the setting to Tara, her sister had made a dry comment about Carl devising the ideal romantic moment, only to quickly apologize. They hadn’t discussed men that much, but Lauren suspected that neither of them had a stellar record.

“I heard that you and Sheriff Stanfield went out this weekend,” Ethel Carter commented as Lauren took her blood pressure.

The nurse had taken it earlier, but the first check was always high. Mrs. Carter got stressed when she walked into the clinic, a case of white-coat syndrome, as it was called. Some medical professionals discounted the condition, but Lauren was a believer.

“Where did you hear that?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

“Virginia was at the senior center exercise group this morning. Her daughter lives in Windy Bluffs and saw you at the Mexican restaurant. It’s nice that you’re still going out together.”

Great. Gossip was the last thing Lauren needed. Emily had warned her when she’d moved to Schuyler that it was the most popular form of entertainment in town.

“We’re friends,” Lauren said as though it didn’t matter very much. It was true. She and Carl were friends. “Are you taking your blood pressure medicine every day?”

“Whenever I remember.”

“It’s important to be consistent, okay? We can talk about ways to make that easier at your next appointment.”

“Of course, dear. Did you and the sheriff have a nice evening together?”

“La Bonita is a terrific restaurant, and their fresh salsa is fantastic. I’m going to take my sister there soon.”

Ethel looked disappointed and might have tried probing further, but Lauren patted her shoulder and handed over several prescription refills.

“Keep up the exercise,” she instructed. “It’s obviously doing you good.”

Ethel’s face creased into a smile. “I only started because you kept urging me to try. I do feel better. The arthritis doesn’t hurt as much, and I have more energy.”

“That’s wonderful.”

Lauren went on to her next patient, hoping she wouldn’t have to field more questions about her and Carl Stanfield. It could get really old, really fast.

* * *

TARA SPENT THE remainder of the morning cleaning out the rest of the file cabinets and emptying cupboards of equipment that had nothing to do with office work. Most of it couldn’t have been used in decades, and she couldn’t even tell what some items were. She recognized spurs, of course, and rusted samples of barbed wire. The rest was pretty strange, reminiscent of medieval torture implements she’d seen in museums across Europe.

She mentioned it when Walt came in and he chuckled. “The animals might have agreed. We’re a little more modern with our methods now, but I gotta admit that I still don’t enjoy branding time. If I’d ever found those sapphires in the mountains, I might have even given up on cattle ranching and stuck with horse breeding.”

“Sapphires?” Tara exclaimed, her imagination stirring. “I didn’t know they had any in Montana.”

“They do, and my grandpa used to say his dad once found some on the Boxing N. As a kid I searched plenty and finally gave up.”

“A treasure hunt. Exciting.”

“True. It was great fun.” The old man’s eyes gleamed with the memories.

Walt had brought her more boxes, and when he’d left again she began filling them, taking digital photos of each item. If she could have identified everything with a name, she would have merely logged them, but this was the only way she knew how to keep track. Walt probably didn’t care, but in light of the contentious relationship he had with his grandson, she wanted to keep a record of everything she did in the office.

At noon she tidied up and stepped out to the small porch, looking around for Walt. He wasn’t there, so she headed for the main house and knocked.

“Is there something you need?” Josh’s voice came from behind, startling her.

Tara turned. “Not exactly. I’m leaving and didn’t know whether the office should be locked.”

“You’re leaving? It’s only noon.”

She gave him a tight smile. “I set my own hours. And need I remind you that it isn’t any of your business?”

“I see.”

“It doesn’t matter whether you see or not. Walt knows my hours will vary depending upon my sister’s schedule and my other commitments.”

“You don’t have to work here at all,” he offered quickly.

“Yeah, I understood that the first time you mentioned it,” she returned. “Now, should the office door be locked or not?”

“I’ll lock it and have a key made for you.”

“Thank you.”

To the left of where they stood, the porch was secluded, the view of the ranch obscured by a blooming vine that released a lovely scent, teasing Tara’s senses. She could see how it might be hard to find a private outdoor space, even out in the country, and this was the kind of quiet spot where a husband and wife could steal a moment together.

Josh cocked his head. “What are you thinking about?” he asked, curiosity in his eyes.

“Oh.” She gestured at the corner of the porch. “I was just thinking how the vines must have given your grandparents a nice place to share a kiss in the middle of the day. You know, where no one else was likely to see.”

She’d made the comment specific to his grandparents, uncomfortable with the thought that any couple might find it a pleasant place for intimacies. The scent of the flowers was evocative, making her mind conjure images that didn’t belong there. After all, she wasn’t good at physical intimacy. Or any form of intimacy, for that matter.

“Nice thought, but off base, I’m afraid,” Josh responded quietly. “My grandparents led somewhat separate lives. They had little in common. Grandma came from the city, and city girls don’t adjust well to Montana ranches. I’m sure they cared for each other, but I doubt their marriage would have lasted in today’s world.”

Tara hid her shock at Josh’s blunt statement. It seemed at odds with Walt’s painful declaration about his wife earlier that morning. What had he said...that he’d have done anything for her?

Josh gave her a narrow look. “I’m only telling you because if you have a sentimental belief that Grandpa is desperately pining for his wife and needs your support, you can relax.”

“No worries,” she answered evenly. “Thanks for being original this time. Were you hoping I’d lose sympathy for Walt and want to leave?”

“That isn’t what I was doing,” he insisted, though the faint chagrin in his face told her differently. “I meant to ask before, what about all those boxes I saw my grandfather bringing to the office?” It was an obvious effort to changes the subject.

“They were for the nonoffice items. Walt is going to store them somewhere else. I couldn’t catalog the contents since I didn’t recognize most of the stuff, but I took pictures so there would be a record.”

“Isn’t that overkill?”

“It seemed best under the circumstances. Uh... Walt told me there might be sapphires on the Boxing N.”

“That’s a family myth. I ordered a survey ten years ago, and there’s nothing here.”

“Surveys can be wrong. Walt was so energized when he told me about searching for them as a kid, it occurred to me that another search might give him a new purpose.”

Josh’s eyes flared. “The last thing he needs is to get revved up about something utterly pointless.”

“I thought you’d prefer getting him interested in something other than the ranch.”

“That wouldn’t stop his interfering—it would just add a new layer of complication.”

“Well, I think you’re wrong, and I’m going to talk with Walt about it.”

She went to her rental car, refusing to look back to see if Josh was watching.

It was only in the car that she glanced at the rearview mirror. While Josh was still standing in front of the large house, it was hard to know if he was looking her way or at one of the nearby barns.

Not that it mattered. She wasn’t interested in him as a man. With that reminder, Tara started her sedan and drove steadily down the gravel road.

CHAPTER FIVE

JOSH DIDN’T SLEEP WELL; he was too frustrated over the way Tara was making his life even more of a challenge. Sapphire hunting was fine for children to dream about, but Walt was an old man with disabling injuries. He didn’t need to get excited about something he couldn’t possibly do. Josh enjoyed rock hunting and polishing as a hobby, though he had little time for it these days. But it had been a long time since he’d wasted his energy on thoughts of finding gemstones.

Despite his lack of rest, Josh was out before dawn the next morning so he could deal with the boxes Tara had packed. He’d wanted to do it the previous afternoon, but there hadn’t been time after a series of panicked calls from one of the young cowhands he’d finally managed to employ.

“I wouldn’t have hired such a kid,” Walt had snorted.

“He was the best of the applicants,” Josh had returned as politely as possible. He didn’t want to explain that word had gotten around about Walt’s behavior and experienced hands were avoiding the Boxing N. With a little luck, that would begin changing soon. In the meantime he was trying to pair the new guys with ones who’d been around longer.

Fortunately his grandfather had been kept too busy in the foaling barn to think about anything else—hired hands, boxes or sapphires. Walt had two mares on the verge of foaling and tended to baby them. Otherwise he probably would have moved the boxes himself. At the very least he would have tried, but there were times when he barely managed to keep himself upright; the last thing he needed was to fall under a heavy load. Several surgeries had saved his leg, but it didn’t have the strength to do much.

Josh stacked the boxes in the foreman’s house; he’d go through them when he had a chance, although it was unlikely they contained much of value.

After a quick breakfast, he went out to give orders to the ranch hands; at least they’d all shown up for work and nobody had quit for several days. Perhaps he should be grateful for small blessings.

He returned to the office, hoping that Walt wouldn’t decide to go, as well. But his grandfather was already there, glaring at the empty space next to the door.

“What did you do with everything?” he demanded.

“Hauled it out.”

“I was going to do that.”

“Now you don’t have to,” Josh told him. Grandpa’s doctor had told him to avoid heavy lifting, but he had trouble accepting limitations.

Tara arrived with two cartons of file folders in her arms.

“Good morning,” she said cheerily. “You know, Walt, I keep wondering about those sapphires you mentioned.”

Josh ground his teeth when she glanced at him with an innocent expression.

Walt grunted. “What do you mean?”

“There are all these old records here in the office. Could there be anything more specific about the location?”

“Don’t know, but it’s worth checking. Keep your eyes peeled,” Walt urged. “Right now I’ve gotta go check on Belle.”

Trying to control his temper, Josh waited until he and Tara were alone, then he started looking through a stack of papers on the desk. Obviously there was no point debating the sapphire issue; Tara was clearly determined to do the opposite of what he wanted.

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