The Lonesome Rancher / Finding Happily-Ever-After: The Lonesome Rancher

She came up the steps to the big wraparound porch. There was an old chain swing at the far end. She smiled, knowing how nice it would be to sit out on warm summer nights with someone special.

She shook away the thought of anything that involved Sloan Merrick. He was off-limits to her. There were too many complications to count. One being the reason she was here. The only reason that mattered right now.

She had supper earlier with Louisa. It was obvious that the empty spot at the table made the woman sad. That meant she had to get things straightened out with Sloan so as not to interrupt Louisa’s progress. Try to get things back to before … before they touched, before they kissed.

Jade looked at the front door. Everything inside her told her to turn around and go back, but she still rang the bell. After hearing “come in” she opened the heavy oak door and went inside.

She was greeted by a large entry with nutmeg-colored hardwood floors. A large great room with a mammoth flat-screen television hung over a stone fireplace. The furniture was overstuffed and leather. The soft sounds of country music came from the speakers overhead. This was a man’s room.

Jade walked farther into the house, past a divider to find the open kitchen and dining area. Dark stained cabinets lined the buttery colored walls and the countertops and large center aisle were covered in earth toned granite.

In front of a stainless steel stove was Sloan. He was in a white fitted T-shirt tucked into clean jeans. His feet were bare and his hair still damp from a shower. He turned a thick steak on the stove’s center grill, then picked up his beer. The longneck never reached his lips as he turned and saw her.

He froze, then said, “What are you doing here?”

Okay, so he wasn’t happy to see her. “I need to talk to you.”

“I thought we agreed to stay away from each other.”

She tried to hide the hurt. “You chose to banish yourself from the house until the day I leave? There are other people to consider here. So get over yourself, cowboy.” When he didn’t say anything, she said, “This was a bad idea to come here and try to talk to you.”

She started to walk away when she heard him call to her. She didn’t stop until she reached the door, when his hand on her arm turned her around to face him.

“Okay. I’m sorry. Why did you stop by?”

“It’s your mother.”

His concern was obvious. “What’s wrong with Mom?”

“Nothing, physically. But since you’ve avoided the house, have you at least talked with her?”

He released her and she missed his touch.

“Hadn’t had the chance,” he told her. “Okay, I’ll stop by and see her tomorrow.”

“That’s not the problem. She’s worried about being a burden to you.”

“Whatever gave her that idea?”

“Your quick departure.”

Sloan crossed his arms over his chest. He had to do something to keep from touching this woman again. He’d hoped a few days away from her would change things. Damn, it hadn’t and he hated his weakness when it came to her. His jaw tightened causing an ache from his teeth to the top of his head. He needed the distraction.

“I did what I needed to do.” He shrugged. “It seemed the best solution for the problem.”

“I think the better solution would be to try to get along.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Darlin’, that was our problem, we get along too well.”

Something flashed across her face. Was she remembering the sparks, too? She finally glanced away. “I thought we agreed what happened at Otis’s house was a mistake.”

She blushed, but before she could answer, a loud alarm sound went off.

With a curse, Sloan ran back into the kitchen and saw the grill with flames shooting high into the hood. He turned off the burner, then covered the fire with a large pan lid. Soon the flames were out, but his meal was charred. “Well, I guess it’s soup for supper.”

That was when Jade took over. “It’s surprising you haven’t starved. You clean up the mess, and I’ll see what I can throw together for a meal.”

He glanced over her in her tailored slacks and pretty bright-blue blouse. “You cook?”

She managed a smile. “Of course. My mother made sure of that.”

“I thought career women didn’t have the desire to spend time in the kitchen.”

She frowned. “Don’t judge all women by one.”

She opened the refrigerator and stood back to allow him to see the many containers of leftovers. “Looks like Marta doesn’t want you to starve, either.”

He shrugged. “Someone cares if I eat.”

“And here I was feeling sorry for causing you to burn your steak.”

He’d been caught off guard seeing her walk into his house. And he was drinking her up, unable to get enough of her.

“What can I say? You’re one hell of a distraction, Jade Hamilton.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

OVER the next few days, Sloan worked nonstop. There had been no more visits from Jade. The last one had ended with a tour of his house, and her wanting to be friends. And all he had wanted was to carry her upstairs to his big bed. Instead he walked her back to the main house, said good-night to his mother and went back to his place. Alone.

Wasn’t that what he really wanted? For her to stay away. Hell, yes! He didn’t want to get mixed up with a woman again. Not a woman like Jade Hamilton. She wanted something from him that he was not willing to give. His heart.

That was how he’d been talked into helping break two horses they’d picked up at auction last month. He’d been putting it off with so much to do. Since the roundup was set for the coming weekend, what better time.

Hell, he needed to get his mind on something constructive. Something except Jade Hamilton. Anything was worth trying.

Besides, a couple of the young ranch hands were giving him a bad time about one particular horse, Black Knight. A beautiful, big black stallion he’d purchased hoping to breed some exceptional foals. Except this guy wouldn’t get anywhere near any of their brood mares until he learned some manners.

Johnny Reeves had lasted the longest on Knight before getting thrown. Wasn’t any better for the others who’d tried. They called Sloan. No matter how much he wanted to decline, he was a big believer in doing the same work as he expected from his hired hands.

“You’re next, boss,” young Johnny called.

Everyone watched and waited. What the heck? He’d put on a show. He walked over to the nervous stallion, calling himself every kind of crazy.

Jade had come out the back door following Louisa when she heard all the commotion down at the corral. She’d looked toward the area and seen several of the ranch hands sitting along the top of the fence, cheering and applauding as a rider climbed in the saddle. Just as quickly, the man was bucked off.

She’d glanced around for Sloan. She recognized his familiar black hat and his slow, deliberate gait as he appeared in the pen.

“What’s going on?” she asked Louisa.

The older woman’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, my, looks like they’re trying to saddle-break Knight again.”

“Again?”

“Let’s just say that stallion is a little on the stubborn side.” Louisa smiled. “Come on, let’s go down and watch.”

Jade didn’t want to appear too anxious to go, but it was difficult not to. “Sure.”

They made their way toward the barn, then veered off to the far side of the corral not wanting to cause any distractions.

That was when Jade got the first look at the next rider. It was Sloan. She hadn’t seen him in more than two days, and she was hungry to get her fill. Dressed in leather chaps and vest, he looked the part of a man in charge. He strolled up to the powerful animal and stroked him. There was a gentleness to his touch she could see even from far away.

Neighing, the horse danced away, but two ranch hands held him steady as Sloan checked the cinch.

“Whoa, fella,” he coaxed him back in a low, steady voice. Knight blew out a breath as if saying he didn’t trust him.

“That’s one beautiful animal,” Louisa whispered. “Smart, too. Yet, he is totally worthless unless he can be saddle broke. If anyone can do it Sloan can.”

Jade couldn’t take her eyes off the man or the animal. Pushing his black hat down on his head, Sloan approached the horse. Reins in hand, he grabbed the saddle horn. Then he raised his booted foot in the stirrup and climbed on just as the horse swung around in a circle. Gripping the reins, he pulled them back, as the animal reared.

Sloan was ready.

Knight bucked, and then bucked again. Power against power, stubbornness against stubbornness, the dance continued on for what seemed an endless amount of time. Neither willing to give in.

It was incredible to watch.

The horse slowed his assault and Sloan thought he had everything under control. Then suddenly the animal changed directions and started all over again. The guys cheered him on as he concentrated on his job. A few more hard bucks in the saddle and his hat came off, and his teeth felt the jarring, too. How could he ever think this was fun?

“Whoa, fella,” Sloan soothed, hoping the horse was finally losing steam. Knight puffed air from his nostrils and bobbed his head, then began to walk.

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