Her Cowboy Hero: Rodeo Knights, A Western Romance Novel (Cowboys of Ransom Creek) Read online

  But it wasn’t that simple.

  Anger spiked through her suddenly. She’d had her daddy’s death to deal with, a ranch to sort out and in all of that she was being forced to fight these unwanted emotions over Trip.

  Her horses and cattle going missing was not helping. She’d let her defenses down because until now, they’d dealt strictly over business.

  “You’re right. I just can’t imagine him being thrown from a horse.” She took a step back from Trip. “I need to call the insurance company about filing a claim on the horses,” she said, stepping back another step and fighting for calm.

  He looked conflicted but just nodded curtly in agreement. She fought the want to throw herself into his arms and cry on his chest, instead she spun and hurried toward the house…trying hard not to run.

  Trip held himself stiffly where he stood and watched her hurry toward the ranch house. He rubbed the back of his neck and wondered at the wisdom of taking this job. But then, he understood why Ray had wanted him here, why he’d even been willing to sell half the stock contracting business to Trip. He wanted Lori safe and so did Trip. But Lori…he was beginning to wonder if he’d made the wrong decision for Lori.

  Was their decision fair to Lori?

  For a brief moment it had felt like old times, when they’d been friends and confided everything to each other. And then she’d backstepped.

  Torn with what to do he headed toward his truck. He had a bull to look at and he needed to put a little distance between him and Lori for a little while.

  She’d probably thank him.

  Chapter Four

  Joleen Deleon stared at Lori in the mirror of the Fluff-n-Buff Hair Salon two days after the horses went missing. “Girl, it has been far too long since you had these nasty split ends snipped off,” she drawled then leaned in so no one else in the salon could hear. “So how’s it going with your hunky foreman? Have you let by-gones be by-gones and opened a new chapter in your love life?”

  “Joleen, I have a lot going on at the ranch. I have cattle and now horses missing.”

  Her old friend shrugged. “So, more excuses to cuddle up with Trip-you-are-so-fine-Jensen.” She pointed her comb at Lori and her eyes narrowed. “Do not tell me you are still holding that grudge. You and that man were this close growing up…” She locked two fingers together and waggled them at Lori. “Y’all were kids. You’ve both been out in the world and come back home to roost and you’re both still single. Let it go and see where it goes.”

  Lori glared at Joleen. “Has it ever occurred to you that I may not have been in to get a trim because of the harassment you gave me about Trip last time?”

  “Has it ever occurred to you that I could cut six inches of your hair off in one swipe if you keep denying you still have feelings for that man. I think your daddy, God rest his hard-headed soul, knew it too. And this is his way of making the pathway clear.”

  “Could we change the subject please? And are going to trim or just harass me?”

  Joleen gave a coy smile. “I’ll trim but I really enjoy harassing you. You get so uptight. That’s how I know you still care despite all your protesting. You do know that ever since he moved back he’s been a hot topic with the gals. But he has yet to ask anyone of them out—though plenty of them have practically thrown themselves in front of his truck in an attempt to get his attention.”

  Try as she might jealousy rose inside of Lori at the thought of other women trying to win a date with Trip. “That doesn’t mean anything to me except that he’s busy at the ranch since Daddy died and he has too much on his mind to notice them.”

  “It could mean he has you on his mind. I remember the way he used to look at you in school. He practically adored you and it was not in a my-best-friend kind of way. That hot-high-school-hunk was crazy about you and even after you two had your blowup I’d catch him watching you from a distance. And believe me, girlfriend, he looked like one lovesick cowboy, the same longing look he’d always had for you. It never made sense to me that you two split instead of getting closer.”

  Lori fought down any feelings of hope her friend’s words might cause. “I really need to get back to the ranch. Can you hurry?”

  Joleen gave a shrug. “Okay. Relax I’ll back off. You look stressed and the last thing I want to do is add to that.”

  “Thanks. For everything.”

  With a new trim and an earful of gossip…Lori stopped by the grocery store and then headed back to the ranch. It had helped to get away. She’d been trying for two days to avoid Trip and it hadn’t been hard, which meant he’d been letting her avoid him or trying just as hard to avoid her…which didn’t sound like Trip.

  With Joleen’s voice echoing in her head she headed home. Had Joleen really saw what she said she saw, Trip staring at her…with longing?

  If that were so then why had he pulled back when she’d practically thrown herself at him the week before her prom. Why had he spent the rest of his time home avoiding her like the plague?

  She carried her groceries inside the house and put them away then stood at the window staring out at the barn. Was he there, in his office? She’d run like a scared rabbit after their conversation at the round pens. There was just so much going on and too many emotions floating around.

  She’d thought about him for the last two days. She had horses missing and bookings on the verge of cancelling if they couldn’t get the stock back and what was on her mind—Trip and the way they’d once been.

  Some ranch woman she was turning out to be.

  Yes, she’d taken care of business, contacted the insurance company, answered all the questions from the police and was gearing up to head to Fort Worth at the end of the week. And then Oklahoma City—if they didn’t cancel on her. They had a heavy schedule but now with her five best horses missing they were in jeopardy of losing some of their contracts.

  The one blessing in all of this was that the insurance claim could help with their financial loss. But she wanted her horses back.

  She wanted a lot of things…Trip Jensen for starters and it was driving her crazy. She so wanted to end this rollercoaster of emotions that Trip had her on.

  She needed to stop hiding out from him. With that on her mind, she walked to the barn. Maybe a ride would do her good. The men were sorting cattle today, maybe she’d ride out there and help. A ride sounded good and it had been a long time since she’d cut calves from a herd.

  As she entered the stable Harvey almost ran over her as he stormed out of Trip’s office. His face was red with anger and the anger in his expression was vivid.

  “Harvey, what’s the matter?” she asked, startled by the fury in his expression.

  He scowled. "Well I guess I'll be telling you that I'm not liking people looking at me like I did something wrong.” He glared at her and something inside her snapped.

  She’d had enough. “No one has accused you of anything, but we had a right to ask questions.” She met his stare straight on. “Sean Knight simply asked you a few questions that you should have been willing and ready to answer. I don’t understand why you’re so upset, and quiet frankly, I’m about fed up with it,” she said, firmly feeling herself channeling her dad.

  Harvey looked startled and suddenly at a loss for words. She wasn’t. “You were at the rodeo and you were responsible for those animals and if you’re going to continue to work here then you need to own up to that fact. Those animals are a huge loss to this business. Answering a few questions when I’m out five prize rodeo stock is not too much to be asked. You should have expected questions.”

  They stared at each other, her temper wasn’t usually so quick but really, what was Harvey thinking? That they were just supposed to let her—their animals disappear and not ask any questions. Behind him she saw Trip come to the door of his office.

  “I guess you’re right,” Harvey muttered.

  “I know I’m right.” She couldn’t help it. Over Harvey’s shoulder she saw Trip press one shoulder to the doorf
rame as he relaxed against it, crossed his arms and watched quietly. Supporting her but not intruding unless she needed him.

  Her insides quivered. She focused on Harvey.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he grunted. “But I got a feeling that nobody trusts me around here. Even though I have been here all these years. Your daddy would’ve trusted me.”

  Guilt hit her but she quickly dismissed it. “Yes, he would have. He hired you a long time ago Harvey. But that doesn’t mean he would have let you get by without answering some questions and you know it.”

  It hit her then that maybe Harvey might have thought he would move into the foreman position when Trip’s dad had retired. Instead, her dad had brought in Trip.

  Could he have been involved—no she wasn’t going to think that. She actually trusted Harvey, though she was disappointed in his response to this situation.

  “This will pass, Harvey,” she said. “But until it does questions might be asked. We’re just trying to get to the bottom of this.”

  Her words didn’t make him look any happier. “Fine,” he grunted and walked off.

  She watched him go then looked at Trip. He hitched an eyebrow then backed into his office and she followed him inside and closed the door behind her.

  “So what exactly did you say to Harvey that had him so upset?” she asked.

  Trip leaned on the edge of his desk and crossed his own arms as he studied her.

  “I just asked him if he remembered anything since being interviewed about the incident and why he loaded the horses before hooking the truck to the trailer. Nothing he should have gotten all huffed up about.”

  She sighed, letting her breath out slowly. “You’re right. But he’s been here for years. I can’t believe he’d be a part of stealing them. I’m not ready to believe the worst, not until we have more facts. I just won’t jump to conclusions. Harvey feels like we’re accusing him of something and I’m—we’re not. Still, we have to keep an open mind and someone did this. So I’m not trusting anybody except you and me.”

  “You’re thinking what I’m thinking. And Harvey has no right to accuse us of anything.”

  She nodded, glad to have his support. It felt good knowing she had his backing. “I’m going to Fort Worth with you. I’m going to be on watch and have my eyes and ears open too.”

  “I think that’s a good idea. It’ll be nice to have you around.”

  She ran a hand through her hair. “I’m going for a ride. I need to get out in the open for a little while.”

  “You holding up okay?” he asked his gaze penetrating.

  She shrugged. “I’m doing the best I can. This on top of Daddy only being dead five months…” she hesitated, considering her words. She’d been trying so hard to be strong.

  “You want some company on your ride?” he asked.

  Her pulse sped up—once the two of them had ridden everywhere on the ranch together. “Sure, just like old times,” she said, trying to keep herself neutral. “But, I don’t want to talk about all this. I haven’t slept much and I just want a break for a few minutes. I just want a ride. Can you do that?”

  His lip hitched up on the side.” I can do that because I’m in total agreement with you that you need a break. And you need some sleep. Maybe if we ride your mind will relax a little bit. And I’d love to show you some of the changes we’ve done since you rode the ranch. Your dad was always wanting improvements. Of course, by truck you could see more but there are a few things to see close enough for a ride.”

  “That’s a great idea. We can give it our best shot anyway.” She took a deep breath feeling a sense of exhilaration at the thought of riding with him…her old friend, she reminded herself. It wasn’t safe to think of him as anything else. He’d made it perfectly clear that they had a professional relationship these days.

  His grin though, made it a hard thing to remember. They headed into the stable. She picked a pretty mare she’d ridden in the arena a few times since she’d been home and he grabbed his black gelding. They brushed them down and saddled them and then headed out toward the horizon. The simple act of leaving the house and ranch compound behind gave her a sense of relief from her shoulders. The wind was light but the fresh air scented lightly with mixtures of clover and honeysuckle lifted her spirits.

  “When’s the last time you rode out here?” he asked.

  She glanced at him. He looked so good in the saddle, always had. Trip was just the epitome of the perfect cowboy. His hat sat low over his brow, his back was straight and he moved with the horse in a smooth, easy way. He fit out here in every way. Her heart longed for what could have been…for what she’d hoped could be at one time. She looked away and concentrated on what he’d asked.

  “It’s been too long. I was here, you know the month before Daddy died. I thank God every day that I came home that weekend. I’d been needing to come home but work was busy and…well he and I had had a fight. I came home anyway finally and…” She paused, realizing she was rambling and hadn’t answered his question. “I didn’t take time to ride that weekend. And since I’ve been home, well you know, I’ve been busy going over the books and trying to get a hold on the business. The few times I’ve ridden in the round pen are all I’ve taken time for.”

  She shot him an embarrassed glance and he nodded. She felt so guilty for having not come home.

  “You said you didn’t want to talk about the horse theft but do you want to talk about anything else? Like why you were mad at your dad? None of my business I know, but I’m here if you need a sounding board. I seem to remember we used to do that pretty well for each other.”

  Her heart cinched tight and she swallowed hard as her throat suddenly ached with the want to talk like old times. She rested her wrist on the saddle horn and held the reins lightly with her fingers and tried to relax, letting the feel of the horse’s walk ease through her. But she was so wound up it was hard to let go.

  “I struggle…” she admitted at last. “Struggle with the fact that I wasn’t here. And that he died thinking I was never coming home to live on the ranch he’d built for me.”

  At her revelation Trip pulled his horse to a halt and she did the same.

  “Never? You don’t plan to make Calhoun Ranch your home—ever? I don’t get that?”

  She looked down, the struggle real inside of her. “I’m not sure anymore. I’m dealing with a lot right now.”

  And she was. Part of that involved Trip. But she couldn’t tell him that.

  Chapter Five

  Trip had noticed she hadn’t been around but once between the time he’d started working and Ray had died. His own father had told him that Ray and Lori had had an argument but that Ray had been very closed mouth about it but it had hit him hard. By the time Trip had agreed to work for Ray the rancher had seemed set on his plan of action where Trip was concerned but he’d never realized that Ray was actually setting him up to run the ranch because Lori had no plans to ever take control.

  The idea was hard hitting and wrong. He stared at her. “I don’t get this. You always wanted to run this ranch. You and your dad talked about it for as long as I can remember. What happened?” Maybe he shouldn’t ask but he couldn’t help it.

  “Things…change. Daddy said he wanted me to stretch my wings and try new things. He said it would be good for me and so I went. But then he decided when he wanted me to come back home. But I had commitments. And I enjoyed working with the marketing firm and I wasn’t ready. He took that as I was never coming home and he put pressure on me. I rebelled.” She shifted in the saddle, it creaked with the movement. “I’m very much like him, you know, stubborn and hard-headed as they come and independent. And so he pushed my buttons and I buried my feet in the dirt and took a stance like a stubborn horse determined not to budge for the trainer. I was okay about coming home on my terms but not to be ruled and led by Daddy. I loved him so much but I got scared that he wanted to control too much of my life. And so I stayed away.”

  He could unders
tand her thinking. Ray was strong-willed but he was right, so was she. It would be hard not for them to clash eventually. But—“I’m actually shocked you planned to stay away even if you and your dad fought. I never thought you would do anything but come back to the ranch. I mean, your dad told me you planned to stay at your job in marketing a little longer but I didn’t think…” he paused then added, “I don’t think he believed you wouldn’t be back.”

  She blinked and he saw the tears before she dashed them away with her fingertips. She seemed to always be close to tears these days and her daddy had been gone five months. She was beginning to believe things were never going to get better.

  “I know,” she said, hearing the slight crack in her voice. “And then he’d hired you a few months before and demanded that I come home that weekend. Thankfully, I did and he explained what he was doing…but, I had no idea a month later he’d be gone.”

  She urged her horse to start moving again and Trip did too. They were approaching the gate and he moved ahead of her to lean down and opened it from the saddle. They rode through and he held back then closed it. She used the time to collect her emotions. She was a strong, independent woman she needed to start acting like it.

  Trip was very troubled by what he was hearing.

  He rode back and closed the gate again and then loped to where she was. She glanced over her shoulder at him as he approached and then she nudged her horse into a trot and then they took off at a gallop.

  Trip laughed and took out after her. She needed this. There was freedom galloping across an open pasture especially when you were feeling hemmed in or down and Lori had too be feeling both.

  Bluebonnets were blooming as they raced over a hill of them and down the slope toward a gurgling creek that wove through the ranch. In their early years they raced this path many times and Lori and her horse always jumped the creek to the other side. He wondered if she’d do it now. He wondered how long it had been since she’d let herself run truly free like this.