Counting On The Cowboy. Shannon Vannatter Taylor

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СКАЧАТЬ bolted for the fishing cabin, snakes forgotten, but the rooster cut her off. A flap of amber-colored wings, blue-and-green tail feathers, spurs aimed at her as he lunged/flew in her direction. She dodged, bit her tongue to keep from screaming. No waking Chase again or alerting Brock to come to her rescue. She scrambled around Rusty. He crowed in hot pursuit. Okay, maybe she wouldn’t mind if Brock showed up about now.

      “You stupid bird, leave me alone.” She made it to the cabin porch, grabbed a broom, spun and jabbed it at the rooster.

      He paced back and forth, looking cocky, crowed again, then turned and headed up the path back to the barn.

      “Take that, you stupid rooster.” But as much as she wanted to, she couldn’t just leave him loose to attack guests. She followed at a distance. Not a ranch hand in sight to help her.

      Instead of going to his coop, the rooster stopped near the goat pen, pecked at the ground. Though she’d never been inside the barn, if she could find some feed, maybe she could lure the foul fowl back into his lair.

      At least he was the only one out. She rounded the goat pen, found a bucket near the chicken coop with seeds in it, opened the wire door of the pen, and jogged back to the huge bird. But not too close.

      “Look what I got, big fella.”

      The rooster cocked his head, strutted in her direction. Faster than she was comfortable with, but she still had the broom. She backed all the way to the pen, then threw the bucket inside. Thankfully, the rooster went in and she fastened the door in place.

      She blew out a big breath, closed her eyes, leaned her forehead on the hand that was still holding the broom.

      A noise behind her. She jabbed the broom as she spun around.

      And almost gouged Brock in the chest.

      His arms went up in a defensive stance. “I never would have pegged you for having such impressive rooster wrangling skills.”

      She dropped the broom, covered her face with her hands. “Sorry. I thought Rusty had a friend.”

      “I doubt he has any with that attitude. Whoa! Get back in there.” Brock scooped up the broom, darted around her. “No wonder he got out, there’s a hole in the pen.”

      By the time she turned around, Brock had the broom clamped over the hole. The rooster flapped his wings and crowed, but at least he wasn’t going anywhere.

      “That’s weird.” Brock knelt, inspected the wire.

      “What?”

      “It’s been cut. With wire cutters.” He ran his fingers along the slit. “See how it’s crimped—dull wire cutters do that.”

      “Why would someone cut the wire?”

      “I have no idea. But probably for the same reason they’d bring a live trap full of mice to the cabin.”

      “Huh?” She shuddered. “Someone opened the trap you set?”

      He told her about the extra trap and chasing the man he’d dubbed Ball-Cap into the woods.

      “He broke in?” Her voice cracked. “Do you know who he was?”

      “I couldn’t get a good look. He was too far away. But I don’t know many folks around here, anyway.”

      “So someone’s been bringing mice to the fishing cabin. And they cut the wire, so the rooster would get out. Why would anyone do that?”

      “I’m not sure. But once I get this wire fixed, we need to tell Chase. Can you hold the broom while I find something to repair the hole?”

      “Sure.” She took the broom from him. As soon as he stepped away, the rooster flapped at the hole. But she kept him at bay.

      Brock hurried back with a spool of wire and cutters. He threaded the wire to make a seam across the hole, with the rooster flogging the broom through the whole procedure. By the time the repair was finished, she was shaking.

      “That should keep him.” He raised up, took the broom from her. “Hey.” His hands settled on her shoulders. “You okay?”

      “I just don’t know who would want to hurt Landry and Chase. She can’t handle this.”

      “We won’t tell her. But Chase has to know someone has it out for this place. Maybe he’ll know who we’re dealing with. Or it could be teenagers playing pranks. Whoever it is, we’ll get to the bottom of it. And it’ll be okay.” He squeezed her hand.

      Gentle, calloused palm. Soothing, comforting. And suddenly, the effect the cowboy’s touch had on her was much more worrisome than dude ranch hijinks.

       Chapter Four

      “We can’t tell Landry about this.” Chase paced the office.

      “That’s why we asked to talk to you alone.” If only Brock could take away his friend’s stress. But instead, he was adding to it.

      “What about a competing dude ranch?” Devree picked at her nails. “Any owners capable of pulling something like this to steal business?”

      “No. The other owners are stand up people. They might undercut our prices, but not purposely try to sabotage us. I can’t imagine anyone I know doing this.”

      “Anyone got a bone to pick with you?” Brock pressed on. They had to figure this out. “An ex-employee maybe?”

      Chase snapped his fingers. “There was a ranch hand. Nash Porter. I fired him shortly after Landry and I met. A real troublemaker.”

      “Is he still around these parts?” He glanced at Devree.

      Fiddling with her phone? Was she trying to play it calm, ease Chase’s worries?

      “He’s in jail.” She caught his gaze.

      “He is? How do you know?” Chase zeroed in on her.

      “I just googled him. Assault and battery, stemming from a bar fight.”

      “I’m not surprised.” Chase tunneled his fingers through his hair. “There’s no one else I can think of. Here’s what we’re gonna do. Not a word to Landry. I’ll have the locks changed for the cabin. Only y’all get keys. No one else.”

      “I’ll change them out today.”

      “And I’m sorry about the rooster, Devree. He won’t bother you again.”

      “I’m fine.”

      “You should have seen her. She handled him like a pro.” Maybe she was tougher than she realized. And Brock was beginning to suspect she didn’t hate the country as much as she thought she did. Trouble was—she’d probably never realize it.

      Besides, his mom had toughed it out once. Then returned to the city just like Devree СКАЧАТЬ