Runaway Cowboy. Judy Christenberry

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      “On the bulletin board at the grocery store in Steamboat.”

      He nodded. Then he headed toward the desk, the one Jessica had been occupying earlier, followed by Cliff.

      “What do you think?” Cliff asked.

      “I think you were right.”

      “Which part?”

      “The part where you said they would destroy themselves and the ranch if they continued on as they are.”

      “I knew it,” Cliff agreed with a sigh.

      “Don’t worry. I think you called me at the right time. And it was the right time for me, too. I’ve been away from the land for too long.”

      “Glad to hear it, son. I promised your uncle I’d do right by you, though we can’t match the salary you gave up.”

      “No, I didn’t think you could, but I’ve put back money and made some investments to carry me for a while. Your offer of ten percent of the ranch, as well as a salary, is more than generous.”

      “Okay. Now what?”

      “I’m going to look around. Can you go put up a sign at the grocery store advertising for a receptionist with some bookkeeping skills?”

      “Don’t need to. I know someone.”

      “Oh?”

      “Yeah, she’s a widow and needs the money. Used to work as a bookkeeper a few years ago.”

      “Great. Call her and then let me know. Here’s my cell phone number.” He wrote it down and handed the paper to Cliff.

      “Thanks, Jim.”

      Jim enjoyed a nonchalant stroll out to the corral. The pace here was certainly different from his old job on the stock market in New York. And so was the air. He drew in a deep breath.

      He climbed up to sit on the top rail and watch some cowboys instruct new riders.

      There were several other cowboys sitting on the rail. He introduced himself and asked a few questions, till he heard an unfriendly voice from behind him.

      “Are you trying to find out what we’re doing wrong?”

      He looked over his shoulder and found Jessica Ledbetter standing behind him, her legs apart, her arms akimbo.

      “I wondered where you’d gone,” he said mildly.

      Resentment still on her face, she climbed the rails and slung both legs over them to sit a short distance from him.

      “I was just thinking—”

      “I bet you were,” she said, interrupting him.

      “You know, Jessica, things will go better if you don’t fight me.”

      “I may have to do what you say, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it.”

      “But isn’t being out in the fresh air preferable to bookkeeping?”

      “Sure, if that was all I had to worry about. But spending my day sitting on the rail of the corral won’t fix the books!”

      “Your grandfather wants to hire a widow he knows.”

      “Leslie Brown.”

      “You know her?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

      “Of course I know her. This is a small town. Besides, I think Granddad is in love with her. He wanted me to hire her, but I didn’t think we could afford to do that right off. Anyway, Leslie isn’t hurting for money. She wouldn’t take the job.”

      “Your grandfather seems to think she will.”

      Jessica twisted her mouth but didn’t say anything.

      After a minute he tried again. “Can you show her what she’ll need to know to understand your system?”

      “Yes,” she snapped.

      “Hey, Jessica, look at me!” one of the children called out as the horse he was on was being led around the corral.

      She smiled and waved back.

      Jim looked at her and wondered if she’d ever smile at him the way she smiled at the boy. The grin lit up her face, put a sparkle in her eyes.

      He had his answer almost at once as she turned and once again glared at him. He asked, “So you have no problem with Leslie working here?”

      “We don’t need her if I do the books.”

      “Don’t you realize you are the most important person on the ranch? If you can be out here to recognize problems before they arise, everyone will be happier.”

      “I was already doing that!”

      “You couldn’t possibly notice things happening here in the corral while you were working on the books in the big house.”

      “So what are you going to do?” she demanded.

      “Basically the same as you. I’m going to look for little problems and try to fix them before they become big problems.”

      Jessica ground her teeth and looked away from him. She didn’t want him to make her life easy. His being here meant she’d failed. She’d pored over their notes, their plans, their hopes. She’d examined every idea or request that had come in. She’d written wonderful letters to their future guests, not just sending them brochures.

      And James Bradford thought he was going to waltz in and take over?

      She jumped down from the fence. She needed some time on her own. With her head down, she walked from the corral, ignoring his question that followed her.

      “Where are you going?”

      She didn’t answer.

      Chapter Two

      When the lunch bell rang, Jessica was forced from her room by hunger.

      The guests, thirty-six at full capacity, ate at six tables in the large dining room, which was perfect for family-style dining. The cowboys, however, ate in the bunkhouse, along with her grandfather, while she and her two brothers usually had their lunch in the kitchen with the help. There was no need for conversation and none was spoken during those hectic moments. Jessica sat down at the kitchen table, knowing she’d get her food and she wouldn’t have to talk to anyone.

      At least that was true before her grandfather’s protégé made a change. He came into the kitchen and “suggested” that the four of them eat with the guests, one at each table, to be there to entertain and answer questions.

      “While we eat?” Hank asked in outrage.

      Pete СКАЧАТЬ