barn.”
His face darkened with momentary anger. “Don’t sell yourself short. You didn’t get that fancy education to shovel horse shit. John Trammel wants to retire and move to Arizona where the rest of his family is. Hayes Ranch could sue a smart brain as the ranch manager.”
She stared at him, stunned. For one thing, John had been running the ranch for her father—at least the business end—for as long as she could remember. For another, he’d never once said anything about her being a part of this operation.
She was so startled for a moment she couldn’t think. “You actually want me to be part of the ranch operation?”
He sighed. “Molly, you’re my only child. All that’s left of our family. You’ve worked as hard as the men and know about all there is to know. If I’d thought you were interested, I’d have talked to you about this when you got your fancy degree.”
“Why didn’t you?” she asked, curious.
“Timing,” was all he said. “But I’m not getting any younger, and I want to make sure the ranch is in good hands. Chance McDaniel has probably turned out to be the best foreman around, but someone’s got to pay attention to the paperwork and details. It doesn’t appear you’re in a hurry to get anywhere now so I thought…”
“I don’t know what to say.” And what would Chance think about this? If he was intending to make their relationship permanent, working together like that would be far too uncomfortable.
“Think it over,” he said, as if reading her mind, “and see where this thing goes with Chance. You feel like you’re interested, we’ll sit down and work it out.”
Then he was gone, leaving her sitting in her chair in a cloud of astonishment.
****
Molly had chosen not to hang around the ranch all day, worried that Chance would think she was dogging him, so she’d taken herself off to San Antonio, deciding to do some clothes shopping. Everything she owned reminded her of Boyd and Houston, and she wondered if she shouldn’t just burn it all. It was close to six by the time she got back and Chance’s truck was still parked near the barn. Was he working late? Had he changed his mind about tonight? Had her father talked him out of it?
She shut off her chatterbox brain and headed upstairs for the hot soak she’d promised herself. She reinserted the plug and pulled on a tiny lacy thong, part of her shopping expedition. No bra. She could be bold, too. Selecting a new pair of jeans and tank top from one of her shopping bags, she looked out of her bedroom window. Yup, Chance’s truck was still there. Giving her hair one last fluff, she turned over all the options available and made some contingency plans.
At seven when Chance knocked on the back door, she was waiting for him. He was covered with dust, his already scuffed boots were even more banged up and his face had smears where he’d wiped sweat. He grinned apologetically.
“I’m sorry, Molly. Time got away from us—”
She held up a hand. “Stop. I was raised on a ranch, remember? I know how that happens. We’re good as long as you aren’t here to cancel on me.”
He shook his head. “Never that. But I need to shower and I haven’t done a damn thing about dinner.”
She winked. “Then isn’t it a good thing I took care of that.” She lifted a covered foil pan from the counter. “Josefina’s enchiladas. I filched them from the freezer. All we have to do is heat them in the oven.”
His grin showed off his even, white teeth. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
Her heart stuttered.
It’s just an expression, Molly. Don’t get your panties in a twist.
“No, but I’ll give you plenty of opportunity. I’m ready.”
They’d barely pulled out of the ranch driveway before Chance said, “I let your father know about us this morning.”
“He told me. That’s good, Chance. I don’t want to feel we have to hide this—whatever this is.”
“I agree.” He rested his hand on
His face darkened with momentary anger. “Don’t sell yourself short. You didn’t get that fancy education to shovel horse shit. John Trammel wants to retire and move to Arizona where the rest of his family is. Hayes Ranch could sue a smart brain as the ranch manager.”
She stared at him, stunned. For one thing, John had been running the ranch for her father—at least the business end—for as long as she could remember. For another, he’d never once said anything about her being a part of this operation.
She was so startled for a moment she couldn’t think. “You actually want me to be part of the ranch operation?”
He sighed. “Molly, you’re my only child. All that’s left of our family. You’ve worked as hard as the men and know about all there is to know. If I’d thought you were interested, I’d have talked to you about this when you got your fancy degree.”
“Why didn’t you?” she asked, curious.
“Timing,” was all he said. “But I’m not getting any younger, and I want to make sure the ranch is in good hands. Chance McDaniel has probably turned out to be the best foreman around, but someone’s got to pay attention to the paperwork and details. It doesn’t appear you’re in a hurry to get anywhere now so I thought…”
“I don’t know what to say.” And what would Chance think about this? If he was intending to make their relationship permanent, working together like that would be far too uncomfortable.
“Think it over,” he said, as if reading her mind, “and see where this thing goes with Chance. You feel like you’re interested, we’ll sit down and work it out.”
Then he was gone, leaving her sitting in her chair in a cloud of astonishment.
****
Molly had chosen not to hang around the ranch all day, worried that Chance would think she was dogging him, so she’d taken herself off to San Antonio, deciding to do some clothes shopping. Everything she owned reminded her of Boyd and Houston, and she wondered if she shouldn’t just burn it all. It was close to six by the time she got back and Chance’s truck was still parked near the barn. Was he working late? Had he changed his mind about tonight? Had her father talked him out of it?
She shut off her chatterbox brain and headed upstairs for the hot soak she’d promised herself. She reinserted the plug and pulled on a tiny lacy thong, part of her shopping expedition. No bra. She could be bold, too. Selecting a new pair of jeans and tank top from one of her shopping bags, she looked out of her bedroom window. Yup, Chance’s truck was still there. Giving her hair one last fluff, she turned over all the options available and made some contingency plans.
At seven when Chance knocked on the back door, she was waiting for him. He was covered with dust, his already scuffed boots were even more banged up and his face had smears where he’d wiped sweat. He grinned apologetically.
“I’m sorry, Molly. Time got away from us—”
She held up a hand. “Stop. I was raised on a ranch, remember? I know how that happens. We’re good as long as you aren’t here to cancel on me.”
He shook his head. “Never that. But I need to shower and I haven’t done a damn thing about dinner.”
She winked. “Then isn’t it a good thing I took care of that.” She lifted a covered foil pan from the counter. “Josefina’s enchiladas. I filched them from the freezer. All we have to do is heat them in the oven.”
His grin showed off his even, white teeth. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
Her heart stuttered.
It’s just an expression, Molly. Don’t get your panties in a twist.
“No, but I’ll give you plenty of opportunity. I’m ready.”
They’d barely pulled out of the ranch driveway before Chance said, “I let your father know about us this morning.”
“He told me. That’s good, Chance. I don’t want to feel we have to hide this—whatever this is.”
“I agree.” He rested his hand on
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