Denim & Diamonds (6 page)

Suddenly, she realized that she cared whether or not this woman thought she could successfully run the ranch. Having an ally like Charlotte could make the coming year bearable, and would increase the odds of success. And this woman had been close to her father.

“While you lived your life in the city, Beau stood beside your father, day in and day out, through good times and bad. It’s been a bit of a shock to all of us that you took your father’s offer.” The woman pursed her lips together for a moment, then continued, “But we also realize that we’re talking about a lot of money.”

Beth bristled at that, “It’s not about the money. It’s about getting something from my father, something that I never got when he was alive, being a part of his life. It’s about earning my inheritance.”

Charlotte
nodded. “Your daddy told me you’d see this as a challenge. Just wish you woulda’ come 'round a little sooner.” Her face relaxed into a wistful smile, then she scooted forward in the chair and said, “This afternoon, have Beau take you on a ride around the ranch. Take a look at what’s here.”

Beth snorted. “Like he’s going to want to go anywhere with me after what happened this morning.”

“Go out to the barn and tell him you want to go for a ride. He’ll take you,” Charlotte pushed herself to her feet and walked towards the door, then turned and said, “You’re the boss, remember?”

CHAPTER EIGHT

A
fter an hour of choosing clothes and boots she thought would be appropriate for riding, and gathering her courage, Beth walked into the barn. The interior was nicer than a lot of houses. She walked along the aisle through the cleanest dirt she had ever seen, groomed, as though it had been raked recently. To her immediate left, an office contained a computer, printer and scanner. Black metal file cabinets lined one wall. A fax machine sat on the corner of a cluttered desk next to a multiline phone, both nearly hidden under a landslide of papers.

Numerous saddles rested on stands and hung on supports in the tack room across the aisle. Straight ahead of her, stalls on either side housed a lot of money in horseflesh, snuffling and snorting. A short walkway led to another aisle through even more stalls. The smell of hay and grain and horses reminded her of how Beau smelled the night of her accident.
 

She could hear someone talking, and the sound seemed to be coming from the aisle to the right. She walked towards the voice, looking into the stalls as she went. The sliding doors looked heavy, and each one sported a bronze nameplate engraved with the name of the horse. A marching bronze horse head hook on each door held a leather halter. Beth had to admit, the animals were beautiful, and their soft nickers greeted her as she walked along.

When she reached the end of the aisle, it opened out into a small arena. In the center of the arena, Beau worked a young horse on a long line. The colt trotted around the pen, as Beau, moving in a small circle himself, murmured constant encouragement to the animal. Little puffs of dust followed the horse, kicked up by its hooves. She leaned against the rough wooden wall and watched for a few minutes before Beau noticed her.

“What can I do for you, Boss?” he called out, never taking his eyes off the young horse. The last word carried just a touch of sarcasm.

“I'd like you to take me for a ride and show me around the ranch,” she answered as she stepped forward and rested a booted foot on the bottom rung of the fence, in an effort to look casual.

“Yup.” Beau slowed the horse to a walk, and then gathered up the lead line. He ran his hand over the animal’s neck, and patted him affectionately as the two walked towards her. “Open the gate for me, Boss?”

Her face flushed at the mention of the gate, but she opened it and held it back while the cowboy and horse walked through. As soon as they had cleared the gate, she swung it back in place and latched it, then yanked on it to make sure it was secure. When she turned around, the corners of Beau's mouth twitched upward and he nodded. Their eyes met for a moment before he turned away. She dropped her gaze and hurried after him.

In spite of the awkward situation, she was determined to make the best of it. She
was
the boss, but recognized she was out of her depth, and needed his help to succeed. That would be nearly impossible to procure though, since her father had insured that Beau and Charlotte and the others had a chance to buy the ranch if she failed.

She followed at a distance as they made their way down the aisle she had just come through, trying not to stare at the tight Wranglers that were well worn in the seat. The denim hugged him in all the right places. Quinn had worn dark denim by name brand designers, but his were always boxy and stiff. She suspected that Beau’s jeans were soft. He walked with total confidence, comfortable and in his element. She envied him that.

They stopped at a stall. A short piece of rubber with a clip on the end hung from a metal ring mounted in the wall. Beau snagged the clip and snapped it onto the horse’s halter. Beth leaned against the stall door. His arm brushed her leg as he reached down and flipped open the lid on a green plastic trunk against the wall. She flinched at the casual contact and shifted her weight to her other foot, away from him. He picked out a round rubber brush, which he rubbed briskly over the

animal in little circles, starting at the neck and working his way towards the tail.

“This here’s a curry.” Beau said softly. For a moment, Beth wasn’t quite sure if he was talking to her or the horse. “You always use the curry on the horse first. They like it. It’s like getting your back scratched.”

“Oh,” Beth pushed away from the wall, then stood, shifting her weight from foot to foot. “Do you want me to wait somewhere for you?”

“Nope,” the cowboy answered without turning his attention from the horse, “It’ll just take me a minute to brush Star down. He’s a two year old, out of Snicker by Morning Star. The old man was real happy with him.”

Beth bristled at the “old man” comment. She watched the cowboy, examining his face for a clue. Was that a dig about her father? His face was unreadable, no hint of a smile or a frown, just concentration on the task at hand. He really
did
look like a cowboy, from his scuffed leather boots to his well-worn straw cowboy hat. Muscles rippled under the thin cotton T-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. His hands were sure and gentle as he groomed the horse and, for a moment, Beth remembered how good it felt when those strong, sure hands had touched her when he lifted her into the truck. Just the thought of his touch made her heart do a little flip. She scowled, irritated at herself. She was acting like a lovesick teenager.

“Problem?” Beau asked as he glanced at Beth.

“No,” Beth answered quickly. The corners of Beau’s mouth twitched up in a smile. She pulled herself up to her full 5’5” and tried to look confident, while inside her stomach churned at the thought of riding one of these big animals. And of being so close to someone who made her so crazy.

"You ever been on a horse?" he asked.

"No, but I'm sure I can handle it just fine," she lied. She used to pride herself on being a professional, being able to deal with any situation. Then Quinn screwed her over, destroying her confidence. She second guessed every decision she made now.

"Probably none of my business, but your daddy said you're engaged. How's your fiancé feel about you moving out here?"

"It didn't work out." After Quinn, she had sworn off men and had turned her attention to her career. Yet she still dreamed of having a home of her own, a family of her own. Someday. "It was just as well. I don't have time for a relationship."

"Then your daddy died and you got stuck out here, right?" He peered at her from under the brim of his cowboy hat.

She stuck her chin out, "I'm not stuck here. I can leave anytime I want."

He snorted and looked her up and down, "So, what if you are successful and you get this place. What then? You gonna stick around? Just leave your life in the city behind?"

Her chest rose as she sucked in a deep breath. The thought of working with this man for the next year irritated her. "One step at a time. I've got to learn the ropes and run the ranch well. That's all I'm worried about right now."

Beau nodded once, then turned his attention back to the job at hand. Questions swirled in Beth's head. She'd turned in her resignation the same day she'd walked in on her co-workers watching that video of Quinn and that girl. She couldn't go back. No way could she show her face there again. There was nothing to go back to. She had no choice. She
had
to win the ranch. As she mulled over the situation, he unhooked the horse from the tie, and led him into the stall, where he slipped the halter off. The animal rubbed his face vigorously against the cowboy, who responded with a laugh that was deep and pleasant.

A voice from the hay loft above startled Beth.

“Beau, you want me to toss some hay down to Star?”

“That you, Katie? When did you get here?” Beau looked up.

"'Course it's me, Beau! Got home from college yesterday. You were gone to town when I stopped by."

"Glad you're back. And, yeah, I'd appreciate it if you could toss some hay down." Beau turned to Beth and pointed up, "This kid is a

natural when it comes to horses. A real tomboy that can ride and rope with the best of 'em."

"Will do!" a girl's voice called from above.

"Thanks, kiddo!" He slid the door closed, then moved down to the next stall and took the leather halter off the hook. “After you do that, would you come down here and help me get Dingo ready for the Boss?”

“Be right there,” the voice called back.

Beau brought a dark brown horse with black legs out of his stall. The clunk of boots on the ladder caught his attention and he turned towards the end of the aisle. Dark, dusty boots were followed by faded jeans that hugged the curves of a woman, not a kid. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She jumped to the ground and turned. Her eyes locked with Beau's and a big grin spread across her face, revealing perfect white teeth. Beth watched the two of them. Beau looked stunned, his eyes wide and his chin about to hit the ground. Katie jogged down the aisle and launched herself at Beau. He caught her in his arms and the young woman hugged him tight.

He grabbed her by the forearms and held her back at arm's length. His eyes traveled up and down her body. "Holy cow, Katie, you've grown up!"

The girl spun around and grinned, "Thanks for noticing!"

Beau cleared his throat and blinked, then glanced at Beth. "Katie, this is Beth Jameson."

Katie stepped forward and shook Beth's hand. Her grip was surprisingly strong. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Jameson. Charlotte told me you were okay with me working here again this summer."

Beth smiled. "Glad to have you. And, please, call me Beth."

Beau tugged his hat down over his eyes and broke in, "Okay, now that introductions are out of the way, let's get these horses ready."

Beth felt out of place as she watched the cowboy and the young woman work with the big animals. They shared brushes and bantered as they groomed the horses and saddled them up. Would she ever feel that sense of closeness with another human being? Even after

years with Quinn, they hadn't connected like that. She watched Beau's hands, sure and firm.

“Looks like Katie's got you ready to go,” Beau said, breaking her train of thought. She was thankful that he had been concentrating on the task at hand. Hopefully he hadn’t noticed the flush creeping up her cheeks.
 

Katie elbowed Beau, then nodded to Beth and pointed towards the horse's rear end, "Dingo's a gelding. You know what that means?"

Beth's eyebrows rose and she shook her head.

The young woman grinned. "Means his nuggets've been cut off."

Beau cleared his throat and cut in, "That's not really approp--"

Katie looked sideways at him and grinned, exposing deep dimples. "Seriously? You're the one who taught me that phrase!"

Beth hid her own smile. Either Beau didn't want to make a bad impression on her, or he was completely off-balance because the tomboy who used to help him out had grown up while she was off at college. She suspected it was the latter.

He huffed out a breath, then ran his hand over her mount's shoulder. "See the way his coat is kinda spotted?"

Beth nodded and Katie provided, "That's called dapple gray."

While Beau saddled his horse, Beth examined the subject of their discussion. The poor thing appeared to be ancient. He stood with one hip stuck out and a hind leg up and resting. His nose nearly touched the ground, and Beth was pretty sure he had gone to sleep. Beau’s mount, on the other hand, seemed to be wide-awake. His ears swiveled toward the sound of his master’s voice and he looked back at Beau every now and then.

Digger was nearly black, and had a wide white streak down his face. His powerful hindquarters quivered with excitement, as though he was about to explode, his feet shifting in the dirt. Beau positioned a colorful blanket on the horse, then settled the saddle on its back. Beth almost asked why he slid the saddle back a touch, but didn’t want to sound stupid. She loved the way the muscles in his arms bulged when he