Old-Fashioned Rancher (Ash Ridge: Colorado Cowboys #3)

1. Grady

Grady

Chapter 1

Iswore under my breath as I navigated traffic on my way to the Denver airport. Big cities put me on edge and made me cranky—well, crankier than usual, at least. I preferred my small, rural hometown of Ash Ridge, where there were more horses and cattle than people, and the only skyscrapers around were the mountains rising in the distance.

A car swerved in front of me. I hit my brakes hard enough to burn rubber on the road. I gritted my teeth so tightly with irritation that my jaw ached.

God only knows why I ended up marrying a woman from New York—a city girl on vacation, who preferred shopping at high-end boutiques, and dining at five-star restaurants. She always loved visiting Denver when we were together. All I could offer her was a life working cattle, riding horses, and bossing around ranch hands.

No wonder Diana wanted a divorce.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I finally reached the airport, grateful for a respite from the stress of traffic, no matter how brief it was. I grabbed the bouquet of flowers I’d picked up on the way—exorbitantly priced in Denver, compared to the little florist in Ash Ridge. But I didn’t give a damn about the price tag as long as they put a smile on my daughter’s face.

I was barely out of the truck when Avery came striding out of the airport to meet me at the curb. My heart squeezed at the sight of her.

My little girl had grown up so fast, right before my eyes. At twenty-five years old, she had the confidence of youth, ready to take on the world. Her breezy linen pants, crop top, and smooth tan served as a reminder of just how much her college years in California had changed her. The only mark that hinted of her Colorado home was her cowboy boots.

Avery abandoned her suitcase and ran toward me, flinging her arms around my neck in a crushing hug. Even though she’d paid me a surprise visit at the beginning of summer, it still felt like a lifetime ago. With October in full swing, the autumn chill that lingered in the air promised snow would be around the corner soon.

“God, it always feels good to come home,” Avery murmured against me.

I smiled softly to myself with a twinge of inexplicable relief to hear her say that.

“Does that mean you’re not moving to California with your mother?”

She pulled back and huffed a laugh.

“Not a chance. Hanging out with Mom is fun, and California is wonderful, but it’s not the ranch.”

“Then let’s get you home,” I replied, passing the flowers into her arms and opening the passenger door of my truck for her.

Deep down, part of me had always been holding my breath a little bit. Waiting for the day when Avery would follow in my ex-wife’s footsteps and leave High Plains Ranch behind.

I’d built my cattle empire from the ground up with my own two hands. Now that I was in my early fifties, I was faced with the reality of naming an heir in my will. I didn’t want to leave the land to Diana. She wasn’t a bad person, but she didn’t understand the value of the place. As soon as I was buried, she’d sell the land and some gaudy strip mall would be built on it.

Running the ranch would be a monumental responsibility to place on Avery’s shoulders, but she was serious about taking the task head on. I would do everything in my power to make sure she was ready for it.

After loading up Avery’s luggage, I started the truck and braced myself to get back into traffic. I cleared my throat.

“So, how was college? How much homework do you have to get done over fall break?”

Avery sighed and leaned her head back against the seat.

“More than I want to think about right now.”

“Things are going well in school though?” I ventured.

“Oh, sure. I have a fantastic roommate, and a great group of friends I hang out with. This one guy is a genius and he’s usually willing to lend a hand with my assignments when I need help.”

I gripped the steering wheel so tight that my knuckles turned white.

“Are you two…close?”

My voice turned gruff on the last word as my overprotectiveness leaked out. I always knew the day would come when my wild, beautiful, headstrong daughter would give her heart away to someone, but now that I faced the likelihood of it actually happening, I realized just how poorly prepared I was for it.

“Relax, Dad,” Avery said with amusement. “He’s a friend. That’s all.”

“Would you tell me if he was something more than that?” I countered, casting a glance in her direction. “As I recall, you were doing a lot of sneaking around when you were seventeen. There were a number of boyfriends tiptoeing in and out my back door that I never got a chance to meet.”

Avery might look like the spitting image of her mother, with tightly coiled dark ringlets, rosy cheeks, and a charming personality, but she got her stubborn streak from me. We butted heads on more than one occasion during her teenage years over the subject of dating.

“That’s because you don’t behave yourself,” she replied. “I still haven’t forgiven you for scaring the shit out of my first boyfriend. He literally wet his pants because he was so intimidated and you kept interrogating him. You wouldn’t let up.”

I shrugged, feeling no remorse over that particular incident.

“Do you really think that boy would have survived with a rancher for a wife? He couldn’t keep up with you.”

Avery wrinkled her nose and looked away, feigning a pout.

“I hate it when you’re right.”

I chuckled.

“Since we’re on the subject of dating,” she said with a sly note in her voice. “What about you, Dad? Are you seeing anyone?”

“That answer hasn’t changed for twenty years, sweetie. I’m over the hill now. An old man. My dating days are over.”

Thank God for that.

I hadn’t dated since the divorce, claiming excuses like I was too busy, or I had a five-year old daughter to raise. The truth of the matter was that I had no clue how to be a good husband. I knew cattle and horses like the back of my hand, but I wasn’t romantic, and I’d seen the way Diana suffered because of it. I couldn’t stand to watch the light go out in another woman’s eyes because I was too rough around the edges.

“Not true,” Avery said. “There are plenty of people who date later in life. I could set you up.”

I sputtered in disbelief.

“Absolutely not.”

“But the apps—”

I shot a pointed look at Avery.

“Sweetie, I don’t even use that coffee maker you bought me for Christmas five years ago. It has too many goddamn buttons on the fucking thing. And the coffee is more frothy milk than anything else.”

“That’s because you keep using the cappuccino setting, Dad.”

“Which proves my point. Too many goddamn buttons, like I said. Do you really think I’d be any good at using a dating app?”

Avery waved off my protest like it was nothing more than a pesky gnat.

“You built a multi-million-dollar ranch. I’m sure you could figure out a little dating app. Besides, you would have so many matches. You’re the quintessential cowboy with that chiseled jawline, deep raspy voice, and brooding attitude.”

“I don’t brood,” I scoffed.

“You would be like catnip to the ladies, I just know it.”

“Jesus Christ, I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”

“I could run your account,” Avery offered. “You wouldn’t have to mess with it at all. Just go on a few dates.”

“You make it sound so simple,” I said in a flat voice.

“See? I knew I’d win you over eventually.”

“Wore me down is the more accurate way to put it.”

“Is that a yes? You’ll do it?”

“No,” I said, emphatically.

Avery clucked her tongue.

“That’s a shame. I guess you’ll have to go back on your word then.”

I frowned, confused.

“What are you talking about? I haven’t given my word to do anything.”

A small, wry smile curled the corner of Avery’s lips up.

Shit. That look meant trouble.

I stepped on the brakes and swerved to the shoulder of the road. Car horns blared around me, but I didn’t pay any attention to them. Bracing my arm on the back of Avery’s seat, I turned on her.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing!”

“Avery Marie, don’t lie to me.”

She fiddled with a flower petal, the bouquet resting on her lap.

“I might have volunteered you for…something.”

I stifled a groan. This girl had always been wily and too smart for me. She hadn’t even been living in the same state with me for the last few years, and yet she’d still managed to wrangle me into something I would undoubtedly regret.

“Like what?” I demanded.

“Hosting the Ash Ridge Harvest Festival.”

It was a good thing she had me wrapped around her little finger. If anyone else tried to pull this shit on me, I’d bury them alive.

“That is never going to happen,” I said.

“But it would be a perfect way for you to meet people! Find a date. Flirt with some older single ladies.”

“I can find my own date without you meddling, thank you very much,” I countered.

“This isn’t meddling. It’s an intervention.”

I scrubbed a hand over my face, still reeling from being blindsided with all this.

“Avery, the festival is next weekend.”

“Exactly. So, we have a lot of planning and prep work to do before then.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line of disapproval.

“There are at least half a dozen other places to have this damn party,” I pointed out. “The fairgrounds, town hall, the Snowdrop Inn…”

“If you host it though, it shows how warm and welcoming you are to your community. A generous man ready and willing to spread his wealth around, ensuring that his humble little hometown gets a taste of the good life alongside you.”

A pause settled between us.

“That is the biggest crock of bullshit I’ve ever heard,” I said. “You should have been a lawyer.”

She beamed.

“I do make a compelling argument, don’t I?”

“It’s still not happening,” I replied.

Avery crossed her arms.

“You’re such a stick in the mud.”

“And now you sound just like your mother. Did you think you could out-stubborn me, young lady?” I said, amused. “You got me into this mess, so you’re going to get me out of it. As soon as we’re back in town, fix it.”

She winced.

“Do you really want Ash Ridge hearing about how you backed out of your commitment? Your word has always been your solemn vow, Dad. It’s practically sacred.”

“I didn’t make this promise,” I protested. “I don’t know how you managed to do it, but you started this. Not me.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that the McCall name is still signed on the dotted line.”

Damn it. My Achilles’s heel. She had me trapped like a worm on a hook all because of my damn pride and she knew it. When I commit to doing something, I always follow through, come hell or high water.

“Avery…” I said in a warning tone.

“Don’t be mad,” she said in a rush. “I was only looking out for my aging father. I didn’t want you to be alone,” she added, softening her tone and widening her eyes like a kicked puppy.

No matter how old my daughter would get, she knew how to pluck my heartstrings and play me like a fiddle.

“Don’t act all innocent,” I said. “And I didn’t appreciate the remark about my aging, by the way. I’m fifty-two. That doesn’t mean I have one foot in the grave, for God’s sake.”

Avery grinned, toed off her boots and propped her feet on the dashboard.

“I think it will be great to have the festival at the ranch. It’s huge, with plenty of room to spread out. Since you’re always working, you rarely get a chance to meet new people. This way, the whole town will come to you.”

I guided my truck back into traffic, envisioning my ranch overrun with hundreds of people. I wasn’t going to like this one little bit.

“Goddamn it, Avery,” I said with a sigh of defeat.

“Love you, too, Dad,” she chirped, pleased with herself that she got her way. “Oh, I almost forgot. The florist will be at the ranch first thing tomorrow morning to discuss flower arrangements for the party.”

I shook my head, bewildered that I’d been roped into Avery’s perfectly laid plan like a spider’s web.