Cowboy (Whiskey River #2)

Chapter 1

The snow on the ranch is making it hard to do anything productive.

It falls in thick, wet flakes and coats the ground in slush as we push cattle up the hill.

It doesn’t usually snow so much, but the winter has been harsh this year.

Every night we go to bed praying it’s done for the season, and every morning we wake up to the sky pouring.

Ford struggles with a young calf that's been separated from its mama, and the slippery ground only makes things worse as he tugs weakly on the rope to keep control of the wild thing.

I slip from my horse, land in the snow with two old brown cowboy boots, and stomp toward them.

“You’re only gonna piss it off more and tug yourself off that horse,” I quip, and Ford only responds with a tight growl.

“You know what?” I roughly pull the rope from his hands and stare up at him, dark eyes glaring back.

“Maybe falling off that horse will knock the attitude loose from your brain, and you’ll wake up a likable person! ”

An annoyed chuckle rumbles from the base of his throat.

“Fuck you, Walker.”

Ford kicks off, pushing his horse to a gallop to catch up with the rest of the pack, and leaves me with the bleating calf.

“You’re better company anyway,” I say to the little black and white hairball and heave the calf into my arms, angling her so she's braced and sliding her over the horse's back. She wiggles for a moment, but Kelpie is a good mare and lets the calf settle as I climb on.

“That’s my girl,” I murmur, patting the cream-colored horse on the neck and gently scratch the calf between the ears. “Let’s get you to your mama.”

The ride up the hill is uncomfortable. Kelpie slides on more than one slippery rock or soft mud pie, but she moves slowly, and eventually we see them in the distance.

Ford, Crew, and a few of the temporarily hired ranch hands push the herd toward the warmer pasture.

It gets more sun exposure and would keep the cattle warm through the cold snap.

Ford barks at Crew and gets nothing nice in return. Their argument can be heard in echoes up the hill, and as I bring the horse down into the valley, Peter gives me a look like he doesn’t want to be any part of it, and I don’t blame him.

“What the hell is going on with you two?” I stare between them, Crew all muscle with dark hazel eyes that bore down on Ford, who doesn’t match him in size but stands up in his stirrups with his shoulders pinned back, his jaw tight. “Help me with this,” I bark, and Crew moves first without words.

He pulls the calf down from Kelpie and loosens the rope on its neck.

“Dot offered Charlie the vet position,” Crew says through tight lips.

That’s why Ford’s in knots.

“And?”

“No answer yet, but Wyatt called.” Both of us look at Ford, who looks like he’s going to be sick. “It was bad, and now that asshole is taking it out on everyone else.”

“Let him.” I shake my head. The history there would burn us all alive if we let Ford bottle it up. A toxic cocktail of guilt, regret, and longing that would explode worse than any Molotov.

“You’re a softie, Walker.”

“It’s a defense mechanism.” I roll my eyes. “Let’s get this done.”

We finish moving the herd to pasture four. With the tension brewing off of Ford, it takes longer than it should. By the time we make it back to the ranch, there’s a white pickup I’ve never seen before parked out in front of the barn.

“Shit,” Crew laughs.

My brows furrow as I glance at him. “Who’s that?”

“Magnolia-Mae.” He glances back at Ford. “That bastard.”

“You wanna fill me in on what’s going through that thick head of yours, or am I playing Guess Who?” I snap and climb down from Kelpie.

Crew falls in line next to me, tying Copper to the post beside her.

“Her mama used to bring herbs to Dottie during the spring. Haven’t seen her in a while though.”

“Still doesn’t explain why she’s here.” I tug the thick gloves off my hands and watch as Ford approaches the truck.

An actual grin spreads across his face as he pulls the door open and lets the woman climb from the truck.

She’s bundled in a bright pale blue parka and smiles back at him so warmly I swear the snow around her melts.

Crew shakes the snow from his shoulders and grunts in response. “Go find out if you’re so curious. I gotta get back to the cabin.”

“Everything good there?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he smiles. “I promised Ash I’d help him set up the house we built for the ducks before the snow got too bad.”

“You get those heat lamps?”

He tosses me a look like I’m an idiot and nods. “You’ve only reminded me forty times.”

“You’re forgetful.” I shrug, knowing it’ll only piss him off. “Can’t let anything happen to Peter and Bruce.”

“Peter and Bruce are about to lay eggs in the spring.” He huffs. “That’ll be a fun conversation.”

A laugh bursts from me, and I almost double over. “No shit?”

“Shit,” Crew grumbles. “Go find out what that’s about.” He nods his chin in the direction of Ford and Magnolia.

I’m still laughing as he stalks away, grumbling in his usual Crew way. The man is a sucker for Logan and Ash, but I wouldn’t have it any other way for them. Seeing that girl happier now than she’s been in fifteen years is a sight. Crew’s barely improved mood isn’t bad either.

My gaze flickers back over to the woman and Ford. They’re in deep conversation as I make my way over to them to find out why she’s here.

“It’s a lot more difficult in the winter, but we’re on the cusp of spring and can use all the help we can get.” Ford’s words cause a stir in my chest. There’s no way. The bunkhouse is already packed as it is with the three ranch hands we hired temporarily. They’re shit hands but bodies nonetheless.

“I don’t mind getting dirty, Ford,” she says with the sweetest tone I’ve ever heard from a woman. “I can do the work.”

“What work?” I ask. Ford glances in my direction, but I suddenly can’t look away from her big green eyes.

“Bode, this is–”

“Maggie.” She holds out a gloved hand, cutting Ford off. I cross my arms over my chest and frown. She’s beautiful, like a ray of sun in the middle of dark snow clouds, and she definitely doesn’t look like a ranch hand.

“What work, Ford?” I ask again, this time willing myself to look away from her.

“Ranch work, Walker, what the hell else do you think I mean?” he chuffs. “I’m hiring Maggie to help with the animals and whatever else we need.”

“We already have temporary hands, we don’t need her.”

“Wow, you’re just a ray of sunshine, aren’t you?” she quips. “I don’t want to cause any trouble, so if this is going to be an issue, Ford, I’ll find something else to help–”

“No,” he barks and turns on me. “I don’t know what stick crawled up your ass between the fence and now, but whether you like it or not, Maggie’s hired.”

“Bode, is it?” she asks, raising a brow as she looks up at me.

The way my name falls from her lips makes the irritation in me falter for a moment.

“I’m not here to cause problems, like I said.

I’m just here to work. Whatever needs to be done, I can do it.

” Maggie nods like her words are final, and that irritation flickers once again.

“Lemme guess, couldn’t make it in the city, so you’re back to prove something else?” I nod towards her truck. “You borrow that from Daddy?”

“Excuse me?” She balks, those green eyes go wide with offense.

“That’s enough,” Ford snaps. “Walker, go finish your chores.”

“We don’t need any more hands, Ford!”

“That’s not your fucking decision, now go!” He grabs my collar and shoves me away from her. I steady myself on the slick slush and glare at him.

“If this is your way of stopping the inevitable Lawson, it ain’t gonna happen. King is gonna show up on this ranch, and you can’t stop it by filling her place with a city plant.”

“I grew up here, you jerk!” Maggie snaps. Her cheeks are pink from the cold or whatever I’ve managed to stir up within her. Good. Flowers don’t grow in gravel and mud.

“Do you even know how to ride a horse?” I stalk towards her again. “Do you know how to herd cattle?”

Ford steps between us and shoves me back again. “I said enough,” his voice dangerously low before turning back to Maggie. “Go home Mags, I’ll call you.”

My eyes stay glued to her as she glares at me with a thousand tiny jade daggers and climbs back into the white pickup. I don’t breathe until I see her taillights.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Ford barks, those brown eyes wide and angry.

“Me?” I snap. “Why are you hiring someone who looks like a schoolteacher?” My eyes narrow on him. “Tell me the truth, Ford. Is she your way of keeping Dottie from hiring Charlie?”

“Choose your next words carefully, Walker,” he growls, taking a step towards me with pinned-back shoulders. “What and who I choose to run this ranch ain’t none of your business.”

“Oh, don’t pull that ‘I run this ranch’ bullshit with me.” I scoff in his face. “I’ve earned more respect than that.”

“You think you deserve respect after how you just treated that girl?” he snaps. “You had more respect for Shepard than you did her.”

“Because I know Logan!”

“And I know Magnolia,” he counters.

“This is a mistake, hiring her.” I take a step back, shaking my head. “You’ll see.”