Hard as a Rock Cowboy (Rocky Road Ranch #2)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Brody Dunn took the outside stairs two at a time, heading for the third floor of the Phoenix apartment complex where the Harpers resided, at least according to his research. They were the only thing standing in his way of attending the academy in January to become a wildlife manager.

For years his father had been trying to get the Harpers to sell their land, which abutted the Rocky Road Ranch. The only way the Dunns could be a viable cattle ranch and compete with the larger operations was if they bought the Harpers’ land next door. The problem was, the Harpers didn’t want to sell.

With the family ranch on the brink of failure, his dad decided to invest in turning it into a dude ranch. Brody thought the idea inspired, but he wasn’t as attached to the cattle ranch as his oldest brother, who wanted it to stay a cattle ranch. The dude ranch idea was a huge risk, since none of them knew how to run such an operation. So Dad still wanted the Harpers’ land.

Now all Brody had to do is convince them to sell their land, and his father would release him from his promise to help with the ranch. That was what he needed to finally pursue his dream career at the age of twenty-seven. He was sure this was the job for him.

Confident in his ability to convince the older couple to sell, based on the public records, he reached the top of the stairs and looked for apartment 325. Walking around the west end of the building, he found the number directly across from the elevator. Stepping up to the door, he knocked.

He counted to thirty to make sure he gave the older folks a chance to get to the door. When no one answered, he knocked again. It was almost dinner time. Surely they would be home, unless they still worked. If they had to work to pay the rent, then his offer to buy their land could solve all their problems.

He counted to thirty again, while double-checking the floor and apartment number.

When no one answered, he knocked a third time. “Howdy. Is anyone home?”

After ten seconds, he received a response. “Who is it?”

“Howdy, ma’am. I’m Brody Dunn from Four Peaks and was hoping I could talk to you?”

The little cover on the peephole moved, and he smiled so she could see he was friendly.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know a Brody Dunn.”

She didn’t sound that old, but it did make sense that she wouldn’t know him. “Yes, ma’am. I understand. You probably know my father, Jeremiah Dunn. We’re your neighbors in Four Peaks.”

There was a sigh on the other side of the door. “I live here. I think you have the wrong apartment.”

Did he? He pulled out his phone and looked at it. “Is this the Harpers’ apartment?”

“It is. But we don’t have a summer place in Four Peaks.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, thoroughly confused. “Is this the home of Mrs. Norma Harper?”

“Do you know my grandmother?” The woman’s voice sounded hopeful.

Ah, maybe the older woman was in a nursing home. “No, ma’am. But my father does. Could I speak to her?”

“I wish you could.”

That didn’t bode well. “Ma’am?”

“My grandmother passed six months ago. I’m the last of the family.”

He looked directly at the peephole. If losing a grandmother felt the same as losing a mother, he could understand. “I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t know.”

“I’m still getting used to the fact she’s gone.”

His excitement of moments ago turned to sorrow for the woman as well as disappointment. “I understand. I lost my mother when I was a teenager. Losing someone you love leaves a hole in your heart. I’m sorry I bothered you.” He turned away discouraged, but not beaten. He just needed to do more research.

“Don’t go. I mean, you haven’t told me why you wanted to see my grandmother.”

He turned back at her request to find she’d opened the door as far as the chain lock would allow. She had a pretty, round face with an upturned nose, brown eyes the color of whiskey, and auburn hair framed her face. She’d obviously been eating cookies because there were crumbs near the corners of her full lips. He felt torn between being polite and finding out as much as he could. “Don’t you wish to be alone?”

She gave him a crooked smile. “No. I’ve had quite enough alone time, and I love talking about my grandparents. Did you need to know something?”

He looked away not sure where to start. Finally, he decided. “Yes, there is, but I’m not sure talking in the hallway here is the best place.”

She frowned, obviously not in a hurry to invite him in, which he could understand in the big city. “There’s a little Mexican place on the north corner of this building. If you’d like to meet me there in about ten minutes, we could talk there.”

Now, that sounded promising. “I would be pleased to meet you there, miss. If you’re sure?”

She nodded. “Yes, I’m sure.”

He smiled. Maybe he could find out everything he needed to know by talking to this relative. “I’ll see you there shortly. Thank you.” He tipped his cowboy hat and turned toward the stairway, forcing himself to mosey instead of run. But once he’d descended one flight, he raced down the rest.

As soon as he hit the sidewalk, he headed north. He didn’t know the Harpers had children, or grandchildren for that matter. His father said they’d only visited the land on and off in the time he’d lived there, which made it odd that they didn’t want to sell. But they must have left it to someone, maybe even this granddaughter.

His steps slowed as he looked for the restaurant. The red painted walls and large sign declaring Mama Juanita’s told him he found the place. Walking in, he chose an orange booth where he could see the door and sat. He was pretty sure he’d know her when she walked in. She appeared older in the doorway than he would have thought for someone whose grandmother died. His own died before he was four.

He still felt a little guilty that she had just lost her grandmother. Maybe he’d get lucky, and she was the heir and would be happy to sell. If that was the case, he could be through the wild life manager training and physicals and in a new job by spring. He was almost afraid to hope. Every time he’d thought he’d be free of the ranch, something else happened to keep him there, whether it was his brother’s deployment or his dad’s stroke. He didn’t resent it. He was happy he could help, but he was ready for it to be his turn.

As the cowboy disappeared from sight, Hannah Kingsley finally closed the door. Wow—she hadn’t expected to have a cowboy come knocking at her door. And not just any cowboy, but a dark-haired, broad-shouldered, drop-dead-handsome cowboy. No one should be allowed to look that good.

She made a beeline for the bathroom, and when she stepped in front of the mirror, she groaned. Crumbs from the peanut butter cookies she’d been munching on before going through the packet the estate lawyer had sent were visible around her mouth. Not the best impression. Then again, neither was the mess on top of her head. Unclipping her long hair, she quickly brushed it before pulling it back up into a ponytail. Reaching for her lipstick, she halted. What was she doing? This wasn’t a date. In fact, it could very well be a scam of some kind. She turned and left the bathroom. Her face was fine and her jeans and tank top were good enough.

She strode back to the door and slipped on her sandals. Grabbing her keys and her phone, she left her purse, just in case. She may have become ultra cautious in the last six months, but her grandmother always said it was better to be safe than sorry. She stepped out into the outside hall and started to close the door, but paused. The packet from the lawyer lay open on the coffee table, making her feel guilty.

Quickly, she shut the door. She had all day tomorrow to read it. One more day wouldn’t hurt anyone. As she took the short cut between the hallways of the apartment complex, she kept trying to remember if she’d ever heard Grandma mention anyone by the name of Dunn, but nothing came to mind. She was absolutely sure that they had never paid anyone by the name of Dunn, so the Dunn family was a complete mystery.

But not for long. She opened the door to Mama Juanita’s and stepped inside. Immediately she saw him, being that he was the only man in the place with a brown cowboy hat on his head, sitting in one of the brightly-colored booths.

He noticed her as well and waved.

Had he really seen so much of her in the doorway that he knew it was her? She’d have to remember that next time a stranger knocked on her door.

As she approached, he stood and doffed his hat. “Thank you for meeting with me.”

Her steps slowed, not because she was afraid, but because he was tall and so polite. She couldn’t remember the last man, besides her grandpa, who had such charming manners. Finally, reaching him, she held out her hand. “I’m Hannah Kingsley.”

He shook her hand and gave her the same devastating smile he’d given her when he promised to talk with her. “It’s a real pleasure to meet you, Hannah. I’m Brody.”

She returned his smile. He’d already told her his name, but she wouldn’t mention that. When he released her hand, she slid into her side of the booth. “I have to say, Brody, that you have piqued my curiosity.”

His smile faltered. “I imagine I have. If I had known of your loss, I promise I wouldn’t have bothered you.”

Now that she could see him in full, her estimation of his looks grew. Not only were his eyes a beautiful cobalt blue, but his nose was straight and his larger upper lip sported the hint of a mustache. His chin was square, with a five o’clock shadow that made him appear approachable. He was taller than her, and had very short hair that was a dark brown with blond highlights, no doubt from being out in the sun. “Actually, your timing is perfect as I was just looking for a distraction.” Anything was better than going through the paperwork on her grandmother’s estate.

“ Buenos dias , Hannah. What are you doing here at this time of day with such a vaquero guapo ?” Camila wiggled her brows before turning toward Brody. “What can I get you, cowboy?”

To his credit, Brody held his hand out toward her. “Hannah, do you know what you’d like?”

“I’ll have a cup of coffee and your Tres Leches cake.”

“You’ve got it. My abuela made a new one this morning.” Camila turned to Brody again. “My grandmother makes the best Tres Leches cake in all of Arizona.”

“That sounds good. I’ll have a piece and some water.”

Camila looked back at Hannah. “He’s smart, too.”

After Camila went back to put in their order, Brody hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m guessing this is a regular spot for you?”

“It is. It’s so close and has such great food. There’s no reason to go much farther. Now please, I’m dying of curiosity. Why were you looking for my grandmother?”

“Your grandmother owns land in Four Peaks right next to my family’s. It’s—why are you shaking your head?”

She gave him a sad smile, because she’d really hoped that she would be able to see him again, but he had the wrong family. “My grandparents didn’t own land in Four Peaks. I’ve been with them all my life. They raised me. Not once did they mention land there. In fact, we’ve lived in apartments in the city since I was a baby.”

His brow furrowed. “But the public record shows Joseph and Norma Harper as the owners. It even has your apartment address as their address. You see, the land is pretty much empty.”

Her address? That didn’t make sense. “Would there be a need to pay taxes on the land? I took over my grandparents’ finances eleven years ago. There was never a tax bill for any land in Four Peaks.”

He sighed, his disappointment palpable. “I don’t understand. I had hoped we were neighbors.”

A spark of excitement hit her belly, surprising her. “I think maybe the deed office mixed up addresses. I can definitely check into it. I’m in the process of reading through the will and other paperwork since it was finalized in probate.”

He opened his mouth to reply, but Camila came with their cake. Once she left, Hannah couldn’t resist taking a bite before continuing their conversation. She closed her eyes and savored the first mouthful.

“Everything okay over there?”

She opened her eyes to find him giving her a crooked smile. “Sorry. I eat alone so often, I forget it might look weird. This cake is just so amazing. Go ahead, try it. But be sure to close your eyes and give the taste your full attention.”

Humoring her, he took a forkful and looked at her as he put it in his mouth, then he closed his eyes. “Hmm.” His eyes opened. “You’re right. This is excellent. Do you think Camila’s grandmother would share the recipe?”

She shook her head. “No. My grandmother asked many times. Does your wife bake?”

He coughed and covered his mouth as he’d just taken another bite. Holding up one finger, he took a gulp of water and cleared his throat. “Excuse me.” He shook his head vigorously. “I’m not married.”

He seemed to put emphasis on the word ‘not.’ Was that because he wanted her to know he was single or because the thought of being married freaked him out? She didn’t expect that of a cowboy for some reason. “Then you want the recipe for your mother?”

“No, I want it for me. I enjoy baking. My oldest brother is an excellent cook, so I didn’t want to be outdone, and became the family baker.” He held up his fork with another piece of cake. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m a good cook, but my baking skills are unsurpassed.” He grinned before taking another bite. “I’m getting another piece to go. I’ll figure this out.”

“The recipe?” She stared at him in shock.

He nodded, then swallowed. “Yes. I do enjoy a challenge.”

Learning that he could cook and bake made her wish more for a reason to see him again, but she could think of nothing. As lovely as it was to daydream about owning property north of the city, there was no way her grandparents could have ever afforded land. If they had, they would have lived there.

After they retired, they started to grow tired of city life. She’d always had the feeling they stayed for her. Yes, there were a lot of activities and places to go, but she’d love to live out on the Sonoran Desert. “Would you like me to let you know what I find out about the deed? They may give me more information about the property that could help, or—,” she winked, “I may be able to get a hint as to where the owner is.”

His eyes lit with pleasure. “You would do that for me?”

“Of course. I have the time. My days used to be filled with caring for my grandparents, but now…” She couldn’t continue, not wanting to cry in front of a stranger.

He set down his fork and focused on her. “I’m very sorry for your loss and for bothering you at such a difficult time. I…” He looked past her. “I remember when we lost Mom. It tore me up inside. She’d always been my champion and then she was gone.” His gaze returned to her. “But that was long ago. I almost lost my father last year, but he’s getting better. I think it must be even harder when you’re older because you’ve known them for so long.”

His remarks validated everything she felt and she wanted to reach across the table and hug him. “Thank you.” Feeling far more comfortable with him than she should, she returned her attention to her half-eaten cake. “I do believe I’ll consider this my dinner.” She popped another piece into her mouth.

“I need to get back to the ranch. It’s my turn to cook tonight.” He shrugged. “I’m thinking barbeque hamburgers on the grill with a bit of potato salad on the side.”

“Who are you cooking for?” She chastised herself for asking. It was none of her business.

“My father, my brother, myself, and my sister-in-law. And probably for Isaac, my dad’s certified nursing assistant. He’s always happy to help himself to leftovers, so we usually make sure there are leftovers.” He grinned.

It sounded like he had a lot of family to get back to. She envied him that. “May I ask you why you were looking for the owner of the property next to yours?”

“Of course. I’m going to make an offer to buy it.”

“Oh, why?” She waved off her comment. “Never mind. It’s none of my business. If you can give me your phone number, I’ll contact you after I get the mix-up figured out.”

“I very much appreciate it.”

After she added him to her phone, he took hers as well so he’d know who was contacting him. He typed her name into his phone. “H-a-n-n-a-h K-i-n-g-s-l-e-y T-r-e-s L-e-c-h-e-s. There. I’ll remember you and our conversation now.” He grinned confidently before pointing to her cake. “And if I figure out this recipe, I’m going to make a whole cake just for you as a thank you for helping me.”

Her heart did a little dance at the thought that he would follow through, but she stomped down the feeling. He was probably just being nice. “And I’ll be happy to eat it.”

He rose, setting his hat back on his head. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Hannah. You made what could have been a disappointing trip a pleasure. Thank you.”

She watched him walk up to the counter, get another piece of cake, and pay the bill before he turned toward her one more time, tipped his hat and exited Mama Juanita’s.

Camila slipped into his empty seat. “Come, chica . Tell me all about this new man in your life.”

Hannah took the final bite of her cake and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Well, I met him about an hour ago and I’ll never see him again.”

“Say it ain’t so!”

Standing, she shrugged. “It is. He was looking for someone else.”

“Well, he’s a catch. I’ll wait on him any day.” Camila waved her tip in the air.

“See you soon.” Hannah turned and headed for the door.

“ Manana ! Mama is making tamales!”

She waved as she strode out the door and headed back to her apartment. After climbing the three flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator, she opened the door and set her keys on the end table, closing the door with her hip. She locked it before kicking off her sandals.

The silence of the apartment had her halting. Grief made her turn off the television three days earlier, and the quiet still jarred her. It screamed that she was alone. She’d promised herself she’d turn it off when probate of her grandmother’s estate was complete, giving herself those months to get used to the fact that the only two family members she had in the world were now gone.

She’d always lived with her grandparents, but after her grandfather passed away a year ago, Grandma kept the television on twenty-four-seven, claiming it was company. Hannah did have a part-time position working as a budget analyst, and she volunteered at the local food bank, but she wasn’t gone that much. It wasn’t lost on her that Grandma watched all the shows Grandpa used to watch, even though she’d ragged on him for watching them while he was alive.

Hannah had spent the last twenty years caring for them both, and now they were gone. She’d left the television going in hopes she could get used to being alone, but it hadn’t helped. The silence didn’t change that. It just made it more noticeable.

How nice it must be for Brody Dunn to have to rush home to cook for his family. Though he’d lost his mother, he still had everyone else, and some day he would have a wife and children of his own.

“You’re not doing this, Hannah.” Refusing to go down the dark hole of self-pity she’d been in for weeks after her grandmother died, she moved to the kitchen and pulled a bottle of water from the fridge; the chocolate-covered mints that her grandmother loved so much still sat on the second shelf. Quickly, she closed the door and opened the bottle. She could feel the burst of coolness from the water as it traveled down in her chest and settled in her stomach.

Determinedly, she walked into her bedroom and changed into a pair of leggings and a t-shirt. When she came back into the living room, the open folder with the will played with her conscience.

It wasn’t as if she could call the state on the Harper mix-up as it was way too late in the day, so she might as well get everything read and filed away.

She turned toward the living room with the silent television and the folder on the coffee table she’d been avoiding for three days. She’d thought when her grandfather had passed, there would be a lawyer who would call her and her grandmother in to hear the reading of the will, like they showed on the family dramas her grandmother loved to watch. But that hadn’t happened. Her grandmother had simply called their lawyer and everything was taken care of. She supposed that the reading of the will only happened with large, wealthy families.

Staring at the folder across the room, she tried to make her feet move, but she remained where she was. Something about reading the thin stack of papers made her grandparents’ passing so final, as if their memories together would disappear and she’d be left completely alone. Who was she kidding? She’d been completely alone since her grandmother breathed her last breath, quietly passing in her bed overnight. Reading a stack of legal papers wasn’t going to change that or make it any worse…at least, that’s what she hoped.

She basically knew what was in the folder. The will her grandparents had made over forty years before, the final probate papers, and the list of accounts she had made fourteen years earlier as she’d taken over the finances. With two Social Security checks and her job, they’d lived comfortably in the two-bedroom apartment. She had the paperwork to renew the lease for another year, but hadn’t filled it out yet. She needed a one-bedroom unit on her part-time pay, but couldn’t imagine leaving the last place she’d shared with her grandparents. But staying meant moving to full time, which her company would love her to do.

Either way she had a major life change ahead. Facing a whole year alone was too much to contemplate. Even so, maybe she should tackle that before the estate paperwork. Hannah, never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. She smiled sadly as one of her grandmother’s many sayings flitted through her head.

She walked into the living room and flopped onto the old comfy couch before moving the television remote to the end table, resisting the urge to turn it on and lose herself in a sitcom for a while. Leaning forward, she opened the white folder with the lawyer’s name embossed in gold on the outside. There were two pockets inside. On one side were copies of papers she’d sent him at his request, a letter from him, and a receipt of her final payment from the estate account. On the other side was the will. She’d never read it. Her grandmother had left instructions to turn everything over to the lawyer when the time came, and so she did.

Picking up the will, she set her feet on the coffee table and started to read. When she’d read the second paragraph and still wasn’t sure what it all meant, she set it back on the table. Maybe she just needed to read something she understood first.

She pulled the pages from the other pocket that contained the lawyer’s letter, receipt, and all the paperwork she’d handed over. As she separated her paperwork to put on the couch beside her, a check fell to the carpet. Had she paid the lawyer too much? Bending over she picked it up and stared. It was for $11,732.84. The check was made out to her. “What?”

Quickly, she read the memo of the generated check. “Tax remainder.”

That wasn’t right. Her grandparents didn’t have to file taxes, because their Social Security wasn’t high enough.

She set the check aside with everything else, but held onto the lawyer’s letter. It started with the usual and thanked her for engaging him during her difficult time. Reading every word, she forced herself to stay focused.

Enclosed please find a check for $11,732.84, the remainder of the money Norma had with our firm for paying the property taxes on the land in Four Peaks. Since her will stated that everything was to go to you upon her passing, I have included the funds so you can choose how you wish to proceed. Though this is not a service we offer anymore, I would make an exception if you wish us to retain the money and pay the annual taxes.

Her heart leapt in her chest, making it hard to breathe. “Four Peaks?” That’s what Brody Dunn had talked about. She continued reading, but there was no other mention of the property.

She set the letter and check on the coffee table and started through the paperwork she’d given the lawyer, checking every page to make sure she didn’t miss anything, but there was nothing about the property. Pulling the will from the coffee table, she focused on every word, but it simply mentioned that the land in Four Peaks was to go to her, not where it was, specifically.

Frustrated, she set the will aside and grabbed up the folder, shaking it. The corner of a white envelope peeked out from the pocket where the will had been. She pulled it out to find it sealed, her name on the front in her grandfather’s handwriting. She blinked back tears and touched the lettering she hadn’t seen in so long. Reverently, she opened the envelope, to find a letter, along with a faded document folded inside it.

She set the document aside and read.

My dearest, Hannah.

If you are reading this, it means that your grandmother and I have left you, to be together for eternity. I don’t want you to be sad. We lived fulfilling lives and were blessed with the opportunity to raise you and watch you grow into the intelligent and caring woman you are.

Now, it’s your time to live. We want you to be happy in your future, not stuck in our past. To that end, we are pleased to have left you our property in Four Peaks. We have owned it forever. In fact, we honeymooned there long ago and fell in love with it. We had planned to move there in our retirement, but then we lost your mother and father and decided you’d have more opportunities in Phoenix.

Now, the land is yours to do with as you wish. You can build there or sell it. All we ask is that you visit it and stay for a while before making a decision about it. This is our legacy to you. Our fervent hope is that someday you will find someone who will recognize the wonderful person you are and love you as you deserve. Maybe this property will be the start of a whole new life for you, no matter what you decide.

Remember, though you may feel alone, you will never be alone. We are with you always. We love you, Peach. Grandma and Grandpa.

She let the letter fall to her lap as she wiped at the tears falling down her cheeks. It was as if her grandparents had floated into the room to talk to her. Peace filled her. How could she think she was alone when their love was with her every day? Sniffing, she lifted the letter. She was amazed that her grandfather had kept the secret of the land her entire life. He was terrible at surprises. She couldn’t count how many times he’d had to give her her birthday present days before her birthday, and Christmas was more like the twenty days of Christmas with him.

Sniffing again, she picked up the faded document, her vision still a bit blurry. “Eleven hundred acres?” That had to be wrong. It must be eleven acres. She wiped her eyes with her t-shirt and looked again. “Holy moly.” It was eleven hundred acres! “What in the world?”

She couldn’t seem to stop staring at the number, her heart pounding as she tried to wrap her head around the fact that she was the owner of a lot of land. She actually owned land. She’d never owned anything except her car, though she jointly owned it with the bank. But the land was hers. She could even live there!

As the reality settled, the possibilities exploded, and she jumped from the couch, sending the paperwork flying as she held the deed and danced. “I have property. I have property. I have—.” She stopped and grinned. “I have a new neighbor.”