Chapter 4
Diego
“Samantha, you’re on trail riding duty today,” I said, looking up from my clipboard. “We’ve got a group of seven wanting to take a tour of the property. If you take the northern trail, you can stop at the creek for the picnic. Beau’s already got a cooler packed with labelled lunches for everyone.”
“Can do, boss,” she replied, tipping her hat. She was a tall, gangly woman with an infectious smile. The guests always loved her. “We got enough horses to spare?”
“Tim?” I asked, turning to our youngest ranch hand. He was hardly nineteen years old and looked no older than fifteen, but the man was a genuine horse whisperer.
“Yeah,” he nodded. “I can get them ready. Buttercup’s gonna sit this one out today though. Her color looks off to me.”
“How the hell can you tell that?” Travis balked. He was one of our cattlemen and as boisterous and macho as they came. “That damn horse is white from head to toe. Ain’t no color on her.”
“Don’t tell me my job, Travis,” Tim spat back.
“Alright, children,” I warned, shaking my head.
Travis looked none too pleased, but Tim wasn’t the kind to put up with bullshit.
When it came to horses, he was the expert.
Travis, on the other hand, well… if his horse dropped dead, and we switched it out with one of a different color, he wouldn’t even notice.
The man wasn’t observant. But he knew how to get cattle to go where we needed them and that was important too.
“Take your team out, Travis,” I continued. “And bring the herd down to pasture six. We’ve got decent growth there thanks to the rain and the warm weather. But I want them close just in case some snow blows in.”
“Snow?” Travis scoffed. “In Texas? You hopin’ for a white Christmas, fancy pants?”
“No,” I replied. God, I hated that fucking name.
Ever since he found out I liked men, he called me that.
It was degrading, but not unexpected from people like him.
Ranch hands weren’t exactly known for their openness.
“But I would like the cattle in pasture six today if you can manage to count that high.” I gave him a stern look. “Am I clear, carajo?”
“Yeah, yeah,” he sighed, pushing himself up from his seat, still grinning. “I’ll get yer cows moved. C’mon boys!”
Three other ranch hands followed Travis out. At least that would keep them busy for the rest of the day. I glanced back at my clipboard, checking off a couple of items.
“Danny?”
“Yeah, boss,” he replied, glancing up from his phone that he was always on.
The guy liked to watch the stock market. Or at least that’s what he said. It was a weird hobby if you asked me.
“Can you and Chris work on the Christmas decorations for the barn when you’re done cleaning? Lucas wants them up for the guests.”
“Yeah,” he nodded, slipping his phone in his pocket. He glanced over at Chris. “Chris loves a ladder.”
“I swear to god…” Chris growled. Everyone knew he was terrified of heights. “Don’t you dare…”
“How’re you ever gonna get over your fear if you don’t face it?” Danny asked, like it was the most obvious answer in the world. “It’s just twenty or thirty feet or somethin’. You’d survive the fall.”
“In how many pieces?” Chris shot back. He stood up from his chair, still glaring at Danny. “You comin’ or what?”
Somehow Danny already had his phone out. “Yeah. Let’s go.” Then, to no one in particular. “Oh! It went up three points already!”
Then they were gone.
The last person I turned to was Mrs. Mabel McQuinn, who, according to Beau, had personally placed herself in the role of head of housekeeping and customer satisfaction. She was the one that made sure the food was made, the guest cabins were clean, and managed the cleaning staff.
“I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you what needs to be done, miss Mabel,” I said, tipping my hat toward her. Being on her good side was a requirement if I wanted to live a long life. “You know this place better than I ever will.”
“Oh, honey,” she said, waving me off with a gentle smile.
“You know I’ve got everything handled. The cabins are spotless, the Christmas wreaths are hung, and I’ve got fresh cookies baking for when the trail riders come back.
” She paused, studying me with those sharp eyes that seemed to see everything.
“But you look tired, Diego. When’s the last time you took a day off? ”
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the tension knotted there. “I’m fine, miss Mabel. Just got a lot to keep track of.”
“Mm-hmm.” She didn’t look convinced. She could see right through anyone. It was her superpower. “You know, Frank and I were just saying how hard you’ve been working. This place runs like a Swiss watch thanks to you, but even the best machines need maintenance.”
Before I could respond, the sound of tires on gravel caught my attention. A Jeep was pulling up the drive, kicking up dust despite the recent rain. I squinted against the morning sun, trying to make out who it might be. We weren’t expecting any new guests today.
“Now who could that be?” Mabel wondered aloud, shading her eyes with her hand.
The Jeep came to a stop near the main house, and I could see the driver through the windshield. It was a young guy with sandy hair and what looked like expensive sunglasses. He sat there for a moment, like he was working up the nerve to get out, then finally opened the door.
He was tall, probably a little younger than me, with the kind of lean build that suggested he’d never done a day of manual labor in his life.
His clothes screamed city money. He had on designer jeans that had never seen dirt, too-clean sneakers that probably cost more than most people made in a week, and a sweater that looked like it belonged in a magazine ad.
But it was his face that caught my attention.
Even from a distance, I could see he looked rough around the edges, like he hadn’t been sleeping well.
“The guest cabins are full. You expecting anyone?” Mabel asked quietly.
“No,” I said, already walking toward the newcomer. “But I better go see what he needs.”
As I got closer, I realized this guy looked familiar somehow.
Something about the way he moved, maybe, or the set of his shoulders.
Then it hit me, this was the same man I’d seen wandering around town last night, looking lost as a lamb in a thunderstorm.
I’d been worried he was some vagabond trying to stir up trouble.
But in those jeans? He’d be lucky if he could outrun a turkey feather.
“Can I help you?” I called out as I approached.
He turned toward me, pulling off those expensive sunglasses, and I felt something shift in my chest. His eyes were the brightest blue I’d ever seen, like summer sky after a storm.
But they were also tired, with dark circles underneath that spoke of too many sleepless nights.
My gaze trailed over him, catching hints of pale freckled skin as his sweater rode up.
God… he was gorgeous.
“I’m looking for Beau?” he said, his voice carrying a slight accent that definitely wasn’t Texan. Beyond the accent he sounded… kinda grumpy, I guess. “Aunt Dolly told me I should pick up her order for the diner? Honestly, I’m not really sure what she meant, but she’s busy so here I am.”
For a moment, I just stared at him like an idiot. Up close, those freckles dusted across his nose were even more noticeable, and his sandy hair caught the morning sun in a way that made it look almost gold. I realized I was still staring and cleared my throat.
“Dolly’s order? Oh, the beef.” I nodded, finding my voice. “Yeah, we’ve got it packed up in the cold storage. Beau’s out on the north pasture, but I can help you.”
“Great,” he said flatly, like helping him was the worst thing I could’ve offered. “Lead the way, I guess.”
I tipped my hat and gestured toward the barn. “This way.”
As we walked, I could feel Mabel’s eyes burning a hole in my back. She had that look, the one she got whenever she was plotting something. I’d have to worry about that later.
“So, you’re stayin’ with Dolly?” I asked, trying to make conversation. “Don’t think I’ve seen you around Sagebrush before yesterday.”
He glanced at me sharply. “Yesterday?”
“Yeah, you were walkin’ down Miller Road last night. I offered you a ride, remember?”
His eyes widened with recognition. “That was you? The mysterious cowboy in the truck?”
“Mysterious cowboy?” I couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s a new one. Name’s Diego Mendez. Ranch manager here at Turner Ranch.”
“Hayden,” he replied shortly, not offering a last name. “And I wasn’t lost. I was just... exploring.”
“In the middle of the night? On a residential street with no sidewalks?”
His jaw tightened. “Are you always this nosy with strangers?”
“Only the ones who look like they’re about to pass out from exhaustion,” I replied honestly. “You look like you’ve been through the wringer, Freckles.”
That got his back up. “I’m fine. And don’t call me that.”
We reached the cold storage, and I pulled open the heavy door, letting out a blast of frigid air. Inside, neatly packaged cuts of beef were stacked on shelves, each labeled with names and dates.
“Dolly’s order should be right over here,” I said, moving toward the back. “We supply a lot of businesses, but Dolly is our biggest customer. Best beef in the county and she makes it even better.”
Hayden stood in the doorway, arms wrapped around himself against the cold. “Just hurry up, please. I’ve got other errands to run.”
I found the wooden box labeled “Dolly’s Diner” and hefted it easily, though it had to weigh at least a hundred pounds. When I turned around, Hayden was staring at me, something flashing in those blue eyes before he quickly looked away.
“Need a hand with that?” he asked, though he didn’t sound particularly eager to help.
“I got it,” I said, giving him a wide smile. I kinda liked it when he stared. “But there’s a second box for her if you wanna grab it.”
Hayden looked at the clearly labelled box and then back at me, his brows furrowed. “Is… Is it safe?”
“Well… it ain’t gonna bite ya if that’s what you’re worried about.”
He let out a huff. “I mean, is it gross? Like I’m not gonna get blood all over my sweater, right?”
I stared at him. “It… It’s frozen.”
He stood there for a moment, looking at the box like it might suddenly come to life and attack him. Then he squared his shoulders and reached for it, lifting it with both hands. The thing was half the size of mine, but he struggled with it like it was made of lead.
“Jesus,” he muttered under his breath. “How do you make this look so easy?”
I tried not to let my amusement show as I watched him wrestle with a box that I could’ve carried with one hand. City boys. They were all the same, pretty to look at but about as useful as a chocolate teapot when it came to actual work.
“Years of practice,” I said, heading back outside. “You sure you got it?”
“I’m fine,” he snapped, though he was already breathing a little harder. “Just... lead the way.”
We made our way to his Jeep, and I couldn’t help but notice how he kept stealing glances at me when he thought I wasn’t looking.
There was something hungry in those looks, something that made heat pool low in my belly despite the morning chill.
But then he’d catch himself and look away, jaw tight with what looked like annoyance.
Interesting.
I set my box in the back of his Jeep, then reached out to take his. Our fingers brushed as he handed it over, and I felt a little jolt of electricity at the contact. From the way his breath hitched, I wasn’t the only one who felt it.
“There you go,” I said, securing both boxes. “Tell Dolly I said hey, and that Frank’s still waiting for her famous apple pie recipe. Or better yet, he just wants a pie… for free.”
“I’ll... I’ll let her know,” Hayden said, his voice a little rougher than before. He was looking at me again, those blue eyes tracing over my face like he was trying to memorize it. “Thanks for the help.”
“Anytime.” I tipped my hat, giving him my best smile. “And Hayden? If you get lost wandering around town again, you know where to find me.”
His cheeks flushed pink, which was about the prettiest thing I’d seen in months. “I wasn’t lost,” he muttered, but there wasn’t much heat behind it this time.
As he drove away, kicking up dust in his wake, I found myself grinning like an idiot. Mabel appeared at my elbow, having watched the entire exchange with undisguised interest.
“Well now,” she said, her voice full of mischief. “That was mighty interesting.”
“Don’t start,” I warned, but I was still smiling.
“Oh honey, I’m not starting anything. But that boy was looking at you like you were the last piece of chocolate cake at a church social.” She patted my arm with a knowing look. “And you were looking right back.”
I wanted to argue with her, but I couldn’t. She was right after all. I watched Hayden’s Jeep disappear down the drive, something warm and hopeful stirring in my chest despite his standoffishness.
He really was the prettiest damn thing I’d seen in a long time.