Crushing on The Cowboy: Iron H Ranch 2
Chapter 1
Dean
“Morning,Stella. How is the prettiest filly on the ranch doing this morning?” The Holsteiner gives me an unamused huff. Letting me know it’s too damn early for my sunny disposition. A few scratches under her chin and an apple lighten her mood. I know what makes my girl happy. After a few more chin scratches, I get to work preparing Stella’s feed. My humming fills the silence. The barn is peaceful this early in the morning. Most of the guys don’t get started until after six in the morning. My internal clock has me up and moving at four. Thanks to growing up on a cattle ranch. My dad had my brother and me up every morning to do chores before school. It stuck. Even in college, I was wide awake at four. Drove my roommate nuts. Getting up that early had its benefits. My pick of showers. Plenty of hot water. First in line for a fresh off the grill breakfast burrito and access to the good cereal. Best of all, early morning walks with my sunflower.
Six years and I still can’t stop thinking about her. Charlotte Benson. My best friend from college. We met the beginning of Junior year. She was my math tutor. Our relationship grew to be one of the best friendships I’d ever had. We bonded over our love of animals and campy horror movies. At the time, I was dating someone else. The friendship was purely platonic. The more time we spent together, my feeling for Charlotte grew to more than friendship. She was so sweet and funny. Easy to talk to. Her determination to make her dreams of becoming a veterinarian was one of the most attractive things about her. Her gorgeous curves were the cherry on top. Once my feelings changed, I ended things with my girlfriend, Millie. I planned out the perfect way to confess my true feelings for Charlotte and ask her to be my girlfriend.
Everything was going perfectly until the morning of my grand gesture. I delivered the flowers and the note with instructions to meet her secret admirer at the botanical gardens before she left for the day. My world came to a screeching halt when I returned to my dorm to find my brother, Chase, was waiting for me. He broke the news to me that our father had been in an accident and they did not expect him to survive. I needed to be there to say my goodbyes. I gave a note to my roommate, Tony, to give to Charlotte at the botanical gardens. I didn’t have a cellphone at the time so left her the number for my parents’ place. But I never heard from her. After the funeral, I talked with Tony and he said she never showed up that night. He talked with her the next day and she had told him she realized it was me who was leaving her flowers every morning. And that she didn’t feel the same way about me.
It broke my heart to know my feelings were one sided. I didn’t return to school after my dad’s passing. I finished up my senior year at the University of Colorado to be close to my mom and help my brother run the ranch. Being hundreds of miles away from Charlotte gave me time to grieve for my dad and for losing her. Despite not being meant to be, her memories still haunt me.
“We have a big day ahead of us,” I say while brushing down Stella. “Olive will be here for her first ride.” I’ve been training Stella for Olive, my eight-year-old client. Her family brought Stella to Iron H a month ago. In the short time I have worked here, I have earned the reputation as one of the best trainers in the state. Olive’s parents brought Stella here from Texas to work with me. It has been a dream come true. Raising cattle was never my calling. My favorite chores on the ranch were taking care of the horses and helping the trainers. It was hard leaving the family business to work here at Iron H, but it was the best decision of my life.
I’m finishing up in Stella’s stall when I hear the door to the barn creek open. Peeking out of the stall, I see Cody Ironheart, the owner of Iron H Ranch, striding towards me. He has a look of determination on his face. Which means I am about to be asked to do something I might not like. But I will say yes. That is how my parents raised me. If you can lend a hand to your neighbors, you do it. That mentality has earned me the nickname Mr. Helpful. A name I confidently wear.
“Morning, Dean. I thought I would find you out here.” He comes to a stop in front of Stella’s stall. “There is something I would like to discuss with you. Do you have a moment?”
“Sure, what’s up, boss?”
“Last year, we hosted an auction at the ranch to help raise funds to keep the doors open. It was such a success that we have decided to do it again this year. We are looking for some volunteers and I’m hoping if I get a yes from you, the rest of the guys will agree as well.” I heard a bit about the auction. A few of the guys, including Cody, found love through the auction. There’s no guarantee it could happen for me. This might be the push I need to get back out in the dating world. Sure, I could have my pick of women at the bar. There have been plenty of offers. I want something more than a night of fun. I’m at a point in my life where I’m ready to find my future wife and build a life and a family. If this could help me, I’m going to take it. Plus, the money raised will help the ranch. So it’s a win - win in my book.
“I would be happy to help.”
“Fantastic, thank you, Dean.” He claps me on the back. “Heather will give you all the details.” He thanks me again, then leaves me to finish my work when spots Jacob, one of our new hands, coming in the barn. I laugh to myself, knowing Jacob is going to hate this.
“What do you think, Stella? Do you think I will find love?” she ignores me and walks out to the paddock. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” I wholeheartedly believe this auction will be just what I need. Mr. Helpful might just get the help he needs this time around.