Ironwood Ranch Cowboys (Colter Creek #3)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Annie

The iron gates are the first thing that make my stomach drop.

Not because they’re dramatic—though they are, tall and black and undeniably expensive—but because they don’t creak.

They don’t sag. They don’t look like they’ve ever known rust or neglect or the kind of half-assed repair job I’m used to seeing at ranches that run on grit instead of money. These gates glide open with an efficient whir, as if they’ve been oiled within an inch of their life.

Ironwood Ranch doesn’t welcome you.

It admits you.

I tighten my grip on the steering wheel as I drive through, my old Subaru suddenly feeling like it doesn’t belong here any more than I do. Gravel crunches beneath my tires, but even the drive is immaculate. Wide, smooth, flanked by fencing so straight it looks measured with a laser.

Okay.

Deep breath.

You’ve done this before, Annie.

Just… not quite like this.

The ranch opens up in front of me like something out of a magazine spread. Barns painted a deep, rich red without a single chip. White trim so clean it almost glows.

Perfectly stacked hay bales lined like soldiers. Horses moving through paddocks in calm, controlled lines, their coats glossy, their tack spotless.

Ranch hands move with purpose, not rushed or sloppy. They know where they’re going. They know what they’re doing at all times.

It’s intimidating as hell.

And I say that as someone who’s worked on more than a few ranches where bedlam was just part of the job description.

I park where the discreet sign tells me to, ADMIN / STAFF, and sit there, staring through the windshield.

This place doesn’t look like it needs me.

Yet, here I am…

I grab my bag, grab my camera strap out of habit before tucking it back inside, and step out of the car. The air smells of pine and leather and money. Real money. The kind that doesn’t flinch.

Before I can overthink it, a woman appears at the front steps of the main building, waving enthusiastically.

“You must be Annie! Annie Wright?”

Her smile is wide, friendly, sweet. Blonde hair pulled into a tidy ponytail. Clipboard tucked to her chest like it’s an extension of her body.

“That’s me,” I say, forcing my own smile into place.

“I’m Sherry. Sherry Baines. Payroll, admin, scheduling, miracle worker.” She laughs like it’s a joke, but her eyes are curious, measuring. “Welcome to Ironwood.”

She steps aside to let me in, already talking as we walk.

“I’m so glad you’re here. We’ve been needing an extra set of eyes on the books for ages. Things are growing fast around here. Very fast.” She lowers her voice conspiratorially. “The Harlans don’t like lack of control.”

That’s… not ominous at all.

The inside of the building is just as polished as the outside. Wood floors that gleam, framed historical photos lining the walls.

Ironwood Ranch through the decades. Men on horseback, women in pressed dresses, children standing stiffly beside prize-winning animals.

Legacy stares down at me from every angle.

“So,” Sherry continues, “you’ve worked ranch accounts before?”

“Yeah,” I say. “Mostly mid-sized operations. Some family run, some corporate adjacent.”

She nods approvingly. “Good. You’ll understand the rhythm here, then. Ironwood has… expectations.”

Sherry leads me down a hall lined with more photographs, each one whispering a story I’m not part of yet.

“And here are the Harlan boys,” she says, stopping in front of a giant portrait that I don’t even get a moment to really look at. “Silas, Cody, and Duke.” She winks and steps aside. “Come on, let me show you your new office.”

I follow her into a smaller room just off the main office. The desk is polished to a mirror shine, drawers perfectly aligned, a leather chair tucked in neatly.

Nothing is out of place. Not a single paper clip out of order.

I run my hand along the surface, half expecting it to squeak under my touch, but it’s smooth, flawless.

“You’ll have everything you need here,” Sherry continues. “If you ever need anything, just ask… though honestly, the Harlan boys aren’t fond of interruptions.”

I nod, forcing a smile, but my stomach twists. Interruptions? Okay, so I guess I need to blend into the background as much as I can.

Sherry steps fully into the room, setting her clipboard on the desk with a soft thud.

“Okay, first things first. Your desk, see how it’s all labeled?

Files, invoices, purchase orders. Everything has a place.

If you don’t put it back exactly where it goes…

well, let’s just say someone here notices. And not politely.”

She winks, but there’s a hint of seriousness in her tone.

I glance around. The files really are perfect. Even the pens are aligned by size and color.

“Printer and scanner are over here,” Sherry continues, pointing to a sleek little station in the corner. “High tech, but don’t panic if it jams. Just hit the button, and if that doesn’t work, come get me before you try to throw it out the window. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen.”

I snort a laugh. “Printers are the admin’s worst enemy, after all.”

“True,” she says, smiling. “I like someone who knows the danger of office equipment. Now, coffee… very important. Always stocked, always fresh. And snacks. Yes, we have snacks. Don’t ask questions. Just… respect the candy drawer. That’s a sacred space.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Candy drawer?”

“Exactly. Don’t mess with it.” She taps her temple knowingly. “Okay, now for the most important part: gossip.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

Sherry leans in, lowering her voice like she’s about to share the secrets of the universe.

“This town—and yes, the ranch—runs on it. Half of what you hear is probably wrong. The other half… true enough to be dangerous. People love a new face, Annie. If you want to survive here, smile, do your job, and remember: a raised eyebrow in the wrong place can be a headline by lunchtime.”

I blink, trying to process it all. “So… don’t overthink it?”

“Exactly. Sort of,” she says, grinning. “Also, the Harlan boys… well, they’re family, and families have quirks.

Silas is all business, Cody is… watchful, and Duke…

well, he’s the one who keeps the whole circus from burning down.

Learn their patterns, respect their space, and you’ll be fine. Mostly.”

I nod slowly. “Mostly.”

She claps her hands together. “Great! That’s the hard part done.

You’ll get the rest in motion once you meet them properly.

For now, just settle in, check the systems, and if anything looks weird, write it down, don’t panic.

Oh, and your chair? Adjust it before you even touch a keyboard. Trust me, back health is underrated.”

I sink into the chair experimentally. It’s ridiculously comfortable.

Sherry glances at her watch. “Well, that’s all I can cram into one briefing without giving you whiplash.

You’ll meet the boys properly in a minute.

And Annie…” She pauses at the door, mock serious now, “if you hear something about a horse, a board meeting, or a late-night visitor that sounds insane… maybe don’t repeat it.

Maybe don’t even believe it. Just smile and look busy. ”

I grin. “Got it. Smile, look busy, survive the gossip.”

“Exactly!” She winks, then heads back into the hall, clipboard in hand.

I sit back, letting the peace settle around me, my stomach twisting in anticipation. This isn’t just a job. It’s a whole ecosystem.

And somehow, I have to figure out how to fit in without getting trampled.

“…I just don’t know what he was thinking…”

The sound of a voice makes me jump. My spine bolts straighter as I spin to see a tall, broad, dark-haired man, dressed in a crisp button-down and jeans, with his sleeves rolled up just enough to look purposeful.

He’s holding a clipboard in one hand and rifling through papers in the other, clearly distracted.

My heart leaps into my throat as he enters my office. “Erm… hello?”

He frowns for just a second. “Annie Wright? Sherry told me she’d seen you in.”

There’s an iciness to his words that sends a shiver down my spine. “Right… yes.”

“Silas Harlan. One of your bosses.” He offers me his firm handshake. “I know you’ll be good at this job. I saw your resume.”

I swallow hard. “Yes… right, thank you.”

I have no idea what the right response is so I just smile.

Luckily, the radio on his belt hisses, turning the attention away from me.

“Cody, what?” Silas hisses so quietly I can barely pick out the words. “I know, I’m grabbing the paperwork now. I’m just meeting the new accountant…”

Barely a moment passes before my office door swings open once more.

“The new accountant?”

This man must be another Harlan, but he looks very different from Silas.

He has blond hair perfectly combed, glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose just slightly. He’s tall, lean, and every inch the kind of man who could probably calculate the trajectory of a falling pencil before it hits the floor.

“Cody.” Immediately, he holds his hand out to me. “I do a lot of the books, so I did actually tell Sherry to come and get me the moment you arrived, but I guess she forgot.”

I blink, trying to process everything at once, my brain stammering like a dial-up connection. I feel like I’ve missed a few steps.

This place is definitely going to take some getting used to.

“Uh… nice to meet you,” I say, shaking his hand a little too quickly.

Cody’s green eyes study me curiously. “So. You know your way around ledgers?”

“Yes. I… double-check everything. Always,” I say, hoping the words land somewhere between competent and not pathetic.

He doesn’t respond right away, just tilts his head, scanning the office, the desk, me, like a human audit.

My stomach twists. Okay. Definitely feels like I’m under review.

“I’m going to call Duke,” Silas interjects. “I’m sure he’ll be happy to show you around, and to your new room as well.”

Am I ready for this? A third Harlan? Can he be any worse?

“Come with me,” Silas continues. “Let’s go and find him. I’ll show you around on the way.”

“See ya,” Cody calls after me. “I’m sure we’ll be spending more time together working soon!”

I don’t know if that’s supposed to be welcoming or a threat.

Silas leads me down a variety of halls, pointing out rooms I’m sure I’ll never need, much less remember. Every one of his strides is long and powerful. His eyes scan everything as if the walls themselves might betray a weakness.

Everything smells faintly of pine cleaner, leather, horses, and a hint of wood smoke.

“And this,” Silas says, pushing open another door, “is where Duke spends more time than anyone should. The kitchen.”

I blink.

The room is enormous, light streaming in from high windows, copper pots hanging from racks, and an island so large it could probably double as a conference table.

A man leans casually against the counter, tossing a spatula from hand to hand. His brown hair is intentionally tousled, hazel eyes bright and teasing, and a grin spreads across his face the moment he notices me, and it makes my heart stall.

Which is… inconvenient. This man is one of my bosses.

I swallow that feeling down quick.

“Well, look who it is,” he says, all warm and easy, like he’s teasing an old friend instead of sizing up a stranger. “You must be Annie, right?”

“Uh… hi,” I say, gripping my bag a little tighter, unsure what protocol is with someone like him.

“I’m Duke,” he continues, offering a hand and leaning forward, just enough to make his grin feel invitational instead of an interrogation. “I cook, I lift heavy things, I stop people from setting the barn on fire… basically, I’m here to make your life easier. Or at least more interesting.”

His hand is warm when it closes around mine, and it lingers there. Like he’s in no hurry to let go.

I raise an eyebrow, caught somewhere between amusement and wariness. “Interesting is one word for it.”

Duke laughs, the kind of laugh that makes his eyes crinkle and feels disarmingly genuine. Already I’m struck by how he’s nothing like the other two.

“Trust me, you’ll need all the distractions you can get with my brothers.” He nods toward the hall where Silas is already checking a list on his clipboard. “Silas is all business. Cody’s all math. And me? I’m… chaos with a heart. Welcome to Ironwood, Annie.”

I manage a small smile. “Chaos with a heart… got it.”

He claps me on the shoulder and leans against the counter, still grinning. “We’ll get you settled. Let me show you your room.”

Duke opens a door at the end of the hall from the left of the kitchen, revealing a room with a large window overlooking the paddocks, a neatly made bed, a desk, and a small reading nook.

“Home base,” he says simply. “Feel free to unpack, hang your stuff, make it yours. Don’t let the perfect lines of the ranch fool you… your space should feel lived in.”

I set my bag down, taking a slow breath. It’s small, simple, but there’s comfort in that. For the first time since I pulled through the iron gates, I feel a flicker of belonging.

“Yeah, thanks.”

Duke wins playfully at me and I can’t help but smile. “Well, I’ll see you soon. Let me know if you need anything.”

And just like that, he’s gone, the sound of his boots fading down the hall. I sink onto the edge of the bed, letting my shoulders relax at last.

My fingers fumble for my phone. I need to let my brother know I made it.

It doesn’t matter how many temp jobs I take and how much I move around, I always like Evan to know where I am.

I don’t want him to have to worry about me.

Annie: Made it. Survived introductions. Ironwood is definitely… different.

Evan: Different how? Good, bad, dangerous?

I chuckle softly, fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Annie: Intimidating. I don’t know if I’m going to like it here.

Evan: Good thing you never stay in one place for long…