Learning the Cowboy (Wild Vista Ranch #1)

Chapter 1

Junior

I was dog ass tired and more homesick than I’d ever been in my life. Thank god this was the last stop before I could head back to Blackthorne and Cherish Springs. The sooner these next couple weeks went by, the better.

I drove through the entrance to Wild Vista Ranch, and a half smile tugged at my lips. At least I was only a half day’s drive from home. Maybe I’d take a day and visit this weekend. From what I understood about this job, I’d only be needed Monday through Friday.

The sprawling hills were the first thing I noticed.

I’d only driven through the middle of Texas, or Hill Country as it was known, a handful of times.

Still, Saddlehorn had to be right in the middle of one of the prettiest stretches of land in the state.

I did have a soft spot for Cherish Springs, but I couldn’t deny that we didn’t quite get these views over right at the edge near Louisiana.

I turned toward the owner’s residence. Dad had told me to try there first before I went looking for Carl Davis anywhere else on the property. Apparently, he didn’t spend half his days in the barn or the stables like the majority of my family did.

The house in front of me wasn’t anything fancy.

Not like Momma D and Pappi’s house, yet I liked it right away.

If I were ever to build one of my own I’d probably go for something like this.

I mean, I spent most of my hours riding the farm and working with the horses.

The only real thing I needed a house for was sleep, and there was always a couch in the stables. So maybe not even that.

I parked my truck right out front and hopped down. I walked around to the back of the horse trailer to make sure that Iron Rocket was good. I passed a few treats through the bars and gave him a pat on the head.

“We’re almost done.” I rubbed down his neck.

He nodded as if he too was ready to be home, and I gave him one more treat before I walked up the small set of stairs and knocked on the door.

A curvy woman who looked to be around my mother’s age, maybe a little older, came to the door. She had a welcoming smile, and I returned the look without even thinking.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Carl Davis.” I removed my hat and waited.

“Oh.” Her eyes went as big and round as my grandmother’s biscuits. “You must be Julius’s boy.” Her smile got wider.

“Yes, ma’am.” Of course she knew who I was. That was what happened when your family was one of the oldest Black rodeo families. Everyone knew you without ever really knowing you at all.

“Come on in.” She stood back so I could enter. “I’m Carl’s wife, Lucinda. He’s in the kitchen finishing up lunch.”

“Good to meet you.” I stepped inside. “And I’m sorry about the interruption.” I thought I had gotten here at the perfect time so I wouldn’t pull anyone away from something.

“You’re fine.” She led me through the house and into the kitchen. “Carl, look who’s here,” she said as soon as we crossed the threshold.

Carl looked up from his meal and greeted me with the same sort of warm smile. “Good lord, you look just like your daddy.” He shook his head.

“Thank you.” I’d been told that a few times, but not from someone who had known my father when he was young and had never set eyes on me.

“I swear. No wonder they named you after him.” He laughed.

“That and I was the first.” I lifted one of my shoulders and let it fall. “Most everyone just calls me Junior.” I couldn’t remember the last time anyone called me Julius. That was my dad.

“Well, welcome, Junior.” Carl stood and came over to shake my hand.

“Thanks for having me.”

“Sit.” Ms. Lucinda was already putting a plate of food in front of one of the empty chairs at the table. Dear Lord, she would get along with every woman in my family easily.

I knew if my grandmother were here she would smack me for what I was about to say, but I went ahead anyway.

“Thank you, but I’m not hungry.” I told her. “It was a long drive, and I stopped on the way.”

“Of course.” She nodded and picked up the plate.

“That’s my Lucinda.” Carl smiled in her direction. “Never let it be said my wife didn’t try to feed anyone who stepped foot in her house.”

“No self respecting Southern woman would have it any other way.” She didn’t even bother looking in our direction.

Carl just laughed and slapped me lightly on the back. “Come along. I’ll take you over to the main lodge and introduce to Bria. She’ll get you settled.”

“I can wait until you’ve finished your lunch.” I felt bad.

“Don’t worry about it.” He patted his belly with his free hand. “I was pretty much done, and it isn’t like I need the pounds.”

He dropped his hand from my back and went over to place a quick kiss on Lucinda’s cheek.

“Be back soon, darling.”

“I’ll be waiting.” She smiled and walked my direction. “For later. Just in case.” She had the plate wrapped in foil and ready to go.

“Thank you very much.” There was no way I could refuse her twice.

Outside, Carl stopped. “I didn’t know you’d be bringing a horse.”

“I figured it would be easiest.” I explained. “I’ve also been traveling for the last few months between other ranches and rodeos.”

“I see.” He scratched at his salt and pepper hair. “I’m not sure we have an empty stall in the stables, but I’m sure we can figure something out.”

I hadn’t thought about that. I’d just assumed their stables were the same as ours.

“I guess if all else fails I can run home and take him back, but I’d rather keep him here.” I didn’t know the horses on his ranch, and I wasn’t looking forward to showing people how to do rodeo tricks with an untried horse. It didn’t matter that they were simple moves.

“No need. I’m sure we can find space.” Carl smiled and continued down toward my truck. “We can walk, but it probably will be best if we go ahead and drive on over to the stables first.”

“Alright.”

I climbed back in and followed his directions over to the stables. Carl introduced me to Wes Garrett, who was the ranch foreman and Wayne, who was one of the hands. It took some maneuvering, but we found room for Iron Rocket and I felt comfortable leaving him there.

Carl and I left the car and walked on over to the large building in the middle of the space.

It reminded me of the hall that we used at Blackthorne for our kids’ camp and the big Friendsgiving dinner my family threw every year for the town.

I wondered if they did anything like that here, or was this just for the guests who came out to learn about ranch life?

“I have to warn you about Bria.” Carl paused before opening the front door. “She’s a little…” He hesitated. “Precise?” There was uncertainty in his voice.

“What does that mean?”

“I might own the place, but I’d probably tell anyone who asked that she’s the boss.” He shrugged. “Well, Lucinda and Bria, that is. I wouldn’t be able to run this place without either of them, and Bria keeps us all in line without question.”

“Okay.” That sounded like something my grandfather would say about my grandmother and my cousins. “So she’s sort of a ball buster.”

“I don’t know if I’d say that.” He scratched at his head.

“It’s more so she likes things how she likes them.

She grew up on a ranch not far from here, and her father was a different sort of man.

Lucinda took her under her wing, and well, when he died while Bria was in college, I offered to let her work here. ”

That was easily something my family wound have done and probably had done a dozen times.

“She generally keeps to herself.” Carl continued talking. “She prefers a distance between herself and the staff. In fact, the only person she really talks to at all is Lucinda. Like I said, they’ve always had a special bond.”

“Why does she keep to herself?” My family befriended our staff. We wanted them to know they were appreciated and that they could come to us about anything.

“She said it’s easier to manage everyone that way.” He shrugged again. “I’m only telling you this so you aren’t taken off guard if she is a little brisk.”

“Sure.” It wasn’t as if it really mattered. I was only here for two weeks. It wasn’t like it was going to make a difference if I was friends with this woman. I’d probably only talk to her this one time.

Carl opened the door and led me through the open area of the building and to the stairs that took us up. He knocked on the first closed door and waited for the person inside to respond. Once she said something Carl pushed the door wide and walked in with me behind him.

“Hey Bria, our rodeo rider is here.” Carl smiled as he presented me like I’d just taken first prize in a race.

“About time.” She sat behind a desk that was big enough to make her look like a kid playing in her parent’s office.

Cool dark brown eyes sized me up. She had her brown hair pulled back in a low ponytail, but I could see the caramel highlights both in the two pieces framing her face and the streaks throughout the back.

Her skin was golden perfection. The tone lighter than my dark color, but still a deep brown.

I’d never been one to notice the symmetry of a face, but I noticed hers.

Everything about her looked pulled together and perfect, right down to the full lips that I wanted to feel touching mine.

I closed my eyes for a moment and groaned internally. I’d spent the last few years making fun of my older cousins for falling for their girls the moment they saw them. Swearing that would never be me, and here I was already thinking about kissing this woman. Payback was a bitch.

I opened my eyes and put on my best smile.

I might be lusting after her, but I knew from personal experience that didn’t mean shit.

I wasn’t some fool to fall to my knees and start proclaiming my love.

It had been years since I was swayed by a pretty face and nothing else.

Those days were done. I wanted what Dallas and Victor had.

Someone they could be themselves with and talk to and laugh.

There was no way to know if she had that just from sexual attraction. There had to be more.

“Nice to meet you.” I pushed everything else aside and stepped forward with my hand held out.

Her eyes took me in. She finally stood and, dear gracious, the curves of her body were a dream. I was also glad to see that she wasn’t quite as short as she’d looked sitting down. Not that she was very tall, but she’d fit perfectly next to me.

Stop it, Junior. I shook my head. Get to know her first.

“You too.” She shook my hand, and fireworks rocked through my body.

Fuck me, I shook my head. This was either going to be the longest two weeks of my life or the best.