Riding Into Love (Wildhorse Ranch #1)

Chapter One

River

The moment my boots hit the dirt at Wild Horse Ranch, I know I’m stepping into a world that thinks it doesn’t need me, but I’m here to prove it wrong. I’ve got one shot to make this ranch my territory, and I’ll be damned if I let a bunch of cowboys decide what I can or can’t do.

The heat is intense, but I just swipe away the sweat as I take in my new home for the summer.

A massive white house stands at the top of the hill, overlooking the rest of the property.

Beyond that, a field stretches out, surrounded by mountains.

It feels like being at the edge of the earth, with no one around for miles.

But that’s Montana for you—beautiful, isolated, and unforgiving.

I pull my bag out of the trunk and slam the door. “Thanks again for the ride.”

The driver waves a hand at me. “It’s no problem. You want me to take your bag up there?”

Right. Because that would make a fantastic first impression with the guys around here. Being a female ranch hand is hard enough, but if I can’t carry my own shit, they’ll never respect me. “Nah, I’m good.”

“You sure? It’s no big deal. I could—”

I lift the heavy bag from the trunk and sling it over my shoulder. The weight threatens to topple me, but I stand up straight and walk away without giving it a second thought. “I said I’m good. Thanks.”

“All right then. Have a good one.”

“Yeah, you too.”

He drives off, leaving me to stare at the place I’ll be calling home for the next two months.

It’s not the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen, but the open field is kind of breathtaking.

I could see myself getting used to a view like that.

Provided Colby Burke, the grumpy rich bastard who owns this place, doesn’t drive me insane.

I’ve heard the stories about him throughout the years.

He’s a friend of my father’s, and apparently, he’s got a reputation for being a hard ass.

It’s no surprise, since he runs the largest ranch in the state.

Guess he’s earned the right to be a dick, but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna stand for it. It’s just not who I am.

I adjust the heavy bag on my shoulder and head toward the white farmhouse at the top of the hill. If I’m gonna be stuck with this guy all summer, I might as well make a good impression.

The front door is open when I step onto the porch. I knock on the screen door, and wait for someone to answer. “Hello?”

“One second!” a voice calls from inside the house.

I lean against the railing, letting the wind whip through my long hair. I grew up in Montana, so the dry air doesn’t bother me much. There’s something about it that makes me feel alive, like the whole world is open for me to conquer. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this free.

A moment later, the screen door creaks open, and a man steps out.

I take a breath as my eyes move over him.

He’s tall, muscular, and built like an athlete.

Or more accurately, like a man who has spent his life hauling hay bales.

The dark hair sticking out from under his Stetson gives him a rugged look, and the stubble on his cheeks only adds to the effect.

This guy is the real deal. And honestly, a little too good-looking for his own damn good.

His hazel eyes squint when he spots me, and one corner of his mouth turns up in a smirk. “You the new ranch hand? River, right?”

My stupid stomach does a flip at the sound of his voice. Deep and sexy. Damn. I clear my throat and extend a hand. “That’s me. Nice to meet you, Colby Burke.”

Colby takes my hand in his, and I try not to notice how callused and rough his skin feels against mine.

He squeezes just hard enough to get a little personal, but not so much that it hurts.

“For the record, I’ve never let a woman work on my ranch before.

So you’ll have to excuse my hesitation, but I’ve got my reservations. ”

Of course, he does. By now, I should be used to this.

It doesn’t matter that I was raised on a ranch or that my daddy is the hardest working man this side of the Rockies.

No, none of that matters. Because the fact remains, I have tits.

People will always see a woman, and they’ll automatically assume I’m incapable.

I can’t say it doesn’t piss me off, but it’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before.

“So I’ve heard. Look, I know it’s a boys’ club around here, but I’m not asking for you to take it easy on me. I’ll work just as hard as any of you. Hell, I’ll even work harder. You’ve got no idea what I’m capable of.”

“That so?” His eyes narrow as he stares down at me. He’s got a good foot on me, but I don’t back down. If he wants a show of strength, he’ll get it. “Well, you’re a Thurston. Suppose it’s in your blood.”

I can’t tell if that’s a compliment or an insult, but either way, he’s right. My daddy didn’t raise no slackers. We don’t get things done by taking the easy route. We’re made of hard stock, and we fight for what we want. And right now, I want this job.

“Guess so.”

“Shame to hear about your father’s ranch. That place has been in his family for a long time.”

“Yeah, it has.” My heart twists at the mention of my father’s ranch.

Last year, the bank seized it. We fell behind on our payments, and there was nothing my daddy could do to stop them. He didn’t tell me a word about it until the day they took the land from us, so I didn’t even have the chance to help. All that history, lost in a matter of days.

I can’t think about it right now, though. I’ve gotta stay focused.

“Well, you can put your stuff in the room at the end of the hall.”

“You don’t want me to stay in the bunkhouse? With the other hands?”

He barks out a laugh, and he doesn’t even try to be subtle when his eyes move over my body, stopping a heartbeat too long at the mounds spilling from the top of my tank top. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Guess men really are the same, no matter where they come from.

“Oh, no. There’s no way in hell you’re staying in the bunk house with all those boys.”

“Oh, so I get special treatment? The princess suite?”

“Not exactly. Come on. I’ll show you where you’ll be staying.”

I follow him into the house, trying not to focus on the way his ass looks in his jeans.

I’ve never been a huge fan of cowboys. That cliche has always seemed a little ridiculous to me.

What city girls don’t understand is that when it comes to a real rancher, expecting to be a priority is about as likely as winning the lottery.

It doesn’t happen. They spend their days working, their nights drinking, and the rare occasion they get a woman between their sheets, she doesn’t get much attention.

Still, Colby is pretty hot, even if he is around my father’s age.

His strong arms and broad shoulders are a little more appealing than they should be, and his ass is downright distracting.

Not that I’ll be doing anything about it.

If the rumors are true, he’s got a lot of demons, and the last thing I need is a guy who’s more baggage than he’s worth.

Men like that are the reason I’m here in the first place.

I needed a fresh start after the way my dickhead ex treated me.

Christian was a piece of shit, and I should have realized it sooner, but I guess that’s the way things go sometimes.

At the end of the day, I needed to find someplace he’d never be able to touch me again.

So when Daddy suggested I come here because they needed a body for the season, I didn’t give it a second thought.

Colby leads me down the hallway, and the whole place smells like cedar and freshly baked bread. The wooden floors are scuffed, but it’s not shabby. This is a house that has been well-loved.

“So, you’ve worked on a ranch before?”

“Sure have. My daddy’s the best cattle wrangler around.”

“I won’t argue that. The man’s a legend.”

“He is. Taught me everything I know.”

Colby stops at the end of the hall and gestures toward a door. “This is you. You can leave your bag in there, then I’ll need you outside. The boys are getting ready to bring the cattle in from the north pasture, and it’ll go a lot faster if we’ve got an extra set of hands.”

He turns and heads back the way we came, and I push open the door to the room. It’s small, with only a twin-sized bed and a dresser inside. But it’s more than I need, and I toss my bag onto the mattress before following him outside.

A few guys are already making their way down the path, leading a massive herd of horses. There must be close to a hundred of them, and it’s going to take a miracle to get them all penned up.

“You ride?”

“Is that a serious question? I grew up on a ranch. Of course I can ride.”

“All right then. See that stallion right there?” He points to a horse at the back of the pack. “His name’s Linux. He’s not our friendliest horse, but he’s the only spare mount we’ve got. Take him out and head to the northern pasture. I need you to bring in the last group.”

I glance at the animal in question. He’s a beauty. A jet-black stallion, with a mane that rivals the night sky. He’s got an attitude, though, judging by the way he rears back and stomps the ground when one of the other hands approaches him.

From the corner of my eye, I catch Colby watching me, probably thinking I’m gonna back down. No such luck, cowboy.

“I’ll handle him.”

I’m not sure if I’m talking about the horse or the man, but the truth is, they’re not so different. The stallion’s nostrils flare, and the muscles along his flanks tighten, like he’s about to charge.

“Don’t get yourself killed, Thurston.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

I approach Linux with slow, cautious steps. The last thing I need is this bastard knocking me on my ass in front of a bunch of testosterone-fueled men. Not exactly a good start.

The horse stomps the ground, and I can tell by the way his eyes are trained on me, he’s just as stubborn as I am.

“Come on, buddy. Don’t make this hard on both of us.”

I hold a hand out, palm up, and let him come to me. The moment he presses his nose into my skin, I can sense the aggression drain from his body. Maybe he’s not such a tough guy after all.

“Good boy. You and I are gonna get along just fine.”

I pull myself into the saddle and take the reins.

The stallion’s ears flick back and forth as he waits for his command, and when I point him toward the pasture, he’s off.

I lean low over the horse’s neck and squeeze my legs around his sides.

He’s fast, but not nearly as wild as Colby made him out to be.

We race across the field, and the wind slaps against my face, bringing with the smell of fresh earth. There’s no better feeling than riding, especially in the wide-open spaces of the country. Out here, I can really breathe.

A group of cattle is grazing at the far edge of the pasture, and we’re almost to the fence when something catches Linux’s attention. He lets out a snort and comes to an abrupt halt, nearly throwing me from the saddle.

I hold tight, and lean down to whisper in his ear. “Easy, boy. What’s got you all spooked?”

The horse whinnies and rears back. I grab the reins and hold on, but whatever’s going on, he’s not having it.

A moment later, I see what’s got him riled up.

There’s a rattlesnake a few feet away, and its tail is shaking.

Linux drives his hoof to the ground, and the snake lunges forward, hissing as it bares its fangs.

I’ve got two choices. Either I turn the horse around and hope we can outrun the serpent, or I can try to deal with the problem.

The snake coils, readying itself to strike, and I make a decision. There’s no way in hell I’m turning tail and running. I’m not a coward, and if I’ve got any chance of proving myself here, this is it.

I grip the pommel before I hop from the saddle and land a foot away from the snake. The thing is massive, with a thick body and a rattle that shakes in a warning. It’s coiled up, ready to strike, and I know that’s my only chance.

“Sorry, buddy,” I whisper, then grab the creature by the tail.

It snaps its jaw at me, and I jerk back, narrowly avoiding the deadly fangs. With all the strength I’ve got, I whip the snake over my head, and slam it into the dirt. There’s a loud crack, and the rattle goes silent.

I stare down at the carcass, and the adrenaline sinks from my ears down to my toes. Holy shit. Did I really just kill a fucking rattlesnake with my bare hands?

Linux dances away, still agitated by the dead animal, and I grab the reins, tugging the stallion’s face close to mine.

“Easy, boy. It’s dead.”

“Jesus Christ, Thurston! Are you fucking insane?”

Colby’s voice travels up the hill, and I turn to see him riding toward me. He dismounts his horse, and the second his feet hit the ground, he’s storming toward me.

“What the hell was that?”

“What was what?”

“Did you really just kill a rattlesnake?”

“Would you rather I left it to hang out here waiting for one of your horses or cows to wander too close?”

“Of course not, but Jesus. Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?”

“You’re preaching to the choir. My dad taught me how to handle snakes.”

“No shit. You’ve got balls, Thurston. That’s for damn sure.”

“So I’ve heard. Can I go ahead and get these guys in the pasture now?”

He blinks at me, gawking with a stupid grin on his face. I’m used to men gawking at me like that. The look every one of them gets when they realize I’m not the delicate, helpless flower they think I am.

I adjust the reins in my hand and swing myself back into the saddle before settling back into place.

Colby’s still staring at me like he’s trying to figure out what planet I came from, but I just kick at Linux’s side and tick him forward.

Behind me, I hear the crunch of his boots on dry dirt before he calls out, “You’re not what I expected, River. ”

“Good,” I throw over my shoulder. “Would’ve been a shame if I was.”

If I stick around any longer, I might forget why I came here in the first place, and I can’t let that happen.

Not for a pair of hazel eyes and a voice that sounds like it’s been rolled through gravel and whiskey.

So, I give the horse another kick and head down the path toward the group of cattle, ready to bring them in from the pasture.

I glance back once, but Colby’s gone, thank the fucking mountain. The man is a force, and I have no interest in being swept up in that tornado. I’m not here to play house. I’m here for one reason, and one reason only. To put the events of the past year behind me.