Chapter Four
Maclyn had mixed feelings about seeing the fairgrounds in her rearview mirror. It was a relief to no longer leave her horses alone in a public facility, but now she was indebted to Trev Matthews for both a temporary job and the welfare of her horses. Indebtedness didn’t sit well with her.
Maybe you can relax and accept Trev’s help with grace.
No easy task when the guy put her on edge.
When he’d been with Brooke, Maclyn got the silent hands-off message, so she hadn’t given Trev much conscious thought, other than noting that, like his brothers, he was hot as hell.
She’d have to have been dead not to register that small fact.
After he’d tanked her job opportunity with Buckley Livestock, she’d given him a lot of thought—not the good kind.
Then today … well, today had been troublesome. But surely, she could work with a guy for a few weeks without her hormones taking the helm. Even if they did, it wasn’t like she was going to jump him.
The thought made her smile a little. That wasn’t going to happen because she wasn’t going to let it, so yes, she would focus on accepting help with grace. Not the easiest thing in the world when she’d actively worked to depend on no one but her lonesome.
When she pulled into the ranch for the second time that day, Trev stepped out of the barn and Maclyn suppressed a groan. The guy was still hot.
Learn to live with it. Pretend Brooke is here giving you the evil eye.
She waved as she passed the man, assuming that since he’d already told her where to unload that he’d wave and head out to check the cows, but no.
He ambled over as she opened the trailer door, then took the lead line after she unloaded Danny.
He stood with one hand on the gelding’s neck while she led Jessie out of the trailer.
“I tossed some hay into the feeders.”
“Thanks.”
“No big deal.”
The horses in the field that she’d visited earlier that day ran to the fence line as soon as they became aware of new fellow equines in the vicinity and whinnied to them.
Her horses raised their heads long enough to answer, then made a beeline to the alfalfa-filled feeder.
At least they appeared comfortable their new surroundings.
Mac, not so much. She kept catching the subtle scent of Trev’s soap as they stood side by side, watching her horses.
She truly wanted to stop noticing things about the man.
“A penny for them?” he asked.
Mac jumped when he spoke, then gave him a yeah-right look to cover up. Like she was going to share her thoughts with a guy who smelled too damned good. “Just thinking about the weather.”
“Right.” His half-smile made her wonder if he could read minds.
“Don’t you have cows to check or something?”
“Already did that. Killer Moo says hello.”
“Hi back,” she said dryly. “I need to get going.” As she turned toward her truck, she caught the toe of her boot on a half-buried hay string and stumbled. Trev caught her by the arm and hauled her back to her feet.
“Easy there.”
“Easy yourself.” She pulled herself free, but it was too late to douse the surge of gut-level attraction that swamped her. Damn the man. Maclyn cleared her throat as she ran her hands down the front of her jacket. “I really do need to get going.”
“I’ll see you in the morning then.” He was watching her as if he knew why she was unnerved. Maclyn told herself she was imagining things.
“Bright and early.” She hated sounding chirpy, but there she was. Chirping.
“Bright and early,” he agreed. “You want to leave your trailer here?”
She wanted to get out of Dodge. “Tomorrow,” she said. Her clothing and toiletries were in boxes in the tack compartment, and she didn’t want to sort through the stuff in front of him.
“Works for me.”
Maclyn had several miles of highway between the Tree Fork and Marietta to not think about Trev.
Instead, she spent the time making a mental list of people she could contact to find future employment.
It wasn’t a long list, but she had resources.
Only five days had passed since the Sweet Grass had cut her loose.
She had a check coming to help tide her over, but she needed to pinch her pennies.
Even if she could squeeze a few more weeks out of the Tree Fork after the three Trev had promised her, did she want to?
You’re helping the guy out. This isn’t a one-way street.
It was true. While he might have hired her out of either guilt or sympathy, she was earning her keep and the keep of her horses. The matter was transactional, a circumstance she understood.
She swung into the parking lot of the motel but didn’t turn off the ignition. The rates were high, even off-season, but it was the hand-lettered sign propped in the window that caught her eye. Pets welcome with fee.
She glanced down at Raisin, who responded with a charming canine grin.
“Nothing’s free, is it, girl?”
No matter what, someone had to pay.
*
Trev stifled a yawn as he rinsed his coffee cup.
Three of the cows had chosen to calve in the wee hours, but they hadn’t been in any hurry to get the job done.
Wade had woken Trev shortly after midnight, and the two of them had watched one of the ladies for close to forty minutes before deciding to intervene.
Apparently being brought into the barn was all the encouragement she needed because as soon as they closed the gate on the pen, she’d gone down.
They hadn’t had to pull the calf or call the vet.
The little bull wasn’t exactly vigorous, but after mom had given him a good tongue bath, he’d managed to get to his feet and eventually nurse.
Trev had gone to bed shortly thereafter, only to be roused by his alarm less than an hour later.
The long night was about to turn into a long day.
Maybe, once he got Maclyn fully trained to do his day work, he could catch up on his sleep while she was there.
Right.
He couldn’t bring himself to do such a thing. A rumble sounded from outside and he went to the window, expecting to see Maclyn’s truck even though it was early.
“Is that your girl?” Wade called from the living room.
“Woman,” he replied, in an effort to keep his uncle from being taken off at the knees. Either way, she wasn’t his. “It’s Jim.” The guy who leased their fields for farming since the longtime foreman had quit. Wade simply hadn’t been able to keep up with everything without full-time help.
“Tell him I’ll be right out.” Wade disappeared down the hall to his bedroom. “Gotta put on a shirt.”
“Hey, Jim.” Trev swung the door open. “Coffee?” Like Wade, Jim Reed was a bona fide caffeine fiend. Trev assumed he had at least one thermos in his truck and would stop for another on the way home.
“I’m on my way to Livingston, but I don’t mind a cup.”
Trev filled two cups, set them on the table for Wade and Jim, then began pulling on his boots. “Got to feed. Wade will be out in a second.”
“Cattle wait for no man, which is why I stick to farming. Anyway, I thought I’d let you know that you have a trespasser on the Fremont Creek Meadow. Looks like they’re camping there.”
“Yeah?” It wasn’t unusual to have the occasional hunter set up camp, not realizing it was private property, but there were no seasons open.
“They were there when I drove home last night and still there this morning.”
“What kind of rig?” Trev asked.
“Blue Ford. Montana plates. Bumper-pull trailer.”
Trev stilled, then pulled the second boot the rest of the way onto his foot.
“You know the rig?”
“Maybe.” Trev pulled his pant leg down then reached for his coat hanging on the chair next to him. “You want to do me a favor and not mention this to Wade? I’ll take care of it.”
“Sure.” Jim grinned. “I’ve seen his territorial instincts in action. Never pretty.”
“Yeah.” Trev had also witnessed his uncle take care of trespassing hunters and the like. “Don’t want to stress him out. I’ll have a word with whoever if they’re still there this afternoon.”
Wade’s footsteps sounded in the hall as Trev grabbed his hat. “See you, Jim.”
Jim saluted with his coffee cup and Trev headed out the door. He’d just made it to the barn when Maclyn drove her blue Ford truck with the bumper-pull trailer into the yard. She parked near the barn and jumped out, looking pretty good for someone whom he suspected slept in her truck.
Tackle this issue now? Later?
Was it even his issue to tackle, trespassing aside?
“Unhitch your trailer over there.” He pointed to the horse and stock trailers parked side by side near the grain silo. “Next to the Featherlite.”
Maclyn might threaten windbreaks with the tractor, but she handled the trailer like a pro, swinging the tricky bumper-pull into place in one deft maneuver.
“Any calves?” she asked as she cranked the jack into place, lifting the hitch off the ball.
“Five since you left yesterday. Two in the afternoon, three in the early hours.” Which triggered another yawn, but he fought it. “How was the motel?”
Maclyn shrugged noncommittally. “They charge extra for pets.”
Jim came out of the house, the screen door banging shut behind him as he waved in their general direction before getting into his truck.
If he’d recognized Maclyn’s rig as it had driven by the kitchen window that morning, Trev hoped he would keep it from Wade.
He preferred to handle this matter himself.
Maclyn was waiting near her trailer, arms wrapped around her middle as she shifted her weight back and forth, obviously chilled by the brisk spring weather. Raisin’s chin rested on the window frame behind her, her little nose pressed to the glass.