Tina Radcliffe - Claiming Her Cowboy

“Sure. Only because then I can remind you that you need to hire an assistant.”

“Not going to happen.”

Lucy glanced at a platter of chocolate muffins artfully arranged on a table. “You made muffins? Like you don’t have enough to do?” She nodded toward the portable cribs set up in the back of the huge room. Inside, her twelve-month-old twin nieces slumbered, thumbs in mouth and bottoms in the air.

Emma shrugged. “So tell me what happened at the Brisbane Foundation yesterday.”

Lucy grabbed a muffin and peeled back the paper. “Meredith said to tell you hello.”

“Was that before or after she handed you a sizable donation check?”

“Things didn’t exactly work out that way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Meredith has a new attorney who hasn’t approved the funding. I’m sure everything will be taken care of soon.”

Emma sank into a chair and nervously fingered her braid. “Lucy, we need to finalize our budget. I don’t understand what the holdup is. She sent us preliminary numbers weeks ago.”

Lucy met her sister’s worried gaze. “The attorney is doing things differently.”

“Is Travis aware?” Emma asked quietly.

“Yes. But you know Travis. All he cares about is the cows.”

Emma glanced at the calendar and cringed. “This puts everything on hold.”

“I know. Which brings me to the other news.” Lucy dusted off her hands. “Leo quit.”

“What? Why? He’s our best ranch hand.”

“He was offered more money at a ranch in Driscoll. I simply can’t match the offer.”

“So we’ll hire someone else.”

“I’m not going to hire anyone until the budget situation is resolved. In fact, I may have to lay off staff if we don’t get the Brisbane Foundation backing by the end of summer.” She met Emma’s gaze. “All expenditures outside of the day-to-day ranch maintenance are on hold.”

“What about the gala? I’ve already placed deposits for caterers, waitstaff and flowers. Not to mention the entertainment. Meredith always funds the gala.”

“The gala is low on my worry list. Let’s try to focus on what’s really important. The kids.”

Emma nodded.

“The Lord has been the financial backing for Big Heart Ranch since day one,” she said. “This is His ranch. These are His children. He will continue to provide more than we can ask or imagine. Right?”

“Right,” Emma said. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Lucy took a bite of the muffin and glanced toward the parking lot.

“Was there something else?”

“Yes.”

Travis stuck his head in the door. “That new volunteer is here, asking for you, Lucy.” He offered her a conspiratorial wink.

“Thanks, Travis. I’ll be right out.”

“What was that all about?” Emma asked. “And who’s this new volunteer?”

“Jackson Harris.”

“Who is Jackson Harris?”

“Meredith’s nephew and her new attorney.”

“What?”

“Perfect timing, isn’t it? He’ll replace Leo.”

“No one can replace Leo. He did the work of three ranch hands.” Emma stood and walked to the window.

“All the same, we should be grateful to have the help for the summer.”

“I’m confused. Why would Meredith’s nephew agree to volunteer on the ranch when it sounds like he’s opposed to giving us the funding?”

“His aunt is very persuasive.” She turned to Emma. “No one is to know that he’s from the Brisbane Foundation.”

“Why does Travis know?”

“He was here last night when the call came through from Meredith.”

“Why the secrecy?”

“Mr. Harris is vetting us. I want his experience here to be positive. He needs to know we have nothing to hide. It’s the only chance we have that he’ll change his mind.”

“Is that him?” Emma asked.

Lucy peeked over her sister’s shoulder at the tall attorney whose back was to them as he talked to Travis.

“Yes. That’s Jackson Harris.”

Emma chuckled. “Look at him, all shiny and new in his designer jeans, Italian leather shoes and that dry-cleaner-starched shirt. Lucy, why would you take on a city slicker?”

“I’m not in a position to be choosy.”

“Can he even ride a horse?”

“Meredith says he can.”

Lucy edged closer to the window. When Jackson Harris turned around, she caught her breath.

“Oh, my,” Emma said, her face lighting up. “Well, I suppose you could do worse.”

Lucy turned to her sister. “What do you mean, I could do worse?”

“The man is mighty fine-looking, that’s for sure. And you’ll be working closely with him all summer, dear sister.”

“Don’t get any ideas. If I was looking for a man in my life, it certainly would not be another temporary cowboy.” She shook her head. “I have most definitely already been there and done that. And I have an empty house in the woods to prove it.”

“Just remember that sometimes the Lord brings us what we need, not what we want.”

Lucy tossed the muffin liner in the trash and dusted off her hands. “This discussion is over.”

* * *

“Six weeks!” Jack Harris stood outside a log-cabin-style bunkhouse next to Lucy Maxwell, trying to digest her words. “Where did you get the idea I was here for six weeks?”

“Your aunt,” Lucy said. “She called me last night and said you want the Big Heart Ranch experience, and that you’d be filling our ranch hand position for the summer.”

Stunned, Jack rubbed a hand over his chin and closed his mouth when he realized it was hanging open.

“Do you want me to call her?” she asked.

“No.” He shook his head. “Look, between you and me, my aunt isn’t as strong as she used to be. She thinks she is, but those cancer treatments have taken a toll on her overall health.”

“Apparently, she’s well enough to pull one over on you,” Lucy murmured. Her lips twitched as she concentrated on the ground, creating a line in the dirt with the toe of her boot.

Jack’s gaze followed. She wore the red boots, this time with jeans and a bright red T-shirt with the Big Heart Ranch logo on the front and the word Staff on the back. Once again, she reminded him of a bright flower. This time a poppy. He averted his gaze and considered her words.

Lucy had assessed the situation correctly. He’d been bamboozled by his seventy-year-old aunt. Aunt Meri was right about one thing: Jack had been away from Oklahoma for a very long time. Long enough to forget how stubborn his aunt could be once she got a bone between her teeth.

“For some reason, she’s convinced I’ll change my mind if I see the ranch up close and personal,” he muttered.

“Why is it you constantly think the worst of Big Heart Ranch?”

“This isn’t personal. I have a job to do as the foundation’s counsel. And I happen to love my aunt. I’m simply trying to protect both interests.”

Lucy stared at him, obviously biting her lip. The dark eyes glittered with unsaid words. It was clear he’d pushed her buttons and she was working hard to control her temper.

“You seem to think we’ve committed an offense,” she said. “If so, what happened to innocent until proven guilty?”

“Shouldn’t I be the one on the defense here?” he asked. “First, you fingerprint me like a criminal. Then you make me sign a release for a complete background check. Now you’re telling me I’m stuck here for six weeks.” He shook his head. “The kicker is that I get to do it while living with two other guys. I mean, come on. You must be kidding.”

“You’ll be living like all the other volunteers. Think of this as summer camp for grown-ups.” Lucy looked him up and down. “As for the other, we’re entrusting you to care for our children. Children who have already suffered more in their short lives than you can even comprehend. These are children who have been abandoned, neglected and even abused. This isn’t kiddie rehab, Mr. Harris. They don’t come here to be fixed. They come here to live a normal life. We are their life. We are their family. Forever.” She paused. “Makes your trivial complaints seem insignificant, wouldn’t you say?”