Claire McEwen - His Last Rodeo

Stuck here, belonging nowhere.

Jealousy hit hot despite the cool air. What was it like to be Tyler Ellis? Born and raised in a wealthy ranching family, talented enough to achieve the highest level of his chosen sport. Now sauntering into town with enough money to buy a business that should have been her business.

Ha. Her business in another world, maybe. She was a Hayes. Permanently poor. Born and raised to work for the Ellis family, just like her daddy had.

If she worked for Tyler, would he screw her over, too? Like his father had cheated hers? Probably. Only he’d do it with a sugar coating of cowboy grin and flattering words, because people like Tyler thought the whole world was there just for them.

And why not? Because it was right there for them, waiting at their fingertips. While people like Kit were destined to watch their dreams, slippery as trout in a Sierra stream, wriggle right out of their grasping hands.

CHAPTER TWO

KIT PARKED HER Jeep in the lot in front of the Dusty Saddle. It was early on Tuesday morning, but Chris usually came in about now. She walked to the bar door, shoving it open. “Anybody here?” she called out in the quiet bar.

“We’re closed!” Her boss’s voice came from the small office to her left.

“It’s Kit,” she replied.

“Kitto! What’s up?” Chris appeared, his sweatpants and I’d Rather Be Fishing T-shirt advertising his readiness for retirement. “You’re not on today, right? Did I misread the schedule?”

“It’s my day off, but I was hoping you’d have a minute to talk.”

“Sure. Grab a seat.” He indicated the empty tables she’d polished last night.

Kit picked the closest one and sat, trying to ignore the way her heart seemed to rise and stick like a lump of dough in her throat. They’d worked together for almost a decade, and it hit her that she wasn’t just losing the chance to own the Dusty Saddle. She was losing a boss she’d loved. She cleared her throat. “I heard the news. About you selling the bar.”

Chris plopped down heavily, his bulky frame dwarfing the chair. “How? I meant to tell you myself.”

“Tyler came in last night. Drunk. He told me.”

Chris folded his worn hands on the table and huffed out a sigh. “I’m sorry you found out that way. I figured he’d have the sense to check with me before talking to any of my employees.”

“Well, he was beyond sense last night. Celebrating his purchase, I guess. I threw him out.”

That gave Chris pause. “You threw out the new owner?”

“He hadn’t told me he was the new owner yet. And he was giving me a hard time.” Seeing the look of alarm on Chris’s face, she tried to reassure him. “We knew each other really well growing up. I don’t think he’ll be too upset about it. Plus, he deserved it.”

The relief on his ruddy face showed how much Chris wanted this deal to go through. But maybe it hadn’t gone through yet, which meant there might still be hope for her. Kit remembered the opening she’d practiced earlier. “So you’re retiring?”

His shy smile was a surprise. “Yup. I’m finally doing it. Gonna spend my days fishing and my nights watching the stars. I’ve had a good run here—owned this bar for over twenty years. I’ve enjoyed it, but I don’t want to spend another minute of my life behind the bar.”

“Congratulations,” Kit said. And wanted to mean it. He owed her nothing, so why did she feel betrayed? “Is it a done deal? I mean, are the papers signed and all that?”

“Yup, they are,” Chris said. “About a month ago.”

“A month ago,” she repeated. Her disappointment was edged in nausea.

He must have seen her distress because he leaned forward to take her hand. “Hey, it’ll be fine. Tyler will do a great job.”

“But why didn’t you tell me this was going on?” She wouldn’t cry, even though tears were hot under her eyes.

“I didn’t want some big fuss. I didn’t think you’d be this upset.” He let go of her hand and leaned back, suddenly looking all of his sixtysomething years. “I’m out of here at the end of the week.”

“You mean—” she somehow resisted the urge to whack him upside the head “—you’re only giving us a few days’ notice?”

“I know you.” Chris grinned suddenly, as if delighted with this part of his deception. “You’d want to throw me some big old party where the regulars would get all drunk and weepy on me. And that’s not my style. I’d rather just grab my tackle box and go.”

Kit studied him, making sure he meant it. “Fine. Though you’re missing out. I plan good parties.”

“So I’ve heard. And seen, when my staff stumbled in the next day.”

Disappointment and loss combined, overriding her efforts to hold back her tears. “We’re going to miss you so much.”

Chris brushed the sentiment off, of course. “Hell, he’s Tyler Ellis. Big rodeo champion. I figured you’d all be over the moon to work for a guy like that.”

“I guess I’d been hoping to buy the bar myself, if you retired,” she admitted.

He looked at her sharply. “You never said.”

“You never said you were planning on retiring anytime soon.” There it was, that note of accusation she’d planned to avoid.

“I guess I assumed you wouldn’t be interested. Because...” Chris stopped, so she finished for him.

“Because I wouldn’t have the money?”

“Well, I know you’ve been taking care of your daddy lately. It’s a big responsibility.”

“I’ve been saving. And maybe the bank would have helped me.”

“Maybe,” Chris said, but she could hear the doubt. She must seem like an idiot. Like she’d been hoping for a handout.

Her voice came out small. “Can I ask what it sold for? Just so I know if I was even close?”

His gaze went to the table. “Almost a million dollars.”

Her gasp burst out before she could bite it back. That much money stole her breath.

He leaned forward, meeting her shock with concern. “You might not realize it, but this bar is on a huge piece of property. I inherited it all, but I only use this building. There’s a bunch of barns, outbuildings, all kinds of acreage for ranching. And Tyler wanted it all.”

“What’s he going to do? Tear the bar down and stick cows on the land?”

“Nah. I think he wants to expand. Maybe even add a restaurant. He’s got some big dreams.”

A million dollars. Kit might laugh if it didn’t sting so badly. She may as well have been saving pennies in a piggy bank.

“Wait until you talk to him,” Chris went on. “I’m sure he’ll call a meeting with the staff soon and fill you in on his plans. It’s gonna be exciting to see what he does. You might find that me heading out to pasture is a good thing for everyone.”

“Maybe.” He was trying to make her feel better so Kit found a smile, but it felt like a grimace. “But I doubt it. We’ll miss you.”

“Likewise. It’s been a pleasure working with you. You’ve been a bit like the daughter I never had.”

“Well, don’t be a stranger then.” Her voice was husky. “Take me fishing with you or something.”

There was a suspicious shimmer in Chris’s eyes. “I’d like that.”

“And when will the rodeo star take over?”

Chris chuckled. “Don’t give him too much of a hard time. I know you’ve got a disdain for cowboys, but Tyler is a champion for a reason. He worked his butt off to get where he did. You might find he’s made of better stuff than you imagine.”

His words wormed guilt into her conscience. She’d been cursing Tyler three ways to hell since yesterday. Letting her jealousy and her disappointment make him the villain. He may have been drunk and obnoxious last night, but he’d been her friend when they were kids. He’d stuck by her, stuck up for her, and she’d kicked him out of her life the moment Arch Hoffman tilted a badass eyebrow her way.