He’d changed out of the khaki slacks he’d been wearing earlier and into a pair of jeans. He might be trying to fit in around here, but he was much too polished around the edges. Even the denim didn’t make him look like a rancher, let alone a cowboy. And in spite of the fact that both he and his uncle were attractive men, considering their respective ages, they didn’t seem anything alike, especially in temperament.
So when Blake tossed a smile at her and again apologized for being rude earlier, it took her by surprise—a rather pleasant one at that.
“I didn’t get any sleep last night,” he added, “and then I got stuck in some backed-up traffic about two miles from here. Someone lost a load of hay, although it was pretty much picked up by the time I drove through. So that’s why I was a little snappish with you earlier.”
As much as Shannon wanted to stay angry at him, she’d never been one to hold a grudge. And the fact that he’d been delayed by the same teenage driver who’d spilled hay all over the road made her smile. “I was probably a few cars in front of you when you crossed the bridge, so I can relate to your frustration.”
“Can we start over?” He reached out his hand for a proper greeting, and she took it.
The warmth and strength of his grip sent an electrifying tingle zapping along every one of her nerve endings, a physical reaction to his touch that she hadn’t expected and didn’t appreciate.
Blake Darnell was a charmer, and she wasn’t about to allow herself to be roped in by him. But she’d have to agree with her initial assessment. He was drop-dead gorgeous when he smiled.
He was also the kind of man who was too busy to spend time with his aunt and uncle, something she found bothersome. Family was important, especially when you didn’t have many relatives left.
What she wouldn’t give to have one more opportunity to talk to her father.
“Dang it,” Rex hollered out. “Would you look at that?” He pointed a gnarled finger toward the younger man in the corral with a bay gelding. “Oh, for cripe’s sake. That guy Sam hired doesn’t know squat about horses. Will you go down there and give him a few pointers?”
“Me?” Darnell asked the sweet but crotchety old cowboy.
Rex shot him a frown. “No, not you. I was talking to Shannon. Who the hell are you, anyway?”
“I’m Blake Darnell, Sam’s nephew from California.”
“Oh.” Rex sat back in his chair, eyeing the attorney. “I heard about you.”
Actually, there weren’t many people living or working on the Rocking C who hadn’t. Sam might be a sweetheart most of the time, but he didn’t hold back when he blew a fuse.
Shannon couldn’t hide a smile. She loved these old cowboys who had no problem telling it like it was.
“So,” Rex said, returning his attention to Shannon. “Are you going to go out there and give that boy a lesson on the right way to handle a horse? I’d do it myself, but I left my cane inside.”
“I’m afraid that’s not in my job description,” Shannon said. “But just so you know, Sam told me he’s been working closely with those new hires and expects them all to make good cowboys someday.”
Rex swore under his breath. “Maybe those youngsters are still learning the ropes, but they’re doing it while they’re on the Rocking C’s time clock. Why, even a pretty little nurse like you knows way more about roping and riding than those fool kids.”
That might be true, but Shannon’s days of riding herd were behind her. She had a new career now, one she liked a whole lot better.
She glanced at Sam’s nephew, saw him watching her intently. A rush of heat washed over her, warming her cheeks and setting a flutter in her stomach.
“Can I talk to you?” he asked.
As his eyes locked on hers, the tingle in her belly grew stronger. If she had any sense, she’d tell him she had work to do. Instead, she said, “Sure.”
He nodded toward the barn. “Can you take a walk?”
The question, the requested private conversation, sent her thoughts scrambling.
What did he have to say to her? Maybe he only wanted to sway her opinion of him and to ask her to intercede with Sam.
“Okay,” she said. “I just need to stay within hearing distance of the house.”
Blake held out an open palm, indicating an “After you.”
She set the tray with the now-empty paper cups on the table next to Rex, then started down the steps, with Blake and his woodsy cologne and musky male scent following close behind.
“So what did you want to talk about?” she asked.
“For starters, I’d like to know more about the Rocking C and my uncle’s position here.”
“All right. I’ll give you the short version. Chloe Martinez inherited this ranch with the idea of turning it into a retirement home for cowboys. She used to work at an assisted living facility in town, the same one where Sam lived.”
“So she offered him a job?”
“Actually, she didn’t know much about ranching, so she would visit with Sam and ask him questions. As you probably know, he’s got a wealth of experience. So he gave her advice about things—like when a cattle broker was trying to cheat her. He’s been a godsend to her and to the old men at the ranch.”
“My uncle was one sharp rancher.”
“He still is. As for the Rocking C, it’s not just a retirement home. It’s a working ranch, which provides our residents with a familiar living environment. That’s something Chloe realized was lacking at the place in town, especially when it came to men like Rex.”
“Are all the residents as cantankerous as that guy?” Blake asked.
“Rex is actually pretty lovable, when you get to know him.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it is.” Obviously, Blake had his doubts. But Shannon adored everything about Rex.
“You said you were in charge,” Blake said. “Where’s Chloe, the owner?”
“She and her husband are taking classes in graduate programs at the University of Texas, and I’m covering for her while she’s gone.”
Blake’s arm brushed her shoulder, setting off those tingles again. “And you like it here?”
“Yes, of course. But I’d prefer to have a position at the hospital in town. This job is only temporary. Once Chloe and Joe return, they’ll take over again.”
There had been one benefit she’d received by working here. She’d managed to find a place for her aunt to feel needed again.
Who would have guessed that a romance would spark between Joy and Sam? How sweet was that?
Shannon nearly mentioned that to Blake, but decided it wasn’t her place to let him know how happy her aunt and his uncle were. Just thinking about the May-December romance made her smile, especially when she remembered Sam’s words when she’d asked if he was happy. “You bet I am,” he’d said. “Thanks to your aunt, I’m downright Joy-ful these days.”
As Shannon and Blake walked along the side of the barn, he continued to quiz her about life on the Rocking C. “Are all the retired cowboys as critical of the new hands as Rex is?”
“No, not usually. But that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy sharing their knowledge about cattle and horses every chance they get to corner one of the younger guys.”
“And letting them know when they’re doing something wrong?”