“What a lovely house. Is this yours?” she asked as they approached a sprawling stone ranch home.
“No. It’s the main building for the guest ranch. Reece built the place. They’ve got a billiards table and a giant flat-screen television and such. The smaller ranch events are held there.”
“Where do you and the rest of the Rainbolts live?” Daisy asked.
“I live in town. My brothers have built homes on the property.”
“The guests? Where do they stay?”
“There’s a half dozen guest cabins with first-class amenities down that path.” He pointed to the right. “Occasionally Reece uses the second floor of the main house for VIP visitors.”
Daisy followed his gaze down the path through the woods.
“Do you mind sitting on those steps and tossing me your shoes?” Mitch unwound a hose from the side of the house.
A moment later he swung around at the jingle of horse tack. His brother Reece, in jeans and a denim shirt with a black Stetson on his head, sat on an ebony stallion. Why was it that his brother always looked like a dime-store novel cowboy hero? Yeah, the number two son had definitely been first in line when the movie-star good looks were handed out.
“Don’t you have somebody to clean up the horse patties around here?” Mitch asked him. “My officer ruined her shoes.”
“Did she now?” Reece slipped from his horse and greeted Daisy with a megawatt smile. “My apologies, Officer...”
“Anderson,” Daisy said.
Mitch did a double take. Daisy’s expression hadn’t changed. There was none of the usual female flutters and swooning in response to his brother’s aura of charm.
“Officer Anderson, this is my brother Reece,” Mitch interjected. “Reece, this is Officer Daisy Anderson.”
“Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” Reece removed a glove and offered Daisy a hand in greeting.
Daisy glanced at the soiled shoes in her hands and wrinkled her nose. “Um, probably not a good idea.”
“Good point,” Reece returned with a smile.
“You’re the brother who runs the ranch?” she asked.
“That’s right. I’m the handsome Rainbolt brother.” He winked. “Just in case you were wondering.”
Daisy chuckled at the bold assertion. “Your ranch is beautiful,” she returned.
“Thank you. We’re hustling to prepare for our summer kickoff this weekend. We’ve got a real old-fashioned hoedown planned for Friday night.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“It is, and consider this your invitation to join us.”
Daisy hesitated to answer, and Mitch knew she was thinking about her children.
“Friday night’s event is for adults. The rest of the summer is dedicated to families and children,” Mitch added. “Good opportunity for you to meet the townsfolk.”
She nodded thoughtfully.
When Reece took off his hat and put his hand on his heart Mitch wanted to groan.
“Ma’am,” his brother continued. “I’d be insulted if our newest law-enforcement officer didn’t join us.”
Her brows raised slightly, and she smiled. “Then I accept your invitation, Mr. Rainbolt.”
“It’s Reece, and you just made my day.” Once again he offered the full Reece wattage.
Mitch took a deep breath. His brother was on a roll now.
“There’s a ladies’ room inside if you’d like to wash your hands. In the meantime, I’ll take those shoes and get them cleaned up.”
“Oh, that’s unnecessary. I’m sure hosing them off would be sufficient.”
“Miss Daisy, you’ve got to let a cowboy be chivalrous.”
Miss Daisy? Mitch blinked at the words, finding himself unreasonably annoyed.
“It’s the way we do things out here,” his brother continued. “I’ve got some good leather cleaners in the barn. Just take a jiffy. They’ll be good as new.” He nodded toward the guesthouse. “There’s coffee on the counter in there. Help yourself.”
“I, um...” She looked to Mitch.
“You may as well give in now,” Mitch said. “Reece will pester you to death until you say yes.”
She smiled and handed Reece the shoes. “All right, then. Thank you.”
Mitch waited until Daisy was out of earshot, then uncrossed his arms and turned to his brother. “Kind of early in the morning for you to be spreading the malarkey so thick with my new employee.”
Reece merely laughed and headed toward the barn with the shoes dangling from his gloved hands. “Wake up on the wrong side of the saddle?”
“Nope. What you see is what you get. Every single day.”
“Yeah, and I’m still trying to figure out how it is you’re such a curmudgeon when the rest of the family has magnetic personalities.”
“Magnetic, huh? You’re like a used-car salesman on a horse.”
Reece only laughed at the words.
Mitch followed him into the barn where they both grabbed a couple of rags and saddle soap. They worked silently for several moments removing debris.
“I like your Daisy Anderson,” Reece said.
“Glad to have your approval, but she isn’t my anything,” he fairly growled. As if a beauty like Daisy would be interested in a beast like him. Not likely.
“Interesting,” Reece said.
“What?” Mitch asked, his annoyance doubling.
His brother shoved his Stetson to the back of his head and studied Mitch for a moment. “You like her too.”
“Don’t start.” He held up a palm. “The woman is thirty-two years old.”
“Age is only a number.”
“My number is nine years older than hers, and my number is old.” Never in his wildest dreams would someone young and full of so much potential, like Daisy, be interested in someone like him.
“Mitch, according to you, you were born old.” Reece laughed. “I don’t believe that for a minute.”
“She has five children.”
“Whoa.” His brother’s head snapped back. “What? Started early, huh?”
“Adopted her nieces and nephews.”
“Ah.” Reece cocked his head. “What’s the problem? You like kids.”
“I like Tucker’s kids because they sleep at Tucker’s house.” Mitch shook his head. “We’ve discussed this before. I’ve already raised a family.” And he’d lost one of his siblings along the way. Some parent he’d turned out to be.
“That doesn’t count. You raised your brothers and sister.”
“Yep. That’s right and I’m not doing it again.” He eyed the shoe in his hand and began to polish the leather. “Why was it you called me out here?”
“I’m short-handed for Friday night.”
“How come you only call me when you need a favor?”
“Easy