Cowboy Kisses Read online

  SWEET DREAMS 205

  COWBOY KISSES

  DIANE MICHELE CRAWFORD

  Synopsis:

  Kenzie Sullivan never dreamed she’d be spending the summer at the Lucky R Ranch instead of hanging out with her friends at the country club pool. But in order to keep her beloved horse, Kenzie must work hard at the ranch to pay for his board.

  When fellow ranch hand Steve Calvert bets Kenzie that she won’t last more than a week, she doesn’t hesitate to take the bet. Though Steve’s attitude drives her crazy, Kenzie is determined to show him that she’s a capable cowgirl. But soon she finds herself falling in love with her rival. Can a country club girl ever win a stubborn cowboy’s heart?

  CHAPTER ONE

  Kenzie Sullivan adjusted the sunglasses on the bridge of her nose and gazed at the swimmers in the bright blue pool of the Silver Hills Country Club before she closed her eyes. “Don't you just love the smell of chlorine and suntan lotion?” she asked drowsily.

  From the lounge chair next to hers, Kenzie’s best friend, Jeanette Anderson, gave a series of fake coughs. “Sounds like a toxic combination!”

  Kenzie laughed. “I hope it's not, because we'll be breathing it every day of summer vacation.”

  “Every single day?” a pleasant masculine voice asked.

  Opening one eye, Kenzie saw Brad Morgan, Jeanette's latest love interest, making himself comfortable on the end of Jeanette’s chair. Kenzie thought they made a great couple. Tall, good-looking Brad towered over petite, dark-haired Jeanette, who in Kenzie’s opinion looked like a teen model.

  Jeanette smiled. “We're planning a summer of total leisure. Nothing but swimming, tennis, and horseback riding here at the club. Right, Kenzie?”

  Kenzie nodded in agreement as a shadow blocked her sun—a muscular, deeply tanned shadow named Paul Ferguson.

  “I thought blondes stayed out of the sun,” Paul teased, pulling a chair next to Kenzie's lounge. “Something about freckles multiplying...”

  “I never leave home without this,” Kenzie said, holding up a bottle of lotion. “Sunscreen to the fiftieth power.”

  Paul flashed Kenzie a dazzling grin. “If you and Jeanette aren't busy next Monday, how about going waterskiing?”

  “A bunch of us are going to Frasier Lake,” Brad put in. “Paul’s dad is letting us take his boat.”

  “Sounds like fun,” Kenzie said. She loved waterskiing, and being with Paul would make the day even more fun.

  “We'll bring some sandwiches and drinks,” Jeanette offered.

  “We were hoping you'd say that,” Brad said, looking at his watch. “Come on, Paul. The tennis court's ours until two o'clock.”

  “When I'm done slaughtering this guy on the tennis court, I'll give you a blow-by-blow account,” Paul told Kenzie as he stood up.

  “Put your money where your mouth is, Ferguson,” Brad kidded. “A friendly bet—the loser buys the Cokes.”

  “Deal,” Paul agreed, winking at Kenzie as he shook Brad’s hand. “We'll be back later.”

  As the girls watched the guys weave a path through the sunbathers toward the courts, Jeanette flopped back into her lounge chair, sighing. “This is already the most fantastic summer we've ever had, Kenzie.”

  Kenzie smiled. “And we’ve only been out of school a week!”

  She was surprised a few minutes later to see her mother coming toward them.

  “Hi, Mrs. Sullivan,” Jeanette said.

  Kenzie took off her sunglasses. “Hi, Mom. Is your Junior League meeting finished already? They usually go on forever.”

  Mrs. Sullivan shook her head, frowning slightly. “Your father's phone call interrupted the meeting. He wants us to come home as soon as possible. He'll meet us there.”

  “Is something wrong?” Kenzie asked, suddenly apprehensive. Her father was seldom home during the day. As founder and co-owner of Sullivan Electronics, he worked long hours. He’d been working even harder since the death of his business partner, George Williams, two months earlier from a heart attack.

  “Dad's fine,” Mrs. Sullivan assured her. “He said he'd explain everything when we get home. Have you seen Adam?”

  “Did you check the weight room?” Kenzie asked, stuffing her beach towel into her tote bag. Her eighteen-year-old brother spent most of his time building muscles or playing racquetball.

  “No,” Mrs. Sullivan answered. “I’ll have him paged and we’ll meet you at the car.”

  Kenzie suddenly remembered Brad and Paul. From the look on Jeanette’s face, she was thinking about them, too. “Can’t Jeanette give me a ride home after a while, Mom?” she ventured. “Dad didn’t say my coming home was a matter of life or death, did he?”

  “We’ll meet you at the car,” Mrs. Sullivan repeated, walking quickly away.

  The girls looked at each other. “I've never seen your mom so tense, Kenz,” Jeanette commented.

  “Me either. I wonder what's going on.” Hoping the tightness in her stomach wasn't a bad omen, Kenzie put the rest of her things in her bag. “Will you tell Paul I’m sorry I couldn't stick around to see who won the tennis match?”

  Jeanette nodded. “Since we’re going horse-back riding tomorrow, I’ll ask them to meet us here afterward. That’ll give them time to make up some good stories.”

  “I’ll call you later and fill you in on the Sullivan family mystery,” Kenzie promised. Then she hurried off to join her mother and brother for the ride home.

  They found Mr. Sullivan in the kitchen pouring himself a cup of coffee. He’d taken off his jacket and tie, and Kenzie thought he looked as rumpled and tired as his shirt.

  Getting right to the point, Adam asked, “What’s up, Dad?”

  Mr. Sullivan moved silently to a chair and sat down.

  “Tim?” Mrs. Sullivan put her hand on her husband's shoulder, her face taut.

  Mr. Sullivan sighed wearily. “After George died, I hired an accounting firm to audit the company books. Because his death ended our partnership, I wanted the figures verified as correct.” He raked a hand through his thick graying hair. “The auditors found some— discrepancies in the accounts.”

  He took a long sip of coffee and continued. “To make a long story short, Sullivan Electronics owes the government a small fortune in penalties and interest.”

  Mrs. Sullivan gasped. “But George kept the company books!”

  “According to the auditors, for the last five years George had been putting tax money into a phony account that he used for his own personal expenses.” Mr. Sullivan closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead. “I can’t believe that my own partner, a man I trusted, embezzled the firm's money. And to make matters worse, the auditors aren’t totally convinced that I’m innocent in this mess.”

  Kenzie stared at her father, stunned.

  “We know you'd never do anything dishonest, Dad,” Adam said. “What did Mr. Williams do with the money?”

  “Apparently he made some bad investments,” Mr. Sullivan answered. “He tried recovering his losses with shady financial deals that fell through, deals that cost us some of our best accounts.”

  “What does all this mean, Tim?” Mrs. Sullivan's voice trembled.

  He took a deep breath. “I can try rebuilding Sullivan Electronics and pay off the debt. Or I can declare bankruptcy and padlock the door.”

  Kenzie exclaimed, “But you love the company, Dad! You can't give it up!”

  “You built Sullivan Electronics on your own once, Tim,” Mrs. Sullivan reminded him. “You can do it again.”

  Mr. Sullivan smiled faintly. “Starting all over would be tough on all of us. What do you two think?” he asked Kenzie and Adam.

  “Hang in there,” Kenzie said promptly.

  Adam nodded. “We'll help an
y way we can.”

  Their father shook his head. “You may change your minds when you find out what you'll be sacrificing. Money will be very tight around here. Only necessary expenses will fit into our household budget.”

  Mrs. Sullivan’s hand tightened on his shoulder. “Will we have to sell the house?”

  Kenzie held her breath. Move? Leave the beautiful house she'd lived in most of her life?

  “If we make some major cutbacks in other areas, we'll be okay,” her father answered.

  Releasing her breath, Kenzie asked, “What other areas?”

  Unfolding a sheet of paper in front of him on the table, Mr. Sullivan said, “This is just the beginning. For your mother and me, it means trading in our cars for one economy car; no credit cards and no trips. For the family, no Silver Hills Country Club membership. For Kenzie, no more stable expenses and no car of your own. Adam will have to trade in his new pickup truck for something used and...” Mr. Sullivan hesitated, his face somber. “I'm sorry, Adam, but we won’t be able to afford to send you away to school. You’ll have to stay home and attend junior college.”

  Kenzie scarcely noticed Adam’s reaction. She was in a state of shock. She could do without the car her parents had promised when Adam left for college. But if there wasn't enough money to pay boarding costs, what would happen to Ali Ben, her beloved Arabian horse? Paralyzed at the thought, she couldn't speak.

  “You'll still have a summer job at the company, Adam,” her father was explaining, “but it'll be full-time, and for less money. During the school year, you can work part-time.”

  Adam’s protest was stopped short by the sharp look his mother gave him.

  Finally Kenzie found her voice. “What about Ali, Dad?”

  Her father said gently, “Unless you can find some way to pay the stable fees yourself, I’m afraid you'll have to sell him, honey.”

  Anguish pulsed through Kenzie. What job paid a sixteen-year-old the kind of wages she'd need to keep Ali at Silver Hills Stables? Before she could ask the question, her mother spoke.

  “That all sounds very reasonable, Tim. I’m sure we'll manage just fine,” Mrs. Sullivan announced. “You know, I think I'll give Vivian Yarborough a call. Last week her husband's secretary left to get married and he’s desperate for a replacement.” She laughed nervously. “Maybe even desperate enough to hire me!”

  She gave her husband a quick kiss and shot a meaningful glance in Kenzie and Adam’s direction. Translated, it meant Your dad's had enough trauma for one day. Don't make it any worse.

  But Adam didn't pay any attention. “You can't be serious about my going to school here. Dad! I've already been accepted at the University of Colorado!”

  Kenzie wailed, “I’ll die if I have to sell Ali!”

  “None of us will die saving your father's company,” Mrs. Sullivan said crisply.

  “I’m really sorry about college, Adam,” Mr. Sullivan added.

  “Our junior college is fully accredited,” Mrs. Sullivan reminded her son. “You can transfer later, when things are better.”

  What about Ali? Kenzie wondered. Doesn't anyone care? She threw Adam a dark look. What did it matter what college he went to? At least he'd still be going, while she might lose her horse!

  “How much does Silver Hills charge for boarding Ali?” Kenzie asked, dreading the answer. When Mr. Sullivan quoted the monthly fee, she closed her eyes, fighting back tears.

  “His board’s paid through the end of the month.” her father added, as if that would make her happy.

  It didn't. Now she had a deadline. In less than two weeks. Kenzie either had to find a job that paid major money or a stable that charged pennies for boarding fees.

  “I'm going to call Vivian right now about that job,” Mrs. Sullivan said.

  Mr. Sullivan stood up, his face deeply etched with worry. He put his arm around his wife's shoulders and they left the kitchen together.

  “I don’t believe this!” Adam groaned, shaking his head. “I have to trade in my truck, go to J.C., and work longer hours for less money just because Dad's partner turned out to be a crook! It's not fair!”

  “You'll still have wheels and be going to college,” Kenzie pointed out sharply. “I may lose Ali.”

  “Gee, what a shame,” Adam said, scowling. “My situation is a whole lot worse than your having to get a job or sell your stupid horse, Kenzie.”

  “Ali's not a stupid horse!” Kenzie shouted. “He’s a purebred Arabian, and I love him!”

  “What's going on in here?” Mrs. Sullivan asked from the doorway.

  “Adam’s being a jerk.”

  “Kenzie's—”

  “The last thing your father needs right now,” Mrs. Sullivan declared, “is trouble between you two. For his sake, please try getting along.”

  Kenzie folded her arms across her chest, refusing to look at her brother.

  “I have some good news,” Mrs. Sullivan went on, a little too brightly. “As of tomorrow, I’ll be working full-time for Yarborough Insurance. I haven’t worked since you were born, Adam, and I was afraid my secretarial skills might be rusty. But Vivian reminded me that I’ve been organizing and keeping minutes for clubs since I left the job market. I'm sure I’ll be able to handle it.”

  Kenzie tried to sound enthusiastic. “That’s great, Mom.”

  “Yeah.” Adam said glumly. “Terrific.”

  Mrs. Sullivan took a notepad and pencil from the small desk in the corner of the kitchen. “I'll be gone all day, every day,” she said, “so there’ll be some changes around here.” She tapped the pencil thoughtfully on her chin. “We'll have to divide the household chores evenly.” She started scribbling on the paper.

  “Household chores?” Kenzie repeated, frowning. “What about Mrs. Owens?”

  Mrs. Sullivan met her daughter’s eyes. “We can't afford a housekeeper anymore, not even once a week.” Then she began to explain Kenzie and Adam's responsibilities.

  But Kenzie wasn't listening. She closed her eyes, hoping that maybe this was all a bad dream. After a moment she opened her eyes and sighed. No such luck. Their lives would never be the same again.

  CHAPTER TWO

  After her ride with Jeanette the following day, Kenzie stroked the velvety softness of Ali Ben's, nose. The horse nickered, nudging at her hand for a treat. Kenzie blinked back tears and pulled another apple slice out of her pocket. “Greedy,” she murmured, patting the gray’s neck. She couldn’t bear the thought of Ali being sold to someone else.

  Outside the stable area, Jeanette gave two impatient blasts of her car horn. Giving Ali a hug and the last of the apples, Kenzie ran to Jeanette's fiery red sports car waiting at the gate.

  “Where exactly is the Lucky R Ranch?” Jeanette asked, shifting the car into gear the instant Kenzie buckled her seat belt.

  “I’ll tell you where to turn.” Kenzie consulted the slip of paper in her hand. “It’s off the old highway, near the fairgrounds.”

  “Out in the middle of nowhere!” Jeanette exaggerated. “Isn't there any way you can keep Ali at Silver Hills?”

  Kenzie sighed. “No. We just can’t afford it. I phoned all over and the Lucky R had the most reasonable boarding rates. But even they’ll be too expensive if I don't find a job.”

  “Gosh, Kenz,” Jeanette said sadly. “The summer’s going to be a real drag with you working all the time. And riding Zenith won't be nearly as much fun without you and Ali.”

  “Turn here,” Kenzie said, indicating a side road leading off to the left. In the distance she could see the fenced acreage of the Lucky R Ranch.

  As they neared the entrance, Jeanette looked dismayed. “Are you sure you want to go in here? It seems awfully run-down.”

  Kenzie glanced at the shabby outbuildings and the small, nondescript house near a grove of weeping willow trees. “It’s not all that bad,” she said, swallowing her own disappointment.

  Jeanette parked the car near the stable area. Several horses lifted their heads and whickere
d in greeting as the girls passed the corrals.

  “Hey, maybe there's hope for this place after all,” Jeanette whispered, poking Kenzie in the ribs.

  Kenzie's eyes followed the direction of her friend's gaze. Two men were walking toward them, and the younger one looked vaguely familiar. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and muscular. When he shoved the well-worn cowboy hat back from his suntanned face, Kenzie recognized him from school, but she didn’t know his name.

  “What can I do for you ladies today?” the middle-aged man beside him asked, his weathered face splitting into a wide grin.

  “I’m looking for Mr. Rudloff,” Kenzie said, then introduced herself and Jeanette. “I phoned about boarding my horse. I used to keep him at the country club stables, but—well, I decided it’s time for a change,” she finished lamely.

  “I’m Hank Rudloff,” the older man said, “and this here’s Steve Calvert. He's my right-hand man around here.”

  Steve nodded. Without a trace of warmth, his dark brown eyes flickered from Kenzie to Jeanette, taking in their hand-tailored shirts, imported stretch riding pants, and glossy boots.

  “I’ll let Steve show you around the place,” Mr. Rudloff continued. “It's not fancy like Silver Hills, but we take real good care of our horses. You have any questions, just ask Steve. He can answer ’em as good as I can, and he's a mite better-looking.” He gave Steve a good-natured slap on the back.

  Kenzie had a lot of questions, but Steve’s cool manner made her uncomfortable, so she said, “Mr. Rudloff...”

  “Everyone calls me Hank,” he informed her.

  “Hank,” Kenzie amended. “I was wondering if you collect your boarding fees in advance. I need to know because I’m looking for a job right now and I won't have the money for a while.”

  For some reason, Steve looked as if he didn't believe her. But Hank said, “Well, I just may be able to help you in the employment department, if you're interested. You a good rider?”