Winning Over the Cowboy Read online

“I wish I could have known him.”

  “He’s been gone since I was fifteen.”

  “I’m sorry.” She touched his hand. “You’ve had a lot of loss.”

  His gaze dropped to their hands.

  She pulled hers away, opened her menu. “What’s good here?”

  “Everything.”

  Their waitress brought their teas, then took their order of eggs, bacon and pancakes for Chase and a cheeseburger for Landry.

  “Still got it?” The gruff voice startled him.

  Chase looked up at the older man who’d spoken to him, then dug in his pocket and laid a knife on the table.

  “Gave him that knife when he was a young whippersnapper,” the elder continued. “Couldn’t have been more than seven.” His ring-around-the-head hair stood in downy tufts on the sides, looking much like koala bear ears.

  “This is Wallace Kern. He was Gramps’s friend.”

  “I told him not to lose that knife when I gave it to him, and he hasn’t let me down yet.”

  “It’s gotten me out of a lot of scrapes.”

  “This your girlfriend?”

  “No.” Again they protested together.

  “Landry is my new business partner.”

  “Ohhhh, so this is her.” Wallace scrutinized her. “Looks harmless enough. Not like some scammer or con artist.”

  Landry’s face went scarlet. “You never know. Sometimes those types of folks look pretty ordinary.”

  Wallace guffawed. “I like this one. She’s got spunk.” He shoved his hands in his overalls pockets, rocked back on his heels. “I better be getting home to the missus. Nice meetin’ ya, Miss Landry.” Wallace shuffled off.

  “So, I guess you complained about me to everybody in town before I got here.”

  “Not everybody. Just one somebody who apparently has loose lips.”

  “I’m not a scammer.” Something in her eyes tugged at him.

  “I sincerely hope not.”

  “I never imagined Eden would leave me her share of the dude ranch. I never thought she’d—die.” She looked down at the table. “Yes, I loved my years here, and I love the dude ranch. Yes, living here planted my dream of owning my own someday. But my own.” Her gaze latched on to his. “Not yours.”

  The waitress brought their food. Despite the swirling tension, he prayed over their meal, and they fell into silence. Their conversation not bothering their appetites at all.

  He wanted to believe her. To trust her. But his family legacy was at stake.

  Yet the thing in her eyes that tugged at him—it was hurt.

  Chapter Four

  “I’ll do my shopping now.” Landry hesitated as they stepped outside the restaurant. “Maybe check out a few stores.”

  “Suit yourself. Meet me at the truck at four thirty, since we took time to eat.” Chase hurried toward the crosswalk leading to the hardware store. Apparently happy to dump her dead weight.

  She’d invited herself along to make him like her. Instead his constant distrust was wearing her thin. She needed a break.

  He thought she was a scammer. And half the town knew his fears. Maybe all of them. Would she ever belong?

  The Dollar General was on the other side of the furniture store. She retraced her steps. How could she feel so alone as she sidestepped numerous people on the bustling sidewalk?

  As she neared the pew in front of the furniture store, Jed patted the seat beside him. “Come sit a spell.”

  Would he chew her out for horning in on Chase’s inheritance? Jed’s smile offered nothing other than kindness.

  “I guess I have a few minutes.” She settled beside him, her feet surrounded by wood shavings, the scent of cedar in the air. “How long have you carved?”

  “Long as I can remember.” He never looked up from the wood—smoothing with his knife as he twirled the candlestick. “My pappy taught me when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. I used to have a pretty big business with Resa, stocking my work in her store.”

  “Do you still have items on display? I thought I saw some things that might be yours.”

  “A few walking sticks and candleholders.” His hands never stilled. “But this arthritis slows me. Resa’s been good to me.”

  “She’s a really nice person. I met her back when I was going to culinary school.” Landry remembered Eden saying Resa didn’t date. “Did she ever marry? Have kids?”

  “Nope. Just focuses on her furniture designing and the business. It’s a shame. She’s as pretty on the inside as out.”

  “Yes, she is.” Apparently nothing had changed. “Well, I’d better get my shopping done. It won’t make Chase like me any better if he has to wait on me.”

  “He’s a tough one. Doesn’t trust easy. But you really can’t blame him.”

  Probably shouldn’t ask. Shouldn’t inquire into Chase’s personal life. But she had to work with him, and knowing what made him tick might make it easier.

  Anticipation weighed heavy in her chest. “Why’s that?”

  “Back when Granny was sick, Chase came home. I reckon every gold digger in the vicinity knew he’d inherit the dude ranch soon. Suddenly he was the most eligible bachelor in Bandera.”

  No wonder Chase thought she was a scammer. “Everyone here seems to know he thinks I’m the same way.”

  “There’s this girl—been hot on his trail again since Eden’s death. She caught him on a bad day, and he said something like, he already had one gold digger on his hands and didn’t need another.”

  “Great.” She huffed out a sigh. “The whole town hates me.”

  “Nah. And if they do, they won’t after they meet you. Even Chase. Give him time—he’ll warm up to you.”

  But would he? She hoped so. For the sake of the dude ranch.

  And what if she did gain his trust? Could they successfully run a dude ranch together? For life?

  So far all of her efforts to win him over had splatted belly up on the pavement. For this to work, they at least had to become friends. She had to find a way—find a chink in Chase’s armor. But she was running out of steam. And ideas.

  * * *

  Silence prevailed in the office as Landry scanned reservations on the computer. The day spent sparring with Chase yesterday had done nothing to ease their relationship. Currently he was sprawled in a nailhead chair with his laptop. Perfectly content to ignore her as he went over their supply inventory.

  “We had two calls from guests wanting to cancel, but once I told them about our summer special, they kept their reservations.” Landry glanced at him. “And I sent out our first newsletter to each of our cancellations about our summer special. They all came back.”

  He frowned. “We can’t spam our guests.”

  Why was he always so intent on disapproving of anything she did? She held her breath, counted to ten.

  “I didn’t. They were return guests, and Eden had already signed them up to receive email notifications.”

  “Oh.” The line between his brows smoothed. “Sounds like your idea worked. Good job. Got anything else?”

  A compliment and a challenge all wrapped in one. “Back when I lived here, Granny allowed a few neighbors to get married here. My sister is a wedding planner. She could help us turn this place into a sought-after venue.”

  “And girlie up the ranch?” He set his laptop down, strolled to the window. “After investing in all this log furniture and rustic decor? No way.”

  “We wouldn’t have to change a thing. Rustic is in for weddings. Especially in Texas.”

  “I have a better idea.” He turned to face her. “I just watched five axis deer grazing at the edge of the woods. We could offer corporate hunts. Bring in more exotics.”

  “Hunting?” Her voice rose an octave. “I’
m not turning hunters loose on Bambi’s daddy. They already got his mom.”

  “Um. You know—”

  “Bambi’s not real. But those poor innocent deer out there are.” She jabbed a finger at the window with a shudder. “And I know all the arguments. Axis aren’t even native to Texas. They’re overpopulated and taking over our native whitetail. There’s no season on them and they have huge horns, so hunters love them.”

  “They’re called racks, not horns. How do you know so much about them?”

  “Our main competitor for the Aubrey ranch where I worked offered exotic hunts. But we found other ways to boost business.” She leveled her gaze on him. “How would you like to be hunted?”

  “You sound like Eden.” Something in his eyes softened. “And Granny.”

  It was his family legacy. But he knew as well as she did, Eden and Granny would go for weddings rather than have hunters traipsing over the property. She’d even heard Granny mention how she’d always made her own husband go elsewhere for his hunting expeditions.

  “So, let’s get this straight. You have issues with hunting, but you grew up on a ranch. You eat beef.”

  “And I eat venison. But I don’t want anything to do with killing the animal.”

  He tried to hold his laughter, but it rolled out. A deep, warm sound.

  And Landry laughed with him.

  Were they having a moment?

  He seemed to realize it and immediately stopped laughing. He went back to his chair and settled once again with his laptop.

  She forced her gaze away from him, back to the screen.

  The phone rang and Landry jumped, then answered. “Chasing Eden Dude Ranch. How may I help you?”

  “My name is Consuelo Sanchez. I know it’s short notice, but our family vacation time got moved up a week. Do you have any rooms available?”

  “Let me check for you, Mrs. Sanchez.” Landry tried to infuse her smile into her tone. “How many, and when do you plan to arrive?”

  “That’s the really crazy part. We’d get there tomorrow. Six adults and six kids.” Landry heard young voices in the background. “I saw a room on y’all’s website. It looks like a big old great room with a TV and a bunch of bunk beds built into the wall. Could we get something like that, only with adult beds, too?”

  “That’s the Tumbleweed Room. It has three bunk beds and a sleeper sofa, along with two connecting rooms, the Right as Rain and the Rest a Spell Rooms, with a queen bed in each.”

  “That sounds perfect.” Relief filled the woman’s tone.

  Landry tried to keep it all business, despite the elation building inside her. “How many nights would you need it?”

  “We’ll stay a week and check out next Wednesday. Please tell me you have something. We could go three double rooms with two queen beds in each.”

  “Three rooms would cost less, but the Tumbleweed Room and both connecting rooms are available.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful. Having the great room will be worth it.”

  Definitely. Landry confirmed the dates. “I have an all-inclusive package with as many activities such as trail rides, fishing trips and bonfires as you’d like, plus three meals a day for the duration of your stay.” She rattled off rates she knew by heart.

  “That’s just what we’re looking for.”

  Landry could hardly contain her excitement as she entered the lady’s info into the computer. “That’s everything I need. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Thank you.” Landry pushed End.

  “A nice reservation, I take it.”

  “I just booked the Tumbleweed Room, the Right as Rain Room and the Rest a Spell Room for a week. And there are six kids. They’re getting the all-inclusive package.”

  “Awesome.”

  Her cell phone rang. She leaned back, dug it out of her pocket, scanned the screen. Devree.

  “Hey, sis. How’s it going?”

  “You were supposed to call me once you got settled in.”

  “Sorry.” She winced. Had completely forgotten. “It’s been busy here.”

  “Are you coming home for your birthday?”

  “I’m kind of busy running a dude ranch.” Half of one, anyway. “I mean, helping run.”

  “Are you coming home anytime soon?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Tell me about the partner.”

  “Maybe some other time.” Her gaze flitted to Chase. Watching her.

  “Oh, so he’s there. Is he cute?”

  Landry’s face heated. She spun her chair, kept her back to him. “I’m sort of busy right now.”

  “He is, isn’t he?”

  “Devree. Was there a reason you called?”

  Her sister’s sigh echoed through the line.

  Landry’s pulse went up a notch. “Are Mama and Daddy okay?”

  “Everybody’s fine here. But I have to tell you something, because I don’t want you to hear it somewhere else. I don’t want to tell you, but you need to know.” Her sister always rambled when nervous. “I was hoping to tell you in person.”

  “Just tell me.”

  “It’s Kyle. He’s engaged.”

  Landry’s stomach landed at her feet.

  “Are you still there?”

  “I’m here.” Her voice didn’t sound right. It was hollow. Just like her insides.

  “I’m sorry, Landry. I just thought you should know.”

  “It’s okay.” Kyle had moved on—planned to marry someone else just over ten months after humiliating her at the altar. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Thanks for telling me, but I need to get back to work now.”

  “Call me if you need me.”

  “I will. Love you.”

  “You, too.”

  She ended the call, just sat there, staring out the window.

  Her insides boiled. But not with hurt. Anger more than anything else.

  “Is something wrong?”

  She jumped. For once, she’d forgotten all about Chase.

  “Nothing. Everything’s fine.” She kept her back to him. She couldn’t process this under his scrutiny. Didn’t have the strength to spar with him.

  If only she could melt through the floor.

  * * *

  What had her sister said? Obviously something upsetting. Chase watched her. So still.

  Minutes passed with her back still toward him. Finally she turned her chair to the desk, her face a blank slate. She stared at the computer screen, moved the mouse, then began typing.

  Was it his imagination or had she gone pale? Should he quietly leave the room? Or try to help?

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  “Just tired.”

  It seemed like way more than that.

  “I can handle anything that turns up if you want to turn in.” He kept his tone gentle.

  “I think I will.” She got up and quickly scurried out of the room.

  “Good night.” Chase stared after her.

  He really shouldn’t. But curiosity was getting the best of him. He’d seen her stare at the computer when she’d gotten off the phone. Had she looked up something?

  It was worth a try. He had to learn what caused that stricken look on her face. He moved to the desk, opened the browser and clicked on History.

  Engagement announcements from the state paper. He clicked the link.

  Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Reginald Billings Sr. announce the engagement of their son, Kyle Reginald Billings Jr., to Waverly Larissa Heathcott...

  The blond preppy guy again. Wow, he’d moved on from Landry in less than a year. With a bombshell blonde this time, though posed almost e
xactly as he had with Landry. While she’d been preparing to move to the dude ranch, her ex-fiancé had proposed to someone else. And apparently she’d just found out.

  That explained things. Was she crying in her room? Alone and upset? What should he do? Ask Mom to check on her?

  No. He wasn’t supposed to know.

  Even though he didn’t trust her, didn’t want her around, the thought of her anguish tugged at his heart.

  * * *

  The next morning, Chase crossed the office, hesitated in the foyer and glanced inside the great room. It was too early for any of their guests to be up yet. But there was also still no sign of Landry.

  He cut through and pressed his ear to the door of her private quarters. Couldn’t hear a thing. His grandparents had gone to great lengths to soundproof the dude ranch for their guests as well as their own privacy.

  “Chase?” Mom. In the room.

  He closed his eyes, turned around and tried to act normal.

  Mom leaned against the doorframe of the great room, her eyebrows arched high.

  “I’m concerned about her,” he whispered, strolling casually toward his mom. “She found out her ex-fiancé is engaged, but I’m not supposed to know that.”

  “I won’t ask how you found out.” A crease formed between Mom’s eyes. “I guess that’s why her mom called. Her family is coming for her birthday.”

  “When’s her birthday?” She hadn’t said a word.

  “Friday. Your father’s preparing a feast and, of course, a cake. Her sister is arriving tomorrow night and said she’ll stay with Landry. Her parents get here Friday morning, and Becca booked them a room. They’ll leave Saturday afternoon.” Mom’s eyes narrowed. “How are things between y’all?”

  “Tense hours interrupted by nanoseconds of tranquillity.”

  “She’s a nice girl.” Mom patted his shoulder, plopped in a wingback. “Give her a break.”

  “What do we really know about her?”

  Mom rattled off the things he already knew. That she was from Aubrey, was an accomplished chef, had befriended Eden and Granny when she worked here. Mom crossed her legs, bounced her foot as fast as she talked. “And that idiot dumped her at the altar last September.”

  That—he hadn’t known. “So he dumped her. Why?”