ROUGH RANCHER Read online

  Contents

  Title Information

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twentiy-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-FIve

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Epilogue

  A Word From Maggie

  ROUGH RANCHER

  by

  MAGGIE CARPENTER

  Copyright © 2022 Maggie Carpenter

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher. This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design

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  Published by: Dark Secrets Press

  Visit Maggie Carpenter

  http://www.MaggieCarpenter.com

  https://www.facebook.com/MaggieCarpenterWriter

  CHAPTER ONE

  Driving down the dusty country road, Kelly Harper let out a relieved sigh. The four hour drive had felt like ten, and the visit was bittersweet. As the rickety sign came into view, beckoning her to her childhood summer home, she felt a pang of nostalgia.

  Lone Pine Ranch

  The horse farm where she’d spent many happy hours growing up had been owned by her Uncle Ernie. She’d adored him, and he’d adored her right back. But she’d never thought in a million years he’d leave her the property.

  “What do I know about running a horse farm?” she muttered to herself for the umpteenth time.

  Though it had been almost three years since she’d last been there, turning off the road and rolling down the familiar drive, it felt like yesterday. The single story ranch house with its wide verandah looked exactly the same, but as she drew closer she could see the forest green paint was peeling, and the wood on the paned windows appeared to be rotting. She’d already made up her mind to sell, but coming to a stop and stepping from her Lexus SUV, she was sad at the thought. Reminding herself she had no choice, she climbed the steps and walked up to the front door.

  The estate lawyer had put her in touch with the ranch foreman, a man she knew simply as Callum. Glancing around, she wondered what he’d been doing with his time. From what she could see, the place was in a state of disrepair. Taking a breath, she pressed the bell, but not hearing the familiar chimes from inside, she knocked. When there was no response, she tried the door handle. It turned in her hand and she poked her head in.

  “Callum? Are you home? It’s Kelly Harper!”

  She was about to step inside when a bark made her spin around. Seeing a happy golden Labrador wagging its tail, she broke into a smile and crouched down to pet him.

  “Where’s Callum?”

  The dog barked again, then trotted across the verandah and settled into a doggy bed next to the porch swing.

  “If you’re suggesting I sit on that dirty wood, it’s not going to happen,” she declared with a grin.

  Wishing she’d taken the time to go home and change out of her powder blue power suit and heels, she opened the door, moved into the small foyer, then stepped forward and glanced into the lounge. Though it wasn’t messy, it was obvious the place was inhabited by a man. There were no decorative throw cushions on the brown couch, the newspaper on the coffee table was open to the sports section, and fishing magazines were sitting on the end table.

  “Callum, are you here?” she called again.

  Though there was still no reply, she heard a noise coming from the master bedroom at the end of the hall. Walking quickly forward, she stopped at the door and knocked.

  “Callum? It’s Kelly Harper!”

  He knew she’d be arriving around four o’clock, and checking her watch, she found she was fifteen minutes early. Hearing someone moving around, she assumed he was still getting ready, but that was no reason to ignore her. She knocked again, loudly, then yelled his name, but there was still no response.

  Tired from the long drive and out of patience, she cracked open the door, poked her head in—and caught her breath.

  A tall, naked man was standing in front of a dresser.

  She knew she shouldn’t be staring, but she was momentarily captivated. He was powerfully built, with a muscled back, bulging biceps and wide-shoulders. Finally gathering her wits, she was about to duck out when she caught sight of a red, thorny rose tattooed on his right ass cheek.

  She couldn’t pull her eyes away, but as he stepped back holding a white T-shirt, it broke the spell. Lifting her gaze, she realized he was wearing AirPods, then suddenly, to her horror, he turned…

  “Sorry, sorry,” she exclaimed hastily, and with her heart in her mouth, she slammed the door shut, bolted down the hall and ran outside.

  The day was picture perfect. Puffy clouds floated overhead, and a soft, cool breeze helped to soothe her frazzled nerves. Staring across at the paddocks, she spied two chestnuts, a beautiful dapple grey, and a dark bay with a diamond in the middle of its forehead.

  But there was no wiping the image of the naked man from her mind.

  Especially the thorny red rose on his butt.

  “So, hello, Kelly.”

  She hadn’t heard him come through the door, and the unexpected, deep, masculine voice made her heart skip.

  “Do you make a habit of walkin’ into bedrooms without knockin’?”

  The dog sat up and barked, as if parroting Callum’s question. Taking a breath and steeling herself for the confrontation, she turned around.

  “I did knock! In fact, when I arrived I rang the bell, then I knocked, then I called your name—assuming you are Callum.”

  “Yep, I’m Callum.”

  .”Then I stepped inside, called again. I heard a noises coming from the bedroom so I walked up and knocked again. Nobody answered, I tried to—“

  “Stop!” he exclaimed, holding up his hand. “Obviously I didn’t hear you, but you still shouldn’t—“

  “Obviously you didn’t hear me,” she retorted, cutting him off, “and that’s not my fault.”

  “Nope, but standin’ in a doorway starin’ at a
man and invadin’ his privacy sure as hell is. When you saw me butt-naked you should’ve left.”

  As the image of the rose loomed in the forefront of her mind, she couldn’t stop herself from grinning.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Well, it does have it’s funny side, don’t you think?” she asked, not wanting to mention the tattoo.

  He didn’t reply, but perched himself against the porch railing and crossed his arms.

  “Why don’t you tell me the reason for this visit?” he said, and though he didn’t smile, his voice was softer. “It’s a long way to come for just a chat.”

  Her embarrassment was beginning to fade, and for the first time she noticed his straight, glossy brown hair falling across his forehead, and his soft caramel eyes. They seemed to contradict his masculine physique, and would have given him a boyish look had it not been for his chiseled features.

  “Can we talk inside? I didn’t stop on the way and I’d love a cup of coffee.”

  “Sure, go on in. I’ll grab your bag. Is the back open?”

  “Yes, and thanks, but Callum, just so you know,” she began, wanting to get the bad news out of the way, “I realize my uncle’s estate has been paying you to keep this place going, and you don’t have to worry. I’ll make sure you have plenty of time to find something else.”

  “Say, what?”

  “I’m planning to sell.”

  Abruptly straightening up, he glared down at her.

  “Sell? Are you outta your mind?”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Callum hadn’t meant to sound so brusque, but he was still angry. Kelly had entered the house uninvited, then stood at his bedroom door and gawked at him while he dressed. Worse, she claimed she was selling the ranch. The time, money and effort he’d invested was finally starting to pay off. She stood to benefit from all his hard work.

  “I know it means you’ll be out of a job, but—“

  “You think this is a job?” he exclaimed, interrupting her and trying to control his anger. “I promised Ernie I’d make this place profitable again, and I’ve finally turned a corner. Do you have any idea how much energy and work I’ve put in? Not to mention money. You can’t just—“

  “Callum, whatever you’ve invested you’ll get back, though obviously we need to get things fixed up before I can put it on the market,” she remarked, moving her eyes to a patch of badly peeling paint.

  “Hey, Kelly, there are only so many hours in a day. I have help, but not as much as I need. Even so, the business is startin’ to thrive. But you must know all this. It’s spelled out in your uncle’s will.”

  “The estate lawyer told me I’d be inheriting the property, but there were some complicated details. I don’t know what they are yet, I haven’t had time to meet with him. I work for an ad agency and we’re crazy busy. I was in meetings most of the week, and my secretary called in sick two days ago so I had to deal with the call logs as well. Knowing her, she’s probably gone off somewhere with her Harley-riding boyfriend. Anyway, I told my boss I had a doctor’s appointment this afternoon. It was the only way I could skip out early. Traffic is hell on a Friday. If I hadn’t hit the road when I did I’d still be driving.“

  The torrent of words had spilled from her lips like a cascading waterfall. Callum had barely kept up. When she finally stopped, he shook his head. She was wound up as tight as a guitar string.

  “Damn, girl! You need to calm down, quit talkin’ and start listenin’!”

  “You’re the one not listening,” she shot back. “It doesn’t matter what the lawyer says or what the complicated details are, I need to sell this place.”

  “His name is Tom Bateman, and you’d better call him right now.”

  “Hey, Callum, I get it. This has come as a shock, but—“

  “Kelly, I’m fetchin’ your bag, then I have to get the horses in. While I’m doin’ that you need to make that call.”

  “What’s the rush? Why do you have to take them into the barn this minute?”

  “Look over at the mountains,” he said, waving his arm. “You see those dark clouds? That’s weather, and it’s comin’ in fast.”

  “But it’s a beautiful day!”

  “Dammit, girl, I know what I’m talkin’ about. Go inside, make that call, and when I come back we’ll have a cup of coffee and talk.

  “Why are you so angry?”

  “Why are you so dang difficult?”

  “I’m not!”

  “Yeah—you are!”

  Turning abruptly and marching to her SUV, he lifted out the small suitcase, then strode wordlessly past her and into the house. But as he started down the hall, he heard her walking behind him.

  “There’s a bunch of business cards in a jar on the desk in your uncle’s office,” he declared, entering the guest room and placing the bag on the bed. “You’ll find Tom’s in there.”

  “He can wait. I’m getting out of these clothes and taking a shower,” she muttered, flopping on the mattress.

  “What did you just say?”

  “I’m taking a shower and getting changed, then I’ll call him.”

  “Kelly, he usually there until around five, but it’s Friday and he might take off earlier. You have to speak with him before he leaves. Call him!”

  “Stop ordering me around,” she snapped, glaring up at him. “I’m tired. I need a shower and coffee, or preferably, coffee then a shower. Maybe even coffee, a shower, then coffee again!”

  He paused to take a breath.

  She was impossible.

  “Are you still plannin’ to leave Sunday night?” he asked, lowering his voice.

  “No, I’m taking off on Sunday afternoon, but right now it might be tomorrow morning. I’ve seen enough.”

  “You haven’t seen anything, and apparently you know even less. You need to speak to the estate lawyer before Monday, and he’s not around on weekends. Make the damn call. It’s important.”

  “Hey, I own this place, remember? If you don’t want to be around while it’s for sale, no problem. I can always bring in a crew to fix it up.”

  “And who will take care of the horses?” he demanded, stepping forward and towering over her. “Do you know how much hay to feed and when? Will you muck out their stalls, take them out in the mornin’ and blanket them if the weather turns cold?”

  “You know I can’t, that’s just—.”

  “Then why are you suggestin’ I take off?” he continued. “Kelly, stop arguin’ and call Tom Bateman. He has information you need to hear.”

  “Is that all you can say?” she shouted. “Call him, call him, call him?”

  “Dammit, girl, calm down.”

  “How can I calm down? I was on the road four fucking hours, when I got here you didn’t answer the door, and when I finally found you, there you were with no clothes on, and now you’re driving me crazy about calling this fucking lawyer.”

  “You’ve got one helluva temper and a foul mouth. I was just lookin’ out for you, but I won’t bother you again. I’ll pack my things tonight and load the horses into a trailer in the mornin’.”

  “But I need to see the books. I need—“

  “What you need is a spankin’! A hard one at that, and if I stay in this room one more minute that’s exactly what you’ll get.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Dumfounded and speechless, Kelly gaped at Callum as he strode from the room. She was always one to have a fast retort, but words failed her and she felt her face burning. If he left the ranch she’d be in dire straits. There were a hundred-and-one things she needed to know before she could put the property on the market, and he was the only one with the answers. But try as she might, she couldn’t bring herself to run after him.

  “Shit, shit shit!” she exclaimed, curling her fingers into fists. “Could this day get any worse?”

  Moving across to the window to see if he’d reached the paddock, she couldn’t believe her eyes. With his dog at his side, he was walking across the field
to the barn, and the horses were following him. No halters, no lead ropes, no nothing!

  Letting out a weary sigh, she flopped on the bed.

  She’d had the week from hell at work, the drive to the ranch had been exhausting, and now she’d ended up fighting with the ranch manager. She didn’t have an ounce of energy left, and the last thing she wanted to do was talk to a lawyer. But he had left her several messages, and even sent her a letter asking her to call at her earliest convenience.

  Though she hated the idea, she began to think perhaps Callum was right and she should pick up the phone.

  Slowly rising to her feet, she left the room and moved down the hall to her uncle’s study. She’d been able to see him in the hospital a few times before he’d passed away, but the conversations had been brief. The robust, happy man she’d loved had been on his last legs.

  Walking into the familiar room, a wave of emotion swept through her heart. After college her career had swallowed her up and she’d had no time to visit. Though she didn’t believe in regret, she suddenly found herself wishing she’d made the effort. Sitting at the desk and reaching for the jar, she found the lawyer’s card, stared at it for a moment, then lifted her cellphone from her pocket and placed the call.

  “Mr. Bateman’s office.”

  “Hello, this is Kelly Harper.”

  “Oh! Hold on please. He’ll be right with you.”

  Kelly began to worry. The woman had sounded almost as anxious as Callum.

  “Miss Harper, I’m very glad you called.”

  “Hello, Mr. Bateman. I’m at my uncle’s ranch and Callum said I needed to get in touch. He said it was important. Sorry I wasn’t able to reach you sooner. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks at work.”

  “Didn’t you get my emails?”

  “No,” she lied, recalling the brief notes he’d sent asking her to get back to him. “I have terrible trouble with those darn spam filters.”

  “I see, well, I’ll get right to the point. As you know, your uncle left you the property, but in order for you to take possession, you must live there for a minimum of one year, starting this Monday.”