Mona? Whats goin on here? A booming voice sounded outside on the porch before her uncle Arty pushed through the doorway. Whats the sheriff doin here?
Her two ranch hands, Dusty Gaither and Jesse Lopez, followed him in.
Pardon, Miss Mona, Jesse said. He insisted on coming in.
Oh great. Now they could have one happy hoedown. The dry cereal shed forced herself to eat that morning threatened to come up. Someone made off with thirty head of Rancho Linda cattle.
Told your daddy to leave this place to me. Aint right to saddle a girl with this much responsibility.
Monas head hurt and she didnt want to take anything for the pain, but the pain was making her stomach act up.
Rosa Garcia, her housekeeper and surrogate mother, appeared by her side with a tray of lemonade and crackers. Eat this, she whispered.
The thought of putting anything past her lips made her even more nauseous, but if she
didnt, shed be sick in front of all three men. Mona lifted a cracker and a glass of lemonade. Thank you.
Ive tried to tell her the same. She needs a man around here. The sheriffs chest puffed out as if to say he was the one who should fill that role.
Mona swallowed her cracker in two bites, choking on what Parker Lee implied. I can manage the ranch on my own.
Uncle Arty snorted. Do you call losing thirty cattle managing? How many did you lose last week? Twenty more? You cant manage a six-thousand-acre ranch with just a few Mexicans. For all you know, theyre the ones stealing from you.
Mona set her glass on the table with a thump. Watch it, Uncle. Youre forgetting Im half Mexican. She marched across the room and stood toe-to-toe with the man. You may not have liked it that my father married a Mexican, but he loved my mother and she loved him. You should be so lucky to have that kind of relationship.
Her uncle didnt back down a bit. What do you know? She died when you were little. I still think my brother only married her to spite our father.
Get out. Mona stood with one hand fisted on her hip, the other pointing to the doorway.
Now, you listen to me, girl, her uncle blustered. I dont like that tone of voice.
Get. Out. If she had to use a gun, she would. Uncle or no, he had no right to bad-mouth her father, God rest his soul.
So be it. Her uncle stalked across the room and turned when he reached the door. He jabbed a finger at her. Youre going to run this place into the ground. You mark my words.
Maybe so, but its my place to run into the ground, not yours.
This land has been in the Grainger family for over one hundred years and should have stayed in the family. Youre nothin but a girl. You dont stand a chance. When it goes up in smoke, dont expect me to bail you out.
REED OPENED the screen for Monas uncle, his brows high on his forehead. You were leaving?
Dont get smart with me, young man. Youll be out of work within a week and I can guarantee you wont find another job in this county.
With a smile plastered to his face, Reed waved toward the open door, refusing to rise to the mans threat.
Once Monas uncle left, Reed turned to the sheriff, his anger rising. A useless excuse for law enforcement, Parker Lee wouldnt survive a day on the Chicago police force. Hed be shot in the back by one of his own men. Then again, hed never have been hired. Lee didnt have what it tookintegrity.
You shouldnt be so hard on your uncle. Hes right, you know. Sheriff Lee turned a sneering glance at Reed. Im surprised Mona hired you. Especially since you cant seem to hold a job.
To Reeds surprise, Monas face softened into a sensual smile. Who said I hired him? She walked across the floor and hooked an arm around Reeds waist. Reed lives here.
With supreme effort, Reed forced his expression to be casual, calm, not flat-out shocked. He pulled her close against him and dropped a kiss to the top of her hair. No perfumes clogged his senses, just the simple smell of soap and herbal shampoo rose up to greet him. She fit against him like she was meant to be there. He kinda liked it. Do we need to spell it out for you? He stared across the wooden floor at Parker Lee.
A muscle in the sheriffs jaw twitched before he responded. Just remember, she was mine before she even knew you.
Monas body tensed against Reeds. I was never yours. Any relationship we might have had is in the past. And, trust me, Ill always remember it as a huge lapse in my judgment.
The mans face burned a mottled red before he turned on his heel and marched through the door. Without another word, he climbed into the custom SUV with Sheriff painted in bold letters on each side and spun out of the gravel driveway.
I dont suppose hell be of much help finding the cattle rustlers, do you? Mona stared after the sheriff, still standing in the curve of Reeds arm. Then as if she remembered where she was, she stepped away, her face coloring a pretty shade of rosy pink beneath her natural tan. Im sorry. I just put you on the spot. A smile curved her lips, humor adding a twinkle to her deep brown-black eyes. Thanks for going along with my little ruse.