Ride Hard (Roughstock Riders Book 1) Read online

  Teddy cleared his throat again. “Well, that is a bit of a conundrum. I’ve only got wages budgeted for one ranch hand.” He gave the two of them a measured look. “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in sharing the position?”

  Maybelle huffed out a breath, nostrils flaring. He didn’t like this arrangement any more than she did, but some employment was better than none. “I’d be happy to,” he said, flashing a grin at Maybelle. “Sure you’re up for the challenge?”

  He half expected her to whine to her uncle, especially given the sharp look in her eye. But he didn’t miss the flicker of something… hotter, either. For a fleeting moment the tiny flutter of hope he’d experienced earlier moved deep in his chest. “You don’t know me very well if you think I’m gonna back away from a challenge.”

  “I don’t know you at all,” he countered. But he’d like to… maybe. Especially if she was this fiery all the time. As quickly as the thought entered his head, he doused it. He was easily a decade her senior, and he’d be a damn fool to start something, anything, with a woman. Above all, with one as young as she seemed.

  Maybelle drew herself up in an obvious effort to stare him down. “Well, let me tell you something about myself, mister…”

  “Sloane,” he supplied.

  “Mister Sloane,” she repeated.

  He liked the way his name rolled off her tongue, with a sweet husky lilt that set his insides buzzing.

  “My momma didn’t raise me to walk away from a challenge. I worked our ranch down in Oklahoma from the time I could sit a horse, and I don’t appreciate you looking at me like I’m the weaker sex. There’s nothing weak about me. Anything you can do on this ranch, I can do just as well.”

  “And backward in high heels?” He couldn’t resist adding. She was… adorable. The tip of her nose tilted up, and Ty was overcome with the urge to draw a finger down the center of it, just to see if her skin was as soft as it looked.

  “I don’t wear high heels,” she said with a lofty air.

  Colt chuckled. “I can see you two’re gonna get along just fine.”

  “I expect you to have any disagreements about roles and responsibilities worked out by morning,” Teddy ordered sternly. “And for the love of god, Maybelle, put on some clothes.”

  She let out an indignant squeak, setting her fierce gaze at each of them in turn. “I’d be happy to as soon as you all get OUT.”

  Colton and Teddy hurried out, but Ty put his hands on his hips and laughed. A deep belly laugh that felt so good. He laughed until his sides hurt.

  “I don’t see what’s so funny,” Maybelle snapped.

  He couldn’t exactly tell her that her pretty pink lips were made more for kissing than mouthing off, even though he liked her sass. Ty stalked to the porch where he’d dumped her clothing and handed them back to her with a little bow. “I don’t suppose you do, princess.”

  “I am not—”

  “A princess? Take a look around, sweetheart. It looks like a pink bomb went off in here.”

  “There is no such thing as too much pink,” she said haughtily, clutching the clothing to her chest and giving him the evil eye stare Ty was coming to enjoy. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a wedding to get ready for.” She marched to the door, gesturing for him to leave.

  With a tip of his hat and a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, Ty stepped past. But before he reached the porch steps, he turned in time to catch her checking out his ass. “See you ‘round… princess,” he teased with a deep laugh.

  Her face flushed the prettiest shade of pink as she slammed the door. That pink he liked. Very, very much.

  Chapter Four

  The door slam reverberated through the small cabin as Maybelle held back a very unladylike screech. The sheer arrogance of him, whoever-he-was Sloane, breezing into her cabin to take her job. Never mind she’d been too taken with him to ask his name, too distracted to stand up for herself where her job was concerned, too focused on his fine, fine ass. It would take her twice as long to pay for her broken trailer now.

  But she didn’t have time to replay their conversation, not with her hair starting to kink into crazy curls. All her grand thoughts of styling it into soft waves were dashed. She’d have to pull it into a messy bun and let the curls do their thing. Maybelle padded back to the bathroom filled with determination. No cowboy, no matter how pleasing to the eye or how rakishly charming his smile, was going to steal her job from her. And no way would she let him intimidate her into quitting, either.

  This called for every weapon in her arsenal, including her sequin and rhinestone covered Ms. Prairie Circuit Rodeo boots that she’d won two years ago. Nothing inspired confidence like sparkles. And just to prove that she had no intention of backing down, she pulled her second-favorite dancing dress from its hanger. Her first was white, and she couldn’t very well wear that to her cousin’s wedding. But her second-favorite? Maybelle didn’t bother to suppress a giggle. Bubble-gum pink. “Eat your heart out, cowboy,” she trilled as she slipped into the layers of pink chiffon that floated around her knees. Hell, after all his comments about her decor, she had half a mind to paint the walls pink, just to see the look on his face the next time he walked in. Still grinning from the wicked thought, she quickly pulled her unruly mop into a low bun, leaving enough curls to frame her face, and added a dangly pair of sparkly earrings. Giving herself a nod of approval, Maybelle practically skipped out the door. Nothing, not even a sexy, grouchy cowboy was going to dampen her spirits — at least for very long — she aimed to celebrate her cousin Lexi’s wedding to the fullest.

  In spite of her resolve, by the time Maybelle reached the main house, doubts were eating at her. What if she wasn’t good enough for the foreman’s job? What if the foreman’s job was only a pity offer from Uncle Teddy? Born as much from desperation as it was from doing her a favor? What if, what if, what if?

  “What if I just shut my brain and not worry about it?” she scolded herself. “Can’t change anything now, anyway,”

  “Talkin’ to yourself again, Maybelle?” her cousin Carolina asked from the big swing hanging on the far end of the porch. “Everything okay?” She patted the space next to her.

  “You don’t know the half of it,” Maybelle groaned, taking a seat on the swing. Of all her cousins, Carolina was her favorite, and not just because she was closest to Maybelle in age. Carolina exuded a gentleness that made it easy for Maybelle to confide in her. No matter what she said, Maybelle could count on Carolina to listen and sympathize.

  “We have a few minutes until Lexi’s ready for us. What’s going on?”

  “Uncle Teddy took back the job,” she said, unable to keep the disappointment from her voice.

  Beside her, Carolina gasped. “Whatever for?”

  “Because Colt gave it to some friend of his and forgot to tell Teddy.”

  “Really?” Carolina’s eyebrows shot skyward.

  At least she could take comfort at the note of surprise in Carolina’s voice. Maybelle nodded, a frown pulling down the corner of her mouth. “I understand there was a mix-up, but Uncle Teddy already hired me.” She didn’t care she sounded like a petulant teenager, or that maybe she was exaggerating just a teensy tiny bit. Her hide was chapped, dammit. “And I was going to kick ass at it.” And how was she going to pay for her broken trailer without a job? Sure, she was irritated by the mix-up, but the bigger concern was fixing her trailer. She couldn’t compete without it, and she was pretty sure that had been the point when her shitty ex-boyfriend took a pickaxe to it. Not that she could breathe a word of it to her family. She’d lose her independence in a hot second, and that meant more to her than just about anything. Besides, Clayton was long gone, they were over, and that was that.

  Carolina slipped her arm around Maybelle. “Aww, hon, it’s gonna be okay. Think of it this way, you’ve got backup and now you don’t have to worry when you start competing again.”

  Sweet Caro, always looking for the silver lining. “But I wanted the chance to prove myself. I mean who knows how long I’ll be in the money?”

  “I totally get that.” Carolina nodded with a sympathetic smile. “But you’re so talented, I can’t imagine you not doing well for a really long time. Not to mention Rango’s a great mount. Solid and fast.”

  “But what if something happens to Rango, or me?” Maybelle countered. “Shit happens.” Or god forbid, Clayton showed back up? She was pretty sure she was rid of him for good, but the pit in her stomach every time she thought of him kept her on edge.

  Carolina’s face momentarily pulled tight. “Yeah, shit happens,” she said softly.

  Her cousin knew that more than most, in spite of having found love a second time. Still, Maybelle didn’t want to tempt the universe. And frankly, it irritated the shit out of her that now she had to share her job. With a man. An arrogant, cocky man. Someone she didn’t have time for, in spite of the fact he was a very sexy, mouthwateringly beautiful man whose eyes made her thighs tingle. If he rodeoed, she’d peg him for one of those crazy roughstock riders in a hot second. Maybelle scoffed. They were notorious for notching their bedposts or any other object within reach.

  “What was that, hon?” Carolina asked.

  Maybelle waved a hand. “Oh, nothing. Just sizing up my competition.”

  “Maybe there’s a way you can work together,” she offered.

  “Lord, no.” Maybelle said with a vehement shake of her head. “The man has sexist written all over him. No how, no way.”

  Carolina’s forehead scrunched up. “Are you sure? I can’t imagine Daddy hiring someone who didn’t respect women.”

  “Maybe he got knocked in the head.” Maybelle crossed her arms with a pout.

  “And maybe you need to take a step back and look at
this rationally,” Carolina chided.

  Maybelle huffed out a breath. “Maybe I just need to cry into my tea for a second.”

  “And maybe we should take the bull by the horns.”

  “Oh, no. I don’t want to start anything that would ruin Lexi’s big day. Her wedding should be perfect.”

  “And it will be,” Carolina answered firmly. “But we ladies can sort things out better and faster than our menfolk. And I’m sure once we talk to Lydia, we’ll get this all squared away. Besides, we want to be there to help Lexi get ready.” Carolina slipped of the swing and held out her hand. “Should we head upstairs?”

  Maybelle nodded and followed. Helping Lexi get ready for her big moment would be just the antidote to her grouchy mood. And if anyone could fix problems, it was Carolina. They hurried upstairs to her Aunt Dottie’s room, where Lexi, Lydia and Cassidy were already passing around glasses of champagne.

  Cassidy handed her a flute. “I can’t believe you’re finally old enough to join us,” she said with a smile and a quick hug.

  Instantly, Maybelle’s mood lifted. “I’m so happy to finally be one of the big kids,” she said lifting the glass to her lips and taking a little sip. The bubbles sparked and fizzed across her tongue, chasing the rest of her mood away. Maybelle couldn’t stay mad for long — especially when she was with her cousins.

  “Well, you know how proud we are of you,” said Cassidy.

  “And how thrilled we are you came all this way,” added Lexi, holding out her hands as Carolina gently lifted the lacy wedding dress over her head.

  “You’ll be winning the circuit championships before we know it,” said Lydia from the corner where she was pulling out shoes she’d made for Lexi. “Then we’ll have two champions in the family.”

  Maybelle stared at the delicate light blue boots, so pale they almost looked silver, and let out a low whistle. “Dang, Lydia, I hope you make me a pair someday when it’s my turn.” She was secretly envious of the beautiful boots her cousin made. Fancy boots didn’t make Rango go faster, but that didn’t stop her from wanting a pair. She’d be the envy of every barrel racer on the Prairie Circuit.

  “So Lyds,” Carolina started casually, shooting a cautionary glance Maybelle’s way. “Did you hear Daddy finally hired a foreman?”

  “Oh,” she said with a bright smile. “Did Daddy like Ty? I wasn’t too sure, given what he’s been through. But he’s solid, and he’s been great with Bubba. You know, there aren’t many men who are good with babies and horses.”

  “Uncle Teddy hired me first,” blurted Maybelle, unable to control her tongue. Someday she’d learn to zip her lips, but that day wasn’t today.

  Lydia’s eyes went wide. “Wait…” she cocked her head, two vertical creases appearing above the bridge of her nose. “What?”

  “He offered me the job yesterday when I arrived.”

  “Oh dear.” Lydia let out a heavy sigh.

  “What’s going on?” Lexi asked, still peering into the mirror.

  “Seems like Daddy hired Maybelle to be foreman, but didn’t tell Colt or Cody,” Carolina explained. “They offered to find him someone, but I guess Daddy got tired of waiting.”

  “Colt offered the job to Ty Sloane,” explained Lydia, a serious expression on her face.

  Carolina’s eyes went wide, and she jerked her gaze to Maybelle. “Wait. So the other foreman is Ty? Ty Sloane?”

  Lexi spun from the mirror, a knowing look in her eye. “Ooh he’s a girl’s wet dream on a stick — you know, the kind where you wake up in the middle of the night, hot and bothered with slick thighs?”

  Carolina giggled. “Cody told me he’s broken every bone in that fabulous body at least once.”

  “Everything except the bone that counts,” Lexi chortled.

  Her cousins burst into fits of laughter, talking back and forth about Ty like he was a beloved member of the family.

  Ty was certainly as handsome as they claimed. The butterflies in her stomach certainly responded to him. But he was too infuriating for words, and he insulted her curtains. Maybelle crossed her arms. “Well, I don’t see what the big deal is,” she interjected. “I had the job first.”

  Her cousins spoke at once.

  “Only that Ty is a legend in bull riding.”

  “Have you seen him smile?”

  “Panty melting.”

  “I can’t believe you’ve never heard of him.”

  “Pffft,” Maybelle said with a toss of her head. “I don’t get the mystique. As far as I’m concerned, bull riders are too cocky for their britches.” She had better things to do than hang on the rails hoping to catch the attention of some fly-by-night bull rider looking for stardom. “They’re unreliable at best, scoundrels at worst.” She shuddered just thinking about it.

  Lydia and Carolina exchanged a look. “He mentored both Colt and Cody,” reprimanded Carolina. “They owe him their careers.”

  “And Colt wanted to return the favor,” added Lydia. “Ty got mixed up in a bad fight that landed him in jail, and he lost everything.”

  “Jail? What happened?”

  “Ty’s been tight-lipped. News said there was a woman involved.”

  Of course there’d been a woman involved. The story was always the same — two drunk men coming to blows over a lady.

  “I think you two should work it out,” said Carolina. “Ty’s a good man. He needs this job.”

  “So do I,” answered Maybelle thickly, blinking back tears that suddenly sprang to her eyes. They didn’t know how desperately she needed this, how hard it had been this last year. But she wasn’t about to air her dirty laundry, especially on Lexi’s wedding day. “And just because he’s a man who’s down on his luck, doesn’t mean he’s more deserving.”

  “Can we discuss this after my wedding?” Lexi pleaded. “Please? I want you all to be happy, and Maybelle looks close to tears.”

  Maybelle blinked hard. “I’m fine,” she said with a sniff and a wave of her hand. “Really.” There was no way she was going to ask her cousins for help in figuring out her life. She wasn’t a crybaby. If she broke down now, they’d just continue to see her as a little girl who needed other people to fix her problems. Well, she’d show them. She’d be the best damn foreman Uncle Teddy had ever seen, and she do it with a smile on her face. Besides, everyone knew bull riders were good at two things besides bull riding, and that was drinking and women. How hard could it be to show up Ty Sloane?

  Chapter Five

  With a contented sigh, Maybelle leaned back against the split-rail fence that divided the lawn from the barnyard. Lexi had been the perfect bride — strong and sure of herself as she spoke her vows, cheeks flushed pink with happiness, eyes shining with love. And Jarrod was utterly devoted to her. You’d have to be blind not to see it.

  Someday…

  Someday that would be her. She’d get her happy ending, just like in all the books she liked to read. But for now, she’d have to content herself with dancing. Dancing with her cousins’ husbands, her Uncle Teddy, even Aunt Dottie. She loved to dance, so she didn’t mind, but a part of her chafed at the way her family still treated her like a child.

  “Care to dance?” a deep voice rumbled in her ear.

  Maybelle’s pulse quickened as she turned toward Ty. She swallowed, mouth going dry at the sight of him. He might be infuriating, but she couldn’t deny his magnetism. In spite of her efforts to avoid him, they’d kept catching each other’s eye. All afternoon. She couldn’t help but admire the way he moved when he danced, as fluid and graceful as a panther. And when she’d caught his eye while dancing with her uncle, she swore she could feel the heat of his gaze right through her pink party dress. She swallowed again, willing her stomach to stop flip-flopping. “Are you sure you can handle the pink?” She lifted her chin, refusing to hide from his gaze. For a split second she regretted it. What had Lexi called his eyes earlier? Swoonworthy? Her breath caught in her lungs and her mouth tingled, as if he’d already kissed her.

  His chest rumbled as he led her a short distance to where the makeshift dance floor had been built, hand at her back as hot as a branding iron. “Just because I don’t want to live in a bottle of Pepto doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the color.” His mouth twitched, hinting at a smile as he turned her into his arms. She slipped into his embrace as if it was the most natural thing in the world. On one hand, it felt that way, as easy as water falling over rocks. On the other hand, her heart took off to the races. Everywhere their bodies touched — hands, hips, thighs — felt like fire. His body pressed strong and hard against her soft places, and he moved with surety and an elegance that reminded her of Hollywood dancers. The sensation made her brain as bubbly as the champagne she’d been sipping all afternoon.