My fingers curl around the grip of my gun and I move toward him real slow. I know I’ve got the look of Satan’s fury on my face and pure venom dripping from my lips when I spit out, “What’d you say to me?”
Before I can get any closer, I hear Brian from behind the jackass in front of me.
“Grady!” Brian’s voice is deep and commanding. “What the hell are you doing? I thought I told you to come in here and sit.”
“I was just being friendly…” He replies, acting completely innocent. “But then Dixon here thought she’d catch a hot attitude just cause I said,hello.”
“Her name is Dixie, you piece of horseshit. Go sit down before I kick your ass right into next week and garnish your wage for today.”
The cowboy named Grady scoffs, “You’re not the foreman, you can’t do anything to me.”
Brian looks straight through him and shoots back, “The hell I can’t. Toby and I are equals, he’d back me up on that and you know it.”
Alright, so Toby and Brian are the foremen. But who is their boss? Who’s the guy who owns this outfit? Grady turns back to look over his shoulder at me. “Dixie…”
I don’t even acknowledge that he’s spoken to me. He doesn’t deserve it. Brian looks my way and gives me a reassuring tip of his hat, then waves me to follow him tothe big long table near the kitchen. I count about ten men in the room. Toby must’ve come in during the chaos, because I see him sitting at the end of the bench on one side of the table.
A short, chubby man in a cowboy hat and an apron strides in carrying two plates loaded with steak. He sits them in the middle of the table and throws down a big bowl of potatoes and a pot of corn on the cob. Looks like the cowboys have all gotten their own plates and silverware, so they dig in. I look to Brian who is moving toward me, a plate with a knife and fork sitting on top.
“These guys are fuckin’ cave dwellers. There weren’t any dishes left, so I washed one for you. Hope that’s alright.”
Brian is quickly becoming my favorite person in Montana. We’ve barely met, but I don’t feel defensive around him. He looks somewhere around my age. He’s tall with dark, medium length hair that flows down the nape of his neck. Not the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, but he’s got kind eyes and he’s approachable.
I sit down at the end of the bench across from Toby and dish up my food. A few bites in, I notice two boys are staring at me, but I ignore ‘em. I don’t know if what I said back there was enough. When I’ve finished my plate, and they’re still staring, I decide I don’t give a shit.
“What the hell are you dumbasses lookin’ at? So I’ve got a pair of tits—ya’ll act like you’ve never seen a woman before. I’m a cowboy, same as you! I’ve got fourteen years under my belt buckle and I’ll fight any man who wants to.”
“There won’t be any fightingin my bunkhouse.”
The room goes silent, my head whips around, and I swear I hear my spurs spin. I don’t need anyone to tell me who he is. I know without an introduction. He’s got a command presence I’ve never seen—and he’s attractive. Full beard, forward facing ball cap, massive arms, broad chest and shoulders—he’s over six feet tall too. He’s got feather tattoos starting at the wrist of one arm, going to his elbow and wrapping the entire way around. Eagle feathers maybe? On his other forearm a big gray wolf stares at me through a line of trees. It looks angry and very detailed.
This man is my new boss and I might’ve just earned myself a list of chores for threatening a fight.
Chapter Four
A pair of mossy green eyes stare up at me. Her hair is long and wavy, a golden blonde shade. She’s got lightly tanned skin, and…damnit.She’s the furthest thing from a cowboy. Definitely dressed like one, but I haven't seen a face like hers in a really long time.
Shit. She’s stunning, and I’m fucked.
Not for myself—I can keep it in my pants. That’s what hard work, and the gym is for. No, I’m screwed because I know I’m going to have to play bodyguard. Even good guys like mine can be weak around women as pretty as she is. Putting Dixie Wilder in this bunkhouse is like putting a lamb in a wolf's den.
Chris, you fuckin’ idiot. Should’ve left her down in Texas.
“New hires, stand up.” I’ve got to lay down some ground rules before anyone gets any ideas. I watch Dixie and two other boys stand.
“Introduce yourselves. Let’s start with you in the back.” I point to the guy standing furthest down the row.
“My name’s Clancy. Rode with an outfit over in Oklahoma for about five years.”
I point to the next cowboy standing. “Ashley. My mom was a fan ofGone with the Wind. Y’all can call me Ash.”
He’s confident in himself. I like that. I nod and so does the rest of the room. I’m about to point to the cowboy in front of me but she speaks up before I can.
“Dixie, sir. And I only fight when someone decides they wanna fight me. I keep to myself and I’ll ride as long and as hard as any of these pickle peppers you got around here.”
I’m trying to stay stone faced because I’m the boss and it’s my job. But damnit my chest heaves and I chuckle.Pickle peppers.And that accent she’s got…it’s thicker than tar in a bucket.
I put my fist to my mouth and grunt, clearing my throat. “Good.” I keep my eyes on her. “You can sit down.”
