Virgil picked up the phone on the second ring and pressed it to his ear.
“Oh yeah?” His lips curved into a wide smile.
He chuckled. “We’ll take good care of her.”
“You got another live one coming.” Virgil winced as he took a sip of hot, black coffee. “City girl, straight from Austin. DJ somethin’ or other.”
Kat kept her eyes fixed on the work schedule for the day. “Good. I can use an extra set of hands today. Is she ready to work?” The Jumpin’ J Ranch was definitely not the place to go if you were looking for a relaxing vacation. All the guests here were required to participate in the many tasks that kept it running, from cleaning out horse stalls to herding cattle. When you stayed at the Jumpin’ J, you received the full experience, which also meant pulling your own weight.
“Dunno, but I get the feelin’ she didn’t book the stay herself,” he said as he peeled away a stray fleck of peach-colored paint from the window pane.
Kat eyed her father-in-law. His voice was too cheerful. Something was up. “What makes you say that?”
“Take a look.” Without turning, he raised his hand and gave her a two-fingered motion.
Kat pushed away from the kitchen table, and the metal chair legs vibrated against the old linoleum floor. She wandered over to the screen door and peered out through the mesh. There, by the corral, stood a tall woman with a head full of short, unruly curls the color of a pearl palomino. Dressed in khaki shorts, a white polo shirt, and loafers, she leaned easily with her arms draped across the top rail of the corral, stroking Minow’s cheek.
“Not another one.” Kat let out a groan of aggravation. Plucking her baseball cap from the door peg, she slipped it on and tugged her ponytail through the hole.
Virgil grinned in amusement. “I’m sure you’ll have her whipped into shape in no time.”
“Thanks. I appreciate the confidence.” She went out the screen door, letting it slam behind her. Virgil enjoyed watching Kat break in the city folks. It drove her crazy when someone showed up expecting to be catered to as if they were staying at a luxury resort.
“Welcome to the Jumpin’ J, Ms…”
“Calla…Callen.” DJ cleared her throat. “DJ Callen.”
“Ms. Callen.” Kat gave her a slight nod of acknowledgment. “I’m Kathryn Jackson. Most people call me Kat.”
DJ casually glanced over her shoulder, and Kat got the feeling she was being checked out. The woman was attractive enough, but that kind of attention was something to which Kat had never grown accustomed.
“Do you know how to work a horse, Ms. Callen?” Kat asked in a pleasantly sweet Texas drawl.
“I’m not here to work. I’m here to relax,” DJ said as she turned to face her.
“Well, I’m afraid you’re out of luck. This is a working ranch, Ms. Callen. Everybody pitches in. Including the guests,” Kat said, her voice turning firm yet still holding its soft, feminine edge.
Not making eye contact with DJ, she led Minow out of the corral. Kat was careful not to give the solo guests any sort of encouragement. She preferred families, but unfortunately, part of her clientele consisted of single women and men looking to work more than just the ranch.
“Good morning to you, too.” DJ’s pointed tone prompted Kat to stop and square her shoulders.
Kat bit her tongue, swallowing the caustic retort waiting to roll off the tip of it. After all, the woman was a guest. Maybe she was just at the wrong place. “If you’re not up for it, perhaps you’d like to move to the lodge down the road. They have a nice pool to float around in there. I’m sure you could handle that.”
The woman’s bland expression didn’t change until one side of her lip tugged up into a cockeyed smile. “I think I’d rather stay here.”
The way DJ looked at her prompted a fleeting shiver to run the gamut through Kat. She suddenly felt like DJ was a hawk and she was her prey.
“All right then. All you have to do is walk the horse around the corral a few times.” Kat led Minow to DJ, reached up, and took the bridle off. “It goes on like this.” She slid the bit into the horse’s mouth and the leather strap over her head. “There’s another bridle on the fence.” She flipped her head toward it. “Now, if you would, Ms. Callen, please get that filly over on the other side of the corral and give her a little workout.” Kat hiked her leg up, slid her foot into the stirrup that hung just about at her waist, and then swung onto the horse. “Oh, and when you’re finished with that one, you’ll find five more in the stable,” Kat added before riding off to the barn.
What was that about? Her first instinct had been to welcome DJ, as she usually did with new guests. But when she’d caught a glimpse of DJ’s sea-green eyes, Kat’s survival instincts had kicked in at full force. She’d totally surprised herself with the attitude-filled banter she’d spluttered.
Kat climbed the steps, leaned against the loft opening, and watched DJ slip the bit into the filly’s mouth. After sliding the leather strap over the horse’s head, she stroked her gently before guiding her around the corral. A welcome breeze swept through the loft, and Kat smiled. She wasn’t impressed, just a little surprised to see that the city girl seemed to have a way with horses.
Kat was busy tossing hay from the loft when DJ came into the barn with the freshly exercised filly.
“Any particular horse you want me to take out next?” DJ shouted up to Kat, sputtering when a pile of hay flew down on top of her.
“Sorry,” Kat said, doing her best to contain a chuckle. “Stall number five, the brown one with the white spot on her nose.” She continued tossing hay on top of her. “But be careful. Sometimes she can be a little temperamental.”
Kat peeked over the edge and saw the horse tied to the barn door latch but no sign of DJ. She jumped at her voice behind her.
“Didn’t you see me standing there?”
“Geez,” she said, spinning around and losing her balance.
DJ grabbed at her arm in what Kat took to be an attempt to lessen her fall, but she was too far gone, and DJ fell along with her into the hay. Sprawled out flat on top of her, DJ chuckled as Kat struggled beneath her.
“This isn’t funny, Ms. Callen. Please move.” The weight of DJ’s shoulder smashed against Kat’s face, along with the potent smell of her cologne, was smothering. She struggled and twisted, fighting to catch just the smallest amount of fresh air.
DJ eased up onto her elbows, and her smile widened when Kat put both hands on her shoulders and shoved DJ off to one side.
“Ouch.” DJ’s smile faded quickly.
Kat shrugged, scrambling to her feet. “Really? Like little old me could actually hurt you.”
“I’m not kidding,” DJ said gruffly, her voice showing definite signs of anguish.
Kat brushed the hay aside and saw that three out of four pitchfork tips had punctured the fabric of DJ’s shorts.
“Oh my God!” She dropped to her knees and quickly removed the implement.
“Hey, take it easy there.” Her voice rose momentarily.
Kat pushed DJ’s shorts up slightly to examine the small scratches. She swept her fingers across the bare skin below them, and DJ tensed momentarily, magnifying the muscle in her thigh.
“They’re just flesh wounds.” Kat lifted the fabric to check for further damage and hesitated when a rush of warmth cursed her body. “You’ll be all right.” She took a bandana from her pocket, soaked it with bottled water, and cleaned the wounds.
“You sure?”
“Uh-huh.” DJ would be fine, but Kat didn’t know what the hell was going on with her. She dropped the cotton fabric quickly and offered DJ her hand, hoping she didn’t notice the heat simmering in her cheeks. “If you go over to the house, Virgil will tend to it for you.”
“Thanks.” DJ rubbed her thigh gently as she stood up. “I’ll take care of it myself.”
“Suit yourself,” Kat said and returned to moving the hay.
DJ descended the steps and stood just beneath the loft.
“If you’re sure you’re okay, those horses still need to be worked.” She tossed another pile of hay on top of her. “Oh, and you might want to cut back on the cologne a bit. The horses don’t care for it much.”
“Do you see me standing here?” DJ shouted, brushing the hay from her shoulders.
“Yep.” Kat tossed another pile over the edge and smiled. “If I were you, I’d have moved by now.”
“People actually pay for this?” DJ left the barn, plucking hay from her hair.
* * *
Kat pushed the hay to the side and stood at the edge of the loft opening. Plenty of guests were in the corral today, but without the faintest idea why, Kat kept her eyes glued on one in particular, DJ Callen. She just couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the city girl with the muscular thighs.
She watched her lead another horse out of the stable and gently stroke the powerful animal before sliding the saddle onto its back. After cinching it tight, she tried to put her foot in the stirrup, and the horse jerked away quickly.
Kat could see DJ talking as she circled around to face the horse. She stroked the horse’s neck and seemed to be soothing it with her voice until the animal rested its head on her shoulder. Then she moved slowly next to the horse and slid her foot into the stirrup again. The horse stood perfectly still for DJ this time, and she mounted her easily. Riding slowly at first, she had the horse worked into a gallop before they went up the trail and into the trees.
Kat skipped down the steps and smiled to herself about the unwavering stranger. Not as much of a city girl as she makes herself out to be after all. She filled the water barrel in the corral before walking across the yard to the house. Virgil met her at the door with a large, cold glass of water.
“Hot out there today, huh?”
“Muggy is what it is.” Kat drank half the glass and let out a sigh of satisfaction. “And it’s not even summer yet.”
“What were you and the new gal doin’ in the barn for so long?” He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the counter. “She had quite a grin on her face when she came out.”
Kat finished her water and wiped the small trickle running down her chin. “She’s a little clumsy. She tripped and fell on me in the loft.” Virgil didn’t need to know the woman had scared the bejesus out of her.
“Oh, yeah?” He smiled curiously. “That all?”
Kat turned to the sink to refill her glass. “I forked her,” she mumbled, bringing the glass to her lips again.
“You had sex with her?” His voice cracked in surprise.
Kat’s eye widened and she choked, sucking enough water in her lungs to strangle herself. “Certainly not, Virgil.” she sputtered, dragging her sleeve across her face. “She fell on me, and when I pushed her off, she rolled onto the pitchfork. It scratched up her leg.”
Virgil chuckled and smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry. It just sounded like you said…”
“Like I ever talk like that. You need to have your ears checked, Virgil.” She raised an eyebrow and brought the glass to her lips again. “Or your mind scrubbed.” The picture of the city girl’s cream-skinned thigh popped into her mind, and Kat shuddered. “Maybe we both do,” she mumbled, yanking the screen door open and going outside. Virgil had beaten her to the thought. Her imagination hadn’t made it quite as far as his yet, but after seeing that bare skin, that’s where it was heading.
* * *
Kat slipped out of Minow’s stall and waited until she saw her newest guest go into the general store. She’d had enough interaction with the city girl today. Spending her time running around in circles, accomplishing absolutely nothing, didn’t make for a productive day on the ranch. She hurried across the yard, up the steps, and jerked the screen door open.
“Hold on a minute there, missy.”
She whipped her head around and looked over her shoulder. She saw Virgil through the mesh screen, sitting at the end of the porch in his usual rocker. “Oh, hi, Virgil. I didn’t see you.”
“Who ya hidin’ from there, Kat?” He bounced his brows at her. “The new gal?”
Even though Virgil had made it clear he’d be okay if she found someone new, she’d told him repeatedly she wasn’t looking for any female company. Looking or not, Kat couldn’t deny the fact that the wrong kind of women always seemed to flock after her.
She narrowed her eyes and let the door slap against the jamb. “Virgil, don’t even go there.” She dragged another rocker over next to his and sank into it.
“You want a beer?”
“No thanks.” Virgil knew she didn’t like beer, but he still managed to offer her one every night.
“The more you run, the more they chase.” He took a swig of his beer and rested his head against the chair. “Everyone loves a good chase.”
“Is that coming from experience?” She crossed her arms and waited for what she knew would be an interesting tale.
He nodded. “You betcha.”
“How many did you catch?” She shifted sideways in the rocker, giving him her full attention. She’d spent many an evening out here on the porch listening to Virgil’s adventures, but he’d never revealed much about the women in his life.
“A few, but only one mattered.”
“Arizona’s mother?”
His eyes rolled, squinting as they focused upward. “Her too.” He tipped up his beer and finished what was left in the bottle.
Kat shook her head and blew out a short breath. “Virgil.” Her voice took on a low, demanding tone. “How many of those have you had?”
“One or two.” He gave her a half smile and winked. “Just like the women.” Looking past her, he flipped up a finger and pointed across the yard. “There’s the new gal now.”
She spun around in her chair to catch the city girl standing on the porch of the store, watching them. Reluctantly she threw up her hand and waved. DJ dipped her chin in acknowledgment before heading across to the guesthouse.
“Well, I think you can probably go ahead and add that one to your list.”
“Not if I can help it.” Kat pushed out of her chair and went inside.