.png)
.png)
© H.C. Bentley, 2024. All rights reserved.
Ch 1
The land, passed down through generations, was both a blessing and a curse.
On days like today, a beautiful afternoon in late spring, the beauty of the land could leave those viewing it breathless. If those who didn’t work it, didn’t know the amount of back-break work, sweat, blood and tears it took to keep it going. And even then, it still captivated.
Yes, it was beautiful, and maybe that was part of the curse. The land bound those who worked it, claimed them, and rarely let them go. Even when they desperately wanted to, even needed to, in order to escape the memories that haunted them.
Broken Rock Ranch was no exception.
Situated in the heart of Milam, Texas, the hills of the ranch rolled on for acres and acres. The sun was shining on those hills of green grass, dotted with trees and cattle. The horizon met a nearly cloudless blue sky and a slight breeze blew, keeping the temperature bearable for those out in the elements.
Yes, it was a beautiful day. Too beautiful to be shrouded in constant grief and stress.
Buck Pierce was feeling the weight of both on his broad shoulders.
Currently, he paced the length of the wide front porch of what was known as the Big House of Broken Rock Ranch. He had a fussy little boy in his arms, one Buck bounced and patted on the back while his twin brother slept in the playpen Buck’s sister had set up for him nearby. As he paced, Buck considered his current situation.
He was nearly twenty-six and the father of twin boys who were almost a year old. Buck was also part owner and operator in the ranch, a family business that had been handed down for four generations.
He’d also just buried his wife a little more than a month ago.
Patricia, his Patty, had been a vivacious, energetic woman. At least until she’d become pregnant. Carrying the twins had drained her of her strength, but she’d insisted she was fine. It took a lot to carry twins, she’d told him. She’d bounce back once they were born.
But she hadn’t. If anything, she’d become weaker. She’d tried to help care for the boys, but her stamina was nonexistent. Buck tried everything he could think of, had taken her to doctor after doctor to try and find a reason why his wife was slipping away from him in front of his eyes.
He’d finally found a doctor who could give him a diagnosis. The fatigue wasn’t just from childbirth and newborn twins. Patricia had an undiagnosed heart condition, made worse by pregnancy and delivery. It had a name Buck couldn’t pronounce, much less spell. He just knew that with each day that passed, his wife grew sicker. The doctors had tried surgery, but the damage was done.
Buck lost his wife, and the twins their mother, just a few months shy of their first birthday.
Now he had to figure out what he was going to do without her. Patricia had been the steadying force in his life, his true partner, since they’d started dating at almost sixteen years old. He felt the void she’d left just as keenly as the ache in his heart.
The son he held, his firstborn that Patricia had named Nash, had finally fallen into a fitful sleep. He, and his brother Wade, seemed to know something was different and were fussier than normal. Buck, in this moment, was just relieved they’d both decided to sync up with their nap time, even if it was only for a short while.
“You should put him down and sit for a little while.” The quiet voice, belonging to his sister Tilly, came from behind Buck as she came out onto the porch. “You need to rest.”
“Can’t.” Buck continued to pace, hoping it kept the little guy from waking up again. “I’m afraid to put him down at this point.”
“Buck.” His name was said on a sigh as Tilly sank onto the porch swing. “We need to talk about how you’re going to move forward.”
“Not now.”
“You keep saying that. But sweetie, you’re exhausted.” She waved a hand between the infants. “We all love the boys, but they’re wearing you out. We’re happy to help,” Tilly added, “but just piecing together childcare and hoping it works isn’t good for them. They need a routine and stability, or else they’ll never sleep at the same time again, which means you won’t either. So, unless you’re looking to quit the ranch and become a full-time father, we need to talk about a plan.”
Without a word, Buck moved to the playpen and, as gently as possible, laid Nash down next to his brother. He breathed a sigh of relief when, after a quiet whimper, the boy snuggled in next to his brother and continued to sleep. Taking a seat next to his sister, Buck ran his hands over tired eyes and a few days’ worth of stubble.
“I know you’re right,” he finally admitted. He looked out over the land that meant so much to his family and let out what could only be described as a defeated sigh. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”
“I know, honey.”
“She was supposed to be here to watch them grow up.” Buck now studied his sleeping sons before turning his gaze to his sister. “I can’t help but wonder if I had taken her to the doctor sooner--”
“Don’t do that to yourself.” Tilly laid a hand on her brother’s arm. “We didn’t know. Hell, even her obstetrician didn’t notice a problem. There was nothing else you could have done for her.” She gave his arm a squeeze before dropping her hand. “But there’s something you can do for her now. Do the best you can by her sons. It’s what she would have wanted.”
“That’s the thing, Til. I don’t know what to do now, where to go next.”
“I think I do.” She waited until she had his full attention, but noted the doubt in his eyes. “Promise to hear me out?”
“Sure. I just can’t promise I’ll like what I hear.”
“Fair enough.” Turning to face him fully, she took a deep breath. “This ranch, this land, requires more from us than a regular nine to five job. It asks for long, often unpredictable hours.” At his nod, she continued. “I think it only makes sense for you to hire a live-in nanny. You promised to hear me out,” she said, her voice raised and a finger in the air when Buck started to interrupt. At his go ahead gesture, she nodded. “This person would be available when you’re not and would give the boys a more stable routine. It would also give you peace of mind in knowing that they’re being taken care of when it can’t be you.”
Buck waited for a beat to make sure he didn’t interrupt again. “Can I speak?”
“Of course.”
“I don’t want someone else, a stranger, raising the boys.”
“Buck.” Exasperated, Tilly closed her eyes for a brief moment and prayed for patience. “Think about this for more than a minute. It’s been a month, barely, and you’re hardly keeping your head above water. And that’s with us helping. But we’re all going to have to get back to a normal routine eventually, which means more of their care will land back on you. Are you seriously telling me that you can do this, on your own, until they start school?”
“Shit.” With a jerk, he took off his cowboy hat and let his head fall back to rest on the back of the swing. “I know I can’t. But it still doesn’t feel right.”
“Look, whoever you hire will have to follow your lead. Yes, they’ll be caring for the boys but you’ll have the final say in how it’s done.” Tilly took a deep breath. “And, if you’re open to it, I have someone in mind.”
“Of course you do.” Slanting a look in her direction, Buck narrowed his eyes. “Who is it?”
“My friend, Olivia Taylor, has an older sister looking for work. Her name is Kate.”
“What do you know about her?”
“She was working at the Double Deuce,” Tilly said, referring to a ranch in another county, “in the offices, I think.”
“Was?”
“Yes. She left when she started planning her wedding. Liv said Kate stepped back from working to focus on getting married and getting a house ready to move into.” With a wave of her hand, Tilly got back on track. “Anyway, I can give her a call, see if she’s interested. Maybe set up an interview?”
“Maybe.” Another sigh escaped Buck. “Hell, I don’t--” He broke off at the sound of one of the boys whimpering, then full-on crying. This, of course, triggered his twin to join him in a chorus of wailing. Closing his eyes, Buck nodded and let out a ragged breath. “Yeah. Do it. Make the call.”
* * *
For at least the fifteenth time since she’d gotten the call from Tilly Pierce-Bonner, Kate Holden second-guessed agreeing to an interview. She knew she wasn’t in the right headspace, a fact she pointed out-repeatedly-when she’d vented to her sister about looking for a new job. Liv, ever the voice of reason, pointed out that maybe she wasn’t in the right space, mentally, to be scheduling interviews but she’d been right to call off her wedding.
Damn straight, Kate thought. She’d been absolutely right in calling off her wedding. It was probably the best, and easiest, decision she’d ever made.
Of course, her soon-to-be-husband had made it easy. She’d come home to grab a few things before their rehearsal dinner and had found him, and her supposed best friend, together. Naked. In her bed.
Needless to say, Kate had had a few choice words for them both before she stormed from the house and straight to the rehearsal dinner. Where, she was sad to say, she made a bit of a scene. Because just as she was announcing to his family, and hers, that the wedding was canceled, the new couple came rushing into the restaurant. They were disheveled, breathless, and a little wild-eyed.
When the cheating bastard’s father stood up and demanded to know what the hell was going on, Kate didn’t hesitate to tell him rather loudly to ask his son, who had just been caught screwing the maid of honor in his fiance’s bed. Her voice must have carried more than she realized because the restaurant went quiet and all eyes were in her direction. More than a little mortified, Kate apologized to the families, said the wedding was off, threw the ring at her now ex-fiance’, and left.
That had been roughly three weeks ago and Kate was still gutted.
Her family had rallied around her, of course. The Cheating Bastard’s too, surprisingly. But between her embarrassment and the fact that her life was now upside down had Kate questioning whether or not she even wanted to stay in Milam, much less Texas. She’d been contemplating her options when Tilly had called.
She needed a job, and the managers at the Double Deuce had told her they’d have a job for her, if she ever decided to come back. But, since that’s where she’d met the Cheating Bastard, who still worked there, she’d decided to not take them up on their offer.
But did she really want to work as a nanny? On a ranch? She knew the Pierce family, and Broken Rock, both had excellent reputations. Kate just didn’t know if this was a path she should go down, if she was even the right person for the job.
Groaning, she picked up her phone, dialed, and waited for an answer.
“Hello?”
“Liv?”
“Kate? Everything okay?”
“Yeah. I think so.” Kate sucked in a breath. “Listen, have you talked to Tilly Pierce-I mean Bonner-lately?”
“So, she called, huh?”
“You knew about the interview?”
“I knew about the possibility of one.” Kate didn’t have to see her sister to know she was shrugging. “Look, she called and asked if I thought you might be interested. I told her you might be, since your circumstances have changed. And no, I didn’t go into details,” Liv added before Kate could ask. “I gave her your number and figured you’d take it from there.” When Kate was quiet, Liv sighed. “Kate, you’ve been at a standstill for weeks. You talk about leaving town but haven’t packed the first box or suitcase. This is just an interview, but it can also be a way for you to figure out what it is you want. Take the interview. If they offer it and you don’t want it, you don’t have to accept it.”
“You’re a pain in my ass, you know that?”
“I love you, too. Call me after and let me know how it went.”
“Yeah, yeah.” And, after sending love to her sister, Kate hung up the phone and prepared for an interview for a job she wasn’t sure she wanted.
Ch 2
When Kate pulled up to the main house of Broken Rock, she had to admit she was impressed. She’d heard a lot about the ranch. Everyone in Milam had, considering it took up a good portion of Mirabeau County. But she’d never been to the ranch, had never had cause to be there nor had she ever been invited.
Stepping from her car, Kate took in the sight of the large house, the surrounding land with cows and bunkhouses little more than large dots in the distance. The stables were within walking distance, if one didn’t mind walking for more than a few minutes. She was sure there were more buildings, more animals, further out on the land. Kate just couldn’t see them from the driveway.
Taking a deep breath, she tugged on the hem of the blouse she wore and climbed the porch steps to knock on the front door. A moment later, a young woman about her sister’s age answered. Her dark blonde hair was swept back in a french braid and the face breaking into a smile only carried the barest of makeup.
“Kate. So good to see you.” Tilly stepped back and gestured to Kate. “Please, come on in. We’re going to talk in the conference room. Also known as the dining room.” With a wink, Tilly led the way.
Once Kate had been offered water or coffee, she and Tilly settled in on opposite sides of the wide table.
“Okay.” Taking a deep breath, Tilly smiled as she folded her hands on the table in front of her. “Let’s address the elephant in the room right up front. You know you’re here to interview as a live-in nanny.” When Kate nodded, Tilly continued. “But you may or may not know the circumstances around the reason the position is needed.”
“Oh.” Kate’s brow wrinkled in confusion. “I assumed this would be for your child.”
“No. This would be for Buck’s children.” Leaning forward, Tilly asked, “I take it you’ve heard by now what happened?”
“I’m sorry, no. I’ve been a little…preoccupied with my own issues.”
“Buck’s wife died recently.”
“Oh, my.” Shaking her head, Kate looked down at the table. “No, I don’t think I’d heard that.”
“Yes, well. My brother is a private person and didn’t really advertise it outside the family.” Sitting back, Tilly rested her elbows on the arms of her chair. “He’s been handling things as best he can, and the family’s been helping, but there’s only so much we can do. And he’s exhausted, trying to keep up with the twins and work, while also trying to grieve. I finally talked him into the idea of hiring a nanny.”
“Which is why I’m here.”
“Exactly.” Tapping her index fingers together, Tilly spoke candidly. “I’ll warn you now, if you accept this position, he’s not going to be easy to work with. Buck wasn’t all-together keen on the idea of a nanny, plus he’s just a naturally gruff kind of guy. All that, added to the circumstances.” She held up her hands before letting them fall into her lap again. “Who knows how he’ll act at any given time? I figured you should know before we start talking details.”
“I understand. As I also understand he’s hurting. And probably stressed.”
“Good. Now, let--” Tilly broke off when Buck strode into the dining room and took a seat next to his sister. He eyed Kate from across the table before turning to Tilly.
“This her?”
“No, this is the Tooth Fairy.” Tilly rolled her eyes. “Yes, this is Kate Holden. Kate, Buck Pierce.”
“Nice to meet you.” Kate added a cool stare to her nod in Buck’s direction.
“Hmm.” Folding his arms across his broad chest, Buck returned the stare. “I just wanted to make sure a few things were made clear. If you’re hired, you’ll be here to make sure the boys are clean, fed, and tended. You’ll follow the rules and schedule set out for them. If you’ve got opinions on how things are done, keep them to yourself. You are not their mother, nor part of their family. You will be an employee here and nothing more. You’ll do well to remember that going into this position. Should it be offered.”
“Robert Buck Pierce.” Tilly’s voice took on a sharp tone as she whirled on her brother. “You have no right to speak to her that way. Apologize. Now.”
“There’s no need, Tilly.” Kate pulled herself up to sit ramrod straight in her chair. “Mr. Pierce.” Her tone took on one of a school teacher reprimanding a student. “I know full well I wouldn’t be their mother, nor would I be a part of the family. But I also know that affection, even some degree of love, on my part would be a world of good for those boys, especially now.. So, yes. I would feed them, clean them, and tend them. But I’d also make sure they know I care for them. And as for my opinions? I could give one right now but I won’t.” She aimed a look at Tilly. “If you don’t mind, I need a minute. Can you point me to a bathroom?”
Once Tilly pointed her in the right direction and Kate had left the room, Tilly rounded on her brother.
“I always knew you were an ass but this,” she circled a hand above the table, “tops it all. You weren’t just rude, you were blatantly disrespectful to a visitor in our home. She is here to help and hasn’t even met the boys yet, let alone tried to be anything to them. So, unless your idea is to scare her off, or piss her off, you need to shut up.”
“She needs to know.”
“Yeah. I think she got the message loud and clear.” She saw the ranch hand hovering at the door. “What?”
“Sorry, Ms. Tilly, but we need Mr. Buck. Got us a problem down at the chutes.”
“Good, take him. He’s in the way here.” Standing, Tilly huffed. “And I have to go find Kate.”
She was standing outside the bathroom door, leaning against the wall, when Kate came out of the downstairs guest bathroom.
“Kate, I am so sorry,” she said, pushing herself from the wall to face the other woman. “He had no right to speak to you that way.”
“It’s okay. He just wants to make sure his boys are taken care of.” Running a hand down her shirt, Kate breathed in deep. “I should apologize as well, for the way I spoke to him.”
“Nope. He earned it. And well done for standing up to him. Many don’t, and it’s something that could come in handy down the road.” With a small smile, Tilly checked her watch before putting her hands into her pockets. “Would you like to meet the boys? They should be up from their nap right about now.”
“Um.” Gulping, Kate nodded. “Sure.”
She followed Tilly up the stairs and into the room serving as the nursery. It was decorated in blues and whites, accented with cow print. The perfect nursery for the babies of a rancher.
“Hi, Ms. Tilly. You’re just in time. They’ve been changed and had a sippy cup, so they’re pretty content right now.”
“Thanks, Amanda.” Turning to Kate, Tilly made the introductions. “Usually, Amanda runs the household. But she’s been stepping in when we need a hand with the boys. Something for which we will be forever grateful.”
“It’s been a pleasure, truly. They’re sweet boys.” She grinned. “Most of the time.”
“Most of the time,” Tilly agreed. “If you need to get back to something else, we’ve got it from here, Amanda.”
“Yes, ma’am. Nice to meet you, Ms. Kate.”
“You as well.” As the woman left the room, Kate turned to where the boys sat on the floor, a stack of blocks at their sides, staring up at her.
“The one on the left is Nash, he’s the older of the two.” Gesturing to the floor, Tilly sank to the rug as she invited Kate to sit with them. “And this other little guy is Wade.”
“They look so much alike,” Kate murmured. “How do you tell them apart?”
“Well, they’re fraternal, so there’s some differences you’ll start to notice the more time you spend with them.” Tilly began to stack blocks with Wade, then watched as Nash toddled over and stood in front of Kate, owlish eyes studying her.
“He tends to be the more serious one of the two,” Tilly said quietly. “Even more so, here lately.”
“I bet.” Kate watched the little boy watching her and, her heart aching, took him in her arms when he climbed into her lap and laid his head on her chest.
“Well, I guess that settles it.” Tilly gave Kate a considering look. “We can talk terms but I think I can safely ask. When can you start?”
* * *
“You did what?” Buck thundered when Tilly told him later that evening.
“Shh. The boys are finally down.” Leading her brother further away from the nursery, she finally came to a stop in the family room. Standing with her hands on her hips, she looked up at Buck. “And you heard me. I hired Kate.”
“It wasn’t your decision.” Yanking off his Stetson, Buck threw it onto a nearby chair.
“I made it my decision.” She stabbed her forefinger into his chest. “You weren’t around to discuss it. And besides, you didn’t see how the boys took to her.”
“You could have waited until we had the chance to talk.”
“So you could avoid me for days on end?” Tilly shook her head. “I don’t think so. I made the call, in the best interest of you and your boys, by the way. Deal with it.”
“Oh, I’ll deal with it.” Feeling the irritation build, Buck moved away to pace.
“You will not fire her before she even has a chance to start.”
“When did you become the boss around here?” He turned and came to a stop mere feet from his sister. “I don’t recall needing a keeper.”
“You obviously haven’t been paying attention then.” Jutting out her chin, Tilly all but dared her brother to argue.
“Now listen--”
“No, you listen.” Her hands still on her hips, Tilly sent him a heated look. “You didn’t see what I saw in that nursery.”
“Which was?”
“She sat on the floor where the boys were playing. It took less than five minutes for Nash to crawl into her lap and cuddle with her.”
“He…what?” Confused, Buck stood hipshot as he closed his eyes. He took a minute, then opened them to stare at his sister. “Nash doesn’t take to strangers.”
“I know.” She threw out a hand. “But he sat there with her, in her lap, for a good ten minutes while she and I talked terms.”
Now Buck rubbed his eyes. He knew he was losing this fight and wasn’t quite sure how to feel about it.
“What were the terms?” He asked with a defeated sigh.
“She’ll get a salary.” Tilly rattled off a number he decided he could live with. “Two weeks vacation, plus room and board and benefits. She’ll take the empty room just down the hall from the nursery.”
“What about her hours?”
“Flexible, especially with the boys being so young. But, barring emergencies or something like driving the cattle, I told her she’d more than likely have most evenings free, since you’d probably be here to see to the boys.”
“Seems fair.” Scrubbing a hand over the back of his neck, Buck hung his head. “I don’t much like it, but it seems fair.”
“Buck.” Her voice, now gentle and free from the exasperation she felt, said his name quietly. “You need the help.”
“I know. That’s part of what I don’t much like.” He shrugged. “When does she start?”
“She has a name, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah.” His slight smile was crooked at his sister’s wry tone. “When does Kate start?”
“She needs a few days to get things in order, get settled. So she’ll start on Monday.”
“Fine.” Picking up his hat from where it had landed, he settled it back on his head as he stared his sister down. “She’ll start on Monday. As a nanny, nothing more. Clear?”
“Crystal.”
“Good. I’ve got work to catch up on.” He began to stride from the room when his sister’s voice, saying his name, had him turning.
“You’re welcome, by the way.”
“Yeah. Maybe I’ll thank you later, but I think we’d better see how she works out first.”
Saving Her Cowboy (Broken Rock Ranch, Book 1) will be released early summer of 2025. Subscribe to my newsletter for additional release information as it becomes available.
コメント