Come On Over by Debbi Rawlins

Author:Debbi Rawlins
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-05-21T23:00:00+00:00

10

AS THE TRUCK bounced along the rough, pitted road Shelby stared at the ranch they were approaching. It looked like a small village. There were far more buildings than she could account for with her limited knowledge of ranching.

She was about to ask Trent what they were all for when he turned onto a paved driveway and drove under the elaborate wrought-iron archway announcing the Castle Ranch. Elm trees turning gold and red lined the seemingly endless driveway. The terrain was hillier than at the Eager Beaver and well-maintained.

“Wow, it’s pretty out here.” She twisted around to watch a pair of beautiful white horses galloping, the epitome of grace and beauty. “Is this all one ranch?”

“Yep.”

She saw the main house. Who could miss the gorgeous, sprawling Tudor-style home with all the natural stone and glass? The sloping manicured lawn that surrounded it was impossibly green.

On the far right stood a long white structure that had to be the bunkhouse. Two men standing in front talking turned and lifted their hands in friendly waves, which Shelby returned.

The large rust-colored barns were easy to identify, all three of them. A few other scattered buildings were probably sheds, although five times the size by her definition.

“I think you’re wrong about this being all one ranch,” she said, pointing to a cluster of four small houses each with its own yard and beds of faded flowers.

Trent glanced at them with a faint smile. “The married hired hands live in those.”

“Are you serious?” She stared at him, then got distracted by their surroundings again. “They have their own gas station?”

He laughed. “A place this size runs a lot of equipment. Those two gas pumps are more necessity than convenience.”

“Huh.” Closer to the house was an impressive building in both size and appearance. “What’s that?”

“The stable,” he said, frowning at her as if she’d committed blasphemy by needing to ask.

“Right.” She noticed what had to be a racetrack but refrained from commenting.

A tall distinguished-looking man with white hair walked out of the stable and motioned for Trent to park under a large cottonwood tree.

Trent eased the truck into the spot and cut the engine. “Is this how you expected the Eager Beaver to look?”

“Oh, sure.” She scanned the front of the house. The stone work was awesome, and so was the aggregate circular drive sweeping around hundreds of yellow mums. The whole place was really something. “I didn’t even know ranches like this existed outside of the movies.”

“You should see some of the spreads in Texas.” He grabbed his black Stetson from the backseat and put it on. “Ready?”

She nodded. “Don’t worry. I won’t ask any more stupid questions.”

“Ask anything you want,” he said, grinning as he got out of the truck.

She did a quick check in the visor mirror. She’d gotten rid of the scarf, mittens and her coat before going into the diner but her hair was still flat so she poufed it out some.

Her door opened. Trent stood there holding it for her. “You look great,” he said with a trace of amusement.

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