Boss Lady And The Hired Hand by Barbara McMahon

Author:Barbara McMahon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

Amanda took a shaky breath, absently rubbing the pain in her chest. She dashed away the tears that had somehow leaked from her eyes. She had been called worse. There was nothing to get so upset about. Certainly not from some two-bit cowboy who meant nothing to her.

That was a lie. He meant more than he should to her. Dammit. She had thought she was in charge of her emotions, but his awful comment made her aware of how much she’d grown to like him over the past few days. How much she had wanted his approval, his companionship. And all the time he was scoping out her place with an intent to purchase.

Had he expected her to be so grateful she’d sell half her inheritance? It was the only thing she had of her own, and she would hold on to it for all she was worth. It enabled her to earn a living, keep Joey safe and do something she loved. She would never jeopardize it. Not for a man who thought she had tried to gain an easy life by sleeping with the town’s rich boy.

She drew the checkbook to the center of the desk and quickly wrote a check to Hawk for the days worked. Tearing it from the book, she felt a pang. For a few days she’d thought she’d found someone to be comfortable with. She remembered their afternoon—was it just yesterday?

Foolish dreams from a foolish girl. She wasn’t some teenager holding hands with a dream date. She was a grown woman with a ranch to run and a son to raise.

She found Hawk in the barn currying one of the horses. Joey worked with him, brushing the forelegs of the gelding and jabbering away.

“Joey.” She paused a couple of feet away. “Joey, honey, go into the house and get yourself some lemonade.”

“Aw, Mommy, I’m helping Hawk with Geronimo. I’m brushing his legs.”

“The horse will be here when you get back. Go on.”

She refused to look at Hawk, though she knew he’d stopped his work and watched her. Joey put the brush on the bench and walked slowly from the barn.

Amanda held out the check. “I believe this covers the days you’ve worked here.”

Hawk didn’t move a muscle.

“As soon as Pepe or Wait comes in, one of them can drive you into town.” Her hand didn’t shake, her voice was calm. Nothing betrayed the agonizing turmoil that plagued her. She refused to remember her dreams. Life wasn’t comprised of dreams. Surely she’d already learned that.

“I’m not leaving,” he said at last.

Her eyes met his, and she straightened, standing even taller. “You’re fired,” she stated clearly. “I want you off my ranch as soon as one of the others can drive you.”

He tossed the brush at the bench and stepped closer, careful not to crowd her, not to touch her.

“I’m not leaving, Amanda. I’m sorry as hell for what I said. I didn’t mean it even as I said it. I know I have the devil’s own temper and it gets me in more trouble than it should.

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