Shelly and the Cowboy by Barbara McMahon

Author:Barbara McMahon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: contemporary romance, sweet romance, cowboy romance, small town romance, clean and wholesome, rancher and ranches
Publisher: Barbara McMahon

Chapter Sixteen

“I wanted a change from the city. After I got out of the Army, I headed west. No particular destination in mind. Then saw an ad for a cowboy at a ranch in Texas. I applied. The man who hired me thought I’d last a day. I stayed nine months, then found something better. Learned all I could at every job.”

“When did you come here?”

“Over two years ago. I was still green. Mitch taught me a lot.”

He placed the towel back on the hook and looked at his hands. They weren’t much cleaner.

“I need to go wash up.”

“I want to hear more,” Shelly said.

“About what?” he asked, turning to look at her.

“About you, learning to be a cowboy, the army. My father was career Army. I have to say I’m not any where close to being as gung ho as he was.”

Adam nodded. “I was never gung ho Army.”

“Why did you join?”

“To get out.”

“Out of what?”

“Brooklyn. The neighborhood I grew up in wasn’t the best in the world. We saw the army as our ticket to better things.”

“We?”

His expression closed. “A friend.”

“Where is he now?”

“Dead.”

Adam turned and walked away.

Shelly stared after him. She hadn’t known. Apparently they’d been close. Had it been a woman? Most likely a buddy.

She didn’t think she imagined the bleak look in his eyes. Sighing softly, she wandered back to the corral and leaned against the fence, gazing at the horses. One ambled over and put its head on the top rail. She rubbed its nose gently.

“I was looking for company,” she said to the horse. “Were you as well?”

After a moment, curiosity satisfied, the big animal moved away.

“Guess not. Or at least not with me.”

She watched them a bit longer. The sun had set; twilight grew darker.

She turned and went back to the house.

Getting some water in preparation to go up to her room, Shelly was still by the sink when Carter came in. He immediately saw her and began signing.

“Wayne’s summer plans changed. His mother is pregnant and sick all the time, so they are not going to Hawaii. Can he come here? He wants to come. I told him how much I’m doing and he wants to help out. Adam said we’d have lots of work including cutting hay. Wayne could help. If Suzie comes out, that’s one more who can help. And you won’t be able to, so they could do your work.”

Shelly’s initial reaction was to refuse. But she asked him about Wayne before turning him down. And the more Carter told her about his friend, the more she began to wonder if he could come to visit—and actually be of help. She was going to be almost useless for the next few weeks while her wrist healed. If they hired Pete Trannor, that would ease some of the burden for Adam.

But having teenagers around—would that help or hinder?

Yet kids had been working ranches over the summer for years. It would be good for the boys and they could help move the bales of hay if nothing else.

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