The Rancher's Untamed Heart

"Well, I came down here and applied everywhere I could. Got an interview, thought I would stay a few months until I found something better, but it turns out that I really enjoy it," I said.

Just then, the food came. Big steaming oval plates of way too much Mexican food to eat in one sitting. We both thanked the waitress and then turned our attention to our meals.

"Oh, yes," I said to Clint, "You pick a good restaurant. I hate small portions."

"Girl after my own heart," he said, smiling a slow, sweet smile at me.

I could feel myself melting. I stretched my foot out until I found his jeans-clad leg and stroked his calf.

His smile widened.

"What made you stay?" he asked, stretching his leg out closer to me.

"I love getting out to see all the different ranches," I said, "I thought that I wanted to choose one ranch and settle down, become a long-term employee and make a lot of good changes, but I haven't seen a chance for something like that."

"Long as you aren't stuck in an office?" he asked.

"Pretty much," I said, and sighed. "That's what I thought would happen for the first few years after college. I've been able to get out in the fresh air for two years, and I don't think I could go back."

"When did you graduate?" he asked.

I eyed him.

"Are you asking when I graduated, or asking how old I am?" I asked.

He laughed, and speared a big bite of food.

"I'm asking how old you are," he said.

"Brandon said that you were thirty-one," I replied, sticking my tongue out.

"Brandon can remember his own age, congratulations to him," Clint grumbled.

"I'm twenty-six," I said, relenting.

Clint grunted.

"What? Too young? Too old? I've heard both," I said.

He laughed out loud.

"What in blazes are you too old for?" he asked.

"My fertility has obviously dried up and blown away," I said, "It's been too long since I've graduated high school, and no babies. Shame on me."

"Some people," Clint said, gesturing with his fork for emphasis, "Just don't understand how biology works."

It was my turn to laugh out loud.

"I'm glad to hear that you do," I said.

"Okay," he said, abruptly, "What would you change?"

"Sorry?" I asked.

His brow was furrowed, and he was looking intently at me.

"With what you know from college, with what you've been told at your job. What would you change at my ranch?"