Saddled and Spurred (Blacktop Cowboys 2)

One good thing about living in Muddy Gap? She could walk everywhere.

There’s more than one good thing, isn’t there?

Shoot. The heart-to-heart she’d had with Bernice—as well as the slug of whiskey—had made her melancholy.

The sun still shone, although the rays had dimmed to a muted gold, allowing shadows to play hopscotch on the sidewalk. Trees were finally leafing out. Spikes of grass were green. Dandelions popped up here and there in yards not meticulously manicured. Spring came late in the mountains.

Buckeye Joe’s wasn’t packed to the rafters, but close. She said hi to several people, stopped to talk to several more, so by the time she spied Janie in the far back booth, ten minutes had passed since she’d entered the bar.

“Sorry.” She slid across from Janie.

“No problem. I’m glad I got here early. I’ve never seen this place so consistently busy. Maybe it’s a good thing that Mac took off.” She nudged a lowball glass at Harper. “Whiskey Coke, right?”

“Right.”

“Happy hour. Drink up.”

“I’ll probably only have one, since I . . .” Refuse to end up like my mother. She smiled. “Thanks. I had a slug before I got here.”

“Not for the liquid courage to talk to us, I hope?”

“Us?” she repeated.

“Yes, ma’am.” Renner Jackson pulled a chair to the end of the table, flipped it around, and straddled it. He set his forearms on the table and smiled at her. “Heya, Harper.” He focused on Janie and smirked. “Heya, indentured servant.”

Janie whapped his arm. “Be serious. Do you want to go first?”

“Nope. This is your show. Pretend I’m not here.”

“Let’s get right to it.” Janie focused on Harper. “Why were you circling Help Wanted ads in Casper?”

Harper sucked down a big gulp of her drink before she launched into the story. After she finished, Janie and Renner exchanged a look. “What?”

“As much as I suspect you’re hurtin’ from what happened with your sister, and fretting about where you’ll end up, I hope you’ll hear us out before you take off outta Muddy Gap like your boots are on fire,” Renner said.

“Hear you out? About what?”

“About comin’ to work for me. For us. At the Split Rock Ranch and Resort.”

Harper didn’t say a word. Her gaze moved from Janie’s face to Renner’s face and back to Janie’s face again. Were they drunk?

“You know Renner is building a hunting-lodge type of dude ranch vacation getaway on the land he bought?” Janie asked.

She nodded.

“The property won’t be geared toward men. We’re aiming to attract couples. The guys can fish and hunt or ride a bull or spend the day as a ranch hand, while their wives or girlfriends enjoy the benefits of a relaxing spa. Or they can go horseback riding or hang out at the lodge. Or shop.”

“I’ll admit that sounds like a great idea, but I don’t see where I come in. You need someone to clean rooms or something?”

Janie scowled. “No.”

“I guarantee you don’t want to hire me as a ranch hand, as Bran Turner can attest to the fact that I suck.” Oh, crap. That hadn’t come out right at all.

Before Harper could clarify that statement, Janie said, “For chrissake, I’m not looking to hire you to do nails either.”

Testy.

Renner set his hand over Janie’s, which immediately calmed her. “What Janie means is, in addition to the main ranch house, which will contain eight large bedroom suites, a great room, a game room, and a bar, there will be two other structures. One for the spa. The other will house a dining room, an art gallery, and a retail area.”

Now, that piqued Harper’s interest.

Janie sensed it right away and jumped back in. “Up until this morning, we’d planned to have a high-end women’s Western clothing store.”

“Because the woman who can afford to fly into nowhere Wyoming for a week can afford to spend eight hundred bucks on a pair of cowboy boots?” Harper asked.

“Exactly. But our conversation at the beauty shop this afternoon struck a chord with me. We’ve spent all day rehashing our original direction. And we’d really like your help in the initial planning stages to implement the changes.”

“Okay . . . but I don’t have any idea what that means.”

“Stand up.”

Harper blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Stand up and show Renner your outfit.”

Of all the strange requests. Harper slid out of the booth and felt absurd as Renner Jackson eyed her from head to toe.

“See what I mean?” Janie prompted.

“Yep. She’s got it. No one else has thought of doin’ this, Janie. I’m damn impressed.”

“That’s why you pay me the big bucks, Ren.”

He snorted.

“Can I sit now?” Or maybe she should run.

Janie gestured distractedly and ordered another round when the cocktail waitress swung by. Then she leaned across the table and gave Harper an impish grin. “So? What do you think about coming to work for us?”

“Doing what?”

“You’d be in charge of merchandising for the retail store, specifically finding, ordering, and setting up merchandise. New and vintage.”

Harper’s jaw nearly dropped to the table. “Is this some sort of joke?”