THE COWBOY SHE COULDN'T FORGET Read Free Page A

mean by working? ”
    She moved around the table. “I’ve waited twenty-plus years to be able to feel a part of this place. I have the chance and the time, since I’m not going back to work at the school until the fall, and I plan to use it. You can either help me or get out of my way.”
    Vance wasn’t sure he liked Ana’s idea. “What are you talking about?”
    “You aren’t going to have all the say-so around here. Dad gave me at least half control of this place.”
    Why was she acting as if this was war? “Up till now, the only person who had any control was Colt,” Vance argued, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. “He’s the boss. I still plan to carry out his wishes, because his situation is temporary. But if you want to work fourteen-hour days and smell like sweat and manure, feel free.” He started for the door, but stopped. “Just don’t plan for me to babysit you or your sisters, because the Lazy S is depending on this roundup.” He turned and walked out.
    Ana realized she might have overreacted a little. But Vance Rivers had always been the thorn in her side. There was no doubt that Colt had favored him over his own daughters. Well, not anymore.
    She stood a little straighter. “It seems I’m going to be working this summer.”
    Wade Dickson shook his head. “I think you’d better get on that cowboy’s good side, or it’s going to make life difficult for the both of you.”
    That was the last thing she wanted. She hadn’t forgotten the teenage Vance, with his bad attitude and swagger. He was good-looking and knew it. That day in the barn when he’d got her alone in the stall and kissed her until she couldn’t remember her own name wasn’t going to happen again. Nor was she going to run away like a scared rabbit.
    Ana blinked, bringing her back to the present. “Dad’s stroke is more than making things difficult. But I don’t plan on ignoring my responsibilities to him or the ranch.”
    Wade shook his head. “I hope Colt appreciates your loyalty, but don’t be too stubborn to think you can do this on your own. So you might want to find a way to get along with Vance. That’s the only way this is going to work.” The older man sighed. “Also, it might be a good idea to stop by my office tomorrow. There are some more details to go over.”
    “What details?” she asked.
    “It can wait until tomorrow, but not much longer. Bring Vance with you.”
    Ana didn’t like the sound of that.
    “What about your sisters?” Wade asked. “When are they coming home?”
    Ana had no idea. “Not right away. So this is on me for now.” She tried to sound confident, but in reality she didn’t know even where to start.
    * * *
    An hour later in the barn, Vance worked the brush along the flank of his chestnut stallion, Rusty. He was angry, more at himself than with anyone else. He’d let her get to him...again. How many times had he told himself to forget about Ana? The woman wanted nothing to do with him. He couldn’t say he blamed her, not when their dad had ignored his girls all those years, while giving Vance the attention they should have gotten.
    Many times he’d wanted to let Colt know how he felt about that, but the man had taken Vance in when he had nowhere else to go but into foster care.
    Vance already had the stigma of having a father who’d been labeled no good for years. Calvin Rivers was well known as a man who couldn’t hold down a job, and drank away his paycheck when he found someone willing to hire him. Vance’s mother had gotten fed up and took off.
    The strokes of his brush got more intense and Rusty expressed his irritation by dancing sideways in the stall. “Sorry, fella.” Vance smoothed a hand over his withers and put the brush away. “I didn’t mean to take out it out on you.”
    He walked out of the stall and headed down the center aisle of the large barn, passing the dozen horses stabled here. He stopped and talked to two of the ranch hands, Jake and