THE COWBOY SHE COULDN'T FORGET Read Free Page B

Hank, giving them instructions for tomorrow’s workday.
    He said good-night and went through the wide door into the cool May evening. This had always been his favorite time of day. Work was done. The sun had gone down and the animals were all settled in for the night.
    He knew his days on the Lazy S could be numbered. It was past time he left here, especially now that he had his own section of land. He’d already planned to leave in the fall after the alfalfa harvest. Now with Colt’s stroke...
    He headed along the path toward his place. A hundred yards away was the foreman’s cottage. About four years ago, Colt had given him the three-bedroom house when he made Vance ranch foreman, after Chet Anders retired. Vance had been twenty-six and had just finished his college courses for his degree. That had been important to Colt. He was grateful, too.
    Vance slowed his pace as he reached the house, seeing a shadow on the porch. He paused, then realized it was Ana sitting on the glider swing. Funny, for years he’d dreamed of her coming to visit him. He doubted this time was for the same reason he’d had in mind.
    “You want another strip of my hide?” he asked, then kept walking into the house and flipped on the wall switch to light the compact living room.
    He was surprised to see that Ana had jumped up and followed him, but stopped at the threshold. “No, I just want to talk to you about something. If you’ll give me a few minutes.”
    Vance turned around to see the worried look on her face. He’d caught a glimpse of her vulnerability at the hospital today, but she also could have a cutting tongue. But he couldn’t seem to take heed to the warning his brain sent as he glanced over her slender body, her rounded hips and long legs incased in worn jeans. He bit back a groan. She had just enough curves to twist a man’s gut, making him want what he had no business wanting. Somehow Vance had to stop it if he planned to work with her.
    Why couldn’t he have these feelings for any other woman but her? Why hadn’t he been able to move on? Forget the girl who hadn’t cared about him years ago. By the looks of it, her feelings hadn’t changed. Ana Slater didn’t want him.
    He was frustrated as he said, “Whatever I do or say, you attack my character. Even I have limits.”
    Ana knew her anger had gone too far. It wasn’t Vance who caused the problem between her and her father. “I apologize. I let old feelings get in the way of what we need to do. And that’s run this ranch.”
    When he stepped aside, she released a breath and made her way past the overstuffed sofa to look out the window that faced the barn and corral. It was easier than looking at Vance. He made her feel things whenever she got near him. It was strange because it had been years since the man had come close to her. Of course, she hadn’t given him a chance.
    “So you want to call a truce?” he asked.
    She looked over her shoulder and nodded. “Wade pointed out we need to work together.” She rushed on. “For the good of the ranch, and to help ease Colt’s mind so he can concentrate on his recovery.”
    “We can’t expect miracles.”
    Ana couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll settle for getting him to do what he needs to do to get back here.” She released a long sigh. “I know you think that I don’t care about my father, but I do.”
    “I never said that. In fact, I know how many times you’ve come out here and checked on him.” Vance raised a hand when she started to deny it. “And no, Kathleen didn’t rat you out. I’ve seen your car up at the house, and when you come by to go horseback riding. Why didn’t you ever stay and talk with Colt?”
    Tears formed behind her eyes. “That’s a little difficult when Dad hasn’t exactly welcomed me with open arms.”
    “Okay, his disposition has always been a little gruff, but maybe you can change that now.”
    Ana thought back to when life here on the Lazy S, with her mom and dad and