The Rancher by Kelli Ann Morgan Read Free Book Online

Jameson Redbourne’s breath in the still of the
    morning.  He reached down to pick up a
    nail and handed it to Cole.
    The sun had just risen over the hills andmorning light spilled into the stable. Colelooked up from the horse’s hoof he wasre-shoeing and took the nail from his

    father’s outstretched hand.  He put it into place and pounded it securely into the target.
    “I know which route to take,” Cole said, his jaw tight as he tested the stability of the shoe.  He dropped the gelding’s foot and looked up at his father.  After he led the gelding back to the other cattle horses and turned him loose in the smaller corral, Cole leaned up against the round pen fence with his forearms and placed one foot on the bottom plank.
    “I’m taking the job with McCallister. I notified him last week,” Cole announced casually, knowing his parents would both disagree with his decision.
    After weeks of deliberation, Cole had decided taking the foreman job at the SilverHawk ranch in Silver Falls would

    be the only way he could make good on his promise to Alaric.  Someone there had to know the girl. The inscription on the ring said, “Abby,” but Cole now wished he’d had the foresight to ask her last name.
    “Come with me, son.” Jameson patted Cole on the shoulder and motioned for him
    to follow.
    Cole pushed himself away from the fence. A morning chill swept across his face.   He pulled his wool lined jacket closer around his neck and tugged his hat lower on his head.
    “I have a proposition for you, but first, there’s something you need to know,” Jameson said as he hopped up onto the homestead’s front porch steps.
    Cole groaned, but still followed his father across the kitchen and into the

    study. His mother had been quite upset when Cole told her he had no interest in
    getting married anytime soon and he didn’t want to have to have the same discussion
    with his father.
    In contrast to the brisk spring morning,his father’s den was warm from the potbelly stove roaring to life in the corner. The musky scent of burning pine woodpermeated the room.  Cole sat down in theoverstuffed chair across his father’s desk.
    He let his jacket fall open as he slouchedinto the back cushions.
    “So, we hadn’t seen MaryBeth around here in a while.   Are you going to be seeing anymore of Miss Hutchinson?”
    Cole tilted his head backward, eyes closed, and took a deep breath. “Not if I can help it.”

    A loud guffaw burst out of a nowamused Jameson. “Your mother just wantsyou to be happy, Cole.”
    “Why does everyone think they knowwhat’ll make me happy?  That I need theirhelp? I just want to be left alone.” Colestood to leave. “I’m not going to marrysome girl just because Granddad believedany man over twenty-five and not marriedwas a nuisance to society. No pittance isworth that kind of trouble.”
    The back door opened and a short gustof wind blustered through the room. “Oh,it’s no pittance, little brother.” Rainestepped into the study, shaking off the coldand rubbing his hands together.  He putthem up to his mouth and blew into them.
    Cole looked from Raine back to his
    father.  “Not you too?”

    “Don’t look at me.” Jameson held both hands up in a surrendering gesture.  “I just want to let you know what you’re up against.”
    Cole dropped back down in the chair, his gaze still shifting between his father and eldest brother. “I don’t need it.  Nor
    do I want it,” Cole stated flatly.
    “Maybe not. But you do want a ranch of your own and I’m gonna tell you how to get it.”
    Cole  had  become   obsessed  with ranching and driving cattle.  The harder he worked, the less time he had to think about what had been lost. Cole’s jaw clenched. He should have been the one who died at
    the bottom of that ravine.  Not Alaric.
    “Nothing seems to bring you joy anymore. Not us. Not God. If you keep

    driving yourself the way