The Reluctant Texas Rancher (Harlequin American Romance) by Cathy Gillen Thacker Read Free Book Online Page B

cowboy hat pulled low over his brow. She was his lawyer; he was a ranch employee. Their agreement specified nothing about social activities between them. And for good reason. Their lives were already complicated enough.
    Liz grabbed the reins and wheeled her horse around. “As long as I’m here, let’s get to it.”
    The next hour was spent cutting the mama cows and their calves from the herd. While Jet and Mud ran back and forth, barking and chasing the cattle toward the gates, Travis and Liz sorted those with calves into pasture 62, the still-gestating cows into pasture 54.
    Once finished, they met up again, the dogs trotting happily alongside.
    Travis settled his hat more squarely on his head. “I know the ranch isn’t your deal, that you’re not actually running the show, but…got time to look at a few things?”
    Hating the ominous undertone in his voice, Liz nodded. Duty called once again. “Sure.”
    Travis took the lead. On the southernmost part of the ranch, a dozen pastures were in bad shape. Grass was sparse, weeds prevalent.
    “My guess is these were grazed too short in dry conditions last summer,” he said, “limiting the carbohydrate reserves that fuel spring growth.”
    Guiltily, Liz recalled Tillie harping on the way the cattle had been moved—or not—the previous summer. Her mother had insisted that Liz be around to saddle up and help out more, but she hadn’t been able to, due to the demands of her law practice.
    Reba had eventually given up nagging and done what she could, with occasional hired help.
    “At this point in the spring, the grass should be green and thick,” Liz mused.
    Travis nodded. “Ideally, now that it’s not necessary to give the herd supplemental feed and nutrients, as we do in winter, we should put them in fields where the growth is six inches tall. Let them graze it down three inches or so, and move them again. Quick rotation of the herd in spring will help a pasture recover, while preventing grasses from flowering and losing forage quality.”
    Liz clasped the horn on her saddle while her horse danced restlessly. “Great-grandma Tillie is always saying that spring grazing is all about management.”
    “She’s right.” Travis turned his horse in the direction of the ranch house. With a nod of his head, he indicated Liz should follow. “Fortunately, it can be fixed with fertilizer, rain and regular mowing.”
    All of which Travis could do.
    He cantered on ahead, letting his horse—and the dogs—stretch their legs to their hearts’ content.
    “I was serious about getting you to sign a temporary work agreement,” Liz said, after they’d taken care of their mounts and put their tack away.
    Travis stood in the shadow of the barn, a resting dog on either side of him. “I’ve been working on something I want to show you, too,” he said.
    Liz glanced at her watch. It was nearly five. Where had the time gone? And why did she suddenly feel so happy and content?
    She waited for Travis to elaborate, but he didn’t.
    Given how seriously he was taking his position as ranch hand, it was probably something about the Four Winds. Questions about why they had such a small herd these days, or some such thing.
    “We probably don’t have a lot of time before the others get back,” Liz warned. Just this once, she’d like to get whatever news there was about the running of the ranch first. “What do you say we both shower and meet up at the ranch house around six? We can talk while we eat.”
    Travis nodded, his face suddenly inscrutable.
    A tingle slid down her spine at his sudden shift in mood.
    “See you in a little while,” he said.
    Liz watched his retreating back, wondering what he was up to.

Chapter Five
    “Do you want the good news first?” Liz asked the moment Travis walked in the back door to the kitchen, file folder in hand.
    Damn but she was pretty fresh out of the shower, in a pair of dark, boot-cut jeans and a ruffled, ivory, button-up shirt. She smelled