A Cattle Drive of Love (Preview)

Chapter One

Malone Ranch, Santa Fe

New Mexico Territory, 1873

“Savvy!”

Savannah Malone sat astride her horse, Solace, as he galloped across the plains surrounding the Malone’s ranch house. Calmness radiated through her as she rode, her hair whipping in the wind behind her like a flame. 

“Savvy! Stop!” 

She looked over her shoulder to see her childhood friend, Harley Grout, waving his arms over his head as he tried to catch her attention. Annoyance seeped through her serenity. She narrowed her eyes at him as he pointed in the distance. 

Her breath caught in her throat when she spotted a cloud of dust on the horizon.

The town’s doctor, Mr. Norris, was on his way. Frustration ripped through Savvy as she pulled on her horse’s reins. Solace ignored her at first, so she tugged a little harder. The horse snorted and whinnied in protest but slowed down accordingly. 

“We need to get back to the house, boy,” Savvy insisted, indicating for him to turn around. 

Solace nickered and pawed at the ground, shaking his mane as she tried to get him to turn. Irritation gripped her heart. She hated having to cut her afternoon ride short. The wide-open plains beckoned     , calling for her to explore them. 

The Malone’s ranch was the only set of buildings around for miles. It was set against the Sangre de Cristo mountains and surrounded on every side by rolling hills. The plains were dotted with sagebrush, juniper trees, and cactus. 

In the distance, the cattle herd engulfed the hill like a swarm of gnats, eating everything in their path. She had her eye on the ranch hands who were herding the cattle. They were slowly moving the cattle toward the outer fields where they would start their annual cattle drive to Dodge City. It was set to start in two days’ time, and there was a lot of preparation that still needed to be done. 

The mere sight of them caused envy to spread through her, infecting everything it touched until all she could think about was being out there herself. 

“Savvy!” Harley called again, still waving. 

“I’m coming!” she cried, digging her heels into Solace’s side. She gave the herd one last look before reluctantly heading back to the house. It took a mere few minutes to get back, but by the time she arrived, so had the doctor. The sound of men talking reached her ears, fueling her urgency. 

“What were you thinking?” Harley asked, shaking his head as Savvy dismounted. 

He followed her into the barn as she began taking Solace’s tack off. 

She ignored him, ran her fingers through her hair—at least, she attempted to do so. The wind had left her hair knotted and gnarled. She growled in frustration, grabbed one of the horse brushes and began running it through her hair. 

“You ain’t no woman, that’s for sure,” Harley commented with a snort. 

“Shut it,” Savvy warned, wagging a finger at him. 

“That’s a fine way to speak to someone who just saved your bacon,” Harley pointed out, raising his eyebrows. 

Savvy rolled her eyes at him as she stood in front of a window. Her auburn hair resembled a rat’s nest, and after a few rough tugs with the brush, she’d only managed to turn it into unmanageable frizz. Her face was smudged with dirt and darkened from spending far too much time in the sun without a hat. 

“Savvy!” Her father, Carson Malone, called. 

Savvy paused, swallowed hard and looked toward the house. 

“What are you going to do?” Harley asked, gesturing at her trousers and shirt. “He’s going to kill you if you show up looking like that.” 

“I know!” Savvy hissed, ducking behind a nearby pile of hay where she’d stashed her more appropriate clothing. 

She quickly tugged her trousers off as Harley’s footsteps thudded on the ground and pulled on her calico skirt. 

“Harley, where’s that girl gone off to?” Carson asked. 

It seemed that they were standing right outside the barn, allowing Savvy to hear every word of their conversation. She smiled to herself as she smoothed down her skirt. 

“I haven’t seen her, sir,” Harley said, his tone rose as he spoke, giving the truth away. 

“Who pays you?” Carson asked in irritation. 

“You do, sir.” 

“And yet you’d still lie to me?” Carson asked. 

“Why, I’d never lie to you,” Harley assured him, his tone rising again. 

“Get out of my way,” Carson grumbled. 

Savvy jumped out from behind the hay, grabbed a pitchfork and began shoveling hay. When her father hobbled into the barn, she’d already made a decent dent in some of the soiled hay in Solace’s pen. 

“What happened to your hair?” Carson asked, raising his eyebrows at her. 

“It’s hot in here,” she pointed out, fanning herself to punctuate her point. 

Carson crossed his arms over his chest. He was a few inches taller than her and had thick, brown hair. She’d inherited her hair from her mother, green eyes from her father. He had a strong build from years of hard labor, but the slight bulge around his belly suggested that his age was starting to catch up to him. 

“Do you expect me to believe you’ve been here the entire afternoon?” Carson asked. 

“I expect it because it’s true,” Savvy said, leaning against the wall. 

Carson sucked his teeth as he walked up to her. Savvy stood straighter and looked him right in the eye. 

However, he passed her and went over to Solace. He ran a hand along Solace’s back then held up his palm. 

“Then how come your horse is sweating more than a sinner in church?” Carson asked, tilting his head at her. 

Savvy muttered an oath and turned her head. Harley stood in the doorway and shook his head at her, mouthing the words, “I told you so.” 

She glowered at him and motioned for him to leave. 

“We had a deal,” Carson said, pointing at her. “All you had to do was act like a proper woman for one afternoon while Doctor Norris is here, then I’d consider letting you join the cattle drive.” 

“I tried to stay here, but poor Solace was out of his mind with boredom,” Savvy said, gesturing at her horse. “How could I ignore my horse in his moment of desperate need?” 

Solace snorted in response and nudged Carson with his nose. The horse had been a gift to her from Carson a few years prior, after he noticed a connection between the two of them. He was a gorgeous American Quarter Horse with a chestnut coat, white blaze, and three white socks. Solace was the love of Savvy’s life. 

“Yeah, yeah,” Carson said, waving his hand dismissively. “Get on in the house and get yourself presentable. I’ll deal with you later.” 

Savvy groaned but obediently turned away and walked out of the barn. Harley waved at her as he mounted his own horse and went to join the other ranch hands. She paused for a moment and watched him go. 

How come he got to do whatever he wanted just because he was male? 

She sighed and resigned herself to a boring afternoon as she went into the house. 

The ranch house was a simple structure built from Adobe bricks, with thick walls and a flat roof. The inside of the place was sparsely furnished, since neither Carson nor Savvy cared much for clutter. 

Despite her frustration, she breathed a sigh of relief as she walked inside. The rooms were cool and provided a respite from the harsh sun outside. 

In her bedroom, she quickly stripped her sweaty clothes off and pulled on her best shirt and skirt. Since she couldn’t abide by dresses, she and her father had come up with a compromise where she wore skirts instead. 

She picked a light blue cotton shirt, and a dark skirt with flowers embroidered along the hem. There was no hope for her hair, so she dipped her brush in water and brushed it back before braiding it tightly. 

Savvy scrubbed her face before stepping in front of the mirror and giving herself a quick once-over. “That’s as good as it’s going to get,” she decided, tugging at the sleeves of her shirt. 

Before she left the room, she grabbed her leather pouch which contained knives and tools. She was uncomfortable without it, as its absence announced to the world that she was unprepared for whatever challenge might come her way. 

As she stepped out into the hall, the sound of Carson’s voice met her ears. 

“She’s a good girl, if a little wild,” Carson said. “And heaven knows, she got all her mother’s beauty.” 

Savvy winced and hesitated before entering the living room. 

“Ah, there she is,” Carson beamed, waving her inside, “the light of my life.” 

Dr. Norris smiled to himself as he examined Carson’s back. The doctor was young, just a year older than Savvy, with curly blonde hair and an impressive moustache. 

“How do you do, Ms. Malone?” Dr. Norris said politely. 

Savvy inclined her head to him and sat nearby, reaching out to take her father’s hand before asking, “How’s it looking, doc?” 

Dr. Norris smiled and raised his eyebrows at her as Carson shot her an irritated look. 

“He’s doing better,” Dr. Norris admitted. “But I don’t think he’ll be ready for the cattle drive.” 

“What?” Carson sputtered, turning to look at Dr. Norris. 

A few weeks prior, Carson had been training a new horse for the cattle drive when a rattlesnake had slithered across their path. The horse had spooked, and Carson had been thrown off. 

Savvy would never forget the image of the ranch hands carrying her bloodied father into the house. It seemed that Carson had also been rattled by the experience, because ever since that day he’d been bringing up the subject of Savvy’s marriage at every opportunity. 

She suspected it was what contributed toward his clumsy attempts at getting Dr. Norris to notice her. 

“I can’t stay behind like some woman!” Carson protested. 

Savvy cleared her throat and shot him a poisonous glance, which he ignored. 

“I’m sorry,” Dr. Norris said, holding up his hands. “I wish I could give you better news, but if you go out, you’ll risk undoing all your progress. You can go again next year.” 

“Next year will be too late, seeing as they’re leaving in two days!” Carson pointed out. 

“Tough,” Dr. Norris said with a shrug. “You ain’t going.” 

“But those are my cows!” Carson said. 

“I can go in your stead, father,” Savvy suggested innocently. “I’ll protect your interests and make sure everything goes smoothly.” 

“Not now, Savvy,” Carson replied irritably. 

Dr. Norris’ mouth twitched in amusement as he looked between them. 

“Why not?” Savvy asked, squeezing his hand. “Now is as good a time as any. Besides, Dr. Norris ain’t going to change his mind. You need someone you can trust out there. You know I can wrangle a steer as good as any ranch hand, and I can ride better than most of them too.” 

“Savvy…” Carson said, glancing at Dr. Norris. 

“What do you think, doc?” Savvy asked, looking over at him. “Look at me, I’m strong.” 

She gestured down at herself, causing the doctor’s cheeks to turn pink. 

“I’m sure you’re capable,” Dr. Norris said, “however, from what I know, cattle drives are no place for women.” 

“He’s right,” Carson crowed. 

“What would he know, he’s a doctor?” Savvy muttered, glaring at the doctor who raised his hands in surrender. 

“You’d be riding hard for six to eight weeks,” Carson said gently.  “And you’d be surrounded by men all the time.” 

“Men that you trust,” Savvy pointed out. 

Hope and desperation pushed her further than she usually dared. Some things were worth fighting for, and she wasn’t about to give up on her dream. In previous years, she’d backed off when it was clear she wasn’t going to be allowed to go. It was apparent that she wasn’t ready, her father had said. 

However, she’d spent the past few months refining all her skills. She was finally in a place where she could confidently volunteer for such a mission. 

Her father’s brush with death showed her that time was short; much too precious to waste on fear and indecision. She wasn’t getting any younger, and if she didn’t prove herself to her father before his death, she’d never gain control of their ranch when he was gone. No one would respect her claim to the family’s lands.  

“I don’t trust any man around my daughter,” Carson said sullenly. “Besides, I had to hire a gunman      just in case the Indians attack or we run into outlaws. I’d rather have you safe and sound if that happened.” 

“We could be attacked at any moment,” Savvy cried, getting to her feet. “You taught me to shoot. I can hold my own out there!” 

“Perhaps I should go…” Dr. Norris said, backing away slowly. 

“No, stay,” Carson said, waving Savvy off. “We’d like to invite you to dinner so you can get to know Savvy better.” 

Dr. Norris looked at Savvy then shook his head. “Excuse me, Mr. Malone, but I really have other patients to see.” 

With that, Dr. Norris hurried outside and closed the door behind him. 

“Look what you did, you obstinate child!” Carson said, running a hand through his hair. 

“He was never going to marry me,” Savvy said, rolling her eyes. 

“You should be taking this more seriously!” Carson insisted. “I won’t be around forever, girl. You need someone to take care of you. You’re twenty-four years old, if you don’t act quickly, you’ll be branded a spinster!” 

“If that were true then why did you raise me as you did?” Savvy shot back, putting her hands on her hips. “You know better than anyone that I can take care of myself because that’s what you taught me to do.” 

Carson’s expression softened as he leaned back in his chair. Savvy paced the length of the room, running her hand through her hair before walking over to him. She dropped to her knees in front of him and took his hand. 

“Father, please… I’ve never wanted anything more in my whole life,” she said, her voice ragged with emotion. “Let me prove my mettle. I’ve spent years preparing for this. It’s like crafting a hunting knife just to use it to spread butter. Please, I cannot be anything other than I am.” 

Carson chewed on his bottom lip as he gazed down at her. “Darling… You’re all I have left. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you.” 

“Trust me,” Savvy urged. “Please…” 

He stared at her for a long while. Just as her knees began to protest and hope started slipping away, he let out a heavy sigh and gave her the tiniest of nods. 

Joy burst in her heart, and she threw herself at her father, clamping her arms around his neck. 

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” 

“Just wait a minute,” he sputtered, “we’re going to set up some rules… and you have to listen to Chauncey… and…” 

Savvy barely heard him as she jumped to her feet and ran to the door. She had to tell someone—everyone—about this. It was a miracle! 

She charged out the door, barely looking where she was going. Her lack of awareness caused her to stumble right into what felt like a solid wall. 

Her lips parted as she looked up into the face of the most handsome man she’d ever seen. She nearly lost her footing in her distraction, and his hands shot out to steady her. 

Time seemed to stop as they stared into each other’s eyes. Her heart      froze and her thoughts scrambled to arrange themselves into coherent order. 

“Careful, miss,” the man said, steadying her. 

“Ah, I see you’ve already met the hired gun,” Carson said, groaning as he got to his feet. 

Savvy nodded and squared her shoulders. She couldn’t make a fool out of herself now! 

“I’m glad you could make it today, Caleb,” Carson said, shaking the man’s hand. “This here is my daughter, Savvy. Darling, this is Caleb Harding. 

She studied Caleb from the corner of her eye. He certainly fit the profile of a gunman. Caleb was at least six feet tall and had the bulk of a man who was accustomed to hard labor. His jet-black hair curled around the nape of his neck, and he’d tucked the front pieces behind his ears. He had warm brown eyes that reminded her of coffee on a winter’s morning. 

Her skin prickled in his presence, and she was far more aware of herself than she’d been around Dr. Norris. Savvy pinched herself, determined not to be distracted by this newcomer. 

“Of course, sir,” Caleb said, inclining his head to Carson. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Malone.” 

Savvy nodded at him. 

“We have to discuss a few things,” Carson said, waving the man into the house. “I’ve decided to let my daughter accompany the group, Mr. Harding. I’d appreciate it if you took good care of her.” 

“I don’t need you to pay special attention to me,” Savvy said, shooting her father an annoyed look. 

“Sir…” Caleb sputtered, shooting Savvy a shocked look. “With all due respect, are you certain that you’re making the right choice? A cattle drive is no place for a woman!” 

Savvy glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest. “How would you know where my place is?” 

“I’ve been on plenty of cattle drives,” Caleb said, narrowing his eyes at her. “And if there’s one thing I know is that a spoiled—I mean, a sheltered young woman such as yourself won’t be comfortable.” 

She snorted and rolled her eyes at him. “It will be my pleasure to prove you wrong, Mr. Harding.” 

“Savvy, go check on how the preparations are coming along,” Carson said, waving her away. “I’ll be sure to tell Caleb all about your capabilities.” 

She bit down on her tongue and inclined her head toward them before walking out the door. As much as she would’ve loved to argue with her father, she had to pick her battles. After all, it didn’t matter what Caleb thought of her. She’d won the war. 

Nothing was going to stop her from proving herself on the cattle drive.

 

Chapter Two

“Sir, I understand that you know your daughter best, but is it wise to allow her to join the cattle drive?” Caleb did his best to keep his voice level when all he wanted was to question the man’s sanity. 

Carson grunted as he shuffled toward his seat and sat with a groan. “Trust me, I’ve been asking that same question for years now. You see, the truth is that I can’t very well hold her back anymore. The girl is… headstrong.” 

Caleb swallowed a retort. Headstrong?      That word was always a synonym for spoiled. 

He knew her type. In his thirty years—thirteen of which he spent as a lawman—he’d come across all kinds of different women. They were raised to expect only sunshine and rainbows. When they didn’t get their way, they threw a tantrum until everyone finally gave in. 

Well, I didn’t sign onto this job to babysit some old rancher’s privileged daughter. 

The mere fact that Savannah was insisting on joining a cattle drive and was being indulged got his hackles up. Although she was less polished than other ladies he encountered, it was clear she was used to getting her own way. 

“You know how dangerous these cattle drives can be,” Caleb pointed out. “How am I supposed to keep her from getting caught in a stampede? Or washed away in a river? What if the Indians attack? We’re heading straight into Comanche territory.” 

Carson sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Look, I hired you because I was told you’re the best. Did I get that wrong?” 

Caleb shifted his weight as he looked away. 

“Your record is impressive,” Carson pointed out. “You were a Texas Ranger and a bounty hunter before offering your services to ranchers. Old Thomas Earnshaw told me all about how you saved his herd from a pack of wolves last year. I’ll be honest, the only reason I let Savvy join this year is ‘cause I know you’ll be there to keep an eye on her.” 

Thomas Earnshaw had been Caleb’s last client, and had paid a handsome sum after Caleb successfully got all his cows from Santa Fe to Texas. It had been a difficult job as they only had three men assisting, and left three weeks later than all the other ranchers due to an illness that afflicted the Earnshaw family. Caleb had been their last hope to get the cows to their destination, and he was proud of the job he’d done. 

“I’m not suited to caring for ladies,” Caleb protested. “I’m a point and shoot kind of guy. Cattle drives are my thing because every man knows how to take care of himself. I can’t be doing my job while taking care of a woman all day.” 

Carson snorted and shook his head. “You’re misunderstanding me. Savvy’s more than capable of taking care of herself. I’m more worried that she’s going to go too far in trying to prove herself. Try and keep her from taking unnecessary risks.” 

Caleb scratched the back of his neck as frustration coursed through him. 

“Sir, I don’t think—”

“Good heavens, man!” Carson burst out irritably. “I ain’t paying you to think, I’m paying you to get my cows and girl to Dodge City in one piece. Can you do it or not?” 

Caleb clenched his fists at his sides. If the stubborn old man was willing to send his daughter to her doom, then who was he to argue? He had far more important things to worry about. Caleb had taken this job on for reasons that went beyond money and duty. 

“Fine,” Caleb said, inclining his head toward Carson. 

“Good,” Carson replied, leaning back in his chair. “Go find Chauncey Grout. He’s going to be the trail boss on the cattle drive. He’ll tell you everything you need to know. Last time I saw him he was out back in the yard checking the horses.”  

With that, Carson pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned back in his chair. It was a clear dismissal, and Caleb swallowed his irritation as he went outside. 

A flash of red hair caught his gaze, and he watched Savvy ride      toward the herd in the distance, her horse kicking up dust as it went. He glowered at her even though she couldn’t see him, cursing her for adding to his responsibilities. 

Caleb turned away from the woman and made his way to the yard, following the sound of voices. When he rounded the corner, he found two men inspecting the horses. The older man had greying hair and a thick beard. The corners of his lips turned upward as he spoke to the younger man. They shared many similar features including strong jaws and thin noses. He surmised that they were father and son. 

“Hello there,” Caleb said, waving at them. “I’m Caleb Harding.” 

“Ah,” The older man said with a nod, “you’re the hired gun Carson was talking about. Glad to meet you, Caleb. I’m Chauncey.” 

Caleb made his way up to them and shook their hands. The younger man stared at Caleb with wide eyes and held onto his hand for a little longer than was necessary. 

“Woah,” the younger man breathed, “you’re a hired gun. That’s amazing! Have you ever shot someone before?” 

“Harley,” Chauncey chastised, shaking his head. “Sorry about that, Mr. Harding. You’re probably here to find out more about the cattle drive.” 

Harley’s cheeks reddened as he took a step back. “Sorry.” 

“I hear y’all like to do things differently around here,” Caleb said wryly. “It will be the first time I’ll be on a cattle drive with a woman.” 

Chauncey’s eyebrows rose. “I see Savvy’s finally worn her father down.” 

“She must be tickled pink,” Harley said with a wide grin. 

“Can’t y’all talk him out of it?” Caleb asked, looking back and forth between them. “Truth be told, there’s word that the outlaw Grady Pike’s been haunting this trail. It won’t be any good if he catches us with a woman in our ranks.” 

Merely saying Grady’s name caused a shiver of disgust to run down Caleb’s back. He’d been waiting years to get a shot at Grady, and he wasn’t going to let anything get in his way. Especially not a pampered rancher’s daughter who didn’t know the meaning of the word ‘no’. 

“We heard that,” Harley said, nodding emphatically. “Have you crossed paths with him before? Who’s the worst outlaw you caught? I heard you were a Texas Ranger? Are you from Texas? Do you have to be from Texas to become a Texas Ranger?” 

Caleb frowned at Harley. 

“Harley,” Chauncey warned. “Look, we could talk until we’re blue in the face, but it won’t change anything. It’s between Savvy and Carson. They’re like peas in a pod. Once they make up their minds, ain’t nothing short of an act of God that will get them to change it     .” 

Caleb pressed his lips into a thin line. It was just as he suspected: an overindulgent father who didn’t know how to deny his spoiled daughter whatever passing whim entered her head. 

“You’ll like Savvy,” Harley assured him. “She’s a sharpshooter and can wrangle a steer with the best of them.” 

“Is she used to riding twelve hours a day for weeks on end?” Caleb retorted. “Has she run for her life when her bones feel like they’re about to melt, and her horse is too exhausted to move? She ever had an arrow pointed at her head while she begs for her life in front of a group of Comanche warriors?” 

Harley and Chauncey exchanged uneasy glances. 

“Do you know that Grady Pike doesn’t kill women?” Caleb asked, crossing his arms over his chest. “Oh, he’ll kill the men, but he’s found that women make a tidy profit when sold to certain kinds of people. How do you think Carson’s going to feel when his precious little girl is nowhere to be found because she fell into the wrong hands?” 

Chauncey stepped forward and put a hand on Caleb’s shoulder. “You’d better do your best to keep that from happening. Isn’t that the whole reason you were hired?” 

Caleb inhaled sharply as he averted his gaze. If he had known what the job entailed, he would have thought twice before accepting it. 

However, there weren’t many ranchers sending their herds out onto the trail that led from Santa Fe to Dodge City. And there were even less who’d be willing to hire a gunman at the last second. If he wanted another shot at Grady Pike, then he had to stay put. 

“She’s a real gem once you get to know her,” Harley said with a shrug. “Savvy can hold her own; so you won’t have to watch her every moment of every day. Who knows, she might surprise you.” 

“What? Are you sweet on her or something?” Caleb snorted. 

Harley shook his head firmly. “No, sir, that would be like being sweet on my own sister. Worse… Savvy’s not… well, let’s just say she’s like the brother I never had.” 

“Ain’t that the truth,” Chauncey chuckled. “Besides, Harley’s only got eyes for pretty Miss Lily Roman.” 

“Father!” Harley protested, his face reddening. 

“You’ll have plenty of time to declare your feelings on the drive,” Chauncey said, patting Harley on the back as he went back to inspecting the horses. 

“On the drive?” Caleb echoed. 

“Lily’s the cook’s daughter,” Harley explained. “She’ll be accompanying us on the chuck wagon as far as Union City.” 

Caleb stifled a groan as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Another woman? What don’t y’all get about it not being safe enough for women?” 

“You try telling them that,” Chauncey snorted, running his hand along one of the horses’ back. “Tyler won’t hear of going without her. He’s been real protective ever since his wife died a few years ago, and won’t hear of leaving her behind on the ranch.” 

“He’ll come to regret that choice,” Caleb said darkly, shaking his head slowly. “Look, how many men are joining on this drive?” 

“Ten,” Chauncey said, “twelve if you include the girls, which I’m assuming you won’t. And with you, we’re thirteen.” 

“You got that right,” Caleb muttered. “Are they all your men?” 

“No, we’re joining herds with Emmett Blackwell, he’s got the neighboring ranch,” Chauncey said, gesturing into the distance. “He thought it would be safer if we all traveled together. Something tells me he doesn’t want to take his chances against Grady Pike.” 

“Smart man,” Caleb said with a nod. “How many cattle will we be herding between the two ranches?” 

Chauncey stood up taller and squared his shoulders. “Around four thousand.” 

Caleb swallowed hard. Usually, it would take around twelve to fifteen men to manage that many cows. They only had ten capable men. He certainly didn’t count the women. And he’d be preoccupied with trying to keep everyone safe, so they only had around nine dedicated men. 

“You couldn’t get any more?” Caleb asked, raising his eyebrows. 

“We did fine last year with just as many,” Chauncey said with a shrug. “There were outlaws on the loose back then too. We’ll be fine. And this year, we have you on our side.” 

“Yeah,” Harley said with a grin. “We got a former Texas Ranger on our side. Ain’t nobody going to look for trouble with us when you’re around!” 

Caleb bit down on his tongue. It wasn’t going to be an easy trip by any stretch of the imagination. Not only were they understaffed, but they were joining forces with another ranch which would certainly lead to its own set of problems. 

To make matters worse, nobody seemed to understand just how dangerous Grady Pike was. Between all of that, Caleb would have to deal with a bratty girl and her friend tagging along for the ride. 

“Are you still up for the challenge?” Chauncey asked, raising his eyebrows. 

Caleb took a deep breath and nodded. There wasn’t much he wasn’t willing to endure to get a shot and getting his revenge on Grady Pike. Even if it meant listening to two girls gossiping for a few weeks as he did his best to keep them from getting themselves killed.