* * * * *

  Later that day, Elise smiled to herself while she opened another file on the computer. With Mace out of town for a couple of days, she had complete access to his computer and had already made good progress on the website. Glancing at her watch, she realized it was almost lunchtime. She rolled her shoulders and decided to work a little longer to get to a good stopping point. If she worked over, she could always go see Nan in the kitchen.

  Before Mace left, he’d told her about Nan, “Not only does she fix the meals, but she helped raise us.” He’d winked at Elise on his way out saying, “Yep, Nan’s as much a fixture around the ranch as the horses.”

  After a half hour, she shut down her computer and started to pull her purse out of the drawer, ready to head out for lunch, when Colt walked into her office with an extra cowboy hat in hand.

  “Where are you going?”

  She looked up at him. “I’m going to lunch.”

  Colt reached over and put the hat on her head. “Not right now, Princess. We have a fence that needs mending. You can eat later.”

  “Now?” She gave him an exasperated look.

  Colt turned on his heel, expecting her to follow. “Now. The cattle can’t wait, Elise.”

  With a growling stomach, Elise gritted her teeth and followed him out of the office.

  He didn’t say a word as they made their way to the stables. When they got there, Colt handed her the reins to her horse.

  “This is Bess. She’ll be a good ride for you while you’re here,” he said in a no- nonsense manner before they saddled their horses and rode out.

  When they reached the area of the fence that needed repairs, Colt got off his horse. As she followed suit, he said, “Fences are checked often, especially after a rain in case the fencepost loosens in the mud.”

  He handed her a pair of working gloves. “Here, put these on.”

  She complied and waited for Colt to give her further instructions. He moved over to the fence and pointed out the broken barbed wire. “See this, we constantly watch for broken wire or we could take a chance on having the cattle roam free.”

  He hunkered down and indicated for Elise to do the same. Colt pulled on another pair of gloves and used a tool he called a carpenter’s wrecking bar—a crowbar—to hook a barb on the shorter broken strand and pull it taut using the post for leverage.

  Nodding to his saddle he said, “Get the staple gun out of my saddle bag and staple this side down.”

  Elise retrieved the staple gun and stapled the wire against the fence post.

  Colt took the extra wire he’d brought and wound it around the broken wire several times until they were completely spliced. His quick, efficient movements showed his familiarity with even the most basic of chores. Once he’d stretched that wire in the same fashion, he had Elise staple it to the opposite post. When he finished, he stood on the wire saying, “It’s done right if the new wire can withstand your weight without slipping.” Once he stepped down, he turned to her and handed her the crowbar-like tool. “Now, it’s your turn to repair the other snapped wire.”

  She arched an eyebrow but didn’t say a word as she took the tool from him. Moving closer to the fence, she started to repair another section, employing the same methods she’d seen him use. After she and Colt had attached the first short wire and she moved on to tackle splicing a longer length to the broken wire, he stood behind her, watching her movements.

  “No, Elise, like this,” he said. He put his arms around her, manipulating her hands with the barbed wire.

  Heat radiated from his body as he pressed against her back. He smelled of outdoors and leather and faintly of soap. She had to remind herself to concentrate on the task at hand while Colt showed her how to work with the barbed wire. The whole experience felt a little awkward with knowledgeable hands working with unknowledgeable ones. As they manipulated the wire, a spiked barb snapped around and caught Elise’s wrist, causing her to bite back a cry of pain.

  Colt dropped the tool and quickly turned her to face him. He pulled his gloves off, and threw them to the ground before he reached for her hand. As he slid her glove off, blood welled from the torn gash on her wrist. “I’m sorry, Elise,” he said, his tone regretful as he pulled a handkerchief out of his back pocket and dabbed at her wrist.

  She tried to pull her hand away. “It’s okay, Colt. It was an accident.”

  Colt held fast to her hand and looked into her eyes, his blue ones full of concern. “When was the last time you had a tetanus shot?”

  Tiny jolts of electricity moved up her arm at his touch. She returned his gaze. “Last year, so there’s no need to worry.”

  He searched her gaze and then ordered in a gruff tone, “Keep that on your wrist until it stops bleeding.” He picked up his gloves. “I’ll finish up.”

  “Uh-uh. I started it, I’ll finish it.” Elise quickly wrapped the handkerchief around her wrist and used her teeth to secure it in a knot.

  With swift movements, she pulled on her gloves and held her hand out for the tool, smiling up at him. Colt’s blue gaze held grudging respect as he put the wrecking bar in her hand.

  It was after 2:00 p.m. before Elise entered the kitchen at the ranch house. An older woman looked up from shucking corn, a questioning look in her chocolate brown eyes.

  “Hi, I’m Elise Hamilton.” She stuck out her hand.

  The woman wiped her hands off on her apron and shook her hand. As she grinned her dark skin only enhanced the white in her perfect, straight teeth. “I’m Nan. Heard all about you, child.”

  Elise laughed. “Good things, I hope?”

  Nan returned to shucking her corn, a twinkle in her eye. “Yeah, Mace seems to think so.”

  “Mace mentioned you always have leftovers,” Elise said with a hopeful look.

  Nan nodded and pointed to the fridge. “There’s some leftovers in the fridge if you want anything in there.” She squinted at her. “Kind of a late lunch, isn’t it?”

  Elise smiled. “Yes, Colt had me mending fences, so I didn’t get a chance to go anywhere.”

  Nan raised her eyebrow at her comment. “Showing you the ropes, is he?” she chuckled.

  Elise sighed as she pulled luncheon meat and cheese out of the fridge. “Yes, but I suppose as half-owner, I need to learn to carry my weight around here.”

  Nan gave her a surprised look before she returned to shucking the corn.

  * * * * *

  The next two weeks were much of the same, Colt calling her in the wee hours of the morning. He always started the day with her pitching hay for the horses. Various jobs always needed tending to. Checking on the livestock, moving them to other land to graze, administering medicine and vitamins to the animals, etc. After the fourth day, Elise once again found her way into Nan’s kitchen.

  “What can I get you, Elise?” Nan called out in her booming voice.

  “How about some time to get work done in the office?” Elise quipped as she pulled open the fridge and poured herself a glass of lemonade.

  “Colt’s running you ragged, hmmm. Are you hiding out?” Nan teased.

  Elise looked up from her glass and gave a conspiratorial smile. “Shh, don’t tell anyone.”

  Nan winked at her. “Well, truth be told, I’ve had more ranch hands in here in the early morning time than usual myself.”

  “Oh, really?” Elise raised an eyebrow.

  “Sure, since you’re doing their work, they’ve decided to stop in for coffee these past couple of weeks.”

  Elise slowly lowered her glass. “I’m doing their work?” she spoke slowly so as not to scream in frustration.

  Nan looked back down and began peeling potatoes once more. “That’s what I said.”

  Outrage filled her as Elise picked up her glass and walked outside. She wasn’t angry at having to do the work, heck it was the best way to learn. No, she was angry at the underhanded way Colt had approached it. Taking a deep, calming breath, she eyed one of the rocking chairs on the porch.

  Ever since her first day on the Lonestar, when she’d spied the rocking chairs moving in the wind on the front porch of the main ranch house, she’d wanted to sit and relax for a bit. Finally she did what she’d been wanting to do. She pulled over a rocking chair close to the railing, propped her boots up on it and leaned back to sip her glass of lemonade.

  Her anger diminished as she let her gaze scan the ranch. It was such a welcoming sight. The office was painted white and set off to the right of the main house. The stables were their natural brown color and the barn, painted a deep burgundy with a hunter green roof, stood off next to the stables. But the main ranch house was the most inviting. Painted white with hunter green shutters, the main house had a long front porch with several rocking chairs, a hammock on one far corner and a porch swing on the other. She’d really come to like the Lonestar, well, minus her lowdown, underhanded, slave-driver partner, she mused as her thoughts returned to Colt.

  Relaxing low in the chair, she made sure to pull her hat down over her face so it looked like she was sleeping. Just let Colt say “boo” to her! Grrrr! After a half an hour of sitting and brooding, boredom took over. She started to get up and go back to the office when she heard someone walking with purposeful steps across the porch toward her.

  Before she could prepare herself, her feet were swept off the porch railing to land with a loud thump on the wooden floor. She pulled her hat off her head and glared up at Colt.

  “What’re you doing lazin’, Elise?” Colt demanded. “There are plenty of things to do around here. If you don’t have enough to do, I’ll be glad to find you something.”

  She looked up at him, letting the rebellion she felt reflect in her gaze. “I’m taking a much-needed break.”

  Colt gave her a hard look. “A break?”

  She sat back in her chair and put her hat back on her head, staring pointedly at him. “Yes, seeing as how I was doing the work of several of the ranch hands while they leisured over breakfast, I felt I deserved an hour to myself.”

  Silence greeted her. Colt’s jaw started ticcing again. Good. Let him be mad. The rat!

  “You need to know what ranch life is like.” His stubborn expression told her he wasn’t about to apologize for his subterfuge. He picked up her hand and turned it over. The blisters on the palms of her hands had started to heal. He ran his thumb across the small scar that had formed on her wrist from the barbed wire. His brief touch sent shock waves radiating through her arm. Her stomach fluttered when he pressed his thumb against her pulse and met her gaze. “Ranching is a way of life, Elise. It’s not a nine-to-five job.”

  Elise jerked her hand away from his heated touch. She was annoyed with him. She didn’t want to feel anything else at the moment but anger, certainly not desire.

  “I know that. And as mad as I am at you right now, I appreciate the lesson.”

  Realization at his motives dawned. “And that is what it was, right? A way to try to get me to leave?” Colt didn’t bother to answer. His silence spoke volumes.

  Elise looked out over the plains. She knew her eyes held a stubborn glint. “Well, I’m not going anywhere, Colt. What I have learned will come in handy.” She turned and locked eyes with his. “When I’m needed to pitch in, I’ll be right there with the best of them.”

  * * * * *

  Colt walked away from Elise, noting the obstinate tilt of her chin, the determination in her eyes. The woman was serious. She had no intention of going anywhere. Now what was he going to do with her? He knew what he wanted to do with her, but it involved getting up close and personal and that’s the last thing he needed. He rubbed the back of his neck in pent-up frustration at the fireball sitting on his porch.

  Chapter Three

  Elise arrived at work early the next morning. She awoke at the same time she had the prior two weeks and couldn’t go back to sleep. So she got up, showered and headed for the ranch. As she pulled into the parking lot, Colt was leaning against his truck with a horse trailer hooked to the back of it.

  She hopped out of her car, said a merry, “Good morning” to him and walked past him toward the office.

  Colt put a hand on her arm. “Where are you going?” He raised an eyebrow.

  Elise cocked her own eyebrow at the hand on her arm. “I’m going to work on the website.”

  “No, you’re coming with me.”

  She sighed. She didn’t mind learning with the best of them, but not when it seemed to be more about a battle of wills than learning for learning’s sake. “No more lessons, Colt. I’m all tapped out right now.”

  Colt dropped his hand from her arm and as she turned to go, he continued, “Suit yourself. I thought you might like to go to a horse auction with me.”

  Elise stopped dead in her tracks. A horse auction? She turned back to face him. “Now that I wouldn’t mind doing.” She noted his satisfied grin and chose to ignore it as she rounded to the passenger side of his truck.

  Climbing in, she snapped the seatbelt around her. He was in the process of getting in the truck when she said in an impatient tone, “Let’s go, Colt.”

  Colt laughed at her exuberance.

  He started the truck and headed down the long drive. Once he turned out of the drive, he leaned over and picked up his cup of coffee from the coffee holder, taking a sip.

  The smell of the fresh roasted coffee beans permeated her senses. Elise inhaled, enjoying the aroma. “Man, that smells good. I planned to have a cup at the office.”

  A grin rode up his face and he handed her his cup. “Here, knock yourself out.”

  Elise gave him a grateful smile as she took the cup from him, her fingers brushing his. Her heart sped up to a rapid pace as he held fast until she had a firm hold of it. Elise put the cup to her nose and inhaled before she took a long sip. She looked over at Colt. His eyes held an intense look as he glanced over while she drank from his cup. She knew he thought the same thing she did. How could drinking after someone seem so innocent yet so intimate?

  She handed the cup back to him with a small smile on her lips. He took a sip and handed it back to her, giving her a heated look before he fixed his gaze back on the road. Just like the coffee warming her mouth and throat, her insides started to melt at the look he just gave her. Her breasts tingled and her stomach tensed when his gaze had briefly dropped to her lips, then her chest before returning to the road once more. The silence in the vehicle became way too intimate. As Elise lifted the cup to her lips, she asked, “So, how often do you go to the horse auction?”

  He kept his gaze on the road and answered, “Four times a year.”

  “I thought you bred your broncs.”

  “Sometimes we do. Most of the time, it’s easier to buy to fill in the gaps where our stock is weakest.”

  Elise nodded in understanding.

  “What did you do before you came to Texas?” Colt asked her out of the blue.

  Surprise he asked, she answered, “I worked for a start-up dot com company.” She gave a wry smile. “One that’s still doing very well.”

  “Why’d you leave? Why come all the way to Texas?”

  Elise shrugged. “I have no ties to Virginia, other than my parents. When this opportunity came along, I jumped on it.”

  Colt flicked his gaze her way, curiosity reflected in his steel blue gaze. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I wanted a chance to be a part of something. To be involved with something that doesn’t have anything to do with my dad’s money or his influence.” She smiled. “Plus, I get to spend as much time outdoors and with horses as I want.”

  Colt laughed at her thumb-her-nose attitude. “I take it your parents didn’t approve of your love of horses?”

  Elise looked at the road ahead of them. “They were fine with it when I was young.” She didn’t elaborate any further and was thankful Colt didn’t ask because they had arrived at their destination.

  Once he turned the truck into the driveway of the horse auction, she hopped out and followed him over to the makeshift pens that held horses up for auction.

  “Are pleasure horses sold here as well?” she asked. She had to walk at a brisk pace to keep up with his long strides.

  “Yes, they’re sold here,” Colt replied absently.

  When they arrived at the pens, Elise listened as Colt asked to see some of the latest stock and their bucking action. After he picked out a couple of horses, the man saddled one of them. As Colt moved toward the chute and pulled on a glove he had in his back pocket, Elise grabbed his arm, her heart racing. “You aren’t going to ride him, are you?”

  He flashed her a devilish smile. “How else am I going to find out if he’s rank enough to be in my rodeo?”

  Elise sighed and let go of his arm, though apprehension still gripped her. Colt knew what he was doing. This was his way of life, she reminded herself, trying to breathe through the tightness in her chest. She watched him move around to the chute to settle himself on the horse. Once he was seated and had the rope securely gripped, he nodded to the men and the gate opened.

  Elise’s heart stopped in her chest as the horse shot out of the chute and did its best to buck Colt off. Watching him on the back of that horse was like a symphony in motion. His body was so in tune as if he knew just which way the horse planned to buck. It was over in a matter of seconds when Colt loosened the rope and jumped off the bucking horse to land on his feet.

  Elise gave a sigh of relief that he survived, but her heart sped back up when he pointed to the other horse he had picked out, entered the chute once more and climbed on the new horse.

  This time as the gate opened, she noted an immediate difference in the bucking action of this bronc. He snorted, moved in a more haphazard, unpredictable manner, and was basically as mean and ornery as he could be. Colt stayed on, but it was a battle. He didn’t jump off easily this time. He landed on his side and rolled away from the bucking horse’s hooves. When he jumped up grinning, Elise wanted to shake him at how very close he came to getting hurt.

  When Colt moved out of the fence to stand beside her, he said with a grin, “That’s the one I want.”