Page 1 of Roped By the Cowboy
Chapter One
Jacob
Warm sunrises over sloping hills is the best start to the day.
Sitting astride my horse Snickerdoodle, I take some time to drink it in. To admire the beauty of the sprawling hills and valleys that make up Iron Hills. Being out here in nature with the clusters of thick trees, the blowing wild grasses, the darker slopes that make up the mountains of Iron Hills is where I feel most at peace.
Coming to work at the Iron H Ranch was the best decision I ever made. I had grown up on farms, though I had never stayed at one long enough to call it home. After my parents died when I was a kid, I bounced around foster care until I took off West. We had a farm and that is where I belonged, so I went in search of one to call home.
It took some looking and some time. I've been a hand at half a dozen farms. Horse farms, pig farms, cattle farms, even ranches that catered to rich folk looking to play cowboys for a day or two. Now that I have settled at Iron H Ranch, I feel at home at last. Ironic because although it is a working ranch, their hot ticket is now their annual auction.
“Come on girl,” I coo at Snickerdoodle, giving her a pat between her ears. “Let’s head back. Time to get the day going.”
After the short but stunning ride back to the ranch, I get the horse situated and brushed down. I will take her out again later but duties call. I have been here almost a year, but I am still low man on the totem pole. That means I do whatever grunt work Cody tells me to. Starting with feeding all the hungry hands that will be flooding the main house soon.
“Morning Sullivan,” I greet the house cook with a smile as I take my Stetson off.
“There he is. About damn time, fool.” His greeting is as grizzled as ever.
I amnotlate. It is just past five am and the hands wander in about six am. This ranch houses, handles, and trains horses as well as selling stud services from prize winning horses. There is always a horse to train, a fence to mend, or a tour to give to little wannabe cowboys or cowgirls. Still, it is a laid-back ranch with a close-knit group of workers that work as a family.
“Right on time, old timer,” I shoot back as I join him at the big kitchen island to start working on biscuits.
“How’s that horse holding up, son?” He wonders as he mixes gravy and grills sausages. Turning over flapjacks on the countertop stove, I smile.
“Doing good. Loves her morning rides. Not sure when we can use her for tours, she gets a bit anxious still when I saddle her.”
“Poor ol’ girl. If I got my hands on those bastards,” he grumbles as he fills trays with the food for the guys.
Filling another tray with pancakes and the biscuits, I nod in agreement. We got her and a few others off a rundown ranch on the outskirts of town. Cody got word that the ranch had been abandoned, including the livestock. Didn’t have much room to board them but he didn’t hesitate for a moment.
They’ve let me work with the horses since we brought them to Iron H. It’s been pretty rewarding seeing them come back to life. From the start, I bonded with Snickerdoodle the most, so she’s become my filly. Taking care of her is my priority while Cody decides what role best suits me.
“You and me both, old boy,” I agree wholeheartedly. “Wylder said he saw one of the guys at the bar last weekend. Pretty sure he high tailed it out of there once he saw Wylder.”
Chuckling at the idea of Wylder scaring another cowboy out of a bar, I snatch up a piece of sausage. Sullivan curses me, smacking my hand with a spatula. I laugh and grab another, darting away from him. He is too slow to keep up with me. But I am glad he’s letting me cook alongside him, he might be gruff, but he’s welcomed me as part of the team here.
“Knock it off boy,” he chastises me even as he grins big. “Leave some for the hands thatwork,” he taunts, and I pretend to be offended.
“Watch it old man,” I snark, shoving a biscuit in my mouth in one bite. “I pull my weight around here before those boys even get out of bed.”
It’s not untrue. Before I sat watching the sunset, I fed the horses in the main stables, started the irrigation system on the paddocks, and corralled some of the goats that had gotten loose. The ride with Snickerdoodle was out to the North acre so to check on some fences due to be mended.
With all my years bouncing around to different farms, I have picked up a lot of trades. Still, I am not a skilled horse trainer, I have no experience with the stud services we offer, and so I have been kind of the go-to guy for everything in between. Not that I mind—I am paid well, fed even better, and have a roof over my head. That’s more than I’ve had most of my life.
“Morning folks,” Cody calls as he bounds into the kitchen, boots thudding on the hard wood. “Man, this spread looks good. As usual. Thanks for everything you do here, guys.”
Narrowing my gaze at him, I stuff another sausage in my mouth. He is up to something. Sure, he’s been happy as a lark since hooking up with his old lady, but this is different. He, much like half the roughnecks working as hands here, has a grumpier demeaner most days.
“What do I have to do?” I sigh as I fall into a seat.
“What makes you think you have to do something?”
“Because you’re being nice. Nicer, at least. That always means I have to do something. Wash all the trucks. Muck out the stalls. Something the rest of the hands are too good for.” I surprise us both with the bitterness in my voice. I step back, bowing my head because that was over the top.
“No, no none of that. Matter of fact, I am up to something with you.” Cody crosses the kitchen, boots loud on the tile. I stand my ground because while I respect him, I am not a pushover for anyone. Tilting his head, he gives me a once over, noting how my hands ball up. “Calm down, we’ve got nothing to fight over, son. Well now, let me tell you what I have in mind before I say that.”
“What’re you going on about?”
