Page 20 of A Rancher's Heart
The sweet smell of hay struck her like a memory, and she closed her eyes and leaned against the nearest wall, using her other senses to experience the moment. Animals moved slowly, the sound of creaking boards. Somewhere someone was dragging a rake, the scratching sound far more soothing than nails on a blackboard but just as distinctive.
Yeah, she’d missed this a hell of a lot.
“I didn’t hear anything about the Stones hiring another woman hand, so you must be the nanny.”
Tamara snapped her eyes open to come face-to-face with dark brown eyes set in a very young face. The woman wore her brown hair in two tight braids, her cheeks tanned from the sun. She was short, at least six inches shorter than Tamara who was modestly tall for a woman at five foot eight.
“I am. Tamara Coleman.”
The woman shoved a hand forward and shook Tamara’s with a grip worthy of a man twice her size. “Kelli James.” She looked Tamara up and down once before wrinkling her nose. “Those clothes look brand-new. When Ashton said you’d brought a horse, I was hoping you’d actually know which was the working end of a shovel.”
Tamara let out a snort of amusement. “The clothes are new, but trust me, I know shit when I see it. I can clean it up or dish it out along with the best of them.”
The irritation in Kelli’s expression vanished between one breath and the next. “Good. I couldn’t take another prissy princess in here, prancing around like some high-strung filly. You want me to show you where we stashed your horse? Ashton found a spot where you can access her without getting in the way of the ranch operations.”
“That would be great.” She eyed the other woman, then made a judgment call of her own. Kelli seemed the type to appreciate plain speaking, “You don’t look old enough to work here during the day. You playing hooky?”
Kelli gave her a dirty look. “Twenty-six, thanks so much.”
“Bullshit. Dustin looks older than you.”
“Ha. The kid turned nineteen a few weeks ago and figured that meant he was old enough to ask me for a date.” She glanced at Tamara. “He’ll probably ask you too.”
“Even though I’m so old?” Tamara teased.
“Now who’s slinging the bull?” They stopped beside a stall, and Stormy came forward, sticking his nose over the gate to bump Tamara affectionately as Kelli came around the side. “He’s a pretty creature.”
“Stormy is a sweetheart and exactly what I need when I ride.” Tamara brushed her hands on her jeans. “You’re right. All my gearisnew. I’ve been working a job off the ranch for long enough it’s been important to have a trustworthy ride for the few days I did get to ride. My sister Karen knows horses, and she picked Stormy out for me a number of years ago.”
“She picked well.” Kelli ran a hand over Stormy’s nose, petting him affectionately before sneaking a carrot from her pocket and feeding it to him. She turned back to Tamara. “I’ll show you where we put your saddle and the rest of your gear, then if you want, I can take you on a little tour.”
“I don’t want to keep you from your work,” Tamara protested, wondering how quickly she could get in more trouble with Caleb, stealing away his workers.
Kelli waved off her protest. “I’m not working right now, I just like to hang around the place. Acting tour guide gives me an excuse.”
Within a few minutes it was clear Kelli wasn’t exaggerating—she loved Silver Stone, and she knew all its history, and everyone who’d worked there, and all the animals.
“That one is Cherry Blossom. Ashton figures the last owners were either fat and lazy, or mean and lazy because the horse gets damn skittish when you try to put more than a blanket on her back.” Kelli folded her arms and rested them on the cross post outside the arena where an older man with silver in his hair was walking a horse in circles. “She’s going to be a great ride. I look forward to getting up on her.” She glanced at Tamara before gesturing to herself with a hand. “Me with all my massiveness works well as a starter package for the jittery horses.”
“You’re not scared?” Tamara knew the answer, but she was interested to see how Kelli would respond because the other woman was turning out to be an absolute crackup.
Sure enough, Kelli made a rude noise before shining a wide grin Tamara’s direction. “Hell, it’s fun to get up on big things that buck.”
She winked, and Tamara outright laughed. “We’re going to get along well, you and I.”
Kelli punched her good-naturedly in the arm then gestured toward the gate. “Want to meet Ashton?”
Tamara glanced at her watch. “I’d better save it for the next time. I got a few things to do before the bus arrives, and I should do a little more unpacking.”
“Tomorrow, then,” Kelli said. “If you think you can get away for a couple of hours, I’ll make sure I’m free to take you on a longer tour. We can ride—I’ll take you to Heart Falls.”
No use in mentioning she’d already seen them, up close and personal like. “I’d like that.”
Kelli walked with her toward the parking lot. “You moving into the cottage, or Ginny’s room?”
Oh. That explained why Caleb wasn’t in the master bedroom. “Not the cottage—I need to be in the house to help with the girls. I’m right next to them.”
She stopped and waited because Kelli was no longer at her side but frozen in position a few steps back, her jaw hanging open. “Ginny’s room is in the basement. Seriously? You’re in themaster?”
