Melody enjoyed herself at dinner and pushed down her concern about working around horses. It would be a while before they were ready to start having guests and she fully intended to have conquered her fears by then.

Sierra took her on a tour of the house and they talked about improvements to both the farmhouse as well as the construction of the guest cottages.

“So,” Sierra started, “we know we have to hire a great cook for the weddings and guests. Part of my plans include building him or her a nice suite off the kitchen like Ruth has. She says it makes it very convenient and yet gives her privacy. I’m going to see if Ruth will then let go of making sure meals are prepped and delivered over there. We’ve always fed our hands here and extended that to Crooked Creek when we merged.”

Melody giggled. “Is that what you call it? Merged?”

Sierra joined in her laughter. “Only in polite company. I am kind of stupid in love with him in case you didn’t notice.”

“I’d say only a bit less than he is with you.”

“We wasted a bunch of time being young, stupid, and angry. And then I made his life hell when he came back. But Ryder is nothing if not strong and determined. When he knows what he wants, he goes after it and I’ve never known him to fail.”

“I envy you. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a man who looks at his wife the way he looks at you. The man has no poker face.”

“None,” agreed Sierra. “But be careful of Luc—you never know what he’s thinking. And he’s always thinking.”

“You don’t like him?”

“On the contrary. I think he’s great. And if I didn’t have Ryder, I’d be inclined to make a big play for our French-Canadian friend. I think he’s quite dishy. Ryder is like our purebred stock—blue-blooded through and through. But Luc? He’s more like my mustangs—a bit smaller and not as elegant, but beautiful in his own way and capable of getting the job done.”

“I think I could listen to him talk all day.”

“I know, right? That deep baritone and that accent. Yummy!”

Melody giggled again. She was finding she liked her new boss a great deal. She had no intention of letting her down. “I know we talked about having a place to live included in my compensation package. What did you have in mind?”

“I was deliberately vague as I wanted it to work for you. We’d like you to be onsite, but you can stay in the main house for now or we can put you up here or the hotel in town until we have something ready. I think Luc’s taken over the master suite, but we can combine two of the other bedrooms to make an additional one or build one on the ground floor as part of the renovations. We’re going to build those guest cottages as well and we can certainly build a bigger, more elaborate one for you if you like. And if none of those options are acceptable, we can figure out something else.”

“Any of those save staying in town sounds fine. If Luc doesn’t mind having a roomie, I’m inclined to lean toward a master suite on the main floor and then have all the rooms upstairs for guests. But until we get ready to do the renovations, I’m absolutely fine where I am. Ruth put me in the big guest room with the private bath.”

“That sounds great. I’ve got a couple of architects and contractors to choose from so maybe take the next few days to settle in and then we can start meeting with them on Monday?”

“Perfect,” said Melody.

They had finished walking through the house and discussing the look and feel they wanted for Crooked Creek. They found they agreed on just about everything. When they weren’t on the exact same page, they were able to come to consensus quickly and amicably. Melody was especially glad to see that Sierra wasn’t looking for someone to just agree with her. She wanted an independent opinion and was more than willing to defer to Melody’s expertise in all things bridal.

As they re-entered the main sitting room, Luc stood and asked her if she was ready to head back. Melody agreed and everyone said goodnight.

Once again, Luc helped her into the truck before going around to the driver’s side. The overhead light in the cab illuminated the dark stubble on his cheek and she couldn’t help thinking that Sierra was right. While Ryder might technically be more handsome, she found Luc to be far sexier. Part of it was his voice but there was also his physicality that she found very appealing.

“So you’re staying on,’ she heard him say.

“Yes. I told you I wanted the job. I think it all sounds very exciting and the more I’m around Sierra the more I think we’ll make a good team.”

Luc smiled. “Ryder’s a bit worried about that. He thinks her crack about partners in crime is probably more accurate than he’d like.”

“And I’m the perfect cohort.”

“How so?”

She smiled. “I don’t have Ruth and Ryder living in the same house with me and watching over me.”

“Perhaps not, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be someone to watch over you and keep you safe.”

“I don’t need a watchdog.”

“Time will tell, but the physical ranch and people’s safety thereon falls to me. Not only will I ensure that our guests are safe, but our ranch hands and you as well.”

Melody studied the line of his determined jaw and wasn’t quite sure what to make of his statement. Sierra was right... he wasn’t easy to read.

“I’m not about to go do dangerous things, but I’m also answerable to no one but Sierra. You are neither my supervisor nor my keeper.”

“I doubt you need a supervisor. Whether or not you need a keeper has yet to be determined.”

The remainder of the ride back to Crooked Creek was made in silence. It wasn’t strained, but it lacked the companionability that the ride over had had. Luc parked the truck and got out to come around to her side. Before he could do so, she was out and headed up to the house.

It was after she was halfway up the stairs leading to the house that she realized she didn’t have any keys to the front door. She breathed a sigh of relief when she tried the door and it opened. That sense of relief was short-lived when Luc reached past her and closed the door. She whirled to face him.

“I’m not sure quite how I pissed you off, Melody, but I didn’t mean to. I want us to get along and work together to make Sierra and Ryder’s plans a success. So, my apologies.”

She took a deep breath. She doubted Luc had just apologized for form. “Me too. I’m probably a little more on edge than normal. I left a bad relationship and lost my own company when I bailed on Chicago. Friends?”

Luc smiled. “The best.”

* * *

Luc opened the door and ushered her in. Once again he watched her head up the stairs and again noted that she had a decidedly feminine sway to her backside. She had been quick to anger when he suggested she might need a keeper. The thought that someone had treated her badly in a relationship angered him more than he thought was called for on one day’s acquaintance. But, he had to admit to himself, there was definitely something about Melody Jackson that called to a very deep part of his soul.

“Souris,” he said softly. “What aren’t you telling me?”

He decided to give her some time in the house by herself and went down to the barn to finish some paperwork and wait for the shipment of mares to arrive. Eddie was coming out of the barn as Luc arrived.

“Just got the call. The mares are about forty-five minutes away.”

“Bien,” said Luc. “Let’s turn on the floodlights so we have plenty of light. And let’s put some hay out along the fence line so the girls have something to eat.”

“I just filled up the troughs so they’ll have fresh water. Do you think they’ll settle easily?”

“No,” said Luc, shaking his head. “For some of these mares it will be the only time they’ve ever been off the farm on which they were born. I plan to stay in the barn and have the camera turned on them so if any of them starts to colic we can get them help.”

“I can help spell you.”

“I appreciate that. Why don’t you plan to relieve me about four and you can just get a jump on your day. If you can stick around the barn while I get some sleep, I’d feel better.”

“No problem.”

As promised, less than an hour later a huge semi pulled in hauling a massive stock trailer. The mares inside sounded incredibly anxious. There was a lot of foot stomping and nervous whinnying.

Having heard the commotion, Melody came outside. She ran down the stairs, tripping on the last step and colliding with Luc’s solid frame. He turned to steady her.

“Easy.”

“I’m so sorry. I mis-stepped. What’s going on?”

“Our first load of draft and draft cross broodmares. They’ve made a long, stressful trip. I’d like to explain but I need to help get them safely unloaded.”

Luc ran to help Eddie get the semi backed up to the loading chute. Several of the other ranch hands had come out to be of help if needed. The haulers lifted the back gate panel and after a bit of milling around the big mares stampeded into the well-lit corral. It took a moment or two for their eyes to adjust to the bright floodlights and to a place they’d never seen. They snorted and stomped.

Luc kept his eye on a dapple gray mare. She seemed to be the lead mare and was not too happy about things. Several of the mares tested the fence panels that made up the corral and found that they wouldn’t yield easily. The lead mare tossed her head and called out to the night. The mares continued to push and shove but when nothing seemed to be coming after them, they discovered the hay and water and started to settle down.

The dapple gray, whom Luc decided to call Queenie, kept herself between the back of the semi and her mares. Like the other mares, she seemed to be in fairly good shape. All of them had the hollowed-out quality in the flank of horses needing water. The ranch hands had all held back, giving the frightened herd some space. Luc signed for the mares and the truckers headed out thanking him for the business.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Melody hanging back. It struck him as odd that she didn’t come closer to see the new horses. He watched as she retreated back up the stairs.

Luc walked to the corral, speaking words of nonsense and comfort in his native language. The dapple gray mare moved so that she was between him and her mares, tossing her head and pinning her ears to warn him away.

Switching to English, he said, “I know, Queenie, it’s been a rough couple of days. But you and your ladies are safe here with us. You don’t know it, but your life has taken a turn for the better.”

She snorted at him and struck the ground with her foreleg.

“I can tell you don’t believe me, but I’m speaking the truth.”

Luc walked up to the corral, continuing to talk to her in soothing tones. When he was at the fence, he stopped and let her get a good look at him. She paced back and forth, keeping her mares well away from him and threatening him, including an abbreviated charge or two. Luc never gave ground nor did he do anything that she could interpret as threatening or a challenge.

Luc realized that in order for her to get a much needed drink of water, she would need to turn her back on Luc and leave her mares unguarded.

“Eddie, get me one of the big water buckets, will you?”

“Sure thing, boss.”

Luc could hear him run into the barn and come back out, stopping a short distance from him.

“Do you want me to toss it?”

“No,” said Luc. “Just walk up slowly and hand it to me, then get me the hose. Turn it on so I can fill it for her.”

Eddie did as asked. Luc wrangled the bucket over the top rail and then down to the ground. Taking the offered hose, he ran cool, clear water into the big bucket. Once it was filled, he stepped away from the fence to give her some space.

Queenie moved forward as Luc moved back and took a long drink. She seemed to savor the water like some humans would relish the taste of a fine wine. She wasn’t willing to drink to the bottom as that would have meant sticking her whole head in the bucket. She backed away but watched Luc intently.

Luc moved forward and refilled the bucket, once again backing away, but this time not as far. Again, she took a long drink. That seemed to satisfy her, but instead of moving away, she simply stayed where she was.

Luc smiled. He moved forward quietly. She pinned her ears and snorted, but did not strike out or toss her head at him.

“That tasted pretty good, didn’t it?”

The mare cocked one ear forward to listen to him. Luc knew that was a good sign.

“Your girls seem to have discovered the rest of the water and the hay. How about I get Eddie to bring me some hay for you?”

Eddie needed no prodding from his boss but ran to get a couple of flakes of hay. Once again, he walked forward quietly, meeting Luc who had backed off. Luc traded him the hay for the hose.

Luc approached the fence with the hay where the mare could see and smell it. He fit the flakes through the bars of the fence and let them fall to the ground by the water. He backed away just a few steps.

The mare pinned her ears again, but came forward toward the food. When Luc did nothing but stand, she pricked one ear forward and relaxed the other into a more neutral position.

“There’s a good girl,” he said soothingly. He walked forward slowly and quietly. Queenie watched his approach but seemed reluctant to leave the hay and water. He got into position next to the fence where she could easily keep an eye on him as she ate.

He turned his back to lean on the fence and said to the men who were still gathered. “I think they’ll be fine. I’m going to stay with them and Eddie volunteered to relieve me at four. The rest of you get on back to the bunkhouse and call it a night.”

The men mumbled their good nights and headed back to their sleeping quarters.

Luc looked up toward the house and saw Melody standing on the porch. She raised her hand in greeting. He was just about to do the same when he felt a gentle nudge in the middle of his back.

“Would you look at that,” whispered Eddie from the entrance to the barn.

Luc reached behind him without turning around and offered his cupped hand palm up. He could hear and feel Queenie sniffing it before she placed her muzzle in his hand. Ever so slowly, Luc turned around and brought his other hand up to stroke her cheek. With that simple gesture, Queenie’s body relaxed and she let out a long sigh.

“I know, sweetheart. I’m telling you, it’s all going to be just fine. Let’s see if I have any apple slices. Deadshot may have cleaned me out.”

Luc searched his pocket and found three that the big bull hadn’t managed to get from him earlier in the day. He placed the apple slice in his flattened palm. Again, she sniffed and then took the apple. He had to keep himself from laughing. It was obvious that Queenie had never had an apple and that now having tasted it, she quite liked it. Her ears pricked forward and she nudged his hand. Luc laughed and got her another slice. He fed her the remaining piece and then raised his hand to stroke down the front of her face. When she didn’t object, he stroked her several times before she decided to resume eating the hay.

“You rest easy, big girl. I’ll check on you later.”

Luc backed away and then headed into the barn.

Eddie shook his head. “I know everybody’s been calling you the bull whisperer, but I’ve never seen anything like that. That mare wanted you dead when you first went up to the fence.”

“No,” Luc said. “She wanted to protect her mares. Once she determined I wasn’t a threat and I gave her a reason to like me—food and water—she was fine. Now that she’s relaxed, I’m not as worried as I was about the others. When they see she’s not worried, they’ll settle down.”

“Still... that was pretty cool. You called her Queenie.”

“Yes, it seemed appropriate. We’ll name all of them. I doubt any have had names. Ryder and I agree that our broodmares are the backbone of our bronc business. They’ll be groomed, feet trimmed, vaccinated... the whole works, just like all of our working horses.”

“If you’d told me that that we were going to be able to handle those mares with any degree of safety twenty minutes ago, I’d have told you that you were nuts. Now, not so much,” laughed Eddie. “If you can get that lead mare to come around that fast, we should be able to convince all of them that we’re the good guys.”

“I’ll work with Queenie. As she comes around, so will the rest of them. She’s smart and she’s got a nice disposition. Just hasn’t been treated all that kindly up until now. But that’s changed.”