The Cowgirl Nanny
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Jen Gilroy
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18,1K
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23
CHAPTER ONE
“WHOA THERE, BUDDY.” Bryce Carter grabbed the black-and-white goat by its collar. “Where do you think you’re going?”
The goat stared at him with a yellow petunia plant half out of its mouth. It bleated and looked back over its shoulder at a miniature red barn by the entrance to Squirrel Tail Ranch’s activity center.
“There’s always something more interesting on the other side of the fence, isn’t there?” Bryce scratched the goat’s neck as children’s laughter echoed from behind the barn. He shook his head at the trampled flower bed and picked up the rope trailing from the goat’s purple collar. “Folks will be looking for both of us.” In Bryce’s case, those “folks” were his two children—the most important people in his world—and he’d promised them he’d be here half an hour ago.
Leading the goat, Bryce stopped by the red barn and scanned the busy scene. A young woman, likely a college student, drove a tractor pulling a wagon piled with hay and excited children. The principal, who’d been Bryce’s fifth-grade teacher at the same school his kids now attended, waved.
“Daddy.” Eight-year-old Paisley ran toward him, two blond pigtails bobbing. “When you weren’t here when you said you’d be, Cam was scared something bad happened. I said I bet you were rounding up that mean old bull.” She wrapped her arms around his waist while her six-year-old brother, Cam, who’d trailed behind, hung on to Bryce’s arm.
“It wasn’t the bull, and Big Red’s not so bad.” Not since Bryce’s brother, Cole, had taken the animal in hand. “I was checking crops in the far fields, and the truck had a flat tire. I had to stop and change it.” He gestured to his mud-spattered jeans. “Sorry I’m late. I couldn’t call because I didn’t have cell service. I hope I didn’t miss too much.” He’d wanted to get here early so he could share the last part of this field trip with the kids, but, once again, life had conspired against him.
“It’s okay. Everyone’s still here,” Paisley said. “Where’d you get that goat?”
“He was in the flower bed near the guest welcome area. He must have gotten out of the petting zoo.”
Except for the surrounding fields, rented out to grow grain and other cereal crops, Squirrel Tail was more a resort and tourist attraction than a working ranch. Owned by Shane Gallagher, a friend of Bryce’s mom who’d moved to Montana from Wyoming a few years ago, Squirrel Tail now hosted events. Besides school field trips like this one, they also held birthday parties and company team building events and offered luxury bed-and-breakfast accommodations and meditation and wellness retreats.
“We went on a nature walk and learned how to build a rabbit hutch. Wanna come see?” Paisley asked.
“Sure.” His daughter still hugged him, and Bryce inhaled her sweet little-girl scent. With her blonde hair and pale blue eyes, she didn’t look like her mom, but with her outgoing personality, kindness and love of animals, Paisley was like Alison, Bryce’s late wife, in other ways. Cam, though, had inherited Ally’s bright blue eyes and chocolate-brown hair. He looked so much like the girl Bryce had fallen in love with when her family had moved to town because of her dad’s job, and she’d joined his sixth-grade class.
Bryce grabbed his cowboy hat as it caught in a gust of wind and bent to his son’s level. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Cam stared at the ground and dug his sneakers into the dirt. “Mr. Gallagher said I’m good with horses.”
“You’re a natural like your uncle Cole.” Bryce ruffled Cam’s hair. His son needed a haircut. Something else for Bryce to add to this weekend’s to-do list.
As a group of boys around Cam’s age raced past, Cam moved nearer to him.
“Has anyone seen a...?” A thirtysomething woman with light brown hair in a high ponytail stopped by Bryce and the kids. “Here you are, Sammy. You’re an escape artist, aren’t you?” She grinned and glanced at them.
Paisley giggled again. “My daddy caught the goat.”
“Thanks.” The woman brushed her hands against her faded blue jeans. “It wouldn’t be good to lose one of the owner’s animals my first time here. You must be Paisley and Cam’s dad.”
“Yeah, I’m Bryce Carter.” He took off his hat and held out his hand. She wasn’t one of the regular teachers or classroom assistants. He knew all of them well because he’d either gone to school with them, or they’d been working here when he was a student. He hadn’t seen her around Squirrel Tail Ranch before either.
“Carrie Rizzo.” When she shook Bryce’s hand, his palm tingled as it met the warmth of her strong grip. “Shane Gallagher needed extra help with today’s school visit. My aunt and her friend volunteered and brought me along. I’ve only been in High Valley a few days. I’m here on vacation.”
“Welcome.” Bryce stuck out his hand to Carrie again before realizing they’d already exchanged handshakes. He was flustered because of the flat tire and being late. It had nothing to do with that unexpected spark of awareness when he’d held her hand in his.
“Can we help you put Sammy back in the pen?” Paisley hopped between Bryce and Carrie. “The rabbit hutch is near there.”
“If it’s okay with your dad, sure.” Carrie glanced at Bryce.
“Please, Daddy?” Cam still clutched Bryce’s arm, but there was more enthusiasm in his voice than Bryce had heard for weeks. “I can show you my favorite bunny. He’s called Buster. Mr. Gallagher let me feed him.”
“That’d be great.” Bryce swallowed the lump in his throat. Between work and trying to keep day-to-day life on track, he didn’t have much time for fun with the kids. He fell into step with Carrie as Paisley and Cam went ahead. “Who’s your aunt?”
“Angela Moretti. She’s my mom’s oldest sister.” As Carrie took Sammy’s rope from Bryce, her fingers brushed his, and there was that tingle again.
“Mrs. Moretti’s a family friend, but I don’t remember you ever visiting High Valley.”
“I didn’t. Mom and Aunt Angela had a big argument when they were younger and didn’t speak for years. They finally reconciled last Christmas.” Carrie shook her head. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to know Angela sooner. I’m also sorry I won’t be here longer. High Valley’s a great town and everyone’s so kind and welcoming.”
Bryce nodded. He’d had a lot of kindness from folks in High Valley since Ally died, but he needed to get better organized instead of depending on everyone’s good nature.
“Paisley and Cam are wonderful kids. They were both in my small group today. Paisley’s really caring toward her brother. You must be proud.” Carrie’s smile blossomed.
She had a great smile, like Ally, but it was different than his wife’s. And while Ally had been tall and slender, with eyes as blue as the mountain cornflowers that grew wild here from late spring through early summer, Carrie was shorter with a more athletic build. She also had green eyes that sparkled and a dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose.
Bryce stopped himself. He couldn’t keep comparing every woman he met to Alison. Ally was gone, and she wasn’t coming back, no matter how much he wished she could. “I sure am proud of Paisley and Cam. They’re friends as well as brother and sister and look out for each other. I also try to do my best for them.”
“It shows,” Carrie said. “In our art session, they used poster paint to make handprints. Paisley said they do them around this time every year and stick them in an album. That’s a fantastic idea. A special memory too.”
“My wife started that album when the kids were babies.” In the past few years, Bryce’s mom had added items, but whenever she’d ask him to take a look, he’d find something else to do. The album, along with everything else Ally had made for him and the kids, hurt too much, so he’d packed those reminders away. Now they lurked in boxes stacked in a closet, like ghosts of the life he’d lost. And the album was on a shelf in the guest bedroom where he wasn’t likely to see it.
“Look, Daddy.” Paisley called. “Sammy must have gotten out here.” She pointed to part of the fence where wire had come loose. One of Shane’s ranch hands was fixing it, with help from a girl who handed him tools from a red metal box.
A small group of parents and kids patted the other goats, and Angela Moretti and several members of the Sunflower Sisterhood, a local women’s group Bryce’s mom belonged to, chatted nearby. The penned goats bleated at Sammy, who bleated back, and two horses in a nearby pasture joined the animal chorus.
“The bunny hutch is over here.” Cam tugged on Bryce’s arm as Paisley held a paper cone with special animal food pellets in front of Sammy to help lure him into the pen.
“Ms. Rizzo has to go home next week, but I want her to stay here longer.” Paisley’s expression was hopeful. “I also know a way she could. She could look after Cam and me for the summer. Since Grandma can only babysit us on Saturdays, you still hafta find someone else, don’t you? I heard you tell Uncle Cole when he came over last night.”
“Yes, but...” Bryce hesitated.
“Please?” Cam joined in with unexpected enthusiasm. “Ms. Rizzo said she’d love to see me play soccer.”
“I’m sure your dad already has someone in mind.” As she closed the pen’s gate behind Sammy, Carrie’s cheeks pinkened.
“Ms. Rizzo’s on vacation. She wouldn’t want a job as a summer nanny.” Bryce spoke at the same time as Carrie.
“Why not?” Paisley tugged Bryce’s right hand while Cam did the same on his left. “Ms. Rizzo said she’s looking for a summer job to keep her horse in feed. You don’t want Teddy to starve, do you?” Paisley and Cam gave Bryce matching disapproving expressions.
“Job or no job, Teddy will be fine,” Carrie reassured the children.
“Paisley’s right,” Bryce said. “I am looking for a summer nanny, but so far, I haven’t had any luck. I’d prefer an adult rather than a high-school student.”
“Carrie’s wonderful with children,” Angela said as she and her friend, Nina Shevchenko, joined them near the fence.
Nina nodded. “She’s a natural, all right. Kind but firm.”
“Your mom says you need help.” Angela chimed in again, and everyone nearby murmured agreement.
“If I can find a stable to board my horse, I’d be interested in the job, sure. Teddy’s here at Squirrel Tail, now but that’s temporary.” Carrie knelt to tighten the fastening on one of Cam’s sneakers.
“She could board Teddy at our ranch, couldn’t she?” Paisley continued tugging Bryce’s hand. “Ms. Rizzo’s a professional barrel racer. If she looks after me and Cam, she could give me barrel racing lessons too. What do you say?”
“Hang on.” Bryce took a deep breath. He’d come to pick up his kids, not look for summer childcare, but as his mom often said, “The Lord moves in mysterious ways.” With only a few days of school left, hiring Carrie might be the perfect solution to one of the problems keeping him awake at night.
“Between kids, women and goats, you’re outnumbered.” Shane Gallagher came out of a shed behind the petting zoo. “Oh no you don’t.” He grabbed Sammy’s collar as the goat tried to escape again.
“If you’re free tomorrow, why don’t you come out to our ranch?” In the midst of the chaos, Bryce spoke to Carrie in an undertone. “I can tell you more about what the kids and I need. Although Paisley got ahead of herself, we’ve had a cancellation, and there’s a horse boarding space free in our barn. I can hold it if you want.”
“That’d be great. Anytime tomorrow would work for me.” Carrie’s face was still flushed.
“How about eight thirty in the morning? Cam has soccer practice later, and Paisley has gymnastics.”
“That’s fine.” Carrie’s green gaze met his. “You’ve got a lot on your plate.”
Somebody told her about Alison. Bryce’s breath stuttered. He wouldn’t have to explain what was still inexplicable. And when Carrie smiled again—a smile filled with understanding and compassion—it was like the sun slipping out from behind dark clouds.
“See you tomorrow. I’ll get directions to your place from Aunt Angela.” Carrie gestured to Cam, who, the rabbit hutch and Buster forgotten, leaned against her with his eyes half-closed. “Cam’s almost asleep on his feet. You probably want to head home.”
“Yeah.” Bryce took a step back. For a few seconds, it was like he’d had a connection with Carrie that went beyond the kids. A connection like he’d only ever experienced with one other woman, his wife.
Except, he’d loved once and well. His focus was on his children and the family ranch. The romantic part of his life was over.
THE NEXT MORNING, Carrie took in the view through one of the floor-to-ceiling windows in Bryce’s house. Set back from the main road via a tree-lined driveway, the one-story ranch style had an open-concept floor plan with the eating area and kitchen connected to this spacious family room. The window overlooked a pasture, encircled by a split-rail fence, where several horses grazed. Near a water trough, a cute foal nuzzled its mother.
“Take a seat.” Bryce came through from the kitchen holding a tray with two mugs and a plate of cookies. He nodded toward a duck-egg blue L-shaped sectional sofa along one wall. “I tidied up last night after the kids went to bed. The place isn’t usually this neat.” He set the tray on the table facing the sofa and offered Carrie a mug of coffee.
“You didn’t have to clean up for me. Homes are meant to be lived in.” Apart from a basket of children’s books and Paisley’s and Cam’s backpacks beside a big fireplace, the room was almost too tidy, with none of the scattered toys and games she’d expected. From what she’d seen of Bryce’s house so far, from porch planters empty of flowers to this room with the furniture at precise angles, it had an air of sadness as if part of its soul was missing.
“There’s lived-in, and there’s chaos. We’re more the latter.” Bryce gave her a wry smile and sat on the other end of the sofa beneath a big TV. In jeans and a white T-shirt, he looked younger than his midthirties. Although Carrie hadn’t fished for information, Aunt Angela had told her about Bryce as well as the rest of the Carter family.
Carrie tried to look more confident than she felt. “Where are Paisley and Cam?” The house was silent, and country sounds—cattle lowing, a whir of insects and birdsong—filtered through the half-open windows.
“At my mom’s. We’ve got a big spread here at the Tall Grass. Mom lives at the main ranch house farther along the driveway. She’s on her own there except when my sister, Molly, visits from Atlanta. My oldest brother, Zach, and his family live a few miles away in a house our great-grandparents had before they built the main place. Mom needed the kids to come by for a fitting of the outfits she’s making them for my brother Cole’s wedding.”
“Paisley’s excited about being a flower girl. She told me about it yesterday.” Carrie sipped her coffee. Aunt Angela had mentioned Cole Carter’s wedding. Between contributing food, organizing flowers and making decorations for the church and reception hall, the women of the Sunflower Sisterhood were all involved in wedding preparations.
“That wedding is Paisley’s favorite topic of conversation. Cole’s fiancée and her daughter live in town. With wedding planning in full swing, their house is Paisley’s favorite place to be. Cole’s moving there after the wedding, but for now he’s bunking in one of the ranch’s outlying cabins. I joke there are days I’m tempted to join him for some peace.” Bryce laughed and set his mug back on the table. “So, about the nannying job.” His manner became all business. “I should tell you—”
“It’s fine.” Carrie set her coffee aside too. “Paisley put you on the spot. I have a lead on a summer job at the Bluebunch Café, and there’s bound to be casual work in haying season. I left my contact details at the Squirrel Tail Ranch too. They hire extra staff for special events. I also have a freelance web design and marketing business.”
As she moved to stand, Bryce shook his head. “Wait. If you want the nanny job, it’s yours. My kids like you, and from what I saw yesterday, you’re great with them, but Cam especially...” He rested his beard-stubbled chin in his hands. His short brown hair was damp, as if he’d just had a shower, and an errant curly lock flopped over one of his eyes making him look both rakish and vulnerable.
“What about Cam?” Carrie settled on the sofa again and made herself focus on the children instead of her urge to brush that piece of hair away from Bryce’s forehead.
“He’s always been a quiet kid, but he used to be a happy one too. The past few months, he hasn’t been himself. He’s either lashing out in anger or withdrawn. He hardly plays with his favorite toys, and apart from soccer, he isn’t interested in the sports or activities he once enjoyed. I talked to the pediatrician and took Cam to see a few counsellors, but none of them have been able to reach him. I don’t know what else to do.” Bryce looked at his bare feet. “Cam’s having trouble at school as well.”
“When Cam was assigned to my group yesterday, his teacher asked me to keep an extra close eye on him.” Between school staff and a parent volunteer, Carrie had heard lots about Cameron Carter. While he’d been fine with her for the field-trip activities, the word was he spent more time in the principal’s office than with his class.
Bryce rubbed one hand across his eyes then looked up at her again. “Yesterday, when Cam was with you, I saw the boy he used to be.” He drew in a breath. “My son needs help, and maybe you can help him.”
“I’ll try.” Carrie was one of life’s helpers and a giver too, but there was a fine line between giving and people pleasing. Often, she tried to make others happy at the expense of herself. “I heard about your wife. I’m sorry.”
“Ally passed three years ago. She had cancer. It should get easier but...” His shoulders slumped. “Cam hardly remembers his mom, and even Paisley has forgotten a lot about her.”
“Do you talk about Ally with them?” Having been close to her grandmother who’d died ten years before, when Carrie was in her early twenties, she knew how important it was to keep a loved one’s memory alive.
“Not really. It’s hard for me too.” He shoved that lock of hair away as if daring it to fall forward again. Bryce had a square, serious face with deep-set blue-gray eyes, and Carrie got the impression he didn’t smile or laugh often.
She took another mouthful of rich, full-bodied coffee and let it linger on her tongue. She’d half accepted the job without knowing anything about it. That was unlike her, but she was desperate and didn’t want to have to dip into her savings. She didn’t have new freelance projects lined up, and casual part-time jobs wouldn’t pay enough for her to board Teddy. She also didn’t want to return to Kalispell and rely on her parents or cross paths with the ex who’d dumped her for a woman she’d thought was a friend.
Although hurt pinched her heart, she straightened, determined to leave the past where it belonged. “What kind of nanny are you looking for? Live-in or daily?”
“Daily to start, but live-in if needed. Monday to Friday mostly but likely some weekends too. Meal preparation, grocery shopping and laundry if you have time.”
“That sounds fine.” The pressure in Carrie’s chest eased. “I’m flexible. Aunt Angela’s happy for me to stay with her, or I can live here when you need me to.”
Bryce exhaled as if in relief. “Ranching isn’t a nine-to-five or Monday-to-Friday job, and things come up unexpectedly. I’m also a volunteer firefighter and do agricultural consultancy. I might need you to work extra hours at short notice.” His expression was almost pleading.
“I understand. Although I grew up in Kalispell, my mom’s parents had a ranch, where I spent vacations. I can work whatever hours you need. Except for training with my horse, I don’t have anything else planned this summer.”
And she’d love to stay in High Valley. It would be a chance to prove to herself and everyone else, her parents especially, that her barrel racing career was only on pause. She needed to stop trying to please her folks and follow her own path instead of the one they wanted for her. For far too long, she’d let her parents assume barrel racing and freelance work were temporary. Unless she stood up to them, she’d be in that office in the family construction company before she knew it, wearing a suit and working a desk job. She suppressed a shudder.
“Paisley said you’re a professional barrel racer.” Bryce’s voice broke into Carrie’s thoughts.
“Yes.” Her stomach quivered at the warmth and interest in his expression. “I had a few minor injuries and need to take time out, but I’m returning to the circuit this fall.” Everybody had setbacks. How you handled them was what mattered. This summer was her time to reset, regain her mojo and come back even stronger. “I also went to college and studied business and marketing. That’s where my freelance web design and marketing work comes in.” It gave her another source of income and added to the money she was saving to buy a small farm or ranch of her own. Once she had it, she wanted to practice sustainable agriculture like she’d learned from her grandparents.
“Paisley’s only eight, but she’s already set on pro-level barrel racing.” Bryce shrugged. “Before he retired with an injury, Cole was a professional rodeo cowboy. My dad rode on the circuit too, so rodeo’s in Paisley’s blood. I don’t want to discourage her from setting a goal and going after it, but I want her to be realistic too. Cole had to sacrifice a lot to make that life work.”
“It’s tricky, and you have to want it, but I love it. Paisley might change her mind, though.”
“Perhaps, but she’s a determined girl.” Bryce’s expression was tight. “Having you around for the next few months will be great for her as well as Cam.”
“I’m happy to help all of you.” This job would help Carrie too.
“I forgot to mention we have two dogs, and there’s always barn cats running around. Are you okay with pets?”
“Love them.” Her ex didn’t like cats or dogs. In retrospect, it was one of many signs they weren’t right for each other.
“Great. Have a cookie?” He passed her the plate. “They’re chocolate chip. My mom made them. Some say she’s the best baker in High Valley.”
As Carrie took the plate, Bryce’s hand brushed against hers, and she drew in a sharp breath. There it was, that same spark of attraction she’d felt yesterday. “I’ll have a cookie to go.” A door slammed, a dog barked and Paisley’s voice echoed from the rear of the house. “With soccer and gymnastics, you have a busy day.”
“I do, but...” Bryce hesitated as the kids raced into the family room with their arms open for hugs. “We haven’t talked about a start date, but is there any way it could be today? We haven’t talked about money either, but I’ll pay you more than the going rate. As I mentioned, I’ll include horse boarding too. For free, if I didn’t make that clear.”
“Please say yes, Ms. Rizzo.” After hugging his dad, Cam moved to sit beside Carrie.
“Today’s fine. I’ll let Aunt Angela know.” Joy mixed with excitement shot through Carrie at the thought of the money she’d be able to save this summer, but she didn’t want to take advantage of Bryce’s generosity either. “I appreciate the horse boarding, but you should charge me. Giving it to me for free is too much.”
“No, it’s not. You’re a lifesaver. Horse boarding’s the least I can do.”
As Bryce’s gentle smile wrapped around Carrie like a warm hug, it also reminded her of what she couldn’t let herself forget.
Despite that spark of attraction to Bryce, as his kids’ nanny, he was her boss. He was also a grieving widower devoted to his late wife. Even if Carrie were ready to date again—which she wasn’t—he was off-limits.
The setbacks that had knocked her life off course had made her think about what she truly wanted. From now on, she wouldn’t let anything or anyone—especially a man—distract her from her goals. She’d learned that lesson well, and the betrayal still stung.
