For Alice

Katie Harris had a long journey ahead of her, all the way from Los Angeles to Fielding, Texas. She’d been offered a job there as a private nurse and nanny for a terminally ill child, a ten-year-old girl suffering from a rare blood and heart disease.

Katie had grown up without any close friends or family, having been raised in foster care until she was old enough to work and put herself through nursing school. So, leaving Los Angeles didn’t feel like a significant loss.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she realized she’d finally reached her destination. The town was much smaller than she’d anticipated. Feeling parched, Katie decided to stop at a small variety store that caught her eye.

The door creaked open, and a bell chimed as she entered. Behind the counter stood a young girl, no older than sixteen, with her brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. Two men, both in jeans and cowboy hats, were on the other side of the counter.

The older man, who looked to be in his fifties, had a round belly that protruded noticeably. He flashed Katie a friendly smile, which she returned. The other man was much younger, tall and muscular, with midnight black hair and sun-tanned skin. He was dangerously handsome, and when he smiled at her, Katie felt her heart flutter.

The chatter in the store had ceased when she walked in, and she could feel their eyes on her as she made her way to the cooler.

The water bottles were placed on the top shelf, just out of her reach. Even on her tiptoes, she couldn’t quite get to them, and she let out a soft groan of frustration.

Ray, the young man at the counter, had been watching her intently. He was captivated by her petite frame, long blonde hair, and attractive figure. He walked over to the cooler, reached above her head, and handed her a bottle of water. “Here you go, Miss. They really should put these on a lower shelf for little ladies like you to reach,” he said, his tone slightly patronizing.

Being so close to him, she could smell his aftershave mingling with the scent of sweat. It was a distinctly masculine smell that sent a shiver down her spine. But she was also hot and exhausted, and she wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. She was in no mood for his condescending remarks about her height, and she snapped at him. “I’m not a little lady, you jerk.”

With the water bottle in her hand, she walked over to the counter to pay. Her throat was parched, and she was eager to drink. She was slightly annoyed when he followed her to the counter, but she decided to ignore him as she reached for her wallet.

As she was about to hand the money to the clerk, the young man interjected, “Lucy, put the lady’s water on my tab.”

She turned to look at him, her tone sharp as she retorted, “I don’t know you, and even if I did, I can pay for my own water. I certainly don’t need any help from you.”

The older man laughed heartily, slapping the younger one on the back. He then turned to Katie and said, “You tell him, little lady. My name is Bo, and this here is Ray and Lucy. Are you just passing through town, Miss?”

Katie found herself warming up to Bo instantly. He had such a friendly face, and she didn’t mind him calling her “little lady.” “No, Mister…” She trailed off, unsure of what to call him.

Bo extended his hand for a handshake. “Reilly, Miss. Bo Reilly. Just call me Bo. And you are?”

“I’m Katie Harris. I’m here to work for the Marshalls, taking care of their little girl. Could you point me in the right direction?”

Bo’s face lit up, and he glanced at Ray. “Well, Katie, I can do better than that.”

Ray, who had been standing back and listening to their conversation, was still smarting from her earlier rebuke. His ego was bruised, and he interrupted Bo before he could say anything else. “Take a left at the stop sign, go about two miles, and make another left. You can’t miss it as long as you’re paying attention to where you’re going,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Rolling her eyes, she thanked him and then turned back to Bo. “It was nice to meet you,” she said, giving him a warm smile.

“Oh, it was my pleasure, Miss Harris. I’ll be seeing you around.”

As soon as Katie left the store, Bo turned to Ray. “Why didn’t you let me tell her who you were?”

Ray smirked, a toothpick dangling from his mouth. “I didn’t like her attitude. There’s no way that city girl is suited for the job, and I’ll send her packing soon enough.” A grin spread across his chiseled face. “But first, I think I’ll have a bit of fun with Miss Harris.”

“What are you planning for that little lady?” Bo asked, watching Ray’s grin with interest.

“I’m just going to show her how hard life on a ranch can be. See you later, Bo.” With a wave, Ray walked out of the store, already plotting his next move.

Bo turned to Lucy. “You know what, Lucy? My gut tells me it’s going to be Miss Harris who’s going to teach him a thing or two.”

Bo left the store, chuckling to himself. He couldn’t wait to get home and tell his wife about the feisty Katie Harris.

As she drove down the bumpy dirt road, Katie found herself thinking about Ray. She was still fuming over his comment about her height. He’d made her feel like a child, and she wanted to wipe that smug grin off his face. But then her car started making a strange noise, and she pulled over to the side of the road just as it sputtered to a stop.

She pounded her fists on the steering wheel, cursing under her breath. “No, no, you stupid damn car, don’t you dare quit on me now. Oh God, not here of all places, in the middle of nowhere.”

After several unsuccessful attempts to start the car, she gave up. She knew she’d have to walk the rest of the way, so she got out and grabbed the two bags she needed. The rest could wait until she could come back for them.

Just then, a dirty white truck roared past her, then slowed down and backed up. The driver poked his head out the window, and she groaned when she recognized the annoying cowboy from the store.

“Having car problems, lady?” he asked, his tone brusque.

“You again,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Wow, nothing gets past you, does it?”

His hands tightened on the steering wheel, and he started grinding his teeth. Despite his rising anger, he got out of his truck and walked over to her car. He opened the hood and yelled at her to get in and start it. “Well, turn the key already,” he barked at her.

“I am, but it’s not doing anything,” she shouted back.

“Are you sure you’re doing it right?” he yelled, wiping the sweat from his brow.

His comment infuriated her. He was treating her as if she were stupid. With his head still under the hood, she pressed on the horn, which was still working. The sudden noise made him jump, and he hit his head.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ray swore at her, rubbing his head.

A smile crept up on her face as he swore and slammed the hood down. “I’m sorry, my hand slipped.”

Ray removed his hat and rubbed his head. Seeing the grin on her face, he knew she was lying. “Well, your car is done for. My guess is you need a new engine.”

Katie got out of the car, slamming the door behind her. “Oh, that’s just great. Where am I supposed to get one of those around here?”

“We may be a little hick town to you, lady, but we do have a garage in town. But they only accept money, not chickens or baked goods,” he added sarcastically.

She placed her hand on her waist and glared at him. “Are you always this rude to strangers?”

“Do you want a ride to the ranch?” he yelled out the window.

She crossed her arms and replied, “I wouldn’t want to take you out of your way.”

“You wouldn’t be; I’ve got lumber to take over there. I’m fixing the back porch.”

“In that case, yes, thank you,” she said, going to the trunk and taking out the other three bags.

Ray stayed put in his seat, making no move to assist Katie with the luggage. He watched as she grappled with the bags, trying to fit them into the back.

Once she managed to get in, she shot him a scathing look. “Wow, your help was invaluable,” she spat out, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

A chuckle escaped Ray’s lips. “Didn’t you mention you neither needed nor wanted my assistance?”