LITMIR.BIZ

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on makeup for the first time since she’d last visited the Walker ranch. She bribed Al to stay with the children and headed west down the county road.

      “Go west young man,” she muttered an old saying. “Why can’t some of Walker’s well-trained cowboys come east? I’d love to have Doug and Hinney working for me.”

      She’d even considered offering them a bonus if they’d leave Ryan Walker, but she refused to stoop to that level. It was tempting.

      She pulled into the driveway, noting the lack of lights, but she checked to discover the truck he drove was parked around back. She got out of her car and climbed the steps to the porch, knocking on the front door.

      She thought there wasn’t going to be an answer, but the door slowly opened. She had to look down to find who’d opened it. “Beth!”

      “Hi,” the little girl said, smiling at her.

      Suzanne thought she was adorable, but as a responsible parent now herself, she knew it was dangerous to let children of this age answer the door. “Um, does your daddy know you answered the door?”

      Beth shook her head no.

      “Is he here?”

      “He’s on the back porch, talking to Doug and Hinney,” Beth said.

      That information caught Suzanne by surprise. Did the men report in each evening? That hadn’t occurred to her. “Well, why don’t you close the door and go back to bed, and I’ll walk around to the back porch, okay?”

      “Okay,” Beth said and slammed the door shut. Suzanne heard little feet padding down the hall.

      With a smile on her lips, she walked around the house, regretting wearing her high heels. When she got close she heard male voices talking, but she didn’t stop. She wasn’t going to listen in on a private conversation again. The last time, though enlightening, had led to a disaster.

      Rounding the house, she came to a halt. “Mr. Walker?”

      The three men on the porch had been casually sprawled in some chairs and they almost toppled over.

      Ryan Walker immediately stood. “Ms. McCoy.” His stiff greeting obviously surprised the other two men.

      “I’m sorry if I’m interrupting, but I need to talk to you.”

      “How did you know I was back here?” he asked, his voice gruff, as if he were accusing her of sneaking around.

      She looked him straight in the eye. “Beth told me when she answered the door.” She paused, then couldn’t resist adding, “I don’t consider that safe behavior for a child that young.”

      The moment she’d said Beth’s name, his head had snapped around to the back door. “I’ll be right back,” he growled and stomped into the house.

      “Hi, guys. You haven’t gotten in trouble for working for me, have you?”

      “No, Miss Suzanne,” Doug said, grinning. “Boss might fire us if we keep putting on weight, though. Your cooking is so good, we’re getting fat.”

      “Nonsense, you haven’t gained weight,” Suzanne assured them with a warm smile.

      A stern voice said, “Flattery won’t persuade them to go to work for you, if that’s what you’re after.” Walker moved from out of the shadows to glare at her.

      “I know,” she agreed, keeping her composure.

      “But chocolate cake might,” Hinney said softly. Both cowhands laughed and Suzanne smiled, but Walker continued to glare.

      The cowhands recognized danger when they saw it. “Uh, reckon we’ll go on to bed, boss, if we’re finished.” The two of them headed for the bunkhouse without waiting for their boss’s response.

      “They were just teasing,” she said calmly, wishing that would be all it took to get a good staff. “I need to talk to you, Mr. Walker.”

      With narrowed eyes, he waved to one of the chairs the cowboys had used. “Have a seat, Ms. McCoy.”

      She did as he asked, but she was uncomfortable, and she didn’t think he was happy either. “You told me to have my problem solved by the end of the week.” She paused, but he didn’t say anything. “I haven’t found even one employee, Mr. Walker, and I’ve talked to everyone I’ve met or even heard of. It’s as if someone told them not to help me. Yet, they’ve brought us food, visited with me and the children, offered advice on every topic but one. All they can suggest about finding employees is to talk to Ryan Walker.”

      Again he said nothing.

      “I know you don’t care about helping me, but please think of those two little children who have already lost their parents. Must they lose their home also?” She bit her lip to hold back the tears that threatened.

      “I’m not the one who’s telling everyone to send you to me. It’s those damn women!”

      “What are you talking about?” she asked, irritated by his response.

      “Mabel, Florence, Edith and Ruth. They’ve been arranging marriages around the county for several years now. First they got all their sons married. Then they started helping out their neighbors.”

      “But surely they wouldn’t try to ruin us. That’s not fair to Josh and Mandy. Please, can’t you help us?”

      “Lady, I don’t know of anyone to hire. If I did, I’d hire them myself. I’m shorthanded.”

      “But you loaned me Doug and Hinney—”

      “I know. I’m not stone-hearted. But I’ve got problems myself. I can’t spend all my time worrying about your problems.”

      “If one of them is Beth, I’ll be glad to baby-sit her. My place is closer than town. It would save you some time.”

      “Yes, it would. But I need someone to cook and clean my house, too. I’m going to hire a housekeeper.”

      “Have you found one yet?”

      “No. I’m getting the same treatment you are.”

      “Oh.” Suzanne didn’t know what to say. Finally she asked, “So tomorrow is going to be the last day Doug and Hinney come to my place?”

      He gave her an exasperated look. “Don’t stare at me with those big chocolate eyes. I don’t have any answers.”

      “But—” she began. But he cut her off.

      “Go home. I’ll do some thinking about it tonight. In the morning I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. Maybe I’ll even have an answer for you. Right now, I need to think.”

      Since she had no other choice, Suzanne nodded and went back to her car. She drove back to the Howe ranch, trying to figure out what he’d meant. Life would be so easy if she could take on the job of housekeeper, taking Josh and Mandy with her to his house and coming back home at night. Maybe she’d suggest that tomorrow morning.

      She actually relaxed as she realized that would take care of all their problems. She wouldn’t take a salary and he could take care of the ranch. It even sounded like a fair trade to her.

      Okay, in the morning, she’d explain her inspiration and all her problems would be solved.

      RYAN PACED the floor until late into the night. The fool thing about it was that Mabel and Florence’s solution was the best one. From what the men said, the McCoy woman was a great cook. She was doing a good job with the children, and the house appeared clean to them. All the things he needed.

      She also seemed happy with her lot in life. She wasn’t planning on running back to the city. She’d told them she was staying for the children. He could place Beth in her care without a worry. All he had to do was let her into his life.

      As painful as that sounded, he supposed he could do it for

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