LITMIR.BIZ

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wanted so badly to step into the argument, but she wasn’t going to. First she’d wait for Bradford’s decision.

      “Did you have a meeting to discuss your plans for the next week?” Jim asked Pete.

      “Yeah, but I wasn’t listening because—Well, just because.” Pete’s argument sounded lame to Jessica.

      Jim turned to her. “Did you explain to your brother what you expected from him?”

      “Yes, I did. Specifically.”

      “What did you promise?”

      “We advertised our ranch as a working ranch, meaning we have cowboys and cows. I promised four people they could ride with the cowboys for several days.”

      “You didn’t promise they would be involved in roping and branding?”

      “No.”

      “Pete, could you use the four people to hold the herd as you sort out the ones with calves?”

      “I could, but I don’t see why I should!”

      “Because if I’m in charge, you have to do as I say. I’m not being unreasonable, you know.”

      “I know, but—”

      “Pete!” Cliff Ledbetter said.

      “But, Granddad!”

      Once again, Cliff’s response was only his grandson’s name. “Pete!”

      “Okay, okay!” Pete exclaimed, and marched out, still irritated.

      “Now, for you, Jessica,” Jim began.

      “I don’t have any problems, now that they aren’t yelling.” She raised her chin, just in case he thought he’d revamp her job, too.

      “Actually, I think you do. If you’re going to make this a topflight dude ranch, you have to be out there with your guests. You need to hire someone to do the clerical and receptionist duties.”

      “But I can—”

      “I don’t think the ranch can succeed with all of you arguing about every little thing,” he said gravely.

      “But there’s no way we’ll succeed if the books aren’t balanced!” She looked at him, challenging him to disagree with her.

      “That’s true. But still, someone else could do that while you’re being the face of this company. If you’re moving among the guests, you’ll make them feel important.”

      “But I don’t have anyone to handle my regular job.”

      “I’m sure we can find someone. I’ll supervise that person and make sure everything is running satisfactorily.”

      Jessica turned to her grandfather, her eyes imploring his help.

      But she received the same answer her brothers had. “Jessie, you have to do what Jim says. If you don’t, then this idea will ruin all of you. That’s why I hired him to come take charge. To save you.”

      “Oh, Granddad,” Jessica said with a sigh.

      “Go on, Jessie, go mingle with the guests,” Cliff said.

      She walked out of the kitchen just as Mary Jo walked in.

      “Hello,” she said, and batted her lashes at the stranger.

      “Mary Jo, here is your new boss,” Cliff said.

      Mary Jo did a double take. “But what about Jessica?”

      “He’s her new boss, too.”

      Mary Jo took another look, a measuring one before she stuck out her hand. “Hi, I’m Mary Jo Michaels.”

      “Hello, I’m Jim Bradford, the new manager. And you’re the chef?”

      She smiled. “Yes, I am.”

      “What kind of meals are you serving the guests?”

      “Jessica and I plan the menu.” She turned to a shelf and pointed out to him a chalkboard menu.

      After studying it, he said, “Nice job. Don’t you need help to prepare them?”

      “Yes,” she said, and looked at her watch. “I have four helpers who should arrive in five minutes.”

      “Good. I’ll talk with you later, after I’ve had lunch,” Jim said with a smile.

      Mary Jo smiled back. “I’ve never had any complaints.”

      “Good. Let me ask you a question. What would be the best way to advertise for someone for the front desk?”

      “On the bulletin board at the grocery store in Steamboat.”

      He nodded. Then he headed toward the desk, the one Jessica had been occupying earlier, followed by Cliff.

      “What do you think?” Cliff asked.

      “I think you were right.”

      “Which part?”

      “The part where you said they would destroy themselves and the ranch if they continued on as they are.”

      “I knew it,” Cliff agreed with a sigh.

      “Don’t worry. I think you called me at the right time. And it was the right time for me, too. I’ve been away from the land for too long.”

      “Glad to hear it, son. I promised your uncle I’d do right by you, though we can’t match the salary you gave up.”

      “No, I didn’t think you could, but I’ve put back money and made some investments to carry me for a while. Your offer of ten percent of the ranch, as well as a salary, is more than generous.”

      “Okay. Now what?”

      “I’m going to look around. Can you go put up a sign at the grocery store advertising for a receptionist with some bookkeeping skills?”

      “Don’t need to. I know someone.”

      “Oh?”

      “Yeah, she’s a widow and needs the money. Used to work as a bookkeeper a few years ago.”

      “Great. Call her and then let me know. Here’s my cell phone number.” He wrote it down and handed the paper to Cliff.

      “Thanks, Jim.”

      Jim enjoyed a nonchalant stroll out to the corral. The pace here was certainly different from his old job on the stock market in New York. And so was the air. He drew in a deep breath.

      He climbed up to sit on the top rail and watch some cowboys instruct new riders.

      There were several other cowboys sitting on the rail. He introduced himself and asked a few questions, till he heard an unfriendly voice from behind him.

      “Are you trying to find out what we’re doing wrong?”

      He looked over his shoulder and found Jessica Ledbetter standing behind him, her legs apart, her arms akimbo.

      “I wondered where you’d gone,” he said mildly.

      Resentment still on her face, she climbed the rails and slung both legs over them to sit a short distance from him.

      “I was just thinking—”

      “I bet you were,” she said, interrupting him.

      “You know, Jessica, things will go better if you don’t fight me.”

      “I may have to do what you say, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it.”

      “But isn’t being out in the fresh air preferable to bookkeeping?”

      “Sure, if that was all I had to worry about. But spending my day sitting on the rail of the corral won’t fix the books!”

      “Your

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