“Our head wrangler does most of the hiring now. Red Dixon was a rodeo clown for years and knows just about everyone. He’s also the lead for Cowboys for Christ in our area.” Jace shook his head. He didn’t know why he was telling her all of these things. She was a guest who had come to the Broken J to experience the adventures of the not-so-wild west, not listen to him ramble about how the place worked.
“Red’s still here?” Angie asked with a smile. She remembered the grizzled old man with the twinkling eyes who often got Dandy, the pony, ready for use in the pony cart.
“You remember Red?”
“Of course,” she grinned. “You don’t forget a visit to the Broken J easily.”
Jace smiled glad that this pretty young woman was interested in the ranch as a whole. “I was just about to sit down to eat, would you like to join me?”
Angie hesitated for a moment then followed him to a table where several other staff members were sitting and waited as he nudged a chair out of the way. Meals at the Broken J were served family-style and servers brought platters, bowls, and baskets of food to each table where guests could help themselves. Tonight’s fried chicken, potato salad, tossed greens, and baked beans looked like a feast, but Angie couldn’t help eying the table of desserts near the coffee and drinks machines as well.
“Can I get you a drink?” Jace asked still standing.
“I can get it,” Angie protested grasping her wheel rim again.
“I’m sure you can, but I offered out of politeness, so let me. Just name your poison,” he added with a heavy drawl.
Angie laughed. The cowboy standing beside her didn’t seem to be offering because he thought she couldn’t do this on her own, he was just being friendly. “Ginger Ale then, thanks.”
Angie smiled shyly at the others along with the table while Jace went to get their drinks. Several of the other workers, most of whom seemed close to her age, introduced themselves.
“You must have heard about all the excitement,” a blonde with a long braid down her back said. “We’re all giving Brady a hard time about it. He was riding drag on the group and should have seen that girl slip out of line.”
“He isn’t in trouble is he?” Angie leaned forward wondering which one was Brady.
“That’s him there,” the blonde commented, pointing a finger at a young man with black hair who slunk into the dining room next to Chase Haven himself.
“He probably got a lecture by the look of things, but he’ll be alright. Chase is fair.”
“Do you know what happened?” Angie couldn’t seem to curb her curiosity as the young man walked toward them, hands thrust into the pocket of his dusty jeans.
Jace slipped into a chair next to Angie and grinned. “I think we’re going to get the story straight from the horse’s mouth,” he laughed.
“Don’t start,” the lean man named Brady growled as he dropped onto the hard bench. “I’m not getting into it.”
“But Brady, it isn’t like you to lose a guest,” the blonde girl teased.
“It is when I have to stop and fix something every five minutes for one lady who should have had the sense to stay home or take the wagon. Every time I turned around she needed something else.” Brady’s eyes fell on Angela and he blanched. “I’m sorry,” he balked. “I shouldn’t speak like that about our guests.”
“I’m sure you’ve had an exasperating day,” Angie said. “Besides I’ll bet some people are much more work than others.” She avoided looking down at her useless legs but felt the doubts bubbling once more.
“One Ginger Ale for the lady,” Jace teased placing her drink on the table. “Now let’s dig in.”
***
“I hope that whole mess didn’t throw you off tonight,” Jace said as he walked alongside Angie back toward the cabins. He didn’t know why he felt compelled to walk with her. He’d been off the clock for over an hour already but didn’t want to end the evening yet. “Our horses are very safe,” he added trying to set her at ease.
“I know they are,” Angie said, but there was no excitement in her voice. She knew that she would never be able to ride like others, and now, with an accident causing problems for Phil and Chase Haven, she didn’t want to be the next bit of gossip everyone was sharing.
“Why don’t you come out for the morning ride tomorrow?” Jace asked. “I’ll show you how sweet the horses at the Broken J are. You won’t have to worry about a thing.”
“Who says I’m worried?” Angie snapped feeling sorry for her tone immediately when she saw Jace’s face fall. He was a nice wrangler and for some reason seemed to feel that she was his personal responsibility. “I’m just not ready yet,” she finally said. “Thanks for inviting me to eat with you and the other crew though. It was fun.”
Jace smiled. He could tell that Angela had enjoyed being on the inside with the riders and workers of the ranch. She had gotten a different insight into what the place was like and being on her own out here it must have been nice to be around people her age. There were plenty of families and older couples who came to the ranch and usually several newlyweds or honeymooners, but most people came as a group while Angela had come to the Broken J completely alone. “Well, you just holler if you need anything,” he finally offered. “There’s plenty to do around here if you want to try.”
Angie smiled and it seemed to zing to his heart. Her bright features softened as her eyes lit. The smile was soft, a mixture of cheer, doubt, and hope that did funny things to his insides.
“Thank you,” she said.
