“Me feeding Beau, your horse,” he growled with a hard emphasis. There was that mocking tone again.
Carli decided to end the conversation. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you are an employee at this ranch. You will do whatever work is required of you and whatever work needs doing. Why the attitude?”
“I’m tired of being at your beck and call. You think you know all about cows. Now you’re in tight with the Olsen family. Big money. Ranching legacy. You're somebody now!”
“Good grief. That's crazy.”
“Think you’re some highfalutin ranch owner. Too good to even feed your own horse. Don’t lower yourself by speaking to me. I’m just the stupid ranch hand.”
“If you don’t want to work here with me as your boss, Lank, just say so. Ranch hands are a dime a dozen.”
“Really? Well, then I quit,” he yelled.
“You can’t quit because I'm firing you first,” Carli yelled back. “I want you off my property.” She turned her back to him so he couldn’t see the tears in her eyes and half-ran back to her house.
At her desk, Carli tried to sit at the computer and focus, but her blood was boiling. The nerve of that guy. Questioning her time with Nathan. Accusing her of abandoning her horse. With a heavy sigh she clicked off the computer and got ready for bed. She thought about how she would tell Buck that she had fired his only ranch hand.
As she lay in bed, she played the conversation with Lank over and over in her mind. Nothing made any sense. What a stupid way to end a perfect day. He just made her so dang mad. She should have let Nathan kiss her. At least she could have ended the day on a more positive note. That was a moment she’d never get back. And then Nathan’s comment came to mind: “Used to love him like a brother.”
Suddenly she sat bolt upright in bed. She was the problem. Her moving to Texas had caused a rift between two friends.
Lank was jealous.
Maybe the attraction she felt for him wasn’t just one-sided. She remembered the time Lank found her in the snowstorm. He was afraid for her and so attentive. He acted as if he wanted to say something, but he never spoke. Could he have feelings for her too? Stop it. She did not need or want to get involved with anybody.
Carli's thoughts were reeling. She was curious about the missed kiss from Nathan, but it was Lank’s face that floated in her mind. He looked so darn cute when he was furious, and she hated how his glance made her heart flutter. And now she had fired him. What in the world had she done?
Chapter Sixteen
Seemed like there were always a pile of dirty jeans waiting to be washed around a ranch. Carli didn’t mind as she stuffed laundry in her washer before dawn. She couldn’t help but be energized this morning, except her stomach fluttered with nerves, and then to discover there were no clean pants to wear. In her excitement and work to prepare for riders, she had forgotten to do laundry. She sipped on coffee but did not find food appealing.
After the dryer buzzed, she pulled on the warm pants, tucked the ends into her grandma’s turquoise boots, and found a fairly wrinkle-free, red-paisley, pearl snap shirt. So much for being a highfalutin ranch owner, as Lank had accused. She wanted to make a good impression with the parents and kids. No matter, she would always be just Carli. No diamonds or turquoise jewelry and fancy duds for her. She pulled unbrushed hair into a ponytail and shoved a brown felt hat on her head. Slamming the front door behind, she half-jogged to the corral.
The kids were coming to LoveJoy Riding School today, her new equine program.
She squinted at the sun and said a prayer of thanks for the Saturday in April without wind. So far, the morning was calm. The temperature was jacket worthy, but bearable. It was a good day for riding.
According to the response from the online registrations made through her public page, she would have four kids. Two girls and two boys, one of the girls being Lexi. Carli was happy she wanted to come back.
Lexi was the first to arrive. Carli said hello to the mother and while they chatted, a second car pulled to a stop next to the dining hall. Carli walked over and introduced herself. A young girl about the same age as Lexi, with board-straight red hair and a freckled face gave Carli a shy smile as her mother made the introductions.
“We’re glad to have you here, Bianca."
Carli waited a few moments to give the others more time to arrive. The girls stood awkwardly apart in the pen, without smiles and not looking at each other. Both were dressed in black, with the exception of pink highlights that now streaked Lexi’s hair. A fluorescent pink chain dangled from one ear. Lexi showed interest as Sally followed Carli into the pen. The girl obviously loved horses. Lola brought in another horse for Bianca.
After a few more minutes, Carli decided the boys must not be coming. Nathan hadn’t shown up either. Lank wandered to the fence rail and crossed his arms along the top. He waved at Lola but paid no attention to Carli.
Even though she had fired him several days ago, Buck rehired him the very next morning before she could explain what happened between them. The best thing for her was to have as little to do with Mr. Torres as possible. It seemed they couldn’t even be civil to each other anymore. The riding school took up her time, with little energy left to analyze what could possibly be going on in the crazy mind of a Texas cowboy. She made the decision to only go to Buck with any ranch business and ignore Lank as best she could.
It didn't
