Betting on Texas
Authors: Amanda Renee
More Than The Ranch At Stake
When Miranda Archer bought Double Trouble Ranch, sight
unseen, she was eager to leave city life behind and start fresh in the Texas
Hill Country. But the property came with some unexpected extras: a few cattle, a
couple of horses…and one surly cowboy.
From the minute Jesse Langtry first laid eyes on Miranda, she
captured his heart. Beautiful and determined, Miranda is everything Jesse wants
in a woman. There’s just one little hitch. Jesse’s dream girl just stole his
ranch!
Sure that rural life will be too much for Miranda, Jesse bets
her that she won’t last a month at Double Trouble. If he wins, she’ll sell him
the land—if
she
wins, he’ll leave for good. Pushing
each other away seems to bring them closer—and that’s where the real trouble
begins!
“I bet you won't last one month on this ranch.”
“Oh, okay.” Miranda laughed. “Some bet there. A whole month.
Wow.”
“That's all it will take,” Jesse said.
“You're really serious? What are we betting?”
“The ranch.”
“What?” Miranda rolled her eyes skyward as she shook her
head. “What do you mean, the ranch?”
“If you last the month, I'll leave and you'll never be
bothered by me again.” He grinned. “If I win, you sell me the ranch for what I
originally bid on it. What do you say? You game, or don't you think you can
handle it?”
Miranda narrowed her eyes. So this was his plan. He still
wanted the ranch for himself. Well, one month would be easy enough. And it would
teach him a lesson not to underestimate her. There was no way she could lose.
“I've got news for you, cowboy. I'm not going anywhere.”
Miranda held out her hand. “You have yourself a deal.”
Dear Reader,
Family is the glue that keeps us together through the bad
times and the confetti in the air during the good times. Family comes in all
shapes and sizes and isn’t necessarily blood relative exclusive. Ramblewood,
Texas, is a small town, big on heart. Where friends and neighbors are a huge
part of everyone’s family.
I’m excited to share my first book with you.
Betting on Texas
gained momentum while I was sitting
around a kitchen table with five other women and two seeing-eye dogs. I can’t
thank Dorothy, Jan, Lois, Miriam and Pam enough for believing in this book in
its infancy. Lois has since passed on, but will always remain a part of my
extended family.
When I saw Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest, I
knew it was time for Miranda and Jesse to see the light of day. Three months
later to the day, Senior Editor Kathleen Scheibling made my dreams of becoming
an author come true. She has truly become my fairy godmother. And to my fellow
American Romance “sisters,” thank you for warmly welcoming me into the Harlequin
family.
The townsfolk of Ramblewood, Texas, have become a part of my
life, just as I hope they become a part of yours. Feel free to stop in and visit
me at
www.amandarenee.com
. I’d love to hear from you. Happy
reading!
Amanda Renee
Betting on Texas
Amanda Renee
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born and raised in the northeast, Amanda Renee currently
resides on the Intracoastal Waterway in sunny South Carolina. Her dreams came
true when she was discovered through Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write
contest.
When not creating stories about love, laughter and things
that go bump in the night, she enjoys the company of her schnoodle named Duffy,
traveling, photography, playing guitar and anything involving horses. You can
visit her at
www.amandarenee.com
.
For my Mom and Dad with love.
And for Grandma Kay
âI wish you were
here to share this with me.
Chapter One
Double Trouble.
Miranda
hoped the words emblazoned across the iron arch at the ranch’s entrance weren’t
an indication of things to come. Well, there was no turning back now. She tossed
a crumpled map onto the passenger seat and steered her new black pickup and
creaky rental trailer through the gates.
A bittersweet smile formed upon her lips as the house appeared
in the distance. This was it. A new home and a new life, away from everything in
Washington, D.C.
The morning sun shone bright upon the white clapboards of the
century-old farmhouse. A large whitewashed front porch spanned its entire width.
Walnut and oak trees shadowed neglected flowerbeds filled with weeds. Miranda
envisioned a vibrant wildflower palette planted against the starkness of the
house and looked forward to a little garden work.
She pulled the truck into a shaded area close to the stables.
Looking up, Miranda’s breath caught in her throat. A rough and ready cowboy
leaned casually against the weathered open door of the building. A
grayish-colored dog sat at his feet, wagging his tail.
If the cowboy comes with the place, I must
be in heaven.
Miranda peered over the top of her sunglasses and watched the
man walk inside the stables. Then logic overruled fantasy. Miranda realized
Jonathan must have arranged for him to welcome her to Ramblewood.
She stepped down from the truck, her body stiff from the long
drive. The cowboy returned leading a deep chocolate-brown-colored horse.
Her eyes darted to a nearby corral where two more horses
grazed. Coils of rope and feed buckets hung from the white fencing. Water
troughs filled to their rims reflected the morning sky. She shook her head,
willing the whole scene to disappear.
Something wasn’t right.
Miranda grabbed the photos from the front seat. It didn’t make
sense. It was the same house. Same property. Why were the horses still here?
Maybe he’s just using the place for a few
days.
The horse trailer next to the barn must mean the animals were
being relocated soon.
“May I help you?” the man called out as he approached.
His tall, muscular frame flexed with each stride. The Texas sun
had tanned his face a warm golden hue. Hair the same color as the horse he led
peeked out from under his Stetson. A few days’ worth of stubble enhanced his
rugged good looks even further.
“Um...” Miranda’s mouth went dry. She regained her composure
enough to ask, “Is this the Double Trouble Ranch?”
“Sure is, sugar,” he drawled. The horse behind him nudged his
shoulder forward. “What can I do for you?”
“I don’t understand.” Miranda surveyed the property.
Are those cows in the distance?
She looked to the
cowboy for answers. “This has to be a mistake.”
His eyes narrowed. Miranda stepped back. The handsome features
she was attracted to only seconds ago faded into a menacing glare.
“Who are you?” His jaw clenched.
Miranda had a sudden urge to flee to the safety of her truck,
but both man and horse blocked her path. A fierce pounding began deep within her
chest. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come.
“You’re the new owner, aren’t you?”
He stood too close for comfort. Miranda backed into the corral
fence. There was no place to turn. With her adrenaline raging, anger suddenly
overtook fear. Squaring her shoulders she stepped forward, inches from his
face.
“Yes, and you are?”
“The former ranch manager.” He handed her the horse’s rope.
“His name’s General Lee. Good luck.”
Stunned, Miranda looked up at the animal. He snorted and licked
her cheek. “Eww!” She wiped her face and quickly lengthened the amount of rope
between herself and the horse.
“Hey, wait a minute,” Miranda called out after the cowboy who
was walking away. The sound of hooves on the ground behind her stopped her—she
forgot all about the rope she held. The horse nudged her forward. “Cut that
out!”
The cowboy stopped in front of Miranda’s truck and looked down
at the bug-splattered license plate.
“Washington, D.C., huh? What’s a city girl like you know about
owning a ranch?”
“Nothing!” she shouted. At her outburst General Lee tossed his
head pulling the rope through Miranda’s hand with a stinging burn.
The cowboy was back at the agitated horse’s side, rubbing his
palm between the horse’s eyes and down to the end of his muzzle while he
whispered words Miranda couldn’t quite make out.
“Lesson one. Don’t ever yell around a horse. Especially one you
don’t know,” he warned. “Lesson two—always wear gloves when handling a
rope.”
“But—” There was no point in reminding him he was the one who’d
handed it to her. She closed her eyes tight.
It’s all a
dream. The Marlboro Man is just a mirage.
“I don’t understand. I bought this place but...I didn’t sign on
for this.” She gestured toward the horse. “Why are you here?”
“I wanted to meet the person who destroyed my life.” He stepped
closer.
Didn’t this man understand the meaning of personal space? He
stared at her with deep brown eyes as if he expected an explanation. He may be
drop-dead gorgeous, but she wasn’t about to let him intimidate her. Yes, he was
an incredible specimen of a man, but she needed to focus on the task at
hand.
If only I could run my hands—
Miranda shook her head to erase the thought, watching the
cowboy turn General Lee loose within the fenced area. The cowboy returned and
gave her a conceited grin, as if he’d read her mind.
“You outbid me,” he said.
“What are you talking about?”
“I know your type.” He drew her hands to his chest and ran his
thumbs over her skin. “Rich as molasses. Everything in life handed to you on a
silver platter. You come to these small Texas towns, buy ranches like this one
and then turn them into housing developments.”
He turned her palm upward while gingerly running his fingers
over the welt from the rope. A chill ran through her. A part of her wanted him
far away from her yet she seemed to be glued to the spot. Maybe it had been far
too long since she last felt the touch of a man. But this wasn’t just any
man—this was a full-blooded cowboy who rattled her as no one ever had.
The reality of the situation kicked in and she pushed him away.
“Not that it’s any business of yours, but I bought this place to live on. Sight
unseen, I might add. I don’t know where you got your information from, but it
couldn’t be more wrong. I have no plans to build anything. I don’t have that
kind of money.”
“Sure you don’t.” He ground his teeth together. “I poured the
past fifteen years of my life into this ranch. Built everything you see here,
with the exception of the houses. Double Trouble was mine. Then you came along.
Ripped it right out from under me. Too bad I won’t be around to watch when you
try to deal with the cattle.”
“Cattle?” Miranda gulped. So, those were cows in the
distance.
My cattle!
“Those things out there with the big horns are called
Longhorns. And they’re all yours.” He laughed. “Don’t fret too much. It’s only a
small herd used for training the cutting horses.”
“Look...mister...whatever your name is.”
“Jesse,” he interrupted.
“Look, Mr. Jesse, I don’t know what’s going on around here.
There must be some mistake. I thought the sale included whatever contents the
owners left behind in the house. I figured it meant furniture. It never crossed
my mind livestock would come with the property and I never thought to ask. I
don’t know how to take care of them.”
Miranda ran over the events of the past month in her mind. Her
ex-fiancé’s lack of sympathy regarding her mother’s death made her decision to
move that much easier. When Jonathan Reese, her lawyer and best friend since
eleventh grade, returned from Texas and told her he found the perfect place for
her to start over, she found the opportunity impossible to resist. Memories of
countless moves and dingy, cramped apartments led way to dreams filled with
wide-open spaces and a farmhouse in the country.
Now she owned her dream. And while she may have seen an animal
or two in the photographs, no one ever told her it was a package deal.
A rooster crowed and broke her train of thought. “Chickens,
too?”
“You’re telling me you know nothing about horses and cattle?
Then why on earth did you buy a ranch?”
“I just told you, I didn’t know it came complete with farm
animals. I bought a house with land.”
“Lady, this is a ranch! And ranches are for people with
animals.”
Miranda kicked at the dirt beneath her boots. She needed a
moment to sort this out, to call Jonathan and get to the bottom of this.
“What did you intend to do with a fifteen stall stable?”
“There are fifteen horses?” If she didn’t faint now, she would
soon.
“Relax.” Jesse smirked. “There’s not quite that many now. So
what happened? The truck wasn’t expensive enough for you? Had to jump in whole
hog and buy a Texas ranch to appease your shopping urges?”
Miranda’s first thought was to slap him across the face. Thank
heavens her good graces held her in check and she kept her hands where they
were.
“Oh, get off your high horse. No pun intended there, cowboy.”
Miranda recoiled. “You know nothing about me!”
“Don’t care to, either.”
“If you are so concerned about the welfare of these animals,
then why don’t you take them with you?”
“And keep them where? My back pocket? Not a whole lot of room
there, sugar.”
Miranda ignored his arrogance. “Mr. Jesse, certainly there must
be some room for them at your ranch.”
“You sure don’t listen very well. This
was
my ranch!” Lines of frustration creased his forehead. “And my
name’s Jesse Langtry, not Mr. Jesse.”
“Jesse’s your first name?” Miranda tried to hide her amusement.
“Like Jesse James?”
“You got a problem with that, city slicker?” He folded his arms
across his chest.
“City slicker!” Miranda found it harder and harder to keep
calm. “Look, it’s obvious there’s been some sort of a mix-up here. Once I call
my attorney, I’m sure I can straighten this all out. Maybe the previous owners
would welcome their animals back. At no cost, of course.”
Jesse whipped off his Stetson, gazed skyward and laughed as he
wiped the back of his roughhewn hand across his forehead.
“How generous of you. But it would be next to impossible.” His
callousness faded as he continued. “They were killed in a car accident six
months ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
It seemed Jonathan had neglected to tell her a lot of things
about the ranch. Not that she’d asked him many questions. One look at the photos
and she’d wanted to move as soon as possible. Now Miranda was desperate to get
some clarification from her friend.
“They didn’t have any children, so the house went to Fran’s
sister. Since she had no use for it, it went up for sale.” Jesse pulled his hat
down low, shielding his eyes. “You and I both bid on it. I lost and you won the
whole shootin’ match. I was only watching the place until the estate was
settled.”
Miranda supported herself against the truck. A house was one
thing, but animals? She had plans of starting a small business in town once she
moved to Ramblewood. Only her ideas were more along the lines of a clothing
boutique. This wasn’t what she expected at all.
From what she could see of his face, he was distraught over the
loss of his friends and home. Miranda felt a small pang of guilt. While she
wanted a place to call home and to start a family of her own, she didn’t want to
destroy someone else’s life in order to get it.
She’d soften her tone with him and try to get on friendlier
terms. “So what exactly does a ranch manager do?” If she was lucky, maybe she
could even convince him to stay and help her for a few days, or until she
figured out what was going on here.
“I oversaw the entire spread, as well as being the head
trainer.”
“Trainer?” Miranda repeated.
“I train cutting horses.”
Miranda stared blankly at Jesse.
He rolled his eyes. “Cutting horses are used to move cattle
around, among other things.”
“I see.” A scene from an old Western flashed through Miranda’s
head. “I didn’t realize people still did that.”
“Sure they do.” He took a deep breath. “Listen, I have another
job waiting for me in Abilene, but I’ll stay around for a bit and feed the
livestock. I don’t work for free, and I’m not staying long. Just long enough for
you to decide what to do with all of this.”
Bingo!
“Really? You’ll stay?” Miranda saw a slight glimmer of hope.
“That would be great!”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, I’m only here temporarily. What’s
your name?”
“Miranda. Miranda Archer,” she said, eagerly holding out her
hand.
He took her hand in his and turned her palm over once again.
“It’s not too bad. The sting will go away in a few minutes.”
The gentleness of his touch sent her mind in the opposite
direction of pain.
Maybe I can find out if cowboys really
do roll in the hay.
Heat rose in her cheeks at the thought.
“Well, Miranda. Come on.” Jesse motioned to her. “We’ve got
plenty of work to do.”
“Work?” Miranda glanced at the pile of her belongings packed
into the truck. “I just got here. I haven’t even had a chance to see inside my
house.”
She didn’t wait for a response. Miranda retrieved a few bags
and headed up the porch stairs. Jesse bounded ahead of her.
“Not now.” He took the bags from her and dropped them on the
porch. “Until you hire a new foreman you need to learn how to take care of these
animals. Like I said, I’m not staying long.”