Page 3 of All in with the Maverick Montana

“Almost positive. The only chicken you’re going to find back there is Faith’s chicken salad sandwich.”

“Probably not as helpful in that form.”

Amy bit her lip. A funny cowboy. Now that was a dangerous combination. “No. I wouldn’t say so.” She glanced at the flatbed cart he’d left at the end of the aisle. “Do you… Can I help you find something?”

“I’m looking for a fortified cattle feed. It used to be over there by the door.”

“Oh, right,” Amy said, leading him out of the aisle and toward the far end of the store. “We’re doing some rearranging of the stock. Well, Faith and Caleb are. I’m just a lowly grunt worker.”

“As if,” Faith snorted from behind the cash desk as they passed. “I’m not forcing you to be here. Hi, Josh,” she called, waving to the man that followed Amy.

Josh, huh?

“I do good work for you,” Amy replied. “You should appreciate me more.”

Faith smiled a little smile. “I guess I shouldn’t bring up the earlier order mishap or the fact that you just wasted an entire bag of feed?”

“Take it out of my nonexistent salary,” Amy teased.

Faith crossed her arms, smirking. “I just might.”

Amy reached the far aisle and turned down it, lifting her hands in a kind of ta-da motion. “Here you go. Not sure which kind of feed you’re looking for, but all the fortified ones are here.”

“Thanks,” Josh said, scanning the shelf. “I haven’t seen you around before,” he added before she could walk away. He grabbed a couple bags and tossed them on his cart. Thick veins ran up his muscled forearms. “Uh…”

“Amy,” she supplied. “I came down to visit Faith back in February. Haven’t really gotten around to leaving yet, so I figured I better earn my keep.”

He smiled at her. It was a soft smile. The kind that might get her heart fluttering under different circumstances. He had one dimple in his cheek and lines by his eyes that told her he smiled often.

“And you?” she said. “You must not come by the store a lot.”

“Only about once a month,” Josh said. “To stock up on supplies. Sometimes I have Caleb arrange to deliver the larger orders if I can’t get away.”

That was likely why they hadn’t crossed paths yet. “Get away?” Amy prompted.

“From my cattle.”

“You have a ranch?”

“Yeah, Split Valley.” He raised his hand and gestured in a vague direction. “Up on Juniper Road?”

Amy bit her lip and shrugged. “I’m not super familiar with town yet. I haven’t been out much if you don’t count the store.”

“Right,” Josh said. “Well, Split Valley Ranch used to belong to my parents. When they retired, I took over.”

“Carrying on the tradition?” Amy said. She could appreciate that. She and her sisters had rodeoing in their blood.

“The Aventuras have been on that property for as long as anyone can remember.”

“Josh Aventura,” Amy said, mostly to herself. “Do you have any horses up at this ranch or just cattle?”

“A few horses. Makes getting around the property easier at times if I don’t need to take a truck out for repairs or something. And it’s easier to round up wayward cattle. Plus I just like to ride. Have ever since I was a boy.” He pulled another bag of feed off the shelf and added it to his cart. “What about you? Ride much?”

Amy almost laughed in his face. Did rodeo star Amy Hawkins ride? Her brows rose. He really had no idea who she was. What a treat, she thought, her gaze traveling up his forearm as he reached for another bag of feed. Her eyes landed on his biceps before she managed to tear her gaze away.

“You never answered my question,” he pointed out.

“I do ride,” she said. “It’s actually one of my favorite things.”