Page 44 of Taming the Wild Cowboy

They worked their way through the plate of cheese sticks, splitting the last one, and Maclyn drank her beer slowly, enjoying the bite of the IPA. She’d only have one because she was driving and in charge of cattle at midnight, so she savored the beer almost as much as the gossipy conversation. Shay had just got the meaty part of a story about Robyn getting sucked into an MLM when a man approached the table. Maclyn glanced up, then smiled. “Dr. Kelly. Hi.”

“Just thought I’d check to see how the cow is faring.”

“She’s on her feet in the barn. Her calf is nursing.”

“Great. I was going to call to check tomorrow, but saw you over here …”

Maclyn turned to Shay. “Shay Crawford, Dr. Kelly. He saved one of the Tree Fork cows yesterday.”

“Dr. Kelly.”

“Call me Chad.”

Shay gave him a look, and the vet grimaced. “Trust me, it’s not easy going through life with a bro name.”

“That wasn’t it.” She waved a hand at the extra chair. “Want to have a seat?”

“Sure.”

Maclyn scooched her chair sideways, making room for the vet to sit while Shay clasped her hands on the table in front of her.

“I was going to say that my mom’s wiener dog is named Chad. Actually Chadley, but Chad for short.”

“I share a name with a wiener dog?”

“It’s an honor,” Shay assured him. “Chad is one fine wiener.”

Maclyn put her hand to her mouth to keep from spitting beer, while Chad simply closed his eyes and shook his head. Shay made amends by filling his glass from their pitcher and then, for the next half hour, Chad regaled his recent adventures on the various ranches around the area. Maclyn watched the growing dynamic between the two and wondered if perhaps she was an accidental matchmaker.

“By the way”—Chad turned to Maclyn, his expression taking on a serious edge—“I spoke to my boss. They’ve already filled the job you applied for, but he’s keeping your name on file.”

Maclyn ignored the now familiar sinking feeling in her gut. “Thanks anyway.”

“Something might still work out with us.”

“If not, I’ll find something,” she assured him with more confidence than she felt. At least she had the Tree Fork for now. The Tree Fork and her tempting boss.

It was going on ten o’clock and Mac was thinking of leaving so that she could be on time for her cow check, when the door opened, and a group of cowboys came in. Not long after, money landed in the jukebox and one of the cowboys invited the bartender to dance. When she laughingly refused, he started making the rounds asking every woman in the place to take a spin on the dance floor.

When he reached their table, both Maclyn and Shay shook their heads, but Chad beckoned the young cowboy closer. “I don’t want to dance, but do you know Maclyn?”

“I don’t, but I’d like to.”

“Maclyn, this is Brandon who works on the Marvell Ranch. They raise horses.”

“Do they?”

“Maclyn is a wrangler. I don’t know if you’re looking …”

Brandon rubbed a hand over his chin. “Not sure that they are.” He met Maclyn’s eyes. “I’m more on the cattle side of things. I can ask if they’re in need.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

Maclyn assumed he meant when he got back to the ranch, but instead he waved a hand at the table where his cowboy friends had gathered. “Hey, Zach!”

One of the cowboys pushed back his chair and ambled over. Maclyn tipped her head back as he arrived at the table. He was tall, self-possessed, ridiculously handsome. And he looked like the real cowboy deal, just like Trev.

“We need a wrangler?” Brandon leaned back on his heels as he spoke.