She sputters. “I am Eliza McCormick. And, you, you are no gentleman! Instead of preventing me from falling into this… this pig tray and almost drowning, you chose to laugh.
“You are still standing there soaking up the free entertainment! Just you wait!” She points a perfectly manicured nail at me.
“Your boss, Mr. Rowdy Donovan, is right over there, you dirty imbecile.” She flicks her finger toward Rowdy. “Oh, you can kiss your job goodbye.” She sneers again.
My boss? Oh, she thinks Rowdy is my boss, does she?
And did she just call me a dirty imbecile while she contaminates my horse’s water with whatever thousand dollar perfume she’s wearing?!
My nose wrinkles as I glance down at myself.
Ok, so, I am dirty. But, I’ve been working the land all damn day.
Ranching is a man’s job. It’s good, old-fashioned dirty work.
No way to do it and keep your hands… or your clothes, clean.
With a smirk, I offer her my hand. No sense in watching her scramble more to getoutof the trough.
She slaps it away and I chuckle.
Ok, darlin’. Have it your way.
This should be good.
I stand tall and cross my arms over my chest to watch her.
Ignoring me, she bites her lip as she looks from the trough to the ground, weighing her options, and then while purposefully snubbing me, she holds onto the side while throwing one leg over. One of her black heels floats beside her on the top of the water. Grabbing it, she flings it to the dusty ground before sliding the other leg over the metal of trough. Her saturated skirt rides up to her smooth thighs as she scoots onto her toes.
Careful, darlin’. You’re about to flash me a peek of those lace panties I’m pretty certain you don’t want me to see.
The whole thing is so undignified, I’m trying not to allow the humor I’m feeling to explode from my chest.
She probably would stab me with that shoe.
Glancing at me, she pulls her skirt down and nods her head as if she’s proud of herself.
Standing at her full height, about five foot six, by my observation, she tosses her hair over her shoulder. It sticks and makes a slapping noise.
I chuckle and she glares at me again before dismissing me with a flick of her eyes and calling out, “Mr. Donovan, your employee is appalling!”
Rowdy looks from me to her and then says, “Um, my employee? Ma’am…”
I interrupt him. “My apologies,MisterDonovan.”
His brows raise and his forehead wrinkles as he says, “Why are you calling me Mister, Falcon?”
Momma laughs and shakes her head before calling out to us, “Miss McCormick, I apologize for my son.” She waves her hand at me. “Sometimes he forgets how to act around pretty women. I did raise him with manners, you know.” She shoots methe look.
I smile sheepishly. Miss McCormick looks from me to Momma a few times and I can tell by her face that she’s not inclined to believe what Momma just told her. Her mouth drops open and I shrug before tipping my hat. “Falcon Donovan, at your service, Miss McCormick. I’ll be sure to make a notation of your complaint in my personnel chart.” Holding out my hand, I gesture for her to walk past me.
She blinks before glaring at me and sputters, “What?!You… you’re the other half of the Double Down Ranch!?”
Shoving my hat back from my forehead, I smile at her. “Yes, ma’am. I sure am.” I wave my hand again and raise my brow. “After you, darlin’…”
Her light brown eyes snap and her jaw clenches as she brushes past me, making certain not to touch any part of me. Her dress is clinging to her every asset and when she gets a glimpse of her face and the smears of that makeup… I have a feeling she’s going to scream like a banshee.
A grin covers my face as I watch her stalk toward the others, leaving behind wet footprints in the dirt.
I chuckle and mutter, “Oh, boy…” and follow after her to help with the rest of the bags.
