“Take it the boss sent you to spy?”
I roll my shoulders back. “I’m working. As you should be.”
Randy stands and something about his stance is a little threatening. I swallow when he takes slow steps my way. “And what part of your job is this, sweetheart?”
I fight the urge to step back. “That’s enough. Why don’t you go back to what you were doing. And I’ll get back to the office.”
“Why don’tyouhead on to the kitchen and whip us boys up some lemonade. Then I’ll happily let you watch me at work.” They both laugh, turning away from me, neither bothering to look remotely busy.
I barely have time for a sharp response before the steady thud of hooves silences their laughter. A deep voice slices through the morning air like a blade. “Something funny, gentlemen?”
Randy scowls as he looks over my shoulder.
I flip around, not recognizing the voice. It’s not Wilder or Dallas. And he certainly doesn’t work here. I would have remembered seeinghim.
The man on the chestnut horse has a rugged beard and sharp blue eyes, not as deep as Wilder’s though.
His horse shifts beneath him, and he hops off. The cowboys behind me clear their throats. “Just havin’ a little fun, sir. Welcome back to Blue River.”
“That right? Appreciate the welcome but doesn’t look like your jokes are, so might be best if you just get back to work.” His scrutinizing gaze sweeps over them before they mumble to themselves and move back to the stalls.
The cowboy’s eyes settle on me, and he smiles, reaching a hand. “Levi Reeves.”
I accept it with some scrutiny of my own. “Am I supposed to know who you are and why you think I need saving?”
Wilder’s soft accusations of my need to prove I’m brave come to mind, but I push them down.
The new cowboy’s got a wide grin and a nice set of teeth. “My apologies, protection is an instinct in my family, but you clearly had it under control.” He raises his palms in defense.
Is he mocking me?
I’m trying to assess him. He’s not threatening in any way. He’s quite warm and charming, actually. “I’m Rose. Wilder’s assistant for the summer.”
He nods. “My wife and I are in town for the night on business. We’re staying at one of the guest cabins. He asked me to check in on these two, in particular. Said they’ve been causing trouble lately.”
“So have I. Did he ask you to check onme?” I ask defensively.
He grins again with a light chuckle. “You have, huh? Nope, just the guys.”
“Oh, you’re the friend he told me about earlier. It’s not your first visit, I take it?”
“No. We do some business together.” He glances around the nearby structures. “Some of these guys here used to work for me at Hideaway Ranch.”
“Hideaway Ranch .?.?. right. I spoke to one of your associates there, Tessa. She helped me out with some vendor recommendations.”
He laughs. “That’s my wife. She can be very chatty.”
“Is she with you? I’d love to meet her.”
“Well, hop on.”
Five minutes later, we’re pulling up to the front of The Shack. It’s the guest entrance, not the staff side of the building that I’m used to. A woman with long red curls and a warm smile watches us ride up. Wesley is with her.
When we pull to a stop, she reaches a hand for mine to help me down. “Indie, I leave you alone for ten minutes, and you come riding back with a brunette?” She smiles coyly at me. “You must be Rose.” She glances back at my brother. “You two want to join us for lunch?”
“So let me get this straight,” Levi starts. “You and those clowns back there tried to sneak Tuscan out to compete at the Callahan rodeo?”
Tessa shakes her head. “Takes guts.”
