Rough Rider (Hot Cowboy Nights, #2)(54)

“Yeah. It makes a lotta sense. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me when you came out, but I wasn’t exactly thinking straight. I’m sorry for acting like a dickhead. All I can offer by way of excuse is that I had the missing cattle and Allie to deal with, and then you turned up out of the blue. Shit, I didn’t know up from down. Can we please just set all that aside and start over?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“It’s only part-time right now with weaning and preg checks coming up, but it’ll become full-time once the cows start dropping their calves. Since you’re one of the best hands I know, I wanted to offer you the job.”

She shook her head knowing this whole proposition reeked of trouble. “I don’t know, Dirk. I don’t think it’s a good idea, you and me working together.”

“Be pissed at me all you like, Janice. I deserve it, but don’t blow off my offer so fast.” His blue eyes held hers. “You need work and I need help I can count on. It’s as simple as that. Just think about it, will you?”

He seemed so contrite that it would be easy to forgive him, but then again, he deserved to squirm at least a little after the way he’d acted. She propped her elbows on the bar and leaned toward him, giving him an up close and personal view of what he’d so openly admired. She felt a tug of self-satisfaction when he shifted in his seat.

She pursed her lips and then answered noncommittally, “Yeah, I’ll think about it.”

Dirk retrieved his wallet and slapped down a twenty and a business card. “Here’s my cell number. Call me when you decide.” His mouth kicked up in one corner. “I can’t promise you great pay, but the hours are grueling.”

He slid off the stool and walked out before she could give him change.

He hadn’t even touched his beer.

*

Although Dirk avoided town as much as possible, he’d had no choice but to go in to see Janice. For the past week he’d tried to dismiss her from his mind and just focus on work, but she continued to infiltrate his thoughts. Part of him said to let it go, that it would be stupid as hell to get involved, but seeing her had unbalanced him. He’d thought about nothing but work for so damned long. She’d made him realize just how lonely and isolated he’d become. She was also a painful reminder of all his mistakes and regrets—of everything he didn’t want to think about.

But he’d hurt her and he just couldn’t live with that. He’d never be able to rest easy until he at least tried to make it right again. That wasn’t to say he wanted any romantic entanglement. He didn’t. He was way too far gone for that. He could never be what she needed, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t help her out. So he’d made the offer. The next move was hers.

He didn’t have to wait long for an answer. His phone rang before he’d even pulled into his drive.

“Dirk here,” he answered brusquely, not recognizing the number.

“It’s Janice.” She paused. “You didn’t mention any specifics on hours or pay.”

“You didn’t ask.”

“I’m asking now.”

“I’m flexible, Red. Especially on the hours. I’ll let you work around your schedule at the Pioneer—at least until things pick up. Right now I have an issue with missing stock. Got some cows and calves that didn’t come down from winter gazing, and we’ve spotted wolves. I got to find them soon—or at least their carcasses.”

“So you want me to hunt ’em down for you?”

“No. I’ll do that myself, but I need someone to look after the rest of the herd while I account for the missing stock. There’s calves to wean, preg checking on the cows and heifers, and then culling any that are still open. The ol’ man can still do some of it, but he’s got a heart condition and can’t do everything he used to—just don’t try to tell him that. He doesn’t know yet, but Ma’s hoping to convince him to spend this winter in Arizona. It’s the only thing Wade and I agree on—that it’s time for him to retire. The tricky part is gonna be convincing him that it’s his idea.”

“I can believe that!”

He was encouraged to hear her laugh. It seemed to break the barrier of ice that had built up between them. “So whadaya say, Red?”

“I’d like to give it a try.” She paused. “If you’re a bit cash-strapped, would it help if I just came out on my days off?”

“Hell yeah,” he said. “When do you want to start?”

“I’m off for the next two days. I just have to be sure Mama won’t mind watching Cody.”

“You’re a godsend, Red. I can’t even tell you how important it is for me to track down my missing stock.”

“I understand,” she said. “Cattle were once my livelihood too. I’ll be there by six.”

“If you can make it by five thirty, I’ll cook you pancakes.”

“Pancakes? You cook?”

“Damn straight I do and not just breakfast. If I find my missing cows, I’ll grill you the best damn T-bone you ever had in your life.”

“That offer’s hard to refuse.”

“Then don’t—” He was about to blurt “refuse” and caught himself. Shit. It was too damned easy to forget. He almost believed he could be normal with her.