Bachelor Cowboy

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“No, just one neighbor calling on another.”

Luke stripped his gloves off and stuck them in his back pocket, then took the bag and extracted a couple of cookies. As he did so, he gave her an assessing glance. “What else do neighbors do to help each other out around here?”

She knew intuitively that he was testing her. She lifted her chin. “Whatever needs to be done. Last year, Joe McAdam helped my mom load and sell some cattle after she fell and hurt her back.” Shannon smiled ruefully. “My mom’s a little bit accident prone.” She didn’t know why she’d added the last part, except it wouldn’t hurt for him to begin seeing his neighbors as real people.

He bit into a cookie and chewed it thoughtfully, then held it away and gave it an appreciative look. “You make these?”

“Yes. With my nephew’s help.”

He took another bite, chewed and swallowed. “Had any experience in mending fences?”

Shannon blinked. “Are you kidding? I’m one of three girls. We had no brothers, so our dad depended on us to help out.” She offered him a tentative smile. “You got some fence that needs mending?”

His gaze went from her to cookies and back again. “Can you mend fence as well as you bake cookies?”

“Better.”

As she had on her last visit, she glimpsed a flicker of humor in his eyes. She felt her heart begin a slow, heavy beat of excitement. She wanted to encourage that spark of humor.

“Does your boss know you’re here?” he asked.

“Of course.” That wasn’t strictly true. She’d left a list of the places she was going that day, but Wiley probably wouldn’t bother to read it. However, she wasn’t responsible for his negligence.

“And he doesn’t mind that you’re wasting your time?”

She shrugged. “It’s my time to waste.”

“Honey, it’s really the government’s time.”

“Visiting the ranchers and offering my assistance is part of my job,” she answered in a careless tone. “I’m only doing my job.”

Luke munched another cookie while he considered. “Since you’re determined to help me out even though I don’t need your help, and you keep showing up here, why don’t you put your money where your mouth is and work with me today?”

His tone told her he thought she couldn’t do it—just as he thought she couldn’t catch and saddle her own horse when she’d been here before.

She smiled. “I’d love to. After all, what are neighbors for?”

“I’ve often wondered.” He turned away. “Come on. If you’re here to help, let’s get to work.” He glanced back. “And bring the cookies.”

With a laugh, Shannon locked the truck after she grabbed her gloves, her lunch and the two-liter bottle of water she’d brought. She could see that his truck was already loaded with tools, cedar posts, staples and wire. Afraid that he might change his mind and decide to leave without her in spite of what he had said, she dashed after him.

When she arrived at the truck in a rush, he glanced up. “Did you think I’d leave without you?”

Color flared into her cheeks, but her eyes sparkled at him as she opened the truck door. “Considering how reluctant you are to take me along, yes. Just remember, you invited me.”

“I remember.”

“Don’t try to back out of it.”

“Let’s hope you figure out pretty quick that I’m a man of my word, or our future dealings won’t be worth much.”

Future dealings? That was a big jump from the way he’d shown her the door the last time she’d called. Shannon gave him a swift glance and wondered if he realized what he’d said.