Double Rugged Trouble: Rancher MFM Menage: Stonecreek Valley Read online

  “All right. Hold on. She’s in the back. I’ll get her. Wait right here.” She pointed to a spot on the floor and I didn’t budge.

  “Thank you.”

  I glanced around the diner. I remembered eating here with my grandparents when I was a little girl. I always ordered something different off the menu. I tried everything. At least once.

  A woman with bright red lipstick and tints of pink in her hair walked toward me. The door to the kitchen slapped the wall behind her when she walked through.

  “So you’re Jade Ellis?” she questioned.

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m here for the interview.” I wondered if she could tell how nervous I was. This was nothing as difficult as having an art exhibit. Those nights were torture. Watching people walk from painting to painting, judging my work. But this interview felt like a different type of judgement and I had to pass it nonetheless.

  I reached forward to shake her hand. I expected it to be soft, but she had a firm handshake. Her palm was weathered.

  “Did you know I knew your grandma Edna?” she asked.

  “I had no idea.” I wondered if that influenced Cookie’s decision to hire me. My grandmother was known for her wild streak. She never remarried after my grandfather died. She said she liked her freedom too much.

  “Come on. Follow me. Let’s sit over here and talk.”

  I followed Cookie to a vinyl booth and slid in close to the window. In any other town, there would be things to see outside, but not in Stonecreek. The sidewalks were bare. I glanced at the storefronts on the other side of the street.

  “What brings a pretty girl like you to Stonecreek? I heard you were a big-time artist or something. Why did you want to come here?” she prodded.

  I pushed down the embarrassment. My eyes fell to the table. “I had to close my art studio. I couldn’t afford the rent on it any longer.”

  “I see.” Cookie tapped her pen on the table.

  “The house in Stonecreek is all I have left. My grandmother left it to me. I thought it was as good a place as any to start over.”

  “That was good of her.” Cookie smiled. “I’m glad she did. She was a good woman.”

  I couldn’t tell which way the interview was going. So far she hadn’t asked about my skills or experience in the food industry. I knew I was rusty, but I could pull out some old waitress lingo if I needed to.

  “Look, I really need this job. I can wait tables. I can hostess. You name it. I used to work at the bar in college and I’m sure my manager would give me a reference. I can track him down if you like.”

  Cookie’s eyes widened. “Slow down. Slow down. This isn’t a race. Things don’t happen so quickly around here.”

  I took a breath. “I’m sorry. I’m just a little anxious. I thought you’d want to know about my experience.”

  “I don’t need a resume or a reference. You’re Edna’s granddaughter. That’s enough for me.”

  I blinked. “Really?”

  “It’s the night shift. It’s not for everyone. You’re ok with that?”

  “I’ll take it. I don’t care.” I didn’t hesitate. I had exactly twenty-five dollars to my name. I couldn’t wait another second. The movers took the last cash I had when they unloaded the boxes from the moving truck.

  “How about tomorrow night? Will that work, or do you need time to get unpacked?” Cookie asked.

  “Yes it works. I’m unpacked. Ready to start.” I smiled. I would have tied on an apron that instant if she had let me. Did it really matter that there were boxes in every corner of my grandmother’s house? I meant, my house. I had to start realizing it belonged to me now.

  “Good. Good.” Cookie smiled at someone walking in the door. “You’re all set then. We’ll see you tomorrow. Hank’s here. Gotta run.” I was surprised the interview ended so abruptly, but Cookie was on a mission. She hustled past on the black and white floor. She had a heavy step when she walked and her hips swayed from side to side almost swiping both sides of the aisle.

  “I have your order right here, hon. Give me a sec, Hank.”

  Hank waited while Cookie retrieved his lunch order from the kitchen.

  I waved to Cookie as I walked outside. I was excited. I wanted to text Tia first. She was probably the only human on the planet who could share my enthusiasm about the diner job. Just as I reached for my phone I looked down. It was long enough to take my eyes off where I was going.

  I ran into something solid.

  “Oomph.”

  It felt like I had walked into a brick wall. I looked up. It wasn’t a wall. It was a man. A gorgeous, sexy, muscular man grinning at me. Something twitched in my core. Holy hell he was hot. And his jeans were tight in all the right places.

  “S-sorry,” I stammered.

  “Are you ok?” he asked.

  “You-you should pay more attention to where you’re going.” I pulled my shoulders back.

  “I wasn’t the one looking down. Trying to text out here or something?”

  I looked into his deep chocolate eyes. For a second I forgot that my mouth was capable of forming words. He made me want to lick my lips, right there on the street. But I stopped.

  “Well, if you’re the one who saw me, you could have at least said something,” I retorted.

  He chuckled. “Maybe I wanted to meet you.”

  “By almost knocking me on my ass?”

  “Maybe another time would be better.” He stroked the stubble along his chin and I held in a little whimper.

  Men weren’t supposed to be able to make me do that. But this one did. I was practically a puddle in front of the diner.

  “Maybe.” I put my hands on my hips, realizing I had made no point at all.

  “See you around, tiger.”

  “I don’t know if you will.” I had no idea why I was being so defiant. Only that it made sense in the moment to stand my ground against someone who could so easily erode away all my sensibilities.

  He winked and strolled inside the diner.

  I stared in complete disbelief.

  4

  Dalton

  “Cookie!” I yelled inside the diner. “Hey, Hank.”

  “Dalton.”

  The old timer tipped his hat at me as he walked outside with his lunch. I wanted to follow him and walk right back to that pretty stranger on the street, but the guys back at the ranch were expecting lunch.

  I wasn’t going to lie and say she wasn’t the most beautiful woman I’d seen in Stonecreek Valley. She was. But what was she doing here? And why was my cock still hard thinking about her?

  Sure the ranch brought in tourists, but not single women. Not ones who walked around downtown by themselves. She seemed out of place. Almost like an angel had landed on the sidewalk. An angel with a spitfire personality, that was for sure.

  Thank God for thick denim. My dick was pressing against my groin.

  “Hold on, honey.” Cookie struggled with the swinging kitchen door.

  I ran to the side to hold it open for her.

  “Thanks.”

  She held two heavy bags in her hand. “I have your lunch order.”

  “Smells good.” I nodded. I was hungry enough to eat everything right now, but I needed to get lunch to the guys.

  I took the brown paper sacks from her and walked to the front register to pay.

  Cookie wiped her hands on her apron. “I have a little bit of news.”

  I wasn’t one to get wrapped up in the grapevine. It was one of the problems of living in a small town. Everyone knew everyone’s business. Rumors spread as quickly as wildfires. Gossip was better than the feature at the Peak Theater.

  “Oh yeah?” I reached for my wallet.

  “I just hired someone to take over the night shift for me. I can’t do it anymore. It’s too much on my back.”

  She handed me a few bills in change. “Sounds like you need a break, then.”

  Cookie grinned. “Maybe you saw her. Pretty blonde. Was just in here? Jade Ellis.”


  I kept my face as neutral as possible. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  “She moved back into town a couple days ago. She inherited her grandmother’s house.” Cookie rattled on.

  “Don’t know her, but I’ll be sure to welcome her to town if I see her.”

  “You could do more than that.” Cookie’s eyes lit up.

  “Oh no, no, no. I’m not letting you play matchmaker.”

  I could handle women just fine. Granted, there weren’t many in town, but I drove out of the valley on the weekends. I drank. I fucked. I played pool and cards and then I was in my bed Sunday night. Cookie didn’t need to know how I spent my free time. And getting her involved in my personal life was my worst nightmare.

  “Did I say matchmaker? You’re a handsome man, Dalton. You shouldn’t be alone so much.”

  “Who says I’m alone?” I winked as I loaded the lunch orders into my arms.

  “You’re a devil, that’s what you are.” She laughed. “If you’re not interested then maybe I should talk to Ace.”

  “Ace?” My playful mood changed. “What in the hell for?”

  “Maybe he’d like to meet her. The girl is all alone. No family. No friends. No job until now.” Cookie shrugged. “She’s going to need someone. I was only offering an introduction. That’s all. Ace would look real cute with her I think. Unless you’re thinking about asking her out?”

  I shook my head. I didn’t want to play her meddlesome game. “Take care, Cookie. I’ve got to get these back to the ranch.”

  She tsked as I walked out the door. “You’re going to regret it. Ace will scoop her up.”

  “I doubt it, Cookie. I doubt it.”

  I deposited the sacks in the front cab of my truck and scanned the sidewalk for any sign of Jade Ellis. I didn’t like what Cookie had said. I’d met Jade all of ten minutes ago and I already had competition.

  To make it worse. That competition was my best friend.

  5

  Ace

  It was hot as hell outside. I wiped my brow with the back of my hand. I hauled another bale of hay in the bed of my truck. I saw the dust rolling toward me before I could make out who was behind the wheel.

  “Hell,” I muttered.

  The dirt flying in every direction was as bad as a seasonal dust storm.

  “Did you have to fly in here like your ass is on fire?” I yelled.

  Dalton jumped out of the driver’s side of the truck, slamming the door behind him. He chuckled.

  “I like taking that turn a little hard.”

  “No shit. I’d rather you not do it when you have my lunch.”

  I pulled open the passenger side and retrieved two huge bags.

  “Calm down. I didn’t spill anything.”

  I opened the first bag and took a look inside. “Is this our order?”

  “Cookie gave it to me. Of course it is,” he answered.

  “Well, there are six burgers in this bag.” I was stunned.

  “What?”

  I held the bag open to show Dalton the mix-up. “How many are in the other one?”

  “Hell. I didn’t even look. It was crazy at the diner.” Dalton stretched his long legs out and took a seat in the shade.

  “How was it crazy?” I shook my head. I had to repay Cookie for all this food.

  Dalton waved me off. “You know the usual lunch crowd.”

  “Yeah, because Stonecreek is as crowded as a New York City deli.” I laughed. “I’ll take care of this later. Someone else probably got our order and knowing Cookie she didn’t charge them for it.”

  He nodded. “Sounds about right. I have a few sandwiches to drop off to the guys at the stables. Maybe someone will want the extra burgers.”

  We ate our food in silence. There wasn’t much of a breeze in the shade, but from this spot we could practically see the entire ranch. It spread out in front of us. Rolling hills and points that clambered up the mountain. It was fucking breathtaking.

  Dalton and I had been in business together five years. The business was fifty-fifty. All of it.

  There was no other way to handle the land and all the responsibilities. It was either an equal split or nothing.

  I hadn’t regretted it yet. We had taken the ranch from a beaten down parcel of land to something that was hard to put into words. I was damn proud of this ranch. The work. The dedication. The sweat that made it happen.

  “What else was happening in town?” I asked.

  “Saw Hank.”

  “Wow. I know how talkative he is.”

  Dalton shoved me in the arm.

  “Hey, don’t make me drop this burger.” I scooted away from him. “Just asking about Stonecreek.”

  “As usual, there is nothing to say. Nothing worth repeating.”

  I wrapped the wax paper into a ball and aimed for the bag. I hit the target.

  “I still have the rest of these bales to move. Then I’m back at the stables. Then the office to pay bills.”

  Dalton stared ahead. “I was going to check on the stock. They’ve moved down closer to the creek.”

  “It’s so fucking hot. I can’t say I blame them. I’d jump in the creek too.”

  I hopped up, walking toward my truck. I leaned over and picked up a bale from the ground. My arms tightened under the weight as I lifted it into the bed.

  The deep blue Montana sky was all around. There was snow on the mountains. It was hard to believe with the heat out here on the land.

  “I’ll catch you later.” Dalton strolled to his truck. “Gotta get the guys their lunches.”

  “Let me know if you can’t find the herd. I can take a break,” I shouted after him.

  “Yeah. Got it.”

  I threw another load on top. “Hey, did you see anything about that band at Drew’s tomorrow night?”

  “Thinking about going?”

  “Yeah. What the hell else are we going to do?”

  “Good point,” Dalton replied. “A few beers on a Friday isn’t a bad idea.”

  “I’ve had worse.” I chuckled.

  There wasn’t much to do here, but Drew had opened a brewery in the small downtown and on the weekends it was about as popular as anything got in Stonecreek Valley.

  “All right. Yeah. Let’s do it. See you later.” He nodded and drove away.

  Working the ranch wasn’t easy. But we knew that going into it. We weren’t the kind of men who shied away from something just because it was difficult. We built this place from the ground up and I knew we were both damn proud of what we had accomplished.

  The dust trail followed Dalton down the road. I had a shit-ton of work to do if I was going anywhere tomorrow night.

  6

  Jade

  “Ok. I think I’ve got it.” I smiled brightly at Reva. She was assigned to train me before she signed out for the night. So far she had given me the complete tour. Shown me everything on the menu. Lectured me on spending too much time talking to customers. And gave me a list of closing duties.

  I was surprised that Cookie wanted me to work my first shift without a waitress to shadow, but it wasn’t as if I could get in the weeds here. Even though it was a Friday night, it felt quiet.

  “You sure, honey?” Reva asked.

  “Yes. I wrote everything down just in case.” I revealed the waitress pad I kept hidden in my apron. “Ketchups in the back closet. Roll all the silver once it’s dry. Oh, and stack the salt and pepper in the tubs on the cart in the kitchen.”

  “You got it.” She began to untie her apron. “I don’t think you need me anymore. I have a meatloaf to get out of the oven for John.”

  “Oh, are you married?”

  “Married?” She laughed. It was a deep hearty laugh that came from her belly. “I tried that three times. I gave up. We just live together now. John and I have an agreement.”

  I nodded. “I see. Well, everyone has to do what’s right for them.”

  “Tell that to the judges in this town.”

  “What do you mean
?” I followed her to the waitress pit where she kept her purse.

  “You’ll see. Some people have a more traditional outlook on marriage. That’s all.” She patted my arm. “Don’t let that worry you. You’ll find a nice cowboy around here. Settle down. Have a bunch of kids.”

  “Oh! Oh no. I’m not looking for a cowboy.” I shook my head. “I want to open a studio. Get back on my feet. I’m not even looking. Honestly, Reva.” I couldn’t tell her the thought of kids made my stomach flip.

  She winked. “Sure. Ok.”

  I could tell she didn’t believe one word that came out of my mouth. Did it matter? I knew in my heart what my priorities were. This artist was going to get her life back on track. Even if that meant I had to take a detour waiting tables in the diner for a while.

  “Really. No cowboys for me.” I held up two fingers for a scout’s honor symbol.

  “You might change your mind after a few lonely Montana nights.” She patted my shoulder again. “I’ll see you tomorrow I think. Gotta get that meatloaf. Good luck, hon.”

  “Thanks for everything. Don’t worry about anything tonight. Vince and I will do great,” I lied. I was completely unprepared for the shift.

  Reva left and I felt as if the weight of the world was on my shoulders. It was silly. I was a business owner turned waitress. How hard could it be to serve apple pie and coffee?

  Three hours later I had my answer. I leaned against the wall in the kitchen and rubbed my back. I had to sneak in a quick stretching break or I felt as if my calves were going to cramp up permanently.

  “Are Fridays always this busy?” I whined to Vincent, the diner’s favorite cook. Everyone told me he was a legend in town.

  He flipped a stack of patties on the grill. “Just depends. I think they have an event across the street. Tends to bring more people in. Trying to sober up with a little grease in their bellies.”

  “Event? What kind of event?” I had that sudden feeling I was missing out on something undeniably more fun than wiping down spilled milkshakes.