Free The Rancher by Kelli Ann Morgan

prepared when he met his new employer for the first time.
    The flank rider stared at him a moment,
    a  confused  expression  pinching  his features. He recovered quickly and tipped his hat. “Yes, boss.” Marty jerked his horse around to go tell the others.
    “He’s probably afraid you’ll change your mind.”  Raine laughed and clapped his brother on the shoulder.
    Two weeks on the cattle trail earned histeam this short rest.  Patience had never
    been one of Cole’s stronger virtues, however, it was time to get some rest to prepare for the days ahead. It wouldn’t do anybody any good to start the charade sleep deprived.
    “Tomorrow, my friend,” Cole spoke to

    the wind, hoping Alaric could hear. “Tomorrow, I’ll find your girl and set things right. However many tomorrows that may take.”

    Colorado, Friday
    Cole stood, stretching muscles usedextensively over the last few months.  Hehad become accustomed to sleeping on thehard ground, but somehow doing so onproperty he could call his own invigoratedhim.   His tall, black Arabian stallionnickered at him and Cole took a deepbreath.
    “Can you smell that, Mav?” He askedhis horse, his trusted friend.  The freshscent of the morning dew still lingered on

the brush. The murmur of hundreds of cattle, interspersed with an occasional whinny, set a wistful background in Cole’s mind for the picture of his dream, his ranch.  He planned to ride the land, to familiarize himself with every inch of his soil, but that would have to wait until he’d delivered the herd.
    He draped his saddle over one of the fence posts in the round pen, which creaked in objection. He’d risen early in attempt to familiarize himself with the immediate vicinity.  Along with Raine, he rode out a mile or two round about the
    area, surveying the surroundings and gazing over the luscious green hills dotted with new spring growth. Jagged, purple mountains encircled the fertile green of the valley. Deep blue ripples of water,

    crested in white caps, crashed over clusters of angled rocks as they raced down the winding riverbed.  The winter must have brought a lot of snow to these parts. The spring runoff was more than he’d expected. He patted his vest pocket.   Here it is   , he thought, his mind retracing the picture under his fingertips.
    The outer fences had all been mended
    and the lean-to, resting against the barn, had been cleaned.  Raine had insisted on
    transporting an old coal stove for warmth from the barn into the make-shift building and constructing frames for their bedrolls. Although Raine liked ranching, it had been a long time since he’d had to sleep on the ground.  It didn’t seem to suit him.
    One of the steers had collapsed from exhaustion yesterday and Cole had helped

    Cook dress him for jerky and hide.  Someof the meat now hung from the short raftersin a sectioned off area of the lean-to andthe rest, along with the hide was drapedfrom a support beam in the barn.  Bales ofstraw were stacked at the entrance of thebarn and fresh hay lined the first stall.
    This morning’s ride had proved to befruitful.  Although, he and Raine had notyet discovered the entrance to the mine,they had spotted a small farmhouse not faroff.  When they’d inquired of the farmer,he’d agreed to sell them straw, hay, somefruit jerky, and two flattened mattressbeds.  The mattresses would have to bere-stuffed, but Cole was pleased withtheir find.
    The only thing still left to do, was tocheck out the town.  According to the will,

    Cole owned the town of Silver Falls andmost everything in it, as well as a goodchunk of the surrounding land.
    Once the horses were saddled, the twobrothers headed out.   They moved at asteady pace, approaching the outskirts oftown within the hour.  They pulled into Silver Falls, past the confectioners shopand looked around.  People bustled about.
    Raine dismounted in front of the Sheriff’s office and