Free Montana Hearts by Darlene Panzera

“Rio’s made a new friend.”
    Jace nodded. “Just like me?”
    She’d invited Jace to the ranch to get an endorsement but the only reason he’d come was for her. She’d seen it on his face the moment Zach asked if she was busy. Jace waited for her reply, his eyes questioning, and she knew she had to say something.
    â€œWe have twenty-­six stalls, an open-­sided covered arena, and miles of trails, a ­couple that lead straight into the state forest. One of them goes up to an old abandoned silver mine where my grandfather used to work,” Delaney said, inserting as much enthusiasm into her voice as she could while trying to divert his attention. “What else would you like to know about the ranch?”
    Jace grinned and she had the unnerving feeling he knew exactly what she was trying to do. “Are you single?”
    â€œAre you?” she countered, dodging his question again.
    â€œAs a matter of fact, I am,” he said.
    â€œI suppose traveling the circuit doesn’t allow you much time to date?” she asked. “Or at least not anyone you could date steadily?”
    â€œNo, it doesn’t,” he said, and tried leaning his arms on the half door of Rio’s stall beside her, but Rio stuck his nose between them and nudged them apart. “What about you?”
    Delaney glanced at her watch and gasped. “Oh, my! It’s almost time for dinner and there’s a few more chores I have to do, but if you go on up to the main house I’m sure you’ll love the buffet. We’ve hired a fantastic new cook and I hear barbequed ribs are on the menu tonight.”
    â€œI could help you with your chores,” he offered.
    â€œOh, no!” she said, perhaps a little too quick. But someone who enjoyed hunting couldn’t possibly help with the chores she had in mind. Smiling, she reassured him, “As a guest you aren’t required to do any work.”
    â€œIsn’t this a working dude ranch?” he teased.
    â€œDon’t you want to just relax?” she countered.
    Jace grinned. “I just want to be with you.”
    â€œTomorrow,” she said, her cheeks heating profusely, “you can help me feed the horses.”
    â€œPromise?” he asked.
    The look he gave her stole her breath. Why did he have to be so good looking? Nodding, she swallowed hard. “I promise.”
    Delaney walked out to the toolshed on wobbly legs. If Jace Aldridge could make her weak in the knees his very first day here, how would she survive two whole weeks? Scolding herself for being so vulnerable, she recalled the vulnerability on his face when he learned the Tanners were his cousins.
    The revelation seemed to have thrown him for a loop. First his face had shown excitement over the discovery of a new relation, then shock at what they said about his mother, then a profound disappointment when they’d walked away. And after her experience with Steve, she sure knew what it was like to be excited about something, shocked by an unexpected turn of events, then deeply disappointed.
    Unable to help herself, her heart had gone out to Jace once again, just like it had at the rodeo when he saw Rio was hurt, just like it did whenever she saw anyone hurt. The fact this heartbroken hero was handsome was just too much for her to handle. She needed to get a grip. Tomorrow, she’d be more prepared. She’d steel her emotions and not let him affect her so much. And the easiest way to do that was to remember that he was a hunter .
    Delaney checked on the young doe she’d found the day before limping around with an aluminum arrow sticking out of the edge of its right hindquarter. Had to be from a poacher because the wound was fresh and bow season didn’t start until the next day. She’d removed the arrow and cleaned the red, triangular wound the tip had left. All the deer needed now was time to heal.
    She filled a bucket with fresh