Free Last Chance Cowboys: The Drifter by Anna Schmidt

way through the herd as she came. The closer she got, the more nervous Chet was. What was she doing out here? Where was Turnbull? As Bunker had reported, the foreman had once again taken up residence—not in the bunkhouse but in an anteroom just off the kitchen of the main house. Aside from Bunker’s warning to stay clear of the man, there had been gossip in the bunkhouse that Turnbull considered Maria his woman…although from the little Chet had seen of the two of them together, that feeling was pretty much one-sided. It was pretty clear to him that Maria was the kind of woman who did not see herself as property. He’d also noticed that she seemed pretty good at handling herself, so it was nothing that Chet needed to get mixed up in. But he also figured that staying on Turnbull’s good side was just common sense if a man wanted to keep on working at the Clear Springs Ranch.
    But shouldn’t it be Turnbull out here checking on things, getting reports, and giving orders? Why was Maria out here without him? Why was she out here at all?
    Cracker ran a few steps forward, then returned and looked up at Chet. “Yeah, I see her.” Should he ride over and meet her? Should he wait? Cracker took matters in hand by running to meet the approaching horse—a black quarter horse that the men had told him had been her father’s—and then racing back to Chet, tail wagging. “He’s not your type,” Chet muttered. He pointed down at Cracker. “Dog.” And then at the horse coming their way. “Horse. Figure it out.”
    He felt the heat of embarrassment rise on the back of his neck when he saw Maria smile as she came alongside him. No doubt she had heard him talking to his dog.
    â€œHello, Chet. Cracker.”
    â€œMiss Maria.” Chet touched two fingers to the brim of his hat. “You’re a long way from home,” he added before he could censor himself.
    She laughed. “This is home.” She swept her hand to encompass the range as far as they could see. She sat back in her saddle—as comfortable as any man—and took in her surroundings. And as she did, Chet took the opportunity to study her. He’d acknowledged her beauty that first day he’d ridden up to the adobe house, but now that he knew her, he could see a calmness and contentment that held no trace of arrogance or vanity. A half smile curved the corners of her mouth—full lips that a man had to practically drag his eyes away from to tamp down thoughts of how it might be to hold her, kiss her…
    â€œI spoke with the other ranchers, and we’ve decided that tomorrow, we’ll need to move the herd to higher ground,” she said without looking at him. She continued to stare out over the land and speak more to herself than to him. “Roger says it’s too soon, but Papa always believed…” Her voice trailed off.
    â€œYou want to make sure the land doesn’t get overgrazed, that it has a chance to recover some.”
    She looked at him. “Exactly. Papa always said that we have to learn the lessons nature gives us, and after what happened in Texas… Well, the same thing could happen here as well. Roger says—”
    â€œBegging your pardon, Miss Maria, but it seems to me that your father taught you well. I’d be inclined to stick with his advice if I were you—and the advice of your neighbors.”
    She squinted at him as if trying to figure him out. “You don’t like Roger, do you?”
    â€œI don’t know the man well enough to form an opinion. What I’m saying is that your father knew this land better than any man currently working your ranch. For that reason alone, I would think first about what he might say or do.”
    â€œRoger does not like you.”
    â€œWell, now that’s a shame since he doesn’t know me any better than I know him, and by some people’s judgment, I’m a pretty