Cooking For Cowboy (Stampede Sizzlers) by Brenda Sinclair Page A

shifted his weight to his other foot. “Robbie started out as barn help almost five years ago, shortly after his parents passed. Dad and I trained him to be one of the best outriders on the circuit. The guy’s a natural. He gives me first call every night since he’s my guy, but he’s in demand. Several other drivers hire him to ride for them, too.”
    Sierra guessed that his boyish good-looks belied his actual age; he looked like a kid entering high school. But if his little sister was eighteen, he could be in his mid-twenties. “Is this your horse?”
    “No, ma’am.” Robbie patted the beautiful Thoroughbred’s neck. “This is Starry Night, and he’s one of Chad’s horses. The drivers supply all the horses for the outriders. We just ride. Chris wanted me to bring this guy back with me.”
    “Sorry, I haven’t checked my texts since last night.” Chad dug his cell out of his pocket. “So you brought Big Ben home. Chris mentions something about him limping.”
    “Only slightly. Probably nothing too serious. We didn’t want to take any chances, though, and I was coming back anyway.” Robbie shrugged. “Maybe your vet student can take a look at him.”
    Chad nodded. “Sounds like a good idea.”
    “Well, nice meeting you, ma’am. But I’ve got to load this guy up in the horse trailer.” Robbie touched his Stetson’s brim. “Boss, I’ll see you on Tuesday when we get back from the Stampede.”
    “As I recall, that Ponoka Stampede was always a lot of fun,” observed Chad.
    “Still is,” added, Robbie, smiling. “The rodeo competition is the best and the girls are still pretty.”
    Chad laughed. “Drive safe and say howdy to the guys for me.”
    “Will do.” Robbie headed around the side of the barn with the Thoroughbred dancing alongside him.
    “I didn’t know the owners supplied the horses for the outriders. No wonder there are so many here.” Sierra gazed across the yard at what seemed like dozens of them in corrals and in the distant pasture. “How many do you have, Chad?”
    “We have about thirty that are trained either as wagon horses or to be ridden by outriders. And we have several mares we breed, and their offspring that are in different stages of training. There are a few retired seniors that served us well, and Dad insisted they remain on the ranch getting fat in their geriatric years.” Chad grinned. “They’ve earned their oats, and they’re going to a slaughterhouse over my dead body.”
    “Lucky animals,” said Sierra, hugging his arm. “They seem quite content.”
    “Being at home, the horses eat better and rest better. I’ll be changing out some of them for the Calgary races. Heck, even I prefer sleeping in my own bed instead of the RV.” Chad smiled and added, “The men, the wagon, and horses went directly to Ponoka from High River. I gave them cash for a meal allowance, since we don’t have a cook to travel with them at present. But with Mom in the hospital, I came home between races.”
    Sierra spotted the dogs playing in tall grass beside one of the corrals. “Come here, Barney!” She called her pet back to her side and praised the excited dog while giving him strict guidance as to what was expected of him. Being on the ranch would provide a much larger playground for Barney than the chained, no-leash park near her house in the city. But she wanted him to stay nearby the house and not get himself into trouble.
    “He is certainly obedient. Comes running when you call.” Chad leaned down to pet her dog.
    “Every male should come running when called,” she teased.
    “You think so.” Chad’s index fingers playfully poked her in the ribs and then he slipped his arm around her waist. “There’s one more thing I’d like to show you.”
    As they moved on, Sierra smiled. “Thank you for offering me this job. When I think about all the crap I’ve been enduring at work these past six months…this job will be such a treat.” She visualized herself