Midnight Ride by Cat Johnson Page A

helped. She could be curious as to why he was back. But she really, really should not be waiting breathlessly for him by the back door.
    His long legs and matching stride brought him to the door, where he stood in front of her before she was mentally ready to face him. Somehow she managed to remember to open the door.
    “Hey.” Tyler shot her what she was beginning to see was his trademark grin. The one that had over the years probably won him the hearts of countless females, both young and old, if the racing of her pulse from being on the receiving end of Tyler’s smile was any indication.
    “Hi.” She had to wrestle to untie her tongue to return his greeting. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing here, but she couldn’t figure out a way to ask without being rude, so she went with the next best thing—polite small talk. “I didn’t expect to see you back here today.”
    His grin spread wider. “Eh, you know. I couldn’t stay away. You’ve won me over with your excellent coffee.”
    Tyler’s smile was infectious, or maybe she just turned into a giddy schoolgirl around him, because she couldn’t help smiling back. “I can make a pot, if you’d like.”
    “No need.” He held up a hand to stop her as she turned toward the counter. “I really just came over to talk to you about your hayfields.”
    “My hayfields? Okay. Come on in.”
    “You need to harvest that hay.”
    “I know.” Those fields were on the To Do list she’d come to hate. She let out a sigh. It felt as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. Or at least the weight of a field of alfalfa and another of grass, both of which needed cutting.
    “Well, don’t look so upset about it. It’s a good thing. It’ll make you some cash. I know Rohn ends up having to buy hay every winter when we run through what we cut. I’m sure he’d rather buy it from you than somebody else.”
    “We never sold it before.” In past years, they’d used it to feed their own herd over the winter, but now that she’d sold off most of the stock, she wouldn’t need it. “You really think it’ll bring in good money?”
    “Hell, yeah. You know, after the drought last year, there’s a shortage of both grass and alfalfa hay inventory. Prices will be way up for good-quality hay.”
    “And is mine good quality?”
    “Looks it to me. But I’d have your hired hand cut it now, if I were you. While the buds are just blooming. That way you’ll get a second cutting.”
    That made her laugh in spite of the truth. “I don’t have a hired hand anymore. Last year, one of the guys who used to work for us before Tom died did it for me. But he hasn’t worked here in almost a year now. I guess I could call him. I honestly was going to give it a try myself.”
    “Yourself.” Tyler’s lips formed a tight line. “You ever harvest hay before?”
    “Um, personally? No, but I’ve watched.”
    A frown drew his dark brows low. It was a striking contrast, his dark hair and brows framing eyes as brilliant blue as a summer sky. “Are you here working this place alone? You’ve got no hired help at all?”
    “Nope. Just me.” It was probably stupid to admit that, but this man worked for the neighbor she’d known most of her life. Rohn and her grandfather had been friends even before she married and Tom took over running the ranch. She could trust Tyler with the truth, although he didn’t look very happy with her answer.
    “How are you managing it?” he asked, still frowning.
    She shrugged. “Selling the bulk of the herd helped. So far, I’ve found I can handle most things myself.”
    He swung his head, as his lips remained pressed tight. “No. I don’t want you trying to do it. I’ll cut the hay for you.”
    It was a relief, knowing she wouldn’t have to do it for the first time alone. And if Tyler was right and she could sell the crop, she’d have money to pay him for the work. “How much do you get paid?”
    “Nothing.”
    “No, I can’t