No Ordinary Cowboy (Mills & Boon American Romance) (Rodeo Rebels - Book 6) by Marin Thomas
Authors: Marin Thomas
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right.” Her father’s grim expression lightened. “Bravo needs to be taught a lesson in humility.”
Lucy choked on her orange juice. If anyone needed that lesson, it was the man sitting across the table from her. “So you’ll allow Tony to search the property?”
“Not alone. You go with him to make sure he doesn’t steal anything while he’s out there.”
Although the mine had closed, not all of the gold had been extracted from the Venus Vein—discovered in a network of underground tunnels. A cave-in near the vein had killed a miner, and after further testing, her father determined that it wasn’t worth risking more lives for the small amount of gold left in the shaft. He had officially shut down production in March 2001.
He pointed his finger at Lucy. “You take Bravo to the mine. Make sure he doesn’t go anywhere else on the property.”
“Sure.” Sweet relief rushed through Lucy. Now, nothing would stop her from preparing for the Ajo rodeo. Whether Tony approved of her fundraising idea or not, he’d be forced to teach her basic bull-riding skills if he wanted access to the ranch.
Everything was falling into place, leaving her with only one worry—how best to tell her parents about her newest fundraising idea. She’d have to inform them soon, because she intended to post flyers in Stagecoach and Yuma. Sooner or later, word would get back to them and pandemonium would erupt. She rinsed her dirty dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher. “I’ll be in my office for a couple of hours before I take the van back to Hector.”
“Your father and I are having dinner with the Friedans tonight,” her mother said. Robert Friedan was the branch manager of the First Trust Bank in Yuma—the bank her father kept part of his fortune in. “We won’t be home until late.”
“Have a nice time.” Lucy kissed her mother’s cheek. “Thanks for breakfast.”
The next few hours flew by as she made phone calls and sent out emails asking for help with the fundraiser. Her college friend Christine had offered to spearhead an Alpha Delta Pi pledge drive for the Pony Express. With Lucy’s sorority connections, she was able to convince Arizona State University and the University of Arizona to work their sorority-girl magic and collect donations from their sister chapters across the country. After discussing a PR campaign with Christine, Lucy designed a flyer and pledge card before finally leaving her office.
When she walked past Maddie’s cage, the boxer twitched her tail but didn’t move from her spot in the shade. Certain the dog knew the significance of today’s date, Lucy didn’t have the heart to leave her alone. “Wanna go for a ride, Maddie?”
Maddie sprang to her feet, her tail wagging faster than a windshield-wiper blade. Lucy snapped on her leash, and as soon as she opened the passenger-side door of the van, the dog jumped inside. Once Lucy got the air-conditioning running, she texted her mother that she was taking Maddie on errands with her, then headed for the main road with her canine partner.
* * *
“H EY , B RAVO .” Steve Hernandez paused in front of Tony’s desk. “Don’t you have Sundays off?”
“I’ve got paperwork to catch up on.” Tony had stopped at the office because he’d been tempted to hole up in his apartment all day and drink until the alcohol obliterated Michael’s death from his memory.
“A group of us are going to Buffalo Wild Wings after work.”
“I’ll take a rain check.” He shouldn’t be looking forward to giving Lucy her first bull-riding lesson, but spending time with her on the anniversary of Michael’s death felt strangely right.
“Hot date?” Steve grinned.
Lucy was definitely h-o-t. After the first time they’d made love, he hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her, wanting to savor the connection they’d shared. “No hot date,” he lied.
“You’re not still moping over your breakup with Evita, are you?”
Almost a year had
Lucy choked on her orange juice. If anyone needed that lesson, it was the man sitting across the table from her. “So you’ll allow Tony to search the property?”
“Not alone. You go with him to make sure he doesn’t steal anything while he’s out there.”
Although the mine had closed, not all of the gold had been extracted from the Venus Vein—discovered in a network of underground tunnels. A cave-in near the vein had killed a miner, and after further testing, her father determined that it wasn’t worth risking more lives for the small amount of gold left in the shaft. He had officially shut down production in March 2001.
He pointed his finger at Lucy. “You take Bravo to the mine. Make sure he doesn’t go anywhere else on the property.”
“Sure.” Sweet relief rushed through Lucy. Now, nothing would stop her from preparing for the Ajo rodeo. Whether Tony approved of her fundraising idea or not, he’d be forced to teach her basic bull-riding skills if he wanted access to the ranch.
Everything was falling into place, leaving her with only one worry—how best to tell her parents about her newest fundraising idea. She’d have to inform them soon, because she intended to post flyers in Stagecoach and Yuma. Sooner or later, word would get back to them and pandemonium would erupt. She rinsed her dirty dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher. “I’ll be in my office for a couple of hours before I take the van back to Hector.”
“Your father and I are having dinner with the Friedans tonight,” her mother said. Robert Friedan was the branch manager of the First Trust Bank in Yuma—the bank her father kept part of his fortune in. “We won’t be home until late.”
“Have a nice time.” Lucy kissed her mother’s cheek. “Thanks for breakfast.”
The next few hours flew by as she made phone calls and sent out emails asking for help with the fundraiser. Her college friend Christine had offered to spearhead an Alpha Delta Pi pledge drive for the Pony Express. With Lucy’s sorority connections, she was able to convince Arizona State University and the University of Arizona to work their sorority-girl magic and collect donations from their sister chapters across the country. After discussing a PR campaign with Christine, Lucy designed a flyer and pledge card before finally leaving her office.
When she walked past Maddie’s cage, the boxer twitched her tail but didn’t move from her spot in the shade. Certain the dog knew the significance of today’s date, Lucy didn’t have the heart to leave her alone. “Wanna go for a ride, Maddie?”
Maddie sprang to her feet, her tail wagging faster than a windshield-wiper blade. Lucy snapped on her leash, and as soon as she opened the passenger-side door of the van, the dog jumped inside. Once Lucy got the air-conditioning running, she texted her mother that she was taking Maddie on errands with her, then headed for the main road with her canine partner.
* * *
“H EY , B RAVO .” Steve Hernandez paused in front of Tony’s desk. “Don’t you have Sundays off?”
“I’ve got paperwork to catch up on.” Tony had stopped at the office because he’d been tempted to hole up in his apartment all day and drink until the alcohol obliterated Michael’s death from his memory.
“A group of us are going to Buffalo Wild Wings after work.”
“I’ll take a rain check.” He shouldn’t be looking forward to giving Lucy her first bull-riding lesson, but spending time with her on the anniversary of Michael’s death felt strangely right.
“Hot date?” Steve grinned.
Lucy was definitely h-o-t. After the first time they’d made love, he hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her, wanting to savor the connection they’d shared. “No hot date,” he lied.
“You’re not still moping over your breakup with Evita, are you?”
Almost a year had
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