Chance For Love (Colorado Blues) (6 page)

Chance opened his eyes in the morning with Callie
tucked into his shoulder. Her lips were moving with each outward breath and
soft snore. It was cute and he smiled, wondering how annoyed she would be if he
mentioned it. It seemed as though she had the best sleep last night and after
the last few days he wasn’t surprised. Moving half way across the world to meet
the future husband she had to have to save the family name would be tough on
anyone. To find out they were compatible was a bonus, but Chance had thought
they might be anyway. Even in her photos she had an attitude that screamed
independent and strong. Just what he needed after years of being fawned over by
ditzy women who were more interested in being the wife of a famous rodeo rider
than a rancher who wanted to work hard and make his breeding program a success.

A smile crossed his lips as he tried and failed to
imagine Libby Tucker working in the yards feeding the animals or cleaning out
stables shoveling horse
poo
. The
wanna
-be
actress had decided early on to attach her star to Chance’s. Every possible
opportunity for a photo draped over his arm, she took. When he had down time
she always seemed to be staying at the same hotel and more than once had
managed to get into his room and his bed. Not saying she hadn’t been fun to
hang out with, but the thought of spending his life with her left a sour taste
in his throat. She wasn’t someone he wanted to bring home to the ranch.

Unlike the woman sleeping soundly in his arms. The
moment Chance had seen the photograph of Callie, he’d known she was the one.
When they
skyped
for the first and only time, he’d
listened to her voice and let the twang roll over his body. She knew what she
was talking about when it came to ranching, or farming as she called it. Her no
nonsense approach had won him over instantly. Here was a woman he could see himself
growing old with. One who would stick with him through the rough patches as
well as the good. He just had to make sure she was happy here and wanted to
stay with him.

The first bout of married sex probably helped to
settle her into a good sleep too. It had worked for him. Thinking about it made
his body tense up ready for more of the same. It was only the pain in his hip
when he moved toward her that made him rethink that idea. A hot shower and some
pain killers were probably a better plan. He couldn’t wait until he had the
pins out. Then the muscles would heal better and he would get better movement.

Callie’s nose twitched and she reached up to brush her
hand over it. When she touched his chest she opened her eyes and for a moment
looked lost and startled.

“Hey.” He leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose and
watched the color fill her cheeks, highlighting the small scattering of
freckles he hadn’t noticed before.

“Hey yourself.” A smile broke out on her face and she
rested her hand on his chest, her fingers warm and light against his skin. “How
are you feeling this morning?”

“Horny as all hell, but I think I’d be better with
some drugs and a hot shower. As much as I’d like to say more of last night’s
action would appeal to me, I doubt I would be able to do much on the ranch
today if I make love to you again.”

“Such a shame. I was looking forward to wake up sex.”
She pouted and ran her tongue across his lips, teasing and taunting him. When
he lunged for her mouth she pulled back and laughed.

“Stick to the plan, cowboy. You have to show me what
to do. Not going to be any good if you can’t get your butt out of bed.” She
threw the blankets from their bodies and uncurled herself from against him.
Rising from the bed, Callie looked at him as she slid away to stand on the
floor.

He watched as she walked naked to the bathroom, her
hips swaying with each step, teasing his already rampant libido just a little
bit more. She wound her hair up into a knot on the top of her head and
disappeared from his sight. Chance lay back thinking of how lucky he’d been
picking her for his wife. His brothers were going to be hard to convince, but
it was what he wanted and he was going to finally get to stay at the ranch and
raise his cattle and a family.

Having to break it to the hordes of fans around the
country was going to be harder. He received mail every day from people who
couldn’t wait for him to come back from his accident. The offers of help had
poured in. Even offers of private nurses should he need them. He knew what that
meant. Women who wanted him in bed at their mercy, no nursing included. But he
was sick of that life and wanted the plain and simple joy of working the land
and the animals.

He heard the water running in the shower and decided a
romp under the hot water could work for him. Sex and the hot water on his sore
hip might just be the best way to start his day. He rolled out of bed and used
his hand on the wall to help support him as he shuffled along to the bathroom.
The steam was coming from the large open tile shower and Callie was standing
with her back to him. Chance held onto the wall and stepped under the hot
water, sliding one arm around her waist and leaning into her back, his cock
standing proud against her butt cheeks.

“Took you long enough. I’d almost given up waiting for
you.” Callie turned around and grabbed his face in her hands, planting her lips
against his. “I promise I’ll be gentle with you.”

“Don’t hold back on my account.” Chance held his
breath as she grinned and slid down his body to kneel in front of him. He
tilted his head back and let the water stream over his face while his wife gave
him the best head job he’d ever had.

***

“Sex makes me hungry. What can I say?”

Callie scooped another ladle of scrambled eggs onto
her plate. “I must remember to collect those eggs today. There aren’t any more
in the fridge.” She was sitting at the table looking out the doors over the
porch eating her breakfast when a truck came up the driveway.

“Shit. Might of known he wouldn’t take long.” Chance
groaned. “Sorry, it’s Tyson. Let’s see how this goes then shall we. Don’t let
him boss you around. Remember you’re the new
ranch
manager.”

She swallowed the fear that crawled up her throat.
I
can do this, I can do this.
Callie ate her second helping of eggs as she
waited for her new secret brother-in-law to come in and give her the third
degree. She didn’t have to wait long.

The door opened and a man who looked very like Chance
walked in the door, his hat in his hand. “Chance.” He nodded at Callie. “Who’s
this?”

“Callie, meet Tyson, my very nosy brother. Tyson, I
want you to meet Callie, my new
ranch
manager.

“What? Are you fucking kidding me? A woman?”

She shrank back in her chair, unprepared for the
tongue lashing he was dishing out.

“Watch your mouth. She’s more than capable of running
this place so back off.” Chance stood up, grabbing his cane from beside the
chair.

“I don’t believe this. You not only get a ranch
manager from damned Australia of all places, and it’s a bloody female.”

“And you will honor my decision and treat her with the
respect you would treat a sister if you were lucky enough to have one,
understand?” Chance walked over to him and poked him in the chest.

Tyson looked past Chance at Callie and his gaze hardened.
“You have no idea what you’ve done here, brother. You’re getting ripped off
because of who you are and the money you make. You mark my words.”

“I told you to back off, Tyson. I won’t have you
disrespecting anyone in my home.”

Callie stood up and reached for her new hat. “Don’t
worry about him, Chance. Stands to reason people are going to talk about me. I
can take it.” She jammed the hat on her head and brushed past the men and
headed outside to the barn.

Chance watched her go, his blood on the boil.

“How the hell do you think someone like that is going
to manage this place when you’re back on the circuit? She’ll get blown away in
the first snow drift, then what’ll you do?”

Chance turned on his brother. “Give her a decent go
before you judge her. The girl has been running the family station in Australia
since she was a kid. Apart from the fact their cattle breeds are slightly
different and the seasons are around the wrong way, she has it all under
control.”

“Yeah right, I’ll believe that when I see it.” He
walked past his brother and over to the kitchen island to grab himself a cup of
coffee. “I spoke to Rory yesterday. Trying to talk him into coming for a visit.
He said he’d think about it.”

The change of subject threw Chance off for a second.
“What? Oh right. Well I guess it’s time he came out of his shell. It’s been
three years.” He listened with one ear, but was more concerned about what his
wife was doing outside.

Tyson walked over sipping the dark hot brew. “So, when
do you go back to the doctors?”

“Three weeks.”

“Want me to take you?”

“Nope. Callie can drive me there and back. May as well
make the most of having someone around the place. There is something you can do
for me though. I was thinking of getting a dog to keep her company since the
place will have someone living here permanently now. Know anyone local who has
one available?”

“Yeah. Old Jim Puller has a litter of cattle cross
dogs. Might be worth a look at. But don’t you think you ought to wait and see
if she turns out? She could be gone in a week you know, and then you’ll have to
find a new home for it. You know I can always help out. I keep telling you
that.”

“Look, Tyson, I appreciate that but you need to concentrate
on your own place. You’ve done enough for me over the years. Its time I looked
after my own ranch.”

“Bit hard when you’re away so much. Let’s see how
wonder girl works out. Bet she doesn’t last any longer than the others.”

“We’ll see. Don’t go spouting off at her anymore
either and she might just surprise you. Now, if there’s nothing else you want,
I’m going to go and show her what her job entails.” He grabbed his hat and cane
and hobbled toward the door. “How is the horse trade going anyway?”

Tyson left his coffee mug on the kitchen counter and
followed. “Picked up another contract to supply broncos to one of the big rodeo
circuits. Just have to go and find some more brood mares that are within my
budget. I reckon if I can find another dozen, I should be able to keep up
supply pretty easy.”

“I can give you some more cash.” Chance held the door
for his brother.

“No way. You’ve done more than any brother should do.
Helped me buy the place next door and set it up. I can manage fine. Put your
money away for a rainy day. Heck, in another ten years or so you’ll be too
damned old to ride bulls and need the money for yourself and that high
maintenance bride you’ll bring home.”

“Is that what you think I’m going to do; bring home a
damned starlet or something?”

“Sure, why not? You’ve always got one on your arm,
stands to reason you’d marry one. Seriously,” Tyson scoffed and pointed down
the drive to where Callie was tipping a barrow full of horse
poo
onto the heap outside the barn. “Can you imagine being
married to someone like her? I mean, she’s so not your type, brother.”

She is exactly my type. You just have no idea who I
really am and what’s good for me. Yet.
“Never say never. Now,
gotta
go. Thanks for helping out with the animals while I was away. I’ll catch you
later.” Chance waved to his brother and walked as fast as his hip would let him
toward the barn, listening as his brother’s truck started up and rolled off
down the driveway.

He hurried inside using his cane to regulate his
steps. “Sorry about that.” He leaned on the railing and watched as Callie threw
clean hay in the horse’s stalls. She’d opened the door to let them out and they
were busy grazing in the paddock.

“No problem. Not your fault he has no idea what’s
going on. Can’t say I like his attitude though. Chauvinistic bastard.” She
threw down the shavings for bedding and stomped back to pick up the pitchfork,
using it to level the floor of the stall evenly.

“Yeah well, that probably is my fault really. He’s not
really had a women in his life for quite some time, and our father wasn’t
exactly the best teacher he could have had.”

“Still doesn’t account for bad manners.” She looked up
at him, eyes clouded with disappointment.

Chance reached out and pulled her to his chest. “I’m
sorry, baby, you didn’t deserve that. I’m sorry we have to do it this way, but
it’s for the best in the long run.”

“Yeah, I understand. I should just let it go but it
kind of hurt you know?”

He tipped her face up and kissed her soundly. Callie
melted against him and Chance could think of nothing more appealing than
pushing her back onto the clean hay and taking her once again. He would never
be able to get enough of this woman. Once his brothers realized how wonderful
he felt with her around, they would see reason.

“This isn’t getting the jobs done.” She smiled and
slapped him on the butt before stepping out of his arms.

“True. I was hoping you could go around the cows and
see how they’re going. Let me know if there are any calves and if they need
anything.”

“Sure. Can I take the horse?”

“Yep. Let me show you how to call him in.”

***

Chance lifted his fingers to his lips and whistled
long and low. Sultan lifted his head and looked at them before taking a step
toward the barn. “Saddles are over there in the tack room. Take whichever one
you want. I normally use the western on him but you might not be used to one of
those.”

“I’ll have you know I rode in one once and really
liked it. They’re a bit more solid than what we use back home and I can deal
with it.” Callie walked toward the tack room and pushed open the door. A row of
saddles sat on a beam that took up one entire wall. She walked over and ran her
hands over a pale golden saddle tooled with rose patterns over the fender right
around to the skirt. The seat of the saddle was made of suede in the same honey
color as the rest of the saddle. Even the stirrups and the cinch strap were
decorated.

“This is just beautiful.” Callie ran her fingers over
the intricate carvings and decided this was the one she wanted to ride in
today. She heaved it up in her arms and carried it out to the stall where
Sultan was standing having a head rub with Chance. “This is one beautiful
saddle. Are you sure it’s okay if I use it?” She hoisted it over the gate.

“Of course it is. I told you to choose which ever one
you wanted. This one I won a long time ago and it’s never been used. Consider
it yours. Now you’d better go and get a saddle blanket and a bridle for him.
Make it a soft one because you don’t need to be on his mouth at all. Sultan
works better when you use your legs to guide him.”

Callie hurried back to the tack room and looked for a
suitable bridle and chose a woven blanket for under the saddle. When she got
back, Chance had brought Sultan out of the stall and he was standing waiting to
go to work.

“This guy is very calm normally, but he hasn’t been
ridded for a while so don’t be surprised if he leads the way. He knows what to
do and you won’t come to any harm with him. Knows the place better than I do, I
reckon.”

“Sounds good, thanks.” Callie saddled the horse,
excitement building in her chest. To get back on a horse again was going to be
invigorating. For too long she’d been without an animal to ride and to go out
in the paddocks and check on the cows and calves was something she was dying to
do. How hard could it be to check out the progress of the next four-hoofed
generation?

Once she had the cinch strap tight enough, she held
the bridge up to Sultan’s head. He opened his mouth and accepted the bit
between his teeth, all the time rubbing his head against Chance’s outstretched
hand.

“He’s such a softie.” Chance waited until she was
ready to mount and handed her his jacket. “You will need this. It gets pretty
cold out there. You might not think so right now, but the wind can come down
off that mountain and cut through you like a knife. A pair of gloves wouldn’t
hurt either next time.”

Callie slid her arms into the sheepskin lined jacket
and instantly felt the difference. “Thanks.” She placed her foot in the stirrup
and pulled herself up holding onto the pommel of the saddle. Once her leg was
across the horse’s back, she settled herself down on the comfortable saddle,
wiggling her butt to make sure it was right for her. Chance shortened her
stirrups for her and then she was ready to go.

“Don’t take any chances out there with your safety,
okay? I don’t think there will be anything to worry about, but the weather can
turn at any time. You need to keep an eye on the sky all the time because I
won’t be able to come looking for you until I have better use of my hip.”

“Don’t fuss, I’ll be fine. Checking on stock is
something I used to do all the time. You go inside and rest that hip. It’s
going to get another workout tonight if I have my way.” She winked at him and
used her knees to push Sultan out of the barn and headed to do her job.

The first paddock housed the famous Terror and she
glanced him over as she passed him. He was a good looking Brahman, there was no
doubt about it. Didn’t look like he had a mean bone in his body but after what
he’d done to Chance, she would keep an eye on him. In the paddock with him were
a large group of yearlings. They were all young bulls, and she guessed these
guys were destined for the rodeo circuit if they played up as well as Terror
did.

She ambled past them and cast her eye over the
opposite paddock where fat Angus cows were lazily grazing in the morning sun. A
couple seemed to have calved already and she wondered just how large these
paddocks were. She would find out soon enough.

At the gate, she leaned down and unhitched the catch,
pushing the gate with her foot to give the horse enough room to pass through
before locking it behind her. The grass was long and brushed up past the
horse’s hocks. Rich tall grass that could hide a small calf if she wasn’t
watching for it carefully.

Callie decided to ride the fence first to make sure
there were no breaks and that way she would get an idea of the size of paddock
she was dealing with. She rode for hours, crisscrossing the paddock so she
could find all the stock to check on them. A couple of the mothers charged at
Sultan if they got too close but overall, the day was calm and easy.

It wasn’t until after lunch that her stomach started
to rumble and she decided to go in for a feed. These girls would have to be
watched carefully for the next couple of weeks to make sure there were no cows
struggling with the birth process. Even losing one calf was a hit to any
farmer. Losing its mother as well could be devastating.

She was unsaddling Sultan when she heard Chance coming
toward her.

“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been worried
sick.”