Cooking For Cowboy (Stampede Sizzlers) (17 page)

“Hello,” blurted Sierra, expecting to hear Diane’s voice again.

“Good morning.” A pleasant deep, male voice with a distinctive British accent greeted her. “May I speak to Ms. Sierra Griffin, please?”

“This is Sierra Griffin,” she responded, wiping the sleep from her eyes.

“Hello, Ms. Griffin. This is Anthony Robertson, General Manager of the Emerald Hotel.”

“Oh, good morning, Mr. Robertson. It’s nice to talk to you again.” Sierra crossed her fingers. He’d been one of the three people who interviewed her for the position of executive chef at the prestigious downtown hotel.

“The reason I’m calling is to inform you that we’ve completed our interviewing process, and I’ve been assigned the pleasant duty of offering you the position of Executive Chef here at the Emerald.” He cleared his throat. “Are you still interested in the position?”

“Yes, definitely. I’m honored. Thank you so much.” Sierra pumped her arm and shouted a silent ‘yes!’ as she accepted her dream job.

“You’re quite welcome. You are exceptionally qualified and we’re lucky to have you. We’d like you to start the Monday after Stampede if you’re agreeable,” continued Mr. Robertson. Sierra visualized him brushing an imaginary speck of lint from the shoulder of his impeccably tailored suit.

“That’s perfect. Thank you again.”

Mr. Robertson confirmed her hours and generous salary before wishing her a pleasant day and hanging up.

Sierra set her cell phone on the nightstand, leapt out of bed, and performed the identical happy dance she’d performed the day she received her Chef de Cuisine certification.

She grabbed her phone and punched in the familiar number.

“Diane, you’re not going to believe what just happened!”

* * *

Except for her best girlfriend, Sierra had put off telling anyone her news, wanting to keep this wonderful secret to herself and savor it alone for awhile. Besides, she hadn’t wanted to add to Chad’s stress with the ranch and Stampede and his mother’s condition by telling him he’d be losing his cook soon. Of course, she’d formulated a plan that would serve Chad’s needs, and everyone was on board. She just needed to set it in motion.

She didn’t think for a minute he wouldn’t be happy for her. He might chew her out for not telling him sooner though. Now, she couldn’t contain her excitement a moment longer. Besides, it was Friday night. Just two days to go, and the Stampede would be over. Where had the time gone? She sat at the kitchen table sipping a tall glass of iced tea, waiting for Chad’s return from the Stampede grounds. Her fingers rotated a bendable straw, leisurely circling the ice cubes in the glass.

She’d watched the chuckwagon races at the grounds with Bonnie tonight, but they didn’t venture over to congratulate Chad afterward. He’d be busy with his sponsor or with the horses or congratulating his outriders for staying with the rig and making day money.

Bonnie’s face had beamed with pride and pleasure while she explained that making penalty-free day money tonight meant some substantial dough in Chad’s jeans. Sierra thought all the stars must have been aligned or something, but Bonnie scoffed at such a notion. She explained that magic happens with the right combination of horses starting on the right barrel. Chad had recorded his best time of the season, and Sierra couldn’t imagine how excited he must be. Bonnie had appeared exhausted despite being thrilled after accepting congratulations from all her cronies who’d been in the restaurant’s viewing area with her. Sierra had decided it best if they came straight home.

Finally, she heard the back door open and close. She looked up and saw Chad standing in the doorway. “Hi,” he offered, grinning ear-to-ear. “Did you and Mom see the race?”

She nodded her head. “Of course, we did. I’m so happy for you.”

“Do I deserve a kiss as a reward?” He crossed the floor, took her hand as she stood.

“Yes, but only a kiss. Remember what happened a week ago?” She grinned and wagged her finger at him. “We can’t be dragging our butts during Stampede again. You looked like death warmed over when you got home last Friday night. Besides, I’ve got wonderful news.”

“Better than my news?” He leaned forward.

She kissed his warm familiar lips, feeling herself beaming. “Well, equally good news. You’re looking at the new Executive Chef of the Emerald Hotel in downtown Calgary.”

“What?” Chad pulled out of the embrace and visibly paled.

“I got my dream job.” Sierra felt ready to jump out of her skin with excitement. “Isn’t that wonderful? I can’t tell you how happy I am. Oh, my, God. The Emerald Hotel! And I almost fainted when they told me my salary. Can you believe it?”

“Actually…no, I can’t.” Chad frowned, and a sour expression crossed his face. “When do you start?”

“In three days…the Monday after Stampede.”

“Next Monday?” asked Chad, incredulously. “What if I can’t find another cook by then? Celia can cook for Mom, but what about the ranch hands, and I’ll be heading out on the road with my barn help and outriders to race again soon.”

“I’ve got a solution worked out.” Sierra straightened up and reached for his hand. “Be happy for me. This isn’t the end of the world.”

“For you maybe. You got what you wanted.” Chad dragged his hand through his hair and blew out his breath. “With everything I’ve got on my plate right now, where am I going to find another cook? And I suppose you’ll be moving back into the city.” Chad turned and headed down the hall toward his bedroom.

Fighting back tears, Sierra called after him, “Who said anything about leaving the ranch? I don’t intend to leave you in the lurch. I’m arranging something…”

Chad kept on walking, never even looked back, never acknowledged the fact she intended to help him anyway she could.

Sierra lost the battle and tears rained down her cheeks. All the times they’d been together, he’d never once said he loved her. Why was he so surprised and angry? She’d never made a secret of the fact she was job hunting and would eventually move back into the city. What the heck had just happened?

Chapter 14

Chad slammed his bedroom door and kicked the boot jack for good measure, which accomplished nothing except to sting his toe. Damn it! Sierra frustrated the hell out of him. Every time he met up with her, he couldn’t decide whether to kiss her or throttle her. Why had she taken another job?

“Because you told her to look for one, you jackass,” he muttered aloud.

He stomped over to the bed, picked up the boot jack, and returned the thing to its place inside the door before removing his boots.

Executive Chef at The Emerald Hotel
. That’s quite the title, Sierra. He hated to admit it, but he was impressed. And totally pissed off. Hell, it hadn’t taken her any time at all to find another job. Damn it anyway. He should have just kept looking for another cook. She’d only agreed to work for him until she found another position as executive chef. Which she’d done.

Idiot.

He had no one but himself to blame for this predicament, but the timing sucked. He was alligators-up-to-his-ass busy with responsibilities right now. He still had a ranch to oversee, and add to that Stampede chuckwagon races tomorrow and Sunday. And then back on the pro circuit again. He dragged his hands through his hair. Admit it, buddy. The reason you’re pissed has absolutely nothing to do with the Stampede or the ranch or anything to do with a darn horse.

“You’ve fallen in love with her,” he admitted aloud. The thought of her walking out that front door, walking out of his life forever, frightened the hell out of him. He’d even been seriously considering a trip to a jewelry store in the near future.

Why had he thought she’d be content cooking for a bunch of cowboys on a ranch? Sierra was an executive chef and she loved being in charge of a high-end kitchen. She was a professional. He should understand that. As a pro chuckwagon driver, would he be content pulling a hay wagon full of tourists around a dude ranch? No way in hell! He needed the excitement, the adrenaline rush of the pro circuit. He couldn’t hold Sierra back from savoring her success any more than someone could keep him off the track.

Chad sat on his bed, flopped onto his back and stared up at the ceiling.

That move proved a mistake, reminding him of the time he’d spent on his back in Sierra’s bed last Sunday morning when most of the people on the ranch were either at church or gone to the Stampede. She’d ridden him like he was a stallion, sung a chorus of that song about saving a horse. He smiled, recalling her shouting ‘ride ’em cowboy’ just before she climaxed.

Man, he loved her!

He’d hoped she felt the same way about him, but it appeared she’d willingly toss away everything they could have together in the future for her career.

What the hell was he going to do now?

* * *

Sierra stood in her room in the dark. How could she have believed she was in love with him?

The more she thought about his reaction to her news, the angrier she got. She’d assumed Chad would be happy for her. She’d assumed he’d be willing to work something out regarding her job at the ranch. Just proves the maxim about ‘assume’.

She felt like a total ass.

Why she’d believed him when he encouraged her to look for a more suitable position, she couldn’t imagine. Sierra flipped on the light switch.

“Because you believed him to be a good man,” she reminded herself, aloud. She’d thought Chad cared for her. She’d hoped he was falling in love with her, like she was falling in love with him. She’d thought he was someone to build a future with. Even his mother had come around and encouraged her to pursue a relationship with her son. That notion seemed laughable now. She’d obviously been worrying about the wrong Parker’s opinion of her.

Chad had appeared more upset about losing her as a cook than as someone to share his life with.

Idiot.

She had no one to blame but herself.

She should never have agreed to move to the ranch and work for him.

Chad had disappointed her terribly. She’d foolishly thought she meant more to him. Maybe she was just another woman taken in by a boss dallying with the staff. She grimaced, recalling the similar treatment she’d tolerated from Romeo. What was wrong with her? Maybe she was just useless when it came to judging a man’s character.

How could she have been so wrong about Chad?

Water under the bridge, she recalled her grandma saying. She’d accepted the job, and no matter how much he frustrated and disappointed her, she wouldn’t leave Chad high and dry. She’d even worked out a solution. But had he bothered to listen to her? No!

Sierra peeled off her clothes and tossed them onto the chaise. She slipped a sleeveless cotton nightgown over her head on her way into the en suite. Staring at her reflection in the mirror while brushing her teeth, a smile creased her face.

“Whether he likes it or not, my solution will work,” she whispered aloud.

* * *

Sierra shared her news with Chad’s mother the next morning. When the woman’s mouth dropped open, Sierra ran the solution she’d come up with past Bonnie. Chad’s mom congratulated her on the new job and expressed appreciation of her idea to resolve the issue of leaving the ranch without a cook.

“I think it will work for all of us,” insisted Sierra.

“I agree,” added Bonnie.

“Let me call Jeremy and Jenny, and I’ll get back to you.” Sierra whipped her cell phone out of her pocket and called Diane’s younger twin sister and brother, students from a British Columbia culinary school, home for the summer.

“My plans are a go. Are you guys still in?”

Her question was answered with Jenny’s riotous squeal.

“Yeehaw!”

That was Jeremy’s deep voice.

“Yes!” shouted the twins in unison.

“Get packed. You guys can move in tonight.”

Actually, Sierra’s solution was a win-win for her and the two student chefs. Sierra would be earning a substantial wage at the hotel, and the twins would share the previously generous wage that Chad had paid her. The money Jeremy and Jenny would earn during the next six weeks or so would go a long way to cover their living expenses and supplement their student loans for tuition when they returned to British Columbia in September.

Sierra planned to write up menus and leave detailed instructions for the twins and Celia, allowing them to prepare three meals every day for the ranch hands. She didn’t doubt for a minute the threesome would do a job equal to one she’d do herself. After Stampede, Jenny would remain on the ranch and cook with Celia. And there would be plenty of help with the canning, freezing, pickle making and everything else on Bonnie’s list. Jeremy would travel the pro chuckwagon circuit, sharing accommodations and cooking for Chad and the male ranch hands in their RV. By the time the summer was over, a permanent ranch cook could be found.

Bonnie instructed Celia to prepare the Jack and Jill bedrooms for the twins, and the housekeeper made up the beds and stocked the shared bathroom with towels and toiletries.

Celia returned to the kitchen to help with the day’s meal preparations. “Sierra, this is a brilliant solution. You’ll do the meal planning during your after-hours from the hotel, while the twins and I cook.”

“Exactly. And I’ll do it at no charge in return for allowing me to accept my dream job while still continuing to live on the ranch and oversee the kitchen operations until Chad hires a permanent cook in the fall when the students leave. Bonnie will resume responsibility for the ordering, which she’s more than capable of doing from a wheelchair. I’ve talked to my suppliers and they are willing to work with her, extending her the same discounts I arranged with them.”

“Sierra, I can’t tell you how happy I am for you,” said Celia. The senior smiled broadly, reminding Sierra of her grandmother. “I couldn’t be more proud if you were my own grandchild.”

“Thank you, Celia. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.” Sierra hugged the woman warmly. “Now, let’s get busy. I want this kitchen running smoothly by the time I start at the Emerald. And we only have a few days to do it.”