Chapter 1

Coal Bryan sat on Shadow’s back, her stallion, as she gazed across the herd of steers. The hay they harvested last summer had kept the cattle through the winter, and the spring grass and fresh grain had prepared the steers for the market.

Her fingers unconsciously twisted the gold band on her left hand. She and her partner, Mary Leah, had tied the knot at the MC2 ranch in the late fall. After a fantastic honeymoon in Alaska, where they saw the Northern Lights, they returned to settle into married life. Mary Leah continued working as a pharmacist in town, and Coal resumed her duties at the MC2 ranch, owned by Mary Leah’s sister, Melissa.

Coal’s thoughts drifted back to when she first arrived at the MC2. The new ranch hand’s name had led Melissa to believe Coal Bryan was a male, and Melissa and Stan, her ranch foreman, were surprised when Coal walked up to greet them.

Coal’s work ethic and skill with horses rapidly gained the respect of the owner and the hands of the MC2. Harley, a long-term ranch hand at the MC2, quickly noticed the Army Ranger ink she carried and felt that there was a dark story behind Coal’s time in the desert. In an odd twist of fate, Melissa realized that Coal and Tessa were the two soldiers her husband, Mitch, had written home to her about. They had served with him in the desert, where an explosion killed him and Tessa, Coal’s former lover. Neither had made the connection until Coal saw a picture of them on Melissa’s wall.

†

Harley Boone rode up beside her. “A penny for your thoughts.”

Coal smiled at him. “Just a penny?”

“You know I’m just a broke old cowpoke,” he reminded her.

“Looking out over the herd made me think about my life since I arrived at MC2. So much has changed, and many good people, including you, have entered my life. I was in such a dark place after losing Tessa, I wasn’t sure I would ever survive. I can admit now that there were days when swallowing a bullet would have been a relief.”

“I’m glad those days are gone, and you have a new spark of life. You have a beautiful soul, and I’ve loved getting to know you.”

Coal smiled at Harley, the man she thought of as a father. “Nothing old about you. Not as handsome as you were walking me down the aisle a few months ago.”

Harley sat a little straighter in his saddle. “I did clean up pretty well, didn’t I?”

“You were turning all the ladies’ heads,” Coal told him.

Harley blushed and quickly changed the subject.

“Is Mary Leah good with you going on the spring cattle drive now that you’re a married woman?”

“Yes, she is perfectly fine with me going. Especially if they get to come up for a rodeo afterward.”

“That was fun last year. I’m glad our fellow cowboy, Lucas, plans to go this year, now that Mathew is older. I wish my old bones could take it. It sounded like y’all had a blast last time.”

“It was a great experience and will be an excellent start to the rodeo season. If Lucas goes, that will give us an even better chance of defending the title for the Circle T ranch in Montana for top rodeo honors.”

“I bet Roger, the owner of the Circle T, would be thrilled with that.”

Coal looked at Harley. “We have trucks coming tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, the first herd of steers is going to the market. We’ll need to be up with the sunrise to bring them into the loading pens.”

“It’s a good thing the boys understand we can’t prepare for the cattle drive trip until we get them on the road,” Coal teased. “That should get them up and moving.”

“Gene’s already been making his lists. He should have been a Boy Scout with all his preparedness skills.”

“You will get to see Shadow’s offspring, too,” Harley said. “The pictures have been fantastic, but there’s nothing like seeing him firsthand.”

“I can’t wait to see how he’s grown. Shadow and Athena are good stock, so he should be a healthy, strong colt. I’m enamored with how the coloring came out.”

“The buckskin with black mane and tail is interesting. I thought the colt would be a bit more of a smoky color.” Harley took off his hat and scratched his head. “Or more solid like Shadow.”

“We don’t know much about Shadow’s ancestry,” Coal replied, “except that he does make some beautiful babies.”

“Shadow has been a good partner for you.”

“Yes, he has. I’m glad we connected right off.”

Harley chuckled. “I think he sensed the fire in your spirit matches his.”

Coal saw Shadow’s ears twitch. “Could be. He surprises me with a good buck now and then to keep me on my toes.”

They sat silently for a moment, watching the sun sink toward the horizon. “I’ve got steaks to cook for dinner tonight. Melissa and Doc Bo are providing the sides. We’d better get moving so we can get cleaned up. There’s no way I’m letting Gene burn those beautiful steaks.”

“He’s not learned to cook yet?” Coal asked. “I know Gene’s the youngest of our cowboys, but still.”

“Aw, he’s improving, but it is a work in progress. He doesn’t have the patience to cook good meat yet. He wants to rush the process to get to eat when you’ve got to cook low and slow.”

“I have confidence you will eventually teach him those skills,” Coal said, turning Shadow toward the barn.

“I just hope I live long enough.” Harley laughed. “Gene’s generally a good student, but when it comes to cooking, that’s a whole new chapter and verse.”

“I’ll see you shortly. I saw Mary Leah’s headlights as we were riding in. I’ll get Shadow set for the night, get myself cleaned up, and be ready to eat by the time you start pulling steaks off the grill.”

“Take your time. It’s going to be a beautiful night to eat outside. The boys have a cooler full of beer, so they can stay occupied while I cook.”

“You have my mouth watering already.” Coal urged Shadow into a smooth canter as she rode for home. “You get to see your girlfriend soon,” she told him as she removed the tack and brushed his coat. “I think you need a bath before we leave so you will look as handsome as ever.”

Coal dropped feed in his bin and freshened his water before leaving the barn. “Have a good night, my friend. I’ll see you bright and early.”

†

Coal kicked off her dusty work boots when she reached the front porch and set them on a stand. She opened the door and found Mary Leah in the kitchen, the refrigerator door open. “I hope you’re not thinking of snacking.”

Mary Leah startled when she heard Coal’s voice and bumped her head. “Damn. I didn’t hear you come in. What did you say?”

“I was reminding you that Harley is cooking steaks, so you didn’t need to snack,” Coal answered as she pulled Mary Leah into her arms and kissed her wife. “I’m going to shower if you’d care to join me.”

“Go ahead and get started rinsing that dust off, and I’ll join you in a few minutes. I’m glad you’re home.”

“Rough day?”

“Just busier than usual. I didn’t get a meal break until two. All this news about a pandemic has people in a frenzy. I gave at least two dozen vaccinations today. Speaking of which, I will bring some vaccinations home for the crew tomorrow. I want you all protected if you’re traveling to a cattle drive and rodeo.”

“Argh.” Coal groaned. “That first one was a kicker.”

“The second one is much milder,” Mary Leah said. “I’m sure a rugged cowgirl like you can handle a short needle prick.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I won’t bitch and moan. We leave for Montana this weekend.”

“Hence the need for me to administer them tomorrow.” Mary Leah smiled. “Doc Bo will help me so that it won’t take long. We’ll be done in a jiffy.”

“It doesn’t sound like I’m going to be successful in skipping this round, so I’m hitting the shower.”

“Smart woman,” Mary Leah said and smacked Coal’s backside when she turned around.

†

Mary Leah was right. She must have had two pounds of dust on her clothes and body. Coal undressed in the bathroom, then quickly vacuumed the dirt off the floor after placing her clothes in the hamper. The shower was warm when she stepped under the flow. Damn, this feels good. Coal allowed the water to pelt across her back and shoulders. She smiled at the dust-colored water rushing toward the drain.

“Half of Texas,” she said.

“What was that?” Mary Leah asked when she entered the bathroom.

“I think I had half the dust in Texas on me.” Coal grinned.

“Told ya. Wash your hair, and I’ll give the rest of you a good scrubbing in a minute.”

†

Seeing Coal naked was always arousing to Mary Leah, but watching the rivulets of water running down Coal’s cheeks, and her hair plastered to her head, was tantalizing. The scent of the almond shampoo reminded Mary Leah of the warming massage oils they often used while making love, and her stomach clenched at the thought. Damn, she is so sexy. Mary Leah picked up a large bath sponge and poured liquid soap over it. Vanilla was another comforting scent, and she watched the lather form as she caressed the front of Coal’s body. Mary Leah rinsed the sponge and loaded more soap. “You can bathe from the waist down while I shower.” She grinned. “Turn around, and I’ll wash your back and shoulders.”

Coal turned away from Mary Leah. She gently caressed the scarred areas across Coal’s back and shoulder. It didn’t appear overly sensitive, but it was Coal’s lifelong reminder of the desert’s trauma. “Were you rolling in the dirt today?” she teased.

Coal shook her head. “It’s been so damned dry. I worry there won’t be hay to cut later this summer if we don’t get rain soon.”

“I think there’s a chance tomorrow,” Mary Leah reported.

“That would be perfect. We are scheduled to load the first steer truck tomorrow afternoon. It would help to cut some of the dust.”

“I’ll pray for some rain tonight, so you don’t have to work in the rain.”

“That’s no problem. It helps to cool us off, too.”

Mary Leah stood on her tiptoes and kissed Coal. “You can go ahead and dry off. I’ll be a few more minutes.”

“Do you need my help?” Coal asked with a raised eyebrow.

Mary Leah chuckled. “Not unless you plan to miss Harley’s steak dinner.”

“Can I make reservations for dessert when we get home?”

“No reservations needed,” Mary Leah answered.

†

Coal wrapped a towel around her waist and brushed her hair and teeth before dressing for dinner. She was drinking a glass of water at the kitchen bar when Mary Leah emerged from the bedroom. Coal pulled her into her arms.

“You look nice and smell good, too,” she said before leaning in for a kiss. “Are you driving?”

“If we want to stay clean, I think I should.”

“What can I say? It’s a work truck, but it gets me where I need to go.”