Midnight Wrangler by Cat Johnson Page B

only option. She’d have to hide their relationship.
    Relationship.
    Even thinking that word seemed premature. She could only hope and dream that meeting him at the theater tonight would turn into a relationship.
    It could be nothing more than Rohn not wanting to be alone in the movies. Or maybe it was a group thing. He could be meeting his friends there and thought she might like to come along. She tried to remember the exact words he’d used to invite her and couldn’t. She’d been too shocked and excited to think at the time.
    She couldn’t think more about that right now. Her father was frowning, his focus on the view outside the window of the field Rohn was plowing. “I probably could have finished it myself in half the time.”
    â€œYou have years more experience than he does, honey.” Her mother stepped in to smooth things over. “He tries his best. He’s a real hard worker and he’s eager to learn. By the end of the summer he’ll be better at it, I’m sure.”
    â€œYeah. I guess he’s working out all right. And for what little I’m paying him, I reckon I can’t complain. The other guy who came about the job wanted double what I’m paying this kid. I was surprised he settled for what I offered him.”
    That was interesting news to Bonnie. She dared to comment on it. “I guess he really wanted the job.”
    â€œOr he needed it bad enough. Who knows?” Her father sighed. “I’m gonna go work on that machine that needs fixing. Call me when dinner’s ready.”
    â€œI will.” Her mother stood on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to her father’s cheek. He didn’t even acknowledge the endearment before he turned to walk out the back door.
    Bonnie watched it all, happy the fight between them seemed to be over, but vowing she’d never marry a man who didn’t love her as strongly, as passionately, as she loved him.
    Her mind went back to what had been revealed in the kitchen just now. Rohn had taken the job for shitty pay. Why?
    Her heart sped at a crazy notion. Maybe because he’d wanted to be near her? Could it be?
    There had to be plenty of jobs available for a young, strong guy willing to work hard. In fact, a couple of Rohn’s friends were working for a landscaping company, getting paid to cut lawns. Rohn had said so himself. They worked early in the morning and then quit for the rest of the day, going fishing, or hanging out around town. All while he continued to labor until dinnertime on her father’s dusty land.
    Farming was a tough job. Harvesting the wheat. Plowing and planting the fields for next season. Not to mention Rohn had to put up with her father’s demands.
    But if he was here, doing this all to be near her . . . Bonnie nearly passed out at the thought. Deep down, she loved the idea, even if it might be just in her crazy imagination.
    And—oh my God—tonight they had a date. She needed to find something to wear. She headed for her bedroom.
    Six thirty couldn’t come fast enough.

Chapter Seven
    Summer, 2015 (Present Day)
    The drive from town to the ranch was fairly short, but it was long enough for Rohn to replay his conversation with Bonnie at the barbecue place over in his head more than once.
    With the distraction occupying him so completely, he drove the familiar route on autopilot. He didn’t realize he’d made it all the way home until he was almost passing the mailbox at the end of his drive. He slowed in time to make the turn into his place.
    The tires crunched the gravel beneath them as he crept past the house, past the barn and onto the dirt path leading out to the field where he could see the guys working.
    After coming to a stop, he threw the transmission into reverse and backed the truck up to where the fresh holes were dug for the new fence line they were putting in. He’d gotten the lumber they needed, but the kids could unload