Rancher's Refuge (Whisper Falls) by Linda Goodnight Page A

to show me around.” She pushed at her perfect hair. “I’m going to work here, starting tomorrow. Isn’t that great?”
    “Congratulations.” Austin didn’t see all that much to learn in the small snack bar, but her eyes were so sparkly and happy he wasn’t going to rain on her parade.
    “Thank you.” She glanced at Miss Evelyn who was beaming like a proud mama.
    “I’ll see you later, then.” He jammed his hat down on his head and turned to leave.
    Evelyn’s voice stopped him. “Don’t run off, Austin Blackwell. We need to talk.”
    Austin pivoted. He’d almost forgotten that the Whisper Falls mastermind wanted to talk to him. Was he ever going to get out of here? Fingers circling the brim of his Stetson, he waited to hear what she’d say.
    Miss Evelyn bustled toward him.
    “Your sister is a fantastic advocate for Whisper Falls and always willing to lend a hand,” she began.
    “I’ll tell her you said so.”
    Miss Evelyn parked her short, stocky self in his circle of personal space and demanded, “When are you going to do your part?”
    He blinked, frowning. “Pardon?”
    “In a week or so, we’re tearing down the old Rankin house and clearing off the mess of outbuildings and chicken coops in the back. The whole place is an eyesore and a danger. We need some men to do the heavy work.”
    Davis Turner, who’d been smiling at Annalisa as though she was the last apple on the tree, piped up. “You can add me to the list.”
    Miss Evelyn fairly beamed. So did Annalisa. In fact, the look she gave Davis was warm enough to melt chocolate.
    “That’s the spirit,” said Miss Evelyn. “What about you, Austin? Surely, you can spare a day or two.”
    She’d put him on the spot, and he’d look like a horse’s backside if he said no. Not that he minded the work. He just didn’t want to get involved with a lot of nosy people.
    “I guess I could.”
    Davis Turner’s son slid from his bar stool. “Daddy said Mr. Blackwell should open a riding stable. Don’t you think that’s a great idea, Miss Evelyn?”
    She clasped the boy by the shoulders, but her eyes were on Austin. “That’s a marvelous idea, Nathan. Austin, you’d be good at that and you’ve got the land. Maybe you could open up an RV camp and guide trail rides. The council would print up a nice, colorful brochure and post it on the website.” Evelyn was off on one of her brainstorms. “Horse lovers would flock to Whisper Falls like summer geese.”
    Exactly what he did not want. “Not interested. Too much liability.” A good excuse even if it wasn’t the real reason. “Let me know about the work day.”
    Once more he headed for the door. This time he safely made his escape.

Chapter Six
    A nnalisa found the cowboy in the horse barn, pitchforking clean straw into a stall. He must not have heard her come in, so she watched for a moment as the muscles in his broad back flexed with the rhythm of his work.
    The dust and hay smell of the barn drew her back a few years to a happy time and place when life had not been so complicated. She could almost hear her grandpa humming “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” in a voice roughened by years of work in the Kansas wind and dust. Olivia had been there, too, riding the top of the gate, her double ponytails a frame for her oval face and brown eyes.
    But that was before they’d burned all the bridges and left each other behind.
    “Would you like some help?”
    The pitchfork stopped moving as Austin swiveled to face her. Sweat beaded his forehead. Specks of straw rode his shoulders and black hair. He looked incredibly masculine, a ruggedly outdoorsy look that sent tiny needles of interest dancing along her skin.
    “How did you get home?”
    “Uncle Digger drove me.”
    “You should have called.” He stabbed the pitchfork into the remaining pile of straw and left the tool standing straight as a new fence post.
    Annalisa wasn’t sure if he was angry or concerned.
    “I didn’t want to bother