The Rancher's Daughter by Pamela Ladner Page A

pushed off on old Sam over the years.  She had always preferred to be outside and didn’t like being cooped up in the office.  Oh, she knew how to do the work she just didn’t want to.  Now that Sam was leaving, she had to get it all done.  Making schedules, ordering supplies, and barking out orders, were stressing her out. 
                  When she wasn’t busy, her mind wandered to Heath.  She was angry with herself and she was not good at admitting her mistakes.   She knew she was the one who’d pushed him away.  She knew that she was the reason they were both unhappy, but she refused to admit it. She kept telling herself it was for the best.  He didn’t really love her and he would find someone else in time. 
                  She avoided Sam like the plague feeling guilty for him losing his son once more.  She also tended to avoid her father, knowing that he was itching to lecture her about the way she’d been biting the men’s heads off.  He found her anyway.  She was cleaning her tack when he walked in and locked the door behind them.  His arms were crossed over his chest.  Josey looked up for a moment then went back to wiping oil on her saddle.  She attacked it with abandon.  J.W studied her for a minute before he began.
                  “You need to take some time off,” he said.  She looked up angrily.  “No I don’t, there’s too much to do here.  I’ve got to pay the bank note and…” “The banks been paid off.”  He cut her off.   “We don’t owe the bank anything.  I just didn’t tell you.   It seems Heath walked in the day after he left the ranch and paid the whole thing in cash.  Now, I’m telling you to take some time off.  I’m still the boss around here.  You need to get your head right.  Go get you a hotel somewhere and take a vacation.” J.W ordered. 
                  He walked out before Josey could ask him anything else.  Her mind started running in circles.  Heath paid off the bank.  What did that mean?  Why would he do that?  Did he love her?  She asked herself a million questions.  She left the tack room and Hilary met her at the door with her suitcases.  “They’re packed and ready to go.  I got you a reservation in Vegas.  The National Finals Rodeo is going on there this weekend and I thought you might like to go.  I ordered the tickets, for you.  Here you might need this paper when you pick up the tickets.  I also programmed the address to the hotel into the gps.  I would have ordered you a plane ticket, but I know how you hate flying.” 
                  Josey couldn’t believe it, she was being forced to go on vacation.  They had everything planned out for her.  She picked up her luggage and piled it in the passenger side of the truck.   “Oh I almost forgot, here’s some cash in case you need it.  If you get sleepy, pull over and get a hotel room, somewhere.  Oh and be careful, I love you.”  Hilary said. 
                  Josey got in her truck and with a lot of reluctance drove down the driveway heading to the highway.  She didn’t know what had just happened.  She had been, ordered to leave and Heath had paid off the bank loan.  She gripped the wheel with both hands and drove.  Her GPS rattled off where to turn.  She shifted gears and made a right, onto the interstate.  She drove for most of the day and half the night before she came to a stop at a hotel.  She checked in and dropped her things off at the room then walked next door, to get something to eat. 
                  A burly looking man in a bikers get up, sat down at her table and hit on her.  She told him to get lost and when he didn’t she threatened him with the pistol she kept in her purse.  She knew how to use it and she would too.  After being kidnapped by her real mothers drug dealer, she took up shooting and her father made her keep a gun with