Cooking For Cowboy (Stampede Sizzlers) Read online

  Back in the bathroom, she worked a little magic with liquid foundation, applied mascara and lip gloss, and then stuck her hair up in a ponytail. She checked her appearance in the mirror one last time. The makeup covered the bruise on her forehead and the small scratches on her face had disappeared. Thank you, Cover Girl. Her efforts were totally for the sake of putting her best foot forward and not frightening small children. Definitely not to impress a certain cowboy. Right. Just keep telling yourself that, Sierra.

  She grimaced when she recalled the nightie incident last night. Facing him this morning might prove to be capital ‘A’ awkward, but it had to be done. After taking a deep breath, she wandered barefoot toward the kitchen. She caught a whiff of the aroma of fried eggs and toast floating in the air, and her stomach growled on cue.

  “Something smells wonderful out here,” she called, rounding the corner and entering the kitchen. “Brave of you, Mr. Parker…cooking breakfast for a chef. But I’m looking forward to having someone cook for me for a change. That never happens.” She caught herself beaming at his thoughtfulness.

  While Sierra settled herself on a wooden chair at the table, she noticed Chad’s clothes were only slightly rumpled with the second day’s use. Had he slept in the nude? Her mouth went dry at the thought.

  “You’re just in time. Everything’s ready.” He set a plate of eggs and ham with buttered whole wheat toast in front of her.

  “I’m starving. I just realized with all the excitement, I didn’t eat any dinner last night.”

  “Oh, hell. I’m sorry.” Chad slipped into the chair opposite her. “I never even thought to ask.”

  “It’s okay. I wasn’t hungry and maybe I’ll drop a little weight.”

  “You don’t need to drop any weight. You’re perfect the way you are,” he said, with conviction.

  “Not only does he cook, he’s the ideal balm for my self-esteem. I should clone you. I’d make millions. Every woman alive will want one of you.” She grinned at him, peeking over her mug of coffee as she took a sip.

  “No cloning allowed. I’m a one-woman man. Now, let’s finish breakfast, okay?” Chad stuffed a piece of toast into his mouth and washed it down with a sip of coffee.

  Sierra took a bite of the food. “This is delicious. Are you certain you need a cook?”

  “Yes, I don’t have time to cook for a dozen people and run a ranch, too.” Chad smiled. “You’re not getting out of this. You agreed.”

  “I’ll need a couple of hours to pack before we leave for your ranch,” she warned him.

  “Make it an hour and I’ll help you. Pack your things and I’ll pack Barney’s crate, blanket, toys, food and treats.” Chad leaned down and slipped a piece of toast to Barney who was hiding under the table.

  “Don’t feed him people food.” Sierra scolded him. “Barney is just a couple pounds away from the vet putting him on diet doggie food.”

  “Sorry, won’t happen again.” Chad raised his hands in compliance with her wishes.

  “Thank you. I believe in healthy eating.” Sierra waved her fork in his direction, adding, “Your ranch hands will be eating healthy also. They’d better not expect heart-attack-on-a-plate dinners.”

  “Mom insists on well-balanced meals. She prepares all the menu plans, oversees all the food orders, and does it within a self-imposed budget to boot.” Chad smiled, unable to disguise his pride in his mother.

  “Good for her.” Sierra nodded in agreement. “Then you shouldn’t notice even the tiniest blip on your ranch kitchen’s radar.”

  “Yeah, well, keeping Mom out of the kitchen will be the problem.”

  “Even someone in a wheelchair can assist in a kitchen. Prep work, menu planning, writing up food orders, signing off deliveries, lots of things,” suggested Sierra, waving off his concern.

  “Somehow I don’t think Mom sees her role as anything less than totally-in-charge.” Chad shook his head as if he wasn’t looking forward to her meeting his mom.

  Chapter 4

  The sun rode high in the sky when Chad and Sierra headed out of town. Chad mentioned the distance to the ranch was twenty minutes if he was at the wheel, at least a half hour when his mom had been driving.

  Fence posts joined by triple rows of barbed wire marched along the property lines, preventing grazing cattle from roaming onto the road. Spring calves frolicked while their mothers stood watch nearby.

  “Aren’t those babies adorable?” Sierra pointed to the calves. The cows would frighten the daylights out of her, however, if she stood anywhere near them.

  “Yep, adorable.” Chad chuckled and sounded like he was just humoring her.

  “Is that a cowboy?” inquired Sierra, spotting a lone figure riding a horse alongside the fence line.

  Chad waved as they passed by and the fellow waved back.

  “Yep, that’s Charlie. Checking fences.” Chad steered his pickup around a sharp curve in the road. “You see adorable little calves playing beside their mothers, but I see my livelihood on the hoof. Losing cattle that have roamed off our property and been hit by a vehicle is expensive, and it’s time-consuming to round them up and get them back home again.”

  Sierra stared ahead at the towering sign erected between matching tall timbers. Burnt-wood lettering announced their arrival at Whispering Pines Ranch. Calgary and area experienced a lot of brisk chinook winds, and she imagined the pines did a fair amount of whispering all right. Today was no exception, and several varieties of tall grass waved to her from the ditch alongside the road.

  Chad’s pickup rumbled across a metal cattle gate. The seatbelt strained across Sierra’s chest when she slid forward in her seat, hoping for a better view as the truck meandered down a winding road into a lush valley. The grass was cropped short by cattle but spring wildflowers dotted the landscape and added a bit of color. As they neared the bottom, she spotted a sprawling ranch house surrounded by manicured grounds—beautiful trees, flowering bushes and overflowing flowerbeds—that would make most members of the Calgary Horticultural Society envious. Three large barns and other smaller buildings were painted bright red with white trim. A couple of the corrals were attached to the barns, but several others stood at a distance.

  “This ranch is incredible,” she whispered in amazement.

  “Thank you. I grew up here and I love the ranch more each day.” Chad grinned. “I’ll be boots up before they haul me off this land.”

  “I can see why you love it so much.” Sierra glanced across the truck’s cab and met his eyes. “The Garden of Eden had nothing on this place.”

  Chad chuckled at her statement. “That observation is a first.”

  “Well, it’s true. Now I know what they mean by ‘God’s country’. I’ve spent my whole life in big cities. Who knew such beauty existed in my own backyard?” She returned her eyes to the expanse of grassland spread before her. Sunshine reflected off of the white-capped mountain peaks in the distance.

  “I’m happy you appreciate my home and my heritage. My great, great grandfather settled on this land in 1892 and every generation of our family has lived here since. The original old house is now used as a tool and storage shed. The existing ranch house was built in the 1920s, but several additions and renovations to the house have been done over the years.”

  “Wow! I can’t wait to see it. Your home is almost a hundred years old, and I bet it still holds a lot of its original character.”

  “My family thinks so.”

  “Tell me more.” Sierra shifted in her seat, genuinely interested in everything he was sharing with her.

  “The cattle and horse operations have grown continually. A second and then third barn were built, and additional land was purchased. But the same love of the land, and the unwavering determination, and the blood-sweat-and-tears mentality that was passed down from generation to generation, exists in me today,” said Chad.

  Sierra heard the emotion in his voice. Clearly, he was very proud of his ancestry. “I can’t imagine what it must
feel like, having all those generations of remarkable men behind you. I’m certain they’re looking down on you from heaven, cheering you on, and watching over all the outstanding work you are doing. They must be so proud of you for carrying on their legacy.”

  Chad reached across the cab and took her hand. Warmth radiated up her arm and her breath caught when she met his eyes. Why was being near him having such an intense effect on her?

  “Thank you for saying that.” He smiled before returning his attention to the road. “I’ve tried so hard to be the man that my father was. And his father before him. And his father all the way back. There has been a Parker living on this land for over a hundred and twenty years, and I want there to be a Parker living here another hundred years from now.”

  Sierra noticed his ring finger was bare, and he hadn’t mentioned any woman in his life other than his mother last night. He was definitely single. “Then you’d better get busy and find a wife. You need an heir, Chad,” she teased, grinning.

  His face reddened and he squirmed in his seat. Had she actually embarrassed the guy? Or was his reaction directly related to her comment?

  “I’ll take your suggestion to heart,” he countered. “Are you sure you haven’t met my mom yet? She’s constantly harping at me to get married. She’s picked out a few potential candidates, too. None of them qualifies in my opinion though. I intend to do my own choosing.”

  Good to know, she thought. She immediately second-guessed her reaction. True, she loved spending time with Chad, and she felt quite comfortable talking with such an easy-going, laid-back, and fun-loving guy. But a week couldn’t go by without her making a trip to the zoo or one of the museums. Window shopping at the mall was always fun, and she loved to jump in her car and meet Diane or one of her other friends for a coffee or a movie on the spur of the moment. She was a city girl through-and-through, totally urban, whereas Chad exuded rural.

  Not to mention, living on a ranch would mean chores. Her idea of chores was an hour of doing laundry, vacuuming, and dusting her basement apartment once a week, not toiling from sunup to sunset. Or maybe she’d just read too many western romance novels. Were ranchers’ wives expected to help out in the barns these days? She cringed at the thought.

  Even if living on this beautiful ranch was part of the deal, she just couldn’t see it happening. Heck, she’d never ridden a horse in her life! And she’d never marry someone unless he was the love of her life. Somehow, this city girl couldn’t see Chad Parker being her Mr. Right. Too bad, though. The cowboy was one fine specimen, but she couldn’t imagine herself married to a rancher!

  The truck bumped down the rutted gravel driveway and ground to a halt in front of a white picket fence beside a three-car garage, shaded by a huge ancient-looking tree. “There’s a grader coming in a couple of days to level out that road. Our four-wheels created all those ruts by driving over the winter snow and through the spring rains, but the road will be fixed soon.”

  Chad climbed out of the truck, rubbed his lower back.

  Sierra reached for Barney’s leash, climbed out of the truck, and slammed the passenger door closed after the dog leapt out behind her. “Is your body stiff from sleeping on my sofa last night?” she inquired.

  “A little bit,” he answered, his response lacking earnestness.

  As he rounded the truck, she glanced down and noticed the obvious bulge in his jeans. His back wasn’t the only stiff part of him. Was he still thinking about procreation and her remark about making a Parker heir?

  “My ribcage is still a little sore,” she explained, suppressing the urge to smile. For some reason, knowing she turned him on sent a little thrill through her body.

  Barney stood at her side while Sierra gazed at the ranch house, a picture with white siding, emerald-green trim, and rust-colored brickwork in front.

  Chad grabbed one of her bags. “We’ll go around back.” With his other hand at the small of her back, he guided her along the side of the house, following a curved yard stone path.

  The backyard was as well landscaped as the front had been. Groupings of tall, deciduous and evergreen trees and flowering bushes of every variety imaginable were scattered across the yard. The various flowerbeds arranged against the house and around the backyard displayed a stunning array of colors and emitted an intoxicating scent that carried on the mild breeze.

  “Watch yourself,” warned Chad as he guided Sierra and Barney up four wide, wooden steps leading to an enormous deck. They passed alongside a six-man hot tub, and Chad opened a set of double French doors. “Celia, are you here?” he called as they entered the house.

  “In the laundry room, Chad. Welcome home,” replied an aged female voice.

  “Come out here, please. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” Chad set Sierra’s bag on the floor and then met her eyes. “Give me a minute to introduce you guys to our housekeeper, and then I’ll go grab the rest of your suitcases.”

  “I’ll go with you to introduce Barney to the ranch. I want to set parameters. I don’t want him running off.” Sierra bent down and ruffled her dog’s ears.

  “There’s an old collie around here named Sandy. He’s probably down at one of the barns, recognized my truck so he didn’t bother barking or coming up to the house to investigate. He loves other dogs, so Sandy and Barney should get along well together.”

  Chad’s face lit up when a gray-haired matronly woman standing five foot nothing stepped into the room. Sierra was relieved to see the evidence of his interest in her had disappeared since he’d be introducing them.

  “Celia, come meet Sierra Griffin. And this is Barney,” he added, pointing to the dog obediently sitting at his owner’s feet. “Sierra, this is Celia Wilson. She’s been with our family for over thirty-five years, hired shortly after I was born.”

  “Well, now, I’m pleased to meet you, Miss Griffin. And isn’t that a handsome dog you have there. Hello, Barney,” she spoke with affection in her voice, suggesting she loved dogs.

  Sierra stuck out her hand. “Please call me Sierra, and I’m pleased to meet you, too, Ms. Wilson.”

  Celia reached out and shook Sierra’s hand. “Call me Celia.”

  “Celia, it is.” Sierra smiled when the housekeeper bent down and patted her dog’s furry head.

  The mature woman laughed when her pet stuck out his paw. While Celia shook it, Barney wagged his stubby tail.

  “Thank you for calling last night and letting me know you wouldn’t be home.” Celia smiled at Chad, with unabashed affection in her eyes. “I would have worried about you, my boy.”

  “I know. I might as well be thirteen again, calling in before curfew.” Chad laughed and gave Celia a quick peck on the cheek.

  “Stop that, you scamp.” She blushed and swatted him on the arm.

  “I just hired Sierra for the position of ranch cook. She’s so overqualified I don’t even want to think about a professional chef cooking for us. But she’s agreed to help me out in a pinch, and I’m certain you two will get along fine. I’ll get the rest of her suitcases.” Chad winked at Celia and then headed out the door.

  “That boy will be the death of me.” Celia shook her head, beaming.

  Can I second that? thought Sierra.

  “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Would you like a cup of coffee?” Celia moved across the kitchen floor with remarkable ease for someone her age – Sierra guessed she’d be in her mid-seventies – and grabbed a small coffee pack for the one-cup-at-a-time machine. “Do you have a favorite flavor? I like the ones with caramel.”

  “Anything is fine. But I need to take Barney outside first and teach him the boundaries of the yard.” Sierra gently tugged on the dog’s leash and he leapt to his feet.

  “Sure, it will give me time to fold the load of towels in the dryer while you’re gone.” Celia waved them toward the deck doors.

  “Thank you. I’ll be right back for that coffee.” Sierra headed toward
the door with Barney trotting along at her side.

  Chad slipped into the kitchen while Sierra held the door open for him, juggling her three suitcases and a duffle bag with the agility of a seasoned hotel bellhop. “I’ll put these in the guest room at the far end of the hallway across from my room. Celia can show you where that is when you come back inside.”

  “Isn’t there a room just off the kitchen here, something more appropriate where I can…”

  “Now Sierra, that room is mine. Has been since the day I arrived here, and I’m not giving it up for anyone. You’ll be in the far guest room,” stated Celia, emphatically, and then she returned to the laundry room.

  “Sandy’s waiting at the bottom of the deck stairs for you guys. I’ll be right out to join you,” Chad called on his way through the kitchen.

  “Wait a darn minute. We haven’t settled anything yet.” Sierra hurried after Chad with Barney on her heels.

  Chapter 5

  “There is nothing to settle, Sierra,” insisted Chad as he strode down the hallway. “Mom’s room is here on the left and there’s a small library with a TV in it across from her. My room is at the end of the hall on the right and yours is on the left. There’s a bathroom between my room and the reading room, but there’s an en suite in all three bedrooms, so this bathroom is only used by visitors.”

  Sierra frowned. “There must be ten bedrooms in this house. Surely, you can put me in a room away from the family.” Her heart had almost stopped when he mentioned his bedroom would be right across from hers.

  Talk about temptation.

  She trusted Chad explicitly. After all, he’d slept on her sofa all night without a moment of impropriety. With that gorgeous male hunk sleeping across the hall, trusting herself was another matter.