Never Let You Go. Judy Christenberry

      “Yeah, but I’ve got a smaller rider in mind. I think he might work.”

      “I’ll show him to you, but I’m not sure I want to part with him.” He turned toward the barn, then stopped. “Little lady, it’s pretty dusty out there. You want to wait in the house? My housekeeper can fix you some iced tea.”

      Jed tensed, afraid Beth would blast the man between the eyes.

      “Why, how thoughtful of you, but I don’t like to let Jed out of my sights. Besides, I dressed cowboy so I’d fit in,” she told the old man, blinking her lashes to great effect.

      “Honey, I’ve never seen a cowboy look as good as you, but you’re welcome to come along,” Joe said, before turning again toward the barn.

      Jed looked at Beth and she dared send him a wink along with her smile. He barely shook his head at her and went after Joe. She was wearing her jeans, but after lunch she’d changed to a soft rose-colored blouse and added some silver earrings. Joe was right about how good she looked.

      And tasted.

      Nope, he wasn’t going to think about those moments in his truck. Because if he did, he’d go crazy.

      On the other side of the barn, Joe hollered at one of the cowboys working in a nearby corral. “Larry, fetch Shorty out of the pasture.”

      Jed caught up with Joe and leaned against the corral, watching the action going on around him. Suddenly he saw someone he knew.

      “Floyd? Is that you?”

      An older cowboy, cleaning out the stables, straightened and squinted into the sun. “Jed?” He threw down the pitchfork he’d been wielding and came out of the barn to give Jed a hug. They’d worked together when Jed first went out on his own. Floyd had helped Jed learn a lot of lessons.

      “How you doing, boy?” Floyd asked as he stepped back.

      “Fine. And yourself?”

      Floyd let his gaze slip to the boss and then back to Jed. “Just fine.”

      “Better get back to work, Floyd,” Joe said, and all geniality was gone from his voice.

      “Yes, sir,” Floyd muttered. He sent a regretful look toward Jed and walked back into the barn.

      Jed turned to look at Joe. “You unhappy with Floyd?”

      Joe shrugged. “He’s not a hard worker.”

      Beth moved closer to Jed and slipped her arm through his again. “He seemed nice,” she said cheerfully, smiling at Joe.

      Joe’s mouth tightened. “He won’t be staying here long. First excuse I can find, I’ll send him down the road.”

      Jed frowned. He didn’t know what had gone wrong between Joe and Floyd, but he knew who he’d trust first. And it wasn’t Joe. He wished he had some time to speak to his old friend alone.

      As if she’d read his mind, Beth moved over to the rancher and began asking him about two horses in a separate corral beside the barn. Joe, always playing the gallant, took her arm and led her over there.

      Jed backed toward the barn, keeping his eye on Joe. When he reached the door of the barn, he leaned against it, casually, and called softly. “Floyd?”

      “Yeah, boy?” Floyd responded just as softly.

      “What’s going on?”

      “You mean with old moneybags?”

      “Yeah.”

      “I caught him abusing a horse. He says I was trying to show him up. I’ve only been here about a month. Can’t afford to blow off my job. But I reckon I’ll have that decision made for me soon. Some of the other hands have been talkin’.”

      Jed had heard rumors about Joe, but he’d never had proof. His jaw hardened. He knew Floyd would have trouble working for a man who abused his animals. As would Jed.

      “Want a new job?”

      “Yeah. You heard of any?”

      “Yep. I’ll guarantee you one. Got much to pack?”

      “Nah. You know me. I travel light.”

      “As soon as we finish business, go pack your things.”

      He didn’t want Floyd to upset Joe until his business was done. He saw the cowboy coming back across the pasture, a rope on Shorty.

      Moving to the corral, he opened the gate and the cowboy led the horse inside. Jed then made sure the gate was closed and watched as the cowboy took his rope off Shorty. He studied the horse to see if he was okay.