Rancher And Protector. Judy Christenberry

time for her. Give her a little space.”

      Jason knew what Wes was telling him, but something inside him didn’t want to listen. “I’ll be more careful about what I say to her.”

      Wes gave him a considering look, and Jason tried to conceal his response. He didn’t want Wes to forbid him to talk to Rosemary.

      “Okay. I’ll try to patch things up when I talk to her.”

      Jason let out a soft sigh. “Thanks, Wes. I appreciate it.”

      “No problem. We don’t want any fights in front of the men.”

      “No, of course not.”

      Rosemary watched Jason and Wes out of the corner of her eye as she ate her stew. She would demand Jason leave if he upset Wes. She wasn’t going to allow that. Wes and Sara Beth were her family—her only family, now that her dad was gone.

      Her eyes filled with tears at the thought of her father. He’d obviously been too tired, too ill, to handle the running of the ranch. Wes had apologized to her, but he’d said her father wouldn’t agree to anything that required any money. Clearly he’d been in financial difficulty, too, though she hadn’t known. She wondered if Wes and Sara Beth had even been paid all their wages, though they’d both told her they had.

      The biggest question, for her, had been whether Robert had sold the ranch because he didn’t believe she, a female, could handle running it. Even thinking the thought that she’d hidden in her heart almost brought her to tears.

      One of the cowboys sitting next to her leaned over and said, “You okay, Rosie?” Apparently mistaking her upset, he added, “If the man got fresh, we’ll take care of him.”

      “No! No, I’m just tired, Nick. There’s no problem.” She even managed to smile. “I’m just thinking about my dad. I wish he was here.”

      “Yeah, he was a good man. We all miss him.”

      “Thanks,” she said softly and finished her stew. She certainly didn’t want the men to think Jason Barton had insulted her. In truth, he’d insulted Wes, but she supposed she couldn’t hold it against him. He couldn’t know why things had gone downhill at the ranch.

      After she finished her meal, she carried the bowl over to the big tin dishpan Cookie had filled with hot, sudsy water. Each man was expected to wash his bowl and spoon and put them back on the tailgate of the SUV. She had suggested that system when, as a teenager, she’d come out on a roundup and seen how hard Cookie had to work.

      Rosemary was glad Jason followed Wes to the dishpan to wash his own bowl. Then he motioned to Ted to do the same. She noticed Ted’s reluctance until Jason spoke to him. From what she’d seen of Ted in one day, he seemed ill equipped to lead men. Especially the men on her ranch who were accustomed to a fair, hardworking manager like Wes.

      What would happen to Wes and Sara Beth? Surely they would lose their jobs if Jason got the Bar G. Would they hook up with another ranch in the area? She didn’t want to lose touch with the couple she loved dearly. Another reason to fight for her ranch.

      She retrieved her bedroll and saddle where she’d left them near the rope corral. She’d put her bedroll next to Wes, and he’d keep an eye out to be sure she was undisturbed by anyone.

      Not that she’d expect any of the men who worked for them to be a problem. Everyone had worked there for years, except for Nick, and he’d never caused a problem in the time he’d worked for them.

      But with Jason and Ted in the mix now, she wouldn’t take any chances.

      Wes got his bedroll and saddle and joined her. He always had her put her bedroll next to the SUV and he slept on the other side of her. They followed the same routine tonight.

      “You okay, Rosie?” Wes whispered.

      “Yes. I’m sorry about that. I know it was rude.”

      “What he said was reasonable, you know. He didn’t know any of us.”

      “I know, Wes, but it upset me that he’d criticize you for Dad’s behavior.”

      “Don’t worry about it. He understands now. So everything’s okay?”

      “Yes, of course.”

      “All right. Go take care of business while I keep an eye on everyone.”

      When she returned a few minutes later, she found Wes talking to Jason again.

      She spread open her bedroll and sat down on it to remove her boots. Then she tucked them in the bottom of her bedroll.

      “Why are you doing that?” Jason asked, distracted by her movement.

      “Doing what?”

      “Putting your boots in the sleeping bag.”

      “Because I don’t want any creepy crawlies in there when I put them on in the morning.”

      Jason raised his eyebrows and looked at Wes. “Does that happen?”

      Wes chuckled. “Not often. But it happened to Rosie once, and she refuses to leave her boots out of her bag. But she’s got a little more room in her bag than most of us, ’cause she’s a lot shorter.”

      Rosemary ignored the two men and settled her head on her saddle after removing her coat and pulling up the sleeping bag.

      Jason was staring at her, but she pretended not to notice.

      “If you’re worried, you can set your boots inside the SUV. Cookie doesn’t mind,” Wes told him.

      “Nope. I’m not asking for special treatment. Where shall I bed down?”

      “Anywhere near the fire. But be sure you leave Cookie a pathway. He’ll be putting wood on the fire in the morning so he can cook breakfast.”

      “How about I put my roll next to you?” Jason asked.

      “Sounds good to me,” Wes said with a grin.

      Rosemary ground her teeth. At least Wes was beside her. She’d never sleep a wink if she thought the sexy millionaire was in the next bedroll. Her nerve endings seemed to be on full alert whenever Jason was near.

      Slowly the camp settled down. The only noise was the crackling of the fire, even though it was banked up so it wouldn’t spread, and the howling of the coyotes and wolves.

      Cookie’s activities the next morning awakened Rosemary. She unzipped her bedroll and immediately shrugged into her coat to ward off the cold. The sky in the east was showing some light, but the sun hadn’t yet put in an appearance.

      Taking her boots out of the bedroll, Rosemary pulled them on just as Wes sat up. She silently motioned to tell him she was going away from the SUV for a few minutes. His nod meant he’d make sure none of the men went in that direction. When she reappeared, Jason was awake, too, though most everyone else was still asleep.

      Cookie had the big coffeepot on the fire and he was getting out the huge skillet he used every morning. Without saying anything, Rosemary got out a large bowl and began breaking eggs in it.

      She saw Jason lean over and whisper something to Wes. Though she wondered what he was asking, she forced herself to ignore him. Wes would take care of whatever was his concern. The scent of coffee was waking up the men as much as the small noises Cookie and Rosemary were making. In another five minutes, everyone would be up.

      Wes led Jason to the stack of tin coffee cups. After each taking one, they made their way to the fire and Wes poured them both a cup of coffee. They squatted down by the fire, cowboy style, and enjoyed their drinks.

      Rosemary handed Cookie the bowl of beaten eggs and took out a loaf of bread he had baked in advance. Taking a sharp knife, she put the bread on a cup towel and began slicing it into fifteen slices, one for each person on the roundup.

      “Grub’s ready,” Cookie