Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 89170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
He nodded. “I want to find someone like my mom. She’s beautiful inside and out, and she doesn’t take shit from my dad.”
I laughed harder. “No, she does not.”
We could hear voices outside in the main barn, and I looked past Joshua’s shoulder. “Sounds like my dad.”
Joshua stood. “I better get to my chores. Thanks, Blayze. I didn’t really want to talk to my dad about this, and Hunter and Bradly would just tease me.”
Walking around my desk, I put my hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I’m here for you anytime, Josh. If you ever need to talk, or need help with anything…you let me know, okay?”
He smiled. “I will, Blayze. Thanks.”
“And hey, once the newness of you wears off, the girls will back down. Some.”
Joshua turned to leave, and we both came to a stop when we saw my father standing there with Georgie beside him. I scanned her from top to bottom. She was dressed in jeans, a long-sleeve T-shirt that had a moose on it, and cowboy boots. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail and parts of it were going everywhere, like she’d just finished riding. My breath stalled in my chest.
“Well, hello,” Joshua said as he made his way over to her. Sticking his hand out, he said, “I’m Josh Shaw, and who are you?”
I gaped at him. And he wondered why the girls at school were flocking to him. If the little bastard acted like this, no wonder they were all over him.
Georgie smiled and shook his hand. “Georgiana Crenshaw. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Josh.”
I put my hands on his shoulders and pulled him back. “And you said Nathan was the flirt?”
He laughed. “I said Uncle Dirk said he was like you. I never said I didn’t flirt.”
“I am for sure surrounded by Shaw men,” Georgie said while my father laughed.
“Go get to your chores, Joshua.” My dad jerked his head toward the stables.
“Yes, sir. It was nice meeting you, Ms. Crenshaw.”
Georgie smiled and watched as Joshua made his way toward the horse stables. She looked back at me. “Did he learn that from you?”
Ignoring her question, I looked at my dad. “What’s up?”
He gave me a slight frown—probably because I just ignored Georgie—but answered, “I’m giving Georgiana a tour of the ranch. Would you like to join us for the rest of the tour?”
My eyes darted over to Georgie, then back to my father. “Sorry, Dad. I’m behind since I had to drive to Missoula this morning. I’ve got a lot of work to catch up on with the preconditioning and everything coming up.”
“What is that, the preconditioning?” Georgie asked.
My father went to answer, but his cell rang. Looking at it, he said, “I need to take this. Blayze, answer Georgiana’s question, will you?”
I wanted to stomp my feet and say no, but I knew better.
Dad walked away and Georgie and I both watched him leave. When she looked back at me, she rose a single brow. “Preconditioning?”
Turning, I walked back into my office and kicked the door shut with my foot. She caught it and followed me in.
I sat down, ignoring her.
After sitting in the chair, I saw her glance around my office.
“When your father comes back, I don’t think he’s going to be very happy to know that you wouldn’t answer one simple question.”
“Google it,” I said.
Georgie sighed. “Blayze, this would be a lot easier, and I would be out of your hair a lot sooner, if you just answered the question.”
“Go ask Josh, I’m sure he’d love to tell you about it.”
When she didn’t move or utter a word, I looked up at her. That was a mistake. She was smiling at me, her head slightly tilted as if she could wait a million years.
Sighing, I sat back in my chair. “It’s when the calves are administered vaccinations in one day, prior to or sometimes right at the time they’re weaned.”
She nodded. “And what is it that you do on the ranch?”
I let a slow smile play over my face. Okay, she wanted to play the game. I’d play. Maybe if I gave her some answers, she’d leave me alone.
“I manage the ranch.”
I could see the frustration on her face. “And that entails?”
“I do fiscal management, overall ranch production, financial performance, inventory, and crop rotation, among other things.”
She let out a soft laugh. “Do you leave work for anyone else?”
Ignoring her question, I went back to looking at the figures on the print out.
“What did you get your degree in?”
“I’m sure you can Google that, as well, if you haven’t already.”
From the way she flinched, I knew she was aware of what I’d majored in. “I’m just trying to make conversation, Blayze. And for the record, I really wanted to know.”
“Okay, we ready to go?” my father said as he stepped into my office.