Love Under Two Wildcatters Read Online Free

fault, all of it. He’d go home, pour himself a stiff one, and think. Maybe, for his luck to change, those two interlopers would have to go down.

    * * * *

    It seemed only good manners to invite the wildcatters in for a cup of coffee while they discussed business. Besides, she had her assayer’s report in the house. Making coffee would also give her a good excuse to put some distance between herself and these two very potent testosterone makers.
    “Looks like you’ve been busy,” Ryder said.
    The kitchen stood at the back of the house, and they’d walked through the main rooms to get to it.
    “I have. The house needed a lot of work. Still does, come to that.”
    “Yeah, but it looks like the end’s in sight.” Colt nodded, taking his time to admire the work she’d done.
    “I just have the master bedroom on the inside and the painting on the outside left to do. And getting a new well, of course.”
    “Likely, the original well was drilled shallow, and by the ranch hands of the day.” Colt looked around the kitchen. Susan had the sense he took everything in and missed nothing. She knew that was an odd thing to think. She didn’t know this man, after all. Yet something about him and his partner seemed familiar to her. Then, just that fast, she had it. They reminded her of the men in her family. Manly men. The kind she’d given up on finding for herself.
    She forced her attention back on the conversation. “That’s likely, isn’t it? Turn-of-the-century ranchers tended to do it all for themselves, if they could.”
    “Of course,” Ryder said. “If more men today did the same, the economy wouldn’t be in the shape it’s in. Josh said you had an assayer’s report?”
    “Yes. I’ll just get the coffee brewing and go get it.” She needed a jolt of caffeine herself. She made quick work of the preparations, and in moments, brown liquid dripped, and the scent of coffee filled the ranch kitchen. She excused herself and headed for the downstairs bedroom she’d turned into an office. She knew exactly where the report was, of course. She liked a neat and orderly office. Her entire living space always looked pristine—except for her bedroom. That she tended to keep in a state of constant chaos.
    The men were both sitting at the table when she returned. They’d situated themselves so that no matter which chair she took, she’d be close to one of them.
    “Alex said you could put us up in the bunkhouse. So, after we have our coffee and look at that report, just point us in the direction, and we’ll get ourselves settled in,” Colt said.
    Oh, dear . “Um, actually, the bunkhouse doesn’t exist anymore.” Although it had the last time her brothers had come to visit. But the thing had looked rickety, and she hadn’t planned on hiring any hands. She wanted a few head of cattle, and a few horses, but figured she could manage it all by herself, at least for the first while. So, she’d torn the old building down and had even stacked the lumber into two piles—what could be reused and what could be burned.
    Susan figured if she did need help with anything, her brother Steven, who ran the main ranch, could send her Jed or Wayne to lend a hand, in which case they’d arrive in the morning and leave at night.
    “No bunkhouse?” Ryder had said that, and he didn’t look too happy about it, either.
    Susan thought about the truck and rig sitting outside and realized these men likely not only really needed the work, but a place to stay as well.
    “How many bedrooms you have here?” Ryder asked.
    “Just three, upstairs.” The words came before her brain could kick in and shut her mouth.
    “Well, that’s fine, then,” Colt said. “Now, let’s have a look at that report.”
    Susan handed over the papers and wondered at the ease with which this man had just invited himself and his partner into her home.
    Then she mentally shrugged. It wouldn’t likely take more than a couple of days at the most for them to