Secret Pressure (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 4) (21 page)

Cara had left the office, feeling down, and had almost forgotten about the brochure. She had skimmed through it, reading about the R&R. She didn’t need a vacation. She had the shop to worry about.

After another nightmare, she was on the brink of desperation.

Sighing, she took the pamphlet from the can and placed it in her lap. She read the cover… 

“Nirvana Ranch. A place where people find tranquility in nature.”

The picture of horses and the lovely sunset was definitely an attention getter. No denying her curiosity was tweaked, although she wasn’t sure the ranch was what she needed. How could she go away right now? She certainly didn’t think she’d be bold enough to go to some R&R miles away where they promised tranquility. She opened the cover and floated through the information. Seclusion. Horses. Nature. Riding lessons. A life skills coach. “Oh my.” Her throat constricted.

She read further.

“Visit us online and apply for an opportunity to visit Nirvana. We hope to see you soon.”
Nope, not going to happen.

Dropping the brochure back into the trash, she turned off the lamp, rolled over and buried her head into the pillow.

The clock ticked. The wind whistled. Tree branches scratched the window. Her heart pounded inside of her chest and her palms were sweaty.

Punching the pillow twice, she jerked the blanket over her head.  Once she fell asleep her nightmares would find her.

She wondered what it would be like to sleep peacefully for one night.

She could take the over-the-counter sleep aid that helped, but she didn’t like thinking she would be in a deep sleep and not arousing if something happened. A fire. A break-in. An important phone call. Who would call her in the middle of the night? No one called her during the day either. Her one, and only, friend was Cleo. Cara had more in common with the seasoned woman than anyone. Most thirty-year-olds were out having fun, but Cara stayed home every night. 

What would life be like if she found herself again, the young woman with compassion, adoration for life and a romantic fantasy of love and family? She’d been so happy before it was crushed under the weight of reality.

Turning on the light again, the pamphlet seemed to draw her like a beacon.

Her options were thin. She could live in fear and a safe bubble for the rest of her life, or get over the hell she’d once lived and had surrounded her like iron bars of a prison. Take a vacation. Do what normal people do.

She took the pamphlet and tapped the shiny paper with one nail.

It was time she kicked her husband out of her brain.

****

Ben Kade stared down the length of the pock-marked fence. Ranch hands, his friends and co-workers at Nirvana Ranch, were gathering around, greeting each other.

He looked out over the fields where the horses grazed. A hushed chatter arose from the men. Ben remained quiet, listening. There was always a tense excitement, for some more than others, as a new round of heartbreaks were scheduled to come and stay at the ranch.  ‘Heartbreaks’ was a name the staff called the visitors, because everyone who came through Nirvana had a story to tell, whether they knew it or not.  Heartbreaks spent a lot of money to come here to enjoy the outdoors, learn new life skills, fish and ride horses—and to get away from the hustle and bustle of a busy life. Over the years, he’d seen hundreds of women come and go, because ninety-nine percent of their guests were female. Most were single, some were married, and some were looking for a getaway while they cleared their head. Even a few came to hike through the vast trails or learn to cook by taking lessons from the staff chef. Several had come to meet the legendary rodeo star and owner of Nirvana—Chase Sever. Each and every one had their own reason. A lot of them were rich, city folk who wanted to find out what it was like on the other side of the fence, so to speak.

The workers here at Nirvana had stories to tell too, and most of them liked the fact that they were far away from civilization.

Ben looked at Maverick, who was leaning against the fence. The thirty-something cowboy wore his past on his harsh expression. He’d lost his wife to an illness six years ago. Further down he saw Jace, who grew up in a home with only his dad, who was an alcoholic. All of the men knew what it was like to lose, but Ben didn’t know all of their stories. Some weren’t as loose-lipped as others.

Ben started working as a ranch hand at Nirvana four years ago. Little did he know when he signed onto the job it would require more than tending horses and stacking bales of hay. It required healing, slowly and gradually. There was something about the countryside that made a person search for answers.

His main duty was to tend the horses, but he also liked to call himself the ‘friend’ of many women over the years. Sex between heartbreaks and hands was against the rules, although Ben knew that sometimes on a rare occasion the workers found themselves in situations where human nature took its natural course. For Ben, he didn’t like mixing personal and professional.

He laughed. To each his own.

He removed his hat and rubbed his forehead.

“I’m ready for the new heartbreaks,” Dade said as he took a seat on the top rail. “Ready to see people besides all you ugly men.”

Ben shook his head. “When aren’t you ready.”

Dade was the youngest cowboy and had more charm than he knew what to do with. His dimples alone made the ladies swoon, and his naïve, country boy innocence made him a danger to himself at times. He hadn’t quite earned his spurs yet, so to speak. He was a kid in a candy store. Chase, the owner, used Dade for transporting and errands. Ben knew Dade was in a hurry to advance on the proverbial ladder to success, to become a ranch hand, but the kid didn’t understand that everything looked better from afar.

“Maybe I’ll join you fellas in the ranks soon. I’m ready to do more than meet and greet.” Dade’s eyes twinkled with hope. “I want to teach riding lessons. I could also do crossbow lessons.”

“That’s up to the boss.” Ben wished he had half of Dade’s unabashed excitement. Once upon a time, Ben couldn’t wait for a new season, new opportunities. With age comes maturity. And disappointment.

He liked to keep the line between professional and personal drawn. He considered himself a man with a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen and a boost to a woman’s bruised ego. But he never allowed his emotions to get involved—or his dick. Some of the men joked that Ben didn’t have any emotions and that’s why he was good as a hand at Nirvana. He didn’t succumb to every pretty woman who batted her eyelashes—and boy did the ladies get out here in the country and get horny. Unfortunately, after an article was published in a prestigious magazine liking Nirvana to “a cowboy orgy” Chase was on a warpath. It was an unfair and unjust article by a journalist who hadn’t even visited Nirvana. Sure, some lines were crossed at times, but nothing more than what happened at any other R&R anywhere in the world.

“I second that, Dade. I’m ready to get this show on the road. I can’t wait for riding lessons.” Jared winked and pounded Dade on the back.

“You keep joking like that and we’re going to start believing you can’t keep your dick in your pants, Jared. And Chase is going to send you packing. It must be the bad boy image and the tattoos that have all the ladies falling.” Maverick chuckled.

“Did I hear the mention of ladies?” Dodge asked as he strolled up and took a seat on a bale of hay. Dodge was an ex-football player turned cowboy. After an injury to his knee during a game, he could no longer play. Ben believed the man was still sore, inside and out, over the defeat.

“We were in the middle of pointing out Jared’s talent with the women.” Ben put emphasis on the word ‘talent’. “I’m sure there’s at least one in the new batch who can’t resist his appeal.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Jared scrubbed his jaw. “A little flirting never hurt anyone.” Jared blew on the back of his knuckles and rubbed them down his plaid shirt.

“We’re hands. Not lovers. Most of these women wouldn’t even look twice at us out on the street. But loneliness can turn a frog into a prince.” Dodge shook his head.

“There are limits to everything, boys.”  Chase sauntered over. Salt and peppered hair, pale eyes and a harsh jawline, he had a power about him that warned others that he wasn’t one to mess with. But he was a helluva good boss—the best—and was always fair and easy to talk to.  “And Jared, I think sometimes your boundaries are blurred. Good thing that hasn’t become a problem yet. You’re a damn good worker. I’d hate to lose you because you can’t see the lines. Remember, it’s my reputation on the line if you fuck up, so don’t.”

“Has a heartbreak complained?” Jared lifted one thick brow.

“No, on the contrary.” Chase removed his hat and hooked it on the post. “So far, all of the women gush about that purdy tattoo you have on your left cheek. No one seems to mind that you like to skinny dip.”

Jared smiled ear-to-ear and patted one pocket of his worn jeans. “The bull never lets anyone down.”

Laughter bellowed from the men. The cowboys had become Ben’s friends…more than that though. They were his family, something he’d lost before he came here. They didn’t always get along, and sometimes they were known to throw punches, but they respected each other.  Ben knew they had his back, and he had theirs. There was something soothing about the ranch and he was glad to be a part of the change that happened to others—but lately he felt that he was missing something that he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

“On a more serious note, keep in mind, we’re here to offer peace, cater to the guests, teach some skills, not make it worse for them when they leave. If one of the heartbreaks falls in love, it’s your head that’ll roll.” Chase propped his foot on the bottom rail. He was a large, muscled man and the wood creaked under his brawny frame. Before he bought the ranch he was famous, but he took a dirt bath off a mean bull, was hurt pretty bad and retired. He had the scars to prove how tough and rough he’d been. “Now let’s go over the details before the heartbreaks arrive. As you’ve all heard, Townsend is no longer on staff here—“

“What’d he do, break client privilege?” Dodge laughed.

Chase shook his head. “No, he took another job. Plain and simple, nothing sinister involved.”

“He was way too edgy anyway,” Jace added. “A good pussy would have eased his uptight ass—“

“Let’s stop right there.” Chase sighed. “We’re getting off track and if you boys plan on having one last evening out before the heartbreaks arrive tomorrow, we’d better get this meeting over with. I want you all home and in bed at a reasonable hour. You need your beauty sleep so you can be real purdy for the ladies. And if you want to let the horse out of the corral, this would be the time to get it out of your system. Ain’t one of you that can’t go two weeks without lovin’, no matter what you say.” Chase directed his gaze at Jared who smiled. Chase shook his head and looked at each cowboy. “We have a new life skills coach, she’ll be here this evening. Her name is Sofie.”

“She? Won’t that upset the testosterone thing we’ve got going on here?” Dade asked.

“I think it sounds exactly like what we need. And what the heartbreaks need,” Ben said. “And from what I hear, we’re lucky to get her. She was a coach to celebrities a while back.”

Chase nodded. “I happen to agree. That’s why I hired her. You boys’ll have to keep your pants on outside of your cabins. Pull back on the cursing and rubbing of crotches. Show some respect. We don’t want to send her packing before she even gets started.”

“I finished up the repairs on her cabin  yesterday. New wood flooring, curtains. Made it look more girly like you asked, boss.” Jace was an exceptional carpenter and handled all of the repairs at the ranch.

“Sounds great. I took a look earlier and it meets my satisfaction. Can’t say I know much about what a woman fancies in home decoration, but she can change what she doesn’t like.” Chase’s jaw tightened and he rubbed his temple.

Ben noticed that Chase was a little tense. Ben considered the man a good friend and wondered if the article still bothered him. Maybe they’d get a chance to talk.

“How many new cattle did we get, boss?” Maverick asked.

“A dozen head. We also have new horses for the heartbreaks to ride, as you know. Thanks to Ben, he’s made new saddles for a few of the Paints. Ben got the new cart since his bit the dust.” The men nodded and mumbled recognition to Ben then turned their attention back to Chase.  “You’ve all been assigned your new duties. I think we should plan to make this the best season of all. We have five new heartbreaks who’ll be arriving throughout the day tomorrow. While they’re here we give them privacy.  Anything they need, we get it for them. Let’s make them feel welcome. Motley has a new menu for you boys, too. He’s on a health food kick.” Moans were heard from the group. Chase handed a folder to each of them. “Take a quick glance over the bios so you’ll know the ladies’ names. Any questions?”

Silence.

“Since no one is speaking up, I’ll take that as we’re all briefed and ready. Now, enjoy your evening, boys, and be safe. If I have to come and bail any of you out of jail, I’ll dock pay for a month. Got that?”

Nods and mumbles of understanding came from the men.

The meeting was adjourned and the cowboys filed out, ready to head to the hangout in town where they always gathered the night before the heartbreaks visited.