prayers of the Sisters Writing Groups. Many thanks, ladies.
As with the first book in the Big Heart Ranch series, this book is dedicated to the staff and children of Big Oak Ranch. Big Oak Ranch is a Christian home, located in Alabama, for children needing a chance.
I’d like to thank Reba with the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce for taking the time to patiently answer my email and mail me information on Pawhuska.
A shout-out goes to my newsletter subscriber Jo-Ann Toth, who named Travis Maxwell’s mustang stallion, Midnight. Wonder Woman thanks goes to Rogenna Brewer (she knows what she did). Additionally, I would have starved during deadline if not for my very own hero, Tom, who gets a trophy buckle for outdoor grilling. The judges all give him an eight-point-five.
Thank you to my agent, Jessica Alvarez, for her wisdom and guidance. Thank you, as well, to my editor, Giselle Regus, who helps me grow as a writer, even when I’m certain I can’t dig any deeper.
Contents
“I like Zeb Turner for the assistant ranch foreman position.” Travis Maxwell looked across the conference table at his sisters, Lucy and Emma, hoping for confirmation, and then shoved another cinnamon roll into his mouth.
“Hey, you ate the last one,” Emma said, grabbing the tin for the crumbs.
“I’m a growing boy.” Travis patted his flat abdomen. He glanced at his older sister, who continued to scribble notes on a pad. “What do you say, Lucy?”
“Turner isn’t even in my top three,” she returned.
“What are you talking about? He passed the background check and the fingerprint check, and his résumé is top-notch,” Travis said.
“That’s true for all of the final candidates, Travis,” Lucy stated.
“The point is that Zeb and I go way back. I can work with this guy and get the program off the ground and file for that grant. We’d meet the ninety-day deadline for that state funding faster than a bronc out of the chute.”
Emma groaned. “Spare us the hyperbole, please.”
“I’m telling you, my gut feeling is no to Zeb,” Lucy said. “Now stop annoying me. I’m not feeling well.”
“Lucy, are you all right?” Emma asked.
“Something I ate, I imagine.”
“Excuse me, but with all due respect, Madam Ranch Director, I’m pretty sure the Fair Hiring Practices and Job Discrimination laws do not include your gut in the guidelines.”
“Perhaps they should,” Lucy shot back. “I asked you not to hire Rusty Parnell, remember?”
“I’ve written Rusty up and he is aware he’s one boot away from being let go.”
“Travis,” Lucy said, “you and Rusty have known each other since high school and he’s taking advantage of your friendship. Please, let’s not make the same mistake by hiring Turner.”
Emma clapped her hands to end the discussion. “Pardon me, but we have another candidate to interview before we proceed to decision making.”
“Leave it to the Big Heart Ranch children’s director to be the voice of reason,” Lucy said.
“AJ Rowe.” Travis glanced at his watch. “It’s bad enough Mr. Rowe went to the University of Oklahoma. He’s also late.”
“Now, Travis. Not everyone can be an OSU Cowboy,” Lucy said with a laugh. “Let’s not let our college rivalries blind us to a potential employee.”
Heads turned when Lucy’s assistant, Iris, stepped into the doorway. “Ms. Rowe is here.”
Ms. Rowe? Travis mouthed the words to his sisters as he scrambled to search the candidate’s résumé for a hint as to how he’d missed that particular bit of information.
He looked up in time to see AJ Rowe enter the room.
In a gray business suit with black heels, the woman looked every inch the professional. AJ Rowe had twisted her honey-blond hair into some sort of knot at the back of her head. She carried a black leather briefcase in her hand as she entered the conference room.
Travis did a double take. With those big blue eyes and that golden skin, the woman bore more than a passing resemblance to Travis’s former fiancée.