The Rancher and His Unexpected Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page B

lightly.
    â€œShe’ll be okay,” he promised.
    Janet grinned at his solemn expression. “I know,” she agreed. “But will you?”

Chapter Three
    W hen Janet’s car had disappeared from sight, Harlan turned and walked slowly back inside. For the first time he was forced to admit that his decision to haul Jenny Runningbear’s butt out to White Pines to work off her debt wasn’t entirely altruistic. He’d wanted to guarantee himself the chance to spend more time with her mother.
    But now, with Janet on her way back to town and her taunt about his ability to manage Jenny ringing in his ears, he wondered precisely what he’d gotten himself into.
    Raising four stubborn sons, when he’d had authority and respect on his side, had been tricky enough. He had neither of those things going for him now. If anything, Jenny resented him and she had no qualms at all about letting him know it.
    He sighed as he stood in the doorway to the dining room and studied Jenny’s sullen expression. If ever a teen had needed a stern hand, this one did. Whethershe knew it or not, she was just aching for someone besides her mama to set some rules and make her stick to them.
    It was a job her father should have been handling, but he’d clearly abandoned it. It was little wonder the girl was misbehaving, he thought with a deep sense of pity. Typically in the aftermath of divorce, she was crying out for attention. Maybe she’d even hoped if she were difficult enough, she’d be sent back to her father for disciplining.
    It took some determination, but Harlan finally shoved aside his inclination to feel sorry for her. It wouldn’t help. He figured whatever happened in the next few minutes would set the tone for the rest of the days Jenny spent at White Pines.
    â€œThought you’d be outside by now, ready to get to work,” he announced. “I won’t tolerate slackers working for me.”
    Her gaze shot to his. “What does this crummy job pay anyway? Minimum wage, I’ll bet.”
    â€œIt pays for a smashed up pickup, period. Think of it as a lump sum payment.”
    â€œI’ll want to see the repair bill,” she informed him. “If the figures for my pay, based on the minimum hourly wage, are higher, I’ll expect the rest in cash.”
    Harlan wanted very badly to chuckle, but he choked back his laughter. This pint-size Donald Trump wannabe had audacity to spare. “Fair enough,” he conceded.
    â€œAnd I’m not getting on a horse,” she reminded him belligerently.
    â€œThat’s something we can discuss,” he agreed. “Meantime, let’s get out to the barn and groom them.They’ve been fed this morning, but tomorrow I’ll expect you to do that, too.”
    She stood slowly, reluctance written all over her face. Harlan deliberately turned his back on her and headed out through the kitchen, winking at Maritza as he passed. He didn’t pause to introduce them. He had a feeling Jenny would seize on any delay and drag it out as long as she possibly could. She might even inquire about those Tex-Mex recipes she claimed not to like, if it would keep her out of the barn a little longer.
    With her soft heart, Maritza would insist on keeping Jenny in the kitchen so she could teach her a few of her favorite dishes and coddle her while she was at it. That would be the end of any disciplining he planned. Until he’d laid some ground rules and Jenny was following them, he figured he couldn’t afford to ease up on her a bit. Her very first day on the job was hardly the time to be cutting her any slack.
    â€œWas that your housekeeper?” Jenny asked, scuffing her sneakers in the dust as she poked along behind him.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHow come you didn’t introduce us?”
    â€œNo time for that now,” he said briskly. “You have a job to do. You’ll meet Maritza at lunch. She’ll be