by Abigail Armani
Matthew clapped Tyler Fox on the back then shook hands with his new foreman to seal the deal. "It's great to have you on board, son. You've proved your worth here at Whispering Winds, and you're the best man for the job."
"Thanks, Mr Bellamy-"
"No need to stand on ceremony. You can call me Matthew, and my good wife's name is Brenda."
"Sure." Tyler smiled at the older man. "Thanks for the promotion, Matthew. I'm real glad I can be of help to you."
"How about a shot of bourbon to celebrate?" Matthew strode over to the decanter on the desk in his study. "Strictly speaking, it's a little early in the day and my lady wife wouldn't approve - but as she ain't here..." He grinned and poured two generous measures of the dark amber liquid into two glasses. "Gone into Dubois to buy more clothes for our trip." He rolled his eyes. "That woman has two closets crammed full of clothes and still she wants more."
"That's women for ya I guess," said Tyler wryly. He accepted the proffered glass and raised it.
"To your new job, son." Matthew clinked his glass against Tyler's.
"Yeah. My new job." Tyler took a sip and smiled appreciatively. "This is good stuff."
"Sure is. Jefferson's Presidential elect 30 year-old bourbon. It comes out on special occasions." Matthew took another sip, savouring the taste.
"You mentioned a trip - you folks goin' on vacation?"
"We are, and that's what I want to talk to you about, Tyler ... take a seat. You already know what's expected of you in regards to running the ranch. Hell - you've been doin' most of the day-to-day stuff during the past six months, and I've complete confidence in leaving the place in your capable hands while Brenda and I take our first vacation in thirty years."
"Thirty years? You're way overdue."
"Yup. We're off to Kenya, Botswana and Namibia on a photographic safari, and we'll be gone for eight weeks. It'll be the trip of a lifetime. Think you can cope in our absence?" He grinned widely. "I'm darned sure you can or I wouldn't have handed over a small fortune to the travel company."
Tyler put down his drink. It was well known that both Matthew and Brenda Bellamy were mad keen on photography, and over the past few years had organised a series of workshops at the ranch - workshops which proved very popular given the scenic Fremont County, Wyoming location of Whispering Winds with its abundance of wildlife. "I'm honoured you have such confidence in me. And yeah, I'm equally confident that myself and the boys can keep the place running smoothly while you're away. Your trip sounds fantastic."
"It'll be amazing. Can't think why we didn't do it sooner ... well, I guess I can ... my daughter. Annie."
"Ah." 'Bratty Annie Bellamy' was the name some of the ranch hands had given the spoilt, selfish, lazy loud mouthed daughter of his employers. "I haven't had the pleasure of meeting her," he said politely, his palm beginning to itch. From what he'd heard, she needed a good old fashioned spanking to sort her out.
"You will. And soon. Here's the thing, Tyler ..." Matthew leaned forward conspiratorially. "We have one or two problems with our Annie. She's like a coiled spring - goes off in all directions - and I'm not saying she doesn't have some good qualities, but she can also be uncontrollable, wilful, disobedient, irresponsible and plain dumb ass lazy! Not that it's all her fault, mind. I have to admit, we haven't been as strict with her as we should have. But her being an only child ... well, let's just say she's been indulged. We've given her everything money can buy and an overgenerous allowance; she's squandered the lot and demands more. She showed no interest in working after she graduated from high school. Life for our Annie has been one long party. We toughened up a bit - put her through college last year - thought it would focus her mind and make her knuckle down. It didn't. Sheesh!" Matthew shook his head.
"What went wrong?"
"She didn't turn up for most of her classes. She cheated in her tests by copying someone else's work. She repeatedly got drunk and got herself arrested for smoking dope on campus. And then yesterday, I got a call to say she'd lost her temper and thrown a chair at a member of the faculty staff. Man - I sent in a 'donation' of $3,000 to keep the peace and avoid them pressing charges. Even so, they've had enough of her. She can stay until the end of the semester and that's it. They don't want her back."
"I see." Tyler's eyes narrowed. "And when is the end of the semester?"
"Next Friday."
Tyler waited. He had a feeling there was more. There was.
"Thing is, son," continued Matthew, a sheepish look on his face, "Brenda and I will be leaving for Kenya next Thursday, so ..."
Tyler leaned back in his chair. "Uh huh. I get it. You want me to keep an eye on her."
"We'd appreciate it mightily if you would. I take you for a firm, no nonsense kind of guy, and that's just what our Annie needs."
"She needs taking in hand if you ask me," drawled Tyler.
"Hell yeah, that's exactly it: a firm hand is what's needed. You're gonna have your work cut out with her for sure, so I want you to deal with her as you see fit - and if that involves a trip to the woodshed, you have my full approval. It's about time that sassy daughter of mine learnt how to behave, and I think you're the man to motivate her."
Tyler smiled slowly. He hadn't expected that response from Matthew. The two men talked for over an hour, Annie Bellamy being the only topic on their agenda. When at length Tyler took his leave, he left the room with a smile playing on his lips.
He sure as hell was looking forward to the return of Miss Annie Bellamy.
The following Friday, Tyler drove to Jackson Hole airport. In his jacket pocket was a recent photograph of Annie - not that he needed it, for he had committed every nuance of her face to memory, and from scrutinizing other photographs of her, had a very clear idea of who he was looking for.
Lounging against the wall in Arrivals, he watched as a crowd of people came through the gate into the main foyer. Annie's flight had touched down on schedule and the passengers would be in the process of disembarking. She wouldn't be long.
Twenty minutes later, he was still standing there, a slight frown on his face as he wondered where she'd got to. As though on cue, she came into view, her dark brown pony tail swinging jauntily from side to side.
Brown? Tyler looked again. There were broad streaks of bright blue in her hair. She came forward, pushing a trolley piled high with a mountain of luggage. Aside from the blue hair, she was pretty much like her photographs: an attractive 24 year-old, around 5ft 6, with an hourglass figure - full breasts, trim waist, and generously proportioned hips. As she turned he caught sight of her rear encased in a pair of tight jeans that hugged the contours of her cheeks to perfection. He smiled wolfishly at the sight, knowing it wouldn't be too long before he became more intimately acquainted with that shapely bottom.
Moving swiftly through the crowd he went up to her. "Hi. Annie Bellamy?"
She turned, her eyes flickering with concealed interest at the sight of the good looking cowboy by her side. He stood tall and broad-shouldered in his blue jeans and black Stetson, and a pair of intelligent brown eyes looked into her own. "Might be. What's it to you?"
"I'm Tyler Fox. Your pa sent me to-"
"Oh," she interrupted. "You're the hired hand."
"I'm the foreman," he corrected, "and I'm here to bring you home."
"And why hasn't Daddy come to collect me himself?" she asked with a frown.
"He's gone on vacation with your mom." He deftly stepped closer and grabbed the trolley, wheeling it outside to the parking lot.
"On vacation? That's so not fair!" She was about to ask why they hadn't even bothered to tell her, but then remembered the almighty great row they'd had over the phone following her behaviour at college - a row which ended with her slamming down the phone and refusing to take further calls. So she hurriedly modified her question to, "Why didn't they take me?"
"First trip they've had in thirty years. I guess they just wanted time to themselves."
"Well I'm not impressed," retorted Annie with a defiant swing of her head. "I hope they've left me some more money as I'm completely out, and there seems to be some problem with my credit cards. I can't use them anymore. I need to get Daddy to fix it. When will they be back - a couple days?"
Tyler heaved the first of her bags into the trunk of the car. "Eight weeks."
"Fuck me! Eight weeks?! You're joking, right?"
"Nope. Pass me that bag. And stop cussing."
Annie glared at him. "I'll cuss all I want, cowboy. I don't take orders from you."
Tyler smiled disarmingly. That's what you think, lady.
Tyler tried to engage Annie in conversation on the ride back to the ranch, but she was in a sulk and gave only monosyllabic responses. She knew she was being sent home in disgrace, but had every intention of sweet talking Mom and Dad - especially Dad - like she usually did, knowing they'd come round and all would be forgiven. She was genuinely shocked to hear they had taken off on an eight-week vacation, and pissed that they hadn't asked her along - a photographic safari would have been so cool. But her hurt at not being invited manifested itself as a sulky silence as she sat with her arms folded and a thunderous look on her face. And it didn't help a bit that this new foreman dude was so freaking hot. Maybe she'd have a bit of fun with him later, but right now she was quite happy to be in a snit and ignore him. She leaned forward and turned the radio on full blast.
But she quickly found that Tyler Fox wasn't the sort of man to be ignored. A tanned hand shot out and turned the radio off.
"Hey!" she protested. "I was listening to that." Tyler slowed the vehicle down to a standstill by the side of the road. "Why have you stopped?" she demanded, flashing her blue eyes.
"You're going to listen to me instead. Here's the deal. Your pa left me in charge of the ranch. He also left me in charge of you."
"Of me? No way!" She stared at him in disbelief. "I'm a grown woman not a kid."
"But you behave like one, and I'm personally charged with sorting you out."
"What do you mean?" She glared at the handsome stranger. To her annoyance, he smiled lazily, completely unphased.
"When we get to the ranch, you have an hour to freshen up, then I want you to join me in your pa's study. He's left a letter for you outlining the work you are to do during the next eight weeks, and after you've read it, we'll talk."
Her eyes widened as her mouth opened in disbelief. "Work?! What work?"
"General chores around the place. You are to earn your keep and I'm to supervise. If your work is done to my satisfaction, you'll get a modest weekly allowance; if it isn't done properly, you'll be punished."
"Fuck that," she snapped. "And fuck you. Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like this!"
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