by Leigh Smith
Brenda Jackson, her butt in the air as she cleaned out the bottom shelves, heard someone shuffle up to the counter.
"Howdy, Ma'am."
She couldn't believe what she heard. She didn't think anyone spoke like that anymore, especially the locals. Sure, they were in Texas, but it was 2015 not 1895. She stood up and looked at the biggest man she had ever seen. He had to be at least six feet seven, and the fact that he was dressed entirely in black made him seem even taller. Dressed in black from the tip of the Stetson, pulled down low on his forehead, to the western shirt that peeked out from under the oil-skinned duster, to his jeans and boots, all she could think of was Johnny Cash, the man in black. He appeared to be much younger than her initial impression, and his green eyes, tawny skin, and long black hair made her a little weak in the knees. She continued to stare at him.
Finally, her voice returned. "Hi, what can I help you with?"
"Pardon me, but may I say you have a mighty fine backside."
"Excuse me?" Good looking or not, that wasn't language she would tolerate from a stranger.
"Sorry. Did I say that out loud? Your physical charms took over my manners."
Who is this guy? "Okay, again, what can I help you with?"
"I'm Luke Madison and I'm new to the area."
"Where are you from?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, your speech and dress makes me think of someone from an old western, but you're far too young."
"I grew up on old westerns. My granddad raised me, and he was a fan of everything cowboy. Guess I picked up my habits from him. His ranch, Western Melody was bought from the money he earned when he traveled with a rodeo and later a western band way back when he was younger. He lived the cowboy life 'til the day he died ... in the saddle, I might add. He and Midnight, his horse, were on a ride when a storm hit and they were swept away when a wall of water came gushing down the arroyo."
"That's so sad."
"Yup, but he died doing what he loved. We should all be so lucky."
"You're right about that. Okay ... so, Luke Madison, what do you want?"
"I bought a piece of property from the Wilson family. I plan on doing a little ranching, a little farming, and a little singing. I need to hire a ranch hand and a housekeeper and figured since you were the only general store in the area you would probably know everything that goes on around here including people looking for work."
"The Wilson's own quite a bit of property. What section did you buy?"
"320 acres between FR 56 and 58. It's right off the road. Do you know it?"
"I can picture it. That's the section that has the old farmhouse and a couple of barns on it, isn't it?"
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