Tinsel Trail - Clean Christmas Romance (Sagebrush Dude Ranch Christmas Book 4) (Paperback)

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Chapter 1
There was a reason William preferred working alone. Ever since leaving home after graduation, he’d found comfort in his solitude. Seated atop his horse at Sagebrush Dude Ranch, he could look out over the rolling hills and the trees that went on for miles without a care in the world.
Tending to the ranch was good, honest work—something at which he excelled. Did he have to put up with the occasional obnoxious tourist? Sure. But even those moments were worth it because, at the end of the day, he could take as long as he wanted to breathe in the crisp Texas winter air and stare out at what nature had to offer.
A screech erupted from behind him, sending critters scurrying in every direction. Hooves hit the ground at a pace that wasn’t at all uncontrollable.
William groaned, rolling his eyes as he pulled on the reins to get a good look at what he would have to deal with for the next several weeks.
His boss had to be wearing blinders. There was no way Eve’s cousin had ever ridden a horse, much less sat on a saddle. The woman hurtling toward him could barely keep her behind where it belonged. From the way she bounced around, he was only mildly impressed she hadn’t been thrown already.
Another scream pierced the air as Grace and her horse launched past him. William watched, leaning over on his saddle horn as she tried frantically to rein in her horse.
“Whoa! Easy, boy!” Her wild eyes landed on him just before she pulled the horse into a circle. “Why isn’t he listening?” she demanded.
He raised a single brow and moved the bit of straw in his mouth from one side to the other. “First of all, he’s a she.”
She glowered at him. “That shouldn’t matter. They don’t know what I’m saying.”
He shrugged. “Think what you want, but these animals are intelligent creatures. I can almost guarantee that she’s not taking to you because she senses you don’t respect her.”
Grace pulled her horse’s reins around again and grunted with effort. “I respect her just fine. You said she was a good horse.”
“She is. She just doesn’t seem to like you much.” William clicked his tongue, and his horse moved forward. The clip-clop sound formed a rhythmic song that could soothe any rattled heart. With minimal effort, he reached out and grasped the reins right out of Grace’s hands.
In a matter of seconds, the horse settled and stood still at his side.
Grace stared, bewildered, at the animal, then brought her eyes to meet William’s. “How did you do that?”
“I told you. She’s smart, and she knows that I respect her.”
Grace huffed then stood in her stirrups. “You’re making fun of me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
She swung her leg over the saddle and hopped to the ground. Her sharp gaze could have pierced a lesser man right through the heart. “Yes, you were. You gave me a horse you knew wouldn’t behave. Then you took me out here into the middle of nowhere so you could prove how much better you are at riding a horse.”
He chuckled. “You assume too much. I have very little interest in you.”
She stiffened, her frown deepening. “I beg your pardon?”
William rested his forearm on the saddle horn as his gaze penetrated hers. He gnawed on that piece of straw for a few moments longer then spit it to the side. “I’ve worked at Sagebrush for the better part of three years. I like it here. I do my job, and I do it well. They’ve become very popular lately, and we needed more trail guides. I thought Eve and Gabriel would pick someone with experience…”
His eyes swept over her, from her blond highlights to her immaculate makeup to her manicured nails. The woman didn’t fit here. She didn’t look like she’d done a day of labor in her life. On top of that observation, he could only assume she’d lied outright to her cousin about her skills at riding.
“Clearly,” he continued, “you don’t have any. I don’t know if they offered you the job because you’re family or if you lied about your abilities, but you don’t belong here.”
Grace gasped. “I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me. This job isn’t for the faint of heart. Not only do you need to know how to ride a horse, you need to familiarize yourself with the trails. What’s going to happen when one of our tourists gets lost? How are you going to save them from themselves when you can’t even control your own horse?”
She pointed at the horse. “That one just doesn’t like me.”
“She’s got good taste.”
Grace’s mouth fell open.
“Look, the busy season is coming up. The way I see it, Eve and Gabriel won’t be able to find a replacement this late in the game. You can either quit or suck it up and do the job you were hired to do.”
Her scowl deepened, and she folded her arms. Those blue eyes of hers flashed, warning him that he was treading on thin ice. Unfortunately for her, he didn’t mince words. He said it how it was, and if she didn’t like it, forget about surviving until Christmas—they weren’t going to survive the next few days in one another’s company.
“I can ride a horse,” she snapped. “I’ve ridden before. Lots of times. I have pictures to prove it.”
He arched a single brow then chuckled. “Let’s forget for a moment that pictures can be faked. Just because you paid some hack in the city that offers a horseback-riding experience doesn’t mean you know how to handle a horse in the real world. Most of those animals are on their last leg. They’re docile—tame. We have those kinds of horses here…” He straightened and shot an amused look in her direction. “We just reserve them for children and the elderly.”
“You’re a—”
He wagged a gloved finger at her. “Be careful. You don’t want to alienate the one person who can prepare you for the job you were hired to do. Today is your first day. I’m not going to treat you with kid gloves. Not now, not ever. You want to keep this job? Get back in that saddle and listen to me when I tell you what to do.”
Grace eyed the horse with hesitation.
William could see the cogs working in her brain. Getting back in the saddle meant that she would have to accept her fate. She’d be agreeing to everything he said. As far as he was concerned, that was as it should be.
He had never wanted to train the next trail guide. But the ranch’s only other trained rider had gotten married and moved away. It was William or no one. He sighed, holding the reins out to her. “It’s your choice. You can ride her back, or you can ride back with me.” He patted the space behind him. There was no way she’d take that offer. This woman might be incompetent in the saddle, but she was also as stubborn as they came.
Grace glowered at him once more then yanked the reins from his grasp.
The horse side-stepped, and William shook his head. “Did you not listen to a word I said? You have to show her you respect her so she can respect you.” He dragged a hand down his face. “Now, get back up there, and let’s try this again.”

(Prequel) Snowfall at Sagebrush
1. Mistletoe Masquerade
2, Gingerbread Hearts
3. Beneath the Christmas Star
4. Tinsel Trail
5. Crossroads at Sagebrush