Blurb:
So Trace
heads for Texas and Riven Creek Ranch, the horse farm his aunt Lois owns. But
hours before he arrives, Lois is in a terrible car accident that nearly takes
her life, and Trace finds himself in charge of the ranch kitchen. Sounds simple
enough and it's the least he can do for his recuperating aunt.
Then Sawyer
happens.
Sawyer is
his aunt's big, beautiful, muscle bound, incredibly sexy straight ranch manager. Someone who has no clue
Trace is gay. And meeting the big man should have been okay, except it was in
the middle of his aunt's kitchen at five in the morning and Trace was nearly
naked. Embarrassing? Yep. But the very next day Trace proceeded to ramp up his
embarrassment by quantum leaps when he nearly sets his aunt's house on fire and
the brooding Sawyer has to come to the rescue.
Seems like
Trace's "luck" followed him.
Not to mention that Aunt Lois's "accident" was actually
attempted murder. And now, they just might want Trace dead, too.
Can Trace figure out who's behind the attempts on his aunt's life
AND keep Sawyer from finding out he's hot for the cowboy?
Character interview with Sawyer Elliot
Thank you for talking with me this morning, Mr.
Elliot. May I call you Sawyer?
Sure.
So you are the ranch manager here at Riven Creek Ranch.
Can you tell me a little bit about your job?
Well, I’m in
charge. All the ranch hands answer to me. I establish the work schedule and
make sure everyone is properly trained and following procedures. We’re not
overly staffed so everything is a delicate balance. (chuckles). Thankfully we all work well together. It’s not easy
taking care of this facility. The maintenance alone is a full time job.
It must be expensive to run this place.
Absolutely. I should
know, too, since I have to put together the budget every year.
Care to share that figure with us?
I don’t think I
should but it’s a crazy high one.
Is there a lot of paperwork that goes along with your
job? This office you have is fairly large and there doesn’t seem to be a lack
of paper on your desk.
There is a mountain of paperwork. From keeping
personnel files on the employees to keeping accurate files on each and every
horse on the ranch. We monitor weight, health, feed. When they last saw the vet
or farrier. Horses tend to injure themselves, too, so we have to daily monitor
that. And if an animal is sick or truly injured? Then let’s talk about paperwork! Not to mention all the state and
federal regulations I need to keep up with along with repair records on all the
equipment. So, yes, there is paperwork.
Tell me about your relationship with the ranch hands.
(Laughs) We have a good one. All of us. We’re
more like a family here. I know a lot of places probably say that but here it’s
the truth. These guys have my back and I have theirs.
What do you mean?
We work well
together. Each of us pretty much knows what the other guy is thinking, what
they need. My guys never question me and oftentimes don’t even need direction
from me. They see what has to get done and they get it done.
How does that say family?
Well, maybe it
doesn’t say family. It does shout
respect. There is not one of these guys I wouldn’t take a bullet for. I think
they would do the same for me.
So what about family? Where’s yours?
I don’t have one.
I was an only child and my parents died a long time ago.
No aunts or uncles? Cousins?
Nope.
Love life?
(Laughs) Nope. Nada. Don’t believe in it.
You don’t believe in love?
I don’t believe
there is that special someone out there for me.
Really? Why’s that?
Do you see him?
Him?
Yeah, I’m gay. So
what? Everyone knows and they have no problem with it.
Wow. That alone is something, don’t you think?
Oh, don’t get me
wrong. I had issues when I first took over. It’s taken five years to get the
crew I have. That’s why I call them family because they accept me for who I am
and respect me for the job I do. In turn, I put a lot on these boy’s shoulders
and not once have they disappointed me.
So, none of them have caught your eye?
No.
That’s pretty definitive.
That’s because it
is. And each and every one of them knows that.
That’s kind of sad.
A relationship
would only mess things up.
I disagree.
What are you
talking about?
I think you’re going to be surprised one day Sawyer
Elliot. I think a very special man is going to walk into your life and turn you
into a believer. And I think it’s going to be very soon. What do you say to
that?
I’d say you’re
crazy. It’s not going to happen.
Ha! Famous last words. (laughs)
Not to mention that Aunt Lois's "accident" was actually attempted murder. And now, they just might want Trace dead, too.
Can Trace figure out who's behind the attempts on his aunt's life AND keep Sawyer from finding out he's hot for the cowboy?
Thank you for talking with me this morning, Mr.
Elliot. May I call you Sawyer?
Sure.
So you are the ranch manager here at Riven Creek Ranch.
Can you tell me a little bit about your job?
Well, I’m in
charge. All the ranch hands answer to me. I establish the work schedule and
make sure everyone is properly trained and following procedures. We’re not
overly staffed so everything is a delicate balance. (chuckles). Thankfully we all work well together. It’s not easy
taking care of this facility. The maintenance alone is a full time job.
It must be expensive to run this place.
Absolutely. I should
know, too, since I have to put together the budget every year.
Care to share that figure with us?
I don’t think I
should but it’s a crazy high one.
Is there a lot of paperwork that goes along with your
job? This office you have is fairly large and there doesn’t seem to be a lack
of paper on your desk.
There is a mountain of paperwork. From keeping
personnel files on the employees to keeping accurate files on each and every
horse on the ranch. We monitor weight, health, feed. When they last saw the vet
or farrier. Horses tend to injure themselves, too, so we have to daily monitor
that. And if an animal is sick or truly injured? Then let’s talk about paperwork! Not to mention all the state and
federal regulations I need to keep up with along with repair records on all the
equipment. So, yes, there is paperwork.
Tell me about your relationship with the ranch hands.
(Laughs) We have a good one. All of us. We’re
more like a family here. I know a lot of places probably say that but here it’s
the truth. These guys have my back and I have theirs.
What do you mean?
We work well
together. Each of us pretty much knows what the other guy is thinking, what
they need. My guys never question me and oftentimes don’t even need direction
from me. They see what has to get done and they get it done.
How does that say family?
Well, maybe it
doesn’t say family. It does shout
respect. There is not one of these guys I wouldn’t take a bullet for. I think
they would do the same for me.
So what about family? Where’s yours?
I don’t have one.
I was an only child and my parents died a long time ago.
No aunts or uncles? Cousins?
Nope.
Love life?
(Laughs) Nope. Nada. Don’t believe in it.
You don’t believe in love?
I don’t believe
there is that special someone out there for me.
Really? Why’s that?
Do you see him?
Him?
Yeah, I’m gay. So
what? Everyone knows and they have no problem with it.
Wow. That alone is something, don’t you think?
Oh, don’t get me
wrong. I had issues when I first took over. It’s taken five years to get the
crew I have. That’s why I call them family because they accept me for who I am
and respect me for the job I do. In turn, I put a lot on these boy’s shoulders
and not once have they disappointed me.
So, none of them have caught your eye?
No.
That’s pretty definitive.
That’s because it
is. And each and every one of them knows that.
That’s kind of sad.
A relationship
would only mess things up.
I disagree.
What are you
talking about?
I think you’re going to be surprised one day Sawyer
Elliot. I think a very special man is going to walk into your life and turn you
into a believer. And I think it’s going to be very soon. What do you say to
that?
I’d say you’re
crazy. It’s not going to happen.
Ha! Famous last words. (laughs)
