The Cowboy's Fate (The Govain Cowboys Book 1) Read online

  The Cowboy's Fate

  THE GOVAIN COWBOYS, Volume 1

  Janalyn Knight

  Published by Janalyn Knight, 2019.

  COPYRIGHT

  The Cowboy’s Fate

  Copyright © 2019 by Julie Aguilar

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Epilogue

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  BONUS CHAPTER | THE COWBOY’S CHOICE

  DEAR READER

  ALSO BY JANALYN KNIGHT

  Sign up for Janalyn Knight's Mailing List

  About the Author

  To my sweet Jamie, who taught me how to be a good mom.

  Chapter One

  EVE OWEN HUNG UP THE phone and shot her fist in the air. At last! She had taken her first step toward becoming a pilot—something she’d wanted since she was a child. Today she’d signed up for private lessons, and, as a self-employed ranching consultant, she could plan the time necessary to speed through her classes. Jane Fox, a retired pilot Eve met on a Southwest flight, had encouraged Eve to make her dream come true, sooner rather than later.

  Eve stood and arched back, sore from the extended time she'd spent at her table in the breakfast room doing last-minute research. She was due to fly out of Dallas/Ft. Worth airport in the morning to work with a cattle rancher in Jeff Davis County in West Texas. After flying into El Paso, the nearest international airport, she'd need to rent a car and drive nearly four hours to reach the 263,000-acre ranch at the base of the Davis mountains.

  Heading to the kitchen for a beer, she wondered what this rancher, Caleb Govain, would be like. He'd sounded all business on the phone. He had an interesting voice, though—deep and a little gravelly, like he was a large man. He seemed open to having her on the place, like no one was forcing him to invite her in. Sometimes the person she worked with had been pressured to ask for her services and, in that case, it made for a very uncomfortable working relationship. She grinned. Maybe this Caleb would be as handsome as his voice promised.

  This would be the first ranch deep in West Texas that she'd consult on, so she’d done a lot of research. Some would say cattle ranching was cattle ranching, but in the hot, arid land of West Texas, allowances had to be made. For instance, in North Texas, a rancher could run a unit (a cow and calf) to around ten acres. In Jeff Davis county, with the ten-year drought, it was more like a unit to 250 acres in some areas. With the lack of rain and all that entailed, making cattle ranching profitable in West Texas was a tall order. She had her work cut out for her.

  AT THREE O'CLOCK THE next afternoon, Eve followed the GPS in her rental through the desert landscape, following the narrow, two-lane paved road, and watching for the gate to the ranch, which should be on her right. Caleb had said she couldn't miss it. The arched entryway was tall, black wrought iron with Angus cattle in the design braced on stone pillars. Two bronze hawks, which apparently resembled eagles, stood on these pillars.

  The flat, cactus-speckled land spread out around her, and soon she spotted the entrance in the distance. Slowing, she turned into the ranch, crossed a wide cattle guard, and headed down a paved road, seeing nothing ahead but more desert. Pasture fence ran along either side of the road. After almost four miles, she came to a many-roomed, well-kept two-story mansion from a bygone age which was settled against a small lake.

  Pulling to a stop in the paved parking area next to a white Chevy ton truck, she looked around at the pleasant landscaping done with plants native to West Texas. She'd never been here, yet this beautiful place felt homey and peaceful.

  A heavy wooden door in the big double entryway opened, and a tall, blonde, broad-shouldered cowboy walked outside.

  Grasping her soft leather briefcase, she stepped out of the SUV and started for the house.

  The man walked toward her, a pleasant look on his face, and extended his hand as she stopped in front of him. He said, "Hi, you must be Eve. I'm Caleb Govain. Did you have any problem finding us?"

  His deep blue eyes held hers as she responded. "No, GPS got me here, along with your description of the entrance, which is gorgeous, by the way. Love the hawks."

  He smiled. "Our original family name was spelled Gauvain, with an a u. I believe it's Welsh in origin, meaning Hawk of the Plains, or something of the sort. We have ferruginous hawks here on the ranch, though they're rare. Our stock brand is a hawk's claw. Quite unique." He turned and motioned her inside. "Enough of that. I'm sure you're tired after that long drive. Let me show you to your room."

  She followed him, trying to keep her eyes off his jeans-clad lean hips and muscular butt. He headed up a wide, curved stairway to the second floor—the house was like something out of Gone with the Wind. The vintage style of the house carried through to her bedroom, though it wasn't overly ornate. The tall window let light in, and bright whites and pale colors made the room fresh and welcoming. A bouquet of pretty flowers sat on her dresser. Those had to have come from a long way off. How nice of the Govains.

  Caleb said, "The bathroom is down the hall on the right. You'll be the only one using it so make yourself at home in there. Come down when you're ready. My mother has a snack for you, and I'll fix you a drink or you can have iced tea." He smiled and walked out, shutting her door.

  This wasn't the first time she'd bunked at a rancher's home or cabin. Many times, ranches were isolated, and it made things easier staying at the ranch while she and her client figured out how she could help. This had to be the most unique home she'd stayed in, though.

  She placed her suitcase on the ornate wooden luggage rack and headed to the bathroom before going down.

  Caleb must have been watching for her because he approached as she got to the bottom of the stairs. "Let me take you to the family room. Mother's set the food up in there."

  As Eve entered, an attractive woman in her late fifties with shoulder-length sandy-blonde hair stood and held out her hand. "Eve, welcome to Govain Ranch. I'm Millie, and we're so thankful you could come. Caleb sings your praises." Smiling, she motioned for Eve to take the leather chair opposite her.

  Eve shook Millie's hand and sat looking around the magnificent room. Different from the rest of the house, this room was made for comfort. Made for ranchers coming home from a hard day's work. Comfortable leather couches, longhorns mounted on the wall, sturdy wooden tables with a distinctly western flair, and bronze horses and cowboys all held a place in the room.

  Millie filled a plate with finger food and handed it to Eve. "I hope you'll be comfortable here. You let me know if there's anything you need. And if you get hungry in the night, feel free to raid the kitchen. This is your home for as long as you stay."
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br />   Touched, Eve smiled. "That's kind of you. I'm looking forward to working with Caleb and finding out how I can help you all."

  A little while later, Caleb led her to his office. Man, he was easy on the eyes, and about a foot taller than her, and she wasn't short. He must be six-foot-six or more.

  Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms, looking her in the eye. "I've tried everything I know to make this place more profitable. I'm looking forward to anything you can offer in the way of help."

  She smiled. "You've been through it, I know. Texas ranchers have had it tough, but none more than those in West Texas. I'll do everything I can to find some answers for you." Crap, his eyes were gorgeous. She'd never seen such a deep shade of blue—almost purple. Women must fall all over the guy. "You saw on my resume I have a BA in finance, and, by the way, it's great to meet a fellow A&M grad."

  He grinned.

  "Let's start on the books. We'll see if I can find something there, first." She spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening pouring over the accounts, getting a feeling for how the ranch was run, what resources the ranch maintained, and what the expenses were. She already knew from her earlier research what the beef market prices were in the area.

  Caleb came to the open door and knocked. "Dinner's ready. You've done enough for your first day, don't you think? Come join us at the table." His smile sent tingles rippling up her torso.

  After heading upstairs to freshen up, she wandered around the house until she found the dining room. It could have held fifty people and must have in its elegant past. As it was, the long, beautifully-carved dining table could easily seat twenty-five people.

  A sixtyish man said, "Come in, Eve. I'm Roy Govain, and I'm so glad you're here."

  Smiling, she said, "You're all so welcoming, and I love your home. This table is gorgeous." The men stood as she found her chair.

  Roy patted the dark burnished wood. "This came overland from Virginia in the 1880s. It's held up quite well despite all the rough Govain men who have passed through this house."

  Millie ran her hand over the polished surface as the food was served. "I believe this is my favorite piece in the house. It's the heart of who this family is. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to it." She smiled at Eve. "Tell me about your family. Do they moon over old things like I do?"

  Eve grinned. "Our ranch has been in our family since my great-grandfather's time. We have our heirlooms but nothing like this table. As far as mooning, I'm not sure. My mom works out on the ranch with my dad and brother a lot. That and keeping the house and cooking for those two keep her hopping."

  Caleb asked, "Where is your place? In Texas?"

  "Sure is. North Texas. We run about 430 head over 6,000 acres. Various types of grazing. My dad runs a tight ship, and he listened to my suggestions. Between the two, he's increased his productivity and earnings over the past decade."

  Caleb smiled, meeting her gaze with those gorgeous eyes, sending butterflies fluttering in her tummy. Settle down girl. The guy is just being friendly. "My other brother, the younger one, joined the Marines. Mom wasn't happy about that at all. He's serving in Africa right now."

  Millie, who was sitting beside Eve, patted her hand. "Honey, I wouldn't like it if one of my boys joined the Marines, either. Too dangerous. Even though it's an honorable thing to do."

  After dinner, Caleb asked, "Eve, would you like to take a drive, get the lay of the land, so to speak?" Standing, a half-smile on his face, and looking too handsome for words, he definitely lived up to the sound of his voice.

  "Sure. I'd like that."

  "Do you drink beer, wine, tea, or something else? We'll be on pasture roads this evening."

  "Beer would be nice."

  "Any preference?"

  She raised an eyebrow. "Miller Lite?"

  He grinned. "I knew I liked you."

  Chapter Two

  CALEB'S CHEST TIGHTENED as he glanced at the beautiful woman in the passenger seat of his truck. Eve Owen was even more stunning than the photo on her website. Her long hair, with its tawny hues and windblown look reminded him of a lion's mane. Her intelligent, golden-brown eyes were constantly on the move, taking in the details of her surroundings.

  He reached into the ice chest between them and handed her a beer. "I'll take you out to see one of the herds first. As I said in my email, the ranch spreads out in places over Reeves, Jeff Davis, Pecos, and Brewster counties. We keep high-quality registered Angus bulls on our angus cows. The calves mature at a good weight despite the heat and having to walk for water. Even though you just got here, I'm sure you've noticed the wind. We use windmills to water the stock."

  Eve nodded. "Smart. Is it expensive to put one in?"

  "Water's deep here so, yeah, but with rain so infrequent, windmills are our best option." Those eyes of hers, he'd never seen anything like them. Golden, like a cat's eyes. Returning his gaze to the dirt road, he said, "How did you get into this kind of business?"

  "I watched my father struggle to make ends meet while I grew up, and I wondered if things could be different somehow. I love ranching—everything about it—and I don't want to see that lifestyle fail. People need to make money if ranching is going to continue to be a viable way of life."

  He glanced at her again. The evening light cast a glow over her skin, making him want to reach out and touch its soft texture. "Someone sure needs to do something. Like ranching isn't tough enough, this never-ending drought is killing us." As the herd came into view, he slowed. The bull, far larger than his cows, raised his head and stared at the oncoming truck.

  Eve leaned forward, peering ahead as they closed in. "Your bull is a handsome devil." The cattle milled around as they came near and stopped.

  Caleb got out and grabbed a sack of feed from the back of the truck. Opening it, he shook the bag, making a loud rattling noise. Cattle trotted toward him, the bull knocking a cow out of his way, as Caleb dumped small piles of feed about ten feet apart. After he distributed a second sack, he climbed back inside. "They always love a treat. This bull is easy to work with, unlike the bast—" He cleared his throat. "Unlike the one a few miles from here. He's a handful."

  Eve grinned and turned, taking in a panoramic view of the ranch. It had been a perfect, early-fall day. The sun was setting in a display of purples and reds and yellows.

  Caleb turned the truck around and headed back the way they came. "Are you married, Eve Owen?" He smiled as he said it, then returned his gaze to the pasture ahead.

  "Nope. I'm always gone somewhere, working. I really don't stay home long enough to date anyone. I don't even own a dog or a cat."

  Glancing at her again, he said, "That must be lonely."

  She pursed her lips and looked off into the horizon. "I guess I am, sometimes. Every once in a while, I'm home on a weekend and I'm like, "Well, what do I do now?" I don't have a sister to call up and visit with, and I'm not around enough to have girlfriends. I do keep in touch with my mom and dad, though." She turned to him. "Anyway, when I'm not traveling, I'm doing research for my next job, so I don't have much down time."

  He grinned, "All work and no play makes for a very boring life."

  "I have some fun. I volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. We build houses for homeless and low-income families. I'm hell with a hammer in my hand." She laughed. "I've learned a lot about construction, and Habitat's a wonderful charity. You wouldn't believe some of the stories these people have. I feel good about the work I do with them."

  Taking his eyes off the road again, he looked her over closely. This lovely woman was full of surprises. "That's a worthy cause, and it does sound like fun in a hard-work kind of way."

  She laughed again. "It is hard work and sweaty. Ugh. But it's worth it. When we turn the keys over to the family, well, there are no words for the feeling that gives me."

  It was dark when they arrived back at the house. Caleb opened Eve's door for her, escorting her inside. "Do you want a nightcap?"

  "Tw
o beers were plenty for me. Thank you."

  Caleb tipped his hat to her. "I'll see you in the morning for breakfast, then. We eat around seven thirty." As she headed up the stairs, his gaze followed her sexy Wrangler-clad butt.

  THE NEXT MORNING, CALEB arrived early for breakfast. To say that he was looking forward to seeing Eve was an understatement. He hadn't reacted like this to a woman since Sara, the girl he fell in love with in college. He frowned. Look how that had turned out. They had talked of getting married, but when Sara came home with him over Christmas break and learned how isolated the ranch was, and how extremely limited the social, entertainment, and shopping opportunities were, she'd said she couldn't cope with his kind of life. And, that had been that.

  Filling his coffee cup, he consciously banked the fire of his budding feelings for Eve. She was used to the big city life. She'd never be able to settle down in the middle of the West Texas desert.

  Sighing, he sat down at his place at the dining table and brooded. Fate had made him the eldest son and the one to stay home and run the ranch, which meant he didn't have much choice on where he lived.

  His brother, Adam, had gone back East to college, and became a physician in a trauma center of a large hospital in Boston. He’d finally moved back to Ft. Stockton when their father had a serious heart attack a few years ago.

  Caleb's younger brother, Dylan, had just started college here in Texas at Tarleton State in Stephenville and rode broncs in the NIRA, the college rodeo association. He planned on being a high school Agriculture Education teacher. Dylan said there was no way he would spend his life working for his big brother.

  Caleb drummed his fingers on the table. Not for the first time, he felt trapped by his fate. It wasn't that he didn't love the ranch. It was his heart and soul. But he was sure that, over the years, he'd met every woman near his age in the four surrounding counties and disregarded them all. The ranch wasn't a substitute for the love of a good woman. That left El Paso as his only option, and how in the hell could he carry on a courtship in a town four hours away? And besides, how would he meet someone there? The internet? He snorted. Not hardly. Meeting women at bars was not a solution for a long-term relationship, either.