Page 3 of Roping Her Alien Ranchers

“Back off, boy,” I chided Mystery who seemed to still be deciding if approaching was the right move. “Go on,” I fussed, “Don’t make me send you to your room with no apple.”

Whether he understood me or it was just good timing, Mystery shook his mane, huffed, and then turned away. He loped away, totally unbothered.

“You know, I think he likes you,” I comforted Sassafras, continuing to pet her back. “Guys will pick on a girl they like.”

The mare gave one more stomp of her right front hoof and then cantered away from me.

I watched both horses as they moved, keeping to opposite sides of the enclosure. God, they were stunning animals. I’d really thought they were a sure thing. If they didn’t warm up to one another soon, I was going to have to put them up for sale. There was no way I’d recoup all my money, but hopefully enough to figure out my next move.

Sighing, I folded my arms over the fence and rested my chin atop my wrist. In the distance, the majestic Flint Hills swashed smokey-blue across the horizon. Kansas was beautiful and totally indifferent to my struggles.

"You'll be back," Derek had predicted when I told him I was buying this place. His smile had been equal parts amusement and condescension. "You can't even break a horse, let alone run a ranch. You'll burn through that pitiful bank account, and then you'll come crawling back."

God, I still don’t know why I’d told him. He’d tracked me down to the hotel I’d been staying at, totally pissed that I’d sold the car.

“I don’t need you, Derek. I’m doing just fine on my own.” I crossed my arms, tilting my chin and trying to look tough.

“Sure, you are, darlin’. That’s why you had to sell the car I bought you to help fund this ridiculous idea.” He laughed one of his high and mighty, cutting guffaws—the kind that made him tip back his head and close his eyes.

Why had I been so damned determined to buy this place? Every dollar I had was invested in this place, in Mystery and Sassafras, in my conviction that I could build a life of my own. I was down to my last chance.

But even if this last chance went up in flames, I'd never crawl back to Derek.

The wide stable door was slightly ajar. I gripped its worn wood, wrapping my fingers around the splintered edge, and swung it outward slowly. The creak that greeted me was a defeated moan. Even this building was tired of trying. Given half a chance, I’m sure it would uproot itself and shuffle off into the wilderness to crumble into dust. After securing the door open by threading a rusty hook through an eyebolt set into the barn’s outer wall, I strode into the dimness inside.

The familiar scents of hay, leather, and horse that greeted me. This—this was home now. Not the fancy condo in Kansas City with its granite countertops and memory foam mattress. Not Derek's sprawling ranch with its manicured lawns and imported furniture that I was never allowed to actually use because, “What if Life of an Alpha wants to do another cover story, Tam? I can’t risk you spilling something.”

Why a self-proclaimed cowboy would pick white sofas was beyond me.

This ramshackle collection of weathered wood and rusted metal, these temperamental horses that held my future in their hooves—this was mine. Every splinter, every leaking roof tile, every triumph and failure belonged to me alone.

I straightened my shoulders and stepped into the cool shadows of the stable, ready to face another day of coaxing reluctant equines toward romance. My stomach growled, reminding me that coffee wasn't breakfast, but I ignored it. Food could wait. The bank wouldn't.

"Alright, you stubborn creatures," I said, my voice echoing slightly in the high-ceilinged space. "Time to fall in love or at least tolerate each other long enough to make a dang baby. My whole future is riding on your progeny, so let's get to it."

The answering whicker from the far stall might have been agreement or mockery. With horses, it was often hard to tell the difference—kind of like with ex-fiancées. Derek had mastered digs disguised as compliments. I’d long ago given up trying to figure out if any nice things he said to me were sincere. Jesus, why had I stayed with that jerk so long?

Mystery watched me approach his stall with the suspicion of a creature who'd seen too many bad humans. His deep mahogany coat gleamed even in the dim light of the stable, almost black where the shadows touched him, morphing nearly metallic wherever light kissed. He stood tall and proud in the corner, ears flicking back in disapproval as I unlatched his stall door. The large, intimidating animal stamped his front hoofs one after another as I entered. Did he just roll his eyes at me? Could horses even do that?

Mystery backed into the corner, staring warily at me now.

"Good morning," I said, advancing carefully into his domain.

The horse shook his head sharply, flicking his mane from one side to the other. His silky hair draped down in a midnight curtain, begging to be brushed and braided. I wasn’t trying that again though. The fading bruise on my side from the kick he’d offered up while I’d tried to groom his tail a couple weeks ago wouldn’t let me forget how much Mystery hated being fussed over in that way.

He shifted, angling his muscled body away from me.

"Still pretending you don't know me after all this time? That's commitment." I crossed my arms, trying to appear totally unfazed by the horse’s shenanigans. As a secondary benefit to the act, my left arm protectively shielded the bruised area. That made me feel slightly better about how his rear legs were closer to me. He’d only have to shift a little farther to land another kick and leave me with a matching bruise on the other side.

Mystery snorted, dragging his right front hoof against the straw-covered floor, gathering a little pile beneath his body.

“Well, let me introduce myself for the millionth time.” I placed my hand on my chest. “I’m Tammy. You work for me now. I’ve got a ridiculously large bank loan that says so.” I lifted my hand from my body and hovered it in the air, palm facing the horse. “And you’re Mystery. Champion of champions, and the future father of the gorgeous little foals that are going to save my ranch.”

Mystery grunted, nostrils flaring.

This horse came from two renowned bloodlines, he’d performed brilliantly on the track, but these days he behaved like he'd rather be anywhere else when humans were involved. The previous owner had offered me a deep discount. At the time, I’d celebrated my good luck. Now, I knew why they hadn’t been able to sell the horse to a more reputable breeding ranch. But, once in a while, I could see past the attitude to the potential underneath. If Mystery and I could find out footing, we could truly make this thing work.

I really hoped my optimism panned out.