Cowboy Romance: The Duchess of Steele: Rugged Rodeo Cowboys, #3

By GRACE HEARTSONG

+Free Bonus Short Story Inside!

ODEO ROMANCE: The Duchess Of Steele

A Western Rodeo Romance

After the death of her father and the closing of the family rodeo and ranch in Alberta, Canada, Janine "Dutch" Steele takes a job as a horse trainer at Delago Ranch. 

An old family friend of the Brooks', Janine must come to terms with blooming romantic feelings for an old childhood friend.

Book 3 in the Rugged Rodeo Cowboys western romance series BUT can also be read as a standalone!
 

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WARNING:This ebook may be considered inappropriate for underage readers. Readers 18+ Only!!

Tags: Contemporary Western, Cowboy Romance, Rodeo Romance, Western Romance Series & Short Stories

• Language: English
• Publisher: BlissRockHub OU
• Release date: Feb 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386653356

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Annalise – Part 1 & 2

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THE DUCHESS OF STEELE

RUGGED RODEO COWBOYS BOOK 3

COWBOY ROMANCE

BY GRACE HEARTSONG

THE DUCHESS OF STEELE

Janine Steele pulled to a stop outside the Delago Ranch, a swirl of dust settling around her silver pickup truck. An older gentleman who she recognized to be old Joe Brooks, patriarch of Delago, waved her in.

Janine craned her neck to the rearview mirror, then tugged back the errant, tightly wound curls escaping from her thick braid. The Texas sun had produced glistening drops of sweat over her coffee-colored skin. The damn air conditioner in the truck had broken two years ago, but the weather never got too hot up in Alberta to fix it. Texas, on the other hand, would be another deal. She’d need to get that fixed pronto.

You alright in there? Joe Brooks braced his hands on the open driver’s side window.

Yep, Janine said. She plucked her daddy’s vintage cowboy hat from the passenger side seat and fit it neatly on her head. Just tryin’ not to melt. She grabbed her bag and opened the door.

Jamie’s inside, got yer paperwork ready. Joe said, running a grubby-looking, red handkerchief over his perspiring forehead.

You look like you’re about to melt too, Mr. Brooks. Janine said, squinting against the midday sun.

Joe waved her off. Someone from back near the stable called for him.

Duty calls, Ms. Steele. He took her hand for a moment and thoughtfully held it between his own. We’re mighty glad you’re here, Dutch. Your daddy was a great friend. I was very sad to hear of his loss. She hadn’t heard that nickname in some time, not since she stopped riding in the rodeos herself. They’d called her The Duchess of Steele, or Dutch for short.

Janine placed her free hand over their joined ones and offered a solemn smile. Thank you, Joe...truly. She said. He held her gaze a while longer, then gave a nod and turned to go.

Janine turned back to her truck and took a deep breath. Her life was packed in this vehicle, and she’d driven hundreds of miles down from Alberta, Canada to take the open job as a horse trainer at Delago Ranch. Her daddy and Joe Brooks had been old friends, and at one time her daddy had run the most famous rodeo in all Alberta. But when her daddy had gotten sick, and the medical bills weighed heavy on their finances, the Steele Rodeo had gone under. And to top it off, her daddy had died soon after to meet her mama in heaven.

Janine sighed, then slung her bag over her shoulder. She was far too tired to unpack the truck tonight. Instead, she walked toward the main house. She’d visited Delago ranch a handful of times on trips down with her family, but she hadn’t been back since she was fourteen. That was ten years ago. She’d heard Jake and Lucas had gotten married one right after the other—the Brooks family had even sent the wedding photos through the mail. Of course, her daddy had been too sick at the time for them to make the trip to Texas for the weddings.

Although Janine had fond memories of the Delago Ranch, Texas was never her cup of tea. It was too hot, too dry, and far too flat. Nothing compared to the crisp air, majestic mountains, and rolling emerald landscapes of the Alberta countryside.

She entered the main house and was immediately thankful for the wave of air conditioning that hit her face.

Dutch! Jamie yelled from across the foyer. Soon, Joe’s daughter was colliding with her. Janine dropped her bag to hug her. I’m so sorry to hear about your daddy. Jamie pulled back, hands still on her shoulders.

Thanks... Janine looked down. She wished everyone would just stop talking about it already. She missed her daddy something fierce, but she had to move on with her life or she would forever be consumed by sadness for his death. She hadn’t found any happiness since his loss, but perhaps Delago could fill some empty part of her.

I got all my papers. Janine said, pulling a manila folder from her bag.

Jamie absentmindedly took the folder. Oh, we can worry about all that later. I got dinner on now, everyone’s coming up to welcome you.

Janine’s nostrils twitched. She thought she had detected the scent of BBQ, spices, steaming corn, and freshly baked biscuits.

Can’t wait. Janine said. It was half-true. It would be nice to sit down with old friends again and eat good, southern food. But seeing all those familiar faces again was daunting in and of itself. Would they remember her as she was, or see and respect her now as a grown woman and skilled horse trainer? She would have to prove herself, there was no doubt about that. Especially to the Brooks boys. Especially to the twins, who had always teased her the most when she was young. Especially Leo.

I made you a room up on the north side of the house. My old room, actually.

The room I used to stay in, with the view of the lake? Janine said, remembering her previous visits to Delago.

That’s the one. Jamie said, draping her arm around Janine’s shoulders and escorting her up the stairs. "I want you to feel as at home here as possible. I know it ain’t home, but we’ll do what we can for you."

Janine bowed her head. I’ll earn my keep, Jamie. She didn’t want pity.

Jamie forced a smile. We have no doubt about that. We read about you in the papers. The Duchess of Steele.

They reached the top of the staircase and passed several doors until they