The Hired Hand: The Pipestone Creek Romance Series, #1

By Diane Ziomek

A widow.

A neighbour.

A stranger.

Rachel is a widow in need of a helping hand for the summer. Instead of calling on neighbours, she posts an ad on social media.

Joe has adored Rachel since he first met her. When her husband dies in an accident, he thinks he has a chance at taking their friendship to the next stage.

Chad enters the scene and tensions build on more than one level.

Scroll up to join Rachel and her friends as they search for their happily ever after.

This book contains mature content, but is not sexually explicit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diane Ziomek
• Release date: Feb 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386997177

Diane Ziomek

Diane grew up on fairytales such as Cinderella, Rapunzel and Snow White, and always believed in the happily-ever-after. As life happened she learned that isn't always the case, but in a story anything is possible. After years of writing content for others and publishing her own nonfiction, she began writing contemporary romance in 2018. With her first series finished and the second underway, she has no intentions of switching her focus to another genre. Diane calls rural East Central Alberta home, and currently works part time at the local library. When not working or writing, she can be found spending time with her children (now young adults) and other family members or enjoying her fiber arts. The summer months lend themselves to enjoying her garden, being outdoors and camping with her significant other.

Book preview

To my family and my readers, who make this journey possible.

Chapter One

RACHEL LEANED AGAINST the rail fence, the sun warm on her face, and looked out into the pasture. It was early summer and the calves were growing; chasing one another and play fighting. She loved this time of year. The crops were in, the pastures green and the creek that flowed through her property was now just a steady stream. She no longer had to worry about flooding; at least not until a midsummer storm.

It had been a tough year, but she had managed to keep the ranch after her husband Sam was killed. It wasn’t easy being widowed at twenty-six, but she had put her heart and soul into what they had started building together. She had been so busy trying to stay afloat, she hadn’t even considered the dating scene again. She wasn’t sure she was ready either. As much as she longed for the touch of a man sometimes, she knew she would secretly compare them to her late husband. He had been such a perfect fit for her, and they worked well together. Losing him had been truly devastating.

Haying season was quickly approaching, and that was one job she couldn't do alone. Rachel knew she needed help, so she posted an ad on a provincial farming group on Facebook. She marveled at how easy it was with modern technology. She remembered her parents telling her about taking out ads in newspapers, and often not getting results for days, if at all. Social media was so much better sometimes, and free.

As Rachel went through the twenty-some messages, she narrowed it down. She had read their replies, and short-listed to five. Some of the others couldn't spell, while some were expecting a regular work week with weekends off. As she read some of those, she couldn't help but think, If I don't get nine to five, what makes them think they should? She didn’t think they had much, if any, concept of how a farm worked.

There were also those who had no farming experience or no driver’s license. Both were necessary, because she didn't have time to train them. They also needed to be able to get to her ranch on their own. How well they could follow directions was also important. There were no streets or avenues in the middle of nowhere; just landmarks and the occasional road sign. Not every corner had a sign stating Township numbers and Range Roads; common sense and country-smarts were a must.

She set up the interviews for the first three days of the following week. She wanted to allow a few hours per interview, because she had to see if they could operate the equipment. A farmhand wouldn't do her any good if he couldn't run the machinery, or fix it if there was a breakdown.

Her first applicant was to arrive at 8 Monday morning. She wrote down a list of questions she would ask. Each man would be asked the same questions and given the same tasks. That was the fairest way to do it. May the best man win, she whispered.

Chapter Two

MONDAY MORNING, RACHEL was up at 6 AM. She had the coffee made and her breakfast eaten by 6:30, and the kitchen tidied. She was nervous about having complete strangers on her property, but it was the only way she could conduct the interviews. She had made arrangements with her forty-some year old neighbour, Joe, to check in with her around noon and late afternoon each day. That way if anything went wrong help wasn't too far off. With all the creepy people in the world, one never really knew what they were dealing with until they were face to face.

She decided to do the basics, and let her interviewee do the morning chores. It would be the true test to see if he was capable. There was nothing quite like hands-on training. The interview was to start in the kitchen, and at almost 7:45 AM the dogs announced his arrival. She made a quick note on the piece of paper she had set out for the interview. Early.

Rachel smiled as she opened the door. You must be Chad.

She quickly gave him a head to toe look, trying not to make it too obvious. He was about six feet tall, with dark brown hair. His t-shirt showed off his muscular build, and his Wrangler’s fit him quite well. The cowboy hat and Ropers were enough to quicken her heartbeat. She hoped she hadn't made him uncomfortable, because she knew she had let her gaze linger just a little too long.

Yes ma’am, he said as he extended his right hand. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Likewise. Please, come in and have a seat at the table. Would you like a coffee?

That would be great. Thanks! He left his boots in the porch and took off his hat. Rachel was impressed.

She went through the preliminary questioning about his work experience as a farmhand, what his goals were, and if he was interested in a longer term position. Chad answered each question thoroughly and politely. As he talked she noted how confident he was, and how he seemed to know the farming industry quite well. The