Danny (Downton Cowboys Book 1) Read online

  Danny

  Miley Maine

  Copyright © 2021 by Miley Maine

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This book is a piece of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

  If you are reading this book and book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  For any queries, reach out at [email protected]

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Blurb

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Excerpt: Jake

  Also by Miley Maine

  Special Invite from Miley

  Blurb

  I’d been with plenty of women… but none of them captured my heart like she did with those jewel-green eyes.

  Gigi Mans.

  The woman who owns this rancher in the palm of her hands.

  She had me at hello.

  Her smile showed me a possibility for a future that I didn’t think existed.

  As an introverted cowboy and an heir to a massive fortune,

  I hadn’t given much thought to my love life until she came along.

  But she also brought with her complications.

  Her mother was opposed to us.

  She hated the very sight of me.

  And if that wasn’t enough… Gigi was hiding behind a secret.

  One that would inevitably change our lives.

  I couldn’t win her heart if she was going to keep it from me…

  Could these external forces be more powerful than our love for each other?

  Chapter One

  Danny

  I gazed out through my tall glass window overlooking the massive lawn out front as I listened to the ringing on the other side of the line.

  As I held the receiver up to my ear, I smiled at the sight of the vista ahead. It was going to be a beautiful day; I knew it. The sunrise was glorious, and I wanted to make sure that my morning was well planned.

  “Hello.” His familiar voice greeted me.

  “Good morning, Doc. Just wanted to make sure you’ll drop by after the cow check-up this afternoon.”

  “Hey, Downton. Wouldn’t miss coffee with my favorite client,” he chuckled.

  “Great. Have Michael drive you over to where I’ll be.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Have a good one.”

  Putting the receiver back down, I took a deep breath while I marveled at the magnificence of the colors in the sky. Golden beams invaded the blue gradient through streaks of orange and pink. Truly a splendid creation.

  If only I had someone to share this moment with.

  There was a song pleading mothers not to let their babies grow up to be cowboys. And for some reason, it started ringing in my head, ‘Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone… even with someone they love.’

  I wondered if that were true.

  Was I meant to be alone?

  No. I chose to live alone. There was a difference there. I consciously made that decision.

  Shaking the clouding thoughts out of my mind might have worked, but for the life of me, I couldn’t get the damned song out of my head.

  I turned around and picked up my backpack, hanging it over my shoulder as I grabbed my camel full quill boots. I made it to the door and reached for my Stetson hat, automatically putting it on my head while my other hand turned the doorknob.

  As I stepped outside, I was greeted by the chilly early morning breeze that always had a way of putting me in the right mood for working. I could take on anything after breathing in that clean, fresh, heavenly ranch air that I had grown dependent on over the years.

  “Mornin’, Pete!” I waved to my loyal barn attendant as I crossed the path leading to the tractor.

  I loved driving that thing, even though I had a perfectly reliable, expensive, shiny truck parked right next to it.

  “Mornin’, Mr. Downton!” He waved back with a big grin on his face.

  I wasn’t sure why that boy insisted on calling me ‘Mr. Downton’ despite the fact that I told him a thousand times to just call me Danny.

  I suppose people have different ways of showing respect, and that was his. He had worked for me for the past two years, and this year, he turned twenty-three.

  Twenty-three.

  As I drove past the green acres laden with cattle and ranch hands, I thought about what it was like to be twenty-three. Ten years ago, felt like much longer.

  Another lifetime, even.

  While the warmth of the sun soaked my skin, I remembered that I was not always this tan. There was a time when I was whiter. Leaner. And far more miserable.

  During that decade, there had been ups and downs. Wins and losses. Friends and lovers. Oh, so many lovers.

  But was I ever serious about any of them?

  Were they ever serious about me?

  The sound of the tractor wheels hitting the end of the road pulled me back to reality as it let me know that I had arrived at my first destination. I always liked to start my day at the horse stables.

  “Mornin’, Danny!” The hostler greeted me with a nod.

  “Mornin, Tom.”

  My feet hit the ground, and I immediately headed toward the cabins.

  “How’s Art?”

  “Wonderful as always.”

  Patting my beautiful black horse’s neck, I whispered, “Let’s go, boy.”

  Riding on the back of my favorite creature in the world always made work feel less like a chore and more like second nature. He was easy, only with me. He was loyal. He would do whatever I asked him to. It was as though he understood me better than most people, without ever having to speak words at all.

  Words only got in the way. Or so I believed.

  I mean, of course I was good with words—it was a craft of mine. And I mean really good. I could charm my way through any situation. I could make anyone respect me, like me, even in the first few lines of a conversation.

  I could talk circles around any human being with ease.

  Some might say that it was one of the gifts the universe had given me to make up for the tough life I had to endure when I was young.

  But, if I was being honest…I didn't really like words too much. I did not see a point in saying a lot of things when doing was the obvious, more effective option.

  People seemed to appreciate them, though. They seemed to go a long way, and so I realized how lucky I was to have that skill at any rate.

  As always, my ride with Art began at the crushes and dairy shed. Passing along, I checked on my employees as they worked, slowing down to greet each and every one of them.

  “Mr. Downton.” David, the dairy
supervisor, marched in my direction. “Do you have a minute?”

  “Sure thing.” I pulled Art to a halt and got down. “How are you, Dave?”

  “All good, sir.” He nodded, looking concerned as he wrung his hands. “The wife, though, she’s—” He paused, shaking his head. “Too pregnant to work now, and—”

  “And I don’t think she should be working now, Dave. We talked about this.” Gently laying my hand over his shoulder, I took a step closer to whisper, “Listen. I wanted to give you a raise anyway, and I was going to wait until the birth, but I think now’s as good a time as any.”

  “What raise?” He tilted his head.

  “Your fatherhood raise, buddy.” I chuckled. “Did you think I was going to pay you the same as when you were supporting just the two of you?”

  He quietly stared at me, as though he were too stubborn to believe my point.

  “Tell Tracy to start her maternity leave tomorrow, Dave. You’re covered.”

  As he finally accepted what I had just said, his eyes grew wider. “You don’t have to do—”

  “It’s long overdue, believe me. How long have you been here? Five, six years?”

  “Five.”

  “Well, if big corporations do it, why can’t I? It’s your five-year anniversary raise.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “How ‘bout you say that you’re telling Tracy tonight?”

  “I am.” He quickly nodded, eyes dancing. “Thank you, Boss. Thank you very much.”

  “Don’t mention it.” Giving him another pat on the back, I took a few steps back toward Art, who steadfastly stood where I had left him.

  As I resumed my ride, I thought about the joy David and Tracy must have been feeling. They were high school sweethearts who got married before they had even turned twenty-one. They were in love. They had stable jobs—he oversaw the dairy production at my ranch while she taught fifth-grade science at the school in town. It wasn’t much, but they made ends meet.

  And now, they were expecting their first baby.

  What was it like to learn that you were creating a person who was going to be half you and half the woman you loved?

  How did it feel to know that this person was going to inherit everything you owned and built and saved?

  Something in my chest stung.

  I had never felt that way about any of the women in my life, let alone got close to even wanting to be a father.

  But now…

  The ranch was too vast, the house too grand, the money too abundant…it was all too much for one man to have. Even a man like me, who wanted to live in luxury to make up for a poorer past.

  Yes, I had grown up without a pot to pee in. Yes, I had always promised myself that I would have everything I wanted one day.

  And that day was here.

  Now what?

  As I arrived at the poultry house, the men were already loading the day’s produce of eggs in neat stacks.

  “Danny.” Creeger approached as I got Art to slow down. “All ready, wanna check it out?”

  “Oh, I can see it from here.” I chuckled, my eyes subtly examining the goods. “Top shape as always.”

  “Yes, Sir.” He proudly held up his head, announcing in a thick southern accent. “Downton Ranch is known to provide the best of everything. This ain’t just a random reputation.”

  “Donations in check?”

  “As always.” He shrugged.

  “Bless you, buddy.”

  Creeger’s attitude toward charitable giving made me happy. He understood that while we sold the best products in the tri-state area, it was important to give back to our community. And who was better suited to give than a man like me with so much to be thankful for?

  I knew I never needed to remind him, but I did, nonetheless. And he always delivered.

  Resuming my daily path, I headed for the grazing meadows.

  The land extended over miles and miles as far as the eyes could see. Majestic mountains created a grand backdrop, constantly giving the scene a more heavenly feel. They had always reminded me that no life was too large, no man too important.

  I loved this land. Why wouldn’t I? It gave me everything I had ever dreamed of and more. Nature’s food on my table, wood for my roof, space for my precious herd, and respect from my workers and fellow ranchers alike.

  This was home for me. It was all I knew now and all I needed.

  Well, almost.

  People saw me as a tough rancher, a fair employer, a giving citizen, and a good man. However, nobody yet had known me for the person I really was.

  I never went looking for love, never spoke to a buddy about my feelings, let alone a woman. The strong, independent facade I had put out was not a charade—it was real.

  But couldn’t a man be both strong and hungry for love?

  I had spent decades alone, and that was fine. But recently, I had been feeling like all of this could have been a lot better with a partner. A real partner who knew me, who really saw me.

  A woman to call my own. To have children with. To build a family with.

  The legacy I had now built was doomed without someone to inherit it.

  And what a shame that would be.

  Art slowed down as if he knew what I was thinking, and instead of galloping, he was now treading softly across the land, swaying and taking his sweet time. I let him do it since we were now approaching a small herd of sheep that were peacefully grazing.

  It was a breathtaking scene, and he knew I wouldn’t want to miss it.

  “Mr. Downton.” Jimmy came running from between the wooly creatures. “Good morning.” He took off his hat, lowering it as he smiled.

  “Good morning, Jimmy. How’s everything?”

  “All good ‘ere. Heard the doc might be passin’ by?”

  “Yes, are any of them sick?”

  “Not at all.” He quickly shook his head. “Just wanted to say hello. Doc treated my dawg the other day and wouldn’t take a penny.”

  I chuckled. “He’s a good man, our doc.”

  “Yes, Sir.” He nodded, his kind eyes dancing. “I reckon it’s your effect on folks ‘round here.”

  “I just do what I can, Jim.”

  “Well, I better get goin’. Need anythin’?”

  “You have a good one, pal.”

  “You too, Mr. Downton.”

  Riding Art farther down the road, I made my way across my favorite patch of land—where Salvias grew. The violet-purple hues of those delicate sage blossoms always put my soul at ease. They were testament to everything the land had to offer. Simplicity, goodness, and absolute wonder.

  I was no poet, but if I could string a few words together, I would want them to be written in Salvias. Bobbing on my horse’s back, I shook my head.

  What was it with me today?

  My actual work hadn’t even begun, and my mind was already wandering down a romantic road. Something that did not happen often, but when it did, I had no idea what to do with it.

  As I headed back to the shed where my working quarters were, I tried to make a mental list of what I had to do when I got there.

  First, I needed to look at payroll and adjust the raise for the father-to-be. Then I had to go over my vendor sheet and make sure that everything was being received on time. I also needed to examine the customer record and see what was pending for delivery, ensuring that none of our clients were waiting for anything that was delayed.

  We simply couldn’t have that around here.

  Last but not least, I wanted to add a few names to the donation list. It was growing, since some folk around town had been spreading the word about our charity work, and more people showed up at our doors asking for supplies.

  It made me happy, supporting families around the ranch and in town. They were not as fortunate as I was. Let’s face it; most people aren’t. The least I could do was give them as much as I could.

  That was how life worked, wasn’t it?

 
I was once a penniless drifter, a long way from home with no one to look after me. So, it made sense.

  Arriving at the shed, I got down, and Michael came rushing.

  “How was your round?” he asked as he patted Art on the back.

  “Great. How’s your morning?”

  “All good ‘ere.”

  “Well, I’m going in. If the doc comes, you know what to do.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Anyone else, not for a few hours. Got a lot to take care of.”

  “Gotcha.”

  He led Art away, and I pushed the door open and went in. The air carrying scents of mint and rosemary invaded my nostrils, a welcome aroma of the little cabin I called my office.

  Stepping in from the heat, I was greeted with the mirror Michael had insisted on installing in case I got visitors. He always wanted me to meet a good woman and settle down, but he never truly fathomed that the way I looked was not going to be the reason why that would happen.

  Thinking about how he had always commented on my appearance made me chuckle.

  “Y’know, the ladies—” He once mused over sunset tea.

  “A real lady wants a real man…someone she can rely on, someone she can spend the rest of her life with, without worries,” I interrupted him. “That’s all I know.”

  “That was then, Boss. This is now.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “The ladies have them magazines y’know.” He shook his head. “They see men dyin’ their hair and workin’ out for them six-packs.”

  “Are you givin’ me relationship advice?” I smirked.

  “I wouldn’ dare,” he chortled, raising a hand. “Just sayin’...you’re a handsome fellah, and—”

  “Hold your horse, this ain’t right.” I laughed in disbelief.