Читать книгу A Cowboy Of Convenience - Stacy Henrie - Страница 16

Chapter Five

West was up before breakfast the next morning, eager to see the ranch in broad daylight. He also didn’t want to miss Alec’s tour with Vienna. Because he wanted to see the changes the Eatons had told him about last night, of course—nothing more. It wasn’t like he was worried that Vienna fancied his best friend. Although, if Vienna did like Alec, would she still be willing to consider converting the HC Bar into a dude ranch in partnership with West?

He frowned as he finished pulling on his boots and stood to collect his hat. Better not to meddle in matters of the heart, especially where Vienna was concerned. West had erroneously tread that path once before. He wouldn’t put himself or her through that again.

No, he thought, clapping his hat on his head. I’ll let things play out as they’re meant to this time. It wasn’t as if Vienna had made up her mind yet about the dude ranch, anyway. She could still choose to do something else with her house and property, which may or may not be influenced by a certain blond cowboy.

West wouldn’t petition the Lord for things to go his way, either. He’d done that once before, on a matter as dear to his heart as having a dude ranch, but it hadn’t materialized as he’d wanted. Experience was often a stern teacher, and it had taught him well. The safest course, the surest way to avoid disappointment or heartache, was to quit asking God for those things he deeply desired. Instead, he’d work hard toward reaching his dreams, but if they didn’t materialize now or in the future, he’d experience less pain for not having asked for them in the first place.

Leaving the building dubbed the “dude pen,” where he’d slept last night, West strolled toward the main house and into the dining room. There were already people seated at the table—likely guests who wanted to eat before they headed out on a full-day’s ride.

He was halfway through clearing his own plate when Vienna walked in. She was dressed in a white blouse, a brown vest and a matching brown split skirt for riding. Her hair hung down her back in a simple braid instead of the elaborate coiffure from yesterday. And while West had liked her traveling look just fine, there was something undeniably attractive about the simplicity of her attire and hairstyle today.