What's Next?

Cowgirl's Convict

Genre: Suspense, Mystery, Romance

Tags: Crime lord, Family business, Adopted daughter, Fresh Start, Reunion, Painful past, Hiding

Synopsis:

Bonnie Kline escaped her life of darkness and traded it for something more pure. Living for something besides herself and her dreams she takes on an abandoned ranch on the brink of foreclosure due to lack of funding. With a new life and the only spark of joy from her past, she makes herself a law abiding citizen, keeping to herself.

Miles Rufio, believes the new beginning is another money laundering scheme. As a lead detective in the big city he requests an undercover job on a small town ranch he believes is hiding more than just a woman and her daughter. When light is shed on the matter he comes to find out that maybe he's the reason for her danger. She once was a key part to her family's syndicate; they'd never give her up that easily.

Excerpt:

"Bonnie- do ya got a minute?" Sheriff Regan Grosse calls out over the barn aisle way and I want nothing more than to sigh. Of all times. Why you gotta crawl up my rear now?

"Do I got an option?" I ask sarcastically, he chuckles in answer, leaning up against the open door of the stall I'm setting up.

"Do you have an opening for a ranch hand?"

"Decided to quit law enforcement, have ya?" His green eyes track me around the stall as I pull the shavings back.

"Not quite, I got a man in mind, Miles Rufio- he just got out, down on his luck, could use a job." He shrugs, hooking his thumbs in his belt, teasing his badge mindlessly.

"Does he have any experience?"

"I'm not sure on his background, he's a strong guy, kept to himself from my understanding."

"Why isn't he here on his own?" He's silent for a moment before giving a shrug.

"It's not your run of the mill scenario, he needs a job where I know he's not gonna find trouble around these parts." I stare at him confused for a long moment silence stretches between us.

"Am I gonna find trouble because of this?" Regan stares at me with an unamused stare.

"As if I'd let anything happen to little Miss Bonnie Kline- you're daddy would skin me alive." That's a cute thought. The mention of my father makes my skin crawl as I scoff and roll my eyes.

"Lucky for you, he's not here, it's not like I can't handle myself and you know it." He waves a hand with a chuckle.

"Listen, consider it a favor, hire him for some work around here. He'll be in later today, talk to him, get a feel." What kind of favor is this?

"It's a hard job- not everyone is cut out for this." Regan pushes off from the wooden door with a shrug.

"He'll manage, go ahead and hire him- you won't regret it Bonnie." He calls as he steps back with a victorious grin.

"How do I know it's him?"

"He'll have a fancy anklet, you'll know him the second you lay eyes on him." He assures me as he turns to walk away. How odd. His radio crackles to life with a familiar code and I can only shake my head as Selena skips past him, her pink polka-dot linen dress floats around her daintily.

"Momma! Look- look! I found a chipmunk, ain't he cute!" She coos to me, her sweet smile stretching her puffy cheeks.

"Cece," I fight my smile as I give her a look in an attempt to be stern. "You're not supposed to be feeding them, it could be dangerous." She pouts and bats her long lashes at me with her innocent gaze.

"But he looked so hungry." Selena pouts, holding the chipmunk against her chest cheekily.

"Ruggrat- you oughta listen to your Momma, that thing could have rabies." Sebastian Ralph chuckles, the sound of metal shoes on concrete echo into the hall as he heads for the covered arena with his current stead, Rico, a large thoroughbred, finally cleared for work.

"Nu-uh! He doesn't have rabies-"

"What about cooties? Did you check him for that too?" Walter cuts her off with a joyful laugh, winking down to the young girl before he takes up Regan's vacated place.

"Cooties? He don't have-"

"Cece..." She huffs, her hip sticking out as she sasses Walter indignantly.

"He doesn't have cooties either- only boys get those." Adorably she sticks her tongue out at the man, making him laugh, winking at her with a grin full of crooked teeth.

"Making sure you know you're stuff little miss."

"I know my stuff, plenty well!" She argues and glances at me sheepishly.

"Have you finished your science lesson?"

"I wanted to take a break, my friend was back," She lifts the chipmunk pal that's continuing to nibble on a large nut contentedly. Not the first time she's done this.

"Alright, take a few minutes, please put your friend down. I want your school done before dinner so we can check it. Besides I heard Lexi was gonna come over later." I point to her, earning a nod and a beaming smile.

"Yes, Momma, I'll put him down where I found him." She grins as she heads back the way she came just as quickly as she appeared.

"Was that the sheriff I heard?" Walter asks, dragging my eyes back to him briefly.

"Yeah, wanted to see if I had an opening for a hand." Walter's bushy salt and pepper brow arches as he stares me down quizzically.

"He wanted the spot?"

"No, has a friend he wanted to hook up with a job, Miles- have you heard of him?" The man frowns, rubbing at his stubble covered jaw before he shrugs.

"It doesn't ring any bells, but that don't mean a thing. You gonna give it to him?" Favors to the sheriff go a long way.