Teaching Her Billionaire Cowboy Rookie - April Murdock Page 0,2

to breakfast and delivering them would prevent Penny from having to do her own chores.

She brushed aside the taller grasses and made it to the gate Mr. Bolton had installed a few years ago. It was nice they were collaborating more. Her parents were getting too old to do much of the work they used to be able to handle.

With her hand on the gate, she pushed it aside and slipped across the property line. She smiled as she pushed the gate closed and headed across the pastures. Her poor parents and their failed matchmaking skills. If they had gotten what they wanted, Penny would be Penny Bolton by now.

Things had just never worked out. Chad was handsome and nice, but nothing developed between them. His schedule might have had something to do with it. He was frequently in the city. Only recently he’d taken on more at the ranch and Penny figured it had more to do with Annie than anything else.

Penny sighed. Those two were absolutely perfect for one another, and she wondered if she’d ever find someone like that. The romantic in her longed to find someone who loved her unconditionally, but the logical side of her knew she would be happy whether or not she found anyone at all. The most important thing in her life was her family. As long as she had them, she’d be happy.

Penny rounded the back side of the barn and headed toward the house. A large, black truck sat in the driveway—one she’d never seen before. Was someone visiting from the city? She eyed the vehicle as she wandered up the steps to the front door. Whoever it was had come really early for breakfast. Maybe it was one of Annie’s brothers.

She knocked on the door and Midge answered. Her eyes darted to the basket in Penny’s hand. “Oh, sweetie, are those for us?”

Penny nodded. “They are. I picked them fresh this morning.”

Midge pulled her into a hug. “Aren’t you just the sweetest thing.”

She sucked in a breath as Midge’s tight hug squeezed her a little too hard.

“Did your father get a new truck?” Midge pulled back, her focus on the vehicle behind them.

Penny glanced at it and back to Midge. Her brows pushed together and she shook her head. “No, I walked. I thought maybe you had a visitor.”

Midge’s features paled. “No, we don’t have any visitors this morning.” She ducked her head inside. “Chad, get the shotgun.”

Chad appeared almost immediately, gun in hand. “What’s wrong?” He glanced at Penny and smiled. “Good morning, Penny.”

Midge nodded to the truck. “That’s not one of ours, is it?”

Chad frowned as he stepped around her. “No, it isn’t. Did you see who came in it?”

Midge and Penny shook their heads.

“We have trespassers, then. Stay here.” He hurried down the steps and walked off toward the barn.

Penny shoved the basket at Midge.

“Just where do you think you’re going?” Midge’s hand shot out and wrapped around Penny’s wrist.

Penny shook her off. “Whoever parked their truck here isn’t trying to hide. They probably got here too late and didn’t want to disturb anyone. The last thing we need is someone shot and going to the hospital over a misunderstanding. No one in their right mind would park a car in front of the property if they wanted to sneak around.”

Midge released her. “You’re probably right.”

Penny smiled and ran after Chad. His steps were quick and she barely made it to his side before he entered the barn.

“I thought I told you to stay put.” He threw his hand out in front of her to prevent her from going inside.

“Whoever you find isn’t a threat.”

His eyes narrowed. “How do you figure?”

She gestured to the truck. “Would you park front and center if you didn’t want to get caught?”

His shoulders relaxed and he scratched his jaw. “Probably not.”

They headed into the barn. Penny blinked as her eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting. The horses nickered at her sides. They were ready for breakfast.

Chad stiffened and held up his hand again. “Do you see that?”

Penny squinted. Two figures were on the ground at the far end of the barn. “Yeah. Are they sleeping?”

He shrugged. “Stay behind me, just in case.” Chad lifted the shotgun to his shoulder and pointed it at the intruders. They slowed their steps until they were in front of them.

One of the figures shot up, a gun suddenly in his hand, pointing at Chad. Penny gasped and ducked her head. Maybe she’d been wrong.

With