If she was going to be interested in a man—and someday she supposed she’d find one—it wouldn’t be one like that.

Gabe Dalton was exactly the kind of man she was immune to.

But Wyatt worried.

What Wyatt didn’t understand was that she had always taken care of herself. But until she wasn’t right at home, he was always going to feel like that was his responsibility.

Jamie had learned early on how to be self-sufficient.

Babies didn’t choose to be born, and they definitely didn’t choose the manner in which they were born.

Jamie certainly hadn’t chosen to cause a blood clot that led to her mother’s death days later.

But the fact of the matter was her mother had essentially traded her life for Jamie’s.

The boys and her father had lost her, and gained Jamie.

In return, Jamie had done her best to be tough. To be like them.

Maybe that was the real reason cowboys didn’t hold a lot of appeal or mystery to her.

She hadn’t just been raised by them. Hadn’t just been surrounded by them.

She’d learned to become one of them.

Tough as nails and confident in who she was and what she knew.

“My work at the ranch is definitely interesting,” Jamie said. “But I’m looking forward to this. To a change.”

“To getting Wyatt out of your hair a few hours every day?”

Jamie bristled. “My brother is the best man, and the best cowboy, out there. You could probably learn from him.” It was one thing for her to think uncharitable thoughts about Wyatt, but she would be damned if she would let Gabe Dalton say anything.

“He’s a bull rider,” Gabe pointed out.

“Yeah, and he can ride both.”

“There’s a reason I chose not to,” Gabe said. “First of all, I have a brain in my head. Second of all, I like horses.”

“I thought you chose to ride saddle bronc because that’s what your daddy did.” She hadn’t meant that to come out quite like it had. Yes, Hank Dalton was a famous rodeo rider, who’d had celebrity status that had transcended that thanks to endorsement deals. But Gabe had fame in his own right. And she was actually pretty annoyed with herself for making the comment. Given that she was fighting against that concern herself.

Wanting to join the rodeo, not wanting for everyone to think she was there because of Wyatt.

Something shifted imperceptibly in Gabe’s expression. As if he’d injected his face with granite. The whole thing had gone firm, solid. “I chose to do it because that’s what I like to do. But that’s not what this is about. What I’m doing here has nothing to do with my life in the rodeo.”

“Well, you’re off to a good start.”

“I thought you thought I was off to a bad start?”

“I meant with hiring me. The rest... I’m not so sure.”

He crossed his arms, his eyes taking on a mocking glint. “All right, Jamie Dodge. You going to show me how it’s done or what?”