Randall Riches

Randall Riches
Judy Christenberry

The Randall Saga Continues…Trapped like a hog-tied calf in a greasy spoon, champion bull rider Rich Randall had no choice but to accept the help of pretty diner waitress Samantha Jeffers to get himself, and his broken ankle, out of the one-horse town and home to Wyoming. In exchange, Rich would assist the feisty lady in her escape from the nefarious advances of her burger-slinging boss. But Rich was quick to inform Samantha there'd be no romantic strings attached to their bargain–and she was quick to laugh in his face! Which soon had the playboy wrangler wondering why she was immune to his legendary Randall charm, and eager to change her mind…any way he could!

Randall Riches

Judy Christenberry

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Judy Christenberry has been writing romances for fifteen years because she loves happy endings as much as her readers do. A former French teacher, Judy now devotes herself to writing full-time. She hopes readers have as much fun reading her stories as she does writing them. She spends her spare time reading, watching her favorite sports teams and keeping track of her two daughters. Judy’s a native Texan, but now lives in Arizona.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Chapter One

Samantha Jeffers looked up as a rowdy bunch of cowboys piled out of the big booth. She’d waited on them, ignoring their flirting and serving them quickly and efficiently. She hoped they left a good tip, but probably not. The Hot Skillet wasn’t exactly a high-class restaurant. But it did good business, especially when the rodeo was in town. She’d heard the winter traffic was good in this part of Arizona during ski season, but she’d gotten here right at the end of February, as the lifts were just shutting down.

As soon as the men were out the door, she went over to clear the big booth…and discovered the cowboys had left one of their friends behind. The man was slumped down, his face pale.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

Slowly, as if his lids were too heavy, he opened his eyes. “Yeah, sure,” he muttered and closed his eyes again.

“Mister, the boss won’t let you tie up this booth to sleep off your hangover.” She wasn’t trying to be mean, just stating the facts.

He opened his eyes again and sat straighter. The movement caused him to wince.

“Are you hurt?”

“Uh, maybe.”

“Sam?” her boss called from behind the counter. “You gettin’ that booth ready? There’s a large party comin’ in.”

“I still have a customer,” she turned and called over her shoulder.

“He orderin’ anything?”

“Mister, you’ll have to order something,” she whispered, “or he’ll throw you out for sure.”

“I can’t,” he growled.

“Look, I’ll cover the cost, but—”

“No. I think I have to go to the hospital.”

Samantha frowned. “Mister, our food’s not that bad.” Her poor joke got a half smile out of him, which impressed Sam. He was obviously in pain. “Want me to call an ambulance?”

“No! I don’t want anyone to know. My truck’s here. I don’t suppose you could drive me?”

Checking her watch, Sam realized she had fifteen more minutes of her regular shift, but she’d come in four hours early, at 6:00 a.m. this morning, as a favor for Brad, her boss. He should be able to spare her for fifteen minutes. “Wait a minute. I’ll see.”

She put down the big tray she’d carried to the table and crossed to the counter. “Brad, I need to leave fifteen minutes early.”

He didn’t look at her, a sure sign he was unhappy. She’d been here a little over a month and had learned to read his moods early. “Not ’til your shift’s over.”

“Brad, I started at six this morning as a favor. Seems to me you could reciprocate.”

“Don’t use them big words on me!”

“You know what I mean. Anyway, it’s not for me. That cowboy’s sick. I’m going to drive him to the hospital.”

“You mean you’re gonna get in his bed. Don’t lie to me!”