Once the daughter of a prominent dentist in Philadelphia, Natalie Allen wasn’t happy with the life she was expected to lead, so she left society behind and headed west. Now, in the little town of Junction, she’s known as Nat, a cowboy working on Boss Daddy’s cattle ranch. She keeps to herself, renting a room in a local boarding house instead of staying in the bunk house, and with her dungarees and short hair, no one realizes she’s living as a man. But Boss Daddy’s pretty daughter Miss Lucille takes a notice to “Mr. Nat,” and the closer the two become, the more conflicted Nat grows. She likes Miss Lucille a lot more than she knows she should, and it’s easy to forget who she’s pretending to be around the boss’s daughter. Then Miss Lucille surprises everyone, Nat included, by announcing their engagement. Nat knows they can’t marry, and if she tells Miss Lucille why, her ruse will be up. Her only choice is to leave Junction behind, even if it means breaking Miss Lucille’s heart. But will Miss Lucille let Nat go so easily?

The Boss's Daughter

“You got work to do here,” Stubs reminds her. “If he comes in, fine. But I won’t have you go looking for him. Bastard probably don’t have a red cent to pay you with, anyway.”


I smirk. “Ah, but the first time’s free, ain’t it, Maddy?”


She gives me a dark look. “Price just went up. Tell him to stop in for a drink, can you do that, at least?”


“If I see him,” I promise, hoping I don’t. 3


I never stay long at Stubs’. By the time I leave, a few regulars have arrived, and Maddy drifts away from the bar to hang around their card table as if hoping they’ll deal her in. I manage to duck out without her seeing me, so she doesn’t get a chance to remind me to send Charlie down for a drink. Even from down the street, I notice his horse is gone, but I don’t know if it’s stabled or if he left town. I don’t care much, either.


Chapter 4