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

There was nothing to see, but I still feel as if he caught us in a compromised position.


Clearing his throat, he intones, “Supper is served, ma’am.”


Miss Lucille pats her hair, her collar, then her skirt, as if afraid she might have somehow become disheveled. “Thank you, Kenny. We were just finishing up with the payroll. Can you take Mr. Nat to the kitchen to wash up before we eat? I have to put away my ledger.”


She shoots me a questioning look, so I nod quickly and hurry to the door. Kenny’s far-seeing gaze drops to meet mine, and the faintest hint of a smirk crosses his face before he presses his mouth into a thin, dour line. “Right this way, sir,” he says, leading the way.


As I follow, it’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him he didn’t see whatever it was he thought he saw, but I realize any protest I make will only fan the flames of his curiosity, so I wisely keep quiet. 15


Chapter 17