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

But she doesn’t say anything, and I’m too afraid to ask. 22


If she’s angry with me for pulling away, she doesn’t show it. Instead, I get another kiss in front of the main house when I help her down from the cart, but this is just a brush of lips across my cheek, a far cry from the passionate lip lock earlier. After I put away the cart and return the horse to the stable, I head back into town, my thoughts hazy and incoherent. My mouth tingles where hers touched it, and I alternately shiver with delight and sweat with lust. I can’t wait to see her again, even if nothing comes of the day we spent together.


When I enter the boarding house, Charlie lays across the sofa in the parlor, dejected. Without saying hello, he launches into a tirade, as if I care to listen. “Do you know that man’s daughter wasn’t even homewhen I went calling this afternoon?”


I spare him a quick glance as I head upstairs. “Her name’s Lucille.”


Chapter 25