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

Or maybe she would tell someone. Boss Daddy, perhaps. He’d want to know why I wouldn’t want to marry his daughter. She’d have to tell him the real reason…


Once my mind is made up, I breathe a little easier. Then I stop in mid-step, a few feet from Boss Daddy’s study. I can’t leave tonight; I’ll have to wait for the next train, which will come through on Wednesday. Two days’ time. I could still talk to Miss Lucille before then…


Well, at least I could tell her I’m leaving. It’d be better than just running out on her.


But better how? Miss Lucille is used to getting her way. She wants to marry me and so she will, regardless of my thoughts on the matter. The fact that I care for her only makes this all the more worse. If I werea man, I would marry her in a second; I’d sweep her up in my arms and rush down to the chapel today. I would love to spend the rest of my life with her.


Chapter 30