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

Though I pay for my own room and meals, I have quite a nice little bundle of cash set aside. I don’t squander my money on booze or women, like many of the other ranch hands do. So I have enough for a one-way ticket heading just about anywhere. When I step up to the window, though, the depot manager squints at me through his small spectacles and chews on the long ends of his mustache. “Leavin’ where?” he squawks.


I shrug. “Anywhere’s fine. When’s the first train tomorrow?”


He pushes his glasses up on his nose and peers at me. Whatever he sees makes him nod sagely. “This about Miss Lucille, ain’t it?”


Of course he would’ve heard about that. “No, no I—”


“She know you leavin’?” he queries.


I hesitate. If I shake my head, then she’ll find out as soon as this old coot rushes out to spread the news. If I nod, though, word may still get back to her.


Chapter 33