Mal has not had an easy life. He’s struggled to overcome a lot of roadblocks and hardships as he built himself a life as a mechanic, despite a serious handicap. He’s admired rancher Dan from afar but never dreamed events would play out to land him in the amazing spot of being able to do a real service for his secret hero. Can he maintain his cool and a safe distance when they’re sharing a house and working to resolve a dangerous mystery?<br><br>Dan says he does not have employees but friends who help him run the ranch he inherited from his father. Challenged by his younger step-brother and facing dangerous sabotage to his truck, he enlists a young mechanic to help solve the puzzle. He’d always wanted a real brother or a partner he could trust but his step-brother is not the right guy to fill that role. How about Mal, who brings some fine but rare qualities to the Flying W?

Wrenching

As soon as he could grab a cup of coffee, Dan headed for the barn to check on Brujo. The horse stood steady, eating calmly. The cowboy working in the barn and keeping an eye on the gelding assured him thatall was well. With that comfort, Dan hurried back to the house. Mal waited, as antsy as a roping horse inthe box seconds before the calf erupted.


“Let’s go see if the Silverado has any problems.”


Dan stood aside and watched while the other man raised the hood and looked around the engine compartment. “Looks okay here. Nothing out of place and no obvious damage. Mostly, though, it’s been stuff underneath.” He got the creeper, flopped onto it and maneuvered his way under the truck.


Dan could not have fit, even if the four-wheel drive sat high, but Mal was lean. Not too spare, though, Dan noted, as he appreciatively eyed the mechanic’s trim, muscular body. Not hard on the eyes at all.


Chapter 19