Author's Note:Thank you all for reading this series of one shots! I have enjoyed introducing my OC, Abby Dinoco to the fandom. I would truly appreciate reviews and suggestions for future stories with the Dinoco siblings!

Thanks for everything!

Adventurelife

"So, this is your ranch? How…quaint."

"It turns a profit." Tex forced out a cordial tone. He could feel his back tightening defensively. Why did money draw in the dangerous women? All he'd planned for was a business venture.

"How much?" The women slipped an arm through one of his. She was a willowy blonde with perfectly manicured talons.

"Oh, enough that my sister will live comfortably for the rest of her life." He kept his eyes focused on the corral in front of him. He was going to shoot the board member that suggested her as an investor.

"Really, is she able to take care of such a big investment?" Her tone was subtly poisonous.

Tex felt himself bristle; Aria Minton was not his idea of a good investor. She wasn't even what he would consider a lady. Originally he had planned on giving her the benefit of the doubt, but the moment she set foot on his ranch she had dug her overpainted talons into his arm. The longer she stayed the more trapped he felt. He stifled a sigh as some of his newest stock was ushered into the corral.

A smile tugged at his lips as his teenage sister lazed against the far side of the barn. Her black hair was tugged back into a sloppy braid under her tan cowboy hat. Faded blue jeans and her trusty blue Dinoco t-shirt clearly marked who she was to all the ranch hands. Tex had opened his mouth to speak with Aria opened her mouth, his anger flared.

"Dirty little thing. Which ranch hand keeps their family here?" Her nose scrunched up in disgust.

"That, "dirty thing," as you call her, is my sister Abby." Tex lazily removed his arm from her grasp.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just not used to the idea that someone so richly endowed as you would have a sister that…is so…"

"Beautiful?" Tex cut her off, a sharp look in his eyes.

"This is your new investment then," Aria turned the conversation on its heel. "Horses?"

"Abby's choice, she's rather interested in horses. Always has been. I let her choose the new breed."

"Arabians…interesting, does she have any idea how to work with them?"

"She has a good eye for horse flesh. This is her project, an investment for her future."

"And you want me to invest in her… choice?"

"If you won't someone else will. Abby has a head for business," he grinned as he watched Abby vault over the fence towards the horses.

"Those horses are wild!"

"Abby knows what she's doing." Tex watched proudly as his little sister inched towards a horse.

"I hope so," a condescending sniff passed Aria's lips. The clingy woman slithered closer to Tex.

It wasn't that Abby minded Tex bringing women to the ranch, it was the type of women. She knew her brother wasn't the type to pick the finicky type that was clinging to him. A frown marred her pretty face as she whispered to one of the new horses. That woman was suffocating Tex and she couldn't let anyone get away with that.

A sharp glance towards the pair showed that Tex was guiding her away from the horse corral and towards the pig pen and the new goats. Something clicked in her mind. Tex was always rescuing her from various situations, it was her turn to repay the favor. Wiping her hands on her jeans she vaulted over the fence and darted behind the barn. She'd have to be silent and sneaky to get past the leech of a woman.

Tex was certain that Aria could talk the ears off of a donkey, she was by far the most talkative person he'd ever met. He bit down his thousandth sigh and guided her over to look at the new pigs. Abby was determined to turn the ranch into an animal refuge it seemed and he didn't have the heart to tell her no.

Aria backed herself against the fence and she was certain that she had captured the attentions of the oil tycoon beside her. He hadn't left her side the entire day, of course that was in part to her digging her nails in firmly. She smirked inwardly, once he proposed she'd ship the little brat off to boarding school of some sort.

The youngest Dinoco saw her opportunity and dove forwards jerking on Aria's ankle. With a shriek Aria flipped over the edge of the pig pen and into the muck. Abby darted back into the barn and peeked out at the flailing Aria.

"Don't just stand there!" Aria shrieked at Tex. He tilted back his hat in surprise and stared at the mud covered woman.

"How on earth?"

"It was that brat sister of yours! I know it! Help me out of here! Oh, my designer bag!" Another shrill scream filled the air.

"Dave." Tex called, his laughter barely suppressed. "Please help our guest out of the pig pen."

"I'll sue that little deliquiant! She ought to be sent to a prison!"

"I would appreciate it if you didn't speak about my sister like that." Tex's voice gained a hard edge.

"Why I never!"

"I'll be issuing a restraining order."

"You'll hear from my lawyer!" She shrieked as Dave ushered her from the pig pen and into her waiting limo.

"Abby…" Tex grinned. "Come on out."

"How'd you know?" Abby slunk from her hiding place.

"I know how much you don't like any female business partners." He ruffled her hair.

"They aren't real partners. They're leeches!" Abby scowled.

"Well...let's not make a habit of dumping them in the pig pen. But thank you for getting rid of her."

"Anytime Tex. I'd do anything for you...You know that?"

"I know, Abs, I know… Come on, we'll order pizza and watch that new movie you wanted."

"You're the best,Tex."

Sometimes it was hard being Abby's guardian, but when it come down to it, Tex was eternally grateful to have a sister like her and Abby was glad to have a brother and guardian angel in Tex.