Read A Cowboy For Christmas for Free Online

got the wrong
impression of you.” He didn’t like saying he was wrong, but he
figured that came pretty darn close.
    “ Thanks, I think.” She
tried for a laugh and turned. He didn’t want this to end and
grabbed for something to keep her talking.
    “ What about your job? What
happened there?”
    She glanced back while
keeping her hand on the door handle. “Listen, I appreciate your
interest, or concern if that’s what it is, but there’s certain
things I can’t share with you. Goodnight.”
    The door shut before he
could answer. Yeah, things went wrong for her, and it had to be her
job, and the boss she’d mentioned. Russ.
    Turning, he started back.
So they both had their secrets.
     
    * * * *
    She left the cabin when the
morning light was strong enough to see. Brent hadn’t mentioned what
time he started in the morning, but she usually found him working
when she headed down to the stables.
    Though he’d never admit to
it, she felt certain he was taking it easy on her, and that was
both endearing and disappointing. When she said she wanted to prove
herself, she meant it.
    The high, thin cloud cover
cracked here and there, showing off stretches of innocent blue. She
couldn’t ignore the sweet scent in the air or the bright colors all
around, from the thick green grass to the array of oranges in the
autumn oak leaves. A squirrel stopped on the road ahead of her and
clicked as she approached.
    The road took her past
Brent’s house on the way to the stables. She looked over when a
door shut. Brent jogged down the stairs and came her way, wearing a
bulky green coat that hid his torso, but his jeans didn’t hide
anything about his legs.
    He touched his hat when he
reached her. “Morning, Missy. You’re up early.”
    She got a shiver when he
said her name, but she blamed it on the cold. “Yeah, I’d thought
I’d come by and try to catch you in the shower.” She hoped for his
grin and wasn’t disappointed. It wouldn’t bother her to spend some
time appreciating his easy style and charm while she was here.
Nothing wrong with that, right? As long as he didn’t show any
interest in her, or in taking advantage of her, she liked this
setup.
    “ What gross or painful
chores do you have planned for today?” She thought about the first
time she’d seen him. At least they weren’t enemies now. Friends?
With the hormones zinging between them, she wasn’t sure they could
ever be friends, but a truce was nice.
    “ I’m going to check the
paths and fences. Thought you said you’re ready to take a horse out
of the corral.”
    “ How could I be ready?” One
riding lesson and he thought she could ride a horse? He looked like
he enjoyed watching her expression, so she sucked it up. “Sure, why
not?”
    “ Don’t worry. I’m good at
teaching. It’s part of what we do out here, remember?”
    She kept a good two feet
between them as they walked. They had flirted and eyed each other
the past few days, but she wanted to put a stop to it. If they got
involved, how would she get a fair chance here? How would she trust
him?
    He glanced over several
times. She bet her thoughts were written all over her face, but
that was a good thing, at least this time. He needed to know how
things were between them.
    “ How long are you planning
on keeping that rental?” He asked as they neared the
stables.
    “ I need a vehicle.” She
needed something to remind her she could leave if she chose, and
that she was here by her own decision.
    “ There’s a pickup we keep
around. Why don’t I give you keys to it?”
    She met his eyes, uncertain
of his intentions. It would save her money, at a time when she
didn't have it coming in. Still, she said, “I don’t
know.”
    “ I hadn’t thought about it,
but Ben paid cash for it last year. Just a little truck, about
fifteen years old, but it runs. Suppose it’s yours.”
    Uncomfortable, she
tightened her scarf and thought it over.
    “ I guess . . . Then I can
take the rental back