Read A Cowboy For Christmas for Free Online Page B

when I was younger.”
    “ Your father wouldn’t let
you?”
    “ They used four wheelers.
And feedlots. I couldn’t stand to see the cattle in their pens. It
seemed like they were always slaughtering.” She stopped and turned
her face away. She didn’t care how friendly they got, she wasn’t
going to cry in front of him.
    “ Sounds like it’s a good
thing this is a horse ranch.”
    They rode in silence until
they reached the top of a hill, where she could see the ocean far
below, rolling in wave after white wave. She’d never smelled the
ocean before, and could only describe it as a salty deep sea
smell.
    The water jetted up where
it hit giant boulders. Cold. Dangerous. And breathtaking. Since he
let her sit for several minutes to just gaze out, she forgot that
he watched her.
    The water stretched endless
to the north and south while it faded into the sky in front of
them. She couldn’t distinguish the line where ocean and sky
met.
    “ Now do you see why I love
Oregon?” Brent’s soft voice drifted into her thoughts like the
waves moving inland below.
    Turning, she hoped her
expression worked for an answer. Something so vast, mysterious, and
alive left her without words for it.
    So did Brent. He looked
magnificent with the pale blue sky behind him and his blue eyes
reflecting all the color around them. He sat with such ease, but
his eyes weren’t relaxed. They were fixated on her like the wind
might steal her away.
    Well, she gawked right
back, so she couldn’t sass him about it.
    “ I’ve never seen the ocean
this way.” Her whisper mixed with the singing breeze and the soft,
subtle ocean music. “Just from an airplane. This is much
better.”
    “ I’d have to agree.” He
held her still with his gaze. Just then the breeze brought his
scent to her nose. Man, hay, and something refreshing. Her hair
whipped across her face, and she joined reality with a
jerk.
    Something was brewing . . .
weather-wise.
    “ Well, we got half a day of
clear skies.” Brent still didn’t look away and now she burned all
over. “Guess we oughta get back before you get soaked.” The corners
of his mouth twitched.
    “ Yeah, I’d need another
long, hot bath.” She turned just before she smiled.
     
    * * * *
    “ Brent?”
    He heard her call from the
stable entrance. His hands paused as he filed Dancer’s hoof, but he
fought the desire to look up at Missy.
    He waved instead of calling
back since the horse was a bit jumpy. Dale and Ivan had held off on
taking care of Dancer until he could get there. All three of them
were wary of the horse. It missed Ben something mighty.
    “ Sounds like she’s done
brushing Speckle already.” Dale jabbed him. “You can go on with
her.”
    “ I started this.” Brent
kept working, knowing Missy would come over to talk to them. “Ivan,
don’t let her get too close to him.”
    He glanced up to see her,
but then he couldn’t get his attention back on the job at
hand.
    She stood by the corner to
look for him as she gathered her hair over one shoulder. Her petite
body looked delicate, but her eyes said right away not to mess with
her. As he watched, she stuffed her hands in her pockets and
started his way.
    The horse partially hid
him, so maybe she wouldn’t see him stare. Her green sweater did
something to her skin, made it richer in color. He thought of her
almond brown eyes watching him as she sat on her horse. Whatever
was happening between them . . . well, it couldn’t be good if it
consumed his mind every second of the day.
    Dancer snorted, so he made
a soothing sound as he watched her.
    “ Brent!” Dale jerked toward
him.
    “ Uhh!” His yell was cut
short as he hit the ground. Pain sparked in his ribs, blocking out
the pain of impact with the ground. Damn horse kicked
him!
    He looked up at clouds,
cursing his hormones, cursing Missy, the horse, and his damn
wondering eyes.
    He saw Dale and Ivan lean
over him. “That’s one quick horse.” Ivan added a few swear words as
he