Read A Randall Thanksgiving for Free Online

though.”
    “That’s fine. You need a phone?”
    “No, I’ll use my cell.” He called the sheriff and told him he was going to help John move his herd, and would be in later. Mike agreed to keep an eye on everything, since Harry had the late shift.
    Just as he turned off the phone, the barn door opened and Melissa came in. Her eyes, he noticed, were suspiciously red.
    “You all right, sis?” John asked at once.
    After a quick look at her brother, Melissa said, “Yes, of course. Mom and Dad are getting in the car if you want to go tell her goodbye.”
    “Yeah, I’ll go do that. I haven’t got your horse saddled yet, but I’ll do it when I get back.”
    Harry watched John leave the barn. Then he said abruptly, “Which horse is yours?”
    “Maybelle here. She’s eight years old, so she can still go.”
    Harry moved over to check out at the gray mare. “Yeah, she looks good. Are you sure you can stay on?”
    “Excuse me? You’re talking to a Randall, I’ll have you know.”
    “Yeah, but you’re a Randall with a French accent,” Harry said with a wry grin. “Which saddle is yours?”
    “This one,” she said, pointing to one hanging nearby. “But I can saddle her myself.”
    “No need. Save your energy.” He grabbed her saddle and went to work on Maybelle. “John said he has his biggest herd over in the pasture by the county road. And we don’t have a lot of time.”
    “Do you know how to ride?” Melissa asked, a smile on her lips.
    Harry stopped saddling the horse and looked at her. A man in Rawhide who didn’t know how to ride? What did she think he was?
    “Of course I know how to ride. And drive cattle.” He tilted his hat and gave her a sharp stare. “I would venture a guess I’ve had more experience at it than you have.”
    She put her hands on her hips and took a step forward. “You think so, cowboy? Remember, I grew up here.”
    Harry gave her an assessing look. She’d lost herdrawl and her hair was so short and spiky; even her jeans were designer. Sometimes, he had to admit, it was hard to remember she was from Wyoming. Aside from her little temper tantrums, she seemed sophisticated and…worldly. Anyone could see she’d spent a considerable amount of time outside of Rawhide.
    He laughed to himself. Actually, he couldn’t wait to see Little Miss Parisian out there riding herd.
    He tugged on Maybelle’s saddle, found it tight, and stepped back, waving his hand with a flourish. “Your mount awaits, m’lady.” Then he cracked a smile and added, “We’ll just see who’s the rider here.”
    Melissa took the dare. She speared him with a look and said, “You’re on.”
    Grabbing Maybelle’s reins, she led the mare out of the barn, leaving Harry to follow.
    Not that it was a bad view, he admitted. He was developing quite a liking for those tight, designer jeans.
    John met up with them outside the barn, having said goodbye to his mother. “We’re ready,” Harry told him.
    John nodded resolutely, concern for his mother temporarily replaced by determination to get the job done. He glanced over at his sister. “Get a pair of chaps. It’s going to be cold out there. You have good gloves?”
    Melissa smiled. “Yes, John,” she said patiently. “You know I’ve done this before.”
    Harry snickered, but she ignored him. Instead she pointed to a pile of scarves she’d left inside the barn door. “Dad gave me those. Said we’d need them for thecold.” She looked at Harry then. “If you wrap one around your face and tie it in back, it’ll serve as a kerchief, and keep you warm, too.”
    Biting back a comment, he put one on, then reached out and tied Melissa’s behind her short hair. He expected a complaint but got none. Nor did he get a thank-you.
    She pulled a hat on her head, climbing into the saddle and headed out.
    John rode alongside Harry into the cold, windy pasture. Had it been any other day of the week, They’d have had a number of cowboys to help out. But it was