Read Her Cowboy's Christmas Wish (Harlequin American Romance) for Free Online

building?”
    “We’re converting the old barn into a mare motel for the stud and breeding business. Clay and his men are helping us.”
    Ethan took her elbow and guided her around more piles of construction material. She started to object and insist she was fine, then changed her mind. Like the other night when he’d insisted on unloading her medical supplies, it would be like arguing with a brick wall.
    He led her to a corner of the barn where, behind a tower of wooden crates and beneath a canvas tarp, the wagon stood.
    “Not sure we can get much closer,” he said, stepping over a roll of rusted chicken wire.
    Caitlin squeezed in behind him, acutely aware of his tall, broad frame mere inches from her.
    He leaned over and lifted the tarp, revealing a wagon wheel. Without thinking, she reached out and touched the worn wood.
    A memory of Ethan driving her around the ranch in the wagon suddenly surfaced, of her bouncing in the seat beside him and both of them laughing. How carefree they’d been back then.
    She suddenly missed those days with a longing she hadn’t felt in years.
    Stop it!
    Dwelling on that period of her life would do more damage than good. She and Ethan might have renewed their acquaintance, but that was all it was, an acquaintance. All it could be. Even if she finally got past the hurt he’d caused her, he rode saddle broncs for pleasure and broke green horses for a living. Caitlin wasn’t capable of caring for someone who courted danger on a daily basis. Not after what had happened to her brother. She couldn’t live with the constant worry and fear.
    “Going to need a few repairs.” Ethan wiggled a loose spoke.
    Caitlin was relieved to get back on track. “And lots of cleaning.”
    “Hope you have enough volunteers.”
    She studied the wagon with a critical eye. “I might need more.”
    “I’ve been thinking. Would it be all right if we asked for a small donation? Completely voluntary, of course. Sage, my future sister-in-law, is starting a wild-mustang sanctuary here on the ranch, and she’s having trouble obtaining funding.”
    “What a good idea. I can’t imagine the festival committee having any objections.”
    “That’ll make her happy.”
    Caitlin brushed dirt off the wheel. “When can we get started?”
    “Saturday soon enough?”
    “We’ll have to be here early. I’m due at Clay’s arena after lunch.”
    “Me, too.”
    “You’re not riding!”
    “Planning on it.”
    “Your shoulder!”
    “I can’t afford to miss any practices.”
    “Isn’t it dangerous to ride with an injury? I’d think your reaction time would be slowed.”
    “I’ll wrap it.”
    As if that would fix everything. His attitude was exactly the reason they would never date again, no matter how attractive she found him. Riding broncs was bad enough. Riding broncs with an injury was idiotic.
    “I’ll have a couple of the guys help me pull the wagon out,” he said.
    “I recommend you supervise a couple of the guys.” She leveled a finger at him. “If you’re going to ride on Saturday, you need to rest that shoulder and let it heal.”
    “Right.”
    He was impossible.
    “I need to get going.” She stepped over the roll of rusted chicken wire. “I don’t want to leave Justin alone too long.”
    “You brought him with you?”
    “He doesn’t have class on Fridays and sometimes comes by for a visit.”
    “Justin drives?”
    “A Honda Civic. Modified, of course.”
    “And he lives with your parents?”
    “No, he has an apartment near campus with a roommate.”
    “Not that it’s any of my business,” Ethan said, “but if the kid lives on his own and drives, don’t you think he’ll be okay alone for a few minutes?”
    She sighed with exasperation…at herself. “I can’t help worrying about him. Call it big-sister-itis.”
    “His accident wasn’t your fault.”
    Caitlin went still, swallowed a gasp. No one other than Justin and her parents knew of her guilt and the reason for