Read Ryelee's Cowboy for Free Online

Besides, who’s going to believe the town
drunk’s daughter?”
    “I believe you.”
    No one had ever believed in her
before. She stared at Clint as relief and disbelief washed over
her. Then Ryelee panicked. She couldn’t go through it again. She
couldn’t tell the police. They wouldn’t believe her anyway. “I just
can’t.”
    “I’m sure that they will be able to
find the son of a bitch who did it. Your father must know who he
is.” Clint looked so determined and she wished she could go to the
police.
    “Please, Clint, just let it be.” She
knew the score and she was the loser.
    “What are you planning to do with the
baby? Perhaps adoption would be a good idea.”
    Shocked, Ryelee immediately placed her
shaking hands protectively over her abdomen. She’d already decided
to keep her baby. “Is that a condition of my
employment?”
    “No, of course not. We’ll work
something out, I guess.”
    Ryelee was doubtful. “I guess. I’m
just grateful that you didn’t fire me on the spot.”
    “Rheenie needs you too much.” He got
up and gave Ryelee a long look. “Try to get some rest. I’ll take
Rheenie with me for the afternoon,” he said, walking out the family
room.
    Ryelee sat on the couch in amazement.
Somehow, she still had her job. She never saw that coming. She knew
Clint was kind, but this surpassed kindness. For the first time,
she felt her worth. Ryelee went to her room and took a
nap.
     
    * * * *
     
    The next few days flew by. Clint
whisked Ryelee to the doctor to make sure both she and the baby
were fine. Annie insisted that Ryelee have her maternity clothes,
and Rheenie had been full of questions.
    Overwhelmed with gratitude for all
they were doing for her, every time someone showed her kindness,
she wanted to cry. The doctor had told her it was normal because
her hormones were unbalanced. Whatever the reason, she didn’t like
being weak. It wasn’t her style.
    She didn’t understand Clint. She found
him watching her at times and wondered what he thought. He usually
had a pensive look about him, and she hoped he wasn’t going to try
to get her to go to the police again. Even though she knew it was
crazy, she wished that he looked at her because he found her
attractive. Who would want her now? She was pregnant with her
reputation irreparably tattered into shreds that could never be put
back together.
    Maybe he was just trying to figure out
a way to approach her about putting the baby up for adoption,
although she fervently hoped that wasn’t the case.
    Today, she planned to watch the horses
with Rheenie as usual. They both had apples and sugar cubes to feed
them. Ryelee loved the feel of the horse’s mouth as it took its
treats, and Rheenie always laughed. It became a daily
ritual.
    Ryelee smiled at the ranch foreman
Jimmy McKeegan. Lately, he always found time to admire the horses
with them. He was tall, blond, and had the bluest eyes she’d ever
seen, with deep etched lines around them due to his constant smiles
and laughter.
    “So how are my two favorite fillies
doing today?” He smiled at Ryelee and picked Rheenie up.
    Rheenie laughed in glee. “We are not
fillies.”
    Jimmy scrunched up his face in
exaggerated confusion. “Well, what are you?”
    “We are princesses,” Rheenie announced
seriously.
    “Yes, I do believe that you are right,
Princess Rheenie.”
    Rheenie was smitten. She gave Jimmy a
smile of adoration.
    Ryelee smiled at the by-play between
them. Warmth spread through her at the thought that she was now a
princess too. She liked Jimmy because he made her feel comfortable.
A friendly, outgoing cowboy with an easy-going manner, he never put
her on edge.
    Clint walked out of the barn and
stopped. “Jimmy, don’t you have some work to do?”
    Jimmy’s eyebrows rose. “I was just
checking with Burke. It’s time to move the cattle to the upper
pasture.”
    “Well, you best get at it
then.”
    Jimmy shrugged his shoulders. “Well,
my two beauties, the cattle