Read Six White Horses for Free Online

teased the comers of the firm mouth.
    Blinking into the pair of eyes that didn't appear nearly as blue in the shadows, Patty realized the truck was stopped and the motor switched off. She glanced around in confused surprise, recognizing the rodeo grounds and the trailer they were parked beside. It seemed only just an instant ago that Morgan had turned the truck into the street outside the bar.
    The hint of a smile was gone from Morgan's face. "What's the matter, Pat?"
    "Nothing's the matter," she answered in a taut voice. "I was daydreaming, that's all."
    Frantically her hand searched for the door handle, needing to escape. The latch clicked and Patty started to push the door open. Morgan's arm reached around her. His hand found the armrest and pulled it shut. Her senses that had been deadened by the misery induced by her thoughts flamed to awareness.
    His fingers maintained their grip on the armrest while the hard muscles of his arm acted like an iron band across her breasts to keep her in her seat. The thin, synthetic material of her blouse transmitted his searing body heat to her soft flesh.
    "I accepted your ride home. Now will you please let me get out?"
    Tongues of charged lightning licked along her spine as she made her haughty demand.
    His rough, masculine face was close, narrowed blue eyes studying her features, focusing at last on the mutinous set of her lips. One side of his mouth quirked upward at the corner.
    "You aren't as skinny as I thought," Morgan commented blandly.
    Patty had tolerated the arm across her breasts because she hadn't wanted to draw attention to the uncomfortable intimacy of his touch. Foolishly, she thought he hadn't noticed. A bright glitter sparkled in his eyes as she tried to push him away.
    "I was only going to take a kiss for luck," he chuckled.
    "Take it," she challenged with cold defiance. "It will only bring you bad luck."
    His thumb forced her chin up as Morgan accepted her challenge. Warm breath touch her lips an instant before his mouth claimed hers. Flash fire raced through her veins, quickly burning itself out when the firm pressure was lifted from her lips. Resentment smoldered in the look she gave him.
    "Happy nightmares." Morgan winked good-humoredly, and without another word clicked open the door and slid back behind the wheel.
     

 
    Chapter Three
     
    UNWRAPPING THE LAST of the protective leg cottons from the white horses leg, Patty straightened, arching her back to relieve the fatigue of the long drive. The travel days inbetween rodeos always seemed much longer than other days with so much preparation to be done before leaving and upon arrival at their destination.
    After affectionately stroking Legend's silken neck, Patty gathered the cotton and bandages and walked to the tack compartment of the goose-necked horse trailer. The crunch of footsteps on the gravelly sand sounded behind her and she glanced over her shoulder.
    "Hi, grandpa. Are you all done or do you need some help?" she asked.
    "I'm all done except for Liberty," he answered, a look of tired concern on his tanned, ageless face. "I thought the roads were smooth enough that we didn't need to apply any cold water midway through the trip, but I guess the long haul was too long. There's a slight swelling in his legs."
    "Thank heaven we don't have a performance tonight," Patty sighed. "Do you want me to help rub him down?"
    "No." Everett King waved aside her offer. "Go put on a pot of coffee and get our trailer straightened around."
    "That sounds like a grand idea," Patty agreed with weary enthusiasm, handing the leg wrappings to her grandfather to put away.
    As Patty left the stabling area and headed toward their travel trailer, the blare of a semi-trailer horn tooted behind her. Her steps slowed to wait for the large track to pass. The stock trailer behind the tractor was emblazoned with the words Kincaid Rodeo Company. There was a shifting of gears as the truck rolled alongside her.
    "Hello, Princess. Where are