Read The Trouble With Lacy Brown for Free Online

branch out of her way and peered out at him.
    “Am I glad you showed up,” she panted. “I thought I was done for. Can you do anything with that cow?”
    Clint pushed his hat back farther. “That depends, Miss Brown, on what you are doing here in my pasture at the crack of dawn?”
    “Your pasture? I thought this belonged to Norma Sue’s boss.” Her eyes widened and she shifted on her perch.
    “I am Norma Sue’s boss.”
    “Oh, my…” She moved a branch farther out of her way. “Then you’re my landlord.”
    “Your what?”
    “Landlord. Norma Sue rented us that small house up by the road.”
    “You’re joking. Right?” Clint felt a severe sinking sensation in his gut. His saddle groaned loudly as he shifted uneasily.
    “Nope. Wouldn’t joke at a time like this.” Her brow furrowed as she looked from him to the heifer, now standing contently to one side of the tree. “Why isn’t that cow chasing you?”
    “Oh, her, that’s Flossy. She wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
    “Ha! She almost killed me.”
    “All you had to do was turn around and flap your arms at her.” Her look of frustration gave Clint an odd sense of satisfaction after the way she’d mouthed off the morning before.
    “No way. That cow wanted my blood.”
    “Nope.” He shook his head, loving her distress. “I assure you, you can get down now.”
    “Not on your life, bud. That cow is crazy.”
    “Look who’s calling the kettle black.” Clint dismounted and went to stand beneath her.
    “You are saying that with a smile on your face. I hope.”
    His lips twitched. “A small one, but it’s there.”
    “Well, good. I’d hate to have to fall out of this tree and belt you one.”
    Clint removed his hat, ran a hand through his hair. “Did your mama ever tell you what a handful you are?”
    “All the time. Now about my playing monkey—”
    “You don’t have to keep hanging around up there. Flossy isn’t going to hurt you and I need to go and find her baby.”
    “Her baby! Ants were attacking the poor thing.” She started to drop down and stopped. “You are certain Flossy isn’t coming after me again?”
    “Certain.” Clint sighed, holding out his arms. “Come on down. I’ll help you.”
    “No, thanks. I can handle this.”
    She slipped from the tree, dropping to her feet in front of him. She had on plain gray athletic pants, and a lime-green top with no sleeves. She had lovely arms, tanned and lean. Even a mess, Lacy Brown was a sight to behold.
    Flossy snorted and Lacy sprang up against him. Before he could snag his good sense, he wrapped his arms around her…all for the sake of protection. She fit in his arms like she’d been made to be there. It was a very pleasant feeling. Her wispy hair tickled his nose, tempting him with the inviting scent of lemons. He loved the smell of lemons— “Come on,” he growled. Lacy looked up at him and blinked. She had a set ofvery deceptive eyes. They seemed almost innocent. He had a hard time believing this could be true of such a wildfire of a woman. He dropped his arms and stepped away. “Flossy isn’t going to harm you.”
    “If you say so.” She stepped away from him. “But I’ll walk on this side of you just in case.” She quickly sidestepped around him, placing him beside Flossy.
    Clint fought the need to smile.
    “The calf is over here,” she said, and started trotting.
    Clint fell in beside her. The spitfire had a tender heart.
    They jogged a few yards before he saw the calf.
    “He was crying terribly when I came around the corner. It scared me to death at first. I never knew something so small could make a noise like that. It was heartbreaking. I couldn’t stand it if he died.”
    They reached the tiny babe together and Clint dropped to his knees. Lacy plunked down and gently took the little fella’s head into her lap. He hadn’t moved and was breathing heavily.
    “Tell me he’s going to be all right.”
    He was covered in bites, but Clint had seen worse.