Read The Trouble With Lacy Brown for Free Online Page A

Nevertheless, it was obvious that if Lacy hadn’t intervened, the ants would have killed the calf. “He’ll make it. Thanks to you. I owe you.”
    Lacy just nodded. When she looked up at him there were tears in her eyes.
    No, not tears— He lifted the calf in his arms, fighting to ignore the way his heart was thumping. Lacy stood, too, then walked over and picked up a red sweatshirt.
    “Is that what you beat the ants off him with?”
    She nodded and after inspecting it for more ants, she yanked it over her head then pushed the arms up to her elbows.
    “That was quick thinking on your part. Thanks again,” he said.
    Returning to his side Lacy gently rubbed the curly white forehead of the weak baby. “You’re welcome. I couldn’t stand the thought of him dying.” The wind whipped at her pale hair and Clint had another crazy urge. He wanted suddenly to tuck the feathery strands behind her ear and kiss away the worry lines creased between her eyebrows. Whoa, Clint…you’re one sadistic fool! What’d he think he’d do with a woman like Lacy Brown? She’d be the kind of woman who’d bring a man to his knees, wild, unpredictable—and then when he couldn’t think straight anymore, she’d be the kind to walk away. And never look back.
    “The calf will be fine,” he snapped, trying to ignore how cute her quizzical expression was.
    “Did I say something wrong?”
    “Nope.”
    She dropped her hand and stepped back. “You’re sure. You look like you just ate a lemon.”
    Lemons— “Nothing is wrong, I need to get going is all.”
    “Can I help?”
    “No!”
    Her lovely eyebrows shot together. “There is something wrong. The calf is sicker than you’re telling me.”
    She stepped closer. Her bare forearm brushed his and he froze. Sweat popped across his forehead when she lifted her gaze to his. Lacy Brown’s eyes were bottomless pools of sapphire. They reminded him of pictures on a brochure he’d seen of the blue waters off the coast of Mexico. The travel brochure had boasted that you could see thirty feet deep in the crystal-clear water. It couldn’t compare to the depths of Lacy’s eyes.
    “Clint, is the baby dying?”
    “No—”
    “Then I’ll come by later to check on him.”
    “That won’t be necessary.”
    “Yes, it will.” She started to move toward the fence then stopped. “Flossy isn’t going to trample me, is she?”
    “She’ll stick with her calf. Go on.” Please.
    “Well, if you say so.” She eyed the cow warily before loping toward the road.
    “Sorry about all this,” he called stupidly, watching how she moved, liking her fluid movement. Enjoying what he saw way too much.
    “No problem,” she called over her shoulder. “I’mglad to see all those years of gymnastics finally came in handy.” She climbed through the fence then stopped. “See you later, neighbor.” She waved high above her head.
    He couldn’t move as he watched her disappear around the bend in the road. Only after she was gone did he expel the breath that had stuck in his lungs.
    “Not if I see you first,” he muttered.
     
    What could provoke those eyes to playfulness? The question hit Lacy like a sledgehammer. Oh, no, you don’t, she thought, snapping from insane daydreams of Clint Matlock and back to her driving. She and Sheri were headed toward town to work on the salon.
    “So he rescued you on his horse.”
    “No, Sheri.”
    “How romantic,” Sheri sighed, ignoring Lacy’s denial.
    “There was nothing romantic about it. I almost got trampled by a ballistic cow.”
    “You know you enjoyed it.”
    “No, I did not enjoy the mad cow.”
    “You know perfectly well I’m talking about Clint Matlock with the dreamy dark eyes.”
    That was it. “Sheri, you know I’m not here to look for a guy.”
    “And why not?” Sheri turned to face Lacy.
    “Because I don’t have time. That’s not part of the plan.”
    “That’s a cop-out and you know it, Lacy Brown. God has someone out there for you