Read Online A Cowboy For Christmas by Kristen James - Free Book Online

great! He was back in the game. He didn’t hear rain
coming down outside, so maybe it’d be clear today.
    Even though he’d been back
on his feet the last few days, Dale and Ivan hadn’t allowed him to
help with anything. He didn’t pull rank and tell them it was his
ranch, because he knew they meant well. Doctor’s orders and all.
But, darn it, it’d been hard to see Missy when he couldn’t
work.
    He’d known if he allowed
himself to get involved with her, she’d break his heart. The
thought still tormented him, but now he knew he wouldn’t fight it.
If she was going to be here, there was only one way to do it. If he
didn’t get her in his bed soon, he’d never get his work
done.
    With that decision made, he
threw back the covers, his mission clear in his head.
    He’d been using warm
showers to help his injured muscles relax. After another one, he
didn’t bother with coffee or breakfast in his haste to get outside.
In the pasture, he spotted Missy and Dale in the soup-like fog.
He’d almost reached them before they heard him coming.
    “ Hi.” Missy watched the way
he walked, just like a worried mother would. “How’s the
side?”
    “ Great. I don’t think I can
take another day of resting.” He waved as Dale started off. Her
coat, he saw now, wasn’t red but burgundy. He wouldn’t normally
notice a thing like that, but the color went perfectly with her
skin tone. “I appreciate the way you’ve helped out around
here.”
    “ That’s why I’m here.” She
nudged his arm. “Remember?”
    “ You’ve certainly proved
yourself.”
    She gave him her beautiful
smile, making him notice even more her full, deep red lips. Her
hair hung loose and wild, framing her face in a way that made her
cheekbones gracefully noticeable.
    “ Really? You think I’m
ranch material now?”
    “ You can pull your own,
that’s all I’m saying.” He tried to hide his grin, but couldn’t
help it anymore. And he didn’t care. She’d done more than prove
herself.
    She glanced up and caught
him watching her. Her smile wavered before she looked away.
Skittish as a colt, but he’d win her over.
    Jeffery trotted up and
bumped Brent with his nose while making horse murmurs and pawing at
the ground. “Itching for a ride? Me, too.”
    Missy raised her eyebrows
at him.
    “ I’m fine.” He wanted to go
on a ride with her and enjoy the morning as the sun burned off the
fog. Though the ground was soggy, Brent thought they could stick to
the gravel road. “Besides, I’ll have to go slow so you can keep
up.”
    He turned and started for
the stables to get their tack. He’d seen her eyes narrow, and he
didn’t need another injury now, right when he was up to full speed.
Jeffery came behind him, and he thought he heard Missy huff a sigh
and follow suit. Whistling, he got both saddles and readied their
horses.
    “ Here, you lead her out.”
He handed her Speckle's reins. “Did you ride much this week? I
hardly saw you around here.”
    “ Some.” She swung up into
her saddle, as though she'd been riding for years, not
days.
    He mounted and they started
off together. “Missy, I’m sorry for the cold way I acted when you
came here.”
    Her eyes went wide and her
brows rose.
    “ Never heard an apology
before?” he teased. They rode side by side out toward the main
road, and he didn’t press her to say anything. He could see her
relax as they rode and he enjoyed just having her beside him, doing
something they both loved. “Look at you, a natural
already.”
    “ A natural?” She patted her
horse. “I guess I do enjoy riding. Sure wasn’t easy that first
day!” He joined in her laughing, mostly because he loved the light
and carefree sound she made. Enchanted, he couldn’t help but be
encouraged.
    “ So, have you worked things
out with your boyfriend?” Now that thought had popped into his mind
and out his mouth. During the last week, he’d spent far too much
time wondering if she still talked to the man she’d