Read Online Cowboy Tough by Joanne Kennedy - Free Book Online Page A

help?”
    â€œHope so.” He gave her his most winning cowboy grin and got a bemused smile in return. Turning his attention to Rembrandt, he watched out of the corner of his eye as the girl unsaddled the horse like an expert.
    When she returned from the barn and started rubbing a curry comb over Spanky’s dusty coat, he gave her a nod of approval. “You must be Dora.”
    The squint returned. “How’d you know? Did Aunt Cat tell you about me?”
    â€œYeah, but she didn’t say you were coming today.”
    If he could befriend the kid, it would probably score points with Cat. Besides, it seemed like she needed a friend. He watched her switch to the finishing brush, knocking it on her hip with each stroke to get rid of the dust.
    â€œHow’d you get here, anyway?” he asked.
    Her lips flattened into a thin line. “Shuttle.”
    â€œAll the way from the airport?”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    He could almost feel the wall going up. Probing would only make her add more bricks, so he let it go—for now.
    â€œDoes Cat know you’re here?”
    She shrugged. “I’ll find her in a minute.”
    He should probably send Dora up to the house to find her aunt, but she seemed totally absorbed in brushing the horse. Cat had said the girl had issues, and dealing with animals always calmed him down. Maybe it would do the same for Dora.
    â€œSo your mother was Cat’s sister?”
    â€œYeah. She died.”
    Shoot. This went way beyond “issues.” He didn’t know what to say, but Dora saved him by yammering on.
    â€œAunt Cat likes to think she’s my mom now. Like she can replace her or something. That’s why she took me on this trip. We’re supposed to bond .” She brushed harder at the horse’s smooth coat, cleaning off dirt that wasn’t there and blinking fast. “Like that’s going to happen. My mom didn’t even like her most of the time.”
    Mack swallowed and tried to think of something soothing to say. This was evidently his day to be tested by women, and he’d failed every trial so far.
    He stopped his own work and watched her trade the brush for a hoof pick. She ran her hand down the horse’s leg and Spanky obediently lifted his foot.
    â€œYou’re good with horses.”
    He was rewarded with a luminous smile that made the girl’s pale face almost pretty. “It’s easy to be good at things you like to do.” The smile dimmed so fast it was like a shade being drawn over a lighted window. “What sucks is being good at stuff you don’t want to do. Stuff you never want to do again.”
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œArt.” She lowered her brows, and Mack could swear a tiny thundercloud was forming above her bright halo of hair. “I hate art. And that’s all I’m going to be doing for two whole weeks .” She said the last words like she was pronouncing a life sentence at hard labor. “You’re our guide, right? The wrangler?”
    Mack nodded. He was tempted to say he wasn’t looking forward to the two weeks either, but grown-ups were supposed to set an example, so he kept his mouth shut.
    â€œMaybe I could help you with the horses. Like, work for you. Instead of painting.”
    He could feel the solid barn floor beneath him turning into a quagmire. She was trying to get him to take sides. Viv did the same thing, setting her mother against her father to distract them from her own misbehavior.
    â€œMaybe you’d better ask your aunt.”
    â€œWhy? It’s not like she’s my mother or anything.” She straightened, absently rubbing the small of her back as she tossed the pick into the bucket. “No matter what she’d like to think.”
    ***
    To Cat’s relief, Maddie welcomed Trevor Maines with her customary enthusiasm. Taking a cue from his lord-of-the-manor attitude, she declared it was time for afternoon tea and