Read Online Fancy Pants (Only In Gooding Book #1) by Cathy Marie Hake - Free Book Online
Authors: Cathy Marie Hake
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demonstration.” He still looked dubious, but Sydney decided to take the opportunity to prove she wasn’t helpless. “Is the barrel true on this?”
“Absolutely.”
“Capital. See that knob on the tree stump over in the clearing?”
“Yup.”
She took aim and fired. Without even checking to confirm her results, she handed back the weapon. “Now you don’t.”
Amazement altered his tanned features.
“As Cervantes said, ‘Thou hast seen nothing yet.”’ She handed back the weapon. “Your pistol’s nicely balanced.”
“Kid, you’re in Texas. Here you say, ‘You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.”’
Syd’s mouth quirked. “You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.”
Creighton shoved the gun back into his holster and gave her an assessing look. “How old are you, anyway?”
“Seventeen.”
He echoed in a disbelieving tone, “Seventeen?”
“I’ll reach my majority in January.” Sydney straightened her shoulders and sat tall in the saddle.
Squinting, Tim leaned closer. “I don’t believe it. Kid, you’re not even shaving yet. I thought you were somewhere around fourteen.”
Offended, Sydney glowered at him. “Your estimation was obviously as faulty as your opinion of my marksmanship and equestrian abilities.”
“Too bad your body doesn’t keep up with your tongue, son.”
“You, sir, are detestable.”
“You’re entitled to your opinion.” He gave his reins a commanding yank. His palomino turned and cantered off.
Sydney stared at Tim’s back. As soon as her birthday came, she’d make him pay for his arrogance.
Chapter Four
That evening the supper table remained devoid of conversation. The only sounds were of cutlery scraping the plates and glasses settling back on the wooden tabletop. Tim finished eating long before the kid did, so he sat nursing his cup of coffee. Finally, he breached the icy silence. “Listen, son, we’re going to have to get along. I don’t know what you’re used to, but men out West don’t mince words. Best get used to it quick.”
Sydney gave him a truculent look.
Tim took another sip of the coffee, then set it down. “It’s obvious you’re just a late bloomer. It doesn’t mean you won’t fill out. Some good, hard labor will help with that. After a month or so, you’ll have some muscles. Fresh air and plenty of meat will give you something to grow on, too.”
The kid’s jaw jutted forward. “Was that supposed to be some kind of olive branch?”
“You’re as prickly as a porkypine.” Heaving a longsuffering sigh, Tim rose. “Until Fuller gets back, I’m in charge around here. He asked me to take you under my wing. I’ll hold up my part. I refuse to let him down.”
The kid concentrated on buttering a slice of bread.
C’mon, Fancy Pants. Be a man. Say you’ll do your part .
Sydney set down his knife with great precision, raised the slice, and took a bite.
I gave you a chance. You didn’t take it . Tim shook his head in disgust. He strode from the dining room, out the door, and into the barn. Earlier in the day, he’d mudded a mare’s foreleg. A cursory check showed the swelling and heat had gone down. At least something’s going right .
“Boss?
He turned. “Bert.”
“Wanted to tell you, I took care of the henhouse. Velma didn’t want to give me some cayenne, but I talked her into it.”
Tim folded his arms across his chest. “Just what did you have to promise her?”
“You know how finicky she is about her kitchen. . . .”
Tim nodded. The day was already a mess. Anything more wouldn’t make it worse.
“She wants feed sacks traded. Seems she has her heart set on a particular yellow one for a dress, and she needs six or seven more sacks just like it.”
“That shouldn’t be too difficult.”
A slow, sly smile tilted Bert’s mouth. “Glad you feel thataway. I’ll fetch the one she wants matched so you can be sure to trade for the right one.”
“Whoa! I said nothing about me getting them. You made the deal; you
“Absolutely.”
“Capital. See that knob on the tree stump over in the clearing?”
“Yup.”
She took aim and fired. Without even checking to confirm her results, she handed back the weapon. “Now you don’t.”
Amazement altered his tanned features.
“As Cervantes said, ‘Thou hast seen nothing yet.”’ She handed back the weapon. “Your pistol’s nicely balanced.”
“Kid, you’re in Texas. Here you say, ‘You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.”’
Syd’s mouth quirked. “You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.”
Creighton shoved the gun back into his holster and gave her an assessing look. “How old are you, anyway?”
“Seventeen.”
He echoed in a disbelieving tone, “Seventeen?”
“I’ll reach my majority in January.” Sydney straightened her shoulders and sat tall in the saddle.
Squinting, Tim leaned closer. “I don’t believe it. Kid, you’re not even shaving yet. I thought you were somewhere around fourteen.”
Offended, Sydney glowered at him. “Your estimation was obviously as faulty as your opinion of my marksmanship and equestrian abilities.”
“Too bad your body doesn’t keep up with your tongue, son.”
“You, sir, are detestable.”
“You’re entitled to your opinion.” He gave his reins a commanding yank. His palomino turned and cantered off.
Sydney stared at Tim’s back. As soon as her birthday came, she’d make him pay for his arrogance.
Chapter Four
That evening the supper table remained devoid of conversation. The only sounds were of cutlery scraping the plates and glasses settling back on the wooden tabletop. Tim finished eating long before the kid did, so he sat nursing his cup of coffee. Finally, he breached the icy silence. “Listen, son, we’re going to have to get along. I don’t know what you’re used to, but men out West don’t mince words. Best get used to it quick.”
Sydney gave him a truculent look.
Tim took another sip of the coffee, then set it down. “It’s obvious you’re just a late bloomer. It doesn’t mean you won’t fill out. Some good, hard labor will help with that. After a month or so, you’ll have some muscles. Fresh air and plenty of meat will give you something to grow on, too.”
The kid’s jaw jutted forward. “Was that supposed to be some kind of olive branch?”
“You’re as prickly as a porkypine.” Heaving a longsuffering sigh, Tim rose. “Until Fuller gets back, I’m in charge around here. He asked me to take you under my wing. I’ll hold up my part. I refuse to let him down.”
The kid concentrated on buttering a slice of bread.
C’mon, Fancy Pants. Be a man. Say you’ll do your part .
Sydney set down his knife with great precision, raised the slice, and took a bite.
I gave you a chance. You didn’t take it . Tim shook his head in disgust. He strode from the dining room, out the door, and into the barn. Earlier in the day, he’d mudded a mare’s foreleg. A cursory check showed the swelling and heat had gone down. At least something’s going right .
“Boss?
He turned. “Bert.”
“Wanted to tell you, I took care of the henhouse. Velma didn’t want to give me some cayenne, but I talked her into it.”
Tim folded his arms across his chest. “Just what did you have to promise her?”
“You know how finicky she is about her kitchen. . . .”
Tim nodded. The day was already a mess. Anything more wouldn’t make it worse.
“She wants feed sacks traded. Seems she has her heart set on a particular yellow one for a dress, and she needs six or seven more sacks just like it.”
“That shouldn’t be too difficult.”
A slow, sly smile tilted Bert’s mouth. “Glad you feel thataway. I’ll fetch the one she wants matched so you can be sure to trade for the right one.”
“Whoa! I said nothing about me getting them. You made the deal; you
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