Read Online Montana Hearts by Darlene Panzera - Free Book Online Page B

enough as it is. Jesse Rinehart, the owner of Happy Trails Horse Camp, asked if I could continue to help out over the summer even though she knows I’ve been going to the rodeos on weekends, and during the week I help out the Col—­”
    â€œYou’ll have to tell the Collinses you need to focus on your priorities,” her father said, and Mrs. Lane and Harley nodded in agreement. “Let them find someone else to give their guests weekly lessons.”
    Sammy Jo shook her head. “They need me.”
    â€œYou can’t do everything.”
    Was that what this was all about? Her father’s way of getting her to stop spending time at the Collinses’? How could he do this to her? First he’d brought Harley over, hoping to distract her, and now a horse?
    She dismounted, handed the black horse’s reins back to Harley, and drew in a deep breath to steady her anger.
    â€œWell?” her father asked. “What do you think of Thunder?”
    â€œHe’s a fine horse,” she told him. “One who deserves to be ridden. But it won’t be by me.”
    â€œBut he’s the best barrel racer in the county,” Winona protested, her face aghast.
    Sammy Jo would have argued in Tango’s defense but didn’t want to offend the woman any more than necessary. “Mrs. Lane, the truth is, I’ve decided I’m not going to compete in any more rodeos this year.”
    â€œWhat?” her father demanded. “You’re not serious!”
    She lifted her chin and looked him in the eye. “I am.”
    Taking her arm, he pulled her out of earshot of the others. “You haven’t missed a year in over a decade.”
    â€œWell, then, maybe it’s time,” Sammy Jo said, keeping her voice low. “There’s more to life than rodeo.”
    â€œA year ago you would have sworn differently.”
    â€œYou’re right,” she agreed. “But now things have changed. I’ve changed. I want . . . more.”
    â€œIt’s because of those Collinses, isn’t it?” he demanded. “You’d give up rodeo to be with them?”
    â€œYes, I would. Because I care about them, and since their previous ranch managers left town with their money their guest ranch is struggling.”
    Her father smirked. “Nothing you do will be able to help them. You’ll just be wasting your time.”
    â€œWhy?” she challenged. “Did you delay the filing of their building permit on purpose?”
    This was not how she’d envisioned the conversation when she’d rehearsed it earlier that day. However, she couldn’t back down now.
    â€œI may have misplaced their paperwork for a few days,” he admitted.
    â€œBut it’s filed now?” she pressed, hoping to be able to give Luke the news.
    He hesitated. “Well, not yet. I still need to go over the fine print and make sure all is in order.”
    â€œWhen? By the end of this week?”
    He inclined his head, ever so slightly.
    â€œGive me your word.”
    â€œI give you my word, the Collins permit will be filed by the end of the week,” he said, then frowned. “But that doesn’t mean they’ll get a new one. Their application still has to go through several of our departments.”
    â€œI understand,” she said, and smiled. “Thank you, Daddy.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t be thanking me,” he scolded. “You should be riding rodeo.”
    â€œAnd you ,” she said, reaching up to give her father a quick kiss on the cheek, “should be making friends, not enemies.”
    â€œThe Collinses and I will never be friends,” he warned.
    â€œWhy?” she pleaded.
    â€œI don’t want to talk about it,” he replied.
    Sammy Jo noted his troubled expression and didn’t press him further. She’d already won one battle today, and for now, that was enough. She’d have to discover the