Read Online Montana Wrangler by Charlotte Carter - Free Book Online

chore that needed doing once a week to all the tack to keep it in good shape.
    â€œHow come you’re okay with Bryan moving to Seattle?” he asked.
    Henry worked the saddle soap into the leather in slow, patient circles. “It’s what Krissy thought was right. Paige was her sister. Family counts.”
    â€œYeah, but you’re his great-grandfather. You’re family.” Jay wasn’t. Never could be. “He could’ve stayed here. Together we could’ve looked after him.”
    â€œGuess when Krissy and me were talkin’, it didn’t occur to either of us that she’d actually die before I did. Before the boy was grown. That sure didn’t seem real to me. Still doesn’t.”
    â€œIf you had it to do over, would you have told her to pick Paige for Bryan’s guardian?”
    Setting his cleaning rag aside, Henry hefted the saddle, carried it into the tack room and set it in its floor stand.
    â€œI didn’t tell her. She decided. Don’t much matter now, does it? What’s done is done.”
    Jay didn’t particularly like that answer, but he didn’t know what else he could do.
    A few minutes later, Paige came sauntering into the barn carrying a tray with a pitcher of iced tea and three glasses.
    Jay gaped at her. She was wearing jeans that were belted, emphasizing her slender waist and the slight swell of her hips. On her feet she wore scuffed cowboy boots. She might be a city girl, but in that outfit she looked like she belonged right here in Montana high country.
    He shook the thought off. Jeans and boots didn’t change a person on the inside.
    â€œWe still had a few cookies left,” she said, after filling the glasses with tea. She extended the plate of cookies to her grandfather. “Thought you might like them with your tea.”
    Smiling, he selected an iced cookie. “That’s thoughtful of you, child.”
    She offered the cookies to Jay.
    Leaning against the doorjamb of the tack room, he met her gaze as he leaned against the doorjamb of the tack room. The cookies weren’t a peace offering. She was still mad at him. He saw the spark of determination in her eyes. In spite of himself, he admired her decisiveness. “Thanks.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.”
    She delivered cookies to Nathan, who in his quiet fashion was sitting on a nearby bale of hay, and finally took one for herself. “I’ll leave the rest of the cookies and the pitcher of tea for you. I have to call my boss, let him know that I’ll be there for the—”
    Bryan came running into the barn, home from school. “Hey, Grandpa. Jay. Guess what?” He spotted Paige and slid to a stop.
    â€œHi, Bryan. What’s up?” she asked.
    The boy glanced between Jay and his grandfather. “I was going to tell ’em that Game Day is gonna be this Friday.”
    â€œThat’s great, son,” Grandpa said. “You can count on me being there.”
    â€œMe, too,” Jay said.
    A frown wrinkled Paige’s forehead. “What’s Game Day?”
    â€œIt’s a school thing,” Jay explained. “They have races, tug-of-war...the classes compete against each other.”
    â€œYeah, and I’m one of the fastest guys in my class,” Bryan bragged. “I’m gonna beat Toby this year. I’m gonna win the baseball toss, too. You get medals and stuff for winning.”
    â€œWow, that sounds exciting,” Paige said. “I’d like to come cheer you on, too. Is that okay with you?”
    Bryan twisted his lips. “Yeah, I guess so,” he mumbled.
    Jay stepped away from the doorjamb. “I thought you had to be someplace else on Friday.”
    She turned and looked him straight in the eye. “I can’t think of anyplace in the world that I’d rather be than watching Bryan win a whole bunch of medals at Game Day.”
    Mentally, Jay kicked himself. Looked like Paige was