Read Online Montana Wrangler by Charlotte Carter - Free Book Online Page A

taking this getting-to-know-Bryan business seriously. Maybe he should’ve kept his mouth shut.
    On second thought, implementing plan A would still work. Getting her to recognize how ill-suited she was to be the guardian of a boy who lives and breathes horses should be easy.
    Except he suspected nothing about Paige was easy.

Chapter Five
    T hinking she’d one-upped Jay for a change, Paige turned to leave, then thought of a better idea.
    â€œAre you hungry, Bryan? I saw some apples in the refrigerator if you’d like a snack. I could make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”
    Looking like he was going accept her offer, Bryan shrugged.
    â€œYou’ve got chores to do, kid,” Jay reminded him. “Bright Star’s bridle and saddle need cleaning.”
    â€œYeah, I know. I’ll do it after I eat somethin’.”
    Smugly, Paige realized the way to a growing boy’s heart was through his stomach.
    Jay put his empty iced-tea glass on the tray. “Fine. Maybe your aunt Paige will help you clean Star’s tack.”
    Cocking her head, Paige went still for a moment trying to figure out what Jay was up to. “I guess I could do that,” she replied cautiously. “It’s like polishing shoes and silverware, right?”
    â€œPretty much,” Jay said. “When you’re done cleaning the tack, Bryan can teach you how to saddle his horse.”
    â€œHuh? Me?” Bryan’s expression went blank.
    â€œYeah, you. You’re a whiz at saddling a horse, aren’t you?”
    â€œI guess.” Bryan shot a puzzled look in Paige’s direction then headed out of the barn.
    Paige’s mouth went dry, and her heart lurched an extra beat, hard enough that she placed her hand on her chest to prevent its escape. A cold sweat crept down the back of her neck.
    Saddling a horse meant getting close to the horse. Very close.
    Smart-aleck, arrogant cowboy! He’d boxed her into a corner. There was no way she could get out of his trap. She didn’t want Bryan to think she was a wimp. Even if she was.
    Jay picked up his cleaning cloth and winked at her before turning away to find another bridle to polish.
    A primitive scream rose in her throat. She bit down hard to keep it locked inside.
    Forget his macho cowboy ways. How his hat shadowed his eyes, making him seem mysterious. His broad shoulders. The way his lips quirked when he thought something was funny.
    Someday she’d get back at Jay Red Elk for his sneaky tricks. She’d make him eat his words that she wasn’t a suitable guardian for Bryan.
    * * *
    Nearly an hour later, per Bryan’s instructions, Paige carried a decidedly smelly saddle blanket out of the barn. Bryan handled the saddle. Bright Star, a pretty blond horse, stood tied to a railing in the shade of the barn. He lifted his head at Bryan’s approach and nickered. Bryan rested the saddle on the railing.
    Paige halted several feet away.
    â€œOkay, go ahead, Aunt Paige. Put the blanket on his back.”
    Her knees rubbery, she took a tentative step forward but kept herself at arm’s length. In her imagination, she saw herself as a child falling out of the saddle. The sudden pain when she’d landed. And the terror she’d felt when the horse nearly stepped on her.
    She drew in a deep breath.
    And tossed the blanket toward Bright Star.
    The blanket bounced off the horse and slipped to the ground. Paige groaned.
    Bright Star skittered sideways, his eyes wide.
    Somewhere behind her she heard a choked laugh. Jay’s laugh!
    â€œAunt Paige!” With a disgusted look, Bryan walked right up to the horse, gave him a reassuring pat on his neck, and picked up the blanket. “You can’t throw the blanket at him. You gotta put it on his back like this.” He demonstrated.
    â€œOh, I see.” Her voice quavered.
    The boy pulled the blanket off. “Come on, try it again.” He held out the blanket to