Read Online One Stubborn Cowboy by Barbara McMahon - Free Book Online

How could she have missed them? Everybody and their brother had to have seen them.
    The old woman settled back in her chair and smiled. "I remember how Kit used to come into town, whirling the girls around, buying beer from the store. Then he and his rowdy friends sat on the benches drinking and carrying on. Sassing people as they walked by, flirting with all the girls. Aye, he was a wild one. You'd think nothing could have contained him. All he cared for was being rowdy, having fun and riding the rodeos."
    "Rodeos?" Kelly was intrigued. It fit. He was brash and brave and gutsy. He'd have loved the rodeos.
    "Yes. That's what he did, ran that ranch of his and rode the rodeo circuit. Rode the broncs and bulls. Won most of the events. When he was away, Clint took care of his ranch."
    "The ranch belongs to Kit?" Kelly asked, trying to get it all straight.
    "Sure does. Though Clint might be a partner now, for all I know. But it was Kit's. He took over from his mother's brother. Built it up grand with all his winnings. Fixed up that house for Althea. Never thought young Sally Maguire would be its first mistress."
    Kelly was fascinated. "Kit and Althea were engaged, he told me," she said slowly, wondering about them. Did he still want her despite his careless words last night?
    "Yes. Wild girl. They made a wonderful couple. She so tall with that rich auburn hair, and as wild as he was. Always egging him on, joining in on the parties, following him to the rodeos."
    "So what happened?" Kelly knew the result, but not why. She couldn't understand the why.
    "That young madam tossed him over when she heard the doctor's report that he'd never walk again. Returned his ring while he was still in the hospital. Awful row they had, so I heard. She was screaming at him, and he pleading with her. It ended by her flinging his ring across the room at him as she marched out."
    "God, how awful." Kelly's gentle heart ached for the pain he must have gone through, especially just after finding out the extent of his injuries. How cruel of Althea.
    "I've always thought so. Kit's not a bad one, just wild. Shameful the way Althea treated him. Though in the long run I think it best Kit learned about her before marriage. I hear her current marriage is breaking up."
    Justice? Kelly wondered.
    "The way I heard the story, there was a nurse at the hospital that was hard up, widowed young, had a small child. Kit gave her the ring and told her to sell it and see it brought some happiness somewhere because it sure hadn't brought him any. When he came out, he was a bitter man."
    Kelly couldn't believe Althea had been so cold, so heartless. No wonder he hadn't wanted to appear as if he was still carrying the torch for her. Kelly's anger rose on his behalf as she thought about it.
    "Althea married one of the Kendricks boys a few months later. He's in real estate. They live in Stockton. Didn't see him last night. Wouldn't expect to if they are breaking up."
    Kelly didn't want to talk about Althea. She hoped the woman would return to Stockton soon. Maybe she was only in town for the weekend. Had last night exhibition fooled her?
    Kelly fiercely wanted it to have fooled her. She was surprised at the feeling of protectiveness she felt toward Kit. Ha, she'd never met a man who needed less protection.
    "How did Kit get hurt?" she asked, curious.
    "Rodeoing, like I said. He was at the Cow Palace for the Grand National. Riding a bull. He got gored pretty bad, injured his spine, internal injuries. For a while they didn't know if he'd live."
    Kelly shuddered at the picture Molly described. She'd never thought in graphic detail just how he'd become paralyzed.
    "The doctors told him he might never walk again, but he's so headstrong he had to prove them wrong. That's why he struggles about on those crutches so much. He's done a lot more than anyone thought he would. Though I did hear a year or so ago that they wanted him to have another operation. Something experimental. It could