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

improve muscle control beyond what he has. I'm not sure I heard right, though."
    "He, uh, he didn't tell me how it happened, just he'd been injured by a bull," Kelly said slowly.
    "I don't think he talks about it much. But it festers in him, I think. And I guess he'll never get over it. He keeps himself shut up at that ranch working hard. Doesn't party now. He's changed so much, poor boy."
    Kelly smiled gently at Molly Benson. Her words echoed Jefferies from the other day. She understood their sentiments a little better, but Kit Lockford was still too much a man to be called boy. Except for a certain expected bitterness, he'd taken what life had thrown him and continued. Still worked his ranch. And if he didn't socialize, well, after the trauma of his fiancée's defection, he could be excused for avoiding that.
    Molly talked at some length about others at the dance and Kelly listened with half an ear, her thoughts caught up with what she'd learned about Kit. She was glad Molly had joined her and filled her in on his background. She had a feeling he'd not be as willing to share. And she didn't want him to know how curious she was about him.
    * * *
    Monday Kelly worked on the story line for her book. She blocked out the chapters, decided what pictures to incorporate for illustrations. And made a schedule of the different stages for completion.
    Tuesday she worked at her drawing board in the morning. Taking a break in the early afternoon, she walked down to the store to pick up a few things, and visit with Beth. She saw Jefferies across the street as she was leaving and waved to him, smiling in secret. She was beginning to belong. The people in town made her welcome and she felt connected. She had never had that before and it warmed her heart.
    Catching a flash of color from the corner of her eye, she turned and watched as Kit Lockford's big blue-and-white truck approached--at a reasonable rate of speed, no less. It slowed and stopped even with her.
    Jumping down from the sidewalk, she walked to the driver's door.
    "Cop bust you for speeding?" she asked, smiling in delight to see him again. Looking at him almost in hunger, she was startled to realize how glad she was to see him.
    "Slowed down just for you, darlin'. Got to keep my best girl happy and she doesn't like speeding in town."
    She smiled at his nonsense. "Right, pull the other leg, why don't you?"
    "I'll pull them both if you want, and wrap them right around me." He stared down at her for a long moment, while Kelly felt heat rise in her cheeks at the picture his provocative suggestion painted.
    He smiled sardonically, as if he could read her mind. "I'm going to Stanton to get some livestock medicine. Want to go for a ride? I want to talk to you."
    Kelly considered and nodded. "Why not?"
    She went around to the passenger door and climbed in. Excitement welled up inside. She'd never spent very long in his company. It was a half hour's drive to Stanton, the same back. Could they keep from fighting for an hour?
    And what did he want to talk about? Had he had second thoughts about their pretending to be involved? Had he decided he wanted to take up again with Althea? She frowned, looking out her window. She didn't want that. Not that she'd have any say in the matter if he'd changed his mind.
    He pulled away, speeding up as the edge of town approached, soon hurtling down the highway. Kelly laughed softly in bravado, knowing he was teasing her.
    "I forgot you'd need a special vehicle," she said after a few minutes watching him operate the hand controls. "I didn't know trucks came with the options."
    "I paid a hell of a lot to get this rig. It's four-wheel drive, too, so I can go off-road."
    "For ranch work?"
    "Right." He didn't say any more and Kelly kept quiet as she watched the rolling brown hills speed by. He might as well be alone in the truck for all the attention he was paying her. She thought he wanted to talk to her. Another five minutes and she'd had enough.
    "Are you