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

originally from Taylorville?" she asked, just to break the silence.
    He threw her a quick look and arched one eyebrow. "Surely the town's busybodies have filled you in on my sordid past by now."
    "Do you think all people have to talk about is you?"
    He was silent for a minute, then grinned when he heard her begin to mutter.
    "Arrogant, self-centered, self-absorbed..." She was almost whispering the words, but turned toward him so he'd be sure to hear her.
    "Point taken. Yes, I was born at the family ranch about fifteen miles or so north of town."
    "And your folks still live there?"
    "Sure."
    "Other brothers or sisters, besides Clint?"
    "No, just the two of us."
    "Still nice, for holidays and birthdays and all. You have relatives around."
    "Lord, relatives. There's a parcel of them around. I've cousins galore, aunts and uncles. It's downright crowded at holidays, especially Christmas. We all get together at someone's place and it seems as crowded as the dance the other night."
    Kelly smiled, trying to envision it. "When I was little, I always wished for a family, every birthday and every Christmas." She sighed softly and her smile faded. "It never came true."
    "A lot of wishes and dreams never come true," he said as they arrived in Stanton.
    She glanced at him guiltily. No doubt one day she'd marry and have a family of some sort, so a part of her dream would eventually come true. But what dreams had Kit lost with the loss of his legs? Had he loved Althea? Been devastated by her loss? Was he hoping somehow after their charade was played out that he could win her back?
    He drove through town and stopped before a large brick building. The sign in front proclaimed Ben Wilson, D.V.M.
    "Won't be long." Kit parked the truck in the shade of a large eucalyptus and left his window down. He started up the walk on his crutches and Kelly watched as he swung along the hard-packed dirt. He handled himself well, using his powerful shoulders and arms. His legs looked as if they still had strength in them. Of course, he did have partial use of them. Was it enough to keep them toned?
    She wondered how he'd been before. A splendidly fit cowboy riding wild broncs and bulls. She wished she'd known him then, though he wouldn't have looked twice at her. She was not wild and rowdy like Althea. She couldn't have kept up.
    It was hot; there was little air stirring. Kelly felt the rivulets of water trickle down her back, bead on her forehead, run between her breasts. If he didn't get back soon, she'd melt. She opened the door, searching for a breath of air. The heat from the hot asphalt reflected back.
    Just when she was considering following him into the building, which had to be air-conditioned, he came out, a large plastic bag dangling from one hand.
    He looked at her when he climbed in, and smiled. "You look like a wilted rag."
    She smiled faintly. "I feel like I've just lost ten pounds in body fluids. It's hot!"
    "Close to a hundred, I think. How 'bout I buy you an ice cream?"
    Kelly smiled. "Sounds great. What did you have to get here?"
    "Antiseptic. I've got a couple of steers that tangled badly with barbed wire. I wanted some salve to keep infection at bay. The Frozen Cow is a drive-through. What kind of ice cream do you want?"
    In only a short time Kit had procured two tall ice-cream cones, Kelly held his while he drove to a shady spot at the back of the little hut. His hand brushed against hers when he reached for it.
    She was already licking hers. The heat was wreaking havoc on the ice cream and it was all she could do to keep it from melting over the edge of the cone.
    Kit licked his cone, his eyes watching her. God, she was sexy with that little pink tongue darting here and there to capture errant drips of melting ice cream. He watched as she concentrated on keeping the drips from getting away. When she closed her lips over parts of the frozen confection in an effort to keep ahead of the melt, he felt a hot tightening low down.
    He wanted to