Read Online Roping Ryan (The West Series Book 6) by Jill Sanders - Free Book Online Page B

got paid to go.” He shook his head, remembering those first few weeks. “I made quick friends and when they asked me what I wanted to do, I jumped on narcotics. I figured since a supposed drug bust was what had gotten me in the mess...”
    She laughed and shook her head as they pulled the horses into the last field. “Amazing.”
    He looked up and he could see the house. He pulled his horse to a stop. “You know, I can remember seeing this place for the first time. I think I was around five. Lauren, Alex, and Haley’s dad, Rick, was my mom’s brother. Both my mom, Rebecca, and their mom, Laura, were still alive at that time.” He closed his eyes and remembered it. “I remember sitting on the back deck while Laura put together homemade ice cream. She had one of those ice cream makers you had to turn, and she promised that if Ryan and I were good, we could take turns cranking it.” He opened his eyes and smiled. “After that day, we always wanted to come back. Even though it wasn’t the same after our mothers had died, theirs in a tornado, ours to cancer”—he frowned trying to block out the horrible memories—“we always loved coming here.”
    She sighed. “It is a lovely spot. I can see why you cherish the memories. Horseback riding, your cousins, all this open space.”
    He chuckled. “We’d better get back. It’ll be close to dinner time.”
    She groaned. “For some reason, I’m starved.” He smiled at her.
    “Hey, think you’re up to a little race?” He nodded to the barn. “First one there makes dinner?”
    She glanced at the barn, and he could tell she was gauging the soreness in her backside.
    “Sure.” She kicked off before he had a chance to count down.
    It only took him a moment to catch up to her. He steadied his horse to match her easy pace and then a few yards from the barn, he let the horse loose, happy that he didn’t have to cook that night.

Chapter Nine
    A s luck would have it, she didn’t have to cook that night either. When they finally made it into the barn, Lauren was there and helped her hang her saddle and brush down her horse. She invited them to a cookout on the back deck, promising that there would be plenty of food, including cake and ice cream.
    They decided to head back and shower and change first. After showering, she found a lovely cotton dress and some sandals and put them on.
    Ryan had already showered and changed and was sitting on the back deck, drinking a beer. When she walked out, his eyes went wide.
    “Is it wrong of me to say that you look better in that simple dress than you have in anything I’ve seen so far?”
    She chuckled. “Anything?”
    He nodded and then realized what he was admitting to. Walking over to her, he took her hips in his hands and pulled her close. “Well, almost anything.”
    When they drove Big Bertha up to the main house, they noticed all the other cars and trucks.
    “Looks like she invited a few other people too.”
    She glanced over at him. “Are you up for it?”
    He nodded. “I had a nap today, remember.” He smiled and winked at her. Then took her hand and helped her out of his side of the truck. “We’ll have to get you a pair of boots. You don’t want to be wearing sandals around here. Not with horses, chickens, and”—he glanced over as a few dogs rushed by them—“whatever else is running around.”
    She chuckled. “I guess I need a few things, if we’re going to stay long.”
    “There’s a little store in town that carries clothes. Maybe one of my cousins will take you there this week.”
    She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Afraid of a little girl shopping?”
    He shook his head, but she could see he was.
    Just then Haley walked around the house and called over to them. “There you guys are, come on. We’re getting started.” She turned and walked to the back of the house as a couple of dogs followed her.
    “How many dogs do they have?” she asked when she saw a few more running around.
    He