Read Online Tackling Summer by Kayla Dawn Thomas - Free Book Online Page A

at her. “Don’t you know it. I’m not stuck in a rockin’ chair yet.” Then he noticed Maddox. “Well, who’s this strapping young man? He belong to you, Shellie?”
    Chanel choked on her own spit. Before she could recover, Maddox had his hand extended to Theo. “Maddox Warren. I’m working for Mitch this summer.”
    The men shook hands, and Theo said, “You look like you could throw a calf with one hand tied behind your back.”
    A confused look crossed Maddox’s face, and Chanel took advantage of his pause. “Maddox comes from the city, Theo. He’s in for a lot of surprises today.”
    A shout came from the corral. “Heads up! Bull fight!”
    Chanel looked over to see men on horseback dodging two giant animals heads pressed together, legs churning, oblivious to everything around them. They crashed into the side of the corral. The logs emitted a cracking sound but held firm. Jerry scrambled up and over the fence.
    “What the hell?” Maddox murmured.
    “Happens just about every time two or more bulls are crammed together in a small space surrounded by cows in heat,” Chanel said, her eyes never leaving the corral. Bull fights could be dangerous if a person wasn’t paying attention.
    “How do you make them stop?”
    Chanel looked over at him, his blond brows drawn together. “You don’t. They’ll get bored and quit soon.”
    A moment later with snot and spit flying, a silent victor was decided. The bulls separated and went their separate ways. Jerry hopped down from the fence and opened the metal gate to let out the one closest. The sorting went quickly after that, and as the last few cows trotted out of the corral, leaving only bawling calves, another pickup truck pulled into the clearing. The Wilkins family piled out. Chanel greeted Bea, Craig, and their twin teenage boys, Brad and Ryan, with hugs.  
    “Everyone, this is Maddox Warren. Dad brought him on as an extra set of hands this summer,” Chanel said gesturing toward the blond giant standing beside her.
    Brad and Ryan’s identical faces lit up as recognition hit.
    “You outmaneuvered the Cleo State defense for three touchdowns last fall,” Ryan said. Chanel noticed the young man trying to keep his voice steady.
    Brad held out a hand. “Great to meet ya. We play varsity at Clifford’s Bend High. I’m quarterback, and Ryan is a receiver. We’re hoping to get scholarships somewhere when we graduate next spring.”
    Ryan took his turn pumping Maddox’s hand. “Yeah, but it’s not easy when you’re at such a small school. No one notices.”
    “You just gotta be in the right place at the right time,” Maddox said, his smile broad and his chest expanding like Christine’s cocky rooster. His canned media answer made Chanel blink hard to avoid rolling her eyes.    
    A loud engine roared to life causing Maddox to jump and spin around looking for the source of the unexpected noise. Her father had fired up the generator to power the branding irons. It was time to get started.  
    The twins gave Maddox friendly slaps on the back and headed toward the corral to help set up the workstations. Metal stakes with rope and black tubing needed to be driven into the ground, so the calves could be stretched into position. Jessi was already filling syringes for the first round of shots. Another wave of excitement rippled through Chanel, and she turned to fetch Vivi. She couldn’t wait to get in there and start swinging her rope.
    Maddox caught her by the elbow. When Chanel turned, she saw his grin from earlier was gone and had been replaced with a wide-eyed stare. “What do I do?”
    “What you do best,” Chanel said, a grin taking over her lips. His insecurity had her feeling a little ornery. “Those calves are the defensive line, and it’s your job to take them down.”  
    Maddox ran a hand through his hair, looking agitated. Chanel pulled an extra hairband from her wrist. “And pull back that hair. No helmets out here to keep it out of the