Read Online The Cowboy And The Debutante by Stella Bagwell - Free Book Online Page A

One hand held a galvanized pail, while the other gripped a thick lead rope attached to a skittish yearling, who followed closely on her shoulder.
    Miguel walked quickly down the alleyway to intercept her. Once he was within a few steps, she stopped and lifted her head to look at him. For a moment all Miguel could do was stare back, stunned at her appearance. Gone were the expensive clothes, hat and boots. They had been replaced by worn jeans and shirt, work boots and a baseball cap. Yet the clothes were only a part of the drastic change. The woman was bone-weary exhausted. He could see it in the dark smudges beneath her eyes and the deep lines bracketing her mouth. The bruise on her temple looked even more purple against her white face.
    â€œAnna, what are you doing?”
    She gave him a look that said his question had to be the most ignorant she’d ever heard. “I’m taking care of the horses. What does it look like?”
    He made a point of glancing at his wristwatch. “At this time of night? Your mother never works this late. Not even on a race day.”
    Anna wanted to snap at him, to remind him that she wasn’t her mother. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing she was riled or rattled. She knew how to be cool and by damn she would be.
    Squaring her shoulders as best she could, she said, “Maybe it slipped your mind that all the hands are out on roundup. It takes time for one person to feed and water thirty head of horses.”
    Miguel felt like kicking himself. He’d been so busy he’d not thought to send a couple of the men back to help her. Anna must surely be thinking he’d purposely kept every ranch hand for his own needs.
    â€œI guess I owe you an apology.”
    Anna didn’t want his apologies, she wanted his respect. But it looked as though she was going to have to earn that the hard way. “Forget it. I’d rather care for the horses myself than trust a cowboy to do it right.”
    She led the horse on past him, and Miguel automatically followed. Every masculine cell inside him wanted to take the pail of water from her hand and carry it for her. But from her remark he could only believe she would resent his help.
    Angry at himself, and at her, but not really sure why, he blurted out, “You shouldn’t be out here working this late.” Hell, she shouldn’t have been here at all, Miguel thought. Not with that goose egg on her forehead.
    â€œI’m fine.”
    Deciding it would be best to let it go at those two words, Miguel watched her lead the young horse into a stall and unsnap the lead rope from the colt’s halter. “Have you heard from your parents yet? How is your brother?”
    The concern in his voice caused Anna to glance at him. “My brother is going to be fine. They’ve placed his foot in a cast and he’ll be released from the hospital tomorrow.”
    Anna couldn’t help but notice Miguel was visibly relieved. The fact that he was concerned for her brother touched her. Adam was so much a part of her. Even when they were apart, which had been often these past few years, she always felt his presence with her.
    â€œSo when are Chloe and Wyatt coming home? Tomorrow?”
    Anna filled the yearling’s water bucket, then stepped out of the stall. “No. They won’t be heading back for a while.”
    He pushed the brim of his dirty felt hat back off his forehead. “What’s happened? Adam needs them down there?”
    She let out a laugh that had nothing to do with humor. “Independent Adam? Not hardly. He’s determined to finish the job down there on crutches, so my parents have suddenly decided now would be a good time for them to travel on down to the coast and spend the next few weeks on a second honeymoon.”
    Miguel looked incredulous. “You’re not serious, are you?”
    Anna wearily pushed a tangle of red curls off her forehead and leaned her