Read Online The Millionaire Cowboy's Secret by Karen Whiddon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Karen Whiddon
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swinging her flashlight in the direction of the noise.
Saint, backed into a corner. And flanking him in a semicircle were several coyotes.
Chapter 5
M att swore under his breath. Next to him, José swore in Spanish. “How can we help him?”
About to suggest they rush forward, shouting and waving their arms to scare the coyotes away, Matt swallowed his words as Skylar stepped forward, brandishing her Glock.
“I can take care of this,” she said, her voice calm and measured as she sighted. Briefly he wondered if she knew how much she sounded like a cop.
“Madre de Dios.” Staring at her, José crossed himself. “How good a shot is she?”
“It’s okay,” Matt heard himself say. “She’s a crack shot. Skylar, just don’t shoot if there’s even a remote possibility of you hitting my horse.”
“Of course not,” she promised, glancing at him, disdain flashing in her green eyes. Crouching, already getting into her stance, again she inadvertently revealed that she’d had years of training and experience. Of course, the fact that he knew what she was might have made him watch her more critically.
She squeezed off a shot. Obviously, this was meant as a warning, since the bullet went harmlessly into the ground.
The coyotes got the message. Moving in unison, they turned and fled, appearing to bleed into the predawn grayness.
Now Saint reared up, screaming in challenge and fear.
“Your turn,” Skylar said, holstering her pistol. “Good luck with that.”
Giving her a nod of thanks, Matt moved forward, speaking softly to the terrified horse.
At his approach, Saint quieted, or at least stopped squealing. He still snorted, tossing his head, his large nostrils flaring, but he didn’t rear again.
Crooning softly as he approached his frightened horse, Matt reached out, moving in slow motion, and slipped the halter over the stallion’s head.
This accomplished—which felt like nothing short of a miracle, considering the level of Saint’s agitation—Matt led the huge animal over toward them.
“Let’s head back in,” Matt said, finally letting his exhaustion show.
Skylar fell into step with José, both of them giving Matt and Saint a bit of space. In silence they walked through the pasture, opening the gate and repeating the process in the next pasture.
Ahead he could see the barn still burning, though this time the flash of fire-truck lights also illuminated the gray sky. Once again, what had been a lingering odor of smoke became a thick cloud.
Saint began to balk. Only by speaking softly but with authority was Matt able to urge him on.
Finally, they reached the final pasture, which was lit by tall lights that flanked the gate.
“Now what?” José asked. “You can’t put him in the corral with the mares.”
“What about the old barn?” Matt pointed to the smaller, stone-and-wood structure on the other side of the drive. Though they hadn’t used it in a long time, the old barn was still structurally safe. There was even a reinforced stall that would be perfect for Saint.
“Good idea.” José turned sharply, nearly bumping into Skylar, who managed to sidestep neatly out of his way.
“Nice reflexes,” José commented, giving her a look Matt doubted she’d have any difficulty interpreting. José had made it clear he didn’t like her, but she’d earned his grudging respect. Still, José wanted her gone.
About to tell his friend to back down, Matt caught a glimpse of Skylar’s face and held his tongue instead.
She didn’t care. Her stubborn expression plainly said she’d leave when she felt like it.
José continued to glower at her. Instead of being cowed by his menacing glare, she shot one right back at him. To Matt’s surprise, one corner of José’s mouth finally curled up as if he were about to smile.
Truce? Whatever it was, he’d take it.
“I’ll finish up here,” Matt said. “After I get Saint up, I’ve got to get Doc Bertram to take a look at his wounds. After
Saint, backed into a corner. And flanking him in a semicircle were several coyotes.
Chapter 5
M att swore under his breath. Next to him, José swore in Spanish. “How can we help him?”
About to suggest they rush forward, shouting and waving their arms to scare the coyotes away, Matt swallowed his words as Skylar stepped forward, brandishing her Glock.
“I can take care of this,” she said, her voice calm and measured as she sighted. Briefly he wondered if she knew how much she sounded like a cop.
“Madre de Dios.” Staring at her, José crossed himself. “How good a shot is she?”
“It’s okay,” Matt heard himself say. “She’s a crack shot. Skylar, just don’t shoot if there’s even a remote possibility of you hitting my horse.”
“Of course not,” she promised, glancing at him, disdain flashing in her green eyes. Crouching, already getting into her stance, again she inadvertently revealed that she’d had years of training and experience. Of course, the fact that he knew what she was might have made him watch her more critically.
She squeezed off a shot. Obviously, this was meant as a warning, since the bullet went harmlessly into the ground.
The coyotes got the message. Moving in unison, they turned and fled, appearing to bleed into the predawn grayness.
Now Saint reared up, screaming in challenge and fear.
“Your turn,” Skylar said, holstering her pistol. “Good luck with that.”
Giving her a nod of thanks, Matt moved forward, speaking softly to the terrified horse.
At his approach, Saint quieted, or at least stopped squealing. He still snorted, tossing his head, his large nostrils flaring, but he didn’t rear again.
Crooning softly as he approached his frightened horse, Matt reached out, moving in slow motion, and slipped the halter over the stallion’s head.
This accomplished—which felt like nothing short of a miracle, considering the level of Saint’s agitation—Matt led the huge animal over toward them.
“Let’s head back in,” Matt said, finally letting his exhaustion show.
Skylar fell into step with José, both of them giving Matt and Saint a bit of space. In silence they walked through the pasture, opening the gate and repeating the process in the next pasture.
Ahead he could see the barn still burning, though this time the flash of fire-truck lights also illuminated the gray sky. Once again, what had been a lingering odor of smoke became a thick cloud.
Saint began to balk. Only by speaking softly but with authority was Matt able to urge him on.
Finally, they reached the final pasture, which was lit by tall lights that flanked the gate.
“Now what?” José asked. “You can’t put him in the corral with the mares.”
“What about the old barn?” Matt pointed to the smaller, stone-and-wood structure on the other side of the drive. Though they hadn’t used it in a long time, the old barn was still structurally safe. There was even a reinforced stall that would be perfect for Saint.
“Good idea.” José turned sharply, nearly bumping into Skylar, who managed to sidestep neatly out of his way.
“Nice reflexes,” José commented, giving her a look Matt doubted she’d have any difficulty interpreting. José had made it clear he didn’t like her, but she’d earned his grudging respect. Still, José wanted her gone.
About to tell his friend to back down, Matt caught a glimpse of Skylar’s face and held his tongue instead.
She didn’t care. Her stubborn expression plainly said she’d leave when she felt like it.
José continued to glower at her. Instead of being cowed by his menacing glare, she shot one right back at him. To Matt’s surprise, one corner of José’s mouth finally curled up as if he were about to smile.
Truce? Whatever it was, he’d take it.
“I’ll finish up here,” Matt said. “After I get Saint up, I’ve got to get Doc Bertram to take a look at his wounds. After
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