Read Online The Rancher's One-Week Wife by Kathie DeNosky - Free Book Online

worry, Boomer is just as well behaved as Suede,” he called over his shoulder as he entered the tack room to get a rifle. They didn’t have a lot of trouble with predators, but it was always wise to take protection along on a ride just in case.
    “Just remember—”
    “I know,” he interrupted, returning to where she and the horses stood. “If something happens it’s all my fault and you’re going to haunt me for the rest of my days.” He couldn’t help but chuckle as he slid the rifle into the tooled leather scabbard attached to Boomer’s saddle, then took the reins from her to lead the horses out of the barn to the round pen. “I guess it’s fortunate for all concerned that I’m a damn good teacher.”
    “It’s nice that you’re humble about it, as well,” she said, grinning.
    Tying Boomer’s reins to the top rail of the round pen, Blake turned to face Karly. “No brag, sweetheart. It’s just a fact.” He nodded toward the mare. “Now let’s get you up in the saddle so you can start learning how to ride.”
    Her apprehension was apparent when she put her boot in the stirrup. But her expression changed to relief when she shook her head and lowered her foot to the ground. “This isn’t going to work.”
    “Why not?” he asked, wondering what excuse she was going to come up with this time.
    “I can’t possibly climb up into the saddle with my knee under my chin,” she said, shaking her head. “I guess you’ll have to ride up to the pasture alone.”
    “That’s an easy fix,” he said, moving to stand behind her. “While you pull yourself up by the saddle horn, I’ll give you a boost.”
    The offer had been an innocent one, but when he placed his hand on her delightful bottom to help lift her, he felt like the world came to a screeching halt. The feel of her body nestled in his palm sent his hormones racing through his veins like the steel bearings in a pinball machine.
    He quickly helped her up into the saddle, stepped back and took a deep breath. Had he lost what little sense he had left? He wasn’t looking for anything more to come from her visit to the ranch than finding out what had changed in the few days after they parted in Las Vegas. He was still recovering from his first heartbreak. No way did he want to start something new with Karly. So, considering the effect she still had on him, he’d do well to keep any kind of physical contact between them to a minimum.
    If he hadn’t known that before, he sure as hell did after that kiss and that touch.
    “Dear Lord, I’m a lot farther off the ground than I thought I’d be,” Karly said, her voice a little shaky.
    “A little taller than that pony at the grocery store opening?” Blake asked, thankful for the distraction from his wayward thoughts.
    “That would be like comparing a two-story house to the Seattle Space Needle,” she retorted.
    He chuckled and handed her the reins, then, taking hold of the mare’s bridle, he led the gentle animal through the round pen’s gate. “Just relax and move with her,” he instructed as he stroked the horse’s tawny neck. He showed Karly how to rest her boots in the stirrups with the heels down and the toes pointed slightly outward. “And when you feel comfortable enough, loosen the death grip you have on the saddle horn.”
    She shook her head doubtfully. “That’s easy for you to say. You have both feet firmly on the ground. You’re not the one sitting up here looking down at how far you’re going to fall.”
    Blake grinned as he started leading Suede around the perimeter of the round pen. “Do you honestly think I’d let you fall and not catch you?”
    Karly nibbled on her lower lip, causing him to bite back a groan. “I believe you would try. But what if you couldn’t react fast enough? Or I was too heavy for you to hold on to?”
    He frowned as he glanced up at her. “Did you see anything slow about my reflexes when you watched me ride bulls in Vegas?”
    “Well,