Read Online The Reluctant Cowgirl by Christine Lynxwiler - Free Book Online Page B

Considering that Brad still called at least once a day, in spite of the fact that she ignored every call, he might not have gotten the message yet. But they were definitely over. “That doesn’t mean I’m looking for a cowboy to fill the gap. I’m going back to New—”
    “Whoa, whoa.” He put his hand out as if soothing a skittish colt. “I’m not matchmaking. If you’re not interested in a relationship, how do you think Jeremy feels? His ex-wife prances back into town and steals the daughter she left without a thought three years before. It’s been a long time with no word. Other than anger, that man’s heart has to be numb with grief.”
    She blushed. “I’m sorry. Of course it is. And I’m with you on his needing to stay busy. But a week?”
    He picked up the notebook and stood. “It’s for a good cause, I promise. Besides, who knows? You might actually need his help at some point. So don’t burn any bridges.”
    She sighed. “Give me some credit. I know I don’t know everything. It’s just that...” She studied his face and opted for total honesty. “Getting used to the ranch again will be hard enough without a constant companion.”
    “Got it,” he said and made an imaginary mark on his notebook. “Cancel the golden retriever I hired for you.”
    She laughed. “Very funny.”
    “It’s good to hear you laugh.”
    She sobered. “I laugh.”
    “Not often enough.”
    “I wish you and Bree didn’t have to leave tomorrow. It would be so nice to spend more time with you.”
    “Chicago’s not nearly as far away as New York is. We’ll come home often.”
    She cringed inside at his implied excuse for her long absences.
    They both knew distance had nothing to do with it. “But I may be gone by the time you get back.”
    He shook his head. “We’ll have a welcome home party for Mama and Daddy. And you’ll still be here then.”
    “Am I late?”
    Crystal spun around just as Jeremy stepped into the tiny office.
    Aaron grinned broadly. “No, not at all.”
    The two men shook hands.
    Jeremy tipped his hat to Crystal. “You getting settled in?”
    She nodded absently.
    Aaron handed Crystal a notebook. “I thought I’d show you both the routine at once. If that’s okay...”
    What was she supposed to say? Jeremy was staring at her as if expecting her to protest. But Aaron had gone to all the trouble of setting it up. And she had no real reason to resist. Probably her own insecurities made her more prickly about accepting help than she normally would be. She took a deep breath and nodded. “That sounds great.”
    Jeremy’s eyebrows shot up beneath the brim of his hat.
    She smiled. So the cowboy had been sure she was going to throw a prima donna fit. She could already tell he was going to have to work on not stereotyping her.
    Two hours later, bouncing along a dirt path between Jeremy and Aaron in the old farm truck, she stared at the pages of scrawled notes. “There’s more to this than I remembered.”
    Aaron clutched the steering wheel as the truck hit old ruts and tried to swerve to the side. “You can do it.”
    On the other side of her, Jeremy frowned. “If you don’t think you can handle it...”
    For a second, the temptation to give up before she started was overwhelming. He was obviously offering to let her off the hook and take the job himself. How easy it would be just to say, “You know what? I don’t think I can.” She could be on her way back to New York by this afternoon.
    No more worries about staying in the big house with only memories for companionship after her parents and Aaron and Bree left tomorrow. No more concern that she might not be able to make herself go back to the city when this was over. No more trying to convince a cowboy that she could run a ranch.
    “I can handle it,” she said softly then tossed him a saucy grin for good measure. “After all, I’ve got you for the first week at least to keep me in line.”

CHAPTER 7
    Aaron slowed at a red metal