Read Online The Trouble With Cowboys by Denise Hunter - Free Book Online
Authors: Denise Hunter
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few phone calls and postcards, just enough to keep hope alive. Just enough to hurt.
After the divorce, Annie’s mom had brought one cowboy after another into their lives, had married three of them, only to have them leave in a matter of months. By the time her mom had passed, and Annie and Sierra had gone to live with their grandpa, she knew for a fact her mom had been right: cowboys left.
Now Annie turned to her other side away from the annoying hands of the clock. Only when she heard Sierra come in for the night did she allow herself to drift off.
And the next day when Sierra told her Sutter had gone back to whatever rock he’d crawled from, Annie breathed a sigh of relief. At least he’d left before he did any real damage.
Dear Undecided,
A relationship rooted in friendship can grow to be the hardiest of them all.
10
A nnie’s day had been long and stressful. She’d started at the O’Neils’ with a jiggy palomino that refused to walk. After that she’d checked on Mayor Wadell’s four-month-old filly. Wadell didn’t seem to understand that the filly’s kicking problem would require more than one visit.
She’d finished up her afternoon at Travis and Shay’s. He’d acquired a three-year-old abused quarter horse. They’d gotten nowhere with the gelding after four months of work. This was the kind of case that strained Annie the most. Not the fact that such horses were unpredictable or aggressive, but that their gentle souls had been wounded so heinously, so needlessly. Nothing raised her dander like a horse owner who took out his anger on innocent animals or neglected to learn proper handling.
She was just finishing up with the horse when Midge called. The editor got right down to business.
“Annie, we’ve received some feedback on your column already. I’m afraid it’s not as good as we’d hoped.”
Annie leaned against the stall door. “What do you mean?”
“Some of our readers thought you were off base with Betrayed in Billings. They thought the reader shouldn’t write him off so easily.”
“You know people are more likely to be vocal when they disagree. There were probably a hundred who agreed for each one who wrote.”
“You may be right.”
“I’m sure I am, but I’ll keep it in mind. You can depend on me, Midge. I won’t let you down.”
After they hung up, Annie finished up with the quarter horse and headed toward her truck. Shay approached, sporting a low ponytail. Baby Austin was perched on her hip, gnawing on his slobbery fingers.
“What’s wrong?” Shay asked.
Annie thought about brushing off the question but filled her in on Midge’s call instead.
“Did you read the column?” Annie asked.
“I did. I thought your answer was fine. It was one of those situations—could’ve gone either way.”
“Well, I’d better figure it out. With Sierra out of work, I need this job.”
“Hang in there. I’m sure it was just a few complainers. The vast majority probably agree with you; they just don’t take the time to write.”
“Hope so.” Annie gave Austin a kiss on his chubby cheek. “Gotta run. Tell Travis I said hello.”
She waved bye as she pulled down the drive. Just when she was ready for her day to be over, she had to go to Dylan’s house. She had to press him harder this time, make sure they were arriving at the right answer.
She found Braveheart much the same as he’d been the week before. He bolted from his stall and stumbled, but he let her approach so long as she kept to his sighted side. She walked the boundaries with him, talking constantly.
After working with him awhile, she led one of Dylan’s gentle mares into the pasture with the gelding and retreated to the fence to watch.
The sun was going down over the Gallatin Range, casting the mountains in muted shades of purple. A wind cut across the valley, sending a shiver across her flesh, and she crossed her arms against the chill. She took a deep whiff of pine, hay, and the earthy
After the divorce, Annie’s mom had brought one cowboy after another into their lives, had married three of them, only to have them leave in a matter of months. By the time her mom had passed, and Annie and Sierra had gone to live with their grandpa, she knew for a fact her mom had been right: cowboys left.
Now Annie turned to her other side away from the annoying hands of the clock. Only when she heard Sierra come in for the night did she allow herself to drift off.
And the next day when Sierra told her Sutter had gone back to whatever rock he’d crawled from, Annie breathed a sigh of relief. At least he’d left before he did any real damage.
Dear Undecided,
A relationship rooted in friendship can grow to be the hardiest of them all.
10
A nnie’s day had been long and stressful. She’d started at the O’Neils’ with a jiggy palomino that refused to walk. After that she’d checked on Mayor Wadell’s four-month-old filly. Wadell didn’t seem to understand that the filly’s kicking problem would require more than one visit.
She’d finished up her afternoon at Travis and Shay’s. He’d acquired a three-year-old abused quarter horse. They’d gotten nowhere with the gelding after four months of work. This was the kind of case that strained Annie the most. Not the fact that such horses were unpredictable or aggressive, but that their gentle souls had been wounded so heinously, so needlessly. Nothing raised her dander like a horse owner who took out his anger on innocent animals or neglected to learn proper handling.
She was just finishing up with the horse when Midge called. The editor got right down to business.
“Annie, we’ve received some feedback on your column already. I’m afraid it’s not as good as we’d hoped.”
Annie leaned against the stall door. “What do you mean?”
“Some of our readers thought you were off base with Betrayed in Billings. They thought the reader shouldn’t write him off so easily.”
“You know people are more likely to be vocal when they disagree. There were probably a hundred who agreed for each one who wrote.”
“You may be right.”
“I’m sure I am, but I’ll keep it in mind. You can depend on me, Midge. I won’t let you down.”
After they hung up, Annie finished up with the quarter horse and headed toward her truck. Shay approached, sporting a low ponytail. Baby Austin was perched on her hip, gnawing on his slobbery fingers.
“What’s wrong?” Shay asked.
Annie thought about brushing off the question but filled her in on Midge’s call instead.
“Did you read the column?” Annie asked.
“I did. I thought your answer was fine. It was one of those situations—could’ve gone either way.”
“Well, I’d better figure it out. With Sierra out of work, I need this job.”
“Hang in there. I’m sure it was just a few complainers. The vast majority probably agree with you; they just don’t take the time to write.”
“Hope so.” Annie gave Austin a kiss on his chubby cheek. “Gotta run. Tell Travis I said hello.”
She waved bye as she pulled down the drive. Just when she was ready for her day to be over, she had to go to Dylan’s house. She had to press him harder this time, make sure they were arriving at the right answer.
She found Braveheart much the same as he’d been the week before. He bolted from his stall and stumbled, but he let her approach so long as she kept to his sighted side. She walked the boundaries with him, talking constantly.
After working with him awhile, she led one of Dylan’s gentle mares into the pasture with the gelding and retreated to the fence to watch.
The sun was going down over the Gallatin Range, casting the mountains in muted shades of purple. A wind cut across the valley, sending a shiver across her flesh, and she crossed her arms against the chill. She took a deep whiff of pine, hay, and the earthy
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