Read Online To Court a Cowgirl by Jeannie Watt - Free Book Online

older calves lying side by side in the grass near their grazing mothers “—born like this?”
    â€œNo. They came out the usual way. This mom’s a heifer—first birth. They have trouble sometimes.”
    Well, the cow seemed to be getting into motherhood now, licking her calf all over as the little guy started squirming. “What would have happened if I wasn’t here?” he asked.
    â€œI would have gotten the jack.”
    â€œI don’t want to know.”
    She laughed again as she peeled off the gloves and dropped them into the bucket on top of the chains, but when she raised her gaze back up to his, her expression grew serious. “Thank you for the help.”
    â€œNot a problem.”
    â€œAfter our discussion yesterday, I kind of thought—”
    â€œLet’s straighten a few things out, Allie.”
    â€œWhat things?” She looked both wary and curious.
    â€œI don’t hold grudges. It’s a waste of energy.” He held her gaze to make his point, noting that Allie’s lips were pressed together, as if she were afraid of something slipping out. “I’m not the enemy, Allie. Never have been. Never will be.”
    â€œI never thought of you as an enemy.”
    â€œOr treated me like a friend.”
    She gave a slow nod, pressing her lips even more tightly together as she glanced down at the gravel between them. When she looked back up at him he was struck by the shift in her expression, as if she’d just made a momentous decision. She drew in a breath and said, “Would you like to come to the house for a cup of coffee?”
    A half smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “Thank you, Allie. I’d like that.”
    * * *
    J ASON FOLLOWED A LLIE into the house and sat down at the table after washing up. She poured him a cup of coffee from the stainless steel carafe she’d filled before going out to check on the cows that morning, her mind racing as she tried to get a handle on this situation. The one she’d taken pains not to think too much about, despite their previous conversation on the matter. As in how much her less-than-friendly attitude had to do with her preconceived notions about Jason, and how much it had to do with the fact that she found him ridiculously attractive.
    Definitely a mash-up of the two, but she was still trying to put her life back on track and it wasn’t fair that he should suddenly appear and introduce unwelcome thoughts and sensations.
    It also wasn’t fair for her to take her frustrations out on him...even if he did cause them.
    Jason took the cup she handed him and then waited until she’d sat down before taking a slow sip. Allie did the same, acutely aware that she was horrible at making small talk because she had no patience for small talk. But something needed to be said. The elephant in the room was growing larger.
    â€œKind of reminds me of our chess matches,” he finally said.
    Allie choked a little and set her cup down. “You intimidated me.”
    â€œRight back at you.”
    â€œBull.”
    He shrugged his big shoulders and settled back in his chair. “I’m not going to lie to you, Allie. Birthing that calf was gross.”
    â€œBirth is not gross.” And wasn’t she thankful for the sudden shift in topic?
    â€œDid you somehow miss that blue tongue? Or all the gunk that came out?” He spoke seriously, frowning a little for emphasis, but warmth lit his eyes and Allie found herself wanting to smile.
    Do not be charmed. Stop now. “All I saw was an addition to my herd instead of a loss.”
    â€œDo you have many losses?”
    â€œWe used to have more until we started calving later in the season.”
    â€œIt seems to me that you’d want to have them later. When it’s warm.”
    Allie smiled a little. “Not if you’re selling them. You want them to have as much growing time as possible before they go to market,