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

lip, but no stitches that she could see. His other injuries, whatever they might be—bruised and broken ribs and sprains, according to Ray—were hidden by the sheet covering him.
    Allie took a few steps into the room, hating the smell, hating the circumstances that had her there. Hating that she’d come. And what did she say now that he’d focused on her? “How’re you feeling?” wasn’t appropriate.
    â€œI’m glad you’re okay. I mean, other than...” She gestured weakly.
    â€œYeah.” He spoke softly, his words slightly slurred.
    Allie moved forward, but still kept her distance from the bed. She wished him no harm, but he had been so adversarial toward her and her sisters after he’d failed to get part of the Lightning Creek, that she was also having a hard time feeling anything other than regret that he’d been hurt. Seeing him like this did not stir any feelings of warmth or desire for a reunion. Was that why he’d wanted to see her? To rekindle something?
    If so, injured or not, he was in for a rude awakening. Allie wasn’t about to complicate her life now that she was on the road to straightening it out.
    â€œI just wanted to stop by, let you know I was thinking about you.”
    â€œAppreciate that.”
    And then there wasn’t a whole lot to say. “Well, I don’t want to wear you out. I wish you a speedy recovery.”
    â€œAllie?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œI’m going to have trouble covering my part of the medical bills because I’m between jobs.”
    Allie’s heart dropped. He’d wanted to see her to shake her down?
    â€œI’m sorry to hear that, Kyle.” She made a backward step toward the door. “I’m sure you know that I don’t have any money with all of my student loans. Maybe your dad could help you out.”
    â€œYeah. Uh, he’s not in a position to do that.”
    And she was? Honest to Pete.
    â€œSorry. I’m sure the hospital will take payments.”
    â€œI’ll need therapy afterward.”
    Allie’s patience was about to snap. “What do you want, Kyle?”
    â€œIt’s what I don’t want. I don’t want to file medical bankruptcy.” His gaze held hers and she searched, trying to find a hint of the guy she’d fallen in love with. Had time changed him so much? Or had she fallen in love with an illusion?
    â€œAnd...”
    â€œWould you co-sign a loan for me?”
    â€œI’m up to my neck in student loans!”
    â€œIf you used that eighty-acre parcel on the far side of the creek as collateral... Not that you’d need collateral. I have some savings to use to make payments until I land a job.”
    â€œOooh, no...” Allie shook her head. “Uh-uh. I’m not attaching the ranch to a loan.” She’d taken great pains not to do that while funding her education.
    â€œOnly part of—”
    â€œNo.” At any minute she expected Kyle’s heart-rate monitor to top out. If she’d been attached to a monitor, it would already be there. “I’m sorry about your predicament.” But it was not her predicament, no matter how guilty she felt saying no. “The ranch belongs to all of us. I couldn’t make a decision like that alone if I wanted to.”
    â€œWill you talk to your sisters?”
    â€œI have to go, Kyle.”
    Allie turned and left the room, walking to her car in a haze of anger. She hated not helping people, but Kyle was asking too much.
    Yet, she still felt jabbing guilt beneath her anger. Why? What was wrong with her? She’d spent five years of her life supporting this guy, believing in him, and she’d been let down every single time. Wasn’t that enough?
    * * *
    A FTER A LLIE HAD driven away, Jason finished dismantling the roof and then took a break before starting on the main structure, which was going to take some time. A couple weeks, maybe,