Read Online Tracie Peterson - [Land of the Lone Star 03] by Taming the Wind - Free Book Online Page B

going to try and comfort Daniel and rebuild the tower.” She smiled and approached her son. “It’s quite all right, sweetie. We can stack them all up again. Let Mama help you.”
    Carissa wasted no time. She lifted Gloria in her arms and hurried downstairs. She paused a moment at the hall mirror to check her reflection, then chided herself for being so silly.
    “It’s just Tyler.”
    “Tyer comin’ with the dog, Mama,” Gloria declared.
    She laughed and nodded. “Indeed he is.”
    She opened the door and put Gloria down in order to pull it closed behind her. To her horror, the child went running toward Tyler and the horse. The animal reared slightly in surprise, but Tyler turned the beast easily and reached down to pull Gloria into his arms very nearly in the same motion. For just a moment Carissa thought Tyler would fall from the saddle, but he quickly righted again and drew Gloria up with him.
    Carissa had been about to call to her daughter, but fell silent as the pup began barking. She walked down the porch steps and shook her head. “Gloria, you know better than to ever run like that at a horse. What have I told you?”
    “She was just excited.” Tyler slid from the animal with Gloria in his arms. “But your mama is right, and you have to be extra careful with the horses, Gloria. Promise you won’t run at the horse again.”
    “I pwomise, Tyer.” She looked so contrite that Carissa could only smile.
    “Good. Since that’s settled, look what I’ve brought you, Gloria. Your very own dog.”
    “My dog!” Gloria said with her customary clapping.
    Tyler laughed. “Yes. Yours and Daniel’s. You’ll have to share.” He whistled for the distracted animal. “Come.” The dog came quickly and sat at Tyler’s feet.
    Carissa studied the reddish-brown-and-white animal. He looked like one of the many cattle dogs she’d seen in the area. He looked up at her with the strangest pale blue eyes and began to wag his tail.
    “I think he likes you both,” Tyler said, putting Gloria down so that she could pet the pup. “He’s about nine months old and already well trained. Andy’s been workin’ with him for some time.”
    “So the dog is his?” Carissa frowned. “I wouldn’t want to take it away from him.”
    “Nah, he had a litter of five to train. Rusty here is the last of the bunch to find a home.”
    “Rusty, eh?” The dog perked and cocked his head at the sound of his name. “It suits him. He has a rusty-colored coat.”
    “Rusty,” Gloria said, trying out the name. She put her arms around the pup’s neck and hugged him close. The puppy received the affection in calm order, much to Carissa’s relief.
    “You’ll have to keep teaching him to mind,” Tyler told the little girl. “He knows how to sit and come. He knows his name, so when you call to him, he should always listen.”
    Unlike Gloria, who by now was giggling at the way in which Rusty bathed her face in licks. Tyler looked at Carissa. “What do you think?”
    “I think he will make a fine pet—perhaps a fine guardian in time.” Carissa watched as Gloria took off running, the dog on her heels and her laughter ringing out. “Thank you, Tyler.”
    “You are quite welcome. Rusty already knows about snakes. We made sure he would know to bark, but then leave them alone. That way you can teach Gloria that when Rusty barks and backs away, she needs to, as well. As they develop a friendship, I’m confident Rusty will protect her and Daniel quite faithfully.”
    “That’s a relief.” She put her hand to her eyes and looked to where Gloria was now rolling around on the ground with the puppy. “She’s so fearless.”
    “Like her mother,” he countered.
    Carissa met his gaze. “Hardly that. I live in fear of everything.”
    His brows rose. “I find that hard to believe.”
    “Well, just because I endure doesn’t mean I’m not terrified.”
    “Why don’t we sit a spell on the porch and you can tell me about it.” He moved to