Read Online Untamed by Terri Farley - Free Book Online Page A

crazy?” he shouted.
    â€œWhy do people keep asking that? Of course I’m—”
    â€œBecause you have a one-track mind when it comes to mustangs,” Jake said. “Nothing else matters. Think about this: A guy with a gun nearly shoots you and you don’t tell anyone?”
    â€œI just told someone,” Sam said, crossing her arms and cinching them tightly against each other.
    â€œBut you wouldn’t have, would you?”
    â€œOh yeah, right,” she snapped, then continued with more than her usual sarcasm. “I was planning to wear that shell casing on a chain around my neck.”
    â€œI wouldn’t be surprised,” Jake muttered. After a few seconds he added, “I don’t know Caleb Sawyer. My dad doesn’t think he’s dangerous, but don’t go getting any ideas about knocking on his door and asking him questions.”
    Arms still crossed, Sam shook her head. Jake really must think she was crazy. She wouldn’t do that.
    But if she did, it might help answer some questions.
    What would she do when she got to CalebSawyer’s ranch? Ask if his antelope poaching had somehow caused her mother’s death?
    â€œHey, if you went with me—” Sam broke off when Jake glared at her. “Never mind.”
    â€œSure, ‘never mind.’ All you’re going to tell me is some guy shot at you. That figures.”
    â€œI—You didn’t ask,” she said. “Why are you so mad?”
    Jake’s head shook in a curt refusal to talk. If she didn’t know, his gesture said, he couldn’t explain in a hundred years.
    Now, River Bend Ranch had come into sight. Sam could see the glow of the front porch light.
    Blaze started barking, announcing their arrival, while Sam tried to decide how to keep Jake outside while she went in. That would be important.
    Because she wasn’t stupid, she’d mention she’d bumped her head, but there was absolutely no reason to tell Dad, Gram, and Brynna about the sheriff. Or the shell casing.
    She hadn’t been hurt, after all. The gunman had been trying to shoot animals. For sure. After all, when she’d yelled at him, he’d skulked away.
    Jake had not been there. He didn’t know. And, though she was the one with the head injury, he was certifiably insane on the subject of her safety. He could not be allowed to get her family in an uproar.
    She’d be in enough trouble without his interference.
    Ace neighed a welcome when Jake’s truck stopped and Blaze bounded across the River Bend Ranch yard. Sam opened the truck door to escape Jake’s glare and her horse continued a conversational nickering.
    â€œHey, baby,” Sam said, smooching at Ace.
    She saw a flicker at the kitchen window as a curtain was drawn back, then dropped into place. It would’ve been perfect if everyone had already been in bed, but her bad luck day was still holding on.
    Out of the corners of her eyes, Sam watched. Sure enough, Jake climbed out of the truck as well.
    â€œYou don’t have to come in,” she said pleasantly.
    He shrugged and kept walking toward the porch.
    Fine , Sam thought. No more Ms. Nice Guy .
    â€œI can handle this, Jake.”
    A cricket chirped, a night bird warbled a question, and Jake still didn’t say anything, just stomped his big, stupid boots up the porch, then waited for her to catch up.
    With choppy steps, she followed, then stood on the porch, hands on hips, and glared at him.
    Jake only looked bored.
    â€œI hate you, Jake Ely,” she said.
    He had the nerve to smile. “After you, sweet talker,” he said, then opened the door and nodded her on through.
    When Blaze crowded ahead of her, Sam let him go.
    Â 
    Any other night, walking into a kitchen that smelled of cinnamon and sugar would feel great.
    Not tonight. Instead of finding Gram amid a clutter of rolling pin and waxed paper, she’d hoped Gram would be upstairs, asleep.
    She