To Tempt a Cowgirl. Jeannie Watt

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      “This horse means a lot to you,” Gabe commented.

      “She was my 4-H project. I raised her, trained her with my dad’s help, won a lot of money on her, then sold her to help pay for college. All part of the plan I’d made with my dad before he died. The ass-hat that bought her abused her with big bits and spurs.”

      “That stinks.”

      “It hurt. Lacy trusted me. She was a fantastic roping horse. Before...” Dani spoke without looking at Gabe, then slowed the truck to a stop and got out. Gabe followed and as soon as the truck door banged shut, they stood together in the darkness, looking, listening.

      “There she is.”

      Dani turned in the direction Gabe was pointing and saw the pale outline of the mare standing in the shadows behind the large stone, cedar and glass house. “Stay here,” she said. “Block the gate if she tries to leave.”

      “Sure thing,” Gabe said.

      “Easy, baby,” Danica said, slowly approaching the shaking horse. Lacy snorted and stomped a foot. Dani stopped instantly and took a step back. The horse rolled her eyes, but stayed put.

      “Easy,” she cooed as she slowly approached the horse, stopping and taking a half step back whenever the mare looked as if she was going to bolt. Finally she reached out and rubbed the mare’s lower neck, then slipped the rope around it. As soon as the rope touched her, the mare stilled.

      Dani bit her lip and eased the halter over the mare’s nose. Lacy’s head jerked up but Dani held tight to the rope, tried again once her nose came down and this time managed to fasten the halter. Her shoulders sagged with relief and she sent Gabe a weary look that she doubted he saw through the darkness.

      “Well done,” he said.

      “Yeah.” She continued to stroke the mare’s neck, crooning at her under her breath. “You don’t have a lot of light around here,” she commented, wanting to check the mare for injuries.

      “Apparently the yard lights are all dead. I’ll have to see about getting the bulbs replaced. I’ve only been here a couple of nights and haven’t had time to call a service guy about it.”

      “Service guy?”

      “I don’t seem to have a ladder that tall,” he said.

      “I’ll lend you one,” she said, patting the mare soothingly. “And we’ll see about getting your car back on the road.”

      “I’ll get a tow truck.” He seemed to mean it.

      “Suit yourself,” she said.

      “Nothing personal. It’s just that my insurance will cover a tow. It probably won’t cover you ripping my rear axle off with a tractor.”

      Dani didn’t know whether to laugh or be insulted. Regardless, she was responsible for whatever happed with his vehicle and told him so.

      “Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now we need to focus on getting the horse home. Do you want me to help you get your trailer?”

      She shook her head. “I’ll just lead her home.”

      “Home is a good mile away.”

      She shrugged.

      “It’s dark.”

      “I have a flashlight.”

      “How about I come with you?”

      Again she shook her head. “I’ve put you through enough tonight. I’ll be back in the morning for the truck if you don’t mind if I leave it here.”

      “Why would I mind?” he asked innocently.

      * * *

      DANI ARRIVED AT Gabe Matthews’s driveway early the next morning just as a tow truck pulled out, a sports car attached to the towline. How much was this going to cost her? It’d looked as if the car had simply ended up in the grassy ditch last night when she’d walked by leading Lacy, but knowing her luck, the frame was now bent, or some chunk of special German-made chrome needed to be replaced.

      Well, such was life.

      But why was life always this way when money was tight? When she was trying to live on a shoestring budget as she started her dream business...the one that Marti Kendall had pretty much told her was doomed.

       Yeah, we’ll see about that, Marti.

      Jingling the keys in her sweatshirt pocket, she continued down the driveway. Worrying didn’t do a lick of good. All she could do was focus on the positives, and there were positives. She had a place to start her business; a place where she could live rent-free.

      After she and Jolie had talked Allie and Mel out of instantly selling the ranch following Allie’s divorce, the sisters had agreed that as long as one of them wanted to live on the place, they would keep it. If Dani and Jolie didn’t want to live on the place, they would revisit the idea of a sale. Dani didn’t see that happening. Her father had once told her that he didn’t regret not having a lot of money because he had something better—a life that made him glad to get up in the morning. That was what Dani wanted. In a way she was lucky that her company had folded when it did. It gave her the kick in the butt she needed to start living a life that made her glad to get up in the morning.

      She walked over the cattle guard at the Staley gate and paused for a moment, studying the house. It’d literally been years since she’d been close to the house, but it looked better than ever. Even though no had lived in it for the past year or so, the windows sparkled in the early-morning sun, the cedar appeared freshly oiled and the lawn was green and manicured. The Staleys had paid a pretty penny to keep the place they’d grown tired of maintained as they’d waited—and waited—for a buyer. Apparently they still hadn’t found one if Gabe’s company was only leasing.

      She’d decided against checking in with Gabe before leaving in the truck. It was early—barely after sunrise—and she imagined a guy on vacation would want to sleep in. She’d just started for her beat-up vehicle when a voice behind her made her jump.

      She turned to see Gabe standing on the porch, wearing jeans and a gray-and-black plaid shirt, half-buttoned, with the tails hanging out. His dark hair was still rumpled from sleep, his feet were bare and he wore glasses. Dark horn-rimmed glasses that made him look like a sexy scientist. “You’re here early,” he said, running a hand over the back of his head.

      “My sister is coming later this morning.”

      “She could have given you a ride.” He walked down the damp stone steps. Dani pulled her eyes away from his bare feet and fixed them back onto his face.

      “I like walking.”

      “I noticed. How’s the mare?”

      “I put her in a stall in the barn. As far as I know, she’s still there.” She took a few steps closer, turning the keys over in her hands. “I saw your car...leave.”

      “It’s a company car, so I figured it’d be best to have it СКАЧАТЬ