Runaway Cowboy. Judy Christenberry

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СКАЧАТЬ and left her to it. She admitted that it was freeing, knowing that the books would be kept up-to-date. She had been overly busy with all the complaints from her brothers and all the extra jobs she was supposed to do.

      “Now what do I do?” she muttered. Slowly, she went out the back door, thinking she would see what was going on in the corral. But Hank was organizing twelve people on horseback to take a ride through the forest. He wasn’t going on the ride. One of his men was taking the riders alone.

      She didn’t think that would be a good idea. “Steve, do you mind if I ride with your group? It’s such a beautiful day.” With a smile, she waited for him to agree.

      Didn’t he realize he had to let her go? He hesitated for several moments. “Uh, I guess so, Jessie.”

      “I’ll saddle up right away.”

      She saddled her favorite ride and swung up, snatching one of the extra hats they had hung in the stable.

      “I’m ready, Steve,” she said as she rode into the corral. “Are all your riders set to go?”

      “Yeah. Okay, follow me!”

      Jessica already spotted several guests who would need help to complete the ride. They were the last ones out of the corral and they seemed a little nervous on their mounts.

      She was enjoying herself until she spotted Jim watching her as she rode along with the two women on the end. Though she stiffened, she thought she hid her irritation as she continued to talk the two riders through their paces.

      The ride was supposed to be two hours long. It was offered on the second day of the guests’ week, supposedly after they had participated in an hour-long ride the day before. When she questioned the two ladies about yesterday’s ride, she discovered they hadn’t participated. This was their first time on a horse.

      Another problem she’d need to fix. She’d talk to Steve about not pushing the guests too hard. By the time they got back to the corral, her two riders were dragging, complaining nonstop of aches and bruises.

      When they entered the corral, Jessica warned both women to delay their dismount until she got to each one of them. The first woman, Alice, managed to get off, but her legs couldn’t hold her for several minutes. Finally she toddled to the gate to wait there for her friend Miranda, holding on to the railing. Miranda simply threw herself into Jessica’s arms. Jessica staggered and almost fell until strong arms came around her.

      “Easy, Jess,” Jim whispered from behind her. “Lean on me.”

      “Miranda, put your feet on the ground,” Jessica ordered. She had no choice but to lean on Jim, and she didn’t like it.

      When Miranda finally put her feet on the ground, Jessica got her to take baby steps toward her friend’s side. Then Jessica turned and politely thanked Jim for his support.

      “My pleasure,” he assured her. “What happened?”

      “Hank had one of his men take the group ride this afternoon. He didn’t check to see if they’d taken the hour-long ride yesterday. These ladies were real beginners. They’re in a lot of pain. Excuse me.”

      She walked to the women and asked whether they were staying in the main house or a cabin.

      “Main house, second floor, room four,” Miranda said, whimpering. “I just don’t think I can get up those stairs.”

      “I know what you mean. But I have a secret potion that, when dumped in a hot bath, can make most of the pain go away. Soak in this stuff and you’ll be amazed at the results.”

      “Will you give it to us?”

      “Of course. It has one drawback, however. It smells.”

      “It does?”

      A deep voice from behind her said with a chuckle, “It does.”

      “Oh, are you going to help us, too?” Alice asked. “I’m afraid Jessica can’t handle both of us at once.”

      “I don’t think she can, either. My name is Jim. What’s yours?”

      The lady giggled and said, “Alice.”

      “Well, Alice, why don’t I help you to your room and then we’ll ask Jessica to go find this wonderful secret potion.”

      Jessica helped Miranda to follow in Jim and Alice’s wake, but she wasn’t happy. She could’ve gotten both guests up the stairs and into their room without his assistance.

      Her conscience told her she had needed him when Miranda collapsed in her arms. Without his strong arms shoring her up, she might’ve fallen on her rear.

      But she’d never admit it. Least of all to James Bradford.

      JIM CALLED A MEETING for Jessica, Pete, Hank and Cliff that night at ten o’clock. That was after he had insisted the men walk the guests back to their cabins in the dark with bright flashlights.

      When Jessica assumed she would also participate, he told her to put on a pot of coffee and they’d have their meeting in the kitchen.

      She resented being left out of normal duties, even though she was exhausted. As much as she did today, she didn’t know how she’d stayed up-to-date with her bookkeeping.

      With the pot of coffee ready and mugs set at each place, Jessica lay her head down on the table and fell asleep.

      When Jim came in and saw Sleeping Beauty, he hated waking her up, but he couldn’t play favorites. Before he could get to her, Hank came in.

      “Sure, she gets to sleep!” he complained loudly, stirring Jessica awake.

      “I intended to wake her, Hank, but you did that job for me.” Jim picked up the pot and began pouring everyone some coffee.

      “I’ll make this brief, but I want to be sure you understand that you’re expected to eat with the guests and keep a smile on your face. And, talk, too, Hank.”

      “I’m not good at talking.”

      “They’ll take over for you, if you just act nicely to them,” Jim said. “Right, Pete?”

      “I guess, but I have more important things to do.”

      “Tomorrow is the lariat roping lessons. Who do you have to teach that class, Pete?”

      “I need all my ropers!”

      “Then you teach the class,” Jim said calmly.

      “No! I’m not—I’ll send Mitch.”

      Jim made a note on his papers. “Hank, the man you put in charge of the afternoon ride didn’t make any inquiries about whether the guests had taken the hour-long ride on Monday. There were two ladies who hadn’t ridden before. If Jess hadn’t gone along, they never would’ve made it.”

      Hank shrugged. “I told him. He just forgot.”

      “You were there helping everyone mount and СКАЧАТЬ