A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe Read Online Free PDF

purebred. Show quality. On her own, she’d be worth a pretty penny. If those puppies are purebred, too, the whole litter could easily be worth twenty thousand dollars or more. So if that is the case, someone will definitely be looking for her.” He stood and shrugged on his yellow rain slicker. “The real question is, how is Ally Garrett takingthis? She still as standoffish as I recall her being when we were all in school?”
    â€œProbably more so.” Hank slipped on a long black duster.
    â€œA shame,” Kurt remarked. Together, they headed out to his covered pickup truck to get the rest of the gear. “She was one good-looking woman.” He reached inside the passenger compartment and brought out a whelping kit with printed instructions, and a warming box, handing both to Kurt. Then he picked up a bag of prenatal dog food and two stainless steel bowls. “And since you’re in the market for a good-looking woman…” he teased, as they carried their loads back up to the porch and set them inside the front door.
    Hank held up a silencing palm. “Just because you are happily married now, cuz—” He turned his back to the cold, driving rain blowing across the wraparound porch.
    Kurt grinned even as water collected on the brim of his hat. “Paige and the triplets changed my life.”
    â€œYeah, well,” Hank muttered, “save the Hallmark card for later, will you?”
    â€œCan’t help it, buddy.” Abruptly, Kurt sobered. “I remember how happy you were with Jo-anne, before—”
    Again Hank lifted a palm. “That was a long time ago.” He had spent ten long years, working to counter the loss. “I’m over it,” he stated flatly.
    â€œGlad to hear it.” Kurt slapped him on the shoulder. “So maybe you’ll start dating again.”
    The thought of opening his heart to the possibility of pain like that had him clenching his jaw. “I’ve dated.”
    His cousin lifted a skeptical brow.
    I just haven’t found a woman who could take Joanne’s place. Hank cleared his throat and focused on the situation at hand. “Right now I have to figure outhow to hang on to this ranch before Ally Garrett sells it out from under me.”
    Kurt blinked in amazement. “She’s really going to let the Mesquite Ridge go, given how her folks felt about the ranch?”
    Hank shook his head in silent censure. “The sooner, the better, in her view.” As they headed back to Kurt’s truck, Hank told him about the interest thus far from Corporate Farms and the local realty.
    â€œBetter get your bid in soon, then,” Kurt advised.
    He nodded, accepting the advice. If only it was that simple.
    His cousin headed for the driver’s seat. “Meantime, I suggest you read through the handouts in the folder I brought you. You and Ally are going to want to be prepared when Duchess tells you it’s time….”
    Â 
    T HE RAIN WAS STILL FALLING when Ally drove up to the ranch house early that evening. Telling herself she was relieved to see that Hank’s pickup was no longer parked next to the barn, she grabbed her briefcase full of information from the Realtor, her handbag and two small bags of groceries. Lamenting her lack of an umbrella, she headed swiftly for the back door.
    The mudroom was as dark and gloomy as the rest of the house as Ally made her way inside. She promptly tripped over something warm and solid, and what felt like a pile of blankets.
    A high-pitched yelp matched her own.
    Belongings went flying as Ally threw out her arms and attempted to catch herself.
    Another high-pitched yelp followed, plus the scrambling of feet on linoleum then a second crash as something hit the opposite wall.
    Ally flipped on the light.
    Found herself face-to-face with Duchess.
    Only this time, instead of looking ferocious, the golden retriever looked hurt and stunned. And to Ally’s