Appaloosa Blues (Sisters of Spirit #8) Read Online Free PDF Page B

had forced Jo into seeking help at his ranch.
    Now that they were on speaking terms again, maybe he had a fighting chance against the animosity her grandfather had nurtured all these years. As an adult, she might be able to see what her grandfather was doing to her. To both their families.
    He would give it one last try. This summer...or never. He wasn't getting any younger and he wanted a wife to come home to, children to enjoy. If she didn't show any sign of breaking free from her grandfather's influence, then he would start looking elsewhere for a mate.
    Yet even as he thought the words, his mind, body, spirit rejected them. How could he consider anyone else but Jo? He had known her well, before the feud, when the two families were friendly, helping each others as neighbors do. He had admired her spunk as a child, her willingness to tackle a job beyond her abilities. And as an adult—well, he would lay his life at her feet any day.
    He had to find a way past her grandfather.
    With a final nod to her, Adam slipped sideways into the coils of wire, carefully cutting a path as he moved forward.  The strands sprang in all directions like startled birds when released from tension, even though he tried to hold onto the ends. They spooked Paca, who jerked back as one whizzed by her head, her front leg pulling against the constraining wire. Her eyes shone white as she rolled them back at this new terror.
    "Easy, girl. Whoa. Whoa now," Adam said, fighting down his own fear of the wire as he moved as rapidly as possible to the mare's side. He quickly clipped the strand that held her foreleg, then watched as she flexed it several times before setting her foot back on the ground.
    She's a marvel of a horse , he thought, blessing the Nez Percé for their selective breeding program, which had produced these calm, intelligent animals. "Steady. That's one leg free."
    Forcing himself to stand calmly, he stroked Paca's neck until her eyes returned to normal. Finally, she turned her head to nuzzle him, breathing in his scent, a low nicker showing that she recognized his help, if not him.
    "Good girl. You're a smart horse. You sure landed in a tangle. My horse, Rocket, would've come unglued in this mess, but not you." Carefully, he snipped away at the wire around her as he talked, his voice quiet and soothing, keeping his movements slow and controlled as he worked.
    With the release of her legs, Paca began to shift uncomfortably. Out of the corner of his eye, Adam saw Jo dart forward, then stop. He knew she wanted to help. He also knew she would plunge into the wire if Paca freaked out.
    He couldn't let that happen.
    "Steady." Adam quieted the mare again before attempting the last cut. "Easy...easy. Just 'cause you can move a little. Whoa." He clipped the last restraining wire and stepped on a waving strand to hold it down. "There you go."
    Paca put her nose to the wire, snorting loudly.
    "Go on." Adam patted Paca on her spotted rump and she glanced back at him. "It's all right now." He picked up the reins and looped them over the saddle horn.
    Paca looked towards Jo's outstretched hand, then picked her way warily, lifting her legs high over the loose wire, skittering sideways as she cleared the tangle. Jo hugged the mare in relief, then stooped to examine her legs.
    Adam stood for a moment, feeling reaction snake its way through him, the aftermath of an adrenaline rush that had fueled him ever since seeing Jo. It quickly passed and he walked out of the wire to look them over.
    Paca had one fairly deep gash on her hind leg, but other than that wasn't too badly cut, while Jo's shirt was dotted with blood. It was not soaked, so he knew Jo's wounds weren't deep, yet Adam shuddered at the sight of the scratches on her arm and hands. She could have been killed.
    "I think Paca came out of this better than you." He sounded unnaturally harsh, but he couldn't help it. "I don't suppose you told anyone where you were riding?"
    "No, but you see, I