Arizona Cowboy Read Online Free PDF Page B

ain’t Mountain Owie. I’m Zack.”
    Jake walked up beside him and flicked one of the boy’s curls. “You’re right about that, little buddy.”
    Holden noticed a woman a ways down the trail, sitting on the edge of a large rock. Poor lady. Her quiet morning was about to be invaded by ten active boys and two men. She must have heard them because she turned around, and Holden’s heartbeat raced. Ava .
    Jake nudged his arm. “I’ll take the boys on ahead. You be a man and stop and talk to her.”
    Holden grinned at his friend. “You talk to Megan yet, Mr. Macho Man?”
    Jake spread his arms. “You see Megan around here?”
    Holden pointed at him. “Your day is coming, my friend.”
    “Yeah, but your day is here.” Jake chortled as he turned his attention to Ava, then extended his hand once they’d gotten close enough. “Hello, Ava. Remember me?”
    She stood and took his hand. “Hello, Jake.”
    Zack cocked his head and squinted up at her. “Who’s the lady?”
    “She’s Holden’s friend, Ava.” Jake snapped his fingers. “Come on, guys. Let’s keep walking while he talks to her for a minute.”
    “Is she his girlfriend?” asked Vince.
    Zack shook his hips, then made kissing noises. “She’s his girlfriend.”
    Holden nudged the boy forward. The little redhead seemed determined to drive him crazy at every angle possible. “You need to stay with Jake.”
    He waited until the boys were several yards away before he turned to Ava. She looked great with her hair pulled back in a short ponytail and her face free of makeup. Like the girl he’d fallen in love with.
    “That’s quite a bunch of boys you’ve got there.” She brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek.
    “Some of my boys’ group from church.”
    She furrowed her brows. “You lead a children’s group?”
    He nodded. “Just boys. First through sixth grade, on Wednesday nights.” He pointed toward them. “Jake helps out a lot, especially on our monthly outings.”
    Ava clasped her hands together. “That’s great, Holden. Really good of you.”
    “I don’t do it to be good. I love kids. Teaching them is one way I can serve God.”
    “I know. I remember how much you loved children.”
    She looked away from him, and Holden fought the urge to cup her chin and force her gaze up to his. “You didn’t call me.”
    “Well, I...”
    He reached for her arm, then stopped and shoved his hand in his front pocket. “I’m sorry, Ava. I didn’t mean to hurt you. If I’d known you’d run like that, I would have—”
    She shook her head. “I don’t blame you. I was never mad at you.”
    “But you wouldn’t talk to me. I tried your parents, your aunt, even went to the college.”
    “I know.” She looked up at him. “I’m sorry, Holden. Truly. If I could go back and do things differently, I would.”
    Holden couldn’t stop himself. He took her hand. “We can start over, Ava. The past is done. I’d really like to try.”
    “So much happened after I left, Holden. Things you don’t know about it.” She gazed past him and bit her bottom lip. “Things I should tell you...”
    “What? You dated other people?” Holden laughed. “Ava, I don’t care about that.” He lifted one eyebrow. “I might have had a date or two myself since you left.”
    She looked back at him, and a slow smile curved her lips. “Would Jessica Thomas possibly have been one of them?”
    Holden blew out a breath. “Ugh. That girl was merciless as a kid, and she’s just as bad as a woman.”
    Ava giggled.
    “Please. Let me take you on a date. I’ll pick you up tonight. Seven o’clock.”
    Ava stared at him for what felt like an eternity before she finally nodded. “Okay.”
    Holden kissed her forehead. “I better get back to Jake. He’s got his hands full with Zack all by himself. Add nine more boys and...”
    “Zack’s the redhead, right?”
    “How’d you guess?”
    “That one’s a little firecracker.”
    Holden chuckled. “That’s putting