Beauty and the Brit Read Online Free PDF Page A

and alert. A western saddle adorned its back, and slender brass chains created draping reins.
    “He’s really old,” Bonnie the de facto tour guide explained. “Our grandmother found him at a garage sale for only two dollars. Now I think he’s worth a couple of hundred.”
    “So the story goes,” Rio added, her full soberness back in place.
    “He’s quite something.” David peered at the figure. “And it’s an impressive collection. How many do you have?”
    Rio considered a moment. “Maybe eighty,” she said. “Only a half dozen were bought new. The others came from thrift shops or garage sales. I don’t collect them for the value. And I’ll never sell the old guy so I don’t care what he’s worth.” She gave the little orange horse a stroke along the neck. “One of my sillinesses from childhood.”
    “My mother collected model horses, so I don’t think they’re silly. She still loves hers.”
    Bonnie threw her sister a hip bump. “Told you he’d be impressed.”
    “I am. You’ve made a warm and personal home here,” David said. “Chase said it came from your parents.”
    “From my mother’s side,” Rio acknowledged.
    “Rio calls it our nest egg, because we’re going to sell it when I’m done with high school. We’ll own it totally then because there are only ten payments left.”
    “Bonnie!” Rio stared in obvious dismay at the personal revelation.
    “But it’s an amazing plan.” Bonnie ignored her sister’s consternation. “After we sell it, we’re moving out West and having all our own horses. We watch the ads for land all the time. Rio’s been planning it forever. Haven’t you?”
    A new flush spread across Rio’s cheeks.
    “That’s not something you go blurting out,” she admonished. “Some things are private.”
    Young Bonnie had a few underdeveloped social filters, although not a mean bone as far as David could tell. Nonetheless, if the plan was true, it was impressive.
    “It is a good plan. It takes intelligence and patience to plan your future.”
    “It’s a someday plan,” she replied, her tone factual and unemotional. “We’re lucky to have this house, so even though it could be a ticket out of the city, I don’t want to misuse it.”
    “You’d like to leave the city?”
    “Sure. Leave and never come back. Some day.”
    “So the Western landscapes on all the walls were a clue.” He smiled.
    “I guess it would be silly to deny it.” She swung her attention back to Bonnie. “It’s late, you little blabbermouth, better make sure your homework is done. Traumatic night or not.”
    “And”—David took his cue—“it’s time for me to leave you ladies to it. You’re obviously quite safe here. I can go back and tell Chase you’re tucked in.”
    He wasn’t sure what this micro-insight into Rio Montoya’s world revealed about her: strength, courage, vulnerability for a start. And the dreams of horses and moving West added a further level of attraction.
    “Thank you,” she said at the front door. “It was nice of you to get us home.”
    “My pleasure.”
    “It was nice to meet you!” Bonnie was the first to offer her hand.
    A residual chill transferred at her touch as it dawned on him what had almost happened to this bright little bird. For all she’d grown up in the same place as her sister, she was so much more innocent and wore an unspoiled air Rio didn’t possess. He looked back to Rio’s steady, unemotional gaze.
    “If you ever have a wish to visit the horses, you’d be welcome at my place. Kennison Falls isn’t that far away—an hour and a half drive, perhaps. Plenty to do there. See what stable work is like, take a ride perhaps. Test out that good plan of yours.”
    He stopped, aware he was not only channeling his pathologically hospitable mother but on the verge of sounding like an infomercial. Bonnie’s face broke into a grin. Rio shrugged with wistful pragmatism.
    “That’s very kind of you. In many ways, though, an hour and