Big Sky Eyes Read Online Free PDF

until the horse’s head was facing her rear with her mouth just beside
Mackenna’s knee. Mackenna then dug her spurs into the flanks, making the horse
scramble in circles. A cloud of dust spiraled around them as she wound the
horse round and round.
    When she finally pulled the horse to a stop, the mare stood
still, panting and dizzy from the ordeal. Mackenna slowly slackened the reins,
allowing the horse to return to a natural position. With her heart pounding in
her throat and her own breaths coming in huffs, she waited to see if the horse
was ready to yield, or if she would battle again. When neither
horse or rider moved, she simply asked.
    “Are you done yet?”
    As if she understood, the horse released one long, gurgled
sigh and whickered in mild protest. Mackenna eased her into another walk along
the perimeter of the corral. The animal was subdued and let her head nod as she
obeyed the commands of Mackenna’s legs, which led her into a steady trot. A
gentle tug of the reins was all it took to stop the horse in mid-step. Mackenna
smiled and leaned forward to pet the horse’s neck and withers. She looked up at
Ty, who leaned casually against the rail with a soft smile.
    “What’s this girl’s name?” she asked him.
    “Sass,” he answered. Mackenna laughed and stroked the animal
again.
    “Of course it is!” she exclaimed. She leaned forward to
speak to Sass again. “Now, just to show you I’m not all-business and no fun…”
    She dug her spurs into the horse’s side and urged her at a
run toward the wooden fence retaining them. The horse seemed to know her
intention and quickened in excitement. She bounded over the railing with ease
and to the sound of Mackenna’s exhilarated whoop, only to open her stride and
race across the meadow, sprinkling the air with uprooted wildflowers as she
went. Mackenna laughed into the wind as it drew water from her eyes.
    When they neared the tree line, she steered Sass in a wide
circle in front of it until she turned her back toward the ranch. They slid to
a stop in front of the corral and the applauding wranglers. Brent alone stood
stone-faced and serious as she dismounted and threw her arms around Sass’s neck
in a healthy show of affection. Sass returned the gesture with a quick rub of
her muzzle on Mackenna’s plaid shirt before Mackenna released the burden of the
bridle and allowed her to return to the pen.
    Kelly was laughing as she playfully punched Ty in the shoulder.
    “I’ll be taking that five bucks
now, if you please,” she said. Mackenna feigned hurtful eyes at Ty.
    “You bet against me?” she pouted.
    “Not that you would tame the horse,” Ty clarified, “just the
amount of time it would take. Kelly said five minutes. I said ten.”
    “Aaah, I see,” she responded.
    “That was freakin’ amazing, Mackenna,” Leslie said as she
slid her arm around Ty’s waist. “I wish I was brave enough to do something like
that bareback.”
    “Don’t encourage her!” Brent spat, interrupting the mood of
good cheer and focusing his wrath on Mackenna. “This is not a game and these
are not toys,” he said gesturing angrily toward the horses. “You’re damn lucky
you didn’t break your stupid neck. I hope this is not the kind of fun you
intend to have with the guests. You’re a lawsuit waiting to happen!”
    “Hey man, calm down,” Ty said defensively.
    As Brent began to argue with Ty, Mackenna narrowed her eyes
and shouted “hey!” rendering them silent.
    “Number one,” she began to Brent. “Don’t ever call me
stupid. Number two: I would never jeopardize or compromise the safety of a
guest or one of Bev’s horses. And lastly, I would have never approached that
horse if I were not one hundred percent sure I could handle her. So, tell me,
exactly what is your problem ?”
    “What you did was reckless and careless!” he returned.
    “No,” she corrected in a much calmer but firm voice. “What I
did was fun and very much full of care. That’s