Boots and Buckles Read Online Free PDF Page B

place.”
    “Thanks.” Audrey turned to Mona. “Want me to stay until you leave?” She shot a glance at Sam. “No offense.”
    He nodded with a smile. “None taken. I’m glad you care enough to see to the safety of your employees.”
    “I love my girls and wouldn’t want any one of them to come to harm.”
    He raised his hands. “I’m not here to harm. I just wanted to invite Mona out for a bite to eat.”
    “Oh, that’s nice. The truck stop is the only place open twenty-four hours a day. You can get a great country-fried steak there.” Audrey smiled at Mona. “I’m headed home. Jackson is keeping the sheets warm for me.”
    “Lucky girl.” Mona hugged Audrey. “See you tomorrow.”
    Audrey left and Mona started to get into her car.
    Sam touched her arm. “Would you like to go with me to the truck stop for a late dinner?”
    “No,” Mona said, her tone clipped.
    “A cup of coffee?” Sam had the feeling if he let her go, he wouldn’t see her again.
    “No again.” She straightened. “As a matter of fact, I’d like to cancel our coffee date for tomorrow.”
    “Why?”
    Mona chewed on her lip. “I’ll be busy.”
    “Come on, you have to take a break sometime.”
    “I will.”
    “Just not with me.”
    “Right.”
    “Did I do something wrong?”
    “Other than kissing me when I didn’t want you to and now stalking me?” She shrugged. “I can’t think of a thing. Suffice it to say, I don’t want to have coffee with you tomorrow.” With that final comment, she ducked into the car.
    Sam stepped into the door to keep her from closing it. “At least tell me why.”
    “Perhaps you could ask your partner.”
    “Grant?” Sam frowned. “What does he have to do with you and me?”
    “Nothing, everything. Oh, you rodeo cowboys are all alike—arrogant, full of yourselves and as useless as a bag of rocks. If I didn’t see another one of you for the rest of my life it would be too soon. Just leave me alone.” She shoved him backward, slammed the door and twisted the key in the ignition. The starter clicked, but the engine didn’t turn over.
    Sam stood back, his arms crossed and waited for her to leave.
    She turned the key again and nothing.
    A smile slipped across his lips and he forced it back. It seemed fate was giving him a second chance with the lady, even if she wasn’t.
    Sam turned and pretended he was leaving.
    Her car door opened behind him.
    He kept walking, straight to his truck. When he reached it, he unlocked it and took a moment to look back.
    She had the hood up on her car and was peering into the engine. She fiddled with a wire, pulled the oil stick out and shoved it back in, then slipped back into the driver’s seat and turned the key again.
    Click.
    Sam got into his truck and waited for her to come to him.
    Mona rested her forehead on the steering wheel, or maybe she was banging her head on the wheel, Sam wasn’t certain from the distance.
    After a while she dug in her purse and pulled out what looked like a cell phone, punched some buttons and held it to her ear.
    Sam checked his cell phone. No reception in this remote part of Texas. The Ugly Stick Saloon was several miles out of Temptation, likely the only cell tower was in the town itself, leaving the countryside without reception.
    Mona threw her cell phone into her purse and got out of the car, slung the strap of her bag over her shoulder and started walking.
    Right past Sam’s truck to the highway.
    Sam started his engine and drove up beside her, sliding the window down. “Need a lift?”
    “No.”
    “It’s five miles to town.”
    She lifted her chin. “A good stretch of the legs.”
    “I hear there are coyotes in this area.”
    Mona gave him a get real look. “They won’t attack humans.”
    “What if George comes back?”
    “I’ll take care of him like I did before.”
    “Mona, get in the truck. I can’t leave you out here by yourself.”
    “And I really don’t want anything to do with you or Grant or