Brody Read Online Free PDF Page A

swallowed the huge lump in her throat as she carefully put the coat and cans into her saddlebags.
    By the time she was done, the ranger was on his horse looking down at her.
    “We’re going to have to have rules if we’re going to travel together.” His gaze was unblinking. “First rule: Don’t make me wait for you.”
    He kneed his horse into motion, leaving her standing there, mouth open, and temper rising. Olivia threw herself into the saddle and went after him. There was no way he was going to leave her behind.
     
    Brody rode in silence for the next hour. He wasn’t ready to talk to his new partner, to face the reality of what had just happened. He’d let his guard down because of her, yet she’d saved him by killing two men. If he hadn’t lived through it, he wouldn’t have believed it. He’d thought Olivia was a spoiled rancher’s daughter with a sharp tongue and a stubborn streak a mile wide.
    Now he realized that beneath the exterior she showed the world, Olivia had a spine of steel and more guts than most men. She should have been hiding in the shack while he dealt with the men. Yet she hadn’t and without her courage, it might have been his brains decorating that field back there.
    She was also perceptive, smart and observant. Her skills put her far above many men who might want to be a Texas Ranger.
    She must have been thinking about what had happened as well because she didn’t say anything. It was a blessing to have quiet. Their partnership might not be too bad after all.
    They came upon a stream and he pulled his horse to a stop. She, however, kept riding. Brody realized he could either call her back or wait until she realized he wasn’t beside her. He decided to let her keep going.
    The paint eagerly lapped at the water as he watched her riding away. She had an amazing seat on a horse, which showed him she had lived on a ranch all her life. Her ass was nicely shaped too. He should not be noticing her at all, much less staring at her hind end.
    “Olivia.” He was surprised to find himself calling her.
    She pulled the horse to a stop and looked back at him. “What are you doing?”
    He didn’t answer, waiting for her to ride back to him. Brody wasn’t one to talk much and he wasn’t going to change for her.
    After apparently wrestling with herself for a few moments, she rode back toward the stream. Her jaw was set tight enough that he thought he heard her teeth grinding together.
    “It would have been nice if you had told me you were stopping.” She dismounted with grace, even though she was clearly annoyed. Another positive feature he wouldn’t tell her about.
    “Stop leading and you would have noticed.” He refilled his canteen and splashed water onto his hair. There were still bits of gore stuck there. He hadn’t put his hat on yet because he didn’t want it to smell for the next five years. The water was clear and he felt better just having rinsed his hair. If Olivia hadn’t been there, he might have stripped down and jumped in.
    “I wasn’t leading. I was riding beside you.” She came up beside him. “I thought you said I was your partner. Is this how you treat a partner?”
    He wiped his hands on his pants. “Don’t know. I never had one before.”
    She waited exactly one minute before she opened her mouth again. He wanted to groan. Did the woman never shut up?
    “You’ve never had a partner before? Don’t most rangers have a partner?” She wiped her hands clean in the stream as she chattered. “I guess you fought in the war. Wasn’t there anyone you had at your side?”
    The memory of his brothers was sharp and bittersweet. He didn’t know her well enough to tell her about his life or his loss. It wasn’t her business.
    “You talk too much.”
    She put her hands on her hips. “You talk too little. How can we be partners if I don’t know anything about you?”
    “You know enough. I’m a ranger and I uphold the law. That’s it.” He hung the canteen on his