Chemistry Lessons Read Online Free PDF Page B

it too tight?”
    She nodded, stroking the horse’s nose. “I don’t recognize this horse.
Where’d you get him?”
    “I found him online. His name’s Orion. I got him from a guy in El Paso.”
    She ran her hand down Orion’s nose. “Pleased to meet you, Orion.”
    “I’ve still got a lot to learn.” Destry pointed to a bucket of apples a
few feet away. “I hear it’ll help to pamper him.”
    “Horses are a lot like people that way. They only do what you want if
it benefits them.” She handed him back the reins. “Speaking of people.” She
pulled the envelope from her back pocket and unfolded it. “I’m sure what I paid
for Wile E’s operation is about the same as you paid to replace your chicken coop.
If I take this money, I’ll feel like I have to pay you back somehow. Then, once
I pay you back, you’ll try to pay me back. This could go on forever.”
    He grinned. “That’s fine by me.”
    A tingle of pleasure danced over her skin. She pulled his note from the
envelope, leaving only the money. “Can we call a truce?”
    “If that’s what you want.”
    “It’s what I want.” She handed him the envelope.
    To her relief, he took it. “I still feel like I owe you.” His lips
tilted in a forced smile.
    “Most people around here wouldn’t bat an eye at shooting my coyote.
Thanks for caring enough to save her. It means a lot to me.”
    It took Destry a moment to reply. He seemed a little stunned. “You’re
welcome.”
    “I better go,” she said, glancing at her watch. “I have a ton of chores
to get done, and I only have a couple hours to do them.”
    She walked back to the truck, but the image of Destry in flip-flops by
his new horse would not leave her mind. It stayed there while she bottle-fed
the calves, burned the trash, and laid out Grandpa’s pills for him to take at
dinner. It stayed while she showered and put on her off-white, cotton dress
with the A-line skirt. And it was still there as she sat in Tanner’s pick-up.
Maybe she should have stayed to help with his horse. Destry could easily hurt
himself.
    Tanner stopped his truck at the end of the lane. He pulled a pack of
gum from his pocket and offered her a stick. “You’re quiet tonight.”
    She took a piece of gum and chewed. It was spearmint, Tanner’s
favorite. “I was just thinking.”
    “About?”
    “Destry.”
    Tanner frowned and turned on his stereo. She had said the wrong
thing—again. It was easy to do with Tanner. She didn’t know whether it was his
nature or the fact that they’d known each other for so long. Whatever it was,
Tanner didn’t disguise his feelings well.
    She couldn’t remember the first time she’d met Tanner. She imagined he
might have been the squirmy two-year-old she had played with one hot summer day
in the irrigation ditch. She was six years old at the time and visiting for a
week. For as long as she could remember, Tanner’s family and her grandparents
had helped each other with branding, shearing, cutting hay, and every other
labor-intensive chore ranch life required. Through the years, Tanner had
somehow woven himself into Rosie’s life so tightly that she couldn’t easily
remove him, not that she minded.
    If they’d lived closer to the city, things probably would’ve been
different. Tanner might not have considered dating a woman four years his
senior. He would’ve found someone else. She might have too. But, here in Lone
Spur, there were few single people in their twenties—most people got married
straight out of high school. Early marriage had never been part of her plan,
though. It was a good thing Tanner felt the same way. He was someone she could
trust. He was probably better looking than any guy she could get in the city
too.
    She ran her fingers through the short hair at the back of his head. “You
look nice tonight.” It was true. He wore a crisp white shirt and tie with black
pants—something he’d never done in the thirteen months they’d been dating. It
was a