Counterfeit Cowgirl (Love and Laughter) Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Up the stairs, first bedroom on the left.”
    She turned away.
    “Miss Nelson,” he called.
    She turned slowly back.
    “Better lock your door in case I get drunk.”
    A moment later Ty heard the click of her lock.
    H ANNAH HURRIED through the parking lot. It was dark, and she thought she’d heard a noise behind her. Perhaps she shouldn’t have ditched her bodyguard. Daddy had said her life was in danger. But he had always been prone to dramatics. Surely…
    The hand seemed to reach out from nowhere. She spun toward her assailant. Images flashed through her mind—a dark beard, straight teeth, a perfect nose. Something familiar about him! But already he had his arm around her body, twisting her away from him, pulling her back up hard against his chest. She shrieked—and awoke with a start.
    “You’re right. She is better looking than Howard.”
    Hannah gasped, pulling the coverlet to her chin. “What are you doing in my room?”
    “Nice accent, too. Where’s she from?”
    Ty shrugged. Beside him stood a man in his early twenties.His hair was brown, but other than that he could have been Ty’s twin.
    “Dad said Colorado.”
    “I’ve never heard an accent like that from Colorado.”
    “You owe me ten bucks.”
    “What are you doing in my room?” Hannah asked again.
    “The lock don’t work. Never has,” Ty said, holding out his hand to accept his brother’s lost wager.
    “Get out!”
    “All right. But Nate’s going to be heading out soon. Either he looks at your car right off or it’s gonna be too late.”
    “Get out!”
    “Okay.”
    Both men exited the room. It took Hannah less than two seconds to react. This was her chance to leave!
    She was dressed and out the door in a minute. The uncarpeted stairs were cold against her bare feet. She stopped at the sight of the snow outside, then slipped into an oversize pair of rubber boots and a parka that waited by the door.
    Both men stood with their heads together under the hood of her Rabbit.
    Wrapping the parka more closely about her body, she hurried over to them. The wind had died down, but it was still bitterly cold. Waiting, she shifted from foot to foot.
    Eventually Nate looked up.
    “Well?” she said.
    “We can do the kind thing, and put it out of its misery right here and now. Or we can send it to town and see if they can save it. But I’m afraid that would only make it a long and painful death.”
    She scowled at him. It was cold, she was tired, and she was in North Dakota with a pair of cowboys who thought they were funny. None of these things made her happy.
    “How much would it cost?” she inquired.
    “To resurrect it?” Nate asked.
    She gritted her teeth, held on to her patience, and nodded.
    “I don’t know. Maybe eight, nine hundred dollars.”
    “Eight or nine—” she squawked.
    “I could be wrong,” Nate said.
    “How wrong?”
    “Could be closer to fifteen hundred.”
    “Dollars? I don’t have fifteen hundred dollars.”
    Nate shrugged. “Sorry.”
    She swept the hair out of her eyes. “What am I supposed to do now?”
    “’Scuse me but…” Nate shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans. “Weren’t you gonna work on the farm here—”
    “Nope.” Ty cut him off. “Where Miss Nelson comes from they swim their horses in pools, not in muck. Isn’t that right, honey?”
    Hannah didn’t even bother to glare at him. “What could I get for it?”
    “The car?” Nate looked doubtful, if not pained. “I’m afraid you might have to pay them to haul it away.”
    Ty chuckled.
    Now she glared at him. “What would it take to buy a plane ticket?”
    “From where?” Nate asked, looking befuddled.
    “To where?” Ty chortled.
    “To anywhere but here!”
    “How much do you have?” Nate asked.
    “That’s none of your business.”
    “That means she’s busted,” Ty said.
    “I’ve got your hundred,” she corrected.
    “What’s that?” Nate asked.
    “Never mind,” Ty said.
    “I could give you a