Cowboy Candy Read Online Free PDF Page A

number one, so moved on. Can you
believe that . . .” Mabel let out a whistle.
“No, I sure can’t. You’d think she’d be grateful to have a man who
works hard and cares about family.”
“Well, hells bells. That’s for sure,” Mabel grinned.
Maddy smiled.
“Mabel thanks for the lowdown, but I'm sure he’d never give me the
time of day, anyway. Just as well, I’m sworn off men for good. I can't take
another risk of being hurt, ever again. I won’t . . . I can’t.
I've been
dragged through hell and back with Jack. I’m finally free to do as I wish,
not what someone else tells me to do. My main goal is to find a place and
get a job. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Something simple, that's all
I want,” Maddy sighed.
“Well, then you came to the right place, then. If you check up on that
board over yonder, you'll see a job posted for a caregiver. It seems there's a
handsome cowboy who's lookin' for someone to help care for his mama,”
Mabel winked.
“What?”
Maddy whooped as she hopped off the stool and headed for the
bulletin board. It was full of thumbtacks and index cards. There were cows
for sale, mares too. Tractors for sale, houses for rent . . .
“Aha!,” Maddy cried as she removed the index card from the board.
She began to read it out loud.
“Help Wanted. Caregiver needed for full-time employment. . .Firstaid a must . . .
Benefits include cabin, utilities paid, and a generous salary
for the right person. Inquire at the Mountain Rose Ranch. . . The Mountain
Rose ranch," she whispered.
She waved the card and ran back to the counter.
“Miss Mabel, I just drove past this place today!
It's beautiful.
You
mean...Dusty owns the Mountain Rose Ranch?” she gasped.
Mabel winked and spit some chew into the spittoon.
“That'd be the one!” she laughed.
CHAPTER 10
    Mabel's was packed, with hardly a place to sit down. Dusty managed to
find a stool at the counter and sat down.
“Why look who's here,” Mabel grinned . . .
“What can I get for ya’ handsome?”
“Oh, don't know, really. How about a nice big steak with fries and
coffee?”
“One T-Bone, rare - comin’ up,” she announced with a wink.
“Bet you didn't think I remembered your favorites, now did ya'?”
He gave her a dazzling smile.
“Miss Mabel, you sure treat me good.”
As Mabel poured coffee into empty cups and made small talk with all
of her customers, Dusty scanned the room discreetly. He was looking for
that luscious little lady
whom he'd been dreaming
about. “Shit,”
he
mumbled. “She’s nowhere in sight.”
Dejected, he nursed his coffee, hoping she'd come in.
No such luck.
"Dammit" he frowned.
Mabel placed a big platter of steak and fries in front of him and refilled
his coffee.
One thing he could not complain about what Miss Mabel's
cooking. She was the best in town. Watching the clock, he ate his meal
slowly while he lingered in the diner like a love sick puppy. The crowd was
thinning out and before long, he and Miss Mabel were nearly the only two
left in the place.
“Wanna’ tell me what’s on your mind,” she asked.
Dusty chuckled, “How'd you know I had something on my mind?”
She smiled.
“Well, you don't get to be old as dirt and not learn a thing or two about
folks. . .Besides, you hardly ever come to town to eat, so I figured you
either loved my cookin’ or you got more serious matters on your mind . . .
Say . . . a gorgeous young woman who wears pink slippers?”
“Well, I'll be,”he grinned. “You sure are perceptive Miss Mabel. What
gave me away,” he asked.
“Let's just say I've got a sixth sense about these things,”she replied.
“You should bottle up that sixth sense of yours and patent it, Miss
Mabel.
I have to confess; yep. . .she's the one I came looking for.
I
thought I might find her eating dinner tonight. No such luck though, I’m
afraid to say,” he smiled.
“Dusty, I think I may be able to help your predicament. That little filly
is staying here at my place, and just