Crazy For the Cowboy Read Online Free PDF Page A

was their age once, and it doesn’t seem that long ago. I was full of piss and vinegar, just like them.”
    â€œI’m sure you were.” Georgie wasn’t about to laugh, even though the thought of portly Clyde being a rabble-rouser was tough to imagine. His reasoned approach to life was what she cherished about him, but he was past eighty. He’d probably come to that wisdom gradually.
    â€œAnyway, my advice is to relax and trust that the Ghost is a whole lot smarter than those young bucks, especially when they’ve spent the night sucking up beer and he’s spent the night sucking up oxygen in the wide-open spaces. His head will be much clearer than theirs come morning.”
    Georgie chuckled. “You make a valid point.”
    â€œI should hope so. I’m the mayor.” He smiled at her. “And speaking of that, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go over and welcome those cowboys to Bickford.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “We want them to know we’re glad they came for a visit.”
    Instantly Georgie felt contrite. “Clyde, I have to warn you that I didn’t make them feel welcome. In fact, I probably did the exact opposite.”
    â€œWhy is that? What did you say?”
    â€œI was somewhat forceful about my concerns for the wild horses, and when Vince insisted on his course of action I said . . .” Heat rose in her cheeks. “I said
over my dead body.
”
    Clyde blinked, and then he began to laugh. “Georgie, I wouldn’t be your age again for anything.”
    She had a feeling she’d been insulted. In this community, she was a little touchy about her relative youth. “What’s my age got to do with it?”
    â€œYou’re as passionate and determined to keep the cowboys from disturbing the Ghost as they are to have their big adventure. You each take your unshakable positions and charge forward, butting heads like mountain goats. I have a nostalgic fondness for those days but I would never want to relive them.”
    Now Georgie was certain that she’d been insulted. “Are you saying I’m just like those cowboys over there?”
    â€œIn the sense that you’re as hot-blooded and ready for battle? Yes, I’m saying that. I’m glad they’re here. It’s put roses in your cheeks.”
    Georgie sat in stunned silence as Clyde walked over and reintroduced himself to Vince, Mac, and Travis. She was not anything like them! Age-wise, yes, but temperament? No way. She was mature and reasonable, while they were immature and reckless.
    She couldn’t begrudge the town the money the cowboys spent here this weekend, but she’d rather they hadn’t shown up at all. Yet even as she thought that, she realized it wasn’t true. She hadn’t felt this alive in months, maybe even years. If she could keep them from rounding up the stallion, then their visit would be a win for everyone.

CHAPTER 3
    B efore he’d fallen into bed at God-knows-what-hour, Vince had set the alarm clock sitting on his nightstand. He vaguely remembered thinking he’d get about four hours’ sleep, or maybe it was only three. His math skills hadn’t been at their best after drinking so many beers that he’d lost count.
    He couldn’t even blame Georgie for the amount of alcohol he’d consumed. She’d left about the time the mayor had come over to welcome them to Bickford. After that, things were kind of a blur. More old guys had shown up, and a poker game had materialized.
    Four years ago Sadie’s had been all about music and dancing, but now that was gone and poker games with senior citizens had taken its place. But Vince, Mac, and Travis were nothing if not flexible. They’d fallen right in with the poker crowd.
    The poker game didn’t explain the late night, though, because the old guys had left by eleven. Sensible cowboys with a six forty-five ETA at the