Her Lone Cowboy Read Online Free PDF Page B

eyes.
    “Do you miss it?” She raised her own eyebrow. “All that bossing people around? It must be very different being here and working for Andrew.”
    He made an aggravated sound and turned away. She reached out and grabbed his left arm, catching him off guard and spinning him around.
    “I’m sorry. That was too much.”
    He considered her for a moment. “Oh, I was just as used to taking orders as giving them. After all I am only a captain.” She was treated to that small glimpse of a smile again. “And Andrew’s all right. He made sure I had what I needed before coming back to Canada.”
    “From Afghanistan?”
    He shook his head. “No, Germany. That’s where I did most of my recuperating.”
    “But he didn’t go see you, did he?” Lily imagined what it would be like to receive such a call about a family member. Would she run to her mother’s side? She rather suspected she would, and for the first time in a long time she wondered about the life Jasmine was living.
    Noah pulled away from her arm. “I’m glad he didn’t.”
    Lily gasped. “Why? Surely having your family around you…”
    And just like that, Noah’s expression closed, as it had the first time they’d met.
    “They only send family over if there’s a good chance you won’t make it back,” he said stiffly. “So I’m glad Andrew never needed to come.”
    Lily felt very small all of a sudden. There was so much about Noah she didn’t know, didn’t understand. She wondered how he was making out keeping the house tidy, cooking, allthe menial jobs left at the end of the day when he was done at the ranch. She had considered asking him to let her help while she and Jen were doing dishes that first night. Jen had looked exhausted during their excursion today, and Noah needed someone to help. Why not her?
    “I’d like to help you, Noah. Even if it’s running a vacuum over the floor and taking you to appointments. I know you have appointments, lots of them. And why bother Jen and Andrew when I clearly have the time?”
    Noah spun on his heel, striding back to the barn. “I don’t need a nursemaid. And my own truck will be here soon.”
    “Oh, for Pete’s sake, I never said a word about nursing!” She scrambled after him, her sandals slapping on the concrete floor of the barn. “Why are you so determined to refuse assistance?”
    “Because I need to learn to do it for myself.”
    “But you don’t have to do it all at once, do you?”
    He reached for a halter hanging on a hook and a lead, which he looped around his neck. He went back out to the small corral, whistling for Pixie, Lily’s sandals sounding behind him. The small bay mare trotted over, and hooking the halter over his wrist he opened the gate and slid into the fenced area with her.
    “Can’t you find another pet project?”
    “I hardly consider you a pet.” She couldn’t stop the acidic reply and it brought a burst of laughter from his lips. She got the feeling he didn’t laugh that often these days. She only wished she didn’t feel as though it was at her expense.
    She watched, amazed, as he lifted his upper right arm and slid the halter over the stump, and then used his left hand to rub Pixie’s head, scratching beneath her forelock. Then he deftly retrieved the halter, slid it up past her nose and over her ears. Once it was secure, he took the lead from around his neck and hooked it on the ring at the bottom.
    He led the horse to the gate and with his fingers and hips, maneuvered the gate open and closed again. It had taken him barely a few more seconds than it would have if he’d had two good hands for the task.
    “What are teachers making these days? If you need the money…”
    Lily’s nostrils flared. “It’s not about money. I’m fine.”
    He led the horse back to her, looked down his perfectly straight nose and said, “Then why me? And leave Jen out of it. Even if she is your best friend. Do you feel sorry for me?”
    “Oh, please. You make it