His Cowgirl Bride Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    â€œHey,” Brent said, suddenly feeling defensive. “I told her I didn’t want her in the pen with the horses, and she got a little peeved. Why are y’all looking like that? It’s for her own good.”
    â€œTell him, Sam,” Applegate prompted.
    â€œShe came here to learn to train them horses,” Sam said. “That’s the only reason Tacy’s in Mule Hollow. The little spitfire wants ta not only train ’em, she wants to break ’em.”
    â€œOver my dead body,” Brent mumbled, swallowing a big swig of coffee.
    â€œThat may be, if you get in her way,” Stanley said, grabbing a handful of sunflower seeds out of a bag. “She’s got her heart set on it.”
    App crossed his arms and assessed Brent with warning eyes. “Yup, she does, and I don’t thank she’sthe type ta have some ole cowboy tellin’ her what and what not she kin do.”
    â€œEven one that does foo-foo commercials,” Stanley added, hiking a bushy brow and grinning wider.
    â€œAin’t that the truth,” App grunted, leaning forward to sniff the air close to Brent. “Men—especially self-respectin’ cowboys—ain’t spos’d ta smell prissy.”
    So much for no teasing. Brent decided against pointing out that it had been two lousy cologne commercials—about which he’d been teased mercilessly by every cowboy on the circuit.
    Sam chuckled, clearly enjoying Brent’s discomfort before taking pity on him and reeling the conversation back in. “I jest don’t see Tacy walkin’ away. Pace was supposed to teach her.”
    App and Stanley sobered. “Yup,” they said in unison.
    â€œPace agreed to that?” Brent didn’t like what he was hearing.
    â€œWell, yeah,” Sam said, slapping his palms on the counter as he glared at Brent. “You ain’t listening. She ain’t from here. She came here just fer the reason of learnin’ ta break them horses.”
    â€œPace didn’t tell me any of that. I’m sorry, fellas, but that agreement was between Tacy and Pace. My agreement with Pace has nothing to do with putting Tacy at risk. No way am I teaching a woman how to get up on the back of a bucking horse.” Not after he’d helped his sister do exactly that, and he’d almost gotten her killed.
    â€œCalm down,” Stanley said, placing a hand on Brent’s shoulder.
    â€œYeah, you don’t look so good,” App said, peering close. “She’s a good little gal. No need ta get angry at her.”
    Brent picked up his coffee. “I’m not angry at her. I’m just not the guy to teach her to break a horse. She’ll have to take that up with Pace when he gets back.” He might have to have a word with Pace about that, too. “Sam, how about some eggs, sir?”
    Sam grinned. “I’m fixin’ ta cook ’em right up.” He headed toward the kitchen and App and Stanley went over to their table and the checkerboard. He wasn’t too sure he understood why someone would want to play checkers at the crack of dawn. To each his own—they liked checkers this early; he liked riding horses this early.
    â€œSam,” he called. “No funny business. I had heartburn like you wouldn’t believe.”
    All three of the men thought that was funny and hooted and chortled with laughter. Brent didn’t join them, as his thoughts turned back to Tacy. He hoped she wouldn’t ask him to teach her to break horses. She’d told him he was in her way and made it clear that she thought she was capable—his sister had believed the same thing, and only by the grace of God was she still alive. Brent was counting his blessings and had absolutely no intention of being part of that kind of foolishness again.
    Especially with Tacy Jones. The woman was a wild card. It would be a shame to risk something happening to somebody who