Joshua and the Cowgirl Read Online Free PDF Page B

away—or perhaps mere inches, if she dared to be truthful. “Ma’am?” she said vaguely.
    “I’d like you to go into Cheyenne with Joshua today. Show him where to get appropriate clothing. Put it on my account.” She grinned at him. “I can charge that off as a business expense, can’t I?”
    “Not if I have anything to say about it.”
    “Then consider them an early Christmas gift.”
    “Really, it’s not necessary.”
    “It is,” she insisted, seemingly oblivious to the sudden strain in his voice. “Otherwise, you’ll end up in the hospital and I’ll have to come visit. This cold air is terrible for my old bones. You wouldn’t want to put an old woman through all that pain, would you?”
    “I suppose not,” he said, unable to hold off the rush of familiar resentment at her kindly fussing. The reaction was all out of proportion to the gesture, but it was as ingrained as the multiplication tables. Echoes of his mother’s voice resounded in his head. He started to protest, then saw the expectant gleam in Garrett’s eyes and decided to remain silent. It was cold. The clothes he’d brought were inappropriate. Did it really matter who pointed it out or who paid for a couple of flannel shirts?
    “Thank you,” he said finally.
    As if in some way she’d understood his internal struggle, Mrs. Mac didn’t gloat. She merely nodded. “Good. Then that’s settled.”
    “Not quite,” Garrett said, obviously scrambling for an excuse now that he’d failed to provide her with a more convenient out. “I can’t possibly drive into Cheyenne today. I have work to do.”
    Mrs. Mac waved aside the objection. “You have a dozen men out there who can do the work. I pay you to give them orders, which I’m sure you did at the crack of dawn as usual.”
    “You also pay me to see that they’re carried out. What if there’s a crisis?”
    “There were crises on this ranch long before you arrived, my dear. I handled them. I suppose I can manage to rally for a few more.”
    Garrett immediately looked guilty. “I didn’t mean…”
    Mrs. Mac smiled. “I know you didn’t, dear. We’ll call Red in before you leave and you can give him any last-minute instructions.” She waited for Garrett’s reluctant nod, then moved briskly ahead. “Now that we’re all agreed, why don’t we have one last cup of coffee before you leave and I’ll explain what else has to be done in Cheyenne. You might as well take care of a little business for me.”
    “Yes, why don’t we do that?” Garrett said, her expression grim but resigned. She kept her gaze studiously fixed on her boss, ignoring Joshua. It was probably just as well, he thought. If she’d seen the blatant look of anticipation in his eyes, she probably would have slugged him again.
    To stave off another blow, Joshua kept his own attention on Mrs. Mac’s list of errands. Though he wouldn’t have put it past her to contrive them, he had to admit they all sounded legitimate. She promised to write out careful, detailed instructions, along with appropriate notes for her banker and her attorney, guaranteeing that Joshua would get all the cooperation he needed to fully investigate the state of her business holdings.
    “As long as you’re here, I might as well take advantage of your expertise,” she told him. “Garrett, there are one or two things you might want to take care of, as well.”
    The list went on and on. “Don’t expect us back for dinner,” Joshua said when he’d heard the last of her orders.
    Garrett’s startled gaze clashed with his. “We’ll be back,” she said with expected contrariness.
    He placed his hand on her knee. “You really must let me thank you for all your trouble by taking you to dinner,” he said emphatically.
    “No thanks are necessary,” she insisted, her teeth clenched.
    “We’ll discuss it on the way.”
    “The matter is settled.”
    “We’ll see.”
    It was Mrs. Mac’s chuckle that finally ended the debate. “Don’t