Lois Greiman - [Hope Springs 02] Read Online Free PDF Page B

in dubious uncertainty. If Ty Roberts said fifteen words a day, he was ten words over his limit. Maybe that was because of the abuse he had suffered at the hands of his parents, or maybe he was being ultracareful not to cause any problems that might run him afoul of the law. In the past, he had been in some trouble at school. But since Casie had met him, he’d walked the line as carefully as a tightrope artist. “Ty?” she said.
    “I mean . . .” Sophie’s scowl darkened even further. “I know he’s not too bright, but I thought he knew better than to overwork a horse that has splints.”
    Casie stared at her. The splints on Angel’s forelegs had calcified years ago and were unlikely to bother her. Sophie knew that if anyone did. But Casie didn’t bother to mention it. “Is she okay?” she asked instead.
    “It would serve him right if she wasn’t.” Sophie’s shoulders drooped a little.
    “Take it easy on him,” Casie said. She kept her tone low. She and Sophie had argued over Ty on more than one occasion, but she didn’t really need Colt to know of their battles. “He’s found something he excels at, something the mare loves. I think it’s good for both of them.”
    “You would take his side.” Despite Sophie’s frequent acts of maturity, she still had painful teenage outbursts.
    “I’m not taking sides,” Casie said. “I’m just saying—”
    “And I’m just going to bed,” Sophie said, but she felt the need to add more . . . maybe as a sort of surly apology for being sixteen. “I fed the yearlings. The stalls are cleaned and bedded. Lark has a little thrush in her left front frog. I painted it with iodine.”
    “Thank you.”
    She nodded, tight lipped, and turned toward the house.
    Casie exhaled evenly. The night went quiet as the girl’s footsteps faded into the darkness.
    “Kinda cute how you have the fun of raising teenagers when you don’t know anything about giving birth,” Colt said.
    Casie’s temper exploded like a time bomb. She pivoted toward him, fists clenched, teeth bared. “Emily was lying.”
    “What?” His quizzical expression might have been comical if it wasn’t for the guilt that detonated in Casie’s gut immediately after she dropped the bomb.
    “Nothing.” She inhaled, steadied herself, and backed away a step. “It’s nothing. Well . . . maybe I’ll see you around sometime,” she said and turned away, but he caught her arm.
    “What do you mean, nothing? ” He searched her eyes. His were as dark as midnight. “You don’t think Em lied about being in labor, do you?”
    She pursed her lips. She appreciated the fact that Colt thought so highly of the little mother-to-be. Really, she did. The girl needed a man in her life who wouldn’t ignore her or seduce her, and Colt had managed that much. So far at least, she thought cattily.
    “I’m going to go check on the horses,” she said and tugged at her arm, but he held on.
    “You think maybe she’s faking the pregnancy, too, Case? Cuz I’ve gotta tell you, it looks pretty real to me.”
    “Well . . .” She gave him her best fake smile. “You’re the expert.”
    He scowled at her, shook his head once. “You don’t need to be jealous,” he said.
    “Jealous!” She sputtered something inarticulate. “Are you nuts?”
    “Could be.” He tilted his head. That old mischievous light shone in his eyes again. “Are you jealous? ”
    “No!”
    “Really?” His grin peeked out. She wanted to slap it off his face. Or something. “Cuz it kinda looks like you might be.”
    She huffed a laugh. “Listen, if you want to fawn all over a girl who’s half your age, I think that’s great. God knows she’s been neglected most of her life, but—” She stopped, realized his brows had shot toward his Stetson like stray bullets, and wished she could disappear into the earth beneath her feet.
    The night went silent. Somewhere far off a cow bellowed. Beyond that a coyote yipped and was answered.
    “I meant,