Love Somebody Like You Read Online Free PDF Page B

rush. When the gold ran out, it became a ranching community.
    Terry returned. “Just a couple more minutes.”
    â€œNo rush.”
    â€œIt was such a tragedy,” she said, returning to their earlier conversation, “Pete dying that way. So young, and totally unexpected. Goes to show you never can tell, right?”
    â€œThat’s the truth.” He’d been riding bucking broncs for more than fifteen years and the worst he’d done was break some bones.
    â€œIt’s so sad, Sally out there all alone with a broken heart. For a while, folks thought she was dating Dave Cousins, though he denied it. But it seems he was telling the truth and they only ever were friends. Guess she’s got no room in her heart for another man.”
    Maybe that was the reason she hadn’t been receptive to his flirting. Still, a woman had to move on at some point. His grandma had learned that, after his grandpa died.
    Terry turned to get Ben’s order. She slipped take-out containers into a couple of string-handled paper bags with the diner’s name and logo. Eyeing his sling, she asked, “You gonna be okay with these, hon?”
    â€œSure. Thanks, Terry.” He paid, leaving a good-sized tip.
    â€œHope to see you again.”
    â€œThanks, but I’m just passing through.”
    Unless Sally gave him a reason to stay. Which, he had to admit, didn’t seem likely. Still, he’d always been an optimist. Couldn’t survive long in the rodeo world if you weren’t.

Chapter Three
    After turning Melody and Puffin out into the large paddock, Sally walked to the small foaling paddock at the back of the barn. The grassy pasture, with a half dozen cottonwoods for shade, was away from the other horses and the hustle and bustle of students and horse owners. The sole occupant, a heavily pregnant palomino, nickered and came over to the fence, head extended and ears cocked forward.
    â€œHey there, girl. Yes, I have your treat.” Sally pulled a carrot from her pocket and fed Sunshine Song. “You’re lonely, aren’t you? It won’t be much longer.” Song’s behavior was calm and normal, and there was no waxing on her teats, but the mare was due any day.
    Sally went into the office in the barn to check e-mail. The farrier confirmed an appointment in two days to shoe Campion, now that the horse’s abscess had healed. That’d mean another bill, on top of the vet’s for treating the abscess.
    There were no new requests for lessons or horse boarding, and no applications for the assistant’s position. Maybe she should pull the ad, but it was possible that the perfect person might see it and that somehow Sally’d be able to swing a meager paycheck. So far, she’d received two applications, but both were from men. Trusting a man wasn’t high on her agenda.
    She stretched, thinking fondly of Dave Cousins, the one man who had won her trust. A couple of years back, one of her boarders, Karen Estevez, had mentioned to her friend Dave that Sally was struggling, running Ryland Riding on her own. He’d offered to help out. Sally’s need for independence said no, as did her mistrust of men. Karen, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, had sworn that Dave was a genuine good guy with no ulterior motive.
    Over time, Dave had proved Karen right. He’d been a godsend, and had slowly become a friend. When he started dating Cassidy Esperanza last summer, Cassidy had turned into a friend and helper, too. The pair kept coming around even after they convinced Sally to hire an assistant. She still found it hard to believe that, after years of social isolation, she actually had friends.
    But now Dave and Cassidy were on their honeymoon, Corrie had quit due to a personal matter, and Sally was on her own again. Ben’s assistance this afternoon had been so welcome. She was tired now, but not totally exhausted.
    And hours of waiting had sure made her