Once Upon a Cowboy Read Online Free PDF Page B

impression he was counting. Finally, he spoke again. "I'm glad you approve. You might notice, they aren't moving."
    "No, they aren't," she agreed.
    "Which suggests?"
    "That she's holding real still."
    He released a long-suffering sigh. "It also suggests she isn't breathing."
    Cami stared harder at Petunia's flanks. "That doesn't sound good. Should we be worried?"
    "I'm beginning to think so." He jammed his hat down and explained, "She's holding her breath."
    Cami nodded solemnly. "Me, too."
    He ignored that. "You can't get a saddle on good and tight when a horse is holding its breath." He gave a significant pause. "Once she releases it, the saddle slips off."
    "Well, I'll be!" Cami exclaimed. "That sneaky devil. She sure put one over on me. So what do we do?"
    Holt grabbed the front cinch and clipped Petunia's side with his knee. The horse exhaled and he pulled the strap tight. In short order, he finished saddling. What had taken her twenty minutes to accomplish, he'd done in two.
    He leaned against Petunia's side. "Like to give it another shot, or you want to concede defeat now?"
    She drew herself up straight and proud. "You're forgetting I'm a Texan. That means I'm tough as nails and danged stubborn to boot. I'll never concede defeat. Long live the Alamo!"
    For the first time, a genuine smile eased his mouth. "You've got grit, I'll give you that."
    "Thanks." She grabbed the reins and gave Petunia a conciliatory pat. "Don't forget our bargain," she warned the horse, and once again shoved her foot into the stirrup.
    This time she gained the horse's back without further incident. Not bad, she decided. Anchoring her hat more firmly on her head, she steered Petunia away from the fence. This was it. Her final chance at the big time. She could do it, no sweat. Besides, how hard could it be?
    With an enthusiastic "Hiyah!" she slammed her newly trimmed spurs into Petunia's sides. She realized her mistake a moment too late.
    Petunia didn't take kindly to having spurs, trimmed or otherwise, slammed into her sides. With a shrill whinny, she launched straight into the air and landed with a bone-shattering thud. Still not having expressed her disapproval thoroughly enough, she took off like a shot. Cami bounced once in the saddle, once on Petunia's hindquarters and once on the ground, skidding to a halt on her much abused posterior. Her hat drifted down to settle at her side.
    She struggled to her feet, spitting dirt. "I hope you realize this cancels our bargain!" she shouted after the horse. Reluctantly, she glanced toward the two men. Gabby had fallen off the rail again. Holt occupied himself staring at the ground. She picked up her battered pink cowboy hat and hobbled across the corral.
    "Strike three?" she asked.
    "Strike three," Holt confirmed. He lifted an eyebrow. "You sticking to that story about first sitting a horse when you were a toddler?"
    She slapped dust from her hat. Feathers filled the air. "Yessir. I am."
    "Uh-huh." He eyed her keenly. "I assume that was also your last experience sitting a horse."
    "Yep." She offered a crooked grin. "But look on the bright side. At least this time I didn't break my arm when I got thrown."
    "I'm so relieved."
    She heaved a sigh. "Mr. Winston—"
    "Make it Holt. You've earned the right to that, if nothing else."
    "Thanks." She stared at him earnestly, wiping a trickle of sweat from her brow. "I know it doesn't seem likely, but I can do this job, given half a chance. I'm a fast learner. You only have to show or tell me things once for me to catch on. And I want this job. I want this job more than I've ever wanted anything."
    A deep frown creased Holt's brow. Slowly he shook his head. "Sorry. There's a dozen dudes scheduled to arrive next week and I need a wrangler who can carry his weight."
    "I can carry my weight," she insisted, forcing herself to meet his hard, unemotional gaze. "I can carry more than my weight if it means working on a ranch."
    "Sorry, but I have to pass."
    He turned to