One Stubborn Cowboy Read Online Free PDF Page A

lead rope, put him through different gaits while Kelly watched carefully, sketching the different movements. It was perfect. This was exactly what she needed. She had a much better feel for how the pony moved.
    The afternoon flew by. Kelly finally reluctantly gathered her things. "I should be going." She gave a fond look at the little pony, now eating from the hay a cowboy had tossed in the corral a few minutes ago.
    "Stay for dinner," Sally suggested. "We're having chicken and I have plenty to go around."
    "I'd like that," Kelly agreed after a moment's thought. She'd get to see Kit again. Would he be disagreeable around his brother and sister-in-law? "Can I help?"
    "Sure. I like company in the kitchen. Clint usually comes in then and sits with me as I cook." Sally smiled shyly. "We've not been married all that long. Being apart all day, it's nice to be together in the evening even if it's only to cook supper."
    "I think that's nice. How long have you two been married?"
    "Just a year last month. We wanted to get married before that, but weren't sure how it'd work with Kit and all. It's turned out fine," she said quickly.
    It must be difficult to start married life living with your in-laws. Couldn't Clint afford a separate house for him and Sally? Was it Kit's house? Not that it was any of her business, but she was curious.
    The two women worked easily together, laughing as they fried the chicken, set out beverages and baked biscuits. Clint joined them as they worked, tilted back in one of the kitchen chairs, joining in the fun and laughter. He helped by setting the dining-room table and carrying in the food. When it was on the table, he went to the hall to yell for Kit.
    Kit Lockford arrived silently, gliding in a wheelchair.
    Kelly's eyes widened in surprise. That explained the absence of a chair at the foot of the table. She was surprised at the wheelchair, however. Usually sprained ankles weren't serious enough for a wheelchair. Maybe it was broken.
    "Well, well, I see Miss Goodness-and-Light is dining with us," Kit said as he maneuvered the chair deftly in place, his eyes on Kelly.
    "Kit," Clint said with an edge to his voice.
    But Kelly wasn't cowed. "Well, well, still the arrogant macho cowboy, I see. Your mother should have taught you some manners when you were a kid," she replied, giving him a false sweet smile.
    His eyes lit appreciably, and a smile almost reached his lips. "And yours should have taught you to watch your tongue when visiting in a man's house."
    "I never really knew my mother, but I'm sure she would have told me to stand up to egotistical and conceited males. Anyway," she said graciously, "I expect you feel out of sorts if your ankle ached."
    "Ankle?" Sally looked puzzled, glancing between Kit and Kelly.
    "Didn't he hurt his ankle?" Kelly looked at Sally. "I asked when I first arrived." She looked back suspiciously at Kit. "You didn't deny it."
    He made no response, but a devilish glint entered his eyes as he stared at her, holding her gaze.
    "Oh, Kelly," Sally said softly, sadly. "Kit was in a bad accident a couple of years ago. He's partially paralyzed. That's why he uses crutches. He can't walk without them." Sally trailed off.
    Kelly's eyes clashed with his in sudden realization. How awful! And how he must hate it! He was so strong, active, virile. God, to be confined to a wheelchair must be hell for anyone, but how much worse for a rancher, a man used to roaming endless acres of land, riding horses, walking his property. How could he stand the loss of such freedom? Her stomach tightened in painful sympathy and she swallowed hard.
    "I'm sorry, I didn't know," she said matter-of-factly. "You could have told me." She still faced Kit. She refused to be embarrassed, as she was sure he'd deliberately misled her. He'd known she hadn't known he was paralyzed and had deliberately hidden the situation from her. Why? To have her make a fool of herself? Well, she was sorry, but she refused to be upset with