Rawhide and Roses Read Online Free PDF Page B

a nervous grin. “And if I die in that godforsaken land out there, you better haul my butt out yourself and give me a decent burial, you understand?”
    Jillie smothered her with a hug. “Thank you,” she whispered.
    Kim pulled back. “But what about all our stuff at the hotel? What about the airline tickets? And I need to call my parents and tell them...”
    Jillie smiled and patted Kim on the shoulders. “Don’t worry, it’s all taken care of—”
    “What do you mean?”
    Quickly, Jillie broke for the door. “I called your Mom and told them we’d decided to stay another week.” She placed her hand on the metal door latch. “And I called the hotel and checked us out. The airline tickets can be cashed in easily enough.” She turned, opened the door, and placed one foot on the threshold.
    “But our things?”
    “The hotel is going to pack them up and taxi them to the ranch for us. Should be here sometime tomorrow. Oh, and I gave them your credit card number.”
    “But—”
    “I’ll be back in a little while...”
    Then she was gone, the old wooden door to the bunk house slapping her farewell against the frame.
    Kim fell back flat against the bed in a frustrated heap. “Jillie Abernathy, one of these days...”
    She closed her eyes and all she could see was Jillie’s bright eyes and animated face. She was happy. Happier than Kim had seen her in a long time. Had she really fallen for this Mack character? That would be a twist, she thought, Jillie in love. Well, if that were true, then she had to do this for her, didn’t she? She had to play along. It was just that she wasn’t looking forward to roughing it the next two weeks. Not at all.
    “You’re a softy, Martin,” she muttered to herself.” And you’re crazy. A fool for people in love. Unfortunately, it never happens to you.” She snorted and curled onto her side. All she wanted to do was go to sleep. She didn’t want to think about all that now. It was rare that she ever admitted to herself how much she really wanted a man who would love her unconditionally. In her experience, that man didn’t exist. She just hoped Jillie wasn’t setting herself up for major heartache.
    But it was expected that someday she, Kim, would marry. It was all her mother talked about. “Find a good husband, Kim,” she’d say. “Settle into a nice house in the suburbs on the east side of town. Find someone who can provide for you, make your life easier, give you a sense of respect in the community. Stability. You know how important appearances are, my dear.”Yeah, Kim knew. Her father was a successful local businessman. Bloodline insurance broker. The bucks just rolled in. Her mother, bless her heart, had never lifted a finger in her life. She was all for Kim’s going to college. Thought it was a wonderful place to find a lawyer or a doctor for a husband. But she’d been appalled when Kim majored in education—and actually planned to teach. The thing was, Kim loved her job. She enjoyed working with teenagers. Before she’d earned her guidance counselor degree, she’d taught high school Home Economics. And even if she did say so herself, she was a darned good teacher. It was easy for her to gain the respect of the students, which to her, was half the battle for building a rapport that was essential for a successful school year.
    Food preparation and child development had been her specialty classes. Her mother thought it was so mundane but finally condescended that it was good preparation for her own family, someday. It mattered not at all that her job gave her such satisfaction.
    Over the years, as she’d realized that she had a knack for talking to teens and that they actually listened, she’d earned her counselor’s certificate. And though sometimes draining, both mentally and physically, she’d found even more fulfillment in that position.
    She’d start her eighth school year this fall.
    Her mother kept nagging her about when she was going to find a