Reunited with the Cowboy Read Online Free PDF

Her stomach roiled at the thought of the new charges she would have to put on a credit card she had finally cleared off.
    Don’t look around the corner. Just do what comes next.
    The words that had gotten her through the past few years of her life came back to her, but now, in the cozy warmth of her parents’ house, they seemed empty. Devoid of the comfort they usually brought her.
    â€œSo will you be able to stay until the bridal shower?” Keira asked.
    It wasn’t too hard to see the sparkle in her eyes and hear the hope in her voice.
    â€œI don’t have much choice,” Heather said, realizing how reluctant she sounded. She pinned a bright smile on her face, then glanced again at John, who was still watching her. He seemed as thrilled about the idea of her staying the extra time as she was.
    â€œI better get going,” he said, setting his mug on the counter. “I’ll feed the cows, Monty. You stay and visit.”
    Then he turned and left.
    * * *
    Heather watched him stride away, his broad shoulders giving him an air of control. He had changed since she’d last seen him, become more reserved. This was not the warm, loving John she remembered.
    The distance between them was wider than Judith Basin County. She wasn’t sure why it bothered her. She had no intention of taking up where she and John had left off. Both of them had moved far away from that one happy time in her life.
    You made your choice when you ignored his advice and went with Mitch to New York.
    Past choices melded with present circumstances and she knew that her life was, to some degree, of her own making.
    She dragged her attention back to her family, who were all watching her as if waiting to see what she was going to do next.
    â€œI need to make another call,” she said. “Can I use the phone in the study?” she asked her father, needing some privacy.
    â€œYou go ahead, my dear,” he said, waving her on.
    â€œAnd I should get going,” Keira said, getting up, as well. “I’ll be at my workshop,” she told Heather. “Come on by and we can make some shower plans.”
    â€œOf course,” Heather said, thankful that her sister was happy with the situation. She turned to her father. “Are you okay to watch Adana?”
    â€œAlice should be finished soon helping your mother get ready for the day. I think I can manage until then,” he said with a grin.
    Heather returned his smile, then left. As she closed the door of her father’s office behind her, she shut off the sound of conversation that had started up again. She leaned against the door a moment, trying to suppress the panic slowly gaining momentum in her mind.
    She couldn’t afford a huge repair bill. She couldn’t afford to be late for this interview.
    She stopped herself. Don’t borrow trouble, her father always used to say. So she sat in his large leather chair and with trembling fingers pulled up the information from her cell phone, then made the call.
    Very quickly she was put through to Michelle Pearson, the manager she hoped to be working for.
    â€œGood morning, Michelle,” Heather said, pulling out her “so happy to see you” attitude and hoping that would generate a positive tone in her voice. In previous conversations they’d chatted about the industry, traded small talk, discussed fashion trends, but right now she just wanted to cut to the heart of the matter. “I’m sorry to tell you that I had an accident. I’m fine but my car isn’t. And it won’t be fixed in time for me to arrive in Seattle when I said I would.”
    â€œOh. I see.” The silence that followed that comment held a heaviness that weighed on Heather. “That changes things. We needed someone quite soon. And we interviewed our second prospect yesterday. My partner was very excited about her, so if you can’t come for a week, we may hire her