Reuniting with the Cowboy Read Online Free PDF Page A

more.
    Maybe she’d have more oomph at the end of the day with Derek around. Most applicants would have waited until Tuesday to start work, but she was thankful for his eagerness.
    Today’s ranch vaccinations had been so much easier with help, and when she’d gotten the emergency call, Derek had been able to stay with Lance and finish. Best of all, she didn’t ache quite as much with an extra set of hands at work.
    Wolf and Foxy pranced circles around her, offering unconditional love—even though she’d been with other critters all day.
    â€œY’all don’t care who I play with, do ya?” Her high-pitched tone sent the tiny bundles of energy into excited jitters and she settled on the floor, leaning against the couch. The Poms fought for lap space, then stilled as she stroked their soft coats. “You’ll never guess who showed up after you left, though.”
    â€œI saw you with Cody after I got out of the shower.”
    â€œHe arrived just as the state inspector was about to write me up for having too many cats. Cody took Bruno and the three I got in yesterday and saved the day.” And rubbed her shoulders. She could still feel his touch.
    â€œI wonder why the inspector came again. Good thing Cody was there to be your hero.”
    â€œUntil I asked him to sell me an acre and he admitted he’s only leasing the land.” She picked up Foxy and rubbed noses with her. “What’s up with that, Foxy?”
    The only problem with furry friends—they never answered back.
    Wolf let out a yip.
    Not in people language, anyway.
    â€œMaybe once his lease is up, you can buy the acreage. It’ll work out.” Mom gave her an encouraging smile. “Just have faith.”
    Mom’s words stung. Faith was exactly what she didn’t have.
    Why couldn’t her new neighbor have been someone else? A single woman living alone, or a family with a mom who needed adult companionship. Someone who could have at least sold her an acre or two. And who didn’t stir such confusing feelings in her. Even some animal-hating grouch. Anyone other than landlocking Cody.
    Though he probably wouldn’t even stay put. Which, as her mom had pointed out, could be good for her. He wouldn’t even be here if not for his injuries and she was sure he’d head back to the circuit just as soon as he could hobble there.
    If Cody moved on, she’d get another chance to convince the owner to sell her a parcel of the land. But that meant Cody would run out on her like before. When she’d needed him most. She had to stay away from him in order to survive this go-round.
    For as long as she could remember, Cody had gone from one obsession to the next, never sticking with anything for long. Baseball, basketball, fishing, hunting, soccer, football, racquetball and finally rodeo. He’d pursued rodeo far longer than anything else.
    Wolf was hanging off her lap and Ally shifted her legs into a crisscross position to give the dogs more room. Closing her eyes, she twirled the end of her braid around her finger.
    Sometimes she could still imagine it was her dad doing it. Even after twelve years, she longed for his presence, his sound counsel. He’d have known what to do about her shelter. But he wasn’t here.
    â€œAlly?”
    She looked up. Mom had clearly asked her something. “What?”
    â€œAre you ready for supper?”
    â€œYou can go ahead. I need a bath.”
    Her only hope was to buy the land once Cody got bored with playing rancher and his lease was done. And that would be best for her wayward heart, too.
    A hot bath and a bowl of soup later, she crawled in bed thinking about her predicament.
    And Cody. She wouldn’t be his new short-term diversion.
    Stop thinking about him.
    She closed her eyes and snuggled under the covers—exhaustion fogging her brain.
    Dogs barking. Ally opened her eyes. Lots of yapping. And they were close. How long had