Saddled and Spurred: A Blacktop Cowboys Novel Read Online Free PDF Page A

Bran said, “She’s so what?”
    “‘Inexperienced’ comes to mind,” Hank said cautiously.
    Lainie shook her head. “She’s probably that too, but the truth is Harper keeps to herself after that nasty business with her mother. She’s kind of shy—that’s probably why Celia stepped in. Why was Harper looking for work?”
    Bran didn’t feel comfortable blabbing Harper’s problems to his friends. “All I know is Harper showed up on Celia’s recommendation.” He knocked back another swig of beer. “I’ve decided to give her a chance.”
    Lainie and Hank exchanged another look.
    “Jesus. Would you guys stop doin’ that married couple silent communication crap? It’s fuckin’ annoying. Just come right out and ask me the goddamn question.”
    Hank flashed his teeth. “Fine. Did you hire Harper because of the way she looks?”
    Bran grinned back at his nosy friend. “No. Although I’ll admit that’s a plus. A big plus. But the real reason is Harper’s only gonna be around Muddy Gap about as long as Les is laid up, so it seemed like a sign.”
    “Then where’s she goin’?”
    “No clue. She told me as soon as her little sister graduates from high school they’re both outta here.”
    “Did you tell her that staying overnight at your place was part of the job?”
    Hank had known Bran long enough to understand that Harper was exactly the type of woman Bran was attracted to. But women that hot and gorgeous never reciprocated the attraction, so he’d always shied away from them.
    “Let it go, Hank,” Lainie warned.
    Surprisingly, Hank did. He passed out another round of beers.
    “Where’s Abe tonight?” Bran asked.
    “At Nancy’s.”
    “Thank God she ain’t here again,” Hank muttered. “I never thought my brother would find a woman I liked less than Janie, but I’ll be goddamned if he didn’t.”
    “I never understood your beef with Janie. If I’d had to put up with Abe’s ‘master of the house’ bullshit, I’da left him too.”
    Hank scowled at Bran.
    “Master of the house?” Lainie repeated, swirling the wine in her glass. “Do tell. All I’ve ever heard about the ex-wife is how she left poor Abe high and dry.”
    Bran shrugged. “In my opinion, Abe married Janie wanting her to be just like his mom. A happy homemaker whose only purpose was to service this ranch and the Lawson family’s needs. When Janie turned out not to be that type . . . Abe tried to force her into becoming that type. Janie’s biggest issue was the living situation. She didn’t want to live with Hank and Celia indefinitely. She wanted them to have their own place. Instead of keeping his wife’s confidence, Abe told you and Celia and you both hated her. Abe chose his family over his wife. That’s why Janie left. And who could blame her? Not me.”
    Hank wore a look of shock, as if he’d never considered that Janie needed alone time with her husband. A feeling Bran knew Lainie understood, and now Hank did too—hence they were building their own house.
    Lainie ran her hand up Hank’s arm. “There was no way you could’ve known. And it wasn’t your problem to solve. It was Abe’s.”
    “How is it that you know so much about my brother’s ex-wife?” Hank asked suspiciously.
    “She adored my grandma and she missed her after she passed on, so she kept coming around since I was the closest neighbor. Besides, wasn’t like she had anyone else to talk to after you and Celia shut her out.”
    “Why didn’t Abe know any of this?”
    “Because he didn’t ask her. It wasn’t my place to tell him—you know how he gets.”
    Lainie nodded in total understanding.
    “But I’m really goddamned happy you two ain’t makin’ the same mistake. No one said because you run the ranch together that you had to live together forever like the fuckin’ Waltons. And why would you want to?”
    Silence.
    Then Lainie laughed.
    Hank clapped Bran on the shoulder. “Remind me again why you’re still single?”
    “Fuck