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

off.”
    During the meal, they caught up on their friends’ lives. Gauging Kyle Gilchrist’s chances of winning the CRA world championship bull riding title. Talking about Devin McClain’s newest CD and world tour. Speculating if Eli Whirling Cloud’s plans to rehabilitate injured horses—racing and rodeo—with the help of their pal, veterinarian August Fletcher, would be a successful venture. Discussing Celia’s minuscule chances of beating out Lainie’s buddy, world championship barrel racer Tanna Barker, for the title this year.
    As Hank cleared the plates, Lainie brooded into her half-empty wineglass.
    “Something goin’ on in that pretty head of yours, Missus Lawson?”
    She smiled. “Flatterer. Talking about life on the road and such . . . I’m just worried about Celia.”
    “That makes two of us,” Hank said. “How often does my little sister call you, Bran?”
    “Occasionally.”
    “And how was she? I mean, did she act different?”
    “No. She seemed fine when I talked to her. Why?”
    “Probably nothin’. We’re pretty sure Celia is seein’ a guy on the circuit, but she won’t fess up to who it is. Makes us wonder if she’s embarrassed or something.”
    Bran drained his beer. “You want me to point out the obvious? She’s an adult, entitled to a life that don’t got nothin’ to do with you guys.”
    Hank glowered at him.
    So Bran decided to poke him, just for fun. “You know, I wish I could see Celia as the gorgeous, sexy woman she is and not as the pesky little tomboy sister that she was. It’d make all our lives easier if we got hitched. She’s aware of what it takes to run a ranch, we could have tons of babies and horses, and she’d live close enough to annoy the hell out of you and Abe forever.”
    Instead of snarling, Hank shot Bran a sly look. “Tell you what. If you propose to her and she accepts? As a dowry I’ll give you those fifty acres down by the creek that you love.”
    “Hank! That is not even funny,” Lainie said, swatting at him.
    Bran grinned. “If I thought I had a snowball’s chance in hell that Celia would go for it, I’d suggest it. But I’ve seen that girl castrate calves. I shudder to think what she’d do to me if I offered to marry her on her brother’s behalf.”
    The front door opened. Voices echoed from the entryway and Hank threaded his fingers through Lainie’s when she tensed.
    Abe and Nancy came into the kitchen. Abe clapped Bran on the back. “Hey. How’s calving been so far?”
    “Slow. Not quite to where you guys are, as I’ve barely started.”
    “There’s a lesson for you,” Nancy said. “Maybe you should get Abe’s advice before you turn the bulls out with the herd so your calving doesn’t lag so far behind everyone else’s.”
    Bran froze. Had this woman actually just told him how to better manage his cattle operation? What the hell did she know? She worked as a secretary in an auto repair shop.
    Abe looked embarrassed. “Nancy, Bran runs one of the most successful cattle businesses in the county. Me’n Hank should be takin’ his advice, not the other way around.”
    But Nancy had tuned Abe out. She frowned at the dishes piled by the sink and the food scattered across the countertop. “Why in the world didn’t you clean up after you finished eating? I hate coming home to a dirty kitchen.” With a dramatic sigh, she headed to the sink.
    Lainie said, “Leave them. I planned to do them after our company left.”
    Nancy ignored Lainie. How the woman could be oblivious to the tension in the room—tension she’d caused—boggled Bran’s mind.
    Water ran. Dishes clanked. Hank glared at Abe. Abe merely shrugged.
    Lainie pushed to her feet. “I said I’d do them, Nancy.”
    “It’s fine.”
    “No, it’s not fine.” Lainie reached over and shut off the water. “I don’t do things on your timetable. And I’m not going to let you run roughshod over me in my own damn kitchen and continue to embarrass me in front of our