Samantha and the Cowboy Read Online Free PDF

anyone.
    Matthew Hart had made it clear that he had no interest in teaching her, which was fine with her. He’d been kind to her yesterday, but she didn’t want to be any more beholden to him. Besides, she needed to keep her distance to protect her disguise.
    She brought her horse to a halt. A frumpy-looking man with white whiskers and a soiled apron was stacking pans in the back of the wagon. “Howdy!” she called out as she dismounted.
    The man turned and glared at her. “You’re too late. You want vittles, you git yourself here at five-thirty.” He turned back to his chore.
    He obviously thought she was already one of the cowhands—a fact she supposed boded well for her disguise. “Can you tell me where I’d find Mr. Vaughn?”
    â€œI ain’t his keeper,” the grump tossed over his shoulder.
    She fought not to feel dejected. Obviously she was going to be completely on her own here. Matthew Hart had no interest in her, and now, neither did this man. She assumed that was the way of a cowboy’s life—having to do for oneself by oneself.
    She turned her attention to the herd. She could see the cattle beginning to mill around and cowboys riding up and down the line. There were a lot more than those they’d hired in Faithful. She’d hung around the general store to make certain they didn’t hire anyone she knew, anyone who might recognize her.
    Judging by the number of men she’d seen them hire and the number she could spot now, they must have brought a passel of trail hands with them. She wondered if some had quit before they’d arrived in Faithful or if they’d just decided they needed extra hands. Regardless, Matthew had told her to be here at dawn and the sun was barely up.
    She heard pounding hooves coming up behind her. She spun around. Her stomach tightened as Jake Vaughn and Matthew Hart neared. Sitting tall in the saddle caused them to strike imposing figures. She told herself that she would not allow them to intimidate her as they pulled back on the reins and brought their horses to a halt.
    â€œTold you he’d show,” Matthew said.
    Mr. Vaughn reached into his pocket and tossed a coin toward Matthew, who caught it.
    Matthew winked at her. “He bet me two bits you wouldn’t come.”
    She didn’t know why his wink made her feel as though they shared an intimate secret or why she found the slight curve of his lips intriguing. He wasn’t looking at her the way that a boy looked at a girl in whom he had an interest. But she suddenly realized that she might be staring at him as a girl would…because it dawned on her with unexpected clarity that Matthew Hart was as handsome as sin.
    His features were hard edged, as though they’d been chiseled by wind and sun. The lines in his face spoke of character and strength. And his eyes were so blue that she could easily drown in them.
    She gave herself a mental shake and reined in her errant thoughts. She had to look at every man here as though she was a boy, the way Nate looked at Benjamin. As though with the least provocation she’d spit in his eye. She furrowed her brow to give herself a more serious demeanor.
    â€œTold you I would. I keep my promises.”
    â€œSon, your voice hasn’t even deepened its pitch. If you’re sixteen—” Jake began.
    â€œI am sixteen!” she interrupted, refusing to lose this opportunity to earn money. She swallowed hard. Toolate to change her voice, so she’d have to fib a little. She promised herself this would be the absolute last lie. “It’s just that the menfolk in my family tend to mature later than most.”
    Mr. Vaughn scowled. “Thought Matt explained to you about lying.”
    â€œHe did.” She drew an imaginary cross over her heart. “I swear I’m sixteen, Mr. Vaughn.”
    â€œBoss,” he said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThe men who work for me call me