Sweet Talking Cowboy Read Online Free PDF Page B

completely.  Briann
discovered it was hard to hide her displeasure when Slade brought one of his
girlfriends to the barn to ride.  She didn’t understand the sullenness she felt
when he introduced her to yet another girlfriend.
    Disturbing dreams often troubled her sleep during which in
some way Briann would end up in Slade’s arms and he’d kiss her.  It was shocking
and she was shamed by the thoughts she still experienced even after she was
awake, especially when she found herself alone with him.  She was
uncomfortable, as if he could somehow know that she’d dreamed about him.  She
was sure he’d have been embarrassed to think she could even have dreams like
that, much less, about him.
    Gradually it began to affect her
relationship with Slade.  He appeared to sense the changes in her and after
that, the easy camaraderie between them became stiff and sometimes even awkward. 
Slade made it obvious he still wanted her riding the horses he had in for training
and he continued to offer advice and instructions, but there was no more of the
easy teasing or scuffling that had always been part of their mutual affection. 
Sometimes when he didn’t think she knew it, she could feel him watching her. 
Everything between them changed.  If she caught him looking at her, he’d look
away quickly, almost regretfully.  She couldn’t imagine why he’d feel guilty. 
She was the one having the insane dreams.  Within a couple of months,
Slade announced he was leaving.  He wanted to go to Texas and visit his
mother’s family.
    He left within a few days of making that decision and once he
was gone, he stayed.
    He called Aunt Poog and Uncle Mike often enough to keep in
touch and his father flew out to see him often enough.  Through them, Briann
learned the Slade was working under the supervision of one of the most well-known
trainers in the country.  He stayed for five years and by then she and Jeffery
were talking marriage.  She’d dismissed the disturbing dreams as a part of a
childish crush, but couldn’t believe how much she still missed Slade.
    Eventually she put her crush on Slade behind her, but
thought of him with affection, remembering how much he’d taught her about
horses and riding and the respect they’d shared.  Briann was sure he’d known of
her crush, but never teased her or misused her trust.  She treasured her
memories of the laughter they’d shared and the trust, the patient guidance he’d
given her and the uncountable ways he’d helped her become a better horsewoman.
    Then right after her twentieth birthday Hank told Uncle Mike
that he was retiring.  Tanya wanted the extended European vacation he’d always
promised her and Slade was coming home to run the farm.  Jeffery had one more
year of college and he was already a partner in the Land Development business. 
When he graduated the next year it would be his business entirely and Hank had
already signed the farm over to Slade.  Briann was excited to know that the
friend of her youth was finally coming home.
    Briann had been in the barn, grooming Flash, the aging
stallion that had been her father’s favorite horse, when she felt someone
looking at her.  Looking back over her shoulder, she saw Slade standing there.
    “Excuse me, Ma’am;” his Texas drawl had become stronger.  “I’m
lookin’ for a skinny girl with braces on her teeth, short brown hair, freckles
on her nose, a flat chest and no hips.  Her Uncle Mike told me she was out
here.”  He looked around the barn as if he was searching for someone.  “Hey,
Briann, you out here?”  He called loudly.
    He was the ultimate cowboy in those snug, starched, creased
Wrangler jeans, that Tony Lama hat and those snakeskin Justin boots.  Briann
had forgotten just how good looking Slade was and his time in Texas had only
matured those good looks.  The grooves etched into his cheeks on each side of
his mouth were more pronounced, but only added to his rugged good looks and